The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 305: Extreme Contempt

(Bonus chapter 3 for Alliance Leader Jin Xiaoyanei's reward, so there will be a guaranteed update of 4,000 words today.)

*

"Little Imp, do you know about the Brotherhood Without Banners?" The Mountain glared at Tyrion Lannister with drunken, malevolent eyes.

One was a giant, the other a dwarf, a contrasting and amusing sight.

The Imp had to look up, and up again, to see the Mountain; he was too close.

*

After the drinking contest just now, the Mountain and the five mountain tribe leaders had lost their guarded hostility towards each other. Alcohol was truly a magical thing. Tymorr had been subdued, and the strongest, Shagga, was showing the Mountain both respect and disgusting flattery.

Did strong men admire those even stronger than themselves?!

Tyrion also enjoyed wine, but he had no interest in drinking with 'savages,' let alone in such a competitive way.

While everyone else looked down on the beggars Tyrion had coaxed down from the mountains, the Mountain alone showed an unusual interest in these barbarians. At the Crossroads Inn, the Mountain had knocked down the strongest, Shagga, and the most ruthless, Tymorr. Tyrion, recalling it after crossing the Green Fork, believed it was the Mountain deliberately establishing his authority in front of the barbarians.

And the drinking contest was a show of goodwill.

He had already displayed his superior strength, now he was offering a treat?

The Mountain's two approaches to the barbarians were definitely not what Tyrion wanted to see. Tyrion hoped he was wrong.

*

Tyrion had never heard of the 'Brotherhood Without Banners'; this was the first time he had heard the name from the Mountain's mouth. The other Westerland generals and knights were also hearing the name for the first time.

But Anguy, Erren, and others had heard the Mountain mention it in Harrenhal. Anguy looked at the Mountain; the Mountain had told him alone that Amory Lorch would not be coming back, and now it was true.

Anguy's gaze towards the Mountain became strange!

*

"Brotherhood Without Banners?" Tyrion's one emerald green eye and one jet black eye made people hesitant to meet his gaze for too long. It was also because of his two different colored eyes that Tyrion had been given the glorious title of Little Imp since childhood. Legend had it that he even had a small, scaly tail when he was born.

"Brotherhood Without Banners?" Gavin Westerling exclaimed in surprise, "Who leads them? They actually managed to kill Ser Amory Lorch." The most powerful and influential member of the Lorch family was Earl Amory. His cruelty and arrogance were well-known among the Westerland nobles, so Gavin and the other knights were actually quite pleased to hear that Amory had been beheaded.

"The leader's name may be familiar to everyone: Lord Beric Dondarrion of Blackhaven," the Mountain slurred.

His father-in-law, Earl Gavin, and the heavy ax-wielding strongman beside the Earl—his brother-in-law, Rolph Spicer—were both shocked.

The Mountain's brother-in-law, Ronnald Westerling, and the Mountain's little brother, Mouse, were staying behind at Casterly Rock; they were not on this campaign. The Mountain needed the two to seize the opportunity during the chaos of war to secretly mine gold and mint coins in Castamere.

Beric had impressed King Robert in the tournament at King's Landing and had been taken into the Kingsguard in the throne room. His integrity, bravery, and appearance were all impressive. Many of the Westerland nobles had a good impression of Beric Dondarrion.

"You're even more familiar with Beric's assistant—Thoros of Myr, the Red Priest," the Mountain said with a grin. He picked up a wine bottle, shook it, and found it empty. He looked at it suspiciously, held it up to his eyes, and finally confirmed that it was indeed empty. This filled him with regret.

The Red Priest Thoros was famous not only in the Westerlands but throughout the Seven Kingdoms. He often used a flaming sword to win tournaments. The flames were fierce, and the generals were afraid of them, not to mention the horses, which would be startled and run away when they saw the flaming sword dancing towards them.

Tyrion was equally surprised.

"Why did the Red Priest Thoros and Beric Dondarrion form the Brotherhood Without Banners? And why are they fighting against us in the Riverlands and the Westerlands?" the Imp asked. His mind was racing, and he concluded that it must be related to his sister's rise to power in the Red Keep in King's Landing. His sister was a kind and gentle person who had tried to kill Tyrion several times as a child and failed. Tyrion wouldn't be surprised if she stirred up anything strange in the Red Keep.

"Little Imp, when you were a guest in the Vale of Arryn, I was also a brief guest in the Red Keep. At that time, the Red Priest Thoros and Beric Dondarrion were still courtiers under the Iron Throne, both fierce generals who should have been serving the king and fighting the rebels. Now, why have they been reduced to bandits and become our enemies? I think your nephew on the Iron Throne would understand the reason," the Mountain said thunderously.

"Joffrey is still a child," the Imp said. He always believed that the main culprit was Cersei. He knew his sister too well, but he would soon come to know Joffrey as well. Joffrey was no longer the child he thought he was; he was an uncontrollable child whose whims and lack of respect were fundamental to his twisted, cruel nature.

"Aren't you still a child?" the Mountain laughed, "And one who will never grow taller. It's just that other children don't use prostitutes to sharpen their little swords, but you can't stand it if you don't sharpen yours every day."

The soldiers and officers burst into loud laughter.

*

Because Ser Amory Lorch had been killed, and he was a Westerland noble, a beloved general under Tywin, and also the deputy general of the Mountain, this vanguard general, his death was no small matter. When it was getting late, the Mountain came to the Crossroads Inn to meet Duke Tywin and report, accompanied by the waddling Imp with his bowlegs.

This was a rare opportunity for the Imp to say something bad about his sister Cersei and plant some bad seeds in front of his father. Although his sister controlled the Red Keep in King's Landing, the real power holder was actually at the Crossroads Inn—his father, Duke Tywin. Tyrion judged that his sister and nephew Joffrey probably didn't understand this, but he could see it clearly.

Duke Tywin listened to the Mountain's report without expression. He was also hearing the name 'Brotherhood Without Banners' for the first time.

"Beric and Thoros, remnants of Eddard Stark, how many of them are there?"

"Dozens, maybe," the Mountain said uncertainly, "But I think they will quickly grow their ranks after killing Amory."

"Grow their ranks? Humph, only peasants would join them. Who did you arrange to guard Harrenhal? Can't he hold it?"

"He can!"

Duke Tywin stared at the Mountain, then looked at Tyrion. The Imp paused and said, "I'm not going to fight the Brotherhood Without Banners, Father. I'm the commander of the left wing of the army." Tyrion was still indulging in his pipe dream. The title of left wing commander was indeed the best fancy coat for cannon fodder, dazzling and intoxicating. Tyrion still thought his father would really give him command of the left wing. But it was indeed the left wing, just standing in front of the real left wing army.

Duke Tywin turned his gaze back to the Mountain.

He didn't speak, but the Mountain knew it was his turn to speak: "There's no need to send anyone to deal with the Brotherhood Without Banners."

"Why?" Tywin said coldly.

"They won't attack Harrenhal."

"Oh?!"

Tyrion's gaze also turned to the Mountain. The Mountain was too certain.

"If they want to attack Harrenhal, they can only launch a surprise attack. Once the gates of Harrenhal are closed, they can't break them down without siege equipment and at least several thousand soldiers. Since they can only launch a surprise attack, they wouldn't send Ser Lorch's head to Harrenhal, let alone claim they would attack Harrenhal."

"Deliberately bluffing!" Duke Tywin said.

"Yes."

"Then where will they attack us?"

"I don't know!" the Mountain answered bluntly.

In fact, the Mountain knew that the Brotherhood Without Banners would soon become the nightmare of the Westerland army. They would unexpectedly attack the Westerland army's supply lines on the tributaries of the Red Fork, burning grain and killing escorting soldiers, causing huge trouble for the Westerlands.

The most important thing for soldiers on the front lines to maintain morale was: eat their fill and drink hot soup.

The Westerland's supply lines were the lifeline of both Jaime's and Tywin's fronts.

Beric and Thoros were going to cut this lifeline.

If Beric hadn't sent a message to Harrenhal, the Mountain wouldn't have been 100% sure of Beric's next move, in case the plot changed.

"Well!" Tyrion stood up to pour himself a glass of wine. He looked at the Mountain, his tone between sarcasm and jest, "Mountain, my good brother-in-law, I admit there's some truth in your words. So, do you need another cup?"

Another? The Mountain had already drunk too much during the drinking contest on the other side of the Green Fork, so the Imp used 'another'.

The Mountain was arrogant and merely grunted, disdainful of the Imp's overture.

A messenger rushed in and handed Duke Tywin a letter. Duke Tywin opened the letter, his expressionless face as cold as ice, his gaze becoming sharp and terrifying: "Cersei and Joffrey have forced Ser Barristan Selmy, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, to leave. Barristan the Bold is a shining beacon of courage and fearlessness to the people of the Seven Kingdoms. Whoever gains his allegiance will bask in his glory. He is a figure who can stabilize the hearts of the people, and Joffrey and Cersei actually forced him out of the throne room."

Tyrion chuckled: "It's not surprising that my sister would do such a thing, is it? She...hehe...even if the Seven Kingdoms were at peace, she could effortlessly throw them into chaos."

Tywin glared at the Imp, who remained unfazed, smiling as he walked over and sat on the high seat to savor the Arbor Red.

Outside, it was late.

*

The next day, Tywin, the Mountain, the witch, the Imp, Kevan, and others were holding a meeting in the hall when a messenger rushed in: "Duke, General Adam Marbrand led his troops in a battle against the vanguard of the Northern army, feigned defeat, and retreated. The enemy's main army is coming down the river."

"Good, let Marbrand launch a surprise attack on the Northern army the day after tomorrow. He is only allowed to lose, not to win."

"Yes, sir!"

"The little wolf is only fifteen years old, full of youthful vigor!" Duke Tywin said in a pitying tone, "Guards, pass down the order to advance the army a hundred miles, and the right wing army will still dig the pit traps and set up the caltrops."

Duke Tywin seemed calm, rational, and expressionless, but the Mountain and the Imp could see that the Duke was already eager to fight.

Defeat the Northern army in one fell swoop, and the situation north of King's Landing will be settled!

"Father, although the little wolf is young, there are capable people among the Northern nobles. I think we must not underestimate Robb Stark and his bannermen," the Imp said solemnly.

Duke Tywin gave the Imp a cold look, the rebuke in his eyes clear: What do you know? Except for drinking and playing with prostitutes!

The Mountain stood up: "Little Imp, let's go. We have to order our men to break camp immediately."

He couldn't let the Imp say more, in case one of his words alerted Duke Tywin and made the old fox think of the possibility of the Northern army splitting into two groups. Let Duke Tywin continue to indulge in his contempt for the little wolf. An old fox facing a fledgling bird, underestimating the enemy is the biggest strategic mistake.

The Imp got up and left with the Mountain, dejected.