Hunter and Prey

More than forty Lannister soldiers split into six groups and rode at full gallop, intending to surround the ferocious prey hiding in these woods.

Jaime, who was commanding from the side, was very displeased.

For Joffrey's willful demand, he had already sacrificed two brave and loyal soldiers.

"Joffrey, whether we succeed or not, we will continue our journey tomorrow morning. Even if you beg your mother again, it won't change anything."

Joffrey was in high spirits.

"With the abilities of these warriors, I'm sure it won't take that long. Besides, wouldn't hunting such a fierce beast be a tremendous honor?"

A skilled hunter could track a prey's movements, and a well-trained professional army was enough to pose a threat.

It could not escape.

Thinking of the giant beast he had only glimpsed earlier, Jaime naturally understood how great a stir its capture would cause.

"Hmph!"

He drew the Golden Sword. "Glory must be won with one's own hands. I will not stand by and watch soldiers die."

Jaime spurred his warhorse and charged forward.

Joffrey did not move. Unable to use magic openly yet, he would not only be no help, but would also distract the soldiers.

"Sandor, do you want to go too?"

The Hound rode Stranger over to Joffrey's side.

"Your Highness. That monster may break through the encirclement. My place is here."

Joffrey smiled and continued gazing at the Deep and Dark woods ahead. Among the tranquil green trees, he seemed to see a bloody battle where beast and man wagered their lives.

Mountain Giant Lion, don't die...

The atmosphere in the woods had nearly frozen solid. The beasts and birds had long since fled this arena.

The mighty Giant Lion born in the mountains of the Westlands roared again and again, pouring the wrath of the king of the mountains upon every enemy daring to offend it.

It was a born king.

Flames had accompanied its birth, and it had been twice the size of an ordinary lion cub. Its mother had exhausted her life's fire to bring it into the world.

Fortunately, the pride had not abandoned it, even though its appetite equaled that of six or seven of its brothers.

It had also proven worthy of such treatment.

In just one year, it had grown larger than the strongest Lion of Lannister.

After a duel with no suspense at all, it became the pride's new leader. From then on, the pride had been unstoppable.

Flames were very useful.

It had wanted to sire several offspring as powerful as itself, but all the cubs born to the lionesses had been ordinary.

Later, it never had another chance to try.

Damn monkeys! Returning from a hunt one day, it had found its pride lying on the ground in a bloody mess, all their fur gone. Several of its underlings had even lost the heads from their necks!

Hairless monkeys clad in shiny hard stones!

It found them quickly.

With its claws, its fangs, and its flames, it tasted their flesh and fear amid the mountains and forests.

It had taken revenge.

But for the next dozen years, it never found another companion.

It had never expected that the "kindred" it sensed and followed this time would actually be a monkey. It had wanted to return to the mountains, only to be besieged by the monkeys again.

More than forty monkeys on horseback, unlike last time.

It seized the chance to slap two monkeys to death, but instead of frightening them, it was pierced by three tree branches tipped with hard stones.

It roared and swept its gaze around.

The brightly armored soldiers gradually closed in.

They did their utmost to control their mounts, circling the lion again and again as planned, constantly interfering with its judgment.

It had already bled for most of the day. It would not be in good condition.

Even so, a distance of nearly a hundred meters still took it only one or two breaths to cross. Once it got close, the roles of prey and hunter could reverse at any moment.

But Ser Jaime was not afraid in the slightest. Battle, battle, battle—this was real life.

"Take aim!"

Two groups of cavalry immediately nocked arrows and drew their bows. A draw weight of one hundred pounds was enough to pierce an enemy a hundred meters away.

The soldiers in the other four groups also raised their loaded crossbows in readiness.

The Giant Lion sensed the danger. The enraged beast king burst forward and pounced at the most conspicuous Jaime Lannister.

"Fire!"

The longbows snapped, and more than a dozen arrows tore through the air toward the Giant Lion. Three sank deeply into its body.

The two nearby groups of soldiers also fired their crossbows, with no fewer than seven bolts hitting their mark.

The furious Giant Lion ignored everything else and pounced before Jaime in the blink of an eye.

Roar~

It leaped high into the air, actually vaulting straight over Jaime's raised sword.

Jaime had only just turned around when a massive beast's paw, carrying a stench of blood, came whistling at his face. He ducked swiftly, but the tall warhorse's head was nearly split in two by the lion's claw. It crashed to the ground before it could even let out a cry.

Jaime jumped from the saddle and rolled several times. The moment he rose, he faced the giant beast and raised his sword.

Another rain of arrows fell, more than doubling the arrows lodged in the Giant Lion's body.

"Come on!" Jaime shouted wildly, though his eyes remained extremely calm. "Let's see who's stronger now!"

The cavalry closed in further.

Who would be willing to let Ser Jaime bear the danger alone? Who would be willing to be seen as a coward?

The Giant Lion realized the peril it was in.

If a few more of those shining stones entered its body, it would be finished.

The Giant Lion immediately gave up on Jaime, the least threatening target, and instead pounced on the cavalrymen nearby who were drawing their bows and aiming.

Within two breaths, five men were swept from their horses.

The other soldiers hurriedly attacked, but only six arrows and bolts struck home.

Roar~

A red glow rose over the Giant Lion's body. The scorching heat seemed to drive away its pain and injuries. It caught up to two enemies, crushed one's head in its jaws, and knocked another hairless monkey to the ground.

Visible flames poured from the lion's mouth. The soldier screamed for only a few breaths before being burned into roasted meat.

Jaime could barely restrain himself from charging in to fight.

"Keep firing! Don't let another man die! Keep shooting until this thing can't take another step!"

Pain overwhelmed the power of the flames, and the lion did not catch another monkey.

Another dozen or so arrows and bolts entered its body.

At last, it could no longer hold on. It collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily and mournfully.

The hunters waited patiently.

After an unknown amount of time, when even flies had begun landing on the lion's wounds without restraint, the soldiers finally smiled with excitement tinged by bitterness.

Six lives, four seriously wounded men, and more than a dozen precious warhorses had been exchanged for a Mountain Giant Lion that could breathe fire.

"Warriors, this Giant Lion is our shared glory. You have all done well!"

Ser Jaime was very generous.

"I'll pay out of my own pocket. Ten Golden Dragons for each man, with another ten for the fallen, to be sent to their families."

The sorrowful atmosphere vanished at once, and the soldiers cheered.

That was worth several years of their income. Adding the rewards from the Queen and Crown Prince, no one could ask for more.

The Giant Lion was escorted all the way back to the caravan and locked inside a newly modified cage.

Seeing the Giant Lion securely bound in chains inside the cage with his own eyes, Joffrey let out a breath of relief. As long as the lion was not dead, the maester's surgery and Recovery Magic Energy would be enough to save it.

"Haha, take it to Winterfell and let the Starks see my mount! How does it compare to a Direwolf?!"

King's Landing was close now, and Joffrey began making every effort to maintain his unlikeable persona. Even when there was hardly anyone around.

Hannah came over and hooked her arm through his.

"Congratulations, Your Highness. This big fellow is certainly imposing. I really want to see it run again."

Joffrey smiled and tapped the little maidservant on the forehead.

"You're beating around the bush because you want to go to Winterfell with me, aren't you? Didn't I tell you yesterday? You're better off in King's Landing."

Once the Narrow Sea side made its move, that spider Varys would certainly be alerted. King's Landing had to have one of his own people there.

He emphasized again, "Stay in the Red Keep. Make sure you keep an eye on them."

"Trust your own abilities. If necessary, act directly in my name. King's Landing cannot fall into chaos."

Hannah could only accept it silently.