The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 514: Warrior Bishop

(First, an extra chapter for the reward from 【送子阿訇】, thank you very much, handshake!)

*

Loras Tyrell stood up abruptly: "The High Septon arrested Margaery?"

"Yes, my lord." The Kingsguard knight, Osmund Kettleblack, looked grave. "My brother was also arrested by the High Septon, his legs were broken, and he's locked in the black cells."

Osmund is over two meters tall, a small giant, and has the reputation of being a smaller version of the Mountain. He is the strongest knight in the Kingsguard in recent years and is Osney's older brother.

Mace Tyrell's face changed: "Lord Hand, Margaery went to the Great Sept to pray for her grandmother, Lady Olenna, but she was trapped inside the Sept. Who would dare to enter the Sept again in the future?"

Kevan said, "Lord Mace, order the Reach soldiers to surround the Great Sept of Baelor."

"Yes, Lord Hand." Mace Tyrell stood up and quickly left.

"Ser Loras Tyrell." Kevan was very calm. "Ser Bonifer Hasty, you will lead two thousand guards to the square of the Great Sept of Baelor immediately, and display our military might."

"Yes, Lord Hand." Loras Tyrell and Bonifer Hasty said together, bowing.

The two strode out of the Small Council chamber.

The Kingsguard knight Osmund said, "Lord Hand, please allow me to follow the captain to the Great Sept of Baelor."

"Granted!" Kevan said lightly.

"Thank you, Lord Hand." Osmund strode away, walking on the ground like a beast, making a thumping sound with every step.

"Your Grace, Your Lords, due to the sudden incident involving Queen Margaery, today's Small Council meeting will end here," Kevan announced.

He did not address Cersei as Queen Mother, only as Your Grace, very similar to Lord Tywin.

This was a sign that he did not want Cersei to interfere in state affairs and all government matters.

Cersei sensed a hint of something unusual, but her vigilance was still dull. She did not expect that as soon as Kevan became Hand, he would be like her father, completely forbidding her from interfering in any state affairs. Tywin could directly order Cersei, and Cersei also feared Tywin, but Kevan could not. He expressed his opinion by ignoring Cersei.

"Lord Hand, what about us?" The Mountain spread his hands, including Grand Maester Qyburn, Master of Ships Wagstaff, and Master of Whisperers, Pycelle.

"You may come with me," Kevan said.

They could go, or they could not.

"Yes, Lord Hand." The Mountain made up his mind not to take action, just to take a look. If the situation deteriorated and he needed to take action to seize money, the Mountain would not obey Kevan's orders. The money inside the Great Sept of Baelor was piled up like a mountain, there was just too much.

"Lord Hand, I want you to hold back," Cersei said. "I want to talk to the High Septon first."

"The situation has changed, Your Grace. They have arrested Queen Margaery, we must show our strength," Kevan rejected Cersei.

*

As soon as the Mountain heard Cersei's words, he knew that Cersei still didn't understand the High Septon's character and beliefs at all. She was sending herself into a fire pit. Cersei and Jaime's closeness was known throughout the Seven Kingdoms and was widely rumored. The High Sparrow would arrest her mercilessly because of this, and she, like Queen Margaery, was completely unaware of the danger posed by the High Sparrow.

The High Sparrow would not follow any secular rules. If he felt you were guilty, no matter who you were, entering the Great Sept of Baelor meant you were in the palm of his hand. If he had the Queen Mother Cersei and Queen Margaery in his hands, the power of the entire kingdom would be held hostage by him.

In fact, whether it was Mace, Kevan, Cersei, or Loras, they were all unprepared for the High Septon's sudden attack and did not understand what kind of opponent they were facing. Kevan's plan to negotiate first fully exposed his zero understanding of the High Sparrow's style.

Cersei too!

All the ministers of the royal family, the King and Queen Mother, had zero ability to judge the High Sparrow's style, and they did not understand why the High Sparrow dared to do such crazy things.

Judging and acting on the High Sparrow with the experience of ordinary worldly affairs was a big mistake.

*

"I want you to station troops in the square of the Great Sept of Baelor, but not launch an attack," Cersei said in a commanding tone.

"Your Grace, you have authorized me to handle this matter. I will handle it, I will definitely bring back Queen Margaery Tyrell and Ser Osney Kettleblack."

"I want to go in and talk to the High Septon first," Cersei announced coldly. "I am the Protector of the Realm, the Regent, and before Tommen comes of age, I will manage the kingdom for him."

Kevan stared at Cersei: "Yes, Your Grace."

Cersei's toughness made Kevan determined to send her away first. As long as she was sent to Highgarden, Cersei would have no one to turn to.

The Mountain coldly watched the power struggle between two people who did not understand the High Sparrow's style at all. It was as naive and ridiculous as the argument between two children who did not understand anything. Whether it was Cersei's first talk or Kevan's threat of force, they were actually useless against the High Sparrow.

The only correct way was to kill him, to eliminate him, all other talks, transactions, alliances, wooing, or intimidation and coercion, and displays of force were all nonsense.

*

"Your Grace, if you want to talk to the High Sparrow first, please allow me to protect you personally," the Mountain said.

"Okay, Ser Gregor. Please bring your guard… heavy cavalry…"

"Your Grace, the Kingsguard, the guards, and the knights of the Reach, the strength has exceeded five thousand," Kevan interrupted Cersei and said indifferently.

"A personal guard is necessary," the Mountain emphasized.

Cersei glanced at Kevan, her eyes like nails. She took King Tommen's hand: "Your Grace, let's go back to Maegor's Holdfast first."

The nine-year-old King saw the fight between his mother and uncle, and he felt uncomfortable. He hoped that his mother and uncle would be as close as a family, discuss things properly, and it was best not to be so tit-for-tat. But His Majesty's words could only be thought in his heart, he feared his mother, and he did not dare to speak in front of the expressionless Kevan.

Things changed quickly!

Initially, Cersei hoped to show force to make the High Sparrow retreat and restrain himself from then on, and then use him for her own purposes; while Kevan advocated first negotiating, and if negotiation failed, then showing force. — After Margaery's sudden incident, it became Kevan decisively showing force, but Cersei changed her mind and wanted to negotiate first.

Cersei still couldn't understand why the High Sparrow would suddenly arrest Osney. If the High Sparrow wanted to go against her, why did he follow her prior agreement and arrest Margaery Tyrell? Could it be that Ser Osney was arrogant and made some mistakes that led to this?

If the High Sparrow was a good ally, and this force could be used by Cersei, that was exactly what Cersei wanted!

Since the High Sparrow could arrest Margaery according to the agreement, he had the possibility of forming an alliance!

Cersei's thinking was based on a complete lack of understanding of a person.

The High Sparrow, who believed in the Seven Gods, was indeed not something that mortals could understand immediately.

Because she didn't understand, Cersei felt the need to talk first.

The Mountain could be used by her, why couldn't the High Sparrow?

Did he not want to live?

Could mere wooden sticks and poor people stop the royal army?

Impossible!

"Your Grace, for your safety, I suggest you do not use Ser Gregor as your personal guard," Kevan stood up and shouted after Cersei's back.

"Why?" Cersei stopped, turned around, and her eyes were as cold as a blade.

"Ser Gregor had a violent conflict with the High Septon, and the two are already enemies. If you want to sincerely negotiate first, don't take Ser Gregor, the possibility of successful negotiation will be completely non-existent if the High Septon sees Ser Gregor."

"Hmph!" Cersei snorted coldly. But in her heart, she was convinced by Kevan's words.

The Mountain killed hundreds of the High Sparrow's warriors, and it was indeed inappropriate to go to negotiate with the Mountain.

Cersei looked at the Mountain, and the Mountain understood the meaning of Cersei's eyes: "Your Grace, use me for charging and fighting, use Grand Maester Qyburn for negotiation. Lord Hand's words are very reasonable."

"I know you are very loyal to me." Cersei encouraged the Mountain, not wanting the Mountain's enthusiasm to be snubbed.

For an evil dog like the Mountain, you can no longer use the set of calling him around, you have to respect him as a person.

It must be said that Kevan's judgment based on common sense was accurate, but the High Sparrow was not a person who played according to common sense. He was a freak, different from any rules and traditions of worldly affairs. The Mountain knew that Cersei dared to go to negotiate, because of her sins, the High Sparrow dared to arrest her, there was no doubt about it.

The High Sparrow dared to arrest people even with the army pressing on the square of the Great Sept of Baelor?

Was he not afraid of death? Was he not afraid that his armed forces would be completely wiped out?

Yes, he was not afraid of death, he was not afraid of the armed forces being completely wiped out!

He believed that everything was arranged by the Seven Gods, and it was the best arrangement.

*

The Queen Mother Cersei of the royal family, under the protection of the Kingsguard Balon Swann and Osmund Kettleblack, left the Red Keep and went to the Great Sept to talk to the High Septon; Lord Hand, with his family knights, left the Red Keep, and the target was naturally the Great Sept of Baelor; Lord Mace, with three thousand soldiers from the Reach, left the Red Keep and went to the Great Sept; Loras Tyrell and Bonifer Hasty, with two thousand guards, set off for the Great Sept of Baelor…

In the Red Keep, the Mountain and his people did not move.

This time, Kevan did not arrange for the Mountain to show force, although he was the Master of War, he was marginalized by the Lord Hand; the Mountain understood that the Lord Hand needed to make achievements, not the Mountain to show off his power again; Cersei was also persuaded by Kevan, and felt that it was best not to use the Mountain for negotiation, using the Mountain for fighting was using a good knife on the edge. Using the Mountain for negotiation was hitting people with the handle of the knife.

The Mountain was not idle either, Pycelle brought him a person last night: the Warrior Bishop.

The Warrior Bishop was one of the seven bishops in the Great Sept of Baelor. Just because he questioned the High Sparrow's actions, he was ordered by the High Sparrow to take off his monk's robe, shoes, jewelry, and then driven out of the Great Sept, not allowed to enter again.

The Father Bishop was also suppressed with him and imprisoned in the underground black cells.

The Warrior Bishop was burly, and wearing armor was a brave general, but he didn't know how much martial arts he had.

"Bishop, the High Sparrow must be eliminated, but now Her Grace and Lord Hand have not realized the danger of the High Sparrow, but we must be prepared, are you willing to form an alliance with me?" The Mountain got straight to the point, not playing any false games.

"Ser Gregor, what do you need me to do?" The Warrior Bishop did not play any hypocritical etiquette either. He knew that with a ruthless person like the Mountain, he must not go around in circles when speaking.

"I am responsible for eliminating the High Sparrow and his armed forces, and fully support you to be the High Septon, but my army needs military pay, I want money."

"How many gold dragons does Your Lordship need?" The Warrior Bishop got straight to the point, talking about money directly.

This was a naked transaction, an alliance, only talking about interests, not about emotions, character, glory, or the Seven Gods' faith.

"I will divide half of the money in the Great Sept of Baelor."

"One-fifth."

One-fifth of the mountain of wealth was enough to support a huge army.

"Two-fifths."

The Mountain's eyes were bright!

He revealed the implied intention to rob everything.

If he robbed everything, the Mountain would get a huge amount of wealth, but at the same time lose the hearts of the monks. The Seven Gods monks were all over the country, their influence was subtle, and the people of the Seven Kingdoms all believed in the Seven Gods. If the monks all over the country were full of hostility towards the Mountain, it would definitely not be a good thing.

Two-fifths of the wealth was almost half, and the Mountain made a small concession.

"Okay!" The Warrior Bishop did not hesitate.

"In the future, I hope that the High Septon can help me in government affairs, faith, public opinion, and even lending," the Mountain directly called the Warrior Bishop the High Septon.

This made the Warrior Bishop feel comfortable!

"Ser Gregor, in the future, I will allocate a portion of the Sept's income to you every year, this is my sincerity. I also hope to get Your Lordship's full support in the future development of the Great Sept of Baelor."

"The Seven Gods are above, I swear in the name of House Clegane…" The Mountain was already very familiar with the routine of swearing at every turn in this world, with his mouth but not his heart. However, the people in this world, whether monks, prophets, civilians, nobles, or criminals, all ate this routine.

The Warrior Bishop's big hand stretched out and shook the Mountain's giant hand, his big hand immediately became a child's small hand.

"Ser Gregor, how many troops do you have?"

"Three thousand troops on Crackclaw Point, three thousand troops on Dragonstone, three thousand naval warriors, and six hundred heavy cavalry around me, all of whom are the most elite warriors."

The collection of these people actually exceeded ten thousand troops.

This was a powerful force, but if they didn't fight, it was ten thousand mouths to feed. Fortunately, the national treasury was supporting the naval warriors for the Mountain, and Master of Ships Wagstaff was still continuing to recruit coastal fishermen to join the navy.

"Five hundred death warriors are enough!" The Warrior Bishop said.

"Oh?"

"Do you know that there are secret passages under the Red Keep?" The Warrior Bishop said mysteriously.

"I've heard of it."

"Our Great Sept of Baelor also has secret passages, and there is a secret passage that is secretly connected to the secret passage of the Red Keep."

"Oh?!" The Mountain was really surprised in his heart.

He rescued Eddard Stark through the secret passage; rescued Sansa Stark; released Tyrion Lannister, but he did not know that there was a secret passage under the Great Sept of Baelor connected to the Red Keep's secret passage.

This was a new secret passage.

The secret passages beneath the Red Keep were intricate and extensive, a dense web with many deliberately designed dead ends. The Mountain believed he knew the underground passages inside and out, but in truth, there were some he was completely unaware of.

What he didn't know, others did, such as the Warrior Bishop before him.

With the royal courtiers, Kingsguard, Hand, and Queen Mother leading troops to the Great Sept of Baelor, the Mountain and the Warrior Bishop were in his stone cell, plotting a bloody battle.

The Mountain, Alyn, Burney, Comm Warner, Landon Garre, the Warrior Bishop, Wagner Garre, Joyce Foote, Ser Leo… the sworn brother Norren… everyone gathered together, looking at the map of the Great Sept of Baelor, carefully considering every detail of the operation.

Thanks to 【送子阿訇】【ArthurusRex】 for the donation, thank you, handshake.