The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 354: Plotting Bronn, Acquiring Ice (Seeking Subscriptions)

The Mountain hadn't yet answered when Lady Tanda reminded him, "Ser Gregor, your loyalty is to His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Mother."

This displeased Cersei, as Tanda spoke out of turn while she was addressing the Mountain. Angering him would be unwise.

Lady Tanda was always trying to impress the Queen Mother.

The Mountain glanced at Lady Tanda. She was very fat, comparable to his own feeble-minded daughter, Lollys.

"Lady Tanda speaks correctly. The Mountain is only loyal to His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, and Lord Tywin. Tonight, I prevented bloodshed for the safety of the King and Queen Mother. With a great enemy before us, it is unwise to fight amongst ourselves before they even attack. Your Grace, before the enemy attacks, all our strength must be united against them," the Mountain said calmly.

Cersei scrutinized the Mountain, Jaime's words echoing in her mind—about the events that had transpired last year in the Trident and at the ruby ford of the Red Fork. Jaime had said the Mountain had changed, becoming less savage and more rational, less reckless and more cautious, less cruel and more calculating. Jaime had cautioned Cersei to be wary of him.

Tonight's events and the Mountain's current demeanor, neither servile nor arrogant, but reasonable and well-argued, proved Jaime's insight was sharp.

The Mountain's agreement with Lady Tanda emboldened her, and she eagerly pressed on, "Ser Gregor, if you know your loyalty lies with the King and Queen Mother, why did you aid the Imp against Her Grace's Kingsguard tonight?"

The question was foolish and likely to enrage the Mountain. Lady Tanda's questioning was inappropriate. Firstly, she had no right. Secondly, the Mountain was not one to accept aggressive questioning. Her foolish inquiry would only backfire.

Cersei felt the urge to slap Lady Tanda!

The Mountain was not an ordinary knight, general, or courtier to be casually rebuked. He had entered the throne room during King Robert's reign without kneeling. Like the King's Justice, Ilyn Payne, he was exempt from kneeling before the King.

Cersei's fears proved unfounded!

The Mountain was neither provoked nor did he seize Lady Tanda to throw her out. He remained calm, neither servile nor arrogant: "Lady Tanda, I was not helping the Imp. Frankly, I despise him. If he were not a Lannister, I would have thrown him from the window onto the marble floor tonight. But before the great battle with our enemies, it is best not to touch him. He represents Lord Tywin. He is the Hand of the King!"

"And if we must move against him?" Lady Tanda was accelerating down the road to ruin!

"Lady Tanda!" Cersei said softly, a flash of sharp warning in her eyes that startled Tanda. She immediately realized her mistake. Using the Queen Mother's power to intimidate other courtiers and soldiers was effective, but it was a joke with the Mountain. If he lost his temper, he would throw her against the wall and kill her.

The aggressive Lady Tanda broke out in a cold sweat, and Cersei recognized her foolishness and ignorance, holding it against her, planning a slow revenge.

Cersei's warning glance vanished, replaced by a smile. "Ser Gregor is quite right. Until Stannis and Renly are dealt with, we should not fight amongst ourselves and exacerbate tensions. I will remember the Imp's provocation. Ser Gregor, thank you for your efforts tonight. Let us have a drink. Lady Tanda, pour Ser Gregor some wine!"

On the surface, it was pouring wine, but it was actually an apology to the Mountain for Lady Tanda's abrupt recklessness.

"Yes, Your Grace," Lady Tanda responded quickly.

The Mountain said, "Thank you for the wine, Your Grace. I have already had enough tonight, any more and I will lose control. But on reflection, Lady Tanda's words are not entirely without merit. If we must deal with the Imp now, I have an idea."

Lady Tanda's heart immediately settled. She glanced at Queen Cersei, her expression clearly obsequious. She was relieved that her words had not angered the Mountain and pleased that they had elicited an idea for dealing with the Imp. From the course of the conversation, it seemed she had accomplished something.

Cersei remained impassive, signaling Lady Tanda to continue pouring wine for the Mountain: "Ser Gregor, what good idea do you have? Tell me."

The Mountain said, "Your Grace, Stannis has a navy at Dragonstone and has declared himself king. Renly has an army of one hundred thousand at Bitterbridge and has also declared himself king. Both rebels will attack King's Landing. Before that, we should not move against the Hand of the King. Doing so would have far-reaching consequences for our overall strategy. But we can weaken the Imp's power first."

Lady Tanda approached, offering the wine to the Mountain. He ignored her, not taking it. The lady stood there awkwardly, finally withdrawing her hand, abashed.

"How can we weaken the Imp's power first?"

"The Imp himself is not difficult to deal with. He has no martial skills. Without someone to protect him, the Imp is nothing."

Queen Cersei's eyes lit up, a charming smile appearing on her face as she gestured for the Mountain to continue.

"Your Grace, the Imp has two personal guards, Bronn and Podrick. Podrick is still a boy. He was sent to the Imp by Lord Tywin, his martial skills are ordinary, and he can be ignored. But Bronn is experienced, a skilled swordsman, shrewd, and ruthless. He is the Imp's greatest safeguard. If Your Grace wishes to vent your anger, you can start by killing Bronn."

"A good idea!" Lady Tanda said, placing the wine she had poured for the Mountain on the tea table, continuing her suicidal behavior. "To strike a tiger, first cut off its claws!"

Her interruption made Queen Cersei hate her even more.

"Ser Gregor, if I want to kill Bronn, how should I do it?"

"Your Grace, killing the Hand of the King's personal guard in King's Landing would be a major case. Whoever acts would have trouble washing away the responsibility afterward. If you send assassins, I fear Bronn would kill them instead. That fellow is a mercenary who licks blood from his blade. He kills for whoever pays him more. He is an expert in that regard. If you issue a formal challenge, the Hound, Balon Swann, and Arryk Cargyll from Your Grace's retinue could fight Bronn, but it would be difficult to kill him with certainty. We could easily lose our own people."

Queen Cersei nodded frequently as she listened.

"Balon has a weakness: greed. A common mercenary wants to make a fortune unless he robs and kills. King's Landing is in chaos, and wealthy people are always escorted by knights. It is difficult for Bronn to rob and get rich. Based on Bronn's greedy nature, I have an idea..."

The Mountain looked at Lady Tanda. "Lady Tanda, your daughter Lollys is still unmarried. We can send a maester, feigning interest in proposing marriage to Bronn, saying that if he agrees to marry Lollys, he will receive part of the Stokeworth lands and a large dowry. Perhaps we can even promise him a small castle. He will certainly agree. He will leave the Imp without hesitation to go to the Stokeworth lands and marry Lollys. Once he leaves King's Landing and goes to the Stokeworth lands, killing him will be as easy as crushing an ant."

"Whether it is assassination, open killing, a duel, or a gang fight, we can kill Bronn as we please. His death will not attract anyone's attention. Nor will it cause any bad rumors in the royal palace. That way, the Imp will lose his best personal guard, and it will be easy for us to move against him in the future. As for the Imp's mountain clansmen, they are all brainless brutes. Dealing with them is effortless."

Lady Tanda said, "Uh, uh, uh, Lollys marry Bronn... Lollys's reputation..."

"A good idea!" Cersei said calmly. "Lady Tanda, you will agree, won't you?"

Cersei sneered inwardly: What noble honor does a feeble-minded, obese woman like Lollys, who has been raped by a dozen rioters, still have? Which noble's son would marry Lollys? She should be honored to marry a mercenary. What else is Lollys good for if not to be used by me?

Lady Tanda met Cersei's gaze. After a brief silence, Lady Tanda smiled: "Of course, Your Grace. We will do it that way. First, we will remove the Imp's most capable guard and kill Bronn on the Stokeworth lands. It will be perfect."

"Thank you, Lady Tanda. I know your loyalty. Those who gain the friendship of the Lannister family never regret it. A Lannister always pays his debts!" Cersei flattered Tanda.

The Mountain continued: "Lady Tanda's heir, her eldest daughter Falyse, is married to Ser Balman Byrch. From what I understand, they have been living in Stokeworth Castle since they got married. Your Grace, I suggest that we entrust the task of killing Bronn to Falyse and Ser Balman Byrch. Killing a mercenary outside King's Landing will not affect the courtiers in the Red Keep, nor will it affect the stability of the army's morale. Even if the Imp finds out afterward, he will be helpless."

"Good, it is settled then," Cersei said, turning to face the Mountain. "Ser Gregor, you are stationed in King's Landing. If there is anything I can help you with, do not hesitate to ask."

"Your Grace, I am a subject. It is my duty to provide advice and effort for Your Grace and His Majesty the King," the Mountain began with a lengthy, hollow, official statement before changing his tone. "Your Grace, last year, after the rebel Eddard Stark was arrested in the throne room, he left behind a family sword, a greatsword made of Valyrian steel called Ice. I wish to obtain it and use Ice to charge into battle, defending the King and Queen Mother."

"Ice is in the hands of the King's Justice, Ilyn Payne. Ilyn Payne is fiercely loyal to the royal family and loves his sword like his own life. He is stubborn. After Eddard Stark's coup failed in the throne room last year, the sword Ice has been in his possession. Ice has become Ilyn's executioner's sword. He uses Ice every time he beheads a criminal."

"Your Grace, as long as you do not interfere, I have a way to make Ilyn Payne willingly give Ice to me. With a great enemy before us, I lack a good sword. The greatsword Ice is the Stark family's ceremonial sword. Because it is too heavy and too long, it cannot be used in battle. But for me, it is the perfect battlefield sword. My heavy armor and oak shield fit me well, but I have always lacked a good sword. Please, Your Grace, grant my request."

"Very well, I will not interfere in the matter of Ice between you and Ilyn Payne, but you must promise me not to harm Ilyn Payne's life. He is the King's Justice."

"May the old gods and the new bear witness, the Mountain will only take the sword and will never harm Ilyn Payne's life!" the Mountain vowed!