iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 427: Under the Rushing City 4
"Stablize?"

"Yes, sir. The Alchemist Guild has a long history. Wildfire is just one of our many terrifying secret arts. The wonders that the wise men have been able to display are numerous and complex... Hehe... My mentor... The wise man Pollitt believes that the spell to create wildfire is not as effective as the one recorded in the scroll because magic has left this world with the death of the dragon."

Green raised his eyebrows slightly: "President Harlem, why do you think that is?"

President Harlin moved a little closer to Green and said, "Magic is making a comeback. Perhaps somewhere in the world, a dragon has been born... Hehe... This world is huge."

Green's finger touched the ruby ​​hilt of the "Lady of the Void" sword at his waist and said, "Dragons and magic. It is said that the Citadel does not like them."

President Harlin laughed silently for a while, his body trembling as if he was very happy. "They are a group of very stubborn guys. The cunning maesters try to make everyone think that dragons and magic... these things that they can't control are evil. If... hehe... you don't like their views, the wise men are very willing to do it for you. You just need to send us there... hehe... Riverrun happens to be a good test subject."

Green looked at the towering Riverrun for a while, then patted President Harlem on the shoulder and said, "Let's go. I'm looking forward to your performance."

Green placed the fire wizards who came from afar in a nearby castle that had no owner, and sent out elite guards.

Starting the next day, under the command of the broad-minded Lord Green, tens of thousands of Crabbe's soldiers began to camp on the south bank of the Red Fork River in Riverrun, less than two miles away from the Lannister camp.

The Lannister knights or cavalry patrolling nearby were all unfriendlyly driven away by the blue robes.

Afterwards, Lucion Lannister, the commander of the Lannister south bank camp, came in person to question him, but he clashed with Ser Monton who was guarding the gate of Crabbe's camp. After a fair fight, he was carried back by the Lannister soldiers.

After that, on the charge of unprovoked provocation, the Lannister South Bank camp, with only a thousand soldiers, was placed under the "surveillance" of Crabbe's army.

…………

Atop a tower in Riverrun.

Brynden Tully had a sharp face, with deep lines chiseled into his weather-beaten features beneath a mat of wispy, straight grey hair.

He looked out over the blue south bank of the Red Fork River, his brows knitted into knots.

The sound of hurried footsteps came closer and closer, and the heir to the Earl of Seaforest, Ser Patrick Mallister, came to the side of Lord Brynden.

Sir Patrick and Edmure Tully are good friends like brothers. He had previously refused his father's order to return to Seamarsh, vowed to make the Lannisters pay with blood, and fought to the death at Riverrun with Lord Brynden.

Sir Patrick looked at Blackfish with a heavy face and said, "Lord Brynden, the raven from Seafront City brought a letter from my father..."

He moved his lips but couldn't continue.

Lord Brynden turned to Ser Patrick and asked, "How is Lord Jason?"

Sir Patrick inherited his father's brown hair and blue-gray eyes. He opened his mouth, avoiding Blackfish's gaze, and said, "Two days ago, he surrendered to Duke Crabbe."

Hearing this, Lord Brynden closed his eyes for a moment, then sighed slightly: "Lord Jason is a wise knight."

He raised the corner of his mouth, patted Sir Patrick's arm, and said, "You must trust your father's judgment. I will send you away from here as soon as possible."

Sir Patrick quickly explained: "It's 'Wildfire'. My father said in the letter that the messenger from Duke Crab brought green flames. He said it was the magic of the Mad King, and it could destroy the entire Seaside City."

After a pause, he squeezed out his voice with difficulty and continued: "He said that if it was someone else, he might have a chance, but that person was Green Crabbe. It is known in the Seven Kingdoms that he buried almost all the knights loyal to the Arryn family..."

Lord Brynden looked into the distance and said, "Yes, that man is now at the foot of Riverrun."

Sir Patrick also looked over with Brynden's gaze and said, "Lord Brynden, he brought the Mad King's magic with him. We..."

Lord Brynden's expression became more resolute, and his hoarse and steady voice sounded: "Evil magic will never be able to break through Riverrun. Go back, return to your father, and protect your family."

Sir Patrick shook his head: "No, father is father, I am me, I beg you to let me stay and fight with you!"

Lord Brynden turned his deep blue eyes to Patrick and said, "You must know that you are Jason's heir. If you continue to stay here, your family and Seaside City will be in danger again."

He stretched out his big hand and grabbed Patrick's shoulder: "You must go back. This is my order, sir."

In the end, the stubborn Sir Patrick was forcibly dragged away by the captain of the guard of Duke Brynden.

After standing there for a while, Black Fish flicked his red and blue cloaks and walked to the other side.

With a flutter, a carrier crow landed lightly on the crow's nest, and the old maester of Riverrun tremblingly took off the letter from its body.

When the old scholar saw the emblem on the letter clearly, he was stunned, then he quickened his pace and left.

"Maester Wayman."

In the bachelor's study, Duke Brynden looked at the old bachelor who seemed to be anxious to climb down the stairs and called out.

"My Lord, I was just coming to see you."

Lord Brynden took the letter from Maester Weyman and looked down. It was the emblem of a running wolf. It was... Ned.

He hesitated for a moment before slowly opening the letter.

After reading the letter, Lord Brynden paced back and forth for a few steps with a heavy expression, then stopped and said, "Maester Wayman, Ned has received news that Euron has taken most of the Ironborn ships south, so he wants to transport the northern army to Seabring by sea to support Riverrun. We must reply quickly to stop his actions."

"Sir, this..."

Maester Wayman was a little confused. Lord Brynden sighed and said, "Maester Wayman, the Earl of Sealand City...has withdrawn from this war. He cannot help Ned."

After a moment of silence, Maester Weiman sighed slightly, "Sir Patrick took the letter sent by the raven from Haijiang City this morning..."

After a pause, he continued, "My lord, although you have no intention of asking Lord Stark and Lady Catelyn for support, they will never agree. This has nothing to do with your determination."

Lord Brynden closed his eyes in pain: "Robb... As his great-uncle, I let my niece's son die in the Riverlands. I am not worthy of Cat's support." He dreamed of Robb's tragic death every night. If he had arranged things more carefully, his nephew would not have died and lost his life like this... It was all his fault.

Now, the only reason he can continue to hold the sword is to make the Lannisters, the murderers behind this tragedy, pay for the blood debt of Edmure and Robb.

Maester Wayman's voice was filled with sadness. "Lord Blackfish, you are the last man of the Tully family... The hatred cannot be forgotten, but you have the obligation to protect the family heritage. On the south bank of the Red Fork, the marigold flag is flying. The Crabbe family has brought tens of thousands of soldiers to the Lannister family, and the reputation of the Duke of Crabbe for his good fighting skills is known throughout the Seven Kingdoms."

Blackfish opened his eyes and looked at Maester Weyman, whose face was filled with worry. He said, "He also brought the Mad King's favorite toy - Wildfire."

"Wildfire?" Maester Weiman was stunned for a moment, then he said hurriedly: "My lord, I beg you... I beg you..."

He opened his mouth and slowed down a little before continuing, "As long as you live, no one can rule the Riverlands legitimately. My lord, I beg you again, please do not share life and death with Riverrun."

After saying this, the old scholar couldn't help but shed tears, and his eyes were full of pleading as he looked at the lord.

Brynden patted the old maester in front of him and said, "The green flame is indeed terrifying, but it cannot destroy the Trout family's castle. And... according to my judgment, Crabbe's army is not the reinforcement of the Lannister family."

Maester Wayman wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve: "This... Lannister, Tyrell, and Crabbe are allies, my lord, please..."

"sit."

Brynden first asked the old maester to sit down, and then continued, "Tywin led the alliance between the Westerlands, the Reach, and the Vale during his lifetime, but he is dead, so their honeymoon period is bound to end, because there is no second Tywin in the Lannisters who can continue to lead this alliance dominated by Lannisters."

Maester Wayman was still worried: "If that's the case, why did Kleber's army appear at the foot of Riverrun?"

Lord Brynden frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "Perhaps only the gods know his true thoughts. When Lord Crabbe entered the Vale last year, I don't think anyone expected that his real purpose was to seize the rule of the Vale that the Arryn family had held for thousands of years."

Maester Weyman had regained his composure by this time. He paused and continued, "Or perhaps, Duke Kleber wanted to be the ultimate beneficiary of the Battle of Riverrun?"

Brynden turned to the old maester, nodded heavily, and said, "If our suspicions are correct, the only good news for us is that he will only watch the Tullys and Lannisters fight to the death."

He clenched his large hands into fists. “Speculation is still speculation. We cannot ignore the danger of wildfires. We need to put away all flammable items as soon as possible.”

Maester Wayman stood up from his chair, bowed, and said, "My lord, I will look for records of wildfire. After all, most knights in Riverrun only think that thing is the evil magic used by the Lannister imp to destroy Stannis's fleet."

"Very good. Thank you very much."

After chatting for a few more words, Lord Brynden was about to leave, but Maester Wayman suddenly said, "My lord, please forgive me for being so presumptuous, but as long as you are alive, neither Lannister nor Crabbe can be the true winner of the Battle of the Riverlands."

Carrying Maester Weyman on his back, Duke Brynden paused and said, "I will remember this."

…………

Night at Crab Camp on the south bank of the Red Fork River.

Green threw the wineskin to Jaime who suddenly came and said, "Sir, you should stay with Cersei at this time."

Taking the wine bag, Sir James casually looked around the tent, pulled out the cork, and said, "My Lord Duke, you overestimate me."

Green pointed to the empty chair next to the brazier and said, "Please sit down."

Then he smiled and added, "I thought you would quickly adapt to your new way of getting along with Cersei."

James paused, glanced at Green, then continued moving and walked to the chair and sat down.

He raised his head and took a sip of wine, then said, "Before I came here, I thought you might be feeling depressed. It seems that I am not smart enough."

Green shrugged and said, "Compared to me, you are lucky enough. At least my last name does not allow me to put love first."

Hearing this, Ser Jaime's voice was filled with annoyance. "Green, Cersei and I are done a long time ago."

Green smiled and said, "Okay, I will trust your determination for now."

"It's definitely not temporary!" James emphasized again.

Green smiled lightly, then faded his smile and said, "Sir, let's talk business first... Um, are you here for the new Western Territory Guardian?"

Seeing Green's direct words, James did not hide his purpose: "Yes, but not just for him. I am also a little curious about why you appeared at the foot of Riverrun. Also, I came to visit the relative who was beaten into bed by Monton."

The firelight flickered, and the brown eyes met the blue eyes for a moment. Green nodded slightly and said, "Okay, I will answer you."

He took a sip of wine and continued, "I came here for Riverrun, Jaime. I plan to wait until the Lannisters and Tullys are both defeated, and then find an opportunity to attack Trout and Home Castle."

Green's answer startled Sir James. He paused for a moment before speaking: "I really am not surprised at all."

Green frowned and said, "White Knight, I never thought... you would doubt my honor?"

After saying that, he couldn't help but laugh to himself, and then said, "For the sake of you and Cersei, I will not interfere with the siege of the Westerly Guard for the time being. On the contrary, my army will guard the south of Riverrun for him, and help him use catapults to scare the Tully defenders."

He held up three fingers. "If he does not take Riverrun in the time Cersei has given me, my army will take over the fight."

Ser Jaime frowned and said, "Green, you should know how difficult it is to capture a castle. Moreover, Riverrun is one of the most difficult castles in the Seven Kingdoms."

Green spread his hands and said, "Yes, but Davon Lannister did not object to Cersei's order. Doesn't this show that he is very confident in it, sir?"

Jaime frowned and was silent for a while, then rubbed his head and said, "Cersei wants to get rid of her dependence on rose bread as soon as possible, because as long as the war in the riverlands is not over, there will be new refugees gathering in King's Landing every day."

(End of this chapter)