The Mountain of Ice and Fire

“Scholar, how did the Mountain know that my blade was coated with poison?” the Hound said. He slowly took something out of his pocket.

Maester Lucius stared at the Hound's hand, terrified.

“Ser Sandor Clegane, I don’t understand.” Maester Lucius knew he must not admit it, absolutely not.

What the Hound took out of his pocket was a piece of rope.

What was he going to do with this rope?

Strangle me?!

Maester Lucius felt a tightening around his neck.

He suddenly wanted to shout for help, but he couldn't make a sound, because the Hound grabbed his chest with one hand and his neck with the other.

“The Mountain pierced my skin with my sword, but didn’t hurt me. Why? Because you told him my blade was coated with poison.” The Hound's burned face was close to Lucius's face, increasing Maester Lucius's terror.

Maester Lucius gurgled in his throat, unable to speak, unable to breathe.

The Hound's hands were like steel, with extraordinary strength. Maester Lucius didn't even have room to struggle.

“The Mountain wouldn’t have the leisure to just pierce my arm! And the only people who knew the secret of my sword are you and me!” The Hound slowly released his hand and threw Maester Lucius to the ground.

Maester Lucius's throat made a hissing sound, his face pale. After a while, a 'click' sounded in his throat, and he could finally breathe.

He almost suffocated to death!

“Prince Joffrey burned me with candles, and you were very happy!”

“...Absolutely...not...”

“My eyes aren’t blind. I can see whether you’re happy or not,” the Hound said coldly.

Maester Lucius's throat blocked, speechless.

He was indeed very happy!

“For ten gold dragons, you want my life?” the Hound said again.

Maester Lucius said: “...Absolutely...not...”

“When the Mountain left the town, he came to your door and shouted, ‘Scholar, is the Hound dead? I still remember your flattering voice: ‘Ser Gregor, Ser Sandor is just asleep, he’s doing fine.’ The Mountain snorted heavily, full of threat, as if if you didn’t take good care of me, he would deal with you. Why?”

Maester Lucius wished he could turn into a small bug and burrow into the ground to escape: “...Absolutely...not...”

The Hound took out a black iron hook from his pocket and placed it next to the rope: “Maester Lucius, tell me the truth, and I won’t kill you.” He slowly took out another item from his pocket, a small knife. He drew the knife from its sheath, and the blade was snow-white. The Hound put the knife next to the iron hook.

Sweat poured from Maester Lucius's forehead, nose, and neck.

“Last chance, tell me the truth, and I will definitely not hurt you!”

Maester Lucius's whole body was weak and unable to stand. He held on to the edge of the bed, wanting to sit down, but he didn't dare: “...Ser Sandor Clegane...Absolutely...not...I have absolutely not...betrayed you...”

Absolutely must not admit it, was the response strategy that Maester Lucius had set for himself.

He suddenly realized that both the Mountain and the Hound were actually very difficult to deal with. They seemed clumsy, but in fact, every one of them was extremely shrewd. They could see hidden problems from small details and were very sensitive. The reason people thought they were stupid was because of their own superficiality, like himself!

“Okay, since you still want to deceive me, then don’t blame me for being rude.” The Hound continued to take things out of his pocket. This time he took out flint and tinder, and half a burnt candle. Maester Lucius remembered this candle very clearly. It was the half candle Joffrey used to burn the Hound.

The Hound put the candle next to the small knife.

Maester Lucius could no longer breathe. He was extremely terrified. Was the Hound going to hang him with a rope? Hook him up with a hook? Dissect his body with a knife? And then destroy the body with fire to eliminate the traces?

He didn't know, and he didn't want to know. He only knew one thing: he couldn't admit it.

“Maester Lucius, whether you speak or not, I already know the answer. Your eyes have told me everything. Every time I ask you a question, you deny it, but your eyes betray you again and again. Okay, let me help you, I’ll dig out your eyeballs first!”

The Hound stood up and opened the door. A tall figure, as tall as the Hound, but only showing his eyes, with a very fierce look, walked in: “Hold Maester Lucius down!”

The person immediately pressed Maester Lucius against the edge of the bed, making his face face up. One knee pressed on Maester Lucius's chest, and both hands held Maester Lucius's head, making him unable to move.

The Hound came over with the hook. The hook rudely stretched into Maester Lucius's mouth to find his tongue. Maester Lucius was terrified. The Hound said he was going to dig out his eyeballs, but he was going to hook out his tongue.

“I’ll talk!” Lucius’s slurred voice, at the critical moment, he collapsed!

The Hound glanced at the helper who was covering his head and face. That person released Maester Lucius and went out.

The Hound closed the door again: “Speak, it’s still early now. After you finish speaking, you can return to your residence, and it won’t be bright until dawn.”

“You must swear first, Ser Sandor Clegane, you must swear first!” Maester Lucius's white underwear was soaked with cold sweat. He hadn't even had time to put on his clothes.

“What should I swear?”

“You must swear not to kill me!”

“I swear!”

“You must swear in the name of family honor and the Seven Gods.”

“Okay, I swear in the name of House Clegane's honor and the Seven Gods, as long as Maester Lucius tells the truth, I won’t kill him.”

Maester Lucius believed in the honor of a knight and this knight's piety towards the Seven Gods. He told the Hound all the truth, without hiding anything!

After the Hound finished listening, he stood up. He looked at Maester Lucius, expressionless: “Rope, iron hook, small knife, candle, choose one!”

Maester Lucius looked at the Hound in astonishment.

The Hound said: “From your words, I can see that you have a murderous heart, and I can also see that you have murderous means. You and I have become enemies, and I can no longer tolerate you. You overestimated me. I am not a good person, just like the Mountain.”

“No, Ser, you swore!”

The Hound chuckled, but he only had laughter, no smile, and no smile on his face: “The honor of House Clegane is just a stinking rag in my eyes.”

“You swore in the name of the Seven Gods!” Maester Lucius was about to kneel. His whole body was shaking.

“I never believed in gods!” The Hound pointed to his left face, “Gods never hear the pain of mortals!”

His eyes staring at Maester Lucius were cold and ruthless!

Maester Lucius knelt down with a thud: “Ser Sandor Clegane, I swear allegiance to you, I only beg you to spare my life!” He kowtowed, and in just a few strokes, his forehead was covered in blood.

*

ps: Kill or not? I don’t know yet, please provide the next plot.