The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter Title: Jaime's Betrayal

The black dragon wasn't a wild dragon, but his volatile, warlike temperament was almost no different from a wild dragon's. In the blink of an eye, Quentyn fell in the dragonflame… his body ablaze as if doused in kerosene…

The white dragon and green dragon tilted their heads, watching the burning human-shaped candle, emitting soft chirps that seemed almost appreciative…

At the foot of the mountain, over a hundred Kas warriors were completely stunned!

They had always held the three dragons in awe, never daring to approach them. As long as they didn't actively approach the three dragons, they were safe. In fact, among Daenerys' thousands of soldiers, no one had ever been killed by the three dragons, nor had anyone been burned.

Dragons had never proactively killed any of Her Majesty's warriors. They simply enjoyed intimidating them.

The black dragon breathing fire and killing someone, killing someone close to Her Majesty, was a first!

Daenerys watched helplessly as the black dragon unleashed dragonflame, engulfing Quentyn. She was shocked and angry. She had issued a dragon-riding command for the black dragon to be quiet, but the black dragon did not become as quiet as the white dragon and green dragon.

The black dragon did not quiet down; his volatility couldn't be suppressed!

From a young age, the black dragon was different from the white dragon and green dragon. Not only did he grow the fastest, eat the most, fly the farthest, possess the greatest strength, and have the most potent dragonflame, but his temper was also the most volatile. Before the age of two, when Daenerys scolded him, the black dragon would crane his neck and roar back at Daenerys. If his mother went further, raising her hand as if to hit him, he would whoosh away.

Ever since Daenerys obtained the Dragon Horn, with the help of High Priest Merri Maz Duur, Daenerys had learned dragon-riding commands imbued with magical power. The Queen had felt that she had mastered the control of the three dragons. Even the most disobedient child, the black dragon, had become increasingly obedient. But today's events proved that the black dragon's wildness, volatility, and arrogance had always been present.

Quentyn Martell was the eldest son of Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, a bridge she needed to gain the support of the Dornish after returning to Westeros. Her dragon burned Quentyn to death. This was unfortunate and a failure. She and the Martell family would likely have a rift and discord…

Halfway up the mountain, four Dothraki servants had long since hidden in the woods, concealed in the bushes, afraid of being seen by the black dragon.

The black dragon killing someone close to Her Majesty for the first time was not a good sign. The black dragon, who never killed people close to the Queen, had set a bad precedent. If he lost his temper again, the four of them would be in mortal danger.

And in their previous hiding place, Archibald was trembling behind a rock. When the black dragon roared down from the sky with a menacing aura, he was scared out of his wits. His cowardice led Quentyn Martell to turn his head to look at him. Quentyn's action led to the black dragon's attack on Quentyn…

On the mountain path, Victarion's face was pale. Since becoming a warrior, his courage had never wavered, but it wavered at the moment Quentyn was engulfed in dragonflame and screamed.

The black dragon's capriciousness terrified him!

Victarion heard the 'quiet' command issued by Daenerys. He knew the black dragon heard it too, but when Quentyn turned around, he still breathed dragonflame and killed Quentyn. He didn't remain quiet under his mother's dragon-riding command. The moment Quentyn turned around, he unhesitatingly chose to attack.

Victarion's back was covered in cold sweat.

"The next time I feed the dragons, I must never turn my back to the black dragon, not even slightly."

Facing the black dragon head-on, plus with Daenerys present, should be truly safe. Of course, the safest thing to do is to feed Rhaegal when the black dragon isn't around.

Before the military tent at the foot of the mountain, Daario's smile froze on his face, his open mouth forgetting to close, like a fish dying of thirst on the shore.

That prince who一心想娶wanted to marry Her Majesty died just like that? He had only just learned a few dragon-riding commands…

The dragon's mood is really hard to fathom…

"Drogon, I'm going to punish you," Daenerys said, her voice filled with uncontrollable rage.

Drogon was the black dragon's name.

The black dragon stood beside Quentyn, the burning flames beginning to diminish and weaken. He didn't seem to regret his actions. The black dragon responded, emitting a high-pitched dragon's roar at Daenerys.

His mother was going to punish him, and he expressed his attitude: strong opposition!

The white dragon and green dragon also chimed in, emitting high-pitched dragon roars!

They were all brothers. The black dragon, the eldest brother, burned a human who dared to turn his back on him. There was nothing wrong with that!

Daenerys quickly went up the mountain. Her emotions were clearly somewhat out of control. Quentyn being burned to death by her dragon was a heavy blow to her politically. Quentyn could have died in war or a shipwreck, but the worst way to die was to be killed by her dragon.

Daenerys loudly scolded the black dragon!

Her voice was the same as the dragon's roar, equally loud and vibrating, continuous, echoing through the mountain air, like a machine gun firing bullets.

The white dragon and green dragon were the first to quiet down, craning their necks, tilting their heads, cautiously looking at their mother rapidly approaching.

The black dragon also quieted down, craning his neck and looking down, a pair of glowing dragon eyes tightly fixed on his mother rapidly approaching. From his mother's voice and actions, the black dragon could understand that his mother was truly angry this time.

The black dragon let out a short dragon's roar, and with a whoosh, he flew up, flapping his wings and rising into the blue sky.

Flying away when things didn't look good was a habit the black dragon had developed from a young age. Every time he flew away and returned, his mother would greatly reward him. The longer he was away from home, the more generous his mother's reward would be.

Daenerys had to stop. She took out the Dragon Horn. The Dragon Horn could control dragons, issue commands, and also issue punishment commands that caused dragons pain.

Daenerys hesitated for a moment, and then, the sound of the horn rang out.

The black dragon suddenly accelerated, a dragon's roar filled with resistance overpowering the Dragon Horn, pouring down on Daenerys.

The black dragon's roar only made Daenerys' eardrums vibrate. She almost reached out to cover her ears… but she wasn't injured…

But the Dragon Horn's punishment could cause the black dragon extreme discomfort.

With two cries, the white dragon and green dragon also rose up together, quickly flying away. After a short while, the two dragons flew into the blue sky. Gradually, the three dragons flew to the height of the white clouds. Faint dragon roars could be heard coming back. The three dragons flew farther and farther, eventually turning into three small black dots until they completely disappeared…

When only a vast expanse of blue remained in the sky, Daenerys realized that her heart had suddenly become empty…

The black dragon was very angry, very rebellious, very resistant. She could hear the resentment in the black dragon's voice… Dragons don't admit mistakes… The black dragon had been like this since he was young… Every time Daenerys reprimanded the three dragons, the black dragon would always walk back and forth filled with resentment, never at peace… This time, the black dragon probably also thought that the one who was wrong was that small human whose flames were gradually extinguishing…

Daenerys had reprimanded the black dragon before, but it didn't make the black dragon feel uncomfortable. This time, Daenerys blew the Dragon Horn. The sound of the horn was between a wail and a cry. The strange sound made the black dragon's body and feelings extremely uncomfortable, which made the black dragon accelerate his escape… This sound also made the white dragon and green dragon feel a discomfort for the first time in their lives and made the two dragons feel fear. Brothers united, the white dragon and green dragon also flew into the sky, resisting their mother together with their eldest brother. The three dragons had left home together this time…

At the foot of the mountain, High Priest Merri Maz Duur was also looking up at the sky. The black dragon didn't listen to his mother's 'quiet' command and breathed fire to kill Prince Quentyn. The black dragon did deserve to be taught a lesson, but perhaps Daenerys hadn't understood that dragons are magical creatures that are too proud. Even when punishing them, it can only be praise-style criticism, which means using a doting tone to say reprimanding words. Harsh words and oppressive expressions, and rigid punishments, dragons never accept…

*

Daenerys' three dragons left their mother together, flew into the sky, and disappeared into the horizon. And on the other side of the Narrow Sea, on the continent of Westeros, the Mountain and his party left Clegane's new village and walked on the River Road in the Westerlands territory. The end of this avenue is the Trident River Ferry in the Riverlands. Opposite the ferry, not far ahead, is the destination this time, the Mountains of the Moon.

In the Mountains of the Moon, there is a dragon named Sheepstealer, who is already two hundred and fifty years old. He is the fire relic secretly worshiped by Red Hand, the chieftain of the Burned Men.

Among the accompanying team, there was a beautifully decorated carriage. Lady Jeyne was sitting in the carriage compartment. The compartment was large, able to lie down, sit, and recline.

There was also a woman in the team - Lady Melisandre, the accompanying priestess of the Clegane Legion. She rode on horseback like a warrior, traveling side by side with the Mountain.

The temporary management of Clegane's New Village, the Mountain and Lady Jeyne handed over to Lady Donella Quintyne and Sansa Stark. There were also many people assisting them: Chief Administrator Mark, Law Enforcement Captain Black Bear Rolger, Military General Jaco Locke, Bank Manager Lady Ede…

The accompanying legion was the Mountain's own guard cavalry battalion, each of whom was an elite and a loyal death warrior. The cavalry battalion had three captains: Ellyn from the North, Joyce from Crackclaw Point, and Red Hand Tymor, a young generation member of the Burned Men from the Mountains of the Moon.

Protecting Lady Jeyne were still her two female generals: Brienne of Tarth and Zelary Zal Gerda the She-Bear. The two female generals were even taller and stronger than the three captains of the guard cavalry battalion.

The Mountain's left was Lady Melisandre, and on his right was Old Man Tymor.

"Lord Mountain, you have to learn the local language of the Burned Men during this time on the road," Old Man Tymor said. "You are Red Hand of the Burned Men. After entering the tribe, you have to speak to everyone in the language of the Burned Men, so that everyone will follow you to migrate to the Westerlands. Clegane's New Village is very large and has a lot of land. There are already enough soldiers, but there are not enough people to cultivate the land. When the entire Burned Men tribe migrates, people from other tribes will also come, because you are also a person from the Mountains of the Moon."

The Mountain nodded: "Red Hand Tymor, please start teaching me the language of the Burned Men now, starting with 'hello'."

"As you wish, Lord Mountain."

The Mountain's bald head, shining with a bluish light in the sunlight, had already proven his loyalty to the Fire God. Since the Burned Men believed in the Fire God, in the one hundred and seventy years, the Mountain was the first warrior to dare to sacrifice his own head. He was the most respected chieftain, Red Hand, without a doubt.

"Old Man Tymor, I also want to learn the language of the Burned Men. Ser Gregor is Red Hand of the Burned Men, and I am his wife, so I am also a member of the Burned Men."

"Madam, then let's learn together."

"Well, Brienne, help me out of the carriage. I want to ride a horse," Lady Jeyne said.

From the Westerlands to the Mountains of the Moon, the journey was over a thousand miles. If there were no carriage for Lady Jeyne, this five-hundred-strong cavalry legion could arrive at the Mountains of the Moon in about ten and a half days, but with Lady Jeyne accompanying, this time would take about a month.

On the River Road in the Westerlands, this legion of five hundred cavalry was safe. Entering the River Road in the Riverlands, Duke Edmure Tully, the lord of the Riverlands, was the Mountain's brother-in-law. The duchess was Lady Jeyne's younger sister. They were also safe on the territory of the Riverlands. Entering the Mountains of the Moon, all the tribes that occupied the Mountains of the Moon were clansmen of the Mountain's warriors, so that road was also safe.

There would be no twists and turns in the Mountain's story along the way. On Dragonstone in the Dothraki Sea, after the three dragons ran away from home, Daenerys Targaryen would also not have any twists and turns for the time being, but in King's Landing, a twisting story was unfolding and beginning to tear apart the feelings between the closest people…

The bells of the Great Sept of Baelor rang out, the sound echoing throughout the city. This was the bell tolling for the victorious and successful end of the King and Queen's wedding. Nobles and citizens throughout the city had smiles on their faces. The King was a humble and amiable young man, and the Queen was a kind and considerate good person. People were happily dancing for the kingdom's welcoming of a good King and Queen. On the lawns of the Red Keep, in the training grounds outside the King's Gate, in the forests by the Blackwater Rush, there were people celebrating everywhere…

King's Landing rarely saw such an atmosphere of joy…

But in Maegor's Holdfast, Lady Cersei's face was terribly cold!

"Jaime, I heard from the Master of Coin that you arranged for someone to replace his people?"

"Yes, Cersei."

"Why did you do that?"

"You are destroying us," Jaime's eyes were filled with sincerity and pain.

"I am saving us."

"By poisoning Margaery Tyrell at the wedding to save us?" Jaime's face also became stern.

"She has taken control of our children, you fool," Cersei said, bursting with rage.

"Tommen will grow up."

"By the time he grows up, this kingdom will be called the Margaery Tyrell Kingdom."

"Cersei, you need to calm down. It was the Tyrell family that provided the food and troops to stabilize King's Landing," Jaime's voice lowered. "We can't lose the support of the Tyrell family."

"You're wrong, Jaime. What we can't lose is each other's support. Jaime, I only hate that I'm not a man. If you were a daughter and I was a man, then I would be the father. No one would dare to disobey the father, no one."

"We need stability now," Jaime's tone softened. "Cersei, you can't kill Margaery. This will push the royal family and the kingdom into a desperate situation…"

Cersei abruptly interrupted Jaime's words: "If you supported me, had half the responsibility of our father, didn't secretly obstruct me, deceive me, and betray me, we wouldn't be in a desperate situation. The game of thrones never allows for compromise; it's always a matter of life and death."

"I have never betrayed you, Cersei! I swear!"

Cersei scoffed, lifting her head and looking at Jaime with cold eyes. "Since you put it that way, Jaime, tell me, was Tyrion Lannister truly beheaded by the Mountain?"