The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 628: Aftermath of the Bloodbath: Lady Forlorn

(2nd update, a bit late, but 5,000 words.)

*

Two hours later, Littlefinger's awards ceremony concluded.

Everyone was happy!

Except for the Mountain, of course, and some coldly observing nobles—like Lord Lyonel Corbray, whose brother, the famous Vale knight Ser Lyn Corbray, wielder of the Valyrian steel blade Lady Forlorn, had died. He was also Lord Lyonel Corbray's heir.

In a family, the most important people are the head and the heir.

Littlefinger was the Protector of the Vale, similar to the Hand of the King in King's Landing's Red Keep. Aside from Lord Robert Arryn, the most powerful person was Petyr Baelish.

Lyonel Corbray was over forty, childless, and his wife had also passed away. Before Lysa Tully's marriage, he and his brother Lyn Corbray had both pursued her.

"Lord Protector Petyr, my brother Lyn Corbray died at the hands of a blacksmith in Ironoaks. This matter is very suspicious. I implore you to seek justice. The Corbray family's ancestral sword, Lady Forlorn, is also missing. Lady Waynwood of Ironoaks must be held responsible for its return. Lady Forlorn has been in the Corbray family for over a thousand years, six hundred years longer than Ser Gregor Clegane's Ice. Lady Forlorn is our family's ancestral sword, and Lady Waynwood of Ironoaks must return it. Otherwise, the Corbray family will not let this matter rest."

Lady Waynwood had submitted since her 'long talk' with the Mountain and had come to the Gates of the Moon with her vassals and guards.

After the Mountain's 'long talk' opened her eyes, she was secretly preparing to face the chaos that would ensue when the Dragon Queen arrived. She was unwilling to fight the Corbrays to the death now.

She hoped to conserve her strength and bide her time, ready to change her allegiance as the situation demanded, so that the Waynwood family wouldn't be destroyed in the chaos for choosing the wrong side.

"Lord Corbray, Ser Lyn Corbray violated guest right at Runestone. He killed Lord Yohn Royce of Runestone, angering the Seven Gods. Those who violate guest right meet with misfortune; it is merely the will of the Seven."

Lady Waynwood was also an excellent speaker. In a few short sentences, she shifted the blame to the Seven Gods.

The Seven Gods were the Mountain's favorite scapegoat. Whether it was murder, arson, forced buying and selling, or predicting the future, he could easily blame it on the Seven.

"Was it Bronze Yohn Royce who violated guest right? Or Lyn Corbray? My family's guards have returned to Heart's Home and told me the truth of the matter."

Lord Lyonel Corbray turned to the Mountain. "Ser Gregor Clegane was a witness to the Runestone bloodbath. Among the delegation that went to Runestone to negotiate, there was one person with absolute authority and leadership: Lord Yohn Royce. He, despite Lyn and Myranda's strong opposition, decided to ambush Ser Gregor at the feast he hosted, with the intention of killing him. To stop Bronze Yohn's madness, Lyn Corbray asked Ser Gregor for bread and salt immediately upon entering the hall."

Littlefinger looked solemn and serious, his eyes turning cold. "Duke Gregor Clegane, is Lord Corbray's account credible?"

The Mountain began to mix his own agenda into the real events, concealing it seamlessly. "Lord Petyr, Lord Corbray's words are consistent with the facts. Ser Lyn did ask me for bread and salt immediately. I thought Ser Lyn was afraid I would harm them, but when Bronze Yohn Royce drew his sword to assassinate me, I understood Ser Lyn's good intentions. He sought guest right to prevent Yohn Royce from assassinating me at the feast. Lyn asked me for guest right, but everyone knows that guest right protects not only the guests but also the host from harm."

Littlefinger Petyr Baelish nodded pretentiously. He was familiar with these games and handled them with ease. He looked at Lady Waynwood. "Lady Waynwood, Ser Lyn was innocent. Why did your blacksmith kill Ser Lyn Corbray, and while he was asleep?"

*

Littlefinger knew the details of both the murder in Ironoaks and the bloodbath in Runestone immediately. Lyn Corbray's death would not have happened without the Mountain's approval.

The secret planners were three of Runestone's vassals, who had received secret orders from Lady Ysilla Royce of Runestone. Ysilla Royce dared to issue the orders after receiving the Mountain's approval. After the Mountain nodded, he contacted Littlefinger via raven, and the two reached an agreement. Although Lyn was a dog that Littlefinger had bought with gold, boys, and promises, the dog had completed his mission. The Mountain allowed Ysilla to act, which saved him a huge expense.

In the end, Littlefinger was the beneficiary!

Thus, Lyn, the Vale's best swordsman, and Myranda, the Vale's bravest young knight, were played to death by the Mountain and Littlefinger.

And, significantly, the aftermath of the bloodbath was back in Littlefinger's hands, with both the victims and perpetrators looking to the Protector of the Vale to seek justice.

This was the irony of the game of thrones, as the Mountain understood it: those who lacked the brains, no matter how sharp their swords, would die a violent death, and even in death, they would not know how they died. They were brave and famous in life, but confused in death.

The Mountain was now a shrewd and ruthless veteran in the game of thrones. War, death, darkness, and intrigue were the best things to quickly mature a man.

*

Lady Waynwood said calmly, "Ser Lyn had a fondness for young boys, and the blacksmith had a young son whom everyone in town loved. He was clever, handsome, and beloved by all. Lord Lyonel, need I say more?" Lady Waynwood sneered. "A blacksmith father took excessive action for his child. I don't think the blacksmith did anything wrong, but because he killed a noble knight, the death penalty is inevitable. I will sentence him to death after he finishes forging the last sword he has already been commissioned to make for me. Even when the blacksmith is working, his feet are shackled."

Lyn Corbray's fondness for young boys was a public secret. A public secret was something that everyone knew but would not publicly acknowledge. Otherwise, it would not be called a secret.

Lyonel Corbray was not truly concerned about his brother's death. The two brothers had been at odds for a long time, stemming from Lady Forlorn, which only the head of the family was qualified to wield.

In 283 AC, during the Battle of the Trident, when the old Lord Corbray was injured, Lyonel escorted his father to the rear for treatment, while his younger brother Lyn Corbray took his father's sword, Lady Forlorn, and defeated the Dornish army, killing Prince Lewyn Martell of the Kingsguard, earning him fame in one battle. On his deathbed, the old Lord Corbray left the land, title, castle, and all his wealth to Lyonel Corbray, but he passed the ancestral sword Lady Forlorn to Lyn.

This violated the family's tradition, because Lady Forlorn had always been wielded only by the head of the family. According to tradition, it could only be lent to the strongest knight in the family, but the ownership always belonged to the head of the family. Lyn broke the tradition. He obtained the ownership and right to wield Lady Forlorn, which was a thorn in Lyonel's heart.

Lyonel Corbray always felt that his rights had been violated. The rift between the two brothers was created, and for the next eighteen years, the two brothers were estranged.

In the end, the two brothers became strangers with blood ties but no real brotherly affection.

According to Archmaester Ebrose's records of songs, the Corbray family possessed Lady Forlorn when the Andals invaded the Vale. During that time, the sword fell into the hands of Robar Royce, the First King, and was later recovered by the Corbray family. Lady Forlorn predates other known Valyrian steel swords. Ice, the Stark family's sword carried by the Mountain, is only four hundred years old, while this sword is at least a thousand years old. Such an early and extremely sharp longsword should not be Valyrian steel, which appeared later in history, but this sword has clashed with Valyrian steel swords many times and is not inferior. So, when the name of Valyrian steel dominated the world, Lady Forlorn also claimed to be Valyrian steel.

Although this sword is a longsword, its value is immeasurable. It may be the only ancient famous sword with the longest history.

Lyn Corbray died tragically in Ironoaks. After the family knights fled back to Heart's Home, Lyonel Corbray felt no sadness. The only thing he cared about was the whereabouts of the family's famous sword, Lady Forlorn.

There were many doubts about Lyn being killed by a blacksmith. The family knights who escaped back to Heart's Home had detailed the many sword wounds on Lyn's body, indicating that Lyn Corbray could not have been killed by the blacksmith alone. Moreover, guarding Lyn's room was a brave young knight like Myranda Redfort. Myranda was one of the most outstanding young swordsmen in the Vale, brave and powerful, and could not be approached by a blacksmith and his commoner accomplices.

The blacksmith had accomplices who knew martial arts, and their martial arts were not low. Someone was backing him. Lyonel carefully considered who could have such a deep hatred that they must kill Lyn. He believed that the mastermind was likely Ysilla Royce, who had a great blood feud.

Lyn killed Yohn Royce, and his daughter Ysilla Royce might not let it go. But this was just Lyonel's speculation, without any evidence. What Lyonel feared was that Ysilla Royce had recognized the Mountain as her father. So, facing the Lyn bloodbath, Lord Lyonel Corbray was not foolish. He chose to question Lady Waynwood of Ironoaks, rather than propose speculation and reasonable deductions about revenge against Ysilla Royce.

Some things are better left unsaid when you see through them.

Some things are better not pondered after you see through them. It's better to be muddled than to be clear.

The Mountain's body gave Lyonel mountainous pressure. When facing the Mountain and talking to him, Lord Lyonel felt a strong sense of oppression and could not be calm and composed, with steady breathing.

*

"Lady Waynwood, Ser Lyn entered Ironoaks and should have received your protection. The murderer was your weapon master. He hammered Ser Lyn to death in his sleep. So, please return our family's famous sword, Lady Forlorn."

The speaker was a middle-aged man, about thirty years old. His name was Lucas Corbray, a knight and Lyonel's third brother.

After his brother Lyn died, Lucas became the heir to Heart's Home.

"Ser Lucas, the knights of Ironoaks are chasing the blacksmith's accomplices everywhere. There is currently no news of Lady Forlorn's whereabouts. I have a question: more than twenty knights from your family also participated in the pursuit of the murderer's accomplices, but so far there is no news, and no one knows where they went. Did they capture the blacksmith's accomplices and secretly execute them? Or did they find Lady Forlorn and, tempted by the sword, flee across the Narrow Sea?"

Lady Waynwood's question stunned Lucas Corbray!

Lyonel Corbray's words were veiled. "Lady Waynwood, our family knights feared suffering the same fate as Ser Lyn and, under the guise of pursuing the murderer's accomplices, fled back to Heart's Home. This is because you do not care about Ser Lyn's death and instead exonerate your weapon master, which is incomprehensible and frightening. Ladies and gentlemen, my brother Lyn, a famous swordsman, entered Ironoaks but failed to receive Lady Waynwood's protection, while the commoner blacksmith who killed my brother Lyn has not yet been executed by you. The life of a famous knight is not even worth as much as a blacksmith in the Waynwood family!"

These words finally caused a slight commotion in the audience.

In the Mountain's eyes, the nobles who had been eating melons were stirred up by Lyonel's words.

The life of a commoner blacksmith could not be compared to the life of a noble knight. Moreover, Lady Waynwood was biased towards her commoner blacksmith and did not immediately kill the blacksmith. Her words lacked respect for Lyn's tragic death.

The nobles valued their status very highly and could not tolerate commoners being on par with them. The deaths of ten or a hundred blacksmiths, in their eyes, were not as important as the death of a noble knight.

The class barriers were strict!

Lord Horton Redfort, who had learned of his young son Myranda's tragic death, also rushed to the Gates of the Moon from the Redfort. He snorted coldly and glared at Lady Waynwood. "Lady Waynwood, you must be held responsible for the deaths of Lyn and Myranda. They entered your city, ate your food, and drank your wine, and should have received your protection. If you do not avenge Lyn and Myranda, you are violating guest right. The Redfort family and the Corbray family are not to be humiliated."

Horton's last sentence tied his family and the Corbray family together.

After Runestone was weakened, Ironoaks became the most powerful family in the Vale. The guardian of the Bloody Gate was Lady Waynwood's son. With just the Redfort family alone, it would be impossible to cause trouble for the Waynwood family, even to pass the Bloody Gate. Waynwood had many fierce generals under his command, and the knights of House Grafton of Gulltown were Waynwood's most loyal allies.

Another large family was involved in the dispute, which made Littlefinger feel very comfortable. He liked these powerful families killing each other, and then he would clean up the mess. This would weaken the power of the Vale nobles and take the opportunity to win over some nobles who were willing to be loyal to him.

"The Waynwood family doesn't want to cause trouble. The deaths of Lynn, Yohn, and Michel were all because the rights of guests were trampled upon, and the will of the Seven descended." Countess Waynwood's words held no novelty. "Ironoaks is hunting down the blacksmith's accomplices. Once they catch someone, they will do everything they can to track down Lady Forlorn and return it to House Corbray. This is my promise, Lord Petyr." Lord Waynwood's last words were spoken while looking at Littlefinger.

The Mountain saw a glint flash in Littlefinger's eyes: the proudest of the Ironoaks Waynwoods finally knew to ask the Protector of the Vale for help.

This was the effect Littlefinger wanted.

The Mountain understood that Littlefinger, who had never held real power, enjoyed this feeling of power in his grasp. It was precisely the pursuit of this feeling that ultimately led to Littlefinger's demise in the original timeline.

And where was Lady Forlorn? Such a peerless sword was, of course, in the Mountain's hands. One of the motives for the Mountain's agreement to Ysilla Royce's request to kill Lynn was his desire to obtain Lynn's Lady Forlorn, a narrow sword suitable for the most skilled assassins.

Who was the Mountain's idea of the most skilled assassin? Naturally, it was Arya Stark, across the Narrow Sea, diligently studying the Faceless Men's art of assassination.

The Mountain intended to give Lady Forlorn to Arya upon her return. When the Mountain sent Arya on the ship to the House of Black and White in Braavos, he and Arya had already reached a consensus; they were true friends.

A university engineering student had transmigrated to a dark era, a dark and bloody era. He himself was no longer the pure university student he once was, and this Mountain, who committed all kinds of evil, was naturally no longer the Mountain.

The Mountain didn't care what tragedy would result from the final struggle between House Waynwood, House Redwyne, and House Corbray. Perhaps there would be rivers of blood, perhaps the helpers they invited would increase, leading to a final melee. What he cared about was taxes. He and the High Septon in the Great Sept of Baelor had spent 3.6 million gold dragons to purchase the national taxation rights from the royal family. The taxes collected from the Vale did not belong to the royal family, but were jointly owned by the Mountain and the Great Sept of Baelor.

"Lord Lyn Corbray, Lady Waynwood, Lord Redfort, Duke Petyr, could you please temporarily set aside the debate over Lady Forlorn and the two murders? The Clegane army still needs to hurry back, and I also have a very important matter to ask for your help. The Vale has interrupted the payment of taxes to the royal family since 298 AC. This year is 300 AC. I will collect three years of taxes all at once. I hope you will not make things difficult for the Mountain."

Conquering the Vale was not for the royal family, but for these considerable taxes!

Thanks to [Jeanne d'Arc] for the reward support, thank you, handshake!