The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 717: The Real Threat: A Name Spoken, Death Descends!

Dorne secretly launched a large-scale uprising, coordinating with Aegon VI to gather troops from the entire territory and actively prepare to launch a surprise attack on Highgarden, the capital of the Reach, which was short on troops.

Meanwhile, within King's Landing, Queen Regent Cersei and the Tyrell family had no news of this, still focused on the Stormlands being raided and occupied by the Golden Company.

King's Landing, Flea Bottom. A brothel.

Several gold cloaks, swords at their sides, entered with grim faces. The leading general was Ser Osmund Kettleblack of the Kingsguard, clad in white armor, two meters tall, and powerfully built, known as Little Mountain.

The leading soldier kicked open a door, leaving a large gap in the door panel. Inside the room, the man and woman engaged in passion were greatly startled. The man quickly rolled over, reaching for the longsword hanging on the wall, while the woman huddled in a corner, covering her chest with the blanket.

A well-dressed, gaunt man quickly approached upon hearing the noise. He was the owner of the brothel, and faced with the menacing gold cloaks, he was unafraid, coldly saying, "Ser Osmund, this brothel is owned by the Mountain himself."

"Mor Willick, I am acting on the Queen Regent's orders to invite Ser Roland Clifton," Osmund said indifferently. "Brothers, please escort Ser Roland out."

Clang, clang, clang!

Three longswords were drawn, forming a fan shape around Roland Clifton.

Roland Clifton was a knight. Although he was the Lord of the Griffin's Roost, many of his fiefs had been granted to surrounding nobles by Robert, making him just an ordinary landed knight.

"Osmund, what crime have I committed?" Roland lowered his sword. He couldn't defeat four swords, including Osmund's, with just one. He couldn't even defeat Osmund alone.

"Ser Roland, I am acting under orders," Osmund said impassively. "Put down your sword and come with me, or we will knock your sword down and tie you up. The choice is yours."

Clang!

Roland sheathed his longsword: "You go out first, let me get dressed."

Osmund stood at the door, watching Ser Roland without moving.

Roland had no choice but to put on his clothes under the gaze of the three gold cloaks and Osmund, feeling that he had lost his knightly dignity for the first time.

*

The Red Keep. The Throne Room.

Roland was brought in by Osmund.

The hall was already filled with courtiers and military officers, the atmosphere heavy. Queen Regent Cersei and King Tommen sat high on the Iron Throne, and the important officials of the court sat behind their dedicated long table.

Everyone's eyes fell on Roland, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

Queen Regent Cersei stared at Roland Clifton: "Ser Roland, your cousin Jon Connington led the Golden Company to attack the Stormlands and occupied Storm's End. In just a few days, he controlled all the important castles in the Stormlands. You didn't warn us about this beforehand."

"Your Grace, I was unaware beforehand."

"Jon Connington is your cousin. He attacked the Stormlands. Didn't he contact you beforehand? He has no siblings. You are his only cousin."

"The Golden Company's surprise attack on Storm's End is a major event. Jon didn't reveal anything to you beforehand?" Hand of the King Mace Tyrell questioned sternly.

"Absolutely not. I swear in the name of the Old Gods and the New. I have always been loyal to House Baratheon of Storm's End. I have never changed my loyalty since the civil war during the Mad King's era."

"Roland, I am willing to believe your oath, but I need you to prove yourself."

"What does Your Grace want me to do?" Roland said in a deep voice.

"Take my letter to see Jon Connington. I want to negotiate with him. I want you to find out what he wants. We have received news that Aegon Targaryen VI is their king. We all know that Aegon Targaryen VI died seventeen years ago. Jon is using a fake puppet as an excuse to attack Westeros, which is a capital offense. If Jon Connington can correct his mistake, I will forgive him. If he is stubborn, tell him that he and his puppet Aegon will die. I have already made plans to kill them. Tell him that this is not a warning or a threat. I am just stating a fact."

"As you command, Your Grace."

"Grand Maester, give my letter to Ser Roland."

Grand Maester Qyburn stood up from among the important officials of the court and handed the already written letter to Roland Clifton.

"Roland Clifton, go back and pack quickly. Take your family guards with you. Do not delay. Set off today."

"Am I going alone?!"

"Take your family guards!"

"...As you command, Your Grace..."

Roland Clifton strode out of the Throne Room. Queen Regent Cersei did not send any gold cloaks or court scholars with him to the Stormlands. Did the Queen Regent trust him? Roland was suspicious. If he was a spy for Jon Connington, this would be letting the tiger return to the mountain. If not, would Queen Regent trust his ability so much? Trust him not to betray her?

Roland felt uneasy!

His political views differed from Jon's. He knew that he couldn't persuade Jon with his eloquence. Only Jon could persuade him. He needed help, but the Queen Regent didn't give him any!

*

"Grand Maester, has the news of the Golden Company's surprise attack on the Stormlands been sent to the North?"

"It has been sent to the Master of War, the Mountain. Lord Mountain will receive the raven today."

Queen Regent Cersei's eyes swept over the courtiers and military officers in the hall: "My lords, Daenerys will ride dragons to attack King's Landing. The Golden Company, led by Jon Connington, has taken Storm's End and large swaths of the Stormlands. In the North, the Mountain and Stark are facing the attack of the Others. The kingdom is beset by internal and external troubles. The situation is difficult. Who has any good suggestions? Let's hear them."

*

Roland left the Throne Room. Ser Garlan Tyrell of the Kingsguard, clad in white armor, stood in the middle of the road: "Ser Roland, secret order from the Queen Regent. Come with me."

"Yes, my lord." Roland felt relieved. It turned out that Her Grace had other arrangements, but she didn't want others to know. Roland found that he liked this feeling of being secretly valued by Her Grace.

Garlan led Roland into Maegor's Holdfast.

*

Several days later. Storm's End. Main hall.

Roland Clifton stood in the hall. In front of him sat the rumored Aegon Targaryen VI. The young king was very handsome, but his only flaw was that his majesty was too feminine. Beside the young king stood Jon Connington, who had been famous seventeen years ago, Septa Lemore, Scholar Haldon, and Master-at-Arms Rolly Duckfield.

"Roland, why don't you kneel when you see the King?" Jon's resolute face was stern without anger.

"Jon, according to what I know, Aegon Targaryen was killed by the Mountain in the royal nursery seventeen years ago. Although that is just a rumor, perhaps not credible, I find the young man in front of me even less credible."

"The child the Mountain killed back then was the son of a farmer. Varys switched out the real Aegon when King Aerys decided to open the city gates to welcome Lord Tywin into the city. For the past seventeen years, I have been raising Aegon under the name of Griff. He is the only heir to the Iron Throne, the only legitimate king."

"No, Jon, the Targaryen dynasty has been overthrown by Robert. The king I serve is Tommen Baratheon I, not this Aegon whose identity is unknown."

"Tommen Baratheon I? Humph, that's just Tommen Lannister I."

"Oh?! Before there is conclusive evidence, the one I serve is still King Tommen, not the young man in front of me."

"Roland, I can kill you just for those words."

"You won't, Jon. You are the upright and honorable Jon, and I am the messenger from the Red Keep. You won't kill a messenger who has come to deliver a message."

Roland Clifton took out Queen Regent Cersei's letter from his bosom: "Jon, this letter is from the Queen Regent to you."

Rolly Duckfield stepped forward to take the letter. He handed the letter to Jon, not Aegon Targaryen VI.

This was their established practice. Everything had to go through Jon Connington's hands first.

Jon took the letter, broke the wax seal, and read the letter. He handed the letter to Septa Lemore. Septa Lemore read it and handed it to Scholar Haldon. Haldon read it and handed it to Rolly. Rolly read it and then handed it to Aegon Targaryen VI.

This was the practice they had developed over the past ten years. Everything was discussed by the four of them first. After reaching a consensus, they would decide whether or not to let 'Young Griff' know. In the past, 'Young Griff' was just 'Young Griff'. He wouldn't object, but now, Young Griff was no longer Young Griff, but Aegon Targaryen VI. He was the king to whom the commander of the Golden Company and five hundred knights and ten thousand soldiers had knelt and sworn allegiance.

Now, he was also the king to whom all the nobles and people of the Stormlands had knelt and sworn allegiance.

He was also the king to whom Jon, Lemore, Scholar Haldon, and Rolly Duckfield had knelt and sworn allegiance.

Aegon Targaryen VI was still reading the letter. Jon had already spoken: "Roland, tell Cersei that our purpose here is to take back the Iron Throne. If she submits and surrenders, the Lannisters will still be the Lords of the Westerlands. We will pardon her and her children. Otherwise, after we take King's Landing, the Lord of the Westerlands will no longer be a Lannister."

"No, Roland. Go back and tell Cersei Lannister that if she surrenders, Cersei and her children will be exiled to the Summer Isles in the south. If she doesn't surrender, the Lannisters will be exterminated. The only condition under which I will accept Cersei Lannister's surrender is that Cersei personally presents the heads of Jaime Lannister, Gregor Clegane, and Amory Lorch. Nothing less."

Jon Connington's resolute face stiffened.

Septa Lemore, Scholar Haldon, and Duck Knight Rolly Duckfield all exchanged glances.

"Your Grace," the Scholar's gray eyes were devoid of emotion. "Intelligence indicates that Amory Lorch has been executed by the Brotherhood Without Banners. Cersei cannot present you with Amory Lorch's head."

"That is Cersei's problem. She can send someone to dig up Amory Lorch's grave," the young king said coldly. "In the 283rd year of Aegon's reign, Jaime Lannister killed King Aerys Targaryen, to whom he had sworn allegiance, from behind with a golden sword. He is a kingslayer. His crime is unforgivable. The Mountain killed a child in the royal nursery. If it weren't for Varys's actions, that child would have been me. Amory Lorch killed my sister Rhaenys. He stabbed Rhaenys more than fifty times until Rhaenys stopped moving. Rhaenys was only a few years old at the time. Jaime, the Mountain, and Amory, all three of them must die. Even if they are already dead, their bones must be found. I want to grind them to ashes."

The young king's face was already distorted as he spoke, as if he had become a different person.

Septa Lemore couldn't believe that the one who had said these words was the well-behaved, obedient, filial, generous, kind, benevolent, and loving 'Young Griff' she had taught for more than ten years. This was the first time Young Griff had expressed the hatred hidden in his heart.

Young Griff had expressed his independent opinion. He was the king, and he should have his own opinions. This was also the royal demeanor that Jon, Lemore, Haldon, and Rolly had been trying to cultivate in him. But all four of them felt a slight discomfort. For more than ten years, they had become accustomed to Young Griff's obedience, and they had also become accustomed to making any decisions for him without allowing any rebuttal.

The young king stood up and walked to Roland Clifton: "Kneel, or I will gouge out your eyes."

Roland Clifton slowly knelt on one knee. He could see that this young king was telling the truth.

Between dignity and his eyes, he chose his eyes.

"Go fuck yourself! One day, I will cut off your dick and shove it down your throat," Roland cursed in his heart.

In the hall, Commander Harry Strickland of the Golden Company, and hundreds of generals stood in solemn silence!

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy and solemn.

Aegon Targaryen VI slowly returned to the throne. He looked at Jon and said, "Father, you see, there is no need to pay attention to honor and morality when dealing with enemies. Threats are the most useful means. If a dog is disobedient, kill it!"

Roland Clifton knelt on one knee and lowered his head. He felt that this Aegon had similar characteristics to the Mad King Aerys.

"Your Grace, King Aegon," Roland began, "Her Grace, Queen Regent Cersei, asked me to deliver a message to you, but I don't know if I should say it. Please advise me."

"Speak!"

"Her Grace said that in three months, after the transitional autumn passes, winter will come, and the Others will launch a large-scale attack on Winterfell in the North. She hopes that Your Grace will not declare war on King's Landing before the Others attack. King's Landing is currently the major rear area that guarantees the supply of materials and reinforcements for the 100,000 troops in Winterfell in the North. The Others threaten the survival of the entire human race."

"What if I don't agree?"

"Her Grace said that if Your Grace insists on starting a war at the same time as the Others attack, then a Faceless Man from the House of Black and White on the Isle of the Gods in Braavos will come and meet Your Grace."

A Faceless Man?!

Jon, Rolly, Lemore, Haldon, and Harry all changed color.

Hundreds of Golden Company generals in the hall all changed color!

Everyone was shocked and fearful at these words!

"Hehe, Cersei can even hire a Faceless Man?" Aegon said with a cold laugh, unafraid.

"Lannister, rich as a country." Roland Clinton spoke, his voice not loud but very clear. "During King Robert's reign, the royal family was heavily in debt, but the Lannister family of the Westerlands has always possessed astonishing gold wealth. The Queen Mother's money is already in place, she only needs to say a name to the Faceless Men. Your Grace, once the name is spoken, death will descend, please Your Grace, think twice!"

Aegon Targaryen VI's expression finally changed. Fear flickered in his violet eyes!

No one doesn't fear the Faceless Men!

Once the name is spoken, death descends.

Without exception!

This is the real threat!