The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 461: Turning Jade and Silk into Weapons of War

(Bonus chapter for the MaxW reward)*

“Prince Oberyn, I will handle this matter properly,” Tyrion said, “I guarantee it!”

Littlefinger knew that when Tyrion said 'guarantee,' it mostly meant he couldn't guarantee it. He watched the Dornish prince's reaction.

“What guarantee?” Oberyn sneered.

“I will immediately convene a Small Council meeting and send officers from the City Watch and the Kingsguard to invite Lady Jeyne to the Throne Room.”

This was a great approach. Resolving it in the Throne Room meant no drawn weapons. Tyrion was saving the Dornish hero's life, as well as the lives of these thousand Dornishmen. Of course, he was also saving Princess Myrcella's life.

Why would Jeyne cause her generals to suddenly have Dornish people beaten all over the city?

That was a very mysterious question.

Tyrion and this Dornish fellow had no idea what was going on, yet they dared to walk right into the lion's den.

The Clegane army, with over ten thousand men, had first defeated Stannis's tens of thousands of soldiers, and then Tywin's twenty thousand. Now, a mere thousand Dornishmen thought they could take down such an army. They were truly overestimating themselves.

One against ten, the Dornish were really being laughably foolish.

Littlefinger wore his signature smile, elegant and noble.

What were a Lannister and a Martell putting on a show for in the Red Keep?!

Oberyn said in a deep voice, “Lord Hand, what about the criminals who committed the violence?”

“I will bring them all.”

Littlefinger's smile became even more pleased. If Tyrion had such abilities, Lord Tywin certainly wouldn't have taken the black.

“And if you can't bring them?”

“Then I will put the Crownland forces, the Westerland forces, and the City Watch under the Prince's command. I will personally accompany the Prince to capture those people.”

Very clever, he didn't mention the Tyrell family's army. Littlefinger looked at Lord Mace at the back of the group, who was also looking at Oberyn and Tyrion with a playful gaze.

“Can I trust you?”

Littlefinger almost laughed out loud, answering for Tyrion in his mind: "Absolutely not!" The Red Keep was precisely a gathering place for liars, schemers, traitors, incestuous people, and those who broke their promises.

“I swear on the honor of House Lannister and in the name of the Seven Gods! Prince Oberyn, just give me time.”

“Good, I will wait in the Throne Room with the Dornish knights for Lady Jeyne and her men to arrive.”

“As you wish!” Tyrion bowed slightly.

Littlefinger nodded, admiring Tyrion's persuasive skills. Tyrion could now casually use the Seven Gods and family honor to deceive people. Without a doubt, he was invincible.

Without using anyone else's power, Tyrion, with his silver tongue, persuaded Oberyn to put down his spear and enter the Throne Room to judge according to the law.

This was just the beginning of a small game. Those who were killed were knights and soldiers, no nobles had died. Once the Master of Laws came to judge, it would be a matter of who had the better eloquence and reason. A brawl was just a messy affair.

Littlefinger was looking forward to the performance of Tyrion, Lord Mace, the Dornish, and Lady Jeyne in the Throne Room, and he was also looking forward to how Tyrion would bring the criminals to justice.

However, seeing the Dornish prince raise his hand to order the knights following him to dismount and the soldiers to lower their banners, Littlefinger knew that this Dornish Red Viper was not a fool. Perhaps only the knights and soldiers who had rushed to stop him were the fools. But just how slippery this kid was, was a topic Littlefinger was eager to study.

*

On the walls of Maegor's Holdfast, King Joffrey looked disappointed. “Why did the dwarf uncle stop the Dornish? They like to court death so much, just let them die.”

Cersei next to him had a look of indifference, her face expressionless.

His fiancée Margaery smiled and said, “Your Grace, if the Dornish attack the Clegane camp, no matter who wins or loses, it will damage the unity of the kingdom.”

“I just want to see how the Dornish die.” Joffrey's tone was contemptuous, his eyes full of disdain. “Burke, the farrier, how many Dornishmen does it take to shoe a horse?”

Burke was a man Lord Tywin had placed by the King's side, but unfortunately, Lord Tywin had already passed away: “No more, no less, exactly nine. One to work, eight to lift the horse, Your Grace!”

The King laughed heartily!

*

The Hand and Prince Oberyn walked together towards the Throne Room.

The Hand waved his hand, signaling everyone around him to step back, keeping a distance from the two of them.

The courtiers and Dornishmen all cooperated, staying far away from the Hand and the Prince, giving the two enough space to talk.

“Prince Oberyn, have you calmed down now?”

“I am very calm.”

“Then shouldn't you thank me?”

“Thank you for what?”

“I just saved your life, and the lives of over a thousand Dornishmen.”

“Little imp!” Oberyn stopped, his tone unkind.

“Prince, you know I'm right. The Dornish are fighting one against ten in King's Landing, and they are actively attacking the Clegane camp. The Clegane army is justifiably killing you all in self-defense.”

“I'm going to kill the Clegane generals right now.”

“You certainly can, but what if you fail…” Tyrion stopped, “Prince, isn't there something more important? Who's going to kill the Mountain? Me?” Tyrion raised his hands, “Do you think my fists are big enough?”

Oberyn snorted.

“Even if you manage to retreat unscathed in the end, how many of your knights do you think will be able to return alive? The Clegane army has experienced the Battle of the Green Fork, the Battle of the Blackwater, and the Sack of King's Landing, all of which were great victories. That morale is hard to shake with just a thousand people.”

“They'll know what fighting is really like when they meet the Dornish.”

That was a very damaging remark, hurting both the Westermen and the Lannisters.

But Tyrion didn't care about the barbs in those words.

“The Dornish knights have already fought with the Clegane generals, a fistfight. Losing is losing, it's small-scale. But as long as you kill the Mountain, this army will scatter like birds and beasts.”

“Why do you say that?”

“The Clegane army is just a rabble, consisting of Westermen, Northmen, Valemen, people from the Crab Coast, and refugees from all over the country; their beliefs are also different, some believe in the Seven Gods, some believe in the Old Gods, some believe in the Blood God. The Mountain is a big tree, and once you cut down this big tree, the monkeys of different kinds on the tree will scatter and look for other places to roost.”

Oberyn didn't speak, already persuaded by Tyrion.

“Princess Myrcella, Storm's End, the Master of War, the Lord Confessor, the Mountain's head, aren't these enough to appease the Prince's anger?” Tyrion asked in a questioning tone.

“According to you, what should I do?”

All of Tyrion's previous promises vanished like smoke.

“I will invite Lady Jeyne over, we will have a good talk, and have her pay some compensation.”

“Hmph!”

“Then, I will issue a Hand's decree, ordering the Clegane army to withdraw from King's Landing and go to their fiefdom, Dragonstone.”

“And then?”

“I have already issued a Hand's decree, ordering the Mountain to return to King's Landing to report for duty. His forces are very limited, only a few hundred light cavalry. How do you plan to kill the Mountain? Have you figured it out these past few days?”

“Trial by combat!”

“He will kill you.”

“I will kill him.”

“He has the Red Viper venom, and Ice. Moreover, he and his soldiers are training whenever they are not fighting. Do you have a Valyrian steel sword?”

“No!”

“Your spear won't even get close to him.”

“I have already thought of a way to deal with him.”

“What way?”

“You'd better not know, it's nothing good.”