The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Lannisport's temple square was bustling with excitement.

Long rows of banquet tables stretched across the vast plaza, covered with steaming fresh bread, glistening roasted meats, polished and shining fruits, piping hot bacon soup, golden spiced honey, crisp green lettuces, pork hams, and smoked wild game…

"Hey, Foolish Lord." Gregor Clegane grinned, slapping Ado Serrett amiably on the shoulder with a goblet in hand. "Why do you keep staring at Jeyne Westerling like that?"

The knights of House Serrett immediately stood, two of them stepping between Ado and Gregor with hostile glares, while five more flanked Ado protectively.

Ado spared a glance at the high-seated Lord Tywin and responded coolly, "Mountain, I've already proposed to Lord Gawen and received a return gift."

"Mountain" was the infamous nickname used behind Gregor Clegane's back. No knight or lord would dare use it to his face, it was a grave insult, sure to provoke his wrath.

But here, Ado judged the moment carefully and had no fear.

Since Gregor had approached reeking of alcohol and mocked him as a "Foolish Lord." Ado naturally returned the insult, calling him "Mountain" without the honorific of "Ser", an even greater slight.

Gregor's eyes fell on the brooch pinned to Ado's chest. It wasn't unusual for nobles to wear decorative pieces, on hats, belts, boots, or breastplates, but this one was distinct. It bore the sigil of House Westerling: six small white shells.

"Gawen agreed to it?" Gregor asked with a laugh.

"He did. And Lady Jeyne is aware, she offered no objection." Ado looked toward Jeyne Westerling, who shone like moonlight at Tywin's side. Just then, her gaze met his, and after a brief pause, she looked away.

Gregor caught the flicker of affection exchanged between them. A handsome young noble like Ado was indeed a good match for a beauty like Jeyne.

"Foolish Lord, I recall Lord Gawen once proposed a match between your families, your father, Earl Targ, and your mother rejected him. Her family was too poor, and her mother was a merchant's daughter, not of noble birth. Are you sure your parents will approve this time?"

"Mountain." Ado replied calmly, "Jeyne may not have been Lord Tywin's daughter in the past, but she is now. And once I marry her, I'll be Tywin's son-in-law. You? You're just one of Tywin's dogs. Did you really think the Serrett family would let you go unpunished?"

Ado's smile deepened. He could see a flicker of emotion in Gregor's eyes, it pleased him.

"Oh? You sound so confident, why don't we make a bet?" Gregor downed his wine in one gulp, his tone unsteady.

Ado knew his words had cut deep, deep enough to leave a wound.

"A bet? You're not even worth betting with." Ado replied flatly.

He wanted to provoke Gregor into losing control and striking first. He had already noticed Gregor had only one henchman with him here, his lackey, Raff the Sweetling, seated far on the outer edge of the tables, stuffing his face thanks to the knighthood Gregor had granted him.

Meanwhile, Ado was surrounded by seven strong household knights, each armed with daggers, ready for trouble. They had one purpose, guarding against Gregor's inevitable provocation.

Gregor had no armor and was visibly tipsy. If he struck first, it would be his fault.

Striking someone at a celebratory banquet, especially one in Jeyne's honor, would bring shame regardless of the outcome. And even a monster like Gregor couldn't shrug off steel bare-handed.

Of course, it was still dangerous. Gregor might very well kill him with a single punch. That's why the knights had immediately moved between them.

The Serrett knights had sworn to die for their house.

In this world, knights were not just skilled warriors, they were fearless. Many feared Gregor, but many knights did not.

"Ado, don't you want revenge for your brother Alva?"

"We all do!"

"Then let's bet. I'll propose to Lord Gawen as well, and we'll see who Jeyne chooses in the end."

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Ado's brows knit tightly, his eyes sharp and challenging.

"I'll propose, too." Gregor said. "The bet is whether Jeyne will choose me over you. Do you dare?"

Ado stared at Gregor, mouth falling open in disbelief. Then he burst into laughter. His knights were already doubled over with laughter beside him.

Hundreds of guests filled the banquet, laughter and music everywhere, yet their boisterous laughter still drew the attention of Lord Tywin.

Among the great lords of the Westerlands, only Ado Serrett, the heir of Silverhill, had not been granted the honor of sitting at Tywin's table. The others, Lord Marbrand of Ashmark, Lord Lefford of Golden Tooth, Lord Farman of Fair Isle, Lord Crakehall of Crakehall, Lord Lannister of Lannisport, and Lord Swyft of Cornfield, had all received places of honor and ceremonial gifts: chopsticks, snow-salt, and war-whistles.

These items would soon be formally introduced across the realm, chopsticks a symbol of noble privilege, war-whistles a military secret, and snow-salt a premier product of the Westerlands. All private salt-mining rights were to be revoked by Tywin's decree.

The Serrett family's rank merited an invitation to Tywin's table, but two things held them back: Ado was only the heir, not yet a lord; and their previous conflict with Gregor, where Ado's six brothers had beaten Gregor's men without regard for "the master's face." had displeased Tywin.

Tywin's sharp gaze swept toward the commotion, then looked away. He recalled what Gregor had once told him when borrowing money, he'd said he had "plans to earn more." Tywin had remembered. He knew Gregor couldn't afford the wages of sixty-three cavalrymen, the most expensive troops of all, and paid his men triple the going rate even in peacetime.

Even mountains of gold wouldn't last under Gregor's spending.

Tywin instinctively felt Gregor wouldn't cross the square just to share a laugh with Ado without reason.

"What's the wager, Mountain?" Ado asked, nearly choking from laughing.

"Does he even have anything worth betting?" one knight jeered.

"You name the stakes." Gregor replied, laughing too, like a fool. His drunkenness, shifting emotions, and provocative words were all part of a carefully laid plan. A plan shaped by the influence of Earth's civilization.

Both sides were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

"If I win." Ado said, grinning, "I want your cavalry, your Clegane lands and castle, and your little adopted daughter, Juliette Clegane. Most importantly, I want your family motto, 'Unmatched', to be permanently abandoned. Do you dare, Mountain?"

Truth be told, losing those things wouldn't destroy Gregor, he'd just be forced to return to Tywin's cavalry camp as the loyal attack dog of House Lannister.

"Fine. I accept."

"Swear it!"

"By which god?"

"The Father."

The Father, god of judgment and balance.

"Very well. I, Gregor Clegane, swear by the Father and by the honor of House Clegane, that I wager against Ado Serrett. We will both propose marriage to Lord Gawen. If Jeyne chooses not to marry me, then my cavalry, my lands, my castle, my adopted daughter Juliette Clegane, and our house words 'Unmatched' will all be forfeited to Ado Serrett."

Ado burst out laughing and poured Gregor a glass of Arbor wine. "Cheers, Mountain! A toast, to your stupidity!"

Gregor, unfazed by the insult, downed the wine in one gulp. "Foolish Lord, now it's your turn. If I win, I want nothing but a small patch of land, the western edge of the Silverhill. Goldleaf Bay."

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