iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 448 The Mysterious Hireer

The surging river water swept towards the city of Benliu with the force of a tidal wave, making a deafening sound.

The roar rolled and echoed between heaven and earth.

"Gods!"

Lannister Frey's soldiers were still bravely attacking the city, but now they were stunned by the sudden flood.

Their eyes were wide open, full of disbelief, as if they couldn't believe what was happening before their eyes.

They opened their mouths wide, as if they were frightened by this sudden disaster.

They stared blankly at the surging water, and the weapons in their hands fell unconsciously, as if they saw the arms of a stranger.

Sharp screams pierced the sky and they fled in panic, not knowing where was safe.

However, the river submerged the soldiers under the city in the blink of an eye. They struggled in the turbulent water, but they were as small and powerless as ants.

The water splashed everywhere, mixed with mud and debris, and continuously hit the city of Benliu. The morale of the soldiers had long since collapsed in the face of the mighty power of nature.

The thick dark clouds in the sky were gently parted, and a ray of golden sunlight pierced through the haze like a sharp sword.

The golden light gradually spread out, revealing its true appearance on the originally gloomy battlefield.

The waves below the Rushing City sparkled and flashed with golden light, like a flowing galaxy.

…………

Outside the battlefield, Davon Lanistra was pulling the reins to calm the restless warhorse under him.

Jaime Lannister stared toward Riverrun, the veins in his neck throbbing, and then he looked away in pain.

At this time, Sir Davon's voice came over: "My cousin, the weasel is coming."

Ta-da-da, the sound of hurried horse hooves came closer and closer. Marquis Emmon, who had been fed a barrel of wine by Sir Davon last night, rode his horse in front of them.

Lord Emmon's clothes and hair were in disarray. He questioned Ser Davon, "All the soldiers I brought were drowned, Davon Lannister. You must have known that Tully would open the sluice gates today. Did you deliberately send all the Frey soldiers to Riverrun?!"

Ser Davon shrugged at Jaime, who was looking at him. Then he turned his gaze to Emmon Frey and said coldly, "I have some guesses, but who can really know what Trout is thinking? This is a battlefield, and battlefields are cruel and full of surprises."

Seeing that the Westerly Guard did not take his doubts seriously, Lord Emmon cried out in sorrow: "My soldiers, you have all sacrificed your lives for the great cause of the Lannisters!"

His voice was faintly tearful: "I promised them that they would all be rewarded generously by the Lannisters! Gods, please forgive me!"

Ser Davon frowned and said impatiently, "That's enough. The bounty for the Frey soldiers will not be reduced by a single copper coin."

As Davon finished speaking, a flattering smile immediately appeared on Marquis Aimon's wrinkled face: "Hehe, on behalf of the brave soldiers, I thank you for your kindness and generosity."

Ser Davon tugged at the reins. "You no longer doubt the honor of a Lannister," he taunted.

"No, of course not."

Lord Emmon quickly shook his head and said flatteringly, "A Lannister must pay his debts. I have never thought of that. I swear."

Sir Davon snorted coldly, ignored Marquis Emmon, turned his horse's head and kicked the horse in the belly.

Ser Jaime glanced at the ecstatic Frey, turned his horse around, and left with Davon.

When they were almost at the camp, Ser Davon, who had been silent all the way, couldn't help but complain aloud: "That weasel should go to Dorne to be a fishmonger. He would definitely do very well."

Ser Jaime pulled at the reins, adjusted the direction of his horse, and said with a smile, "Good suggestion, my cousin."

Sir Davon laughed first, then looked at the obvious solemn expression on James' face, pinched his chin, and said: "My cousin, you seem... Alas, I am also adapting to the new identity of 'executioner', although I have long known that the battlefield is not as beautiful as in poetry..."

After a moment of silence, Ser James reached out and patted Davon's arm, comforting him: "The war will end sooner or later."

Sir Davon smiled and shook his head: "You really are...my kind cousin, neither of us can soothe each other's heart, so don't waste your energy, let's go have a drink, it can do the trick."

This was the second time Ser Jaime got himself drunk, including Cersei and Robert's wedding night.

After being carried back to his tent, the drunk Ser Jaime had a dream in which he saw Cersei.

She quickly stripped down and slid into his blanket, hugging herself tightly.

She placed his hand on her breasts, and he knew she was not Cersei and this was not a dream.

"who are you?"

Jaime had never slept with any other woman in his life except Cersei, and he was wondering how to politely drive away the strange woman who was tightly wrapped around him with her hands and feet.

He felt her hot breath, and then her soft lips almost touched his ear, whispering: "My name is Pia, Sir Davon told me that you are in great need of gentle comfort."

She whispered to him, "I was still a girl when the king draped you in white robes... You were so handsome, and everyone said you were the bravest knight in the Seven Kingdoms. I have slept with many men since then, and each time I closed my eyes and pretended that it was you, and imagined that they had your soft skin and golden curls."

One of Piya's hands moved subtly, causing the blanket to bulge slightly.

James could hear an unconcealable joy in her hoarse voice: "I never thought that one day... I would be able to lie here. Gods be merciful."

After listening to Pia's confession, not only did James find no appropriate reason to drive her away, but his heart was also touched with pity.

Cersei...

Perhaps, after tonight, he would completely stop loving her.

James wanted to turn over, but Pia gently stopped him: "My good knight, you have drunk too much. It needs my care first."

Her low laughter was heard in the dim tent, and then... she slid down.

…………

…………

"Hahaha!"

The black sails were hoisted high, fluttering in the strong wind, and the dark red "Serenity" was sailing through the waves.

Euron Greyjoy's laughter echoed on the sea breeze.

On the deck, a figure was lying twisted, his clothes were tattered and stained with blood and dirt.

The Crow's Eye looked at Aeron Greyjoy, who was barely in human form, with interest and said, "My dear brother, your little trick really gave me a surprise."

Aeron coughed up a mouthful of bloody phlegm with difficulty and said, "You are very angry, Euron, cough, cough, I have long seen that you have ill intentions towards me."

Crow's Eye squatted down beside Aeron, looked down for a while, and said: "It seems that you are sure that I can't find what you stole." He raised the corner of his mouth: "Let me guess... It can only be her, my good niece - Asha."

Euron pushed aside Aeron's messy seaweed-like hair, revealing his torn face.

Crow's Eye admired him for a while, then sneered, "You really can't change your stupid appearance. You have been like this since you were a child. You don't know how to be a good brother to me..."

The way his brother gnashed his teeth seemed to excite Crow's Eye. He laughed and said, "I warned you a long time ago that you would fall into my hands again sooner or later."

The smile suddenly faded, and the Crow's Eye's only eye became cold: "Your cleverness not only harmed yourself, but also our Sasha. I wanted to let her go, after all, she is Baron's bloodline..."

Aeron made a snort and sneered, "Euron Greyjoy... Don't treat others as fools... You have never thought of letting anyone go... Me... and Asha... You want to kill... All Greyjoys... You are a lunatic..."

Crow's Eye scratched his cheek with a finger and said, "Actually, I haven't figured out how to deal with Asha. After all, she is just a woman..."

The blue eyes stared at Yilan, and the corners of his lips slowly curled up: "Now, I have to think about it carefully. You really gave me a difficult problem, good brother."

"Cough cough cough......"

After a pause, Aeron sneered: "Give up, Euron, don't even think about finding the Dragon's Horn again. Asha's uncle will help Asha make a wise choice. He is a 'man of books', and his wisdom is unparalleled."

Hearing this, Crow's Eye said with interest: "Oh? What other choices can he make, my naive brother, do you think he will not want the Ten Towers City anymore?"

"Ha ha………"

Aeron Greyjoy laughed so hard that he coughed up blood. "Then you'll have to find a good excuse. After all, everyone knows that I lost the Dragonhorn, and Lord Rodrik Harlow was on Harlow Island the whole time."

The Crow's Eye observed Aeron's mouth and said, "It seems that you are really not afraid of death."

"Those who have tasted death will no longer fear death."

Aeron grinned, his mouth full of red. "The dead never die, they will rise again, stronger than ever."

…………

…………

Although Trout opened the sluice gates and filled the trench under Riverrun, the Lannister army did not give them much breathing time.

Just one day later, the Lannister army, under the command of Ser Davon, pushed the huge battering ram onto the stone bridge facing the city gate again.

At the same time, they began to fill the ditch and build a wooden bridge under the rain of arrows from the Trout Soldiers.

A new round of siege launched by the Lannister army gradually caused a mood of despair to spread in Riverrun.

The golden dragons bestowed by Blind Tully could only slightly boost the morale of the Trout Soldiers.

He had to open the Tully family's wine cellar and use the stored liquor to keep the soldiers' fighting courage.

night.

In the flickering candlelight, Lord Brynden and Maester Weyman were discussing the war.

Knock, knock, knock. There was a sudden rapid knock on the door. After receiving the response, the captain of the Trout family's guard strode in.

"My lord, there are seven small boats anchored at the gate of the Red Fork River, and the boats are filled with jars of boiling oil."

Boiling oil?!
Duke Brynden narrowed his eyes. Boiling oil was a powerful weapon in a siege. Not only could it burn the enemy to death, it could also burn the enemy's siege weapons. However, the boiling oil stored in Riverrun had already been consumed in the siege.

Brynden frowned and asked, "Who sent it?"

"They are all fishermen who have been fishing in the Red Fork River for generations..." The captain of the guard shrugged and said helplessly, "Someone hired those fishermen and the boats. They said their employer was Greyjoy."

Brynden's expression changed slightly, which was rare. "Greyjoy? Iron Islands?"

The captain of the guard shrugged again: "Even the White Walkers wouldn't believe such words."

Maester Weiman smiled slightly: "At least judging from the results, this is a good thing."

Brynden nodded. Assuming the city walls were solid and there was enough boiling oil, a thousand men could defeat an attack by a hundred thousand men, and Riverrun was one of the best fortresses in the Seven Kingdoms.

At this time, the voice of the captain of the escort came over: "The fisherman in the lead said that if we can keep the secret, their employer will send more boiling oil tomorrow night."

After a moment of silence, Brynden spoke slowly, "Meet his requirements, and you go and make the arrangements."

After a pause, he added: "Those fishermen, you represent me..."

Brynden untied the purse from his belt and tossed it over.

"Give this to them as a reward, and ask them to convey the Tully family's gratitude to the mysterious employer on my behalf."

"As ordered."

After the captain of the guard left, Maester Wayman looked at his lord and said, "Lord Brynden, perhaps you can negotiate a deal with that mysterious mercenary."

Brynden paused. "If they come again tomorrow night, I will try."

"That's good. After all, we don't know that person's purpose, or even his true identity."

After thinking for a while, Maester Weiman asked again: "Sir, can you guess who it is?"

After a moment's silence, Brynden shook his head slightly and said, "All I know is that it's definitely not Greyjoy."

The wrinkles between his brows deepened. "If they can successfully deliver the boiling oil tomorrow, the identity of the employer may be related to Kleber."

Maester Weiman nodded in approval and said, "Indeed, under the tight blockade of Marigold, those 'smugglers' came in too easily."

Duke Brynden sighed and said, "Or perhaps, this is just Duke Crabbe turning a blind eye, and the employer is someone else."

Cleber's army was stationed on the other side of the Red Prong, and naturally Lord Brynden and Maester Weyman would have used ravens to ask some old friends for information about Green Cleber.

In addition to knowing that this was a "stunning" young man, Brynden also knew about Ned's kindness to Crabbe (in order not to implicate the Stark family, he had unilaterally severed the raven communication between Riverrun and Winterfell).

So he guessed that Duke Craber might have ignored the "smuggling ship" on the Red Fork River in order to repay this favor.

Stark…………

Robb……

When Lord Brynden's thoughts became confused, Maester Weyman's old voice sounded: "My lord, the Lord and Lady of Winterfell would not want you to..."

Lord Brynden raised his hand to interrupt the old maester's advice: "Kate has lost a son forever. This is a battle between trout, a decisive battle between blackfish and lions."

(End of this chapter)