The Mountain of Ice and Fire

The hall of Stokeworth Castle was brightly lit by torches on the walls.

Lady Tanda and Falyse sat on the high, seven-stepped lord's seat, while Lollys was already sound asleep, awaiting her wedding to Bronn the next day.

Bob Stokeworth and the other knights, maesters, stewards, trainers, landed gentry, and centurions of the castle stood around the hall, their faces looking unnatural in the firelight.

All of them were worried about the safety of Ser Balman Byrch, but Balman Byrch had decided to defend the honor and dignity of the Byrch and Stokeworth families with his longsword.

Falyse also believed that her husband was taller, stronger, and had a longer sword, so killing a sellsword would be no problem.

Lady Tanda also had a mysterious confidence.

Any outcome is the result of many factors combined.

In King's Landing's Red Keep, looking at the light of the red candle in front of him, one could imagine the approximate scene of the struggle in Stokeworth Castle.

In the original world trajectory, Bronn was ordered to be eliminated by Cersei after the Battle of the Blackwater.

The Mountain's intervention in King's Landing changed the original trajectory of the world, bringing new changes to many things.

Tyrion Lannister sat next to the Mountain, raising his glass to drink.

The two of them went over the details of the plan, confirming that there would be no mishaps. If Bronn were killed before nightfall, it would not affect Tyrion's subsequent plans.

The Mountain believed that Bronn would not die so quickly. People like Bronn, who prioritize profit and self-interest, are often difficult to kill. The easiest to die might be those who shout, 'Everyone get out of the way when there's danger! Charge for knightly honor!' Bronn is not that kind of person!

*

Stokeworth Castle, the hall, Bronn drew his longsword, and Ser Balman returned Bronn's small round shield and helmet.

Bronn took the small round shield but refused the helmet. Bronn rarely wore a helmet, except on chaotic battlefields to prevent stray arrows. Helmets can protect the head, but they also greatly reduce your field of vision, and in fierce fighting, helmets increase the burden on the neck and make breathing difficult.

In one-on-one combat, Bronn rarely wears a helmet.

Being able to keep a close eye on his opponent and breathe freely was enough for him.

Balman Byrch put on his helmet, braced his shield, and wore fine armor, even wearing shin guards on his lower legs instead of lighter leather.

This made his whole body like a turtle shell, maximizing defense, making it difficult for Bronn's longsword to break through even with two strikes. But in Bronn's view, this was foolish—armor is made of steel, and the heavy weight quickly consumes a person's stamina; second, it slows down speed.

Bronn was known for his agility. His lean body was all muscle, with not an ounce of excess fat anywhere.

Bronn braced his shield and entered the field with Ser Balman.

Bronn had not eaten dinner.

He had only accompanied his legal fiancée Lollys for two sips of bacon soup.

Maester Falkan secretly told him that if he ate a full dinner tonight, Lady Tanda would be very unhappy, and she might order the trial by combat to be canceled. After Lollys went to sleep, Lady Tanda could give an order, and the knights and soldiers would hack Bronn to death!

So, at the dinner table, Bronn very politely only drank two sips of soup.

This was met with everyone's ridicule. Ser Balman Byrch believed that Bronn was filled with fear of death, which was why he couldn't eat.

The foolish Lady Tanda was finally smart for once: Bronn had walked from King's Landing to Stokeworth Castle, a whole day's journey, and then he didn't eat anything in the evening, so his strength would naturally be greatly reduced.

Therefore, Lady Tanda watched the duel between Ser Balman Byrch and Bronn with great peace of mind.

Her lips curled into a smile, perhaps thinking of Cersei Lannister's praise and commendation!

In the hall, the two people fighting to the death began to circle each other.

Ser Balman was not reckless. His steps were small, approaching Bronn little by little. His longsword was longer, his shield was larger, his size was bigger than Bronn's, and he believed his strength was much greater.

Bronn watched his opponent like a cat, carefully maintaining his distance. He was cautious, his longsword and shield providing a tight defense.

After circling twice, Ser Balman suddenly made a thrust, so fast it was like lightning. Amid the roaring cheers, Bronn raised his shield to block the longsword. With a clang, the longsword pierced the small round shield, and with a ding, struck Bronn's arm behind the small round shield.

Cheers erupted in the hall!

Bronn was shocked. This small round shield had also been tampered with. The weight didn't feel unusual, but there was already a crack in the center.

Ser Balman's longsword struck sparks on the armor of Bronn's arm, but because of the shield's timely blocking, most of the force was dissipated, and the sword tip failed to pierce the armor.

Bronn retreated, his gaze sweeping towards Lady Tanda, but he saw a glint of light flash in Falyse's indifferent and cruel eyes.

So, Falyse was the one who tampered with the shield.

Lady Tanda and Falyse were both protecting Balman's knightly honor, and it seemed they were doing these tricks behind Ser Balman's back.

This showed that Balman was usually very confident in his martial skills! But Lady Tanda and Falyse didn't want him to be in danger.

Balman pressed forward step by step, and Bronn retreated continuously, but behind him was Captain Bob, and it seemed that Captain Bob didn't want to give way.

After several probes, Balman had confirmed that Bronn's courage was limited. He let go and attacked, his longsword fiercely chopping at Bronn's neck. Bronn had no helmet or neck protection. Bronn ducked his head, and the longsword chopped over his head. The knight used too much force and stumbled a little, but Bronn didn't take the opportunity to counterattack, but instead slipped past the knight and immediately assumed a defensive posture.

Bronn was wary of the grim-faced Captain of the Guard, Knight Bob. If he suddenly stabbed him in the back when he turned his back to this guy, it wouldn't be very pleasant.

Ser Balman laughed and said, "Sellsword, can't you fight like a man?"

"No!"

Balman and the knights laughed together.

Bronn didn't laugh. Laughing during combat also consumes stamina. Although his strength was very long-lasting, even if he hadn't eaten dinner, even if he had marched all day and only eaten one meal a day, Bronn could immediately engage in fierce combat.

His sellsword path was cut out of blood and fire. He witnessed murder at the age of ten and began to do it himself. At the age of twelve, he learned that finding a woman could relieve the discomfort after killing someone. After the age of sixteen, Bronn felt that killing people was like killing chickens and ducks.

Balman strode towards Bronn, his steps were large and fast. Bronn retreated quickly. There were several pillars in the hall. Balman's longsword chopped down, Bronn dodged behind the pillar, and then jumped onto a coffee table. Maester Falkan, behind the coffee table, quickly stood up and avoided to the corner of the wall.

Balman chased after him, his longsword slashing horizontally. Bronn raised his shield to block, and with a bang, the shield split in half. Amid the roaring cheers, Bronn dropped his shield and jumped off the coffee table. Balman's shield smashed towards Bronn across the coffee table. Bronn leaned back, dodged the shield, and kicked the coffee table, sending it crashing into the knight.

The knight had to retreat, and with a crash, the coffee table fell. The knight jumped over the coffee table to chop at Bronn, but Bronn had already hidden behind another pillar.

Bronn lost his shield, but Ser Balman began to pant.

Every piece of his armor added weight to his body.

Balman chased after Bronn. Bronn, like a cat, darted out from behind the pillar and came to the center of the hall. Balman chased to the center of the hall. Bronn blocked a few times with his longsword, clashing out a series of sparks, and then turned and fled again. Ser Balman pushed up his visor, panting heavily. Soon, he lowered his visor and continued to chase and chop at Bronn.

Bronn slowed down the pace, retreating unhurriedly. When Balman chased urgently, he would turn around and block a few times. When Balman slowed down a little, he would turn around and flee.

The two men, one chasing and one fleeing, the hall rang with the knights' boos and the soldiers' clamor.

Lady Tanda shouted, "Sellsword, if you don't fight, then Ser Balman has won."

"Ser Balman has already won," Maester Falkan said. "The sellsword is just a cunning rat."

"If he didn't run, he would have been chopped into two pieces by the knight," Hother Stokeworth laughed.

"This guy is a liar, with no warrior's honor," said Stable Master Holt Lorry.

The knights' and soldiers' laughter and ridicule rose and fell!

Ser Balman shouted, "Sellsword, show some fighting spirit!" The tip of his triangular shield stabbed fiercely at Bronn. The heavy shield was also a burden for the knight to hold it and chase Bronn for so long. Bronn dodged the shield, and the knight took the opportunity to step forward and slash horizontally. Bronn jumped agilely. The knight stepped forward again and chopped vertically. Bronn stepped to the side and slipped to the knight's right side. The knight's vertical chop missed, and Bronn's sword struck the knight's right waist.

The knight's shield was in his left hand, so Bronn attacked his right side.

With a loud clang, the knight retreated several steps. Bronn's strength exceeded everyone's imagination. With just one sword strike, he broke through the knight's armor.

Blood flowed from the knight's waist, but it was not a serious injury.

Bronn did not pursue the victory, but retreated again, maintaining a long distance.

Lady Tanda reached out and covered her mouth. Lady Falyse stood up abruptly, her eyes wide, in disbelief!

The mocking and humiliating sounds came to an abrupt halt!

The hall suddenly fell into silence, with only the knight's heavy panting, while Bronn remained as agile as a cat, as fierce as a leopard, and as sharp as a wolf.

The knight could feel that the waist injury was minor. The armor's protection was still very strong, but if it weren't for this fine armor, he would have been cut deep into his body by Bronn's sword.

The lean Bronn's strength far exceeded the fat knight.

He had been hiding his strength all along!

In a very brief silence, Bronn suddenly stepped forward, raised his sword and chopped down, both fierce and ruthless. The knight's legs were weak, making it difficult to move. He raised his shield to block. Clang! The longsword struck the shield violently, and wood chips flew everywhere. The knight couldn't bear it, his legs weakened, and he knelt down. Bronn raised his leg and kicked the shield, sending the knight tumbling. The shield came loose. Then the longsword chopped down vertically, swiftly and incomparably, fiercely chopping at the knight's head. With a loud clang, the knight raised his sword to block the chop, sparks flew everywhere, and the powerful force spread throughout the knight's body. The knight's arm went numb. Bronn circled his longsword, knocking the longsword out of the knight's hand.

This series of actions was as fast as lightning, and no one reacted.

The knight sat up halfway, pushed up his visor, his face pale, panting heavily.

Bronn jumped behind the knight, and the longsword pierced into the knight's body from the armor joint on the knight's shoulder, twisted his wrist, and pulled it out violently. Most of the longsword was stained with blood.

The knight staggered and fell, and blood gushed out from the armor gap on his shoulder. He breathed heavily, and with a puff, a mouthful of blood spurted out.

Without hesitation, Bronn thrust the longsword into the knight's mouth, all the way to the end, the sword tip piercing the armor on the back of his neck.

"No!" Falyse screamed!

Lady Tanda was stunned and unable to move!

The knights, Captain of the Guard Bob, Maester Falkan, Stable Master and Trainer, several centurions, and dozens of soldiers were all dumbfounded.

Bronn pulled out his longsword. Ser Balman's eyes were wide, his expression horrified, and he was already dead.

Bronn faced Lady Tanda: "Madam, I have won!" He did not relax his vigilance at all, because the other party was a woman, not Knight Balman.

Sure enough—

"Kill him!" Falyse burst into a scream.

Bronn ran towards Falyse like a leopard, and the surrounding knights drew their longswords one after another. A knight jumped down the steps to block him, his longsword fiercely chopping at Bronn's head. Bronn tilted his body slightly, without slowing down his pace, and the longsword stabbed into the knight's stomach.

A straight thrust with the longsword is the basic fighting style of armor-breaking swordsmanship!

But to penetrate the abdomen like Bronn, one must have strong strength.

Before the knight could fall, Bronn pulled out the short knife in his hand, diagonally sliding open a longsword's straight thrust with the armor on his left shoulder, and stabbed the short knife in his hand into the other party's face.

Falyse was frightened out of her wits. Bronn was so ferocious, killing her two knights in the blink of an eye, and had stepped onto the steps. Falyse screamed and turned to flee. Captain Bob rushed over from the opposite side to save his master, but only ran half the distance, and more soldiers poured over to block Bronn, stabbing at Bronn with long spears while standing on the steps.

Bronn had to retreat, watching helplessly as Lady Tanda was hugged by a knight and followed Falyse into the side door.

The shouts of killing suddenly erupted in the hall. Knights, centurions, trainers, Captain Bob, and soldiers all surrounded Bronn.

Bronn pulled out his longsword from the knight's corpse under his feet, circled it, and decided to kill his way to the door.

He charged towards Captain Bob.

This guy had always despised him, and Bronn wanted to kill him.

Bang!

The door suddenly made a loud noise, as if a monster was hitting it. With a crack, a large hole was broken in the door.

Everyone was taken aback. The knights and soldiers looked back in horror. Bang! There was another loud noise, and an even bigger hole was smashed in the other side of the door. A rough voice shouted in: "Bronn, are you dead yet?"

Bronn was overjoyed. It was the voice of Shagga of the Stone Crows.

"Not yet!" Bronn laughed easily.

That bastard Tyrion is really a talented person! He could even predict this!

Bronn stared at Captain Bob opposite him, his eyes cruel, the other party's face already ashen.

Boom!

With a loud noise, the door was smashed open, and two fierce men stood at the door, holding heavy giant axes, one was Shagga, and the other was Conner, behind them were three hundred mountain warriors with grim faces, each like they came from hell.

"Kill them all!" Shagga laughed loudly.

Conn strode in, swung his giant axe, and with a single blow, cleaved a soldier's head in half.