No.
Not the same.
When he woke up again, the hunting dog found himself lying on the bed. The room was very dark, the curtains were drawn, and there were only a few candles burning. He was in terrible pain, especially his face, as if countless ants were gnawing at his flesh.
He wanted to cry but couldn't.
Raising his head, his father, old Baron Clegane, was sitting on the chair beside the bed, his head lowered, and his expression could not be seen clearly.
The candlelight cast mottled shadows on his face, and that weather-beaten face looked particularly strange at this moment.
"Father...
The hunting dog opened its mouth, and its voice was as hoarse as sandpaper.
Hearing this, Old Clegane raised his head, his eyes bloodshot.
"Sandor." His voice was very soft. "You're awake."
"Father!" The hound wanted to speak again, but his father raised his hand to signal him to be silent. Then he stood up and walked to the door. He opened the door and took a look outside. After confirming that no one was in the corridor, he closed the door and walked back to sit down again.
"Tell me." He said, "What's going on?"
"Gregor..." The hound's voice couldn't help but tremble, and he grabbed the sheets, and the figure of the devil seemed to appear in front of his eyes. "Gregor... he pushed me into the brazier!"
As soon as these words came out, old Clegane's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not speak.
Seeing this, the hunting dog raised its voice and touched the wound. The pain made him grin. "He burned me on purpose, father, just because I touched his toy!"
Listening to his son's cries, old Clegane was silent for a long time.
"You can't tell."
"Ah?" The hunting dog was stunned. "Father?"
"You can't tell anyone." Old Clegane repeated, his voice even deeper than before. "Not to anyone."
The hunting dog's eyes widened in disbelief. At that time, his eyes were still very clear, revealing a hint of innocence and ignorance. He looked at his father aggrievedly. "But... but he...
2
"No but." Old Clegane interrupted him cruelly and warned, "If anyone asks, just say that the sheets were on fire. You accidentally knocked over the candle and the sheets burned."
Hearing such an unreasonable request, the hunting dog opened his mouth and was speechless.
He couldn't believe everything he heard.
In front of him was his father. This honest and kind man never argued with anyone. He got up early every day to feed the dogs, combed the dogs at night, and took good care of every Lannister hound.
But at this moment, his face looked so unfamiliar.
"Father." The hunting dog refused. "Aren't you going to punish him?"
"He did something bad! He burned me with fire! He did it on purpose! I saw it! He laughed! He was laughing!"
"That's enough!" Old Clegane's voice suddenly became thicker. The hound was startled and closed his mouth.
The room was eerily quiet, except for the barking of dogs in the distance.
Old Clegane looked at his youngest son whose face was covered with strips of cloth. His weather-beaten face looked particularly tired under the candlelight.
"Sandor." He spoke, his voice became softer again, and his face became gentle again. "Listen to me."
"Do you know how hound packs live?"
The hound nodded. As a member of the Clegane family, he grew up with the hound.
"No matter how many dogs there are in the hound group, there will eventually be a leader." Old Clegane continued, "The other dogs must obey the leader. No matter what the leader does, they must obey, because only in this way can the hound group survive."
He paused and looked into the hounds' eyes. "The Clegane family is a group of hounds."
"So, no matter what Gregor did..." Old Clegane's voice was trembling, but he continued, "He will always be your brother, the heir of Clegane Keep. After my death, he will inherit my title and fief, just like I took it over from your grandfather."
"But!" The hunting dog wanted to retort, but his father raised his hand to signal him to be silent.
"I know you are not convinced."
His voice was trembling, and there seemed to be tears in his eyes.
"But he is my son, and so are you."
"You are all my sons, I can't... I can't...
", he couldn't speak any more.
The hunting dog looked at him.
For the first time, I discovered that this honest man who never spoke loudly to anyone and had raised dogs all his life could actually cry.
"Father...
"Listen to me." Old Clegane took a deep breath and said slowly, "When I met your mother, she and I were still very young, and your grandfather had not yet been knighted."
"She almost died when she gave birth to Gregor, and she didn't survive when she gave birth to you."
"Before she died, your mother held my hand and asked me to take good care of you and Gregor. She said that sometimes she would rather not marry a noble. Those big families always fight each other for power, status and other nonsense."
"She told me to unite you and Gregor."
"I promised her."
Old Clegane's voice was choked with sobs. "I promised her, Sandor, I promised her that I would let you love each other and support each other."
As he spoke, he began to lower his head and cover his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
The hunting dog looked at his father who kept crying and didn't know what to say for a moment.
After a long time, old Clegane raised his head and wiped his eyes.
"Besides, I believe Gregor didn't do it on purpose."
"He just... he just didn't have a good sense of proportion." Old Clegane said, "You know, he has been very strong since he was a child, and sometimes he can't control himself. He doesn't mean it."
He paused and looked into the hound's eyes. "Do you believe me, Sandor?"
The hunting dog looked at him.
Those bloodshot eyes looked particularly old and decadent in the candlelight.
He didn't know whether to believe it or not, but he knew that this was his father, the only father.
"I... I believe you." After a long time, the hunting dog spoke.
Hearing this, Old Clegane showed a happy smile on his face.
He stretched out his hand and gently touched the hunting dog's head. The hand was rough and covered with calluses, the marks left by years of raising dogs.
But very warm.
"Remember, Sandor, no matter what happens, we are one family, Clegane, and we must stay together."
"But...
"Remember." Old Clegane repeated, "Gods old and new will curse Kinslayer forever."
"Those beasts who attack their relatives, the gods will not let them go, whether they are the old gods or the new gods, they will not let them go."
He paused, looked into the hound's eyes, and said, "So, Sandor, no matter what Gregor does, he will always be your brother."
"You can't hate him, because if you hate him, if you hurt him, you will become Kinslayer and the gods will curse you."
Hearing this, the hunting dog fell silent.
He doesn't understand.
He really doesn't understand.
Why was he the one who was hurt and the one who had to be warned?
Why is it that Gregor was the one who did the wrong thing, but he is the one who needs to be forgiven?
But he didn't ask, just nodded obediently. "I remember, father."
The days passed day by day.
The hound's injury healed, but his face was forever ruined. When he looked in the mirror, he almost didn't recognize himself.
But he still remembered his father's words.
Be united, don't hate.
To... forgive.
Therefore, he began to try not to meet Gregor.
When eating, wait until Gregor has finished eating before leaving. When going to bed, lock the door and use a cupboard to hold it up.
He thought that would be enough.
He thought that as long as he hid, nothing would happen.
Until that day.
Clegane Keep is getting very noisy.
The hunting dog was feeding the dog in the kennel when he heard a noise coming from outside.
Someone was shouting, someone was crying. He put down the meat in his hand and walked out, only to see a circle of people surrounding the castle yard.
The housekeeper stood in the middle, holding a man covered in blood in his arms.
It's the father.
The hunting dog was stunned.
He didn't remember how he ran there.
I only remember that when he pushed aside the crowd and saw the man in the butler's arms, his legs became weak and he knelt on the ground.
Old Baron Clegane was lying in the butler's arms. His face was pale and his eyes were closed. His body was covered with blood. There was a huge wound on his chest, as if it had been torn open by something.
The blood was still flowing, dripping down the butler's arm and onto the ground, forming a small puddle.
"Father..." The hunting dog heartbroken. "Father!"
But old Clegane didn't respond because he wasn't breathing.
The butler tremblingly explained, "While hunting, a Brown Bear suddenly rushed out, and Ser stood in front of the Duke.
Brown Bear.
The hunting dog was stunned.
He remembered what his father had said that Duke Tywin liked hunting and often took the nobles of the Western Region to hunt wild wolves, deer and other things in the woods.
My father goes there every time because he is a dog owner and is responsible for taking care of the hounds, but he comes back well every time. Why this time...
The hunting dog knelt there, looking at his father's face, very peaceful, as if he was asleep, as if he was just tired and wanted to take a rest.
It seemed that he would open his eyes in the next second and say in his always gentle voice, "Sandor, it's time to feed the dog."
Suddenly, the hunting dog seemed to hear a chuckle from the crowd.
The sound is small, but very harsh.
He raised his head, looked across the crowd and saw a damn face, with a ferocious and proud smile on it that couldn't be suppressed.
Gregor Clegane.
That smile was exactly the same as when he was seven years old and pushed him into the brazier.
The hunting dog's hands clenched into fists, and his heart was full of anger.
It's him.
It must be him!
Although there is no evidence, and although everyone says it is Brown Bear, the hunting dog knows that this matter must be related to that damn guy.
Because he is laughing!
My father is dead and he is laughing!
Only a murderer would show such a smile next to the corpse of his victim.
The hunting dog wanted to rush up and grab the magic mountain's neck, push him to the ground and question him, but it did not move.
"Remember, Sandor."
"No matter what happens, we are one family, Clegane, and we must stay together."
"Remember."
"The old and new gods will forever curse Kinslayer."
A strong pain came, bringing the hound back to reality, and the flames were licking his face.
Only then did he realize that he was hanging above the brazier. The burn scars were like countless squirming snakes, entangled on half of his face. The skin that had healed long ago was being torn again, and new pain was superimposed on the old memories.
He was held in the hands of the Mountain like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
Magic Mountain's big hand held his head, and its five fingers were like five iron hoops, tightly clasping his skull. He could feel the power coming from those knuckles.
The charcoal fire in the brazier is raging, the flames are beating, and exuding scorching heat waves.
Those tongues of fire were like living creatures, licking the hunting dog's face greedily, as if they wanted to swallow him whole.
Exactly the same as that night.
But this time, it's different.
The hound's hand held Ms. Kongji tightly, and then he laughed crazily. The smile looked particularly ferocious on his burned face.
By this time, the flames had already reached the hound's chin.
The burning sensation was like countless ants gnawing at his skin, just like before.
But this time, the hound didn't need anyone to save him.
This time, he has to rely on himself!
At the moment when the flames were about to burn his eyes, the hunting dog used all his strength to lift Lady Kongji.
Not stabbing at the magic mountain, but... flame!
clang-
There was a loud noise.
The tip of Ms. Kongji's sword pierced the edge of the brazier. The iron brazier was cut like butter under the sharp edge of the Valyria steel sword, and then the hunting dog struggled to pick it up.
The brazier flew up, coals flew everywhere, and flames filled the sky.
Countless sparks flew in the air, like a gorgeous firework. The burning coals flew everywhere, and some fell on the stands, and people hurriedly ran away.
But the hunting dog did not hide. Instead, he suddenly stretched out his left hand and grabbed a large piece of flying charcoal with his bare hands.
Zi-
The sound of burning flesh and blood was heard, and white smoke immediately emitted from his palms. His skin turned black, shrank, and shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye.
crack.
But he didn't let go, he just gritted his teeth and held the piece of charcoal in his palm, and then pressed it hard on Mo Shan's face!
The charcoal fire broke into pieces and stuffed through the gaps in the Demon Mountain's helmet.
There was another burning sound.
Although he no longer felt pain, the high temperature of the charcoal fire severely burned Moshan's eyes, making him unable to see anything. He instinctively let go of the hunting dog's hand and frantically wiped his face.
The big hand was scratching at his face, trying to dig out the piece of charcoal.
But it was too late, his eyes could no longer see.
Bang!
The hunting dog fell to the ground.
My back hit the sand, two ribs seemed to be broken, it hurt to breathe, my left hand was useless, and the palm of my hand was bloody and bloody.
But he didn't stop. Instead, he immediately propped himself up and stood up.
He held the hilt of the sword tightly with his right hand. His hand couldn't help but tremble, not because of fear or excitement, but... it hurt so damn much!
But the hunting dog had no time to hesitate, he just raised his head and looked at the magic mountain.
That damn guy was still struggling and screaming, wiping his face frantically. He lost his wits and didn't seem to know that he had to take off his helmet before cleaning it.
But this is undoubtedly a good opportunity.
Holding the Valyria steel sword tightly with both hands, the hunting dog rushed forward regardless.
One step, two steps, then leap!
Under everyone's gaze, the hound's body soared into the air, landed on him over Magic Mountain's waving arms, and then rode on Magic Mountain's shoulders.
Just like when he was a child, his father carried him on his shoulders.
Magic Mountain felt the weight on his shoulders. He raised his hand to catch the hunting dog, but his movement was too slow.
"Go..." The hunting dog clenched the hilt of the sword with both hands and roared, "Fuck...
"Kinslayer!!!"
He yelled out the last three words.
Then, Ms. Kongji pierced the Demon Mountain's helmet, the sword was halfway in, and the tip of the sword came out from the Demon Mountain's chin.
Mo Shan's body froze suddenly, and he let out a low roar of unknown meaning from his throat, and then his body straightened up and fell backwards.
The hunting dog was still riding on his shoulders, and he fell down with him. His back hit the ground again, and the pain made his eyesight go black.
But he no longer had the strength to move, so he just lay on the body of the magic mountain and looked up at the sky above his head.
The sun has set in the west, and the sky is dyed orange-red.
Like the color of fire.
Then the hound laughed.
The smile on his ferocious face looked particularly... relaxed.
Almost thirty years.
Finally he didn't have to be afraid anymore.
No need to be afraid of flames anymore, no need to be afraid of that monster anymore.
Suddenly, he remembered his father's words. "The old and new gods will curse Kinslayer forever."
Kinslayer.
He is now Kinslayer. He killed his brother and stabbed the guy in the head with his sword.
Will the gods curse him?
He doesn't know.
He doesn't care either.
If the gods really exist, if the gods are really just, why has no one cursed the Mountain for so many years?
Fuck the gods.
Damn the curses.
"Fuck...Kinslayer..." The hound muttered to himself, then closed his eyes.
The sound of wind came to my ears, like flames rising.