The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 684: No matter how complex your moves are, I will cut you down with one sword.

Moon Mountains, Burning Men tribe.

The Mountain sat on a rattan chair, a seat only qualified for the Red Hands of the tribe. Standing before him was Littlefinger Petyr Baelish, ramrod straight and dressed impeccably.

In the Mountain's eyes, Littlefinger looked whiter and healthier. In Littlefinger's eyes, the Mountain, dressed in tribal clothes, looked out of place.

Accompanying Littlefinger was his captain of the guard, Lothar.

Lothar was a tough guy, a true knight, but in front of the Mountain, he was cautious, humble, and respectful, barely daring to breathe. The Mountain's massive size and imposing demeanor exerted an even stronger pressure up close.

"Petyr, how is the Vale's army coming along?" The Mountain spoke in the Common Tongue in the Burning Men tribe. To match his position as a Red Hand of the Burning Men, he had specially learned the Burning Men language from Old Tim.

"Lord Gregor, as soon as I received your letter, I immediately ordered the vassals to gather, but I was blocked by Lady Lysa Arryn..." Littlefinger's signature mischievous smile was gone. In front of the Mountain, he was serious and solemn.

The Mountain suddenly stared sharply at Littlefinger, causing Littlefinger's heart to jump involuntarily, and his throat choked, his words cut off... He had a lot more to say...

The Mountain said indifferently, "Petyr, if Lysa Arryn can really stop you, then you are incompetent; if she actually can't stop you at all, then you are deliberately using Lysa Arryn as a shield, disobeying my orders. Duke Petyr Baelish, are you incompetent? Or are you deliberately disobeying my orders?"

The Mountain's question was extremely dangerous, full of hidden meanings and murderous intent. Cold sweat immediately broke out on Petyr Baelish's forehead.

Was Littlefinger, the famous Master of Coin of the kingdom, an incompetent person? He was a capable man who had increased taxes tenfold in Gulltown in a short period of time; he was a key member of the court in King's Landing who could turn one gold coin into two by grinding it.

If it wasn't incompetence, then what could it be?

Using Lysa Arryn as a shield? Deliberately disobeying the Mountain's orders?

Ser Lothar was also a well-informed man. The Mountain's opening was full of murderous intent, yet his analysis was reasonable, which changed his stereotypical impression of the Mountain as fierce and rigid. The Mountain's mighty temperament was not only brave but also full of wisdom.

The thought that the Mountain had a shrewd mind in addition to his bravery made cold sweat break out on Ser Lothar's back.

Their hundred-man team came to the Burning Men tribe in the Moon Mountains specifically to meet Lord Mountain!

Littlefinger was also sweating profusely. He still had more to say, but the Mountain's stare had immediately silenced him. This was an unprecedented loss of composure for him. The Mountain suspected him and didn't hide it. He quickly said, "Lord Gregor, although Lysa Arryn tried her best to stop me, I finally persuaded her to order the Vale's vassals to gather and prepare to follow you on your expedition." Littlefinger tried his best to keep his back straight.

To the Mountain's left sat a stunning woman in a large red robe. Her eyes were beautiful and large, and her red pupils made Littlefinger feel uneasy. This woman was naturally the Mountain's accompanying priestess, Melisandre. Her eyes looked at Littlefinger with a probing expression, as if she could see through him.

To the Mountain's right sat Lady Jeyne. Lady Jeyne was beautiful and charming, like a spring orchid, while Melisandre was like a ball of fire. Lady Jeyne's gaze at Littlefinger was calm and indifferent, but it gave Littlefinger a sense of coldness that kept people at a distance.

The Mountain said, "Lord Petyr, the Others and humans cannot coexist in this country. The North is already in danger. Lady Melisandre is from the North, and she brought the urgent news that the Others will crush the Night's Watch and the Northern Allied Forces at the Wall."

Melisandre?

This red-robed woman was Melisandre?! The evil sorceress who liked to tie people up and burn them as sacrifices to the Red God?!

Littlefinger's heart shook, and his face was shocked!

Even with his deep scheming and composure in the face of danger, he couldn't help but change his expression.

It was the first time Petyr Baelish had met Melisandre, but he had known of her name for a long time. This mysterious woman came from across the Narrow Sea, was a Red Priestess, and was also the Hand of King Stannis Baratheon I. After Stannis was defeated and beheaded by the Mountain, Melisandre assisted Princess Shireen Baratheon in claiming the throne on Dragonstone. The Mountain led his army to attack Dragonstone. Melisandre and Princess Shireen and her party abandoned Dragonstone and went north in the night, and it was later confirmed that they had fled to the Wall to eke out a living.

This was an evil sorceress with dark magic. There were many rumors about her, the most widely spread of which was that she used dark magic to send out shadow assassins, killing Renly Baratheon I and helping Stannis obtain the allegiance of the Stormlands vassals.

However, Melisandre was loyal to the Stannis family, and the former queen, now queen dowager, Selyse Florent, was her follower. She had supreme power by Shireen's side, and a Red God faction was her follower and fanatic. Why would such a Red God priestess, who had a blood feud with the Mountain for killing her master, suddenly appear here and sit next to the Mountain?

Littlefinger felt that his mind was not working properly. His heart was surging, but the shock on his face quickly disappeared and soon became calm.

The Mountain said that Melisandre was from the North, which proved that she had indeed gone to the North with Shireen. She came here from the North. How did she persuade the Mountain to order the army to go north to resist the Others? How did she know that the Mountain was taming dragons in the Moon Mountains?... Littlefinger had too many questions and surprises in his heart...

Fighting the Others, losing meant losing everything. Even if they won, the army would inevitably be depleted, and wealth and food would probably be exhausted. Littlefinger came here to see the Mountain for another purpose, which was to first explore the Mountain's true strength. Littlefinger did not believe that the Mountain had ordered the army to go north to resist the Others. He believed that the Mountain wanted to seize the Iron Throne.

To seize the Iron Throne, the Mountain needed an army, so he first falsely spread the news that he was going north.

Would the Mountain really take his army to the North to fight the Others? Littlefinger absolutely did not believe it before he came, but when the Mountain introduced Melisandre, he believed it!

But no matter how you look at it, the Mountain's going north was not worth the loss.

It was difficult to build a legion loyal to oneself. This was a huge wealth, and once this wealth was lost, it would be almost impossible to earn it back.

The Mountain was not reckless and stupid. How was he persuaded by this red-robed priestess to go north to resist the Others? Stannis also deeply believed in this red-robed priestess, and as a result, he ended up defeated and killed.

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Littlefinger's mind.

Melisandre looked at Littlefinger's face and saw the hidden flickering in his eyes. Melisandre's beautiful eyes flowed with light, "Lord Petyr, the night is long and dangerous everywhere. As a mortal, you must be careful in everything. The ancient books say that when the stars weep blood, the Others sleeping in the Land of Always Winter will awaken. Their only purpose is to revive the dead and slaughter the human race. Any war between humans is just a game played by three-year-old children compared to this doomsday war with the Others. The human race has only one way out, and that is to win! The Others, who have been silent for eight thousand years, have awakened and are attacking the human race from the Land of Always Winter, wanting to kill us all. The Mountain and I, and you—including everyone else, have no choice!"

Littlefinger listened respectfully to Melisandre's nonsense, but the corner of his eye carefully observed the Mountain and Jeyne. He felt a chill in his heart, because he saw that the Mountain and Jeyne actually deeply believed in Melisandre's words.

This made it difficult to reverse the Mountain's stupid idea of going north!

This red-robed priestess was really evil and too powerful. She was able to come here alone from the North and find the Mountain. How did she persuade Lord Mountain to lead his army north?!

Was the Mountain bewitched by beauty? Was he under a dark magic spell? Was his mind controlled by this evil sorceress? This woman was indeed too beautiful and too seductive, as fiery as fire, and men could not resist her offensive, but Lady Jeyne was not a man, so why did she have no hostility towards this Melisandre?

"Lord Petyr, I will only give you twenty days. The Vale army must all be assembled within twenty days. If Lysa Arryn refuses, I will visit her at the Eyrie." The Mountain's words were not heavy, but they were full of murderous intent.

The last time the Mountain walked to the foot of the Eyrie and refused to go up the mountain no matter how Littlefinger and Lysa Arryn invited him, it was because he was afraid that the mountain was high and the road was dangerous. The road to the Eyrie was only one meter wide in narrow places, and then there were cliffs on both sides. Once a person was ambushed on that knife-like mountain road, even if the Mountain was ten times more fierce, it would be difficult to escape. There were many similar dangerous and impassable roads on the Giant's Lance. The Mountain could not escape if he was ambushed in any of them.

But this time he said that he would go to the Eyrie to visit Lysa Arryn, which naturally meant that he would go there riding a dragon.

This visit would definitely be full of shining blades!

Littlefinger realized that the Mountain had become unusually decisive and aggressive. His words were as heavy as a mountain, and his orders were strictly enforced. It was absolutely impossible to directly disobey his decisions. To make suggestions, he had to find the right time, find the right topic to start with, skillfully point out the topic, and let the Mountain understand it himself.

Littlefinger judged that the Mountain's change must be related to his successful dragon taming, and of course, even more, it must be related to the evil red-robed priestess sitting next to him who could bewitch people's hearts.

Littlefinger decided to revise his words and deeds.

*

"Lord Gregor, within twenty days, I will definitely assemble all the Vale's armies and be ready to be dispatched by you at any time. Whether you want to go north, west, or south, the Vale's legions will obey your orders and will never dare to disobey in the slightest," Petyr Baelish said with emotion.

In fact, the real focus of such a long passage was only two words: go south!

What was the meaning contained in going south? Littlefinger did not say a word. Moreover, this south with ulterior motives was said under the cover of words such as going north and going west. It was just an inadvertent statement. No matter what the Mountain thought, or even if he didn't notice it, that was the Mountain's business and had nothing to do with Littlefinger himself.

The legion going south, of course, pointed its sword at King's Landing!

Littlefinger's words were so perfect and smooth that he could be called a master!

Going south could also be said to be stationed in King's Landing, or to mobilize supplies...

"We will go south," the Mountain said indifferently.

Littlefinger's heart jumped. Could it be that the Mountain's going north was actually going south? Was he the one who was stupid? Littlefinger did not show any expression on the surface: "Lord, Petyr and the Vale's legions will act in accordance with military orders."

"Petyr, Lady Melisandre told me last night that she saw in the flames that we would receive a letter from the Queen Dowager and the King of King's Landing at noon today. The Queen Dowager and the King asked me to enter King's Landing as soon as possible to discuss the major events of going north together. You are an important member of the court, the kingdom's Master of Coin, and it is time for you to return to King's Landing. There will be very important political and military decisions at the court meeting, and I need your vote."

"Yes, Lord." Petyr Baelish was half-doubtful. The corner of his eye swept over Melisandre. Could this evil sorceress see what would happen at noon today in the flames? How was that possible? If her witchcraft was so powerful, how could Stannis have been beheaded by the Mountain?

Lothar couldn't help but look outside. At this time, it was noon. If this sorceress's prediction was correct, then a raven from King's Landing would fly here?

Was this red-robed sorceress really so powerful? Was she a child of God?

Thoughts were spinning in Lothar and Littlefinger's minds. Outside, the sound of horses' hooves rang out. The sound of horses' hooves came to the outside of the stone fort. Several people came in, and the first one was a court scholar.

The court scholar held a letter in his hand, and several sword-carrying guards followed behind him, each of them extremely sturdy.

"Lord Mountain, a letter from the royal family," the court scholar said.

The Mountain took the letter, crushed the wax seal, read it, and handed the letter to a guard behind him. The guard was strong and sturdy. He took the letter and stuffed it into his mouth, swallowing it whole in three or two bites.

Lothar was originally a fierce man, but he was secretly surprised to see such a guy. Were the guys around the Mountain all monsters?

And Littlefinger was also shocked. He finally understood why the Mountain and Stannis would trust this red-robed sorceress so much. This evil sorceress really had some real skills. She could see some fragments of the future in the flames and get them verified. Therefore, it was difficult for the people who came into contact with her not to be convinced by her in the face of the facts.

What was even more shocking to Littlefinger was that the Mountain had actually managed to get Cersei to write a letter inviting him to King's Landing. The Mountain now had a dragon and led his army into King's Landing. If his going north was actually going south, once he entered the Red Keep, he would take King Tommen, control Cersei and Mace Tyrell, and who among those courtiers and generals loyal to the royal family would dare to disobey?

The Mountain saw Littlefinger's eyes flashing frequently, and knew that this guy's mind was extremely flexible, and his thoughts were coming one after another. He was a smart man, but he often thought too much.

No matter how fancy your fist and embroidery are, no matter how complex your moves are, I will cut you down with one sword!

"Petyr, you will go to King's Landing with me tomorrow. I have a raven here. You will issue the order for the Guardians of the Vale here, ordering the Vale's legions to leave the Vale in twenty days and station themselves at the Trident River to await my orders."

"Yes, Lord!" Littlefinger nodded slightly.