The Mountain of Ice and Fire

A black shadow flashed, and Seven-String Tom darted out of the wood shed, throwing himself onto Eddie. The two of them fell together, and the giant axe swept past their backs, slicing through Seven-String Tom's billowing gray robe. *Thwack*, the gray robe was cut open by the sharp axe blade.

The warrior stopped, revealing himself to be Sandor Curtis, the leader of the swamp. He laughed heartily, not at all concerned that he had almost killed two people just now. "Lord Mountain, I'm going to kill the enemy!" He kicked his horse, and the warhorse galloped away, leaping like the wind.

"Sandor, tell the brothers to stop, they're on our side!"

"Yes, sir!"

Sandor's voice already came from outside the courtyard!

Soon, Sandor's roar rang out: "Stop, Lord Mountain commands, everyone stop, they're on our side!" His Common Tongue was not very good, his tongue was large, and his voice was muffled, but he made it clear to stop and that they were on their side.

*

Mountain, carrying Tywin's head, rushed over to help Seven-String Tom and Eddie up. "A wandering singer?"

His gaze fell on the seven-stringed harp in the wood shed.

"Yes, sir. I am from Sevenstreams, people call me Tom of Sevenstreams, Seven-String Tom is also me." The old man puffed out his chest, overestimating himself. But compared to Mountain's size, he still looked like a half-grown child.

"Seven-String Tom, you saved Lady Eddie, you have good courage, I will reward you handsomely."

"I am a brother in the Brotherhood Without Banners," Seven-String Tom said proudly.

"Brotherhood Without Banners, not bad." Mountain changed the subject, he was more concerned about Eddie in his heart, "Madam, what are you doing here? I am very happy that you are safe."

Mountain was covered in blood, carrying a head in his hand, the head still staring with its eyes wide open, dripping blood. He was fierce and evil like a ghost, his words were sonorous, full of iron and blood, it was difficult to hear his happiness and joy.

*

Lady Eddie was still in shock, her face pale. The heavy axe cavalry just now was so fierce, his eyes were like those of a beast, ferocious and bloodthirsty, reminding her of the shadowcats, lions, and hungry wolves in the forest.

The Clegane army was not short of ruthless people, but there were very few like the fierce man just now. Eddie's feeling about that person was - a beast in human skin! A bloodthirsty beast without civilization and tamed humanity, but he was in human form.

When did Lord Mountain have such terrible subordinates?! A wild aura permeated the air. Eddie had also seen other fierce generals, they had a fierce aura, a murderous aura, but none of them had the savage beast aura of that man.

*

"Lord Mountain, we were arranged by Madam Wynch, with the help of Maester Harry." Eddie's eyes instantly filled with tears. She had personally experienced and witnessed the tragedy of Clegane village, it was unbearable to look at, blood was everywhere, and innocent people died tragically, and no one had buried them yet.

"...We, me and Tob Mott, Gendry, my daughter Atley Mott, Dan and Nina, the two children of General Black Stone, secretly came out of the back mountain of Clegane, there were Lannisters everywhere, we didn't even dare to ride horses, the target was too big, so we dismounted, there were too many enemies, we didn't dare to take the main road, and we didn't dare to take the side road, we walked in the fields, through the thorn bushes, and climbed up the Silver Hills from places where there was no road at all to escape." Lady Eddie cried softly.

"We walked in the Silver Hills for many days, not daring to be seen by the Silver Hill Charlottes, we knew that the Charlottes and the Cleganes had a blood feud. We finally left the Silver Hills and got on the Golden Road. Madam Wynch told us not to go to King's Landing along the main road, she wanted us to go east to survive, so we went east, crossed the Red Fork River, entered the Riverlands forest, and encountered scouts from the Brotherhood Without Banners."

"Lord Mountain, I am a brother in the Brotherhood Without Banners," Seven-String Tom said proudly. This was the second time he had reminded Mountain of his identity.

*

Mountain had a head in one hand and a giant sword in the other. He sheathed his giant sword and handed the head to Seven-String Tom, as naturally as if he were ordering his attendant: "Hang the head on my saddle."

Seven-String Tom was a proud member of the Brotherhood Without Banners, he was not under Mountain's control, and he only had a bad reputation for Mountain, and he had no good feelings for him. He originally thought that he would hum coldly and refuse proudly, but he was surprised to find that he had taken the head and walked towards the unicorn that he had sung about in the song. The unicorn turned its head to look at him, and he immediately stopped and dared not move.

The unicorn's eyes were unkind, and its whole body was like blood. Seven-String Tom was a singer with cultural knowledge, and knew that these 'exotic beasts' were as proud as him, and could not be provoked. Even singing to it might not be very useful.

"Red Smoke!" Mountain shouted.

The ferocity in Red Smoke's eyes immediately disappeared, instantly transforming from a hostile beast into a lovely exotic beast, like a child who had done something wrong, lowering its head, snorting, shaking its head slightly, its blood-red eyes seemed to be saying sorry to Seven-String Tom... but the sharp horn on its head still made Seven-String Tom wary...

"A unicorn? Lord Mountain?"

Mountain was surprised by the old singer's knowledge: "Yes, its name is Red Smoke."

"Red Smoke," Seven-String Tom said, "Lord Mountain, can I touch it?" Seven-String Tom's arrogance disappeared without a trace, and his tone was full of respect for Mountain, but he himself did not notice it.

"Yes, it already regards you as one of its own, but you must respect it, it is very proud."

"Understood! I have sung songs about unicorns."

*

Outside, a chorus of stops rang out.

Both sides were shouting to stop, but the weapons clashed fiercely. The Claw Peninsula cavalry was too fast, and they launched a fierce attack as soon as they came up, catching the Brotherhood Without Banners off guard. After a slight contact, the infantry was defeated.

Thoros and Beric Dondarrion were shocked, and hurriedly rode their warhorses, waving their flaming swords, and led twenty or so warhorses to charge over, barely curbing the opponent's frenzied attack, but several of their own infantry warriors had already been cut down.

Leader Sandor rushed out and shouted to stop, reporting Mountain's name, so everyone on both sides was shouting to stop, but the fast-cutting swords could not be stopped. By the time they really stopped, several more members of the Brotherhood Without Banners had fallen.

The ragged, penniless, foodless, and armorless Brotherhood Without Banners were good at guerrilla warfare, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, using insidious tricks and poison, specializing in capturing lone people for Red God trials, but they were vulnerable when facing the fully armed elite leaders and warriors of the Claw Peninsula head-on.

The Brotherhood Without Banners' tactics for targeting Tywin's group were: kill the lone Hoster Lannister, clear the ferries on the river, and sneak attacks in the middle of the night.

Like Mountain, who came whistling in and hacked straight in, their combat power was limited, and they couldn't do it at all. Many brothers were farmers who had lost their land, and they still needed to undergo major and minor battles and professional military training to become true warriors.

In the Brotherhood's team, two men wielding heavy axes barely blocked the opponent's charge, and because of their blocking, they saved the lives of a group of fleeing brothers.

Cavalry chasing and killing fleeing infantry was like cutting melons and vegetables. The infantry fled, selflessly offering their backs to the cavalry, but they forgot to put steel plates on their backs.

Everyone stopped, torches were lit, the cavalry pushed up their masks, and the infantry helped up their brothers. In a short time, the muddy road was already a mess.

"Where is Lord Mountain?" a heavy axe teenager asked. The teenager was none other than Gendry, the blacksmith who had escaped from the Clegane village massacre.

He didn't recognize any of the beastly cavalry in front of him. If Dunsen, Polliver, Sweetmouth Ralph, Chiswyck the Big Head, and others were here, he would recognize them.

"The king is in the courtyard," a cavalryman said.

Thoros and Beric Dondarrion exchanged glances: Mountain claimed to be king?

Gendry and Tob Mott were equally surprised, Mountain claimed to be king?

"Why did Lord Mountain suddenly appear here?" Gendry asked. Beside him, his master Tob Mott approached, carrying a heavy axe for defense. Master Tob Mott also didn't recognize any of Mountain's men, so, were these people really Mountain's men? They had to be vigilant!

"Revenge!" the Peninsula warrior replied succinctly.

Revenge? Then it was naturally for the Clegane people.

Gendry was overjoyed. Revenge had always been what Gendry longed for! There were many of his friends and kind villagers who liked him in the village.

"Has the battle started? We are also here to capture Tywin, we can join forces!"

"All killed!"

Gendry, Tob Mott, Beric, Thoros, all the Brotherhood Without Banners were shocked. In the extremely short time they had been on the road, Mountain had already killed Tywin's hundred-man team?

How was this possible?

Tywin's hundred-man team was absolutely elite!

The Brotherhood Without Banners had carefully planned, and only dared to sneak attack after all the Lannisters were asleep in the middle of the night. In such a short time, Mountain's dozens of cavalrymen blatantly broke in, and would inevitably encounter fierce resistance and pay a heavy price.

But in just half an hourglass, Mountain had already killed all the Lannisters?

Beric, Thoros, and hundreds of members of the Brotherhood Without Banners were all shocked and couldn't believe it! The brothers at the Crossroads Inn didn't send out any news, presumably the battle was too fierce and they didn't dare to show themselves.

"The king said you are on our side, then we are brothers, let's go, what are you dawdling for!" a tribal leader said in a rough voice. His Common Tongue had a strong Peninsula accent, and it was difficult to understand.

The Peninsula leaders and cavalry turned their warhorses and returned to the inn.

Gendry and Tob Mott exchanged glances, their hearts shaken, and immediately followed.

Beric Dondarrion was a talented young man, proficient in both literary and military arts, and Thoros was a well-known fierce general in the Seven Kingdoms, and had a good personal relationship with King Robert. The two absolutely fierce men were shocked in their hearts.

Mountain slaughtered Tywin's elite in such a short time, and it seemed that he still had the energy to fight a few more fierce battles. When did Mountain's rogue army become so invincible? No, Mountain's world is changing too fast, I want to see it!

Beric and Thoros followed.

The brothers carried up the dead and wounded brothers and went to the inn first.

*

The king of the Claw Peninsula people, like the great lord in the mouths of the people, does not refer to the king of a unified country.

There was civil strife in the Seven Kingdoms, and there were people claiming to be kings everywhere: the Iron Islands, the North, Dragonstone, Storm's End, and King's Landing, all had people claiming to be kings. Although Dorne was a vassal of King's Landing, it had always maintained its traditional throne: the Martell family had been the kings of Dorne from ancient times to the present. The title of king does not prevent him from becoming a vassal of King's Landing.

Mountain was a mere martial artist, with a widespread bad reputation, what virtue and ability did he have? He even dared to call himself king?!

In the hearts of Beric and Thoros, there was only one king: King Robert Baratheon. One prime minister: Prime Minister Eddard Stark. The banner of the Brotherhood Without Banners only had one side: Robert's crowned stag.

It's just that the era of Robert has passed, and Beric, Thoros, and other old ministers are reluctant, but they can't reverse the situation. Their identities are very awkward. They are still loyal to Robert, but in the eyes of the ruling royal family, they are rebellious traitors who can be killed by everyone.

Mountain had the grace of 'sparing their lives' to Beric and Thoros, and gave them the opportunity to return to the palace, so the two people's hostility towards Mountain turned into strangers. Later, Joffrey and Cersei forced the two to slaughter Robert's bastards and the children's mothers. The two refused and rebelled against King's Landing. In order to avoid being caught up by the people sent by the royal family, Beric did not dare to go south to return to Blackhaven, but went north, causing the Hound who was chasing them to miss. They became bandits in the Riverlands and established the Brotherhood Without Banners.

After suddenly witnessing a team of cavalry like a whirlwind, Beric and Thoros were surprised, and the brothers were even more surprised. What about tonight's plan to capture Tywin? Let's go up and see first.

As a result, before they could get close, they were discovered by Mountain's scouts hiding in the dark, and they blew the military whistle of enemy attack.

The Claw Peninsula warriors judged whether they were enemies or friends very simply. As long as they were not their own people, they were enemies.

The Trident River was nearly a thousand miles away from the military camp where Mountain and the others set off. It was so far away that there could not be any of their own people here.

That was the enemy!

When the military whistle was blown, the battle at the Crossroads Inn had already ended, and the warriors immediately rode out of the courtyard to fight another enemy.

Mountain only said two words when he heard the military whistle: Meet the enemy!

That was the military order for battle!

By the time the Brotherhood Without Banners realized that something was wrong, the other party had already crashed into them, and the speed was so fast that it was staggering. The battle broke out instantly, and the Brotherhood Without Banners collapsed at the first touch...

If Gendry and Tob Mott hadn't held up the impact with their heavy axes, the Brotherhood would have suffered heavy casualties!

Gendry, Tob Mott, Thoros, Beric, and others put their surprise and shock in their hearts first, and everyone put away their swords, feeling strange, and followed a group of barbaric cavalry filled with beastly aura to the Crossroads Inn.

*

Before entering the courtyard, Gendry, Tob Mott, Beric, Thoros, and others smelled a strong smell of blood.

Gendry and Tob both had their hearts in their throats. Lady Eddie and three children were still in the inn...

Entering the courtyard, Mountain was standing in the courtyard, with Lady Eddie, Seven-String Tom, the innkeeper, and... three children... Gendry and Tob were completely relieved!

Behind Mountain, there was a very tall red horse with a unicorn on its head, like a long dagger.

Beric, Gendry, and others were all shocked.

They had never seen or heard of this exotic beast. Compared to Seven-String Tom, who was educated, most of the Brotherhood Without Banners were illiterate.

They believed that this unicorn horse was comparable to Mountain among horses, tall, mighty, and its blood-red eyes were daunting.

Hundreds of members of the Brotherhood Without Banners were all shocked by the unicorn horse!

Hanging on the horse's horn was a head, the very Tywin Lannister they were going to hand over to the Red God for a trial of sins!

*

"Lord Beric Dondarrion," Mountain said.

"Lord Mountain."

"I am very grateful to you for taking in Master Tob Mott, Gendry, and the three children. They are my people, and I want to take them away. Tell me, how many gold dragons do you want?"

Beric looked at Gendry and Master Tobho Mott. He thought it impossible to leave Master Tobho behind, as he had a wife and children and needed a better home. "Leaving Gendry with us is enough. We also need a blacksmith."

"Absolutely not!"

"We saved Gendry," Thoros said in a deep voice.

The Mountain pulled out a bag of gold dragons. "Here are fifty gold dragons. You'll get this much whether you agree or not. Gendry, don't even think about it." He tossed the bag, and it flew towards Beric. Beric caught it, weighed it in his hand, and handed it to a brother beside him. "Mountain, we're short on money, so I'll take the gold. But you have to leave one of the blacksmiths with us. You get one, and I get one. Consider it a favor we owe you, from the Brotherhood."

Clang!

The Mountain drew Ice with a backhand motion. The clear sound echoed through the night sky, and the Brothers were all shocked.

The Mountain pointed his longsword at Gendry. "Kneel!"

Gendry looked to his left, then to his right, then at the Mountain, then at Beric and Thoros, and slowly knelt on one knee.

"In the name of the Seven, I, Ser Gregor Clegane, Duke of Dragonstone, Master of War for the Seven Kingdoms, hereby bestow knighthood upon Gendry as a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and adopt him as my son, granting him the Clegane name."

Gendry was both surprised and delighted!

The Mountain tapped Gendry's left and right shoulders with the giant Ice sword. "Rise, Ser Gendry Clegane!"

Gendry stood up. Tobho Mott was the first to applaud, followed by Mother Edie, Tom of Sevenstrings, the innkeeper, the three children, the knight from Crackclaw Point, and finally, the hundreds of brothers of the Brotherhood Without Banners, all applauding together.

Gendry was overjoyed! He was no longer Gendry the blacksmith, but Ser Gendry Clegane!

Beric and Thoros never expected the Mountain to suddenly pull such a move. With this, forgetting about leaving Gendry behind, don't even think about it!

The Mountain said, "Lord Beric, the fifty gold dragons I gave you also cover all the losses of the inn."

"Hmph!" Beric shrugged his shoulders.

"Also, you have to clean up this battlefield. Throw all the corpses into the Great River, destroy the evidence, and leave no trace. I can give you all the Lannister warhorses, armor, and money they had on them, but there will be a great risk."

"What risk?"

For the Brotherhood Without Banners, who were so poor that they had trouble getting enough to eat, they wouldn't be willing to give up longswords, armor, wealth, and warhorses. Even if Beric could, his brothers wouldn't agree. But these things were too hot to handle, and could easily get them killed.

"The warhorses and armor might be recognized."

"What if they are recognized?"

"If someone comes to investigate in the future, your armor and warhorses will be evidence that you murdered Duke Tywin."

"Is that what you hope for? Or are you planning to spread such rumors?" Beric Dondarrion immediately became vigilant.

"I don't need to spread the rumors. As long as the disappearance of Duke Tywin and his party becomes known, the royal family will investigate. The Hand of the King will soon find out that Duke Tywin disappeared in the Riverlands, and in the Riverlands, there is the Brotherhood Without Banners, which has always opposed the royal family."

"You want us to take the blame for you?"

"No, for you, the truth doesn't matter. Once the Hand of the King makes a move, you can no longer stay in the Riverlands. The royal power will relentlessly hunt you down, and I will most likely join the operation."

"............"

"If you don't want to be annihilated, I have a suggestion for you!"

"What suggestion?" Beric's tone turned cold.

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