The Mountain of Ice and Fire

The High Septon of the Great Sept of Baelor was the former Warrior of the Faith. Thanks to the Mountain's efforts in the night raid that killed the High Sparrow, he was chosen for the position.

Eddard Stark was not familiar with the High Septon, but he held such figures in unconditional respect and reverence.

The Faith of the Seven was the state religion of the Seven Kingdoms.

Only the North maintained the traditions of the First Men: worshiping the Old Gods—all the gods in the mountains, rivers, and trees. Northerners prayed to the gods through the faces on the weirwoods and received divine guidance.

Despite the differences in faith, the Great Sept of Baelor had never truly separated itself from the politics of the royal court. Many major events in the kingdom took place in the Rainbow Square outside the Sept.

The execution sentence of Willas Tyrell, which Eddard had presided over, would ultimately be carried out in front of the Rainbow Pool in the Great Sept of Baelor.

This was the custom of successive kings!

Throughout the dynasties, the High Septon of the Great Sept of Baelor was often chosen as the chief judge for major cases.

Eddard and Lady Catelyn welcomed the High Septon into the drawing-room.

"Lord Eddard, are you settling in well in King's Landing?" the High Septon began with meaningless pleasantries.

"High Septon, my guards told me that you came because of Willas Tyrell," Eddard said, cutting straight to the point, as he always disliked formalities.

"Indeed, your Lordship's judgment is remarkable, divinely inspired, bringing Willas Tyrell to justice and confession. Truly remarkable."

Eddard felt a flush on his face.

He had not displayed any extraordinary wisdom or decisiveness in the trial of Willas Tyrell. Mainly, Willas himself had raised no objections and admitted to all the charges.

Anyone could have brought the extremely cooperative Willas to justice.

"High Septon, you flatter me. Actually, I myself find it rather strange, feeling that Willas Tyrell's confession seemed too simple."

"Your Grace is too modest," the High Septon said, as smooth as a worldly politician, without batting an eye as he delivered flattering words.

"High Septon, what is your view on Willas's case?" Catelyn Tully could not help but steer the High Septon toward his real purpose.

"Willas deserves his punishment, deserves his punishment," the High Septon said with a smile. "However, the Seven Gods also have their merciful side. I see that Lord Willas Tyrell has a good attitude, sincerely repenting. The Tyrell family has been very supportive of His Majesty's campaign against the White Walkers in the North, from military supplies to weapons, from generals to soldiers, all were diligent and conscientious. Lord Mace, Willas's father, as the Hand of the King, fully supported the army's military supplies under the then-Duke Gregor, while mobilizing the Reach's soldiers to garrison King's Landing, preventing Daenerys from attacking. Lord Eddard, the Tyrell family has made great contributions to this country."

"Yes, High Septon, you are right."

The Tyrell family supported the Mountain's ten thousand strong army when it went to Winterfell. Now that winter was coming, Eddard had come to King's Landing, first to submit, and second, to ask His Majesty to help allocate some grain to the North in advance, to help the people of the North get through the winter.

And the granary of the Seven Kingdoms was in the Reach.

The nobles in the Reach who could provide stored grain were all vassals of the Tyrell family.

"Lord Eddard, the Tyrell family has only Willas Tyrell left. He has a physical disability, making it difficult for him to move, and he has already confessed. Why not suggest to His Majesty that Willas Tyrell go to the Wall and become a member of the Night's Watch, so that he may live."

Eddard felt somewhat surprised.

He had not expected the High Septon of the Great Sept of Baelor to plead for Willas Tyrell.

"High Septon, you can suggest it directly to His Majesty."

The High Septon had a special status and a close relationship with the royal family that outsiders could not understand. The High Septon and the Mountain had cooperated many years ago, establishing the 'Baelor Bank' in King's Landing to promote paper money and issue loans, which showed that the High Septon's personal relationship with the Mountain was extraordinary.

"Your Grace, I have already made the suggestion to His Majesty. His Majesty said that your Grace is fully responsible for Willas's case and asked me to come and ask for your Grace's opinion first."

Eddard felt strange. With the Mountain's character, whether he wanted Willas dead or agreed to let him join the Night's Watch, it would be a matter of a word. Why would he have the High Septon come and seek my opinion? Eddard pondered for a moment, then understood. The Mountain had become king, and the newly surrendered North, which had once declared independence, was being watched by many important officials and nobles in the court. The king was showing respect to the Stark family!

So, what was His Majesty's intention? Was he determined to kill Willas, or was he willing to let him join the Night's Watch?

"High Septon, what is His Majesty's intention?"

"His Majesty said that whether Willas becomes a member of the Night's Watch or is beheaded is entirely up to your Grace."

Eddard understood. His Majesty was indeed showing respect to the Stark family of the North!

In this way, those nobles who had reservations about the rebellion and surrender of the Northerners would know how much His Majesty valued the North, thus silencing those slanderers.

His Majesty had given the Stark family of the North great power to decide Willas's life or death. This was a signal, telling the nobles in the court who had objections to the North that the King valued the Stark family of the North, and that the rumors, gossip, and false reports could stop.

"High Septon, I am willing to commute the sentence, giving Willas Tyrell a chance to live. Let him go to the Night's Watch at the Wall in the North. Willas Tyrell once forged a maester's chain in the Citadel. He can become a maester of the Night's Watch, or the chief steward."

"Thank you, Lord Eddard," the High Septon said gratefully.

Thus, Willas Tyrell, who had been sentenced to beheading, was given a chance to live. At the political affairs meeting the next day, Lord Eddard requested the King to commute Willas Tyrell's sentence to become a member of the Night's Watch at the Wall, and His Majesty agreed. The cripple Willas Tyrell was immediately freed and became a black-clad, lifelong member of the Night's Watch.

After the Mountain's reform, the Night's Watch had a structure of two groups of personnel: a lifelong professional Night's Watch corps and a Night's Watch corps with a three-year rotation. Whether it was the professional Night's Watch corps or the three-year rotational professional soldiers, there was a free flow channel between the two groups.

The rotational soldiers could also choose to become lifelong members of the Night's Watch, and the lifelong members of the Night's Watch could also join the rotational corps and, after three years, apply for retirement or return to their hometown to become a professional soldier.

*

In the year 301 AC, August, winter.

The Arbor, the southernmost island in the sea.

A raven flew into Lord Redwyne's main castle and landed on the window ledge of the maester's tower.

The maester took out some corn and spread it out. The raven hopped onto the maester's palm and pecked at the corn, allowing the maester to untie the small iron tube from its leg.

The maester took the letter from the small iron tube. The letter was sealed with the King's wax seal.

The maester dared not delay and hurried down the tower to deliver the wax-sealed letter to the Earl's hand.

The Earl was very young, the eldest son of the old Lord Redwyne. He had been a courtier in King's Landing for a long time, known as 'Horror' Ser Horas Redwyne.

The old Lord Redwyne had nominally been beheaded by the Mountain, which he dared not let outsiders know, although he was still living well on the Arbor. Back then, the Mountain had found a death row inmate to replace Paxter Redwyne and secretly let him return to the Arbor. Paxter was grateful for the Mountain's life-saving grace, and after returning to the Arbor, the Arbor's world-famous wine was completely exclusively distributed by the Mountain. Whether it was in Essos or Westeros, any merchant, large or small, could only buy wine from the Mountain.

At the same time, the Arbor also set up a 'Clegane' bank branch to vigorously assist the Mountain in promoting 'Clegane paper money.' Anyone who traded with the Redwyne family had to first exchange their gold for paper money of equal value before trading with the Redwyne family.

After Paxter was implicated with Mace Tyrell's family and 'beheaded' by the Mountain, his eldest son, Horas Redwyne, inherited his title and returned to the Arbor as Earl. At the same time, the Arbor's powerful navy also belonged to the Royal Navy fleet.

Horas Redwyne was very familiar with King's Landing, and he also had many old friends in King's Landing.

During the civil war, Horas and his brother 'Dribble' Ser Hobber had also 'fought side by side' with the Mountain. At that time, the Westerlands and the Reach were allies.

After receiving the King's letter, Earl Horas Redwyne discussed it briefly with his father, Paxter, and set off the next day, taking a boat from the Arbor to King's Landing.

His Majesty required Earl Horas to arrive in King's Landing within a month. In such a tight time, the only quickest way was by water.

As for what urgent matters there were in King's Landing, His Majesty did not say in the letter.

However, Paxter and Horas were not worried. His Majesty would not attack the Redwyne family. There was no doubt about that. They had also sworn allegiance to the Mountain and would never betray him.

*

In the year 301 AC, August, winter. Oldtown. Hightower.

A raven flew into the Hightower and landed on the desk of Lord Leyton Hightower, who was immersed in mysticism.

Lord Leyton Hightower, with many titles, was known as the Old Man of Oldtown, Lord of the Port, Protector of the Citadel, and Beacon of the South. He broke the rule of never leaving the Hightower with the Mountain and Arya, assisted the Mountain and Arya in catching the Faceless Men who were active in Oldtown, and completely ended the Faceless Men's outposts in Quill and Tankard.

Lord Leyton opened the letter, which was a letter with the King's wax seal.

The words on the letter were short and concise. It was a letter personally written to him by King Gregor Clegane, ordering Lord Leyton Hightower to go to King's Landing quickly, giving the Earl a month's time.

Lord Leyton Hightower had already fought side by side with the King once. He was unwilling to leave Oldtown and descend from the Hightower again, but rules were meant to be broken. With His Majesty's personal letter, he decided to obey obediently.

So, the next day, Lord Leyton Hightower, with his fourth wife, Rhea Florent, embarked on the road north to King's Landing.

*

In the year 301 AC, winter, the Reach's nobles, far and near, received His Majesty's personal letter, ordering them to go to King's Landing quickly within the specified time.

As for what His Majesty wanted, the letter did not say.

The Reach nobles dared not delay and set off one after another, heading to King's Landing in unison.

*

"What is that?"

The maester on the bow of the ship asked the soldier beside him with great interest.

Maester Alex of the Arbor was visiting King's Landing for the first time, and the Blackwater Rush for the first time. Just now, when the warship passed through the Water Gate, it was the most thrilling waterway he had ever seen. In winter, the water level dropped a lot, and in the estuary, there were dense black reefs sticking out of the water like spears and knives.

Nearby, underwater, not far from the ship's side, one could see the fangs of the black, hideous rocks exposed under the water.

With the slightest carelessness, if the ship turned slightly, it would hit the reef, and the ship would be destroyed and the people killed.

After finally passing through the Water Gate tremblingly, the Blackwater Rush ahead was flat, and the shadow of the tall city of King's Landing was like a silhouette of a lion on a hill.

Maester Alex saw the city of King's Landing for the first time.

Then, he saw a tall stone platform on the dock, with something covered tightly with tent cloth, and soldiers guarding it all around. Under the platform, there were also gold-robed city guards patrolling.

"What is that?" Maester Alex asked the soldier on the deck of the bow.

The soldiers looked at each other, and no one knew what it was.

"Go and invite the Earl," the maester said.

Earl Redwyne, who had lived in King's Landing for many years and was only interested in the pleasure houses of King's Landing, was sleeping in the cabin. He was woken up by the enthusiastic maester and came to the bow of the ship, where he saw a high platform on the dock that had never been there before, and the city guard soldiers guarding the platform tightly.

"What is that? Earl?"

The young Earl shook his head: "When I was in King's Landing, I had never seen this high platform on the dock. It was newly built recently."

"Oh, could it be related to His Majesty summoning us to King's Landing?"

"Who knows, let's inquire after landing."

The warship entered the port and docked. Earl Redwyne saw another big ship with the Hightower family's banner on it. Ashore, he saw the banner of House Crane of Red Lake City on River Row, and the banners of various families such as Goldengrove, Goldentyne, and Bitterbridge. It seemed that the nobles of the Reach had all received His Majesty's letter, and they had come from far and near, but they had all arrived in King's Landing on the same day in unison.

It seemed that His Majesty had calculated the distance and time so that the nobles could arrive in King's Landing within a similar time frame.

Earl Redwyne and his party landed. On the shore, they met Lord Leyton Hightower and his wife, Rhea Florent. They exchanged greetings and then entered the city together.

At the gate of the Red Keep in King's Landing, General Reynard Westerling and his wife, Sansa Stark, were responsible for receiving the Reach contingent.