The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 602: Littlefinger's Conspiracy - Allies on the Same Front

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*

The entire venue suddenly fell silent.

Several great nobles were willing to divorce in order to marry Lysa Tully, and Littlefinger's announcement left them deeply frustrated.

Before Petyr Baelish rose to become the Master of Coin for the Royal Treasury, he was just a minor noble in the Vale, owning a barren peninsula territory, a few impoverished fishermen, a large herd of moss-eating goats, and a three-story stone fort, nothing more.

Even after his rise, Littlefinger was not honorable. To make money, change his status, and elevate his noble rank, he became the owner of brothels of all levels in King's Landing. The hundreds of brothels he ran were despised by the Vale nobles.

But this contemptible fellow returned to the Vale as the Duke of Harrenhal.

Duke, the highest title in the Seven Kingdoms.

The wealth of Harrenhal's territory was also undeniable.

The size and height of Harrenhal Castle, owned by Littlefinger, were also unparalleled.

Despite this, Littlefinger was still despised from the bottom of their hearts by the Vale nobles.

Littlefinger's grandfather came from across the Narrow Sea, a wandering warrior from the 'Braavos city-state,' who later became a mercenary for a living, coming to Westeros to sell his life.

His father met Lord Hoster Tully of the Riverlands during a war, which gave Littlefinger the opportunity to become Hoster Tully's ward. But what the Vale nobles didn't know was that Littlefinger, who spent his childhood and adolescence in Riverrun of the Tully family, was driven out of Riverrun by Hoster Tully because he got Lysa Tully pregnant, and his lowly status was not worthy of Lord Tully's daughter, Lysa Tully.

Such an unbearable fellow kept rising steadily, eventually becoming a Duke of the Kingdom, surpassing the ranks of all vassals under the Arryn family of the Vale.

Duke, the supreme title!

No matter how much the Vale nobles disliked Littlefinger, the Arryn family, to whom they swore allegiance, still had to welcome the hated Littlefinger's official entry. He had actually won Lysa Tully's favor, deceived her 'heart,' and would officially marry Lady Lysa Tully in seven days.

Whoever marries Lady Lysa Tully will get the rich dowry of the Vale. For this immeasurable dowry, the great nobles of the Vale, whether married or unmarried, had come to the Eyrie and fawned over Lysa Tully for more than a year, which was the main reason why the Eyrie had been so crowded for more than a year.

The nobles all hoped that Lady Lysa would take a fancy to them, marry Lysa Tully, and win control of the Vale.

Although Lysa Tully had her son, Robert Arryn, to inherit Jon Arryn's position and title, everyone knew that Duke Robert was not only physically ill but also mentally underdeveloped. Even after Duke Robert came of age, he would not be able to directly lead the Vale. His mental development was slow, like his body, failing to develop normally.

Among the dozens of great noble families in the Vale, there were not many unmarried great nobles, but the married great nobles also had ways to pursue Lysa Tully, which was to create conditions for marrying Lysa Tully through divorce.

Many great nobles promised that as long as Lysa Tully agreed to marry him, they would divorce immediately.

Bronze Yohn Royce was a great noble who attempted to achieve marriage with Lysa through 'divorce'.

But today, at this moment, everyone's hopes were completely dashed!

Lysa Tully was going to marry Littlefinger, and with only seven days of preparation time. Such a wedding was not in line with the status of a Duchess, nor was it in line with Littlefinger's status. It seemed that the two were eager to get married. The hateful Littlefinger actually said with a smile that whether they agreed or disagreed, supported or did not support, attended the wedding or did not attend, they would truly get married.

The atmosphere in the Moon Door Hall was heavy and oppressive. For a moment, no one spoke, and everyone felt extremely uncomfortable.

*

"Madam, Lord Petyr, congratulations on your upcoming marriage. I'm sorry, but I have other important matters to attend to and need to descend the mountain today to return to Heart's Home," Ser Lyn Corbray said, placing his right fist on his left chest and bowing slightly.

The first to stand up to express dissatisfaction and explicitly state that he would not attend the wedding was the unmarried Lyn Corbray, the most famous swordsman in the Vale.

His brother, Earl Corbray, was also here, married, but also a pursuer of Lysa Tully. Earl Corbray was forty-one years old this year, married, but without an heir, so Lyn Corbray had the opportunity to inherit the family.

Lyn was leaving, and his guard, Mychel Redwyne, also stood up, apologizing to the Lady and Littlefinger that he had to follow Lord Lyn away.

When Mychel spoke, he secretly glanced towards the gate, where a well-proportioned, tan-skinned, healthy girl stood: Mia Stone. King Robert Baratheon's first bastard, already nineteen years old this year, and in love with Mychel.

Mia Stone was the best guide on the mountain roads of the Eyrie. The towering mountain roads of the Eyrie were not easy to navigate. It took two days and two nights to climb the mountain and descend, passing through three heavily guarded castles, all of which were easy to defend and difficult to attack unless one had griffins or dragons.

Mia Stone was also secretly glancing at Mychel. The eyes of the two young people met, and they were both filled with passion and affection.

Mychel Redwyne was a knight, a nobleman; Mia Stone was a bastard, and she never knew who her father was. Her mother was a young and sturdy serving girl who once served Lord Jon Arryn in the Eyrie and was now old but still worked as a servant in the Eyrie.

Walking on the mountain roads of the Eyrie was very dangerous. The uppermost section of the road was inside the mountain, or one had to take a hanging basket through the clouds, which was safer. The mountain road outside the hanging basket was steep and dangerous, with falling rocks and thin snow and ice. Even mules could not walk steadily. Encountering mountain winds was even more life-threatening, so a guide who understood the terrain, was familiar with every inch of the mountain road, and was proficient in the weather changes in the mountains was very popular and respected by the nobles.

Lyn Corbray and his attendant announced that they were going down the mountain, which meant that they would not attend the Lady and Littlefinger's wedding, and their first choice for a guide was Mia Stone.

Bronze Yohn Royce also said, "Madam, Lord Petyr, I am sorry, I cannot attend the wedding of two noble adults. The Mountain is in Gulltown. He is bloodthirsty, brutal, capricious, and has no credibility. My Runestone is in the sea, not far from Gulltown. The Vale has announced its surrender to the Iron Throne. The Mountain has not plundered Gulltown, but he may not go to disguise himself as a pirate to plunder my Runestone. I will descend the mountain with Ser Lyn and follow Mia Stone, the best guide."

Lady Waynwood of Ironoaks said, "Madam, Duke Petyr, congratulations on your marriage. I will stay to attend the wedding of the Lady and the Duke, but I must blame the two of you for giving such short notice and such a short time. I am in the Eyrie, how can I choose a decent gift for the two of you?"

Lysa Tully smiled happily, "Madam, your presence here is already the greatest gift."

Ser Symond Templeton, who was deeply dissatisfied with Littlefinger's proposal to surrender, said in a loud voice, "Madam, Lord Petyr, I will stay to attend the wedding, congratulations on your marriage. But shouldn't we order the gathering of legions to prepare for the Mountain's affairs?"

"Thank you, Ser Symond, for gracing the wedding with your presence," Petyr smiled, elegant and noble. "Ser Symond, may I ask you to order the summoning of the legions of Ninestars as the vanguard, ready to fight the Mountain at any time?"

"As you command, Duke," Symond agreed readily.

Symond, the most valiant knight in the Vale. The Templeton family is full of martial knights. Their title is very low, and there is not even a Baron in the family, but no great noble in the Vale dares to underestimate this knight family. They do not have the most troops, but they must be the most warlike knight legion. Symond himself is an absolute fierce general! His weapon is a black iron spear, weighing dozens of pounds, and his arm strength is astonishingly strong.

Symond's dislike of Littlefinger is one thing, but the Lady of the Lord is getting married, and etiquette must not be lacking. This is the spirit of chivalry.

*

In Gulltown, the maester handed the reply from the Eyrie to Gerold Grafton intact.

The Earl crushed the wax seal and opened it: To Lord Gerold Grafton: Tell Duke Gregor that the Vale has surrendered to the Iron Throne. Please lead your troops to attack Runestone immediately.

The Earl read it and felt completely relieved: he was already Littlefinger Petyr Baelish's man. Judging from this letter, Lord Mountain was also Duke Petyr Baelish's man. This was easy to handle. The Grafton family and the Clegane family were on the same side!

The Royce family of Runestone was the most powerful ancient family in the Vale. Before the Arryn family became the Lord of the Vale, the Royce family had always been the King of the Vale. The ancestors of the Arryn family came from across the Narrow Sea, the Andals who invaded Westeros thousands of years ago. It was also the Andals who brought the faith of the Seven Gods.

Littlefinger Petyr Baelish had a good personal relationship with Earl Gerold Grafton when he was a tax collector in Gulltown. In Gulltown for three years, Gerold and Littlefinger were very good friends. This time, when Littlefinger returned to the Vale to marry Lysa Tully, the first person to know the inside story was Earl Gerold Grafton.

Littlefinger was originally from the Vale, and he returned to the Vale prepared.

Lysa Tully's maester was the first person he turned against and subdued. And Earl Gerold Grafton had long been his closest underground ally. Gerold worked with Littlefinger for three years and witnessed how Littlefinger magically increased the tax profits of Gulltown tenfold. From that time on, Gerold obeyed Petyr Baelish.

After reading the letter, Gerold set it on fire. This kind of letter was too important and could not be leaked in the slightest.

Earl Yohn Royce was also disliked by Earl Gerold!

In the Vale, no noble liked Earl Yohn Royce. Yohn's family was an ancient family that worshiped magic and depicted layers of magical patterns on their bronze armor. This tradition had lasted for more than a thousand years. It was said that the magic on the bronze armor could protect the owner of the armor from the damage of swords.

Lord Littlefinger wanted to use the Mountain's hand to eliminate Yohn Royce, so that he could rule the Vale in the future. Earl Gerold was not stupid, and he could see the power in it.

"Order the soldiers to open the city gate and welcome Lord Gregor and his soldiers into the city!" Earl Gerold ordered.

The Earl's order made the soldiers on the city wall and the soldiers guarding the city gate look at each other!

Let the Mountain into the city?

Did the Earl say something wrong?

Gerold naturally did not say anything wrong. With Littlefinger's letter, Gerold no longer had to fear the Mountain.

They were allies on the same front, and this ally club had a common chairman: the extremely intelligent Lord Petyr Baelish!

Earl Gerold extremely admired Littlefinger's wisdom. He could see that this letter was written by Littlefinger himself. Littlefinger was indeed not an ordinary person. Even the brave Mountain was his ally, and he could even order the Mountain to eliminate his political enemies for him. This was simply unbelievable. However, Earl Gerold believed that Littlefinger had the ability to do it.

The Mountain's soldiers were lined up in neat squares under the city wall. The Mountain himself was also waiting quietly on the Red Smoke Beast for the other party's reply until the iron-clad oak door slowly opened with a creak. Looking up, on the city wall, archers, sword and shield soldiers, spearmen, etc. had all withdrawn from the crenellations of the city wall and retreated a little, lined up in small squares, as if they were about to disband immediately.

Despite this, the Mountain's legion's formation remained motionless and did not change in the slightest because the city gate was opened.

The city gate was wide open, and Earl Gerold appeared on horseback at the gate, accompanied by two six-man squads. His eldest son, Bonner, and his cousin, Admiral Buck Grafton, both came out to greet the Mountain.

The Mountain's legs moved slightly, and the Red Smoke Beast understood and immediately greeted Earl Gerold.

"Lord Duke, the Eyrie has replied."

"Oh, what does the letter say?"

"Lord, the Eyrie has surrendered to the Iron Throne."

"Oh, then you and I are comrades!" The Mountain laughed heartily, feeling very comfortable. The Mountain would not be disappointed in Littlefinger's work.

Littlefinger had been in the Vale for more than half a year, and he would not let his time be wasted.

"Please, Lord Mountain and the Clegane Legion, enter the city," Gerold Grafton said very politely.

The Mountain was even more delighted in his heart. Littlefinger had deeply turned Earl Gerold Grafton of Gulltown against him. He was not defending the Mountain and more than ten thousand soldiers at all.

Was this sincerity or stupidity?! Or did Littlefinger make Earl Gerold deeply believe in his own plans? Did Littlefinger tell Earl Gerold everything, or did he use all kinds of tricks to subdue Earl Gerold for his own use?

Strictly speaking, the Mountain's legion was actually less than ten thousand people.

The Mountain shouted, "Naval warriors and army warriors, the Vale has sworn allegiance to Tommen Baratheon I on the Iron Throne. The enemy has become a friend. Let's enter the city peacefully."

"Ho!" The generals and soldiers responded in unison, their voices like thunder!

Gerold Grafton and the Mountain rode side by side, but his warhorse was afraid of the Mountain's Red Smoke Beast and only wanted to escape. After being comforted by the Earl, it calmed down a little. The Mountain also scolded the Red Smoke Beast to restrain itself and not to spray poisonous miasma to scare the Earl's warhorse.

After some effort, the Earl's warhorse slowly and with great principle, walked alongside the Crimson Smoke Beast. It kept its eyes on its nose and its nose on its heart, not looking to the side, only wanting to finish this stretch of road quickly, and then never be with such an evil-auraed, horned creature again.

Jerro gestured for the soldiers to move away and said in a low voice, "Lord Gregor, Duke Petyr asks me to tell you that he requests you to attack Runestone as quickly as possible. If you need a guide, my naval scouts can disguise themselves to assist you."