The Mountain of Ice and Fire

“Who are you?” Tyrion, who was lying in the thick fur with Shae, trying to please each other, raised his ugly head with a protruding forehead.

Shae was not shy, but looked up at the boy who broke into the tent with a charming sweet smile.

The boy was very shy, or not a boy, but a child. He had brown hair and blue eyes, and looked more timid than a rabbit and more shy than a girl. He didn't dare to look at Tyrion and Shae, and after coming in, he lowered his head and stared at his toes to hide his shyness and embarrassment.

“Who is the boy?” Tyrion asked again.

The boy twisted his hands, very uneasy.

Shae kissed Tyrion's stubble-covered face with her cherry-like mouth and said gently, “Don't scare him, my lord, he's just a child.”

“Alright!” Tyrion sat up and softened his tone, “Boy, open your mouth and let me see.”

The boy finally mustered up the courage to look at Tyrion, then opened his mouth little by little, confused.

“You have a tongue, damn it, then why don't you speak?”

“I…I…I?”

“What's your name?”

“...Podrick Payne.”

“Oh, from the Payne family.” Tyrion became interested. The Payne family was a great noble in the West, and an army also participated in the Battle of the Green Fork this time.

“Podrick, how old are you this year?”

“Twelve years old, my lord.” The boy's twisting hands slowly loosened, and the shy blush on his face slowly faded.

“What do you do in the army?”

“Take care of the horses and oxen that pull the supplies.”

“Oh, which knight are you a squire for?”

“Ser Cedric Payne.”

“Cedric? I know him, where is he? Did he ask you to come to me?”

“No, my lord. Ser Cedric is dead.”

“Oh, that's unlucky. You are responsible for the logistics, why did Ser Cedric die in battle?”

“He led us into battle.”

“Oh, what a brave fellow.”

Tyrion cursed Cedric for being stupid in his heart. When fighting, Tyrion only hated that he was not far enough away from the battlefield, but Cedric was clearly far away, but he insisted on running up, and finally succeeded in dying stupidly.

“Then did you also participate in the battle?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Have you killed anyone?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Tyrion turned his head and looked at Shae, and both were a little surprised.

This little boy, who blushed when he saw people, had killed someone.

“How many?”

“One, my lord, but it was a wounded enemy. I, I was laughed at by my comrades.”

“No, no, boy, you are already very brave, at least braver than me. So, what are you doing here?”

“The Duke ordered me to come.”

“My father?”

“Yes.”

“What did he order you to do here?”

“To be your squire, my lord.”

Tyrion's eyes rolled. This kid looks honest, but he is my father's spy. My father is still worried about me and wants to send a spy to my side to report my every move to him.

“Podrick, I already have guards, a Stone Crow tribe of three hundred people. Shagga and Bronn are warriors of the Stone Crow tribe and the two captains of my guards. Go back, be a guard for my old man, I don't need you here.”

“Not a guard, my lord, I'm here to be a squire. After Ser Cedric died in battle, it was Kevan who took me in. He recommended me to the Duke, and the Duke asked me to serve you, my lord.”

Tyrion felt a headache. He could see that this kid was stubborn. Looking at him, he would not leave. He had to find a way to persuade this kid to leave automatically.

“Podrick Payne, where is your father?” The Payne family is a big family, and this kid's father must also be a knight. Letting him go home is the most touching thing for this little guy.

“My father is dead. I was only three years old at that time.”

“Oh, how did he die?”

“Nine years ago, the Iron Islands' Greyjoy rebelled. My father participated in the Robert's Rebellion led by King Robert, and he died in Pike City.”

Tyrion closed his eyes: “That's unfortunate, child, then what about your mother? She must be worried about you.”

“No, she won't.” Podrick looked directly into Tyrion's eyes, “My mother is the daughter of a grocer in Lannisport. She abandoned me when I was four years old and left Westeros on a boat with a merchant from across the Narrow Sea. I never saw her again. From that day on, I have been following Ser Cedric. Until...until Ser Cedric died in battle this morning.”

Tyrion suddenly felt thirsty.

Whether to take this kid in or not is a question. If he takes him, he is a spy sent by his father; if he doesn't take him, this kid is homeless! Moreover, he is timid and shy and will be bullied by others.

“My lord!” Shae's two snow-white arms wrapped around Tyrion's neck, “This boy is so cute, why don't you want him? We don't have a squire.”

Tyrion looked at Podrick Payne: “Podrick Payne, did my father send you to monitor me?”

“No, my lord.”

“Okay, let me put it another way, does my father require you to report everything about me to him? Like how many glasses of wine I drank today, which brothel I went to tomorrow, and so on.”

“My lord, I can read and write, but I don't have a raven. I am your squire and will only be loyal to you alone.”

“Very smart kid, and knows how to talk, then okay, I want you. Now I want you to do something for me.”

“What?”

“Go find two carriages. We will set off for King's Landing. One for me, one for you and Shae. Are you a virgin?”

Podrick Payne's face suddenly turned red.

Shae whined and acted coquettishly, Podrick's hands twisted together again, and Tyrion showed an evil fake smile.

*

In front of the mountains of spoils were rows of seated Northern prisoners.

Pa!

A loud slap.

Ser Stephen Swyft, the officer in charge of logistics, was slapped to the ground by the Mountain.

The knights of the Hundred Regiment behind him all pressed their sword hilts and glared at the Mountain, but no one dared to move.

Anguy and Jory's bowstrings had already been nocked with sharp arrows and aimed at them.

The Mountain's captain Alyn and vice-captain Graland also pressed their sword hilts. Behind them were the Mountain's guard warriors, a hundred-man team.

The mountain leader, One-Eye Tymett, little beauty Chella, and skinny Gunthor had already revealed their weapons. Behind them were more than a thousand stinky mountain barbarians.

“The Duke only promised to reward you with a thousand sets of weapons, armor, and helmets. I can only distribute them according to orders,” Stephen said on the ground, covering his face.

Tymett strode forward, holding a spiked mace, and pressed on Stephen's chest with one hand, “Fuck you! Before the war started, the Old Lion promised us three thousand sets of armor. Now that the war is over and we have sacrificed half of our lives, you won't give us armor and weapons. Is what the Old Lion said bullshit?” One-Eye Tymett shouted fiercely.

The spiked mace in his hand slammed down, the spiked mace fell against Ser Stephen Swyft's helmet, scraping a stream of fire. Bang! The spiked mace smashed into the soil, and dirt splashed up.

Stephen was frightened!

Clang clang clang!

Swyft's family knights drew their swords and shouted, “Stop, barbarian!” “Lord Mountain, are you going to kill us all?” “Report to the Duke, hurry!” “Mountain, we are acting on orders, tell the barbarians to stop.”

The Mountain waved his hand: “Chella, Tymett, Gunthor. Each of you take a hundred-man team and surround these guys for me. Whoever dares to move, kill him.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Chella, Tymett, and Gunthor immediately led three hundred-man teams to surround Swyft's hundred-man team from three sides.

Clang clang clang!

Both sides drew their weapons and confronted each other!

It's just that sweat began to appear on the foreheads of Swyft's knights, and some warriors' eyes flickered.

“Stephen, go quickly and report to Lord Tywin. The three thousand sets of armor, weapons, and helmets that the Duke promised to give, I will lead the mountain brothers to move away. This is what they deserve. This is not only a reward for their battle merits, but also the Imp's ransom. Go quickly, you damn bastard,” the Mountain scolded sharply.

Stephen Swyft climbed up, and Tymett kicked him, making him eat shit. Amidst the laughter, Stephen jumped on his horse in a panic and left in a mess.

The Mountain said: “Brothers, let's do it. Move the three thousand sets of weapons, armor, and helmets belonging to the mountain brothers onto the carriages and transport them to Harrenhal.”

The Mountain must get these three thousand sets of things, otherwise, he will lose his supreme prestige over the mountain people. Even if the Duke goes back on his word, the Mountain will never give in. With Lord Tywin's cunning, he will naturally understand the importance of this matter to the Mountain. In fact, the Duke promised that after the war, he would give more rewards to the mountain people, not just three thousand sets of armor.

According to the Duke's plan to lure the enemy in advance, the Duke thought that the mountain people, as cannon fodder, would be completely wiped out in this battle.

It's just that the Duke, who has always been high above and looked down on 'lowly' barbarians, was wrong again!

The Mountain announced that he was moving things, and the mountain people and Clegane soldiers cheered, everyone acted, like ants moving house. Soon, the mountains of weapons, armor, and helmets collapsed as if they were less.

Swyft's knights and soldiers dared to be angry but dared not speak.

Although Earl Swyft's sister is Kevan Lannister's wife, the Mountain is not easy to mess with, everyone knows. No one dared to test the Mountain's determination with their own lives.

*

The generals of the West gathered together, crowded in the Crossroads Inn on the west bank of the Green Fork.

The hall was noisy, and Duke Tywin was silent, listening to the opinions of these generals.

Unless necessary, Duke Tywin would hardly speak. What he needed to say was said by Kevan Lannister. When everyone was noisy, Tywin observed the words and deeds of each general. This was also his habit of understanding his vassals.

Who is stupid, who is cunning, who is wise, who is loyal, he knows it all.

There were two people missing from the meeting room: the Mountain and the Imp.

Earl Swyft of Cornfield City suggested that the westward army should be led by the Mountain, leading the Clegane soldiers and mountain people to take the lead. Currently, the lords of the Riverlands who were scattered have returned to Riverrun. The forces of the North and the Riverlands are concentrated together, and the number of troops has exceeded that of the West. On this road, a real fierce general is needed, and the Mountain is the most suitable person.

Many generals agreed with Swyft's opinion. Only Addam Marbrand did not think so. He asked to be the vanguard and was willing to lead his own troops to march west first. Addam Marbrand and the Mountain have a feud. His father, Earl Marbrand, had his right hand cut off by the Mountain.

Another part of the generals believed that peace should be negotiated and hostages should be exchanged.

Many knights and family heirs in the West, including Jaime Lannister, were captured alive by the main cavalry of the North; and many earls and knights in the North were also captured alive by the Western army on the east bank of the Green Fork. Both sides have important figures of the other side, and exchanging hostages for peace is the best policy.

And once the Western army withdraws westward, Roose Bolton will inevitably ambush from behind. If the Young Wolf leads the army to meet them, it will form a two-sided attack, which will be very unfavorable to the Western army.

At the same time, we must guard against the armies of the Vale from coming to reinforce the Riverlands and the North. After all, the mother of Duke Robert of the Vale is Lysa Tully, the daughter of Duke Hoster of Riverrun.

Earl Gavin Westerling of the Crag believed that the best choice for the Westerners at present is to negotiate peace, which can first win back Jaime Lannister, while the two daughters of Stark of the North, and Eddard Stark are all detained in the Red Keep. The lives of these three people can force the Northerners to stop the war.

Duke Tywin was still silent. He knew very well that Gavin's youngest daughter, Jeyne, was still in Riverrun. Jeyne and Edmure had been engaged, and Gavin was likely to have his own selfish motives for trying to promote peace.

But Tywin really wanted to negotiate peace. As long as he could exchange Jaime back first, Tywin was willing to negotiate peace - but unfortunately, Earl Gavin's Arya Stark and Eddard Stark were not in Cersei's hands. Arya was missing and had not been found yet; and Eddard had also disappeared from the Red Keep dungeon. Although this news was strictly blocked, it could not be hidden for long.

Gavin still doesn't know that Eddard Stark has escaped, and he doesn't know that Arya is missing. This shows that the Mountain is tight-lipped about the affairs of King's Landing. He has not told his father-in-law Gavin any key matters. The Mountain's loyalty has never disappointed Tywin.

Kevan said: “The Mountain is responsible for the rearguard and garrisoning Harrenhal this time, so we don't have to worry about Roose Bolton's subsequent ambush when we withdraw westward. There is only one way for the Vale army to come out. Before they catch up with us, they must first take Harrenhal's Mountain, otherwise they will have a hard time. Therefore, we withdraw westward, and the Mountain is the rearguard, so we don't have to worry about our rear at all. The vanguard of the westward withdrawal will be led by the brave Ser Addam Marbrand. I think it's very suitable. Whether to fight or make peace, let's get to Riverrun first and then discuss it.”

*

Stephen, covered in dirt, hurried into the hall.

The Western nobles who were meeting all looked at him with pale faces.

Earl Swyft was even more worried about his son. He saw the shocking palm print on his son's left face, purple-red and bleeding. He forcibly held back from asking first.

Stephen knelt on one knee before Tywin. "Lord Duke, the Mountain, leading the Mountain Clansmen and Clegane's guards, forcibly seized three thousand sets of armor, weapons, and helmets on the east bank. I implore you, my lord, send out law officers to apprehend the Mountain and punish him severely according to military law."

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