The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Cersei crossed the Blackwater River with great interest and headed south. Half a month later, she walked out of the primeval forest—the Kingswood—and entered the territory of Bitterbridge.

Bitterbridge is the territory of House Caswell in the Reach, and also a key route for the Rose Road to cross the Mander River.

Several days later, the team arrived at the Mander River. An ancient stone arch bridge was erected on the Mander River. This is Bitterbridge. The castle on the shore is not big, with a stone and wood structure, and the tower is not high, but because it is surrounded by flat and empty fields, it looks much higher than it actually is.

The owner of the castle, Earl Caswell, had difficulty with his legs and was weak. He sat in a wheelchair and brought his two daughters to greet the Queen Mother and the King.

Earl Caswell was the only son in the family since he was a child—Old Earl Caswell had four daughters and a precious son, so Little Caswell was pampered and arrogant since he was a child. He couldn't tolerate any opposition in the castle, and no servants or family soldiers dared to touch a hair on his head.

He was weak and frail, but he became a knight smoothly step by step.

At that time, there was a weapon master's son in the family named Rory Darke. On his sixteenth nameday, his father carefully crafted a good sword for him. Young Caswell took Rory's long sword as the young lord and told Rory that his hands were not born to hold a sword, but only to use a blacksmith's hammer, and ridiculed Rory that he would only be a stupid and humble blacksmith for the rest of his life, and would never have any success.

This angered the young and energetic Rory!

Rory went home and took the iron hammer for blacksmithing and broke the young lord's legs, causing Little Caswell to be disabled for life. Then he broke half of his ribs. Then, in order to escape the pursuit of Old Baron Caswell, Rory Darke fled to the other side of the Narrow Sea and joined the most powerful mercenary organization on the other side of the Narrow Sea with Jon Connington, the former Prime Minister who was exiled to the other side of the Narrow Sea by the Mad King: the Golden Company with five hundred knights and ten thousand warriors.

Now, Little Caswell has become Old Caswell, and the original Old Earl Caswell has passed away.

With the help of his two daughters, the disabled Earl Caswell supported himself from the wheelchair with his arms—maintaining a standing posture to greet the Queen Mother and the King. Queen Mother Cersei was unhappy, but her level of hypocrisy had reached a very high level. She smiled kindly and gave Earl Caswell's daughters a pair of jade bracelets to show royal grace.

Bitterbridge is also the last place for King Tommen to send his mother Cersei to inspect the people's conditions in the south. Cersei will continue south to Highgarden Castle, while King Tommen will return north to King's Landing under the protection of Commander-in-Chief Bronn.

When Cersei arrived at Bitterbridge, the Mountain led more than two thousand cavalry to the Westerlands and entered Clegane's Keep.

The Mountain's return made Clegane's Keep very lively. Weapon Master Tobho Mott, Gendry Clegane, who was no longer an apprentice, Centurion Julie Clegane, the adopted daughter, Anguy the archer, the son-in-law, the three loyal fans Sweetmouth Ralph, the executioner Dunsen, the artist Polliver, the two children of the former flag bearer Black Stone—Dan and Nina, Mrs. Jeyne holding Tobho Mott's daughter Atley Mott, Chiswyck the Big Man, Infantry Deputy General Tobert, Great Bear Rolger, Rorge, the chief clerk Notebook, two personal female generals protecting Mrs. Jeyne—Brienne of Tarth, and Ser Zellez... and many soldiers, filled the courtyard of Clegane's Keep...

The Mountain's power in the Westerlands is divided into three parts: Clegane's Keep; Castamere and Tarbeck Hall; and Casterly Rock.

Clegane's Keep is inhabited by the Mountain's infantry and cavalry from Crackclaw Point, as well as the Westerlands infantry and cavalry from Clegane; Castamere and Tarbeck Hall are inhabited by more than 5,000 'immigrants' from the Mountains of the Moon and a mixed army of nearly 5,000 'Mountains of the Moon' cavalry and infantry; Casterly Rock is led and managed by young Lord Raynald Westerling and the Foul-Mouthed Brothers, along with the Westerling army and the people on the territory.

The total strength of the three places has exceeded 20,000, making it the only strongest military force in the Westerlands, crushing and sweeping all the noble groups in the Westerlands.

The entire Westerlands has fallen into the Mountain's real power. In the absence of a powerful figure from the Lannister family, no noble, big or small, dares to disobey Mrs. Jeyne's orders.

In the three years of war, many great nobles and famous generals in the Westerlands have died in battle one after another. Eight out of ten family soldiers have died. Only a small number of generals and soldiers are still besieging Riverrun in the name of the Westerlands army. The nobles in the Westerlands have been greatly injured. Only the Mountain stands out, relying on fighting to quickly develop a powerful army:

Three thousand cavalry, including six hundred light cavalry and horse archers, commanded by Julie Clegane and Anguy Clegane; six hundred heavy cavalry: composed of the personal guard cavalry of the tribal leaders from Crackclaw Point; six hundred Clegane elite cavalry: led by Sweetmouth Ralph, the executioner Dunsen, and the artist Polliver; more than one thousand cavalry recruits newly trained by Jaqen H'ghar, all from Crackclaw Point; two hundred-man squadrons of the Mountain's personal guard cavalry, led by Aylin and Joyce Foote... hundreds of reserve cavalry are ignored... If any cavalry regiment is damaged, the reserve cavalry will make up the numbers.

Nearly five thousand mixed cavalry and infantry, all warriors from more than forty tribes in the Mountains of the Moon, led by four main leaders, Tymett, Chilla, Gonser and Shagga.

Two thousand core main infantry: Commander Chiswyck the Big Man, Deputy Commander Tobert...

The rest of the light infantry, sword and shield soldiers, archers, new and old infantry regiments from Crackclaw Point, and spearmen each have thousands of people...

*

The capital of the Westerlands, the Lannister family's castle, Casterly Rock.

The acting lord is Kevan Lannister's youngest son, Martyn Lannister.

Because of the war, only the youngest son, Martyn Lannister, remained of Kevan's four children. The eldest son, Lancel Lannister, committed a capital crime and was sent to the Wall to be a night watchman after the Mountain pleaded for mercy.

Martyn Lannister received a letter from Addam Lannister. Earl Addam told him in the letter to go to Lannisport to meet him as soon as possible. The new King of the Iron Islands, Euron Crow's Eye, will soon attack the entire Westerlands. All the coastal family castles are targets of attack. Martyn is the acting lord of Casterly Rock. According to blood relations, he is currently the highest in status in the Lannister family. The Earl hopes that he can go to Lannisport to discuss how to fight the Ironborn.

Martyn took his family's maester, guards, knights, and soldiers, about a hundred people, from Casterly Rock to Lannisport. The two places are not too far apart.

Martyn had received news in advance that Earl Addam had returned to the Westerlands for half a month.

Martyn and the maester entered Earl Addam's main hall and saw that the left and right sides of the hall were full of people. This was a bit beyond Martyn and the maester's expectations. Earl Addam did not tell Martyn that he had invited all the nobles of the Westerlands to Lannisport.

Martyn glanced at the hall and saw many familiar faces: Lady Sarya of Silverhill, young Lord Raynald Westerling of the northernmost Westerling family, the acting lord of House Crakehall of Crakehall in the southernmost part, the acting knight of House Swyft, Martyn's mother's family, the young lord of House Lefford of the Golden Tooth in the easternmost part...

People from the big and small nobles of the Westerlands came. People from House Farman of Fair Isle also came. Several knights surrounded Lady Farman—once the Ironborn attacked the Westerlands, Fair Isle in the sea would be the first place they attacked.

The hall was also crowded with new generals that Martyn was very unfamiliar with. They were the main leaders from the Mountains of the Moon, led by Tymett, Chilla, Shagga, Connor, and Gonser; there were also many tribal chiefs and warriors from Crackclaw Point. They looked fierce, with expressions like wolves, and their gazes at people were like cones.

The Mountain and Mrs. Jeyne were also present—the rest of the nobles and generals were standing on both sides of the hall, only the Mountain and Mrs. Jeyne sat in high positions with Earl Addam and Maester Bancroft.

Earl Addam said: "My lords, Euron Greyjoy Crow's Eye used to violate his brother Victarion Greyjoy's salt wife, and was exiled to the other side of the Narrow Sea by Lord Balon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands. Now he has returned with more than five hundred warships, murdered King Balon, obtained the Seastone Chair through the kingsmoot, and declared independence, becoming the new King of the Iron Islands."

Everyone whispered and talked, many people heard for the first time that King Balon was murdered by his brother Euron Crow's Eye!

"After Crow's Eye became the new King of the Iron Islands, he integrated the warships of all the nobles on the five major islands. The total number of warships has exceeded one thousand, and his strength is strong, while our harbor fleet only has thirty ships."

A sound of disbelief rang out throughout the audience!

Crow's Eye has a thousand warships?

How is this possible?

How did that guy do it?

When Euron Crow's Eye was exiled by his brother Balon, he was alone and had no followers. More than ten years later, this guy actually brought back an unparalleled fleet.

His strength is so strong, the Westerlands is already a giant crippled by the three-year war, and the only remaining thousands of Westerlands troops are also besieging Riverrun in the Riverlands. Except for the Mountain's army, there are no real combat troops in the Westerlands...

"Earl, the warships on Fair Isle are only twenty ships." Lady Farman of Fair Isle represented Fair Isle in the conference.

"We cannot fight the Ironborn at sea. We can only let them land and fight them on land," Earl Addam said. All the nobles looked at each other. If the Mountain did not stand up to block Crow's Eye for them, they would have to abandon their homes and flee, and give up the Westerlands.

Everyone was talking, their morale was completely lost, and the venue was noisy and chaotic.

Earl Addam raised his hands to quiet everyone down.

*

Everyone thought that this conference was mainly led by the Mountain and Jeyne. Until now, Earl Addam has been the leader, and the Mountain and Mrs. Jeyne have not spoken.

This is very subtle. Why is this happening?

Did the Lannister family reach an agreement with the Mountain when they were in the palace? Let Earl Addam be responsible for the war with Crow's Eye? When it comes to fighting, everyone would rather follow the Mountain than Earl Addam.

The Mountain has the most soldiers. Only he can protect the safety of the Westerlands. The Guardian of the Westerlands is the highest local official sealed for the safety of the Westerlands.

*

Lady Farman of Fair Isle said: "Earl, the people, warships, and warriors of Fair Isle must retreat in advance. We cannot wait until the Ironborn warships hit the island, otherwise we will be killed by the Ironborn."

"Madam, you can release the raven now and let all the people of Fair Isle sail to Lannisport to dock. We will uniformly arrange for the people of Fair Isle to go to Clegane's Keep to take refuge."

Lady Farman was overjoyed: "Earl, Ser Gregor, Mrs. Jeyne, can the people of Fair Isle enter Clegane's Keep to avoid the war?"

"Yes, madam, as you wish," The Mountain said politely.

"Thank you, Duke." Lady Farman curtsied to the Mountain and Mrs. Jeyne.

The Mountain nodded, and Mrs. Jeyne showed a faint smile.

Lady Farman immediately ordered the maester next to her to write a letter and release the raven.

The Ironborn followed the principles of burning, killing, looting, and robbery. Fair Isle had been fine for seventeen years because the Iron Islands had been crippled by Robert and Eddard when they were independent once. The disastrous defeat made the Ironborn obedient and honest. The people on Fair Isle enjoyed seventeen years of happy and peaceful days.

Now that the Ironborn have suddenly risen and have thousands of warships, the happiness and tranquility of the people on Fair Isle has been shattered.

Earl Addam said: "Before we announce the official battle plan, we must find out the traitor who is in secret contact with Euron Crow's Eye!"

"Who?" Everyone hated the enemy.

Earl Addam's face began to twist, as if he felt a deep twist and pain because of anger: "That person's name is among us. I have a secret letter intercepted by the Lannisport Navy."

Martin Lannister was dumbfounded!

The nobles were all shocked!

They had always looked down upon the Iron Islanders and were irreconcilable enemies, but the Prime Minister wanted to invite Euron Greyjoy to King's Landing to be the Master of Ships?! Euron Greyjoy was a pirate by origin, cruel and tyrannical. How could he be allowed into the Red Keep?

Martin was at a loss, he looked at the family scholar beside him, revealing a pleading look for help.

"Martin, my nephew, like your father, you have sold out the interests of the Westerlands and the country in order to appease Euron Greyjoy when you cannot defeat him," Lord Osgood said. "Martin, before Euron Greyjoy comes to attack, with the fairness and justice of the Seven Gods, I have no choice but to order your arrest." The Earl waved his hand, and the family guards rushed forward and captured Martin.

The Mountain remained expressionless. As long as Lord Osgood swung his sword and chopped off Martin's head, Lord Osgood would be forever tied to the Mountain. Prime Minister Kevan and the Red Keep's royalty would regard him as their most hated enemy. Of course, if Lord Osgood didn't do so, the Mountain would make his death even more miserable.