The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 516: Irreconcilable Contradiction

(First bonus chapter for ArthurusRex's reward, thank you for your support, handshake.)

*

Loras Tyrell, the Knight of Flowers, Captain of the Kingsguard.

When something happens to the royal family, the Captain of the Kingsguard bears the greatest responsibility, and it also affects the supreme honor of the Kingsguard.

There are only Kingsguard who die in battle, no Kingsguard who shrink from difficulties.

Cersei entered the Great Sept of Baelor and did not come out until evening.

Kevan asked his eldest son, Lancel, to go in and see what was happening, but Lancel remained unmoved, only staring coldly at his father, Kevan.

Lancel had completely changed.

Loras Tyrell stood up and decided to enter and see what was happening, representing the royal family alone. He had the status and position to do so, and it was also his duty.

The message was passed in, and a monk came out and accepted Loras Tyrell's identity as an 'envoy'. The monk brought out the message that Queen Mother Cersei was safe, and her guards, the Grand Maester, and the Kingsguard were all safe. The monk said that the High Septon had guaranteed safety, and if you don't believe the High Septon, you should believe in the Seven Gods.

The Seven Gods are above, the Queen Mother and Queen are safe, and their guards and attendants are safe. No one was injured.

The information conveyed by the High Septon relieved the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice, the Commander of the City Watch, and other important officials of the court.

The sky darkened, and the poor people surrounding the royal forces did not leave.

The Great Sept of Baelor was built on top of a hill, surrounded by sloping streets, and these streets were crowded with people.

Most of them had no weapons, they were followers of the Seven Gods, worshiping the High Septon, and they were here to support the High Septon and his armed forces.

After Loras Tyrell entered the Great Sept of Baelor, even when it was dark and the torches were lit, he or anyone else was not seen coming out.

The soldiers stood for a long time, from morning to noon, from noon to evening, until it was dark, and they were already hungry.

On the steps, the Starry Knights and Holy Sword Knights had already been replaced twice. They were well-fed and continued to confront the royal forces.

When the night finally completely enveloped King's Landing, an edict from the High Septon was issued, asking the believers who came to support to disperse and go home. The High Septon's monks told the believers: The negotiations are going smoothly, everything is fine, and the Great Sept of Baelor is safe.

So, the believers who filled the streets in all directions began to withdraw.

The High Septon's words are the law of faith.

The believers on the streets began to leave, which relieved the Prime Minister and the soldiers secretly.

It seemed that Queen Mother Cersei and the High Septon had reached some kind of consensus.

After most of the believers on the street had left, Grand Maester Qyburn appeared at the Father's Gate, accompanied by a red-robed guard.

Seeing Qyburn appear, the Prime Minister, who had been restless, calmed down.

Whatever the result, Prime Minister Kevan could accept it.

In fact, if something happened to Cersei, it might not be a bad thing. This would save him from having to rack his brains to trick Cersei into going to Highgarden, and it would also give Kevan an excuse to wipe out the High Sparrow and his armed forces.

He only needed to use a delaying tactic, first agreeing to any conditions of the High Sparrow, exchanging false promises for time, and Kevan could transfer 20,000 troops back from the Riverlands and completely strangle the High Septon and his loyal followers.

Grand Maester Qyburn appeared at the gate.

On the steps, Lancel issued an order, and the Starry Knights immediately gave way to a passage that only one person could pass through.

Qyburn walked down the steps unhurriedly and came to the Prime Minister.

"Grand Maester, is the Queen Mother alright?" Prime Minister Kevan's voice was cold and stern, revealing killing intent.

The soldiers already had anger in their hearts, and Kevan had to show his anger as well.

Scholar Qyburn looked at the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice, the Commander of the City Watch, and dozens of courtiers and generals of the royal family one by one: "The Queen Mother is fine, she wants us to return to the Red Keep first."

"What is the result of the negotiations?" Lord Mace asked unwillingly, "How are Queen Margaery and Captain Loras? Have they been abused?"

"They are all safe, no one has hurt them. The Queen Mother ordered us to return to the Red Keep first."

Order!

Cersei, in her capacity as Queen Regent, issued an order for the royal forces and courtiers to withdraw completely.

But Kevan did not seem to intend to obey the Queen Mother's order!

"What exactly did the Queen Mother and the High Septon talk about? Are they going to continue talking? How long will it take? We can't leave the Queen Mother and go back to the Red Keep," Prime Minister Kevan stated his position. If he were to deal with Cersei in the future, if rumors were to spread, his scene of refusing to leave for the Queen Mother today would be remembered.

Qyburn sat in his sedan chair, lifted the curtain and said, "Prime Minister, the Queen Mother has ordered, return to the Red Keep first."

The curtain was lowered, Qyburn's sedan chair was lifted, and the attendants started to return to the Red Keep.

*

Red Keep. Prime Minister's Tower. Brilliantly lit.

All the important officials of the court were present, except for Captain Loras Tyrell and Littlefinger Petyr.

"Queen Mother Cersei was accused by Ser Osney of having too close of an intimate relationship with him, and she and Jaime were also accused together. The High Septon detained Queen Mother Cersei according to the laws of 'The Seven-Pointed Star'," Qyburn said heavily, "Osney said that he and his brother Osbert both had intimate relationships with the Queen Mother."

"Osney's legs were broken, he was afraid, and he fabricated lies," the Mountain said.

There was silence in the Prime Minister's hall.

Everyone looked at each other, and no one spoke out to refute the Mountain.

Regarding the Queen Mother's private life, everyone did not want to express their opinions, as if it was a taboo.

"What about Queen Margaery?" Mace was more concerned about his daughter.

"She was accused by Ser Osney of being intimate with her handmaidens, and she admitted to sleeping with her handmaidens, but denied any intimate relationship. The High Septon told me that as long as Queen Margaery admits her crimes, the High Septon will pray for her, perform a ritual to purify her soul, and escort her back safely."

Margaery was unable to return safely, which proved that Margaery refused to admit her guilt.

"Admitting guilt and being released?" Kevan asked.

"Yes, Queen Mother Cersei is the same, as long as she admits her guilt, the High Septon will send someone to escort them back to the palace safely."

Cersei was also not released by the High Septon, she naturally refused to admit Osney's accusations.

"Queen Margaery and Queen Mother are both innocent. Osney's legs were broken and he was tortured. Perhaps the High Septon has other powerful methods. Osney has been defeated in will and is completely afraid. Once a person's heart is full of fear, they are so afraid that they dare not disobey the High Septon's wishes to accuse the Queen and Queen Mother," the Mountain once again opened his eyes and talked nonsense.

There was silence in the Prime Minister's hall again.

Every time the Mountain spoke for the Queen Mother, there was silence in the Prime Minister's hall.

Everyone had a new understanding of the Mountain's new height of shamelessness.

It is possible that Margaery Tyrell was wronged, because so far, Margaery is still a virgin. But the High Septon believes that being a virgin cannot prove that she did not do intimate things with her handmaidens, and the teachings of 'The Seven-Pointed Star' cannot be blasphemed. Margaery can only be saved by admitting her guilt and repenting.

"The High Septon wants to save the Queen Mother and Queen in his own way, purify their souls, help them face evil, and be reborn," Qyburn said with a face full of helplessness.

"Does this mean that the matter will be over if they admit their guilt?" Kevan asked in a deep voice.

"If they admit their guilt, they will regain their freedom and return to the Red Keep, living the same life as before, but they must return to the Great Sept of Baelor again at a time that the High Septon deems appropriate to receive a trial by the Seven Gods."

"Trial? Public trial?" Kevan raised his voice.

"Yes, a public trial in front of the monks, confessing in person, and swearing to the statues of the Seven Gods to correct their mistakes, will completely wash away their sins, and the matter will truly end," Qyburn sighed deeply, "Queen Mother Cersei insists that she is innocent, and she has been placed under house arrest. If she never admits her guilt, does not confess, and does not repent, she will be imprisoned indefinitely. Queen Margaery is the same."

Kevan and Mace looked at each other.

They could first let Cersei and Margaery admit their guilt, and after gaining freedom, send people to wipe out the High Sparrow and the Little Sparrows.

However, a public trial, confessing, admitting guilt, repenting, and begging for forgiveness, will completely destroy the royal family's glory.

"What about Captain Loras?" Mace's voice was muffled. He had tried his best to enter the palace, but he did not expect to live a comfortable 'glorifying ancestors' life, but instead, more and more troublesome days, one after another, were getting out of control. Even his mother was poisoned.

Qyburn's voice was painful. In fact, he had no feelings for Captain Loras, nor did he have any camaraderie, but his expression was that of an elder regretting a younger generation: "Captain Loras admitted his intimate relationship with Duke Renly, and he was imprisoned in the underground black jail. The monks also performed a ritualistic torture on him, saying it was to help him expel evil from his body. The High Septon wanted Loras to repent, but Loras believed that his intimate relationship with Renly was noble, and he had no regrets."

Loras has no regrets!

Mace stood up suddenly and walked back and forth in the Prime Minister's hall.

The Mountain said: "Grand Maester, Loras has no regrets about his intimacy with Renly, does he still have a chance to be released?"

"Unless he changes his mind, says he recognizes his sins, and repents, accepting the trial of the Seven Gods. Otherwise, he can only be imprisoned in the underground black jail of the Sept for the rest of his life."

"We must use force to eliminate the High Sparrow and his armed forces," Mace shouted sharply, "I want to transfer the troops from the Riverlands back and completely wipe out the High Septon and his followers."

Kevan did not answer immediately. He looked at the faces of the courtiers one by one, and finally landed on the face of Grand Maester Qyburn: "Grand Maester, do you think we can rescue the Queen Mother, the Queen, and Ser Loras by force?"

"If we attack forcefully, the High Septon will order the Queen Mother, the Queen, and Ser Loras to be killed first. He swore to me that in the face of brutality, he will fight back with all his might. I believe he can say it and do it," Qyburn said.

The whole place was silent again.

The courtiers finally realized what kind of madman they were facing. Anyone, according to the teachings of 'The Seven-Pointed Star', is guilty, and he has the right to arrest, try, and punish. According to the Seven-Pointed Star, who hasn't gambled? Which nobles don't have one or two intimate people besides marriage? Nine out of ten nobles have them!

"Was Queen Cersei finally locked in a cell?" The Mountain asked.

"Ser Loras Tyrell is in the underground black jail, he himself admitted his relationship with Renly, but did not admit his guilt. The Queen Mother denied all accusations, and the High Septon arranged for her to live in the Warrior's Tower. The accommodation is okay, with attendants and two Kingsguard protecting her safety; the Queen is locked in a small room on the ground. There is no bed in the room, she can only sit and lie on the marble floor. I have seen the Queen, and her physical condition has not been a problem, and her spirit is also very good. She told me that she would not admit her guilt, because she is innocent."

Bang!

Mace slapped the table, the fruit plate on the table trembled, an apple rolled and rolled, and finally fell to the ground.

"Grand Maester, Queen Mother Cersei insisted on negotiating with the High Septon, what was she talking about?"

"She allowed the High Septon to have armed forces, but the High Septon cannot arrest and try anyone of the royal family and nobles above the rank of baron. Royal power cannot be interfered with, the courtiers and generals are all subject to the royal family, the number of Starry Knights in the poor people's assembly cannot exceed two thousand, and the number of Holy Sword armed forces cannot exceed two hundred."

"Did the High Septon agree?"

"He didn't agree to any of them. Then, Osney was brought in, and he confessed his intimate relationship with the Queen Mother in front of the five high septons, monks, and the High Septon. I tried to stop it at the time, but I didn't succeed. Cersei denounced Osney for lying on the spot, but the High Septon believed Osney's accusations, and he believed that the liar was Queen Mother Cersei," Qyburn said sadly.

Qyburn's expression was very rich, he was a compassionate old man.

The whole place was silent again.

The Mountain and the Warrior High Septon had already formulated a detailed plan in their stone house building, and are currently secretly preparing, first of all, weapons, all short swords, that is, single-handed swords, seventy centimeters long, because the battle will take place inside various towers, some places are very small, and long swords are not convenient to use;

The second is the shield, all five hundred daredevils who raided will bring small round shields. The Mountain designed a special design for this small round shield, which is a secret. He has not had time to arrange for people to place orders on Iron Street.

The small iron round shield can attack and defend, and is tied to the left arm. It is the best defensive weapon in close combat in a small space.

The 'enemies' have no shield protection. This gives them an advantage in weapons.

The third is armor, all leather base, covered with soft armor. The most defensive plate armor is not used at all. The first is that it is inconvenient to move in the tunnel, and everyone must enter the Great Sept of Baelor from the tunnel; the second is that the plate armor is too heavy, which affects speed and agility. The raid is all about one word: fast! Close combat, in a small space, must ensure the flexibility and agility of the soldiers, but without sacrificing defense, so chain mail is the most suitable armor protection.

There are also specific military combat plans. The seven main towers of the Great Sept of Baelor, many small towers, each tower will have battles. It is necessary to formulate targeted tactics based on the number of 'enemies' gathered in the tower, especially to safely rescue the Queen Mother and the Queen, which must be guaranteed.

The Warrior High Septon also needs time to contact the other five high septons in the Sept, and he needs the cooperation of insiders.

The Prime Minister's Hall ushered in the first sleepless night, and the courtiers and generals did not know that the Mountain was carrying out another unknown raid plan.