The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 3: An Uninvited Passerby

(5,000 words, seeking subscriptions)

*

Two days later, the company arrived at the edge of Claw Isle.

Jeyne said, "Your Grace, may I have temporary command of the army?"

The Mountain, astride his horse, replied, "Very well, madam. Generals, guards, soldiers, from this moment forward, military command is given to Lady Jeyne. Her orders are my orders. Let all soldiers strictly obey!"

The generals and soldiers responded in unison, "Hah!"

Jeyne stood in the carriage, gripping the handrail, and said to the little maid beside her, "Bring them out!"

The little maid then retrieved a cloth bundle from the carriage, opened it, and took out two banners.

One was the famous three-headed dragon banner from the Targaryen dynasty: a dragon with three heads, the sigil of House Targaryen, and the battle flag of the loyalist army back in the day.

The other was Robert Baratheon's crowned stag banner, distinct from Joffrey's current banner, which was half-crowned stag and half-golden lion.

"Black Stone, replace the flags with these two," Jeyne instructed.

Black Stone hailed from the Clegane lands. Formerly a miner, he had joined the army and served as the Mountain's chief standard-bearer. His wife, Aryk, was the head chef at Lord Audibert's Noodle Shop on Silk Street.

Standard-bearer Black Stone ordered the flag-bearers to lower the flags. There were three flags in total. The first was King Joffrey's royal banner: half-crowned stag, half-golden lion. The people here recognized the crowned stag but were unfamiliar with the golden lion. Their fondness for King Robert persisted; they only acknowledged Robert's crowned stag as the symbol of royal power.

The Mountain and the others were equally surprised. When had Jeyne prepared these new banners? Neither the Mountain nor the generals knew.

*

The Mountain understood the reasoning behind the banners Jeyne produced as soon as he saw them: Stannis's royal banner had made a fatal mistake by surrounding the crowned stag with flames. This had a significant impact on the common people, his own army of tens of thousands of soldiers, and some important generals.

Even Ser Davos Seaworth, Stannis's most loyal supporter, was firmly against it. The effect on morale was immeasurable.

Throughout King's Landing, even before Stannis launched his attack, many rumors had spread about his banner, including the terrifying red priestess who sacrificed people alive. The hundreds of thousands of people in King's Landing, all the soldiers, were only familiar with and accepted the crowned stag, certainly not a tiny crowned stag surrounded by flames.

*

Joffrey's new royal banner was replaced with Robert Baratheon's royal banner; the Hand of the King's golden lion banner was replaced with the Targaryen three-headed dragon banner. Loyalty to the Targaryens was a three-hundred-year tradition on Claw Isle. They proudly declared themselves dragon warriors.

The Mountain understood that if Daenerys Targaryen were to lead an army back from across the Narrow Sea, all it would take was one person with the Queen's writ to incite the people here to rise up and fight for the Targaryen Queen.

There were many such forces lying dormant in this land.

*

The flag-bearers marched forward, hoisting the three great banners: the crowned stag, the royal authority that Claw Isle was currently willing to accept; the Targaryen banner, the traditional royal authority to which the islanders had been loyal for three hundred years, held with deep emotion and gratitude; and the three-dog banner, the sigil of the Mountain's legion.

The Mountain suddenly felt that the dog looked so jarring next to the dragon and the stag.

The three-dog sigil was designed for House Clegane by the maesters of House Lannister. The Mountain's grandfather was a kennel master for the Lannisters. Once, he drove off a lion with three hunting dogs and himself, saving Tywin Lannister's father. Thus, the lord granted the kennel master knighthood and created the three-dog sigil for him.

This inherently considered House Clegane to be dogs forever loyal to House Lannister. In fact, Lord Tywin and his father certainly thought so and acted accordingly. Cersei and Joffrey, deep down, also believed that the Cleganes were their dogs.

"Take down the three-dog banner," the Mountain said. "I am now the Duke of Dragonstone, no longer the Lord of Clegane's Keep. We will never use the three-dog sigil again. The days of the Cleganes being dogs of House Lannister are over."

The generals looked at each other in dismay.

In their hearts, the three-dog banner was supreme.

They had not thought as highly or as far ahead as the Mountain.

But Jeyne immediately understood the Mountain's intention. She clapped her hands and said, "Well done, Your Grace! As the Duke of Dragonstone, you are no longer a Clegane of the Westerlands but a Clegane of Dragonstone. You should have your own new sigil, a brand new banner belonging to the Clegane ducal house."

The generals all understood. Their lord was now a duke, the Duke of Dragonstone, no longer the Lord of Clegane's Keep. Their lord was now equal in status to Lord Tywin, Lord Stark, Lord Tyrell, Lord Martell, Lord Arryn, and Lord Tully. The status of the Clegane army also rose sharply. It was the right time and proper to change the banner, adding glory to the occasion.

Among the generals, Polliver, Anguy, and Dunsen all had the Clegane surname. The three hundred cavalrymen were the Clegane's most elite heavy cavalry, each with two horses.

Clang!

The Mountain drew Ice, its sound like thunder: "The Clegane army is unmatched, and it must have an unmatched banner!"

Jeyne, having just taken command, assessed the situation, and with her cleverness and agility, immediately raised her hand and shouted, "The Clegane army is unmatched!"

This was a slogan that could easily ignite fighting spirit and passion.

"Unmatched" was the Mountain's family motto, stolen from House Charlton of Silverhall.

Anguy, Polliver, Dunsen, Brienne, Zelle, Elin, and Grald and other generals drew their longswords together, pointing their tips to the sky: "The Clegane army is unmatched!"

The three hundred elite cavalrymen shouted in unison: "The Clegane army is unmatched!"

Shouting slogans and congratulating the lord on his decision to change the banner was a highlight moment to showcase the legion's glory.

In the carriage, Jeyne's personal maid was infected and just wanted to draw her short sword and follow these warriors to chop people, chop people, chop people.

It was also because of the Mountain's decision, at this moment of glory outside Claw Isle, that the Clegane army's military training slogans, combat slogans, motivational slogans, and loyalty slogans were no longer "Long live the King," nor "Long live King's Landing," nor "Long live the Mountain, long live Dragonstone," but: "The Clegane army is unmatched!"

*

The army entered Claw Isle, and the road began to become difficult, and the carriage began to shake. However, mountain roads and streams had little impact on warhorses. Warhorses were not ordinary horses but had been specially trained. Their ability to climb mountains and cross rivers far exceeded that of ordinary horses.

There was a village ahead. Due to the obstruction of pine trees, only a corner could be seen. It was unknown how large the village was.

Whistles and shouts came from afar, as if the villagers were preparing for battle. Dunsen and Polliver gripped their sword hilts. Brienne and Zelle approached Jeyne's carriage. The Mountain shouted, "Everyone, be on guard!"

"Hah!" the generals and soldiers responded in unison.

Jeyne said, "No, be on guard in your hearts, but do not show it. Everyone, do not grip your sword hilts, do not stare at anyone. This is a serious provocation."

The generals and soldiers obeyed, and their hands left their sword hilts.

"Our banners will allow us to enter the peninsula smoothly. The islanders will not rashly attack us, but one thing, everyone must remember, do not give anything to the children who come to beg. Remember, this is very important."

"Why?" the Mountain asked.

"Do not ask why. You will encounter many incomprehensible things along the way. Do not ask why, just listen and do as I say."

"Yes, madam!"

"Generals, do not give anything to the children who come to beg," the Mountain ordered.

"Hah!" the generals and soldiers responded in unison.

Clang, clang, ding, bang, crash, the sound of hitting pots and pans, the sound of leather drums, sharp whistles, incomprehensible shouts, and the sound of trampling feet came from afar in the village, all mixed together.

"The company advances slowly, without panic," Jeyne shouted.

The generals and soldiers controlled their warhorses, slowing down.

"Standard-bearer Black Stone, lead the way with the banners," Jeyne ordered.

"Yes, madam."

"Dunsen, Anguy!"

"Your servant is here, madam."

"From now on, protect the banners on both sides. Anyone who tries to seize the banners or disrespect them will be killed without mercy!"

"As you command, madam."

Black Stone, Anguy, and Dunsen followed around the six flag-bearers. Two banners, six flag-bearers, of which four flag-bearers were protecting the standard-bearer, while also taking turns carrying the flag.

*

At the village entrance in the distance, many people suddenly appeared, men and women, old and young. It could be seen that many people were pointing at the banners. In the pine forest on both sides of the road, shadows were detouring to the rear of the company. There were vague figures on both sides of the company.

It seemed that there was a large village hidden in the pine forest ahead.

On Claw Isle, some tribes were just a village.

The company advanced slowly, the soldiers' hands were on their saddles, no one's hand was on their sword hilt.

Ahead, two large banners fluttered in the wind.

On both sides of the road, at a distance of several sword lengths, people appeared one after another. Everyone had weapons in their hands: scimitars, longswords, spears and pikes, clubs, axes, bows and arrows, wicker shields, iron hooks. The people's gloomy eyes stared at the banners, and the weapons in their hands were lowered one after another.

The banners were working.

The Mountain noticed that almost everyone was barefoot, wearing coarse cloth clothes. The men were bare-chested, the women were exposing their arms. Many people had patterns painted on their exposed skin. Their muscles were dark, and their eyes were filled with hostility.

There were also many children. Every child's eyes were filled with wildness, fearless, and each had weapons in their hands, either short bows or swords. Many had an iron hook installed on a wooden handle, just like a fishhook, with barbs.

The children stared at these outsiders, their small eyes filled with obvious killing intent, like wild beasts staring at uninvited guests who had broken into their territory.

Men, women, old and young, everyone was silent, their eyes fixed on this company, harboring deep vigilance and hostility towards this company.

The Mountain and the two banners became the focus of the villagers' attention.

Wherever the banners passed, the villagers slowly lowered the weapons in their hands, and people emerged from the trees, behind rocks, in the grass, and behind trees, came to the roadside, staring at these foreign troops.

The Mountain and the generals were shocked. If it weren't for Jeyne, a fierce battle would have broken out after they entered Claw Isle and passed through the first village. Although killing these people seemed not difficult, they did not have good weapons, no armor, and the protective wicker shields seemed vulnerable, but this was not the intention of coming here.

A little girl suddenly ran out and stood in the middle of the road, reaching out to Black Stone.

Although the child did not speak, everyone could see that she was asking for something.

Jeyne had said that you must not give the children who come to ask for anything.

Black Stone was an honest man, with an extremely simple personality, and he couldn't help but want to give the girl food. The little girl looked thin, with big black eyes, dry yellow hair, and a small, dirty hand outstretched.

Black Stone shook his head!

The flag-bearers had to stop. The little girl blocked them, not letting them pass.

Another boy ran out and reached out to Anguy.

Anguy also shook his head.

One of the boy's hands reached out to Anguy, and the other hand was behind his back. Seeing that Anguy did not give him anything, the hand behind his back was raised, and a stone hit Anguy's face.

Anguy reached out and grabbed the stone, shook his head at the boy, and put the stone in his arms.

Jeyne had specifically said beforehand, don't throw the stones thrown by the children on the ground. This was not a provocation, but it might be regarded as a kind of contempt by the villagers.

The Mountain and the generals could not understand this reasoning.

Jeyne said: It was not the villagers who broke into other people's territory, but the Cleganes. This territory was theirs, and everything belonged to them. This was the basis of all reason.

*

A woman suddenly pointed at Anguy and cursed. Her language was fierce, but everyone could not understand what she was scolding. This was the local dialect, and it was difficult for non-locals to understand.

The villagers' faces were also indignant. A man also joined in the accusations against Black Stone and Anguy. Soon, more people showed contempt, disdain, and ridicule. They spoke loudly, obviously very dissatisfied, but it seemed that some kind of rule bound their hands and feet. They scolded and were dissatisfied, but no one took action to rob. The Mountain was careful to guard against it, and no one showed any intention of attacking.

The scolding became more and more intense, but the Mountain found that people's hostility and killing intent were becoming lighter and lighter.

This was very strange. They were obviously very dissatisfied and increasingly looked down on these outsiders, but the imminent hostility and killing intent gradually disappeared without a trace.

The Mountain and the soldiers held their breath.

Jeyne was calm and composed, without saying a word. Everyone was stuck here.

Finally, the girl and the boy made way, and the company slowly passed. The villagers sounded mocking whistles and booing 'oh oh oh' sounds. Maybe many people were cursing to get out, but the Mountain and others couldn't understand it anyway.

Some small stones hit the warriors' helmets and armor, clanging and falling to the ground. There was no doubt that they were very disappointed and dissatisfied with this foreign legion.

The warriors remembered Lady Jeyne's military orders and did not retaliate.

The company passed safely. Many women chased the carriage, grabbing sand and stones on the ground and throwing them at the carriage, accompanied by gritted teeth and curses, but the outsiders did not retort or fight back. They finally stopped chasing, their faces full of deep regret. They looked at the supplies on the car, their eyes full of greed.

After passing this village, the road ahead began to rise. Ahead was a hillside. After passing the hillside, they traveled a long distance until lunchtime, and there were no more villages.

Jane ordered everyone to rest and eat. The soldiers dismounted and ate their dry rations.

The Mountain lifted Jane down from the carriage. "Madam, what was that all about?"

"The children came to ask for things. If you give it to them, it's considered agreeing that they have the right to take at least half of our things. So, we'd have to leave fifty wagons of goods for them. If you don't give it, it's an insult to them. The people of Claw Isle only have the tradition of insulting others; they won't allow others to insult them."

"So, they were very disappointed and dissatisfied that we didn't give them anything? Especially the women."

"Yes! They think we are the stingiest and worst outsiders, not generous or righteous at all. The women are even greedier."

"Then why didn't they just rob us?"

"Because we are their guests."

"Guests?"

"There are only two kinds of people who can enter Claw Isle: enemies, who force their way through with swords, and basically can't move an inch; and guests. The guests in their eyes are like passersby in our eyes."

The Mountain sighed, "Why didn't Captain Archibald Warner tell me these things?"

"This is the tradition of the people of Claw Isle. He sells his life for you, and you fulfill your promises to him. Men should bear their own responsibilities."

"It seems the two royal banners are our pass."

"Yes, the two royal banners are our pass to enter."

"What else will we encounter ahead?"

"I looked at the records of your and the maester's conversations with Archibald Warner last night. To get to the Warner family's territory, we still have to pass through four villages and a valley. I think next, we may have to kill people."

"Why?" The Mountain asked in surprise. "We have the royal banners and are their guests."

"Here, guests are just passersby. Think about what we relied on to get through the first village."

"The royal banners!"

"That's right, the royal banners. If I'm predicting correctly, by now, the next village has already received news of our arrival. Whether we are enemies or can transform from passersby-like guests into further accepted friends, the people of Claw Isle have their own special way of judging."

"Through the royal banners?"

"Yes, through the royal banners."

"Claw Isle is so difficult to enter, why didn't the civil and military officials of the royal territory advise me against it?"

"Your military achievements are too high, and you've become the Duke of Dragonstone and Master of Ships. In the throne room, many people are eager to see you suffer a crushing defeat," Jane said calmly. "It's just a pity that this time, we're going to disappoint those people."

"We will continue to disappoint them," The Mountain smiled.

Jealousy is one of human nature, far exceeding the nature of goodwill.

"No, when you keep disappointing those people, they will gradually change their view of you and begin to choose to be close to us, and then they will hope to walk with us. I think I understand this very well."

"So, as long as we keep getting stronger and keep winning, everything will gradually change, and even those who envy, are jealous of, and hate us will begin to transform and want to walk with us?"

"Yes! Tell Dunsen and Anguy to be prepared. If anyone comes to move the banners in the next village, kill him in the fastest and most ruthless way."

Thanks to [飘尘入世] [骑驴摸书] for the reward support, thank you, handshake!