The Mountain of Ice and Fire

“Lady Donna, your words make me very confused,” Jeyne said softly.

“Lady Jeyne, do you doubt my loyalty? I can go to the Sept and swear before the Seven Gods under the witness of a Septon.”

Jeyne looked at Lady Donna, then glanced inadvertently at Lady Dorea Quentyn. Lady Dorea quickly reached out, and Lady Donna felt a sting on the back of her hand, as if she had been stung by something. She cried out softly, and Lady Dorea had already withdrawn her hand. Donna looked down and saw a bead of blood on the back of her hand.

Lady Dorea had a silver needle in her hand. She was used to using a silver dagger, but after coming to Clegane's new village, she learned to use the more convenient silver needle from Jeyne.

There were faint traces of Lady Donna's blood on the silver needle. Lady Dorea licked the silver needle, and the blood was drawn into her mouth. She then closed her eyes.

Blood witches could gain insights and prophecies through blood, and glimpse some of the secrets of the blood's owner.

Jeyne was also a blood witch, but she didn't reveal it. She never wore a witch's robe. Her inheritance came from the most famous witch of the Westerlands - her grandmother. Jeyne's blood witch secrets were even above Dorea Quentyn's. Especially for future predictions, the witch had a high level of secret techniques passed on to Jeyne.

In the beginning, after Lady Donna knelt and swore to follow Jeyne, Jeyne and Dorea wanted to secretly take some of Donna's blood, but Donna clung to Jeyne so closely at the night banquet to express her loyalty, wishing she could be her servant. Jeyne simply stopped hiding her thoughts and let Lady Dorea taste Lady Donna's blood in public.

Blood witches were the children of gods on the Claw, equivalent to the gods in the eyes of the people of the Claw in reality!

Lady Dorea's eyes slowly opened, and the ladies fell silent. The nobles, knights, and generals at the next table also noticed this.

The atmosphere began to become a little mysterious!

Dorea Quentyn, who wore a witch's robe and had gleaming black teeth, stood beside Lady Jeyne. Everyone was in awe of her.

Lady Donna was the same, but she chose to go all out, so she stared at Dorea Quentyn, watching what she would say.

Everyone was looking forward to it, and the ladies were nervous.

Lady Dorea Quentyn didn't say anything, just nodded almost imperceptibly to Jeyne.

Lady Donna's allegiance was actually real!

How was this possible?!

Could it be that there was a problem with the blood witch's blood test?

But Jeyne and Dorea had a deep relationship, and she understood Lady Dorea's secret techniques.

Jeyne had an elegant and appropriate smile on her face, but she still felt awkward in her heart. Donna had suddenly undergone earth-shattering changes. Why was this?

Although Jeyne was intelligent, she still couldn't figure it out!

Donna was the leader of the most steadfast group of people in the Westerlands who opposed the Mountain. If there was still a group of vassals in the Westerlands who were unwilling to accept the Mountain, it would be some steadfast vassals of House Lannister and House Swyft, all of whom were led by Donna Swyft.

“Madam, your swearing allegiance to the Warden of the West is in accordance with the law and the rules of the Seven Gods, but you are a Lannister,” Jeyne said softly, as if whispering. In the eyes of the other ladies, Jeyne was whispering intimately with Lady Donna, just like sisters with a good relationship.

“Lady Jeyne, I knelt to you at the gate of Castamere today. I believe that at this time, the news has been sent back to Casterly Rock, Lannisport, and Cornfield. The steadfast vassals of House Lannister and House Swyft should already understand what I mean.”

“Are you not afraid of being…reprimanded by knights loyal to House Lannister?” Lady Jeyne's expression was very euphemistic.

“I am not afraid of the assassinations of those foolish knights, but I don’t want to encounter unexpected disasters, so I hope that Madam can send me a guard as powerful as Luke. If I have four swords like Luke by my side, I think I will be safe.”

Lady Jeyne was shocked.

Lady Donna wanted to use Clegane's people as her protection. She was afraid of being killed by Lannister's death warriors. In Casterly Rock and Lannisport, although most of the direct and branch members of the Lannister family had gone to the Wall to become Night's Watchmen under the Mountain's coercion, there were still some people belonging to the Lannister family bloodline. The Lannister family's branches included House Lanny, House Lannys, House Lannister, etc.

“Madam, in King’s Landing, there are still Cersei and Jaime,” Jeyne gently reminded Donna. Donna's kneeling in Castamere, she believed that it would not take two days for the raven to send the letter to the maester's tower in the royal court of King's Landing, and then hand it over to Cersei.

“I—hate—Cersei—and—Jaime!” Lady Donna said each word distinctly. Her tone was calm, but this kind of hatred made Lady Jeyne feel it deeply.

Jeyne felt that Lady Donna's heart and soul were twisted!

Her father, husband, brother, and son had all died one by one in the sharp conflicts caused by this civil war, and her eldest son, Lancel Lannister, who was the only one who had not died, had been forced to become a Night's Watchman to fight against the Others in the north. In Donna's eyes, being a Night's Watchman was worse than death.

“Lady Donna, the day after tomorrow, Duke Gregor will come to Castamere. I hope he can give you some better advice for your safety.”

“I can’t wait to see Duke Gregor.” There was a glint in Donna’s eyes. Seeing this light, Sansa felt scared.

Sansa thought in her heart that Lady Jeyne should stay away from Lady Donna. This kind of person was too extreme, so she was actually very dangerous.

“I will explain your loyalty to Duke Gregor,” Jeyne said again in a whisper.

Donna immediately nodded in thanks, her eyes full of gratitude. In Sansa's eyes, this expression was like the grateful look on a pitiful dog's face when it received a bone.

“Madam, if you want to guarantee your safety, I think it would be better to choose a warlike general as your husband. The general’s soldiers and personal guards can naturally follow Madam’s side, so that you can rightfully prevent those steadfast knights of Lannister from approaching Madam.”

“Madam wants to introduce the most valiant general as my husband?”

Jeyne nodded: “Donna, in Clegane’s army, there are many incomparably loyal generals. If Madam is interested, you can also pick and choose among the single generals to see who is suitable.”

“I want to find a Qingren.” Lady Donna said in a low voice, “Madam, do you have an Earl to recommend to me? A valiant and invincible knight with handsome demeanor is also what I yearn for in my heart.”

“Earl Goodbrother, the Governor of the Iron Islands, is tall and strong, and his swordsmanship is very high. His Iron Islands navy under his command is invincible across the sea. His wife has passed away, and his title is just right for Madam.”

“I can’t go to the Iron Islands, Madam. I hate Ironborn.”

“Let Earl Goodbrother set up business in Lannisport. If you can get married, you don’t have to live in the Iron Islands at all!”

“Change to a younger one, I don’t want to get married yet. But I really like your guard, Luke. Please grant him to me and let Guard Luke be my little Qingren, Madam. Just treat it as a reward for my loyalty.”

Jeyne looked at Luke. Luke was a brother recommended to him by Chiswyck the Big. He came from a ruffian background and was calm and cruel. He was spotted by Chiswyck the Big in a bloody street fight, and then the two became brothers.

Luke was very loyal, his heart was very cold, and his swordsmanship was excellent. Once he made a move, he never cherished his life.

“Madam, you can use your own methods to try. If Centurion Luke is willing to have fun with you, I won’t stop your love.”

“Thank you, Madam.” Donna looked at Luke. Luke was drinking, but his hand was very steady, without any drunkenness, completely different from some of the slanting centurions and generals around him.

He was a sober swordsman independent of the drunkards.

Donna looked at Luke, but Luke didn't notice her. Luke had no feeling for the thoughts of an old noblewoman.

Sansa Stark felt a burst of boredom!

Donna Swyft was really humiliating both House Lannister and House Swyft. This was an extremely twisted, despicable, and shameless noblewoman. She wondered if her head was filled with various salads.

Sansa's gaze passed over the noisy men and landed in a corner, where a group of knights were drinking. Looking at their family crests, they were all from Crakehall. They were led by the young knight, Reynard Westerling.

Reynard Westerling, Lady Jeyne's brother, the heir to Crakehall.

Sansa knew that she would marry Reynard Westerling. This was a marriage that the Mountain had already clearly stated, and she had no choice. Reynard deliberately stayed away from her on many occasions, not giving anyone the opportunity to make any gossipy jokes about her. Sansa was very grateful for Reynard's understanding and respect.

Sansa didn't like the vulgar jokes of the clansmen and soldiers. She was ostensibly Jeyne's handmaiden, but in reality, she was the eldest daughter of Duke Stark, a veritable lady from a noble family who had been carefully cultivated.

The pearl was still covered in dust!

*

Two days later, early in the morning, Lady Jeyne and Lady Donna stood on the city wall of Castamere, watching a Clegane flag appear on the avenue to the east, followed by an axe flag, a galloping horse flag, a human ear flag, a stone axe flag, a flame flag…

Countless flags that had never been seen before, a team whose end could not be seen.

The carriages rumbled, the horses' hooves trotted, and the brave cavalry of the Claw Peninsula appeared.

Also on the city wall were all the nobles of the North and their ladies.

The Mountain also appeared, riding on a tall and strong Red Smoke Beast. The Red Smoke Beast's blood-red hair and skin were like a monster made of blood and fire. A sharp horn was right in the middle of the monster's head, as sharp as a spear.

“Lady Jeyne, is that a unicorn?” Lady Donna hadn’t seen it for the first time, but it didn’t prevent her from expressing her shock at seeing Red Smoke as if it was the first time.

The other nobles and ladies were the same!

Every time they saw a unicorn, the nobles had a different shock!

Beside Donna was Miss Judy Marbrand, the new heir to Ashemark, who was only seven years old. Her grandfather, Damon Marbrand, was beheaded when he retreated after Robb Stark broke through the city; her father, Adam Marbrand, had his helmet split open by the Mountain's veteran generals, Sweet Raff the Sweetling and Dunsen the Gaoler, in the defense of King's Landing, splitting his head in half.

Almost all the other members of the Marbrand family in Ashemark were killed in the war, and finally, little Judy was left, becoming the heir to Ashemark.

*

Under Jeyne's instructions, Donna, under the protection of the Clegane army, marched quickly to Ashemark, and then brought back Judy Marbrand.

Ashemark was Casterly Rock's most steadfast vassal. Donna took the initiative to bring Judy to Castamere and leave her by Jeyne's side. From then on, Ashemark was controlled by Jeyne.

Because of Judy Marbrand, all the cities in the north of the Westerlands were unified and fully controlled by the Mountain.

Donna took another step forward on the road of harming others without benefiting herself. She willingly became a white glove for Lady Jeyne. She would come forward as a lord and subdue the most steadfast group of people under the Lannister family one by one for Jeyne.

If Jeyne went to 'pick up' Julie herself, it would also be easy, but it would have a bad impact on her reputation. Sending Lady Donna was completely different. Ashemark was a vassal of Casterly Rock, and Donna was the acting lord of Casterly Rock.

*

The Mountain's legion, plus the eight thousand migrating people from more than forty tribes in the Mountains of the Moon, totaled about sixteen thousand people. With carriages, oxcarts, and various supplies, the front of the team had already begun to enter the city, while the tail of the team could not be seen.

There were too many people in the Mountain's team. The cavalry of the Claw Peninsula were the kings among the cavalry. They followed the Mountain to fight, and they were invincible. The domineering aura they had cultivated made the nobles in the north of the Westerlands feel awe in their hearts.

All the citizens in the city welcomed them on both sides of the street, because the Mountain brought too many people this time, Lady Jeyne ordered the people and citizens not to crowd at the city gate to welcome them.

Half of these citizens and recruits would be diverted to another place: the Crag.

The first batch of citizens entered the city, and the order in the city began to become chaotic. Many residents of the city saw their family members, and they excitedly ran out of the team and hugged their brothers and sisters.

The tribal warriors galloped on horseback in the streets, shouting tribal languages loudly, and quickly restored the chaos in the city to order.

The second batch of citizens began to enter the city.

The Mountain's vanguard cavalry team arrived, led by Julie Clegane and Anguy Clegane, all stayed outside the city and chose an open space to set up camp.

The third row of citizens entered the city and diverted into the accommodations. Those who already had family members in the city were taken away by their family members amid shouts.

The excitement infected Castamere.

Castamere, which had been in ruins for thirty-nine years, ushered in a thriving vitality.

The fourth batch of citizens began to enter the city.

“Master Wayland, heavens, I saw Master Wayland.” Lady Donna suddenly exclaimed in surprise, her hand stretched out straight, pointing to a group of people in the team.

That was a group of people different from the mountain tribes. Their dress, eyebrows, eyes, words, deeds, and voices were different from the tribesmen.

“Master Wayland, the tailor master of Gulltown, my best dresses were all designed and sewn by him personally.” Lady Donna said in an unbelievable voice, “Master Wayland is here too, my heavens!”

Master Wayland's achievements in tailoring were the same as Tobho Mott, the weapon master on the Street of Steel. They were both the top in their own industry and famous. Many noblewomen went to Gulltown to ask Master Wayland to tailor dresses for them.

Among discerning noblewomen, Willard was a master. And among knights and mercenaries, Master Tob Mott's weapons were their most coveted. Noble lords would queue for one of Master Tob Mott's swords.

Lady Jeyne smiled. "Lady Donna, our Silk Village is welcoming a new group of settlers: two hundred tailor families from Gulltown. Master Willard is the leader of these two hundred tailors. In the near future, Master Willard and his two hundred tailors will design the most exquisite, luxurious, and high-end dresses for the West, which will then be sold throughout the Seven Kingdoms, and then across the Narrow Sea."

"Lady Jeyne, I want to invest in Silk Village. Is there still an opportunity? No, my lady, you must give me this opportunity. I have gold, and I am willing to offer more gold, twice or even three times as much." Donna looked at Jeyne excitedly, her eyes full of sincerity.

Sansa Stark didn't know much about Master Willard; she had only heard her mother mention him. However, most of the Northern noblewomen around Jeyne had heard of Master Willard's reputation, and several had personally visited Gulltown to commission dresses from the master.