The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Damon, Leo, and Gavin were standing together in the second-floor corridor of the main castle.

The three earls listened to the sounds of training and combat, watching hundreds of soldiers training hard in the great training field, with the various military whistles of the centurions rising and falling.

The two overall training instructors for the entire army were Ser Rafford Clegane, known as Sweetmouth, and Ser Ryman Frey.

Mouth and Reynard were practicing fencing with training swords, both moving quickly. Mouth's attacks were ruthless, while Reynard's swordsmanship was dignified and precise, making it impossible for Mouth to break through his defenses no matter how he attacked. Once Reynard counterattacked, his swordsmanship was exquisite, and Mouth quickly fell into a disadvantage.

However, Reynard could only gain an advantage in swordsmanship but couldn't defeat Mouth.

In their match, Reynard had stronger swordsmanship, while Mouth was more ruthless. Often, with one sword strike, he could force Reynard to retreat. But no matter how ruthless he was, Reynard could always find opportunities to counterattack and stabilize the situation through parrying and dodging.

After all, Reynard was a noble son who had been practicing martial arts since childhood, taught by real swordsmanship masters. Every aspect of his training, from speed, strength, footwork, to swordsmanship, progressed step by step, with rules and order, unlike Mouth's wild moves learned from street brawls. The sword moves taught by swordsmanship masters were practical and combat-tested, not just fancy showmanship.

*

Earl Damon said, "Earl Gavin, your son-in-law, the Mountain, is determined to build a valiant thousand-man infantry for you. He gets up before dawn to train. I always feel like this is a bit abnormal!"

Earl Gavin said, "Earl Damon, Duke Tywin has already ordered the entire Westerlands to train troops. Didn't you receive the military order?"

"I received it. We in Lannisport have also started training troops according to the Duke's requirements, but getting up before dawn to train and recruiting soldiers on a large scale seems unnecessary."

Earl Leo said, "The way Gregor is training troops gives me the feeling that he's going to the battlefield to fight someone tomorrow. His men are all desperados who only have money in their eyes. I don't have high hopes for Gregor's soldiers."

Earl Damon continued, "Earl Leo, the key is that it's peacetime now. The Mountain is recruiting soldiers on a large scale and offering tax exemptions, and buying up milk. Where does his money come from? That's a question. Don't tell me Duke Tywin is giving him money; that's impossible."

"Second, who does he want to go to war with by training troops so hard?" Earl Damon stared at Earl Gavin. "Earl Gavin, has the Mountain told you any secrets? Tell us! If the Westerlands has an enemy, who is it? If there's no enemy at all, why is the Mountain training troops so hard? We in Lannisport follow the Duke's military order to train troops for one hour after breakfast and another hour after lunch. That's enough."

Earl Leo said, "The Westerlands has no enemy. The Seven Kingdoms are united, and the King is our Duke's son-in-law, and the Queen is the Duke's daughter. The Lannister family's relatives are all in the royal palace. If the Mountain isn't training troops for war, he wouldn't start before dawn. It's very strange!"

Damon and Leo were not ordinary people. After discussing it, they indeed realized that things were unusual!

Earl Damon said jokingly, "If the Mountain wants to rebel, this manpower is completely insufficient. Even if he had ten thousand men, he wouldn't have the strength to rebel."

Earl Leo laughed, "Indeed, if the Mountain dares to rebel, even with ten thousand elite soldiers, all the nobles in the Westerlands would rise up to fight him."

Earl Gavin said, "The two earls shouldn't joke. Don't mention the joke about rebellion again. If Ser Gregor finds out, although he wouldn't dare to kill the two earls, he would dare to hang them up and beat them up."

Damon and Leo were immediately choked, their faces flushed with embarrassment.

Earl Gavin said helplessly, "Don't say you fear the Mountain; even I, as his father-in-law, fear him. He wants to recruit soldiers, buy up milk, and train a thousand infantry. When have I ever dared to say half a word against it? Although I could tell him to get lost and not recruit or train soldiers, my daughter Jeyne is already his wife. If he resents me and bullies my daughter, or beats me up in Casterly Rock over a disagreement, what can I do? My son Reynard and my master-at-arms Ser Ryman now listen to the Mountain. The result of my discussion with Lady Sybell is to let things take their course, not to support, oppose, or sabotage him."

Earl Damon sneered, "Earl Gavin, the way you said that, if you're unhappy with us, you can also use the excuse that your son-in-law has a bad temper, let him know, and then call him to beat us up. Your complaint just now is so hypocritical. The Mountain is indeed cruel, but I think he respects you very much. You're deliberately mocking us with things like beating you up over a disagreement."

Earl Leo said, "Earl Gavin was ostensibly complaining just now, but actually using the Mountain to threaten us two guests."

Gavin flushed and swore, "If I, Gavin, am deliberately using words to intimidate and threaten the two earls..."

Before he could finish speaking, Damon put his severed hand in front of Gavin. "Don't say it. My hand was already cut off by the Mountain, but that's all he can do. To be honest, I don't fear him."

"I don't fear him either, but we can't beat him. Let's not say anything about rebellion to slander him. If he really finds out about these excessive words, in a fit of anger, he might cut off the earl's left hand..." Earl Gavin deliberately stopped talking, then changed the subject. "Sorry, sorry, Earl Damon, I was out of line."

Although Earl Gavin would be a coward when faced with big events, he would never lose even the slightest bit in these matters.

Earl Damon's face was already flushed red!

Earl Leo also felt a chill in his heart. He didn't want to be hung up and beaten by the Mountain. Just thinking about being whipped in the great training field by the Mountain, his honor would really be as broken as fallen leaves.

"Earl Gavin, don't be offended. Earl Damon and I were just joking. The words have already been scattered by the wind. Heaven doesn't know, and earth doesn't know," Earl Leo said with a smile.

"Yes, the words have already been scattered by the wind," Earl Gavin affirmed.

Earl Damon's face turned pale and then white. He said, "Earl Gavin, I'm going to say goodbye and return to Lannisport after breakfast. Thank you for the Westerling family's hospitality!"

"Don't rush!" Earl Leo said quickly, "In four days, let's see how Ser Gregor's recruitment will go?"

Earl Gavin also persuaded, "Earl Damon, stay a few more days. You and I feel a little awkward because of the Mountain. Stay and see the Mountain's recruitment. If no citizens come forward to volunteer, rest assured, I'll be relieved too!"

Earl Damon had this intention, a burst of awkward laughter, the laughter was dry and astringent: "Earl Gavin, then I'll stay a few more days."

If the Mountain really recruited a thousand infantry by training so hard, the Westerling family's strength would greatly increase. Among the nobles in the north, with one rising and the other falling, don't even mention everyone trying to move the Westerling family's cheese; at that time, what the nobles would fear and worry about is the Westerling family moving their cheese.

*

Four days later, Earl Gavin was awakened from his sleep by a strange sound. Outside the main castle, there was the sound of rapid hoofbeats and several sharp military whistles.

The earl was slightly strange, closed his eyes and continued to sleep. However, another team of cavalry rushed out of the barracks on the left side of the main castle, accompanied by loud scolding.

The earl turned over and got up, his heart was full of suspicion. There was no doubt that something had happened in the Crag.

The earl put on his clothes and hat, took the sword from the wall and opened the door, a noisy sound rushed to his face. Outside the main castle, the sound of people was noisy, I don't know how many people of unknown identity came.

Looking at the east, it was almost dawn, it was a wonderful time to sleep comfortably.

Earl Damon quickly came to the corridor of the main castle overlooking the great training field. Here, Earl Gavin and Earl Leo were already there!

Below the main castle, the lights were bright, and many torches were lit on both sides of the avenue.

Under the torches, heads were shaking, I don't know how many people came, and they were being guided by cavalry and infantry to disperse into the great training field. And on the avenue leading directly to the outside of the city, an endless stream of more black shadows came.

"What's wrong?" Earl Damon said in surprise.

"Today is the recruitment time for the first batch of three hundred people, maybe the minds of the citizens all collided together, they all came to line up before dawn. Ser Gregor had to use cavalry and infantry to maintain order. Alas, trouble!" Earl Gavin sighed with great satisfaction. "One more soldier, one more person to eat, one more expense!"

Earl Damon opened his mouth and was speechless. He felt his stomach uncontrollably contract to the point of pain, and for no reason, a burst of weakness spread throughout the earl's body.

No one wants to see the rise of their neighbors, and Earl Damon is the same.