Chapter 45 Chapter 44: Ed

Through the narrow high windows of the deep and wide throne room of the Red Castle, the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled the ground, and hung dark red stripes on the walls.The dragon's head once hung high here, and though the stone walls were covered with green and tan tapestry of hunting scenes, Ned saw the hall as blood-red. He sat high on the wide, ancient seat of Aegon the Conqueror.It was a chair made of steel, full of ferocious sharp horns and weirdly twisted metal. It was just as Robert had warned, it was a goddamn uncomfortable chair.Right now his broken leg was throbbing, and the feeling couldn't be worse.The metal under his body became harder and harder every hour, and the back of the chair was covered with sharp teeth, which made him unable to lean on.When Aegon the Conqueror ordered his blacksmiths to use the discarded weapons from the enemy's surrender and melt them into a large chair, he said, "A king cannot sit comfortably."Damn Aegon for his pomp, Ned thought darkly, and damn Robert and his game.

"Are you sure they're not bandits?" Varys asked softly, sitting at the council table under the throne.Beside him Grand Maester Pycelle fidgeted, and Littlefinger fiddled with a pen.They were the only important ministers present.A white stag was seen in the Kingswood the other day, and Lord Renly and Ser Barristan accompanied the king on a hunting trip, along with Prince Joffrey, Sandor Clegane, and Balon Swann. And half of the courtiers.Because of this, Ned had to temporarily replace Robert on the Iron Throne to handle state affairs. At least he had a chair to sit on.In the throne room, except for the royal family and a few important ministers, everyone else had to stand or kneel respectfully.The people who came to petition gathered at the gate, knights, nobles and ladies stood under the tapestry, and the common people were in the corridor.The heavily armed guards stand dignifiedly with golden or gray cloaks on their shoulders.

This group of villagers knelt on one knee, men, women and children, all dressed in tatters, covered in blood, with fear engraved on their faces.The three knights who had brought them in to testify stood behind. "Bandits? Lord Varys," said Ser Raymond Darry, contemptuously. "Well, well said, of course they are bandits. Lannister bandits." Ned could feel the tense atmosphere in the hall, and everyone present, regardless of their origin, listened with bated breath.This is nothing new, since Catelyn arrested Tyrion Lannister, the Westlands have been like a firewood bank.Both Riverrun and Casterly Rock had summoned their vassals, and now the two armies were gathering on the pass below the Golden Tooth.It is only a matter of time before bloodshed breaks out.The only question now is how to minimize the damage.

Eyes full of sadness, if not for the wine-red birthmark on his face, Sir Karel Vance, who was handsome at first, pointed to the villagers kneeling on the ground and said, "Lord Ed, these are the only people left in the village of Syre. Like the residents of Wende Town and Shaman Beach, they all died." "Get up," Ned ordered the villagers.He never believed what a person said when he was kneeling. "Get up, all of you." The residents of Syre struggled to get up after hearing this.An old man had to be supported to stand up, while another girl in a blood-clothed posture maintained her kneeling position, staring blankly at Sir Alys Oakheart.In the white robes and armor of the Kingsguard, he stood beneath the throne, ready to die in defense of the king... or, Ned guessed, the king's Hand.

"Jos," said Ser Raymond Darry to a fat, bald man in a brewer's apron, "tell the Hand what has happened to Syre." Joss nodded. "To His Majesty the King—" "Your Majesty, he is hunting across the Blackwater Bay," Ned said, wondering if it was possible for a man to live his whole life within a few days' ride of the Red Keep and still not know what the King looked like.Ned wore a white linen tunic with the direwolf arms of House Stark embroidered on the chest, and a black wool cloak fastened around his neck with the silver hand badge of office.Black, white and gray are the three possibilities of truth. "I am the Hand of the King, Lord Eddard Stark, Lord Hand. Tell me who you are, and all you know of these brigands."

"I kept... I used to... I kept a tavern, my lord, in the Shire, by the Stone Bridge. They say I make the best ale south of the Neck, my lord, please You'll forgive me. But my lord, it's all gone now. They came in and drank the rest and dumped the rest, and set fire to the house, and they would have killed me, my lord, but they didn't catch me." "They set us on fire," said a farmer beside him, "coming from the South in the middle of the night, and set fire to the fields and the houses, and killed anyone who tried to stop them. But they are not robbers, my lord, because They didn't come to steal at all, they slaughtered my cow and left the carcass there to feed the flies and crows."

“They also trampled my apprentice to death,” said a stocky man with the muscles of a blacksmith and a bandaged head.It was evident that he had put on his best clothes to turn up, but the trousers were patched and the cloak was dusty. "They were laughing on horseback, chasing him around and poking him like they were playing a game. The kid just ran like that, screaming, and finally fell to the ground and was killed by the big guy. The biggest guy was shot dead." The girl kneeling on the ground stretched her neck and looked up at Ned, who was so tall. "Your Majesty, they also killed my mother. Then they...they..." Her voice weakened, as if she had forgotten what she was going to say, and began to cry on her own.

Sir Raymond Darry took up the conversation: "The people of Wende took refuge in the manor, but the house was made of wood, and the invaders covered it with straw and burned them alive. Some people opened the door and rushed out of the fire. If they escaped, they shot them with bows and arrows, even the woman with the baby in her arms." "Oh, that's horrible," Varys murmured, "how can anyone be so cruel?" "They were going to deal with us in the same way. Fortunately, the manor in Shire is made of stone," Joss said. "Someone tried to smoke us out, but the big man said that the upper reaches of the river would be more rewarding, so he ran to Muzitan. went."

Ned leaned forward, fingers touching the cold metal.Between each of his fingers was a blade, pointed at a curved sword, that stretched like claws from the armrest of the throne.Even after three centuries, some of the blades are still sharp.To the unwary, the Iron Throne can be described as full of traps.The ballad says that it took a thousand swords to forge the throne, heated and melted by the flames of Balerion, the Black Death.It took a total of fifty-nine days of knocking and knocking, and the final product is today's razor-sharp, hunchbacked black monster full of barbs and tangles.This chair can kill people, if the legend is true, it has really killed people.

Eddard Stark didn't want to sit up, but now he's up there, and the people below are coming to ask him for justice. "What evidence do you have that these are Lannisters?" he asked, trying to suppress his anger. "Did they wear red cloaks or lion banners?" "Not even Lannisters are so stupid," said Ser Marq Piper.He was a young man with a bad temper and a pugnacious rooster.Although in Ned's opinion, he is too young and too young, but he is a good friend of Catelyn's younger brother Edmure Tully. "My lord, they are all riding on horses and wearing armor," Ser Karel replied calmly, "with steel lances and swords in their hands, and battle axes used to slaughter villagers." He pointed to the ragged group. one of the survivors. "You, yes, it's you. It doesn't matter if you say it. Tell the Prime Minister everything you said to me."

The old man bowed his head. "As for the horses they rode," he said, "they rode warhorses. I worked many years in old Ser Velen's stables and could see the difference. None of the horses they rode were plowed fields. Yes, I swear by the gods of heaven." "A bandit on a good horse," Littlefinger remarked. "Maybe they just took the horse from somewhere else." "How many robbers are there?" Ned asked. "A hundred at least," Jos replied, and at the same time the bandaged blacksmith also said, "Fifty." The old woman behind him said, "There are hundreds of them, my lord. An army." "Good lady, I believe you are quite right," Duke Eddard told her. "You say they don't carry banners, but what about the armor they wear? Did any of you notice any patterns or decorations, or shields and The family crest on the helmet?" Brewer Jos shook his head. "My lord, it would be nice to have some, but the armor they wear is very common, only... only the leader, although he is dressed like everyone else, but you will never confuse him with others. My lord Well, he's a big fellow, and I'll bet those who say the giants are dead haven't seen him. He's as big as a bull, and he talks like a rock cracking." "It must be the Magic Mountain!" cried Ser Marq. "Do you even ask? Gregor Clegane must have done it." Ned heard whispers under the windows and far down the hall, and disturbed voices in the corridor outside.All present, rich and poor, high and low, knew what it would mean if Ser Marq's words were true: Ser Gregor Clegane was Lord Tywin Lannister's vassal. He studied the terrified faces of the villagers, no wonder they were so frightened, they must have thought they were being dragged here at first, to accuse Lord Tywin of being a bloody butcher in front of the king - who himself was Tywin's son-in-law .He wondered if those knights would give them a choice. Grand Maester Pycelle stood up heavily from the discussion table, and the necklace symbolizing his position kept colliding. "No disrespect to you, Sir Marq, but we cannot conclude that the robber is Ser Gregor. There are plenty of big men in the country." "But is there anyone like the Mountain?" said Ser Carlisle. "I have never seen one." "I believe no one here has seen it." Sir Raymond said angrily. "Standing with him, even his brother looks like a puppy. Gentlemen here, please open your eyes, don't you still need it?" Do you believe it when you see his seal stamped on the body? It must be Gregor, you can't be wrong." "Then why should Ser Gregor plunder?" asked Pycelle. "With his lord, he not only has a strong fort, but he has his own farmland, an anointed and duly canonized man." Knight." "This fellow is a hypocritical knight!" Sir Marquis said, "He is Lord Tywin's mad dog." "My lord Prime Minister," said Pycelle with a stiff tone, "please also remind this 'honest' Mr. Knight that Lord Tywin Lannister is the father of our queen." "Thank you, Grand Maester Pycelle," Ned said, "If you don't mention it, I'm afraid we'll all forget it." From his high throne, he saw someone slipping out at the end of the hall.The rabbit just ran away, and he thought to himself... No, it should be said to be a mouse greedy for the queen's cheese.He caught a glimpse of Septa Mordane standing in the corridor with Sansa, and he flew into a rage: This is not the place for a little girl.But the nun could not have expected that today's meeting would not be a tedious daily chore—listening to people's petitions, mediating disputes between villages and towns, and determining land boundary stone divisions, etc. At the meeting table below, Petyr Baelish finally got tired of playing with his quill, leaned forward and said, "Sir Marco, Sir Carlisle, Sir Raymond—may I ask a question? These villages are under your jurisdiction and protection, may I ask where you were when the massacre happened?" Ser Karel Vance answered, "My father and I were on the pass below the Golden Tooth, and so was Ser Mark. When word of these atrocities reached Edmure Tully's ears, he bade us lead a little company, Come and search for the survivors, and bring them before the king." Sir Raymond Darry said: "Sir Edmure has already asked me to lead my troops to Riverrun. When I received the news, I was camping across the river outside the city, waiting for further orders. When I return to the fief, Ke Regon and his lackeys have crossed the Red Fork and are heading back to the Lannister Downs." Littlefinger stroked his pointed mustache thoughtfully. "Suppose they strike again, my lord?" "If they dare come again, we will water the fields they have burned with their blood," said Ser Marq Piper angrily. "Sir Edmure has sent troops to garrison all the villages and manors within a day's ride of the border." Sir Carlisle explained. "If there are more attacks, it will not be as easy as this time." This may well be Duke Tywin's purpose, Ned knew in his heart, to squeeze the power of Riverrun and lure the young man to disperse his troops.His brother-in-law is still young, more than brave, but not wise enough.He will do his best to guard every inch of land and protect every man, woman and child who are attached to his name.As shrewd and sophisticated as Tywin Lannister, he should be well aware of this. "Since your property and houses are safe," Earl Petyr said, "what are you going to court for?" "The lords of the Three Rivers have kept the peace in the name of the king," said Raymond Darry. "The Lannisters have broken the peace. We demand blood, and we will pay for Shire, Wind, and Mummers' Ford. the people to seek justice." "Edmure agrees that we should do the same to Gregor Clegane," Ser Marq declared, "but Lord Hoster orders us to seek the king's permission first." Thanks to the gods in the sky, fortunately, Master Horst is here.Tywin Lannister is not so much a lion as he is a fox.If he had really sent Ser Gregor to kill and set fire--Ned had no doubts about that--he would have made a point of telling Gregor to be careful, to move at night, to fly without a banner, and to be a common robber.If Riverrun fights back, Cersei and her father can insist that it was the Tullys, not the Lannisters, who broke the peace.Which side Robert will believe then, only the gods will know. Grand Maester Pycelle stood up again. "My lord. If these good villagers believe that Sir Gregor has broken his sacred oath and turned to rape and robbery, let them go to his lord and complain to him. These crimes have nothing to do with the royal family, they should Ask Lord Tywin to uphold justice." "These concerns the king, of course," Ned told him. "North and west, we act in Robert's name." "It's about the king," said Grand Maester Pycelle. "That's a good point, then we should wait for the king to come back and trade—" "The king is hunting across the river and may not be back for days," said Lord Eddard. "Robert wants me to act in his place, to listen with his ear and speak with his voice, and I will respectfully As it pleases...but I agree that he should be informed." He saw a familiar face under the tapestries. "Ser Robert." Sir Robert Royce took a step forward, bowed and said, "My lord, what are your orders?" "My lord is out hunting with his majesty," Ned said. "Would you please inform them of today's events?" "My lord, I will do it now." "And shall we take revenge on Ser Gregor?" Marq Piper asked the Regent. "Revenge?" Ned said. "I thought we were talking about justice. Going to Clegane's fiefs and setting fire to people won't restore peace in the kingdom, it will only make up for your damaged self-esteem a little bit." Angry young knight Before he could retort, he turned his eyes away and said to the group of villagers, "Dwellers of Shire, I cannot return your homes and your crops, and I cannot raise the dead. But perhaps I can use our king Robert In the name of you, give you a belated justice." Every eye in the hall was on him, intently waiting.Ned struggled slowly to his feet, his hands on the throne as hard as he could, his broken leg in agony.He did everything in his power not to notice the pain, never to appear weak in front of them at this moment. "The ancestors believed that the person who sentenced someone to death should perform the knife himself, and we still retain this tradition in the northern border. I didn't want others to execute it...but it seems that I have no choice." He pointed to his broken leg. "Master Ed!" There was a shout from the west side of the hall, and a handsome young boy bravely walked forward.Ser Loras Tyrell was only sixteen years old, looking younger without his armor.He was wearing a light blue silk dress and a belt made of golden roses.The golden rose is the coat of arms of his family. "I beg you to let me have the honor of fighting in your stead. Leave this task to me, my lord, and I swear I will not disappoint you." Littlefinger chuckled. "Ser Loras, if we had sent you alone against Ser Gregor, he would have returned your head with a plum in that pretty mouth of yours. The Mountain is not going to take justice for granted. For the sake of it, he was caught without a fight." "I am not afraid of Gregor Clegane," Ser Loras said proudly. Ned sat back slowly on the cold steel of Aegon's misshapen throne, his eyes tracing the walls, face after face. "Lord Beric," he called, "Thoros of Myr, Ser Gladden, Lord Rosa." Those whose names were called stood in front. "Please take twenty soldiers each and send my orders to Gregor's castle. I will send my twenty guards to accompany you. Lord Beric Dondarrion, this mission is under your command, because you The Jubilee is the highest." The young earl with golden red hair bowed and said, "Lord Ed, I obey your orders." Ned raised the volume so that all in the throne room could hear. "In the name of Robert I of House Baratheon, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, and Warden of the Realm, I, Lord Eddard of House Stark, As his King's Hand, I command you to hold high the King's banner at once, cross the Red Fork of the Trident River at full speed, enter the West, and punish the hypocritical knight Gregor Clegane, and all who are related to him, according to the king's law. He is an accomplice of conspiracy. I hereby declare that from now on, all his ranks and titles will be stripped, all his fiefs, taxes and real estate will be taken back, and he will be sentenced to death. May the gods of heaven have mercy on his soul." After the lingering sound faded away, the Knight of Hundred Flowers asked with a puzzled expression, "Master Ed, what should I do?" Ned looked down at him.From above, Loras Tyrell looked as young as Robb. "Ser Loras, no one doubts your valor, but today we are talking about law and justice, and what you want is revenge." He turned to Lord Berry and said, "It is best to start at dawn tomorrow. Deal with it as soon as possible." After speaking, he raised his hand. "Today's petition ends here." Alyn and Poser climbed the steep, narrow iron steps and helped him down.Ned could feel Loras Tyrell's sullen stare as he descended the steps, but by the time he reached the ground the boy was gone. Beneath the Iron Throne, Varys was busy tidying up the scattered papers on the council table.Littlefinger and Imperial Master Pai Sear had left first. "My lord, you are much more courageous than me." The eunuch said softly. "Lord Varys, what do you say?" Ned asked abruptly.His broken leg was throbbing, and he wasn't in the mood for word games at the moment. "If I had been sitting on it, I'd probably have sent Ser Loras. Look at how eager he is... Besides, if you want to fight the Lannisters, what could be more important than winning over the Tyrells?" "Ser Loras is young," Ned said. "I dare say he will soon forget this disappointment." "And Ser Ilyn?" the eunuch stroked his fat, powdered cheek. "Anyway, he is the king's law enforcement officer. Asking others to do his job... may be interpreted as a malicious insult." "I meant no offense." To be honest, Ned did not trust the dumb knight, but in the final analysis, perhaps it was just his distaste for the executioner. "Let me remind you that the Pyne family has been Lannister's subjects for generations. I think it is more appropriate to choose someone who has not sworn allegiance to Lord Tywin." "Your approach is undoubtedly very cautious," Varys said, "It's just that I happened to see Ser Ilyn standing at the back of the hall, staring at us with wide pale eyes. I must admit, he didn't look very happy, although It is not easy to guess what our taciturn Mr. Knight is thinking. I also hope that he will soon forget this frustration. He loves his work..."