The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Night, deep forest.

The forest was anything but quiet.

Various strange sounds, you might think there are none if you listen casually, but if you're not careful, the sound is near you.

Birds, insects, and small animals are very active in the night forest.

Deep in the forest.

A bonfire, a roaring bonfire.

Thoros sat by the bonfire, staring at the flames and praying to the Red God, whom he had not believed in for a long time, hoping that the Red God could give Beric the power of life and bring him back to the world.

Thoros was a priest of the Red God from the Free City of Myr, sent to the continent of Westeros to preach. Between preaching and indulging in wine and women, Thoros rationally chose wine and women, which made him a close friend of King Robert of Westeros. He had abandoned the Red God and taken up swords for many years, and no longer maintained contact with the Red Temple of Myr.

Such a person who was not devout in his faith was solemnly reciting the Red God's prayer, hoping that the Red God could resurrect Beric.

Why did Thoros suddenly have such strong confidence?

It was because last night, when he was staring at the flames, he suddenly wanted to get help from the Red God. He felt the insignificance and fragility of their team, and then, to his surprise, he saw Amory Lorch's night raid in the flames. This caused a huge shock in Thoros's heart, and the Red God responded to his prayer. And this response of faith was his first in more than ten years.

Behind Thoros was the body of Beric Dondarrion. There were still obvious strangulation marks on Beric's neck.

No one can force the Red God to do anything. Thoros didn't know whether Beric could be resurrected. It's like crops. When they are sown, whether the crops can have a good harvest depends on the weather. People can only pray, but cannot interfere.

The flames were burning fiercely, and the brothers around him did not dare to make a sound, for fear that their disrespect would interfere with Thoros.

Last night, Thoros saw Amory Lorch's night raid in the flames. At that time, no one believed Thoros's words, and everyone thought Thoros's words were ridiculous. Tonight, no one was in the mood to joke anymore, and everyone was quietly and devoutly watching the flames, watching Thoros.

All the brothers knew that Thoros's prediction last night was true. He was not joking, nor was he teasing everyone. Later, the appearance of Amory Lorch leading the army verified Thoros's prediction.

Similarly, the brothers all hoped that a miracle could happen again tonight. Especially Edric Dayne, he had been guarding Beric's body, never leaving for even half a step.

His aunt, Allyria Dayne, was still waiting for Beric Dondarrion to go back and get married. Allyria and Beric had agreed that after the Grand Tournament in King's Landing—Beric would get a position in the throne hall of King's Landing, and then he would go home to officially hold the wedding. After the wedding, Beric would take Allyria Dayne to live in the Red Keep in King's Landing, making Allyria one of the many courtiers and noble ladies.

Beric was ten years older than Edric, but he was like a father figure in Edric's heart. He loved Beric very much.

Everyone maintained a mysterious silence, waiting for Thoros to make a miracle happen again.

*

Beric wandered in the darkness. He knew what this was: this was death.

On the other side of life, there was nothing, a dark chaos, the temperature was very cold, but not the kind of bone-chilling cold, still within his acceptable range.

Nothing but darkness enveloped him. He had no purpose, no direction, and nothing but loneliness and fear. He didn't know what to do or where to go.

So he walked forward, walked forward, aimlessly, but refused to stop. Walking allowed him to feel his existence, which was the only way for him to have self-awareness.

He didn't know how long it had been, but suddenly, he saw light.

A very, very faint light in the darkness, within reach, not far ahead.

Beric reached out to capture the light, but suddenly, a force pushed him hard from behind, and he fell to the ground. The light pressed on his body, his body was like flowing water, and the faint light was like a flexible little fish, swimming into his body, swimming into his heart, and suddenly burning violently.

The scorching flames and intense burning pain caught Beric off guard, and he groaned in pain. Then, he heard a very familiar voice: "Uncle, uncle, uncle!"

It was Edric Dayne's voice.

Beric endured the scorching pain and tried to open his eyes.

He saw the light, felt the warmth of the flames, and he also saw the night, the night sky was divided into several pieces by branches, and there were stars twinkling on the blue sky.

He felt the cold, this cold was very familiar, it was the cold in the darkness of death.

He saw Edric Dayne's slightly childish twelve-year-old face, then Thoros's big beard and bald head, family knights and family guards, free riders, and several upright and brave warriors from the King's Landing Garrison.

"Mate, you're back!" Thoros patted his face with his big hand, "The Red God heard my prayer, and he sent you back to us."

Beric was very shocked. He slowly got up, and Thoros suddenly, but very devoutly, slowly knelt on one knee, then drew out the saber from his waist, raised it over his head, and swore allegiance to Beric.

Beric's willingness to sacrifice his chivalry for the lives of more than two hundred villagers conquered Thoros, who valued loyalty, bravery, and boldness. And their team, which was 'neither soldiers nor bandits nor officials nor civilians,' needed an absolutely charismatic leader.

Before Beric could react, Edric Dayne also knelt on one knee, drew out his short knife, and swore allegiance to Beric.

Then there were the family's three knights, five free riders, comrades from the King's Landing Garrison, and several newly joined village warriors. Everyone knelt in front of Beric and swore allegiance to Beric.

Beric felt that something was hovering on the edge of his memory, but he tried hard and couldn't remember what he had forgotten. Who was he? He was briefly confused, and then all his thoughts, will, and memories returned. Amory Lorch's face appeared in front of him, as well as the scene of soldiers slaughtering villagers before he died.

Beric knew what he had to do. He had to avenge and protect the people of the Riverlands from being slaughtered.

Beric looked at Thoros: "Did the Red God hear your prayer and resurrect me?"

"Yes, Ser!"

"Why did the Red God resurrect me?"

"I don't know, Ser. Mortals cannot perceive the will of the Red God. We can only accept it and have no right to question it."

Beric was silent.

The noble education he received made him believe that the Red God would not resurrect him for no reason. Was there some mission that he needed to complete? He didn't know. The other side of life was death. He had already tasted the taste of death, and he understood that no one could defeat that boundless darkness, but since he had regained his life, as long as he had a breath left, he would fight to the end.

"Thoros, I can accept the position of leader and lead everyone to fight against tyranny, but before that, I have a request."

"Please speak, Lord!"

"I want to believe in the Red God," Beric said resolutely.

"Add me, Lord Thoros, I am willing to become a believer of the Red God," Edric Dayne shouted enthusiastically.

"Me too!" a knight said.

"I am willing to give up the faith of the Seven Gods and believe in the Red God from now on," another knight said resolutely.

Finally, all the brothers chose to believe in the Red God from now on.

Thoros was overjoyed. This was the first time he had achieved such a great success in preaching since he came to the continent of Westeros from the Free City of Myr. As a priest of the Red God, the only measure of success in preaching was the increase in the number of believers.

Half an hour later, a team that all believed in the Red God was born. They had their own leader: Lord Beric Dondarrion, the Lightning Lord, and they also had their own priest: the Red Priest Thoros. They also had their own name: the Brotherhood Without Banners!

The Brotherhood Without Banners referred to the knight's oath to formulate its own 'rules'. The first task of the Brotherhood: to capture Ser Amory Lorch alive, try him, and then hang him!