The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 405: Forbidden Land (Subscription Requested)

Mountain, Jeyne, Elder Jeremiah, the newly recruited page—young Korm Warner, Anguy, Elin, Jeyne, Brienne, Zerri, and several Warner tribe warriors headed to the chieftains' gathering for a meeting.

Ser Gerold, more skilled in leading troops, Denson, a master of swordsmanship and combat, and Knight Polliver, the cavalry vice-captain, were responsible for garrisoning the camp.

The Clegane cavalry combined with over a hundred Warner warrior cavalry formed a very powerful legion, making it difficult for any tribe to cause trouble.

The tribal warriors who came to the swamp were all cavalry.

Baelkai Swamp did not belong to any tribe; it was a land of death, with excessively heavy and abundant miasma. If it weren't for the appearance of the red smoke beast, usually only hunters and herb-collecting wizards would enter.

As the group advanced slowly, a band of men emerged from the dense forest on the right. The leading general was already clad in armor, wielding a double-edged heavy axe, the front of which had a spike specifically for armor-piercing.

Warner tribe's first warrior: Stanbeck Warner.

The Warner cavalry blocked Mountain and the others.

Korm Warner had prepared in advance, wearing the armor and helmet Mountain had provided, with the visor down, leaving only a narrow slit for his eyes.

"Duke Gregor, Your Grace," Stanbeck Warner said, half-bowing on horseback with his battle-axe held horizontally.

"Chief Stanbeck."

"Your Grace, this is Baelkai Swamp in the Claw Peninsula. The tribes of the peninsula are gathered here for a very important matter. The Duke is an outsider, please do not be misled by the Warner tribe to participate in the hunt for the red smoke beast; it is a great taboo."

"Chief Stanbeck, we are not here to capture the red smoke beast. I have no interest in that red smoke beast."

"If that's the case, then I was mistaken," Stanbeck said, apologizing to Mountain again, then changing the subject, "Jeremiah Warner, when did you become an elder of the Warner tribe? What about Elder Sandike?"

"Elder Sandike has been arrested and imprisoned in the black cells beneath the temple. I am now an elder of the Warner tribe," Jeremiah Warner said, "Warner warriors, Stanbeck used asp venom to harm young master Korm Warner, and colluded with Elder Sandike to lie, causing Sandike to refuse to treat young master Korm. He has committed a great crime of treason. In the name of the Warner King and the Blood God, I request you to capture Stanbeck..."

"You're talking nonsense, prepare to die!" Stanbeck roared, kicking his legs and brandishing his heavy axe, heading straight for Elder Jeremiah.

Jeremiah turned his horse and fled.

Stanbeck charged forward with his heavy axe, chasing after Elder Jeremiah.

Suddenly, a sword descended from the sky, like starlight falling, unbelievably fast, carrying a sharp whistle.

Stanbeck was shocked, unable to dodge, and blocked with his heavy axe.

Clang!

A soft sound rang out, the axe fell to the ground, the axe handle severed, the cut smooth and even.

Stanbeck was horrified and hurriedly fled on horseback. An arm reached out from behind, grabbed the back of his heart, and lifted his strong, ox-like body lightly off the saddle, throwing him to the ground with a thud, dazing him and making him feel as if all the bones in his body were falling apart.

Stanbeck's cavalry was taken aback. After a moment of stunned silence, the cavalry shouted, the formation spread out, and launched an attack on Mountain and the dozen or so others in a fan shape.

A cavalryman rode out from beside Mountain, without a spear or sword in his hand. He held something high in his hand and shouted, "The Warner King is here, all kneel."

The cavalry was shocked and abruptly reined in their horses. Many horses reared up, the cavalrymen clinging tightly to their horses, none of them thrown off!

"No, kill him!" Stanbeck barely sat up on the ground and shouted. Before he could finish shouting, he spat out a mouthful of blood with a 'poof'.

Mountain's throw of strength was too much for this tribe's first warrior to bear.

Mountain swung his greatsword, and with a 'clang', struck Stanbeck's head diagonally. Stanbeck didn't even grunt before crashing to the ground a long distance away, unconscious. The helmet he had gotten from somewhere was knocked off, flew over the bushes, and 'plunk' fell into the mountain stream on his left. It wobbled for a moment before sinking to the bottom.

The elder galloped back, and with several Warner warriors, surrounded Korm Warner. The elder shouted, "The new chief of the Warner tribe is here, all dismount and kneel."

Korm Warner slowly pushed up his visor, then took off his helmet and hung it on the saddle. The opposing cavalrymen were stunned.

Their young master, who had been gravely ill in bed, had actually come here on horseback!

Korm Warner said in a deep voice, "My uncle, Stanbeck Warner, poisoned me with asp venom in order to become the chief. Former Elder Sandike was his accomplice. Now Sandike has confessed his guilt. We are here to capture Stanbeck. The temple elder has failed in his duty, and the Warner King is now under my custody. Warner warriors, having seen the chief and the Warner King, why do you not kneel?"

The cavalrymen looked at each other, and finally all dismounted, put down their spears, knelt on both knees, and touched their foreheads to the ground.

Korm Warner said, "Which of you Warner tribe warriors will capture my uncle Stanbeck for me?"

Several cavalrymen stood up, strode forward, and bound the slowly awakening Stanbeck.

"I, Korm Warner, swear by the Warner King and the Blood God, in the name of the Warner tribe chief, to revoke Stanbeck Warner's honor as the Warner tribe's first warrior, strip him of his Warner surname, and after the red smoke beast hunt is over, escort him back to receive the temple's ancestral punishment."

The cavalrymen answered in unison, "Hoo!"

"Tribal warriors, Stanbeck's crimes have nothing to do with you. You are still the best warriors of the tribe, the guardians of the Warner people's honor and safety. Rise!"

"Hoo!" The cavalrymen stood up, stood beside their horses, looking at the chief, waiting for the chief's order, not daring to mount their horses.

"Mount your horses and escort us to the chieftains' camp."

"Yes, Chief!"

The two hundred cavalrymen responded in unison. They mounted their horses, raised their spears high, and saluted Chief Korm Warner.

*

Korm Warner rode beside Mountain and Jeyne. Jeyne said in a low voice, "Korm, Stanbeck is the tribe's first warrior, and there must be many warriors loyal to him. To avoid complications, executing him on the spot is the best way. Once Stanbeck is dead, those loyal to him will completely give up, and there will be no more unforeseen events in the tribe."

Korm Warner suddenly realized and said, "Madam, what should I do now?"

"It's simple, have your warriors release Stanbeck tonight, and we will pursue and behead him afterwards, without fail."

"Thank you for your guidance, Madam. Korm is very grateful."

Although the child is clever, he is still young and lacks political skills.

*

This was a huge tent, circular, with wooden stakes hammered into the ground on all sides, and a large rope pulling up the canvas.

The tent was set up by the water.

When marching in the wilderness, camps are often set up by the water.

Korm Warner restored his original appearance, and with Mountain, Jeyne, Elder Jeremiah, and others, entered the tent. It was already full of people, with the chieftains of all the peninsula's tribes here.

There were no tables inside the tent. Everyone sat around a fire pit in the middle, with a large pot hanging above the fire pit, bubbling, boiling some kind of wild beast. Its legs were still hanging outside the pot. Slender legs, black hooves!

A fierce man sat in the center, with a hooked nose, a high forehead, and eyes like blades, with a fierce appearance. Beside him was Dorti Quintina, the wizard of the Foka tribe. Behind him stood two chieftains, one was Joyce Foka, the young master of the Foka tribe, the wound on his face had faded; the other was an even taller and more robust youth, presumably his brother, whose gaze was like an iron hook.

Mountain noticed that there were nine chieftains in total.

There were more than nine tribes on the peninsula, but the weaker tribes certainly did not have the qualifications to participate in the hunt for the red smoke beast.

The Warner tribe also had a seat, although Mountain and the others had been invited, they had no seats.

Korm Warner walked over and invited Jeyne to sit in the Warner chieftain's seat, he stood beside Jeyne with his hand on his sword.

Mountain and the elder, and the generals stood behind Jeyne.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Mountain, the gazes of the nine chieftains and their guards were like spear tips and sword blades.

Mountain remained unfazed.

His greatsword also made the nine chieftains' eyes narrow.

No one had ever seen such a wide greatsword. Just looking at the hilt and scabbard, they were exquisitely crafted to the extreme. The most valiant warriors in the tribe thought that they would not be able to wield such a greatsword to kill enemies.

"Where is the warrior Stanbeck?" A tribal chieftain holding a small snake in his hand asked.

"He has committed a great crime against the family and has been captured," Korm Warner said, "I am Korm Warner, the chief of the Warner family."

"This madam is..."

"Duchess Jeyne Westerling, sent by the King to the Claw Peninsula to distribute pensions and honors."

"Does the Warner family intend to go to King's Landing to pledge allegiance to the King again?"

"Yes, chieftains!" Korm Warner said calmly, "I am already a page of Duke Gregor Clegane. Duke Gregor Clegane, Duke of Dragonstone."

Duke of Dragonstone!

The chieftains stirred.

"Not only that, tribal chieftains," Jeyne stood up, her eyes sweeping over the nine chieftains, "We are ordered by the King to recruit soldiers in the Claw Peninsula. Any warrior on the peninsula who wants to become a knight or a ser, and obtain land and honor through military merit, can sign up to join the army. Whether it is the navy, cavalry, infantry, or any other kind of troop, we open our doors wide. We also recruit various craftsmen, carpenters, stonemasons, blacksmiths, horse workers, miscellaneous workers, and sailors. We also welcome the nine chieftains to lead their troops to join the army, to earn fame and fortune, and to spread their names throughout the Seven Kingdoms."

The eyes of the chieftains and guards all landed on Jeyne.

"Madam Jeyne, we do not object to you recruiting soldiers under the King's order. The warriors of the Claw Peninsula have served the Dragon family and the Baratheon family for three hundred years and fought to the death for them respectively. Archibald Warner, the chief of the Warner family, just died in the Baratheon family's civil war. But you barging in here is a great disrespect to us," the fierce man beside the wizard Dorti frowned.

"On the King's territory, what place can't the King's army enter?" Jeyne said lightly, "The Claw Peninsula is also the territory granted to you chieftains by the King. Who among you isn't a vassal of the Baratheon family?"

The chieftains were stifled!

The Claw Peninsula was independent in fact, but nominally subject to King's Landing, and politically obeyed King's Landing, but did not pay taxes, and the King did not station troops. They obeyed Robert Baratheon. After Robert's death, although the chieftains all held their heads high and did not take the new King seriously, under the hereditary tradition, they were still vassals of the Baratheon family.

"You are the great chieftain of the Foka tribe, right? May I ask, are you a duke? A marquis? An earl? Or a baron? Or a knight?"

"I am... uh... a baron."

"I am the Duchess of Dragonstone, entering the Claw Peninsula under the King's order. Baelkai Swamp does not belong to the territory of any tribe. If you can come here, can't I come?"

The great chieftain of the Foka tribe was speechless, his face showing murderous intent, and the guards behind him all put their hands on their sword hilts. Seeing this, the other chieftains all put their hands on their knives and swords, waiting for the great chieftain of the Foka tribe to make a move, and they would all strike together. Seeing that they were about to draw swords, the wizard Dorti whispered something in the great chieftain of the Foka tribe's ear. The great chieftain snorted heavily, grabbed a knife and cut the half-cooked beast meat in front of him fiercely.

Jeyne's back and palms were already quietly oozing with cold sweat!

But she remained composed!

Korm Warner and Elder Jeremiah all changed color slightly.

The Warner warriors beside them were all breathing rapidly, their hands tightly gripping the hilts of their knives and swords, the backs of their hands bulging with veins.

Mountain scanned the entire scene, and grabbed the scabbard of his greatsword with his backhand.

Brienne, Zerri, Elin, and Anguy all had their hands on their sword hilts, their eyes staring left and right, their eyes revealing ferocity.

The air suddenly froze!

Jeyne saw the great chieftain of the Foka tribe cut open a piece of bloody beast meat, and the atmosphere in the hall began to ease.

The chieftains' hands successively left their sword and knife hilts.

Jeyne secretly took a deep breath, calmed herself, and continued to test the dangerous edge crazily: "Chieftains, we are ordered by the King to come in to distribute pensions to the fallen soldiers of the Claw Peninsula, and at the same time to recruit soldiers again for the Royal Navy and various arms. By the will of the Blood God, the great chieftains are gathered here, so we will take this opportunity to meet you great chieftains and convey the King's order, otherwise we would have to visit each tribe, which would be very inconvenient."

Jeyne's last sentence was the ultimate fuse to ignite the war: "The Claw Peninsula has always been a forbidden land for outsiders, but I don't think it should be a forbidden land for the King's order."

This was a fig leaf that had never been torn open by anyone: forbidden land! A forbidden land for outsiders, and after Robert's death, it may have become a forbidden land for the King's order in fact.

In the past, even in Robert's era, everyone knew it in their hearts, but did not point out the taboo of the forbidden land - it was an abnormal and absolutely incredible thing to have a forbidden land in the King's territory - everyone acted according to the well-known rules, the King's people hardly came in, and the people inside hardly obeyed the orders, and they lived in peace. You be your king, I be my tribal chieftain, and we live in peace.

But today, Jeyne reached out and tore open this 'fig leaf' - she clearly stated: The Claw Peninsula cannot be a forbidden land for the King's order.

This sentence made the great chieftain of the Foka tribe, who was cutting meat, pause, raise his head, and stare at Jeyne with hook-like eyes.

The other chieftains all showed anger on their faces, glaring at Jeyne, full of hostility, and murderous intent, invisible and tangible, floated out.

The chieftain with a sail and harpoon painted on his face shouted, "Lady Jeyne, even King Robert would be courteous to us when he comes here. What position do you hold in the royal court, as a mere duchess, that you dare to be so presumptuous and lecture the people of the Claw, who never kneel?"

"Chieftain Gahr!" Jeyne called out the chieftain's name as soon as she spoke, surprising everyone, including the Mountain. These chieftains don't interact with outsiders; apart from the people of the Claw, outsiders basically have no way of knowing them. "I am the supreme military commander of this royal army. May I ask if I have the authority to convey the king's orders here?"

"That may be so in other places, but not here," Chieftain Gahr chuckled. Suddenly, the large bowl in front of him flew up, soup and all, and smashed towards Jeyne...

Brienne and Zelle on the left and right each took a step forward, blocking Jeyne completely behind them. The two women's longswords hissed as they were drawn, pointing forward...

Smack!

The large bowl smashed against Brienne's chest armor, splattering soup and flinging out chunks of meat...

Clang clang clang clang!

The sound of swords being drawn rang out densely!

Poof!

A flash of cold light, and a small knife flew out, hitting Chieftain Gahr, who had just stood up and was still drawing his sword, squarely in the throat. The chieftain's body stiffened, all movement ceased completely, his face filled with horror, his eyes bulging...

Anguy's divine arrow skills, equally accurate with throwing knives!

The Mountain drew his greatsword, jumped out, showing no mercy, and swept the Ice Sword powerfully across the front, a flash of cold light, and a chieftain and three guards were cut in two, blood spraying... The rest retreated one after another... No one dared to step forward... A large area on the left was instantly cleared...

"Anyone who dares to move dies!" The Mountain roared. His voice was like thunder, deafening everyone!

The chieftains and guards all changed color...

A sharp iron whistle, never heard before by the tribesmen, suddenly rang out, the sound shrill and piercing, making people want to cover their ears... Aylin blew the military whistle...

Aylin and Anguy drew their longswords, and together with Brienne and Zelle, the four swords guarded the Elder and Jeyne on all sides. Cohm Wane and the Wane warriors stood together, six swords forming a fan shape to guard the right side... confronting several chieftains and a dozen guards on the right...

A brief stalemate, and in the next instant, both sides would engage in a life-or-death battle inside the tent...

Very abruptly, the sound of warhorses charging suddenly rang out outside, the sound of hooves thundering. At the entrance of the tent, several sounds of weapons clashing violently rang out, followed by shouts and several screams, the screams very short.

As if in an instant, the shouts of the Wane cavalry were everywhere. Poof poof poof, the tent cloth was pierced by long spears, the spear tips picked up and tore the tent cloth, cavalry were everywhere, the sound of tearing was constant, as if in just an instant, in the chieftains' horrified eyes, the entire tent cloth was torn open, all around were two hundred Wane cavalry, spears leveled, warhorses advancing on all sides, the spear tips pointing at all the chieftains and guards inside the tent...

The seven great chieftains and their guards, the two tribal warriors who had lost their chieftains, including the witch Dalt, were all subdued!