The Mountain of Ice and Fire

In the darkness of night, the sea surged, masking the sound of oars. Over a hundred ships split into four fleets, each approaching the shores of Greyshield Island, Oakhshield Island, Greenshield Island, and Southshield Island respectively.

Only a few scattered lights flickered on the four islands, which were otherwise eerily silent.

Winter had arrived, making the islands exceptionally cold, even more so than the mainland.

The daylight hours had drastically shortened, and the islanders had gone to bed early.

Roaring fires burned in the hearths, and thick cotton curtains were hung over the windows and doors for insulation.

There were hardly any patrolling soldiers on the islands.

They were all huddled inside the stone guard posts, sleeping beside the warmth of the fires.

The four islands had previously been raided by Euron Crow's Eye, who had abducted numerous noblewomen and plundered vast amounts of wealth, killing anyone who dared to resist. The remaining population on the islands was already small.

Now, it was a time of peace. King Mountain had unified Westeros, and the Ironborn of the Iron Islands had been incorporated into the Royal Navy by His Majesty. The pirates of the Sunset Sea had also been severely suppressed by the King's navy, disappearing and scattering to other seas. The rampant piracy in the Sunset Sea was a thing of the past. The coastal fishermen, villagers, and islanders were living without fear.

The nobles and commoners of the Shield Islands were sound asleep in peaceful warmth. It was cold outside, but the rooms were warm.

Winter granted them a quiet night of rest.

A knife was gently and slowly placed against a soldier's throat, the cold blade startling him awake.

"Don't move. We are soldiers of the Westerlands, under orders to eliminate thieves," a lazy voice said.

The comrade beside him woke up in alarm, only to find several longswords pressed against his chest, throat, and abdomen.

"The Clegane men are under orders to eliminate thieves. Do you want to live or die?" a tall man with a masked face whispered.

"My lord, there are no pirates here."

"Your lord, Willas Tyrell, is plotting to train deathsworn and betray the King. We are under orders to eliminate the rebels."

The two sentries were rendered speechless!

The Great Lord was plotting a rebellion?!

They naturally knew nothing about it.

"Get up and go open the fortress gates."

The two sentries rose, exchanging glances. Were these men from the Westerlands army? Or were they pirates in disguise? And one soldier claimed to be from the Clegane men, who were the King's direct military force.

This was Greyshield Island, the foremost of the Shield Islands.

The Shield Islands were considered a barrier and a frontline of defense against Ironborn raiders who might sail up the Mander River to plunder the wealth of the Reach. They used to be heavily guarded, but ever since Mountain conquered the Iron Islands and ordered the navy to clear out the pirates of the Sunset Sea, the defenses of the Shield Islands had become nominal, and the sentries on night watch had all become lax.

The former lord of Greyshield Island was House Grimm of Greyshield, whose sigil was a grey iron shield with silver rivets, surrounded by longships on a grey-green field. But after Euron Crow's Eye seized Greyshield Island, he imprisoned Lord Grimm and appointed one of his captains as the lord of Greyshield Island. Later, Euron Crow's Eye was defeated, and his generals either surrendered, were killed, or scattered. Greyshield Island returned to House Grimm's control.

Grimm Keep was well-built. Although its walls had been damaged in the war, they had been repaired later.

The leading centurion showed the two controlled soldiers the banner of the Clegane regiment and the Clegane sigil on his body. The two soldiers went from trembling fear to respectful obedience.

*

The soldiers attacking the Shield Islands numbered one thousand, all elite troops selected by Sansa, Reynard, Anguy, and Lewell Amber. The remaining four thousand, under banners, slowly marched along the coastal road as if on a stroll, quietly entering the territory of the Reach, a diversion to attract the attention and forces of the Reach.

Sansa, Reynard, and Anguy secretly sailed swiftly, reaching the waters of the Shield Islands in just seven days, to launch a surprise attack on the Shield Islands, the Reach's naval defense line of the Reach.

In seven days, the land army barely reached the border of the Reach.

As long as Sansa and the others seized the Shield Islands, they could enter the Mander River within a day and quietly arrive beneath Highgarden.

But marching along the coastal road, even at full speed, would take at least a month and a half to reach Highgarden.

General Anguy was responsible for attacking Greyshield Island.

Sansa was responsible for attacking Greenshield Island, Reynard for Southshield Island, and the Northern General Lewell Amber for Oakhshield Island.

Lewell Amber was the second son of Greatjon Amber.

Jon Amber's eldest son, Little Jon, was killed at the Twins while guarding Robb, and House Amber had a reputation for loyalty and righteousness, being a mainstay of the Northern House Stark. Eddard Stark gave House Amber this opportunity to gain merit. War could quickly elevate a noble house's honor, wealth, and status.

House Amber had paid too high a price for the Starks' wars and deserved the Starks' support and favor. Of the one thousand Northern soldiers heading south, House Stark supported Ser Lewell Amber with five hundred elite soldiers and five brave centurions.

*

The next day, on the coastal road.

Several fast horses appeared on the coastal road.

The mounted riders were fully armed, leisurely jogging along the road.

This was already within the territory of the Reach.

But the attire of the riders did not appear to be that of soldiers of the Reach's nobles.

Their cloaks were the unique crimson red of the Westerlands army.

In the woods along the road, a patrol of scouts discovered these riders.

At first, they didn't pay much attention, until the riders continued deeper into the Reach.

The squad leader gave an order, and the scouts in the woods mounted their horses and began to encircle the riders on the coastal road.

Soon, the sound of hooves echoed, and the riders were surrounded on the coastal road.

The squad leader, reining in his horse, stood in the middle of the road, blocking the riders' path.

"Greetings, warriors of the Westerlands, may I ask where you are going?"

The riders' warhorses were larger than those of the Reach's scouts, giving them a more imposing presence.

The leader of the riders was from House Mooton, a scout who fought alongside Anguy, a sharpshooter.

"Greetings, may I ask who your general is?"

"Soldier, this is our Ser Rodrik Crane," one of the soldiers said.

"Oh, a knight of House Crane of Red Lake?" Banson Mooton asked dismissively.

"Yes, I am Rodrik Crane of Red Lake," Ser Rodrik replied politely.

"I am Banson Mooton, the scout squad leader under General Anguy of the Clegane Horsebowmen."

"Banson Mooton, are you on official business? A private tour? Or visiting friends?"

"Visiting Highgarden," Banson said with a smile.

"Oh, I presume General Anguy's convoy is behind you?"

Banson Mooton and three riders had little reason to be visiting Highgarden. If a noble in Highgarden was hosting, then it must have been General Anguy.

Anguy Clegane's name as a sharpshooter shook the Seven Kingdoms. He had repeatedly performed great feats and was a general deeply favored by His Majesty the King. Before the civil war broke out in Westeros, Anguy rose to fame by winning the national archery competition. Later, he followed Mountain in his campaigns, becoming invincible, and his reputation grew even greater, becoming a household name.

Rodrik Crane politely asked if General Anguy was behind them, but Banson's answer caused his expression to change drastically.

Banson Mooton smiled, "Ser Rodrik, our General Anguy's convoy is indeed behind us, and besides him, there are five thousand elite soldiers."

"Five thousand elite soldiers? You jest, Banson!" Rodrik's face changed, forcing a smile.

"I am not joking. Accompanying us are Lady Sansa Stark, General Reynard Westerling, and General Lewell Amber from the North. We are under His Majesty's orders to take the head of the rebel Willas Tyrell in Highgarden. Is House Crane of Red Lake preparing to follow the rebels and fight us, or will you surrender and join us in Highgarden to eliminate the rebel Willas Tyrell?"

House Crane of Red Lake was the most loyal vassal to House Tyrell!

Willas Tyrell's most trusted and admired master-at-arms, Ser Vortimer Crane, had been a master-at-arms in Highgarden for many years, loyal to House Tyrell, and died in the Sand Snake's night raid in Dorne. Mountain also appeared on the night of the Dornish raid on Highgarden, and the dragons burned Highgarden, trapping the people of Highgarden and the Dornish together, ultimately forcing the Dornish legions that had invaded Highgarden and their Prince Doran Martell to kneel and surrender.

"Soldier Banson—" Rodrik no longer addressed Banson as a warrior, "Do you have a military order issued by His Majesty the King?"

"No!"

"Without His Majesty's military order, this is an invasion. Is the Westerlands declaring war on the Reach?" Rodrik raised his hand, "Bark, go check the situation behind us."

"Yes, ser."

Two of the riders who had cut off Banson's retreat turned their horses and galloped away to scout.

"There's no need to scout, what I said is true," Banson said with a smile, "Since you won't surrender, then we can only kill you."

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The three riders of Banson unsheathed their longswords and charged forward together.

Banson, however, reined in his horse, drew his bow and arrow.

Rodrik Crane also had four riders, and four swords were drawn together, one person facing one, to fight the Westerlands riders.

The two Crane riders who were guarding the rear also drew their longswords, spurred their horses, and came up to attack.

Whoosh!

The sound of a bowstring echoed, and an arrow struck the face of the foremost Crane soldier. The arrow pierced through the mask on his face, and the soldier was as if struck by an invisible iron hammer head-on, falling backward, while his warhorse continued to charge forward.

The second rider moved up to take his place, but he was facing two Westerlands riders.

The warhorse's speed was fast, and it was more dangerous to rein in the horse and escape.

The warhorses collided, and the swords crossed. With a loud clang, both figures swayed. The rider attacking from the side flew a sword diagonally, hitting his left shoulder squarely. The blade cut deeply into the armor, biting into the bones of his shoulder. The bones and armor together jammed the longsword, and it could not be pulled out for a moment. This wounded rider charged past with the longsword, and the third rider was charging over. The Westerlands riders' warhorses were much larger than the Crane riders'!

The longsword slashed down fiercely, from a high position, hitting his helmet squarely.

The helmet was split in half by the sword, and the remaining force after splitting the helmet opened the forehead under the helmet. The soldier crashed off his warhorse. His warhorse jumped off the road diagonally, and disappeared into the woods.

As if in the blink of an eye, Anguy's three scout riders surrounded the last scout on the other side. The soldier whose longsword had been driven into the enemy's body and carried away by the enemy's fast horse had already taken a throwing spear in hand. Two swords and a spear came out together, stabbing the last scout to death under his horse.

The three riders reined their horses back to fight the two riders attacking from behind, but they saw that the two riders had reined in their warhorses, and Rodrik Crane was facing Banson with his longsword. They had already left the road after the warhorses had galloped, and the two were no longer on the road.

Banson's armor-piercing arrow was aimed at Rodrik. Ser Rodrik defended with his longsword. He had a shield in hand, and three arrows had already been shot into the shield. The three arrows pierced through the shield, biting into the arm behind the shield, causing Rodrik to be timid and afraid to attack actively again. But his three soldiers had been killed, and there were three more enemies not too far behind him.

But behind Banson, there were also two enemy riders holding longswords and shields, forming a siege. It seemed that as long as a surprise attack was launched, a three-pronged attack with shield protection, even if Banson's archery skills were great, it would be difficult for him to escape unscathed.

With a whoosh, three Westerlands riders covered Rodrik Crane's back, forming a fan-shaped encirclement.

Banson smiled, "Ser Rodrik Crane, we need you to return to Red Lake City and report to Earl Crane, so that he can open the gates of Red Lake City to welcome our Lady Sansa, General Reynard, General Anguy, and General Lewell Amber into the city."

"Alright, put down your bow and arrow, and let us leave!"

"First, sheath your longsword and let me see the courage and gallantry of the Crane family knight," Banson said with a smile.

"Alright! In the name of the gods, you must swear not to ambush us."

"In the name of the New and Old Gods, Ser Rodrik, I will not ambush you," Banson said solemnly.

Clang!

Rodrik Crane sheathed his longsword.

Banson signaled his three brothers behind Rodrik to sheath their longswords as well.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The three brothers sheathed their longswords.

Rodrik raised his hand, and the two Crane family riders behind Banson also sheathed their longswords.

Finally, Banson put down the bow and arrow in his hand.

Rodrik Crane said, "In the name of the gods, warrior Banson, I cannot guarantee that Earl Crane will surrender, I am just going back to deliver a message."

"Tell Earl Crane, if he does not go to attack the rebel Willas Tyrell together, we will destroy Red Lake City."

The land army would slowly advance, conquering all the nobles, large and small, along the way.

The sound of hooves echoed, and Rodrik and his three riders roared out, returning to Red Lake City, a hundred miles away.

Red Lake City was far from the border between the two sides, similar to the distance between Cornfield and Haystack Hall in the Westerlands from the border.

"Hey!" Behind him, Banson shouted over, "Ser Rodrik, I only promised you one person to return to Red Lake City, so I am going to shoot your two soldiers now."

Ser Rodrik turned his head, and the sound of an arrow breaking through the air rang in his ears. With a whoosh, one soldier had just turned halfway to look back when an arrow struck him in the back, and he fell over.

The other soldier was terrified. He ducked low on his horse and whipped it into a frenzy, but suddenly an arrow came flying and struck the horse's leg. The warhorse faltered for a moment, but its speed didn't decrease. Suddenly, another arrow hit its other leg. The armor-piercing arrow pierced through the horse's leg, and the horse, running at top speed, lost its footing and crashed to the ground with a loud bang. The soldier on horseback was thrown into the air. With a whoosh, an arrow came flying and struck the soldier's neck in mid-air, piercing straight through!

The scouts around An Gai were all crack archers. Benson's archery skills, having been taught the continuous shooting method by An Gai, were even more divine!

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