The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 419: The Rainy Season Arrives (Seeking Subscriptions with a 10,000-Character Update)

(Bonus chapter for the reward from [绘真芽衣子], congratulations on becoming a Hall Master of this book; owing [MaxW] 2 more chapters)

*

In the bedroom, the atmosphere that the Imp had just eased suddenly turned heavy.

Tywin, ever since he made his name in the War of the Ninepenny Kings at the age of eighteen, had annihilated all rebellious vassals. The most famous example is the no man's land in the Westerlands to this day—Castamere and Tarbeck Hall.

The Reyne family of Castamere and the Tarbeck family of Tarbeck Hall were disrespectful to the Lannister family, and Tywin unleashed his family-extermination method. He slaughtered both great houses, including all their vassals, sparing no one, man, woman, or child, turning Castamere and Tarbeck Hall into no man's lands—and because of this, a song is still sung throughout the Seven Kingdoms: The Rains of Castamere.

*

The Mountain himself could sing this song! And he greatly enjoyed its lyrics:

—And who are you, the proud lord said,

that I must bow so low?

Only a cat of a different coat,

that’s all the truth I know.

A lion still has claws,

And mine are long and sharp, my Lord,

as long and sharp as yours.

And so he spoke, and so he spoke,

that Lord of Castamere,

But now the rains weep o’er his hall,

with no one there to hear.

Yes now the rains weep o’er his hall,

and not a soul to hear.

Many years after the Duke turned Castamere and Tarbeck Hall into no man's lands, the Farman family of Fair Isle in the Sunset Sea refused to submit to control. Duke Tywin said nothing, only sending a harpist. When the song "The Rains of Castamere" was played in the castle hall, the Farman family immediately bowed their heads in submission.

*

Tywin stared at the Mountain, and although the difference in height between them was significant, his aura was not inferior to the Mountain's at all: "Mountain, what did you just say?"

Tyrion, the Imp, interjected in a timely manner, laughing: "Father, which vassal in the Seven Kingdoms has not sworn allegiance to our King Joffrey Baratheon the First?" He pointed to himself, "I have." He pointed to Littlefinger, "You have!" He pointed to Mace, "He has too! Come, Mountain, it's my wedding today, won't you have a drink to congratulate me?"

The Mountain did not answer, staring at Tywin!

In Tywin's eyes, he saw death, blood, swords, smoke, and fire! If he retreated even slightly at this moment, disaster would befall him! He stared at Tywin, meeting his gaze. Many people in this room could not afford to die, such as Mace, the King, the Queen Mother, and even Tywin. If Tywin made any unusual move or gave an order, he would act first! One punch for each, kill them all!

Tyrion laughed heartily: "It's my wedding today, is no one willing to have a drink with me? A dwarf is so pitiful, no one has ever thought highly of him!"

"I'll have a drink with you, my Lord," Littlefinger said with a smile.

"I'll have one too," Kevan said. "Lord Mace, won't you offer my nephew a toast? He's the groom today."

"It would be my honor!" Lord Mace said with a smile. He was delighted to see Tywin and the Mountain confronting each other head-on. This was the situation he most wanted to see, and now that he had, he was in a good mood.

"Brother, it's Tyrion's wedding today, won't you have a drink?" Kevan said, turning his head to Tywin as he poured the wine.

He didn't call him Lord Hand, but Brother.

This shift was extremely clever.

Oberyn Martell was about to arrive, and sending the Mountain's fresh head to the Martell family would be the end of it. Why provoke this big black guy now! One punch from him could kill anyone in this room!

Duke Tywin suppressed the order that was about to come out of his mouth and said: "Alright, everyone have a drink to bless Tyrion's wedding." He looked at the Mountain very calmly, the sharpness in his eyes disappearing. "Mountain, won't you have a drink? Don't forget, he's your brother!"

The Mountain was immediately seized by this sentence!

Jeyne was Duke Tywin's foster daughter, and he was Duke Tywin's son-in-law, and therefore Tyrion was the Mountain's brother.

There was nothing wrong with Duke Tywin's words.

"Uh, of course, I'll have a big cup!" the Mountain said.

Littlefinger, being so shrewd, immediately handed the Mountain a large cup of wine at the right time.

Among the figures in this room, although many were fools, there were also true shrewd and powerful individuals.

Tywin, Joffrey, Kevan, Cersei, the Mountain, Littlefinger, Mace, Tyrion, Loras, and Qyburn raised their glasses together, congratulating Tyrion on his marriage!

Kevan calling Tywin Brother, and Tywin saying that Tyrion was the Mountain's brother, was to put aside the official business from earlier and turn it into a private family gathering.

The tense, on-the-verge-of-life-and-death atmosphere was interrupted by Tyrion, Kevan changed his identity, Tywin stepped down, and he used family ties to remind the Mountain, who had no choice but to follow suit—thus miraculously turning it into a harmonious scene of congratulating Tyrion on his marriage.

With this drink and chat, no one mentioned the Mountain's Crab Claw Peninsula kingship, nor did anyone mention the position of Master of War, as if everything had passed and nothing had happened.

*

Midnight, Tower of the Hand. Study.

Tywin entered the study as soon as he returned to the Tower of the Hand.

Kevan and Grand Maester Pycelle followed him in.

"Immediately write a letter to Daven Lannister, ordering him to kill everyone in the Clegane Keep territory, leaving only Maester Halleck, and have Maester Halleck send a message to the Mountain to assure him of his safety."

Grand Maester Pycelle and Kevan were both stunned!

Daven Lannister's aunt was Joanna Lannister, Duke Tywin's wife. He and his father, Stafford Lannister, were defeated in the Battle of Oxcross, losing to Robb Stark, and his father, Stafford, was stabbed in the chest and killed by Rickard Karstark.

After the defeat, Daven fled to Lannisport, gathered the remnants of his army, and established a new army. When the Westerlands army came to relieve King's Landing, Daven's was the strongest army in the Westerlands and was very close to the Clegane Keep territory.

Kevan said: "Lord Hand, it may not be appropriate to immediately kill everyone in the Clegane Keep territory. Kill the Mountain first, then kill the people of Clegane Keep, to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"Maester Halleck of Clegane Keep is the man I sent to the Mountain. Leave him to communicate with the Mountain, and kill everyone else. The Westerlands and King's Landing are thousands of miles apart, the Mountain won't know about Clegane Keep."

"...The woods witch... what about her?"

"I've spent months with the woods witch day and night, and I know her abilities very well. She can only predict the overall situation and major events, not small matters and sudden changes. Otherwise, the Starks of the North wouldn't have swept through our Westerlands."

"If you kill the people in the Clegane territory, she may not be willing to work for us in the future."

"I've already asked about the major events of the Seven Kingdoms that I wanted to know. The woods witch is useless to me now. A blood witch, other than being accurate in predicting national affairs, is useless in other schemes, intrigues, and worldly strategies. She can't see her own life, including herself. I'm very sure of that."

"Can predict the country..."

"Don't say anymore, she didn't predict that the Mountain would rebel to me, the woods witch is no longer trustworthy, kill her too!" Duke Tywin said, "Grand Maester Pycelle, do as I say!"

Pycelle glanced at Kevan, who closed his mouth.

"Yes, my Lord!" Grand Maester Pycelle said.

Because of the Mountain's military achievements, the territory of Clegane Keep had expanded several times, and many refugees from the war had moved into the territory. This was a means of absorbing the people that Jeyne had been committed to promoting when she was still in the Westerlands, and it was very effective.

The family of Weapons Master Tobho Mott had moved into Clegane Keep.

Master Tobho Mott and Gendry were diligently researching a foldable, mobile dragon-hunting ballista at Clegane Keep and were close to perfecting it.

The mill, noodle factory, snow salt workshop, and milk processing plant were all running well. Infantry General Tolbert (Chiswyck's second-in-command) was also following the Mountain's orders, taking four soldiers, a total of five people, back to Clegane Keep to bring the two children of Bannerman Black Stone to King's Landing.

Black Stone died in the blood sacrifice on the Crab Claw Peninsula, and the Mountain promised to take care of his two children and adopt them.

As soon as Tywin gave the order, Grand Maester Pycelle quickly wrote a secret letter to Daven Lannister. In the night, the raven carried the secret letter and flew out of the Tower of the Hand.

The rainy season had begun!

*

The Mountain's stone room in the Red Keep.

"You go to the Tower of the Hand with me now and apologize to my father, I think it's still in time," the Imp said. "You were too impulsive, no one dares to challenge his dignity, not me, not you, not the Starks, not the Tullys, not even Joffrey, do you understand?"

The Mountain sat, unmoving!

Jeyne leaned against the Mountain, holding an iron poker in her hand, gently stirring the embers that were about to go out.

"Mountain, you saved me twice, I remember it in my heart, come with me to the Tower of the Hand, I'm saving your life."

The Mountain looked at the Imp, who was still too naive, still thinking that he could get Tywin to change his mind through pleading. It was impossible to move the heart of a cold-blooded and ruthless person like Tywin with an apology or affection.

The Imp had a good heart and a keen eye. He saw that Tywin wanted to kill the Mountain, and he wanted to save the Mountain. It was a pity that he could see Tywin's murderous intent clearly, but he could not see that pleading was completely useless. In terms of family affection, the Imp always had subjective fantasies, and he always believed that everyone had a fragile humanity that would not be extinguished.

But at critical moments, he would make misjudgments because of this, resulting in the tragic situation of doing bad things with good intentions.

The Imp had shortcomings, fatal shortcomings. His wisdom and resourcefulness covered up his shortcomings, but the Mountain could see it clearly.

If he followed the Imp to the Tower of the Hand, it would be a dead end, with absolutely no chance of turning back.

The Mountain looked at the Imp's earnest gaze, he really wanted to tell him—Lord Tywin had long planned to send his head to the Martell family in order to form an alliance with the Martell family. The Mountain's head, Princess Myrcella Baratheon's marriage, the position of Master of War, and the fact that he did not have to pay taxes independently, these four conditions were the fundamental reasons for the Martell family to come to King's Landing to submit. Doran Martell had already reached an alliance agreement with Duke Tywin, just waiting for the agreement to be implemented one by one.

But the Mountain couldn't say a word of these words.

He couldn't be omniscient, it would shock the Imp and be regarded as his own delusion by the Imp. The Imp had his own fatal shortcomings and could not be compensated. This was also the fundamental reason why he would continue to make mistakes in military command and strategic planning after he served Daenerys Targaryen in the future.

"Lady Jeyne, can't you persuade Lord Mountain to go to the Tower of the Hand with me and resolve the knot between him and my father."

"How to resolve it?" Jeyne said. She knew very well that only by staying in the Mountain's stone room, with her own guards outside, her own generals at the door, and the Ice Greatsword in the room, was the Mountain fearsome! Whoever dared to move the Mountain in the Red Keep's stone room was simply courting death!

"The Mountain only needs to apologize to my father and say that he doesn't want the empty name of King of the Crab Claw Peninsula, and all the conflicts will disappear."

"What if Father orders the Mountain to be killed? In the Tower of the Hand, can the Mountain and you stop Father's guard corps? Do you think Father will let the Mountain enter the Tower of the Hand with the Ice Greatsword?"

"Things aren't that serious!"

"What if?" Jeyne said softly.

The rainy season had already begun, but the Imp refused to think about it. The mistakes he made in his life were almost all related to his family. As long as he faced his family, his mind wouldn't be so flexible. The Mountain looked at the Imp, and it could be said that many years later, the main reason for Daenerys's drastic change in temperament was the continuous military defeats under the Imp's command before Daenerys's dragon burned King's Landing.

"Tyrion, it's your wedding night, don't let your bride stay alone in her room," the Mountain said with a smile.

"Do you think I would humiliate a trembling, pitiful girl?"

"You should leave."

"Can't I just stay here with you for a while?"

"If you don't leave, we're leaving."

"You're leaving, where are you going?"

"Can you sing The Rains of Castamere?" The Mountain smiled and hummed softly, "And so he spoke, and so he spoke, that Lord of Castamere. But now the rains weep o’er his hall, with no one there to hear. Yes now the rains weep o’er his hall, and not a soul to hear."

"If Father has really made up his mind, you can't escape."

"Of course I can escape. Dragonstone is not Castamere and Tarbeck Hall, and it's only half a day's voyage from Dragonstone to the Crab Claw Peninsula."

"You're going to take Dragonstone overnight?"

"Yes."

"You don't have enough warships."

"Which ship in the Blackwater Bay harbor can't I requisition?"

"If you leave, without explaining to Father, without apologizing or communicating, it will only intensify the conflict and there will be no turning back. Besides, there are your people in your Clegane Keep, mills, noodle factories, armories, many things."

"I can only live well first, so that I can ensure that Father won't move the people in my Clegane territory. If he does, any counterattack I make will be forced. If I leave safely, the people of Clegane Keep won't be killed."

If Tywin didn't move, and the Mountain moved first, that would be a rebellion. The Mountain would lose his legitimacy and support. The Mountain's reputation was already bad enough; he couldn't afford to make it even worse. Reputation meant nothing to a thug, or a general, or even a lord, but for someone who wanted to achieve great things, someone who wanted to rise and dominate, reputation would become extremely important in the later stages.

But the Mountain had clearly made a fatal mistake. He had underestimated Tywin's decisiveness. The Duke had already issued the order overnight to kill everyone in the Clegane Keep territory except for Maester Potter.

"Do you really want to go that far?"

"I don't want to, but the rainy season has arrived!" The Mountain stood up. "Zelle, inform the guards to prepare my Red Smoke beast, and everyone else's mounts as well. Everyone fully armed, combat ready. Head to the Clegane military camp at the Mud Gate."

"Yes, sir." Zelle hurried away.

The Mountain and Jeyne stood up together, and Tyrion also stood up, wanting to go out with them.

"Brienne, keep an eye on Tyrion Lannister. We'll take him with us later."

"Yes, sir." Brienne strode in from the doorway, hand on her sword hilt, guarding the astonished Tyrion Lannister.

"Tyrion, don't worry, we'll release you after we've all safely left the Red Keep."

"Why are you doing this?"

"I need to ensure we safely leave the Red Keep first. I can't let you walk your little legs into the Tower of the Hand before then. Landon Garth, Aylin, come in and help me put on my armor!"

"Yes, sir!"

His ward, Landon Garth, and Captain Aylin came in together to help the Mountain put on his thick plate armor. Brienne stared at Tyrion, glaring menacingly, and Tyrion was incredulous.

But the Mountain and Jeyne were very clear: the rainy season had indeed arrived!

Thanks to [Chau534] for the small reward, thank you, handshake!