The witch's long, flowing hair was neatly combed and cascaded over her shoulders, trailing on the ground like a cloth. With the maidservants arranged for her by the Mountain, the witch no longer appeared dirty, disheveled, old, or dark.
But when she opened her mouth, all her teeth were still black, shiny black, looking like black jade.
"Witch, may I ask some questions that are not related to me but that I want to know?" The Duke's majesty remained unchanged.
The Duke's question was something the Mountain had secretly advised him about. The Mountain said that the Priestess's ability was not only to see the future of the blood's owner through blood, but also to see fragments of the future and the past without seeing blood.
This is a secret about the Priestess's hidden abilities revealed by the Mountain's understanding of her. Brynden Rivers, who disappeared outside the Wall, could easily possess such an ability.
But Brynden Rivers was an exception. He was a Chosen One and had Targaryen royal blood. Most wizards could not reach Brynden Rivers' level.
The witch's prophecies were famous in Lannister Harbor, but Tywin never once sought her out to ask about them, even though he couldn't resolve the troubles in his heart.
The Duke was stubborn and confident. If he couldn't solve the problem himself, and even prayers before the Seven Gods couldn't resolve it, he had already given up hope of seeking help from other wizards.
The witch nodded.
The Mountain sat beside the Duke, towering over everyone else. His imposing presence was natural.
But the Duke and the Priestess were no less imposing than the Mountain.
"In Winterfell, I want to know if anything unusual has happened." These questions from the Duke were also ones that the Mountain had made beforehand, in order to test the witch's prophetic abilities.
The Mountain's civilization was several levels above the Duke's. Against those who were absolutely religious and superstitious, no matter how brilliant they were, they would be limited by the constraints of their era. The Mountain, however, could freely switch between the knowledge of several civilizations.
"A wolf cub was pushed off a ruined tower by a lion, breaking both its legs, falling into a coma, and never being able to stand again. This is one of the two reasons why wolves and lions will begin to tear each other apart." The witch did not have the crystal ball before her, the one the Mountain had imagined when he was a university student in another civilization.
The witch drank black Nightshade Water, which is why her teeth were completely black. The Mountain also knew that in the far east, there were wizards who drank blue Nightshade Water, which caused their lips to turn blue.
The witch's words caused a change in expression on the faces of Earl Kevon, Grand Maester Porter, Instructor Brontë, and the five centurions of the Lannister Guards.
This means that the North and the West will go to war.
Is a country that has enjoyed sixteen years of peace about to go into civil war?
No one wanted to believe this absurd prophecy.
If it weren't for Duke Tywin's presence, Earl Kevon would have been quick to reprimand the witch.
These blood sorcerers who spread fear and terror are not to be trusted and should have their heads chopped off.
The Mountain stared calmly at Lord Tywin. These prophecies were taught to the witch by him, her own grandmother, her family; persuading her to utter the prophecies the Mountain wanted her to say wouldn't be difficult.
The witch can foresee many things and possesses some dark abilities, but she is not omnipotent. The more one studies the mysticism, the more unknowns one feels. And as a living being, the witch is fragile; she also needs good food, a comfortable life, respect from people, the love of her family, and a strong sense of security.
The witch was more eager than anyone to verify the prophetic abilities of the Mountain, who was blessed by the Seven Gods.
The will of God is mysterious and unfathomable, and the Mountain finds dealing with the witch easier than dealing with ordinary people. The witch doesn't find anything amiss with his sudden display of illogical and extraordinary talent, even when faced with enigmatic and incomprehensible questions.
The will of God needs no explanation to mortals.
The Mountain discovered that people who studied mysticism and complex spells were more accepting of inexplicable novelties and people who suddenly gained superhuman abilities.
The Duke was shaken. But he remained expressionless. He glanced back at the Grand Secretary behind him, who immediately bowed.
"Release the raven to Earl Hogg Sharlott, immediately."
Earl Hogg Sharlout is a high-ranking nobleman from the Westerlands who was sent to accompany the royal family in the North.
"Yes, sir!"
Scholar Porter went immediately.
Clegane Keep has ravens. The ravens come from the Maester's Tower of Lord Tywin Lannister in Casterly Rock. Although the ravens of Clegane Keep now bear the Clegane surname, they were all raised by Maester Potter.
Harry, a Maester of Clegane Castle, was also a student of Grand Maester Potter. Although he was sent by the Duke to be one of the Mountain's eyes, Grand Maester Potter now understood that this eye was merely for show. There was a 99% chance that the Mountain and the Duke didn't need any surveillance.
"Witch, you said there are two reasons why wolves and lions fight. What is the third reason?"
"The owner of this bottle of blood." The witch slowly took out a long, narrow glass bottle from under the table.
Who owns this vial of blood?
The Mountain interjected, "Father, a month ago when I was on business in King's Landing, Littlefinger Petyr Baelish was unwilling to readily agree to my condition of handing over the gold mine. So I took a drop of blood from his fingertip and brought it back. My intention was to have my grandmother curse Littlefinger Petyr Baelish with the blood, but my grandmother saw some other secrets of Littlefinger through the blood."
"What secret?"
My grandmother never told me this.
Duke Tywin Lannister stared at the witch, whose eyes were closed. Her hair moved without wind, as if someone had brushed her long hair, which hung on the ground, in front of her face, obscuring her entire face.
This change caused everyone to show strange expressions.
Without any external force, the hair moved on its own!
"Witch, what did Littlefinger do to the Lannisters?" the Duke asked in a deep voice.
The latest novels are first published on 69shuba!
But the witch was already snoring softly.
This enraged Coach Benlont, who drew his sword with a clang.
The blood wizard who dares to be so insolent in front of the Duke is simply courting death!
The Mountain said, "Father, my grandmother has already given the answer. There are two reasons why the wolf and the lion went to war: one is that the lion pushed the wolf cub and broke its legs, and the other is Littlefinger Petyr Baelish."
Duke Tywin stared at the witch and said, "Witch, if your prophecy is wrong, I will cut off your head."
"If it comes true, you'll have to pay three hundred gold dragons. If you want to ask for a prophecy again, it will cost at least three hundred gold dragons. I need gold dragons to buy offerings to my god, otherwise I will suffer a backlash." The witch's lips didn't move, but she was speaking.
It was mysterious, but it was difficult to quell the anger of others.
"What nonsense are you spouting? One prophecy for three hundred golden dragons?" The five centurions were all furious.
Benlont and Earl Kevon rebuked them sternly.
Duke Tywin waved his hand, and Earl Kevon, the centurion, and Instructor Benlont all shut up.
"Very well!" said Duke Tywin. "Witch, if the prophecy comes true, I will pay you three hundred gold dragons for each question."
Kai Feng and the others' expressions changed.
However, the Mountain was not surprised.
Everyone says Lord Tywin Lannister is stingy, and he certainly isn't generous. However, every penny Lord Tywin spends is absolutely worthwhile! Money is never a big problem for things he deems worthwhile.
Thus, the Duke's six hundred golden dragons ended up in the Mountain's hands. He used them to build the sanctuary and cover its expenses, earning back his investment in one go, with a surplus to his name.
This is just the beginning. A very good beginning.
Sir Gregor.
"Yes, Father."
"Send your men to King's Landing and bring me Littlefinger Petyr Baelish."
"Yes, Father."