The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 58: The Crow's Eye Perishes

(Happy National Day, may God bless China. This chapter makes up for yesterday's guaranteed chapter.)

*

"Ironborn, the most despicable and shameless of people, devoid of loyalty, rife with treachery, may the Stranger drag your soul to hell!" a commoner shouted in a curse.

"You are mistaken. My god is the Drowned God, your Stranger will only drag you to hell. And I, will enter the Drowned God's watery halls, to be served by mermaids. Ironborn are fearless, and Euron is never afraid. You will all be burned by dragonfire! Haha, hahahaha!"

"Your Drowned God has no power here," a bishop said coldly. "Here, there are only the Seven. Crow's Eye Euron, after you die, the Drowned God cannot save your soul."

"You do not believe in the Drowned God, what do you understand? The Seven and you, are all evil!" Euron chuckled, as if mocking a group of fools.

In the hearts of the people outside the Iron Islands, the Ironborn were the most vile and shameless race, and people were filled with hostility and disgust towards them. It could be said that no commoner had any goodwill towards the Ironborn.

Murder and robbery were the Ironborn's glory, they called it paying the iron price, but it was the most despicable crime that other commoners deeply hated.

Crow's Eye Euron's arrogance and fearlessness enraged the onlookers, nobles, and monks. The soldiers present were also filled with indignation.

"There will only be one queen on the Iron Throne: Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons, you will all be burned to ashes by the dragons' flames, and the Seven Gods cannot save you," Crow's Eye Euron declared loudly.

Crow's Eye's words that the Iron Throne would only have one queen, the Mother of Dragons, made Kevan angry and disgusted.

He and Crow's Eye Euron had joined forces, originally to make Crow's Eye Euron loyal to the Iron Throne, loyal to Tommen I!

Like Tywin, Kevan believed that the Iron Throne belonged to the Lannisters. This was also why he did not use Maegor's Holdfast for a final resistance. King Tommen I was in Maegor's Holdfast, and the Mountain could break the Red Keep, so naturally he could also break Maegor's Holdfast. Ground attacks were easy to defend, but underground tunnel attacks were difficult to defend against.

In the chaos of the army, if King Tommen were killed, no one would be able to say who did it. In the end, the blame would definitely fall on Kevan himself.

Kevan was not sure of the Mountain's bottom line. When the Mountain went mad, he would not even give face to the late King Robert. Kevan was afraid that if the Mountain's temper flared up, he would kill Tommen. Most of the generals and centurions under the Mountain were barbarians, and these people were lawless and had no reverence for the king on the Iron Throne.

Whether it was the mountain tribes of the Mountains of the Moon or the barbarians of Crackclaw Point, they had never been assimilated by royal power. For thousands of years, the only time the people of Crackclaw Point were conquered by royal power was during the Dragon Dynasty. Afterwards, Robert used a policy of appeasement, and they only outwardly claimed to be subjects, but in fact maintained absolute independence and autonomy and were isolated from the outside world.

As for the natives of the Mountains of the Moon, they had never submitted to royal power since the age of the First Men. The Arryn family of the Vale had never conquered them either. These people had never taken the Iron Throne and the king seriously.

Most of the people in the Mountain's other legions were also made up of death row inmates, rogue leaders, and bandit leaders, most of whom were lawless and had always despised the law.

If Kevan used Maegor's Holdfast as a military fortress and the Mountain for a final battle, once the Mountain broke Maegor's Holdfast from the ground and underground, no one knew whether the Mountain would go mad and start a massacre. If Tommen were shot to death by a stray arrow in the chaos of the army, Kevan would be fully responsible.

Kevan did not put up a final desperate resistance, but chose to escape on his own. Tommen Baratheon had Lannister blood, and he wanted to protect Tommen.

When King's Landing fell and the Red Keep fell, the overall situation was actually gone. Relying on Maegor's Holdfast as a military fortress would only delay the time a little. It was already destined that the Mountain would break Maegor's Holdfast.

Kevan slowly looked at the Mountain: "Mountain, kill Crow's Eye Euron. You don't need his confession. I wanted to use Crow's Eye Euron's power to eliminate you. A Lannister always pays his debts. Lord Tywin Lannister died because of you. As long as I live, I will definitely kill you. This is a family feud, not a national hatred."

"You admit to colluding with Crow's Eye?" the Mountain asked sternly.

He asked this in order to make all the city's commoners, soldiers, and believers understand that the fault in this war was with Kevan, not the Mountain's bloodlust.

"I admit that I allied with Crow's Eye Euron in order to eliminate you. But my purpose was not to attack the Westerlands, but to attack you and your Clegane army."

The Mountain gripped the huge sword hilt on his shoulder with his backhand, and looked at Duke Mace.

Mace said: "Lord Kevan, you have admitted to colluding with the rebel Crow's Eye Euron with the intention of killing Ser Gregor Clegane, the Minister of War of the Seven Kingdoms. I admire your frankness and courage in facing your crimes..."

"Lord Mace, I have not committed treason. I just want to get rid of the Mountain, not to commit treason."

"Colluding with the rebel Crow's Eye Euron, who declared independence, to plot the assassination of the King's Minister of War, is treason," the High Septon said slowly. "Lord Kevan himself has admitted his guilt, so, in the name of the Seven Gods, I hereby certify the fairness and legality of this trial. His Majesty the King, this case is simple and clear. Lord Kevan voluntarily submitted to the law and was not coerced into making a confession. His charge of treason is established."

The High Septon of the Great Sept of Baelor is the person who supervises the fairness and legality of the trial! The High Septon's position in the country is pivotal. The Seven Kingdoms believe in the Seven Gods, and many major national events, from nobles to commoners, require the High Septon's participation and conclusion.

Kevan's face turned pale!

Crow's Eye Euron laughed loudly: "You are all fools, you are all going to die. The Stranger of the Seven Gods cannot take my soul, I believe in the great Drowned God. Long live the Drowned God——!"

Clang!

The Mountain's Ice sword was unsheathed, a cold light flashed, and Crow's Eye Euron's head flew up, blood spurted out, and splashed all over Kevan's body and face.

Crow's Eye Euron's laughter had not yet dissipated, and his head had already landed!

The fastest speed, the sharpest sword.

A roar of cheers rang out in the square.

The people of the Seven Kingdoms suffered deeply from the harassment, looting, and extortion of the Ironborn, especially the people of the coastal areas, whether they were ordinary commoners or nobles, they suffered greatly and were overwhelmed.

Even the powerful Tyrell family was raided by the Iron Fleet in the Mander River as if they were in no man's land. As for some other small nobles, wealthy merchants and captains of maritime trade, they had all been 'taken care of' by the Ironborn to varying degrees.

With the Mountain's sword, Crow's Eye Euron's head flew up, the commoners cheered, the soldiers were moved, and the wealthy merchants felt as if their great revenge had been avenged, and they all felt comfortable and happy.

Lord Mace had not yet announced that he would respectfully invite Ser Gregor Clegane, the Minister of War, to execute the guilty person, and the Mountain had already taken action.

This made one person very dissatisfied, namely Ser Ilyn Payne, the King's Justice, who was specially responsible for beheading the heads of great nobles who had broken the law.

Lord Mace announced Kevan's death sentence amidst the roaring cheers of the people. Ilyn Payne strode forward and gripped the great sword hilt with his backhand - he was the only legitimate royal enforcer to execute nobles.

However, after announcing Kevan's crimes, Lord Mace then announced loudly: Respectfully invite Ser Gregor Clegane, the Minister of War, to personally behead Kevan.

Kevan revealed a moving sad look. He looked up at somewhere in the sky, as if Tywin was watching him there.

When the Mountain showed different wisdom and ability at the beginning, Kevan suggested that Tywin kill the Mountain, but Tywin believed that as long as the mad dog was obedient, he would not kill the dog. Because there were still too many enemies outside who needed this mad dog to bite people.

But in the end, the mad dog grew bigger and bigger, and became more and more vicious. Finally, even the master felt threatened. When the master decided to kill the dog, the mad dog turned around and bit the master to death.

Ilyn Payne stopped, his gloomy eyes staring at Lord Mace like knives. Mace remained unmoved and did not seem to change his mind.

Ilyn Payne snorted heavily and had to turn back.

The Mountain reached out and lifted Kevan up, making his feet stand on the ground, just like carrying a child's rag doll.

He looked at Kevan carefully for a while, as if he was verifying whether it was Kevan himself. Then, he threw Kevan in front of the execution stone: "Kneel down and put your head on the execution stone, and you won't feel any pain."

"I will not put my head on the execution stone, and I will not be afraid of your torture," Kevan said coldly. "Mountain, I want to look into your eyes, watch you swing your sword and cut off my head, you kinsla..."

A cold light flashed, and the Mountain's Ice sword swung out. He did not give Kevan time to finish his words. The sharp sword swung horizontally, and Kevan's head, standing on the spot, suddenly flew into the air. The headless corpse stood upright, and then a spray of brilliant blood rained from his neck, just like a large blooming rose.

Hot blood splattered all over the Mountain, and the red dots on the plate armor were like rain!

Bang!

Kevan's head fell to the ground, bouncing on the marble floor, his eyes wide open and his face covered in blood. Looking at his eyes, he was not reconciled to his death!

Regardless of whether Kevan was willing or unwilling, his head had left his body. The merits and demerits of his past life will be left to the court scholars to write into the history books and evaluate.

Jaime Lannister, half a street away from the square, heard the cheers after the Mountain killed Crow's Eye Euron. He rushed over quickly, and when he separated the crowd, he saw the Mountain's Ice greatsword cut off Kevan's head...

The Mountain's actions from capturing Kevan to killing Kevan were really - too fast! It was unbelievable to Jaime that in a short period of time, the King, the High Septon, and the Minister of Justice had finished judging Kevan and ordered his beheading...

Jaime Lannister was one step too late despite rushing.

The crowd rioted, Bronn and Podrick also appeared, and their accompanying soldiers also appeared one after another, all with a dusty look.

Unlike the cheers for the beheading of Crow's Eye Euron, the cheers for Kevan's beheading were mainly from the homeless and refugees. The nobles, wealthy merchants, and courtiers of the Crownlands were silent.

It was true that Kevan colluded with the Iron Islands rebel, but did he deserve to be beheaded? People hated Crow's Eye, but the noble courtiers did not hate Kevan.

Jaime's face was pale. His arrival caused a commotion, and there was a small chaos at the scene.

Jaime and the Mountain looked at each other. Jaime walked up to the Mountain: "You shouldn't have killed him!"

Jaime glanced at the High Septon, the King, and Lord Mace. The High Septon was the former Warrior's Son, and he opened a bank in King's Landing with the Mountain. The two had a very close relationship; King Tommen was only nine years old and could easily be influenced; Lord Mace was an inflatable fish who easily changed his mind, was ambitious, greedy, but cowardly and lacked talent.

"Jaime, Kevan colluded with the Iron Islands rebel, this is treason," the Mountain said coldly.

"You have done many things, and many people want to kill you, and so did Lord Kevan, this has nothing to do with treason," Jaime also said coldly, "If Kevan wanted to commit treason, he would use the King to threaten you, but he didn't."

Jaime came to the execution stone, knelt on one knee, and looked back: "Your Majesty, may I request to collect Lord Kevan's body?"

Tommen glanced at Margaery: "Granted!" The child king's voice was crisp, with a strong childish tone.

*

That night, at the Mountain's stone house, Jaime arrived. The two stayed inside the stone house alone for a long time. It wasn't until dawn that Jaime walked out of the stone house, and the Mountain also walked out slowly and came to the large reception room for public meetings.

The two reached a deal, and the Mountain made concessions. Jaime told the Mountain two things, and the things he knew forced the Mountain to make concessions.

The next day, in the throne room, a meeting of the important ministers of the court.

King Tommen, Queen Margaery, Minister of Justice Mace, Commander of the City Watch Benlont Bronn, Minister of War the Mountain, Minister of Intelligence Berney Clegane, Master of Ships Wagner Gallard, Grand Maester Qyburn, and Kingsguard Jaime Lannister, a total of nine people attended the meeting.

The meeting was presided over by Lord Mace.

Lord Mace said: "Your Majesty, the kingdom urgently needs a Hand of the King to help the King deal with national affairs."

"What urgent national affairs need to be dealt with recently?" Jaime's face was stern.

"The first major event in the kingdom is that the North has sent troops south and sent ravens to King's Landing to compete with us for the Iron Throne;

"The second major event in the kingdom: Jon Snow, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch at the Wall, has sent a letter asking us to send troops and food to the North to support the Night's Watch in resisting the invasion of the Others. Otherwise, once the Wall falls, the North will be destroyed, and the Others will go south and turn the entire Seven Kingdoms into a kingdom of the living dead.

"The third major event in the kingdom: Prince Doran Martell of Dorne has sent a letter asking our royal family to fulfill its promise and return the three hundred Dornish people in King's Landing. If the royal family violates its promise, Dorne will declare independence and wage war with the Iron Throne.

"The fourth major event in the kingdom: Littlefinger of the Vale has been opposed by the eight great nobles of the Vale. He needs us to support him in order to help him take over the power of the Vale and persuade Lady Lysa Tully to make Duke Robert Arryn submit to King Tommen.

"The fifth major event in the kingdom..."

"The sixth major event in the kingdom..."

...

Lord Mace said a dozen major proposals that needed to be dealt with immediately in a row, which made everyone look at each other.

Unexpectedly, major events in the kingdom have already piled up. Every matter needs to be dealt with. However, the King is still young and cannot make these decisions on national affairs. The King needs a Hand of the King to help him govern the country...

"The position of Prime Minister is vacant. What ideas do you have, gentlemen? We need to elect a highly respected gentleman to be the Prime Minister," Mace said with a sincere face.

"Perhaps we need to wait a few more days, and elect a Prime Minister after Queen Cersei returns," Jaime said.

"National affairs cannot be delayed!" The Mountain stated his attitude.

"Then let's elect an acting Prime Minister first!" Grand Maester Qyburn suggested.

"Agreed!" Benlont Bronn expressed his opinion.

The Northern Army has already marched south, and the Iron Throne must respond. The realm cannot be without a Hand.

The Game of Thrones begins anew!