CHAPTER 188
"The King's Protector! Garon!"
The thunderous roar rolled through the Ferry Camp like the crashing waves of the Shivering Sea, sweeping across every corner of the camp. The cries, filled with fervor, grief, and renewed hope, even penetrated the thick canvas walls of a prisoner's tent.
Kevan Lannister slowly awoke from unconsciousness.
His head throbbed as though it had been struck by a siege ram, each pulse sending waves of pain through his skull. He struggled to open his eyes, only to find himself staring at the unfamiliar roof of a military tent.
"Where... am I?"
"Wasn't I fighting the Northern alliance on the battlefield?"
"The King's Protector... Garon... who is that?"
His thoughts were clouded, and for a long moment, he could not remember what had happened. It was only after the deafening chants outside gradually subsided that the Northern guards watching over him noticed he had awakened.
"He's awake!"
"That Lannister's awake! Hurry, inform the lords!"
At the shout, another soldier immediately rushed out of the tent toward Garon and the assembled lords.
The commotion finally cleared the last traces of confusion from Kevan's mind.
"I lost..."
"I actually lost?"
He instinctively tried to rise to his feet, only to discover that both hands had been securely bound behind his back. He could only struggle into a sitting position.
"Garon Glover... the King's Protector?"
"Heh..."
"What an arrogant title."
The seasoned commander quickly regained his composure. His expression gradually returned to its usual calm as he silently reviewed everything he knew about House Glover, already searching for an opportunity to escape.
Meanwhile, Garon left the tent where Robb Stark's coffin rested.
Escorted by the Northern and Riverlands lords, he entered the command tent of the Ferry Camp.
Everyone gathered around the campaign map spread across the table and began discussing their next move.
"The Lannisters have lost," one optimistic Riverlands lord said first. "Even Ser Kevan Lannister is our prisoner. As long as we negotiate with the Iron Throne, they'll have no choice but to accept our terms."
"Impossible."
Lord Cerwyn immediately shook his head.
"Tywin Lannister will never surrender unless he is driven into absolute despair."
"Besides, the Crown still has the strength of the Westerlands and the Reach behind it."
"So what do we do now?" Lord Bracken interrupted impatiently. "After today's battle we've suffered heavy losses. Even counting Lord Glover's reinforcements, our army numbers only a little over seven thousand."
"If the Lannisters march again, what will we use to stop them?"
"What are you implying, Lord Bracken?" Lord Blackwood sneered coldly. "Are you suggesting we surrender?"
"You..."
Seeing another argument about to erupt, Garon suddenly slammed both hands onto the table.
"Enough!"
His stern voice instantly silenced the tent.
"This is not the time for quarrels."
He paused briefly, his sharp gaze sweeping across every lord present before speaking solemnly.
"Whatever we decide next, there is one question we must answer first."
Lady Maege Mormont frowned.
"What question?"
"It concerns Kevan Lannister."
Garon pointed toward the prisoner tent outside.
"Why did he suddenly march here?"
"And why did he move at precisely the same time King Robb was murdered and Lord Bolton departed with part of the army?"
"Can Ser Kevan foresee the future?"
His words immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Could it simply be coincidence?" Wyllis Manderly asked cautiously.
"It cannot be coincidence."
Although Garon already suspected that Roose Bolton had secretly informed the Lannisters, he remained calm. Even if Bolton had somehow not sent word, planting suspicion now would still benefit him.
"The Lannister army numbered only a little over ten thousand."
"If King Robb had lived, and Lord Bolton had not marched away with part of our strength, the army gathered at the Ferry Camp would have approached twenty thousand."
"Ser Kevan is an experienced commander who has fought in countless campaigns. Would such a man recklessly attack an army twice his size without reliable intelligence?"
"He could only have marched because he already knew the true situation inside our camp."
As Garon calmly analyzed the circumstances, he carefully observed the reactions of every lord around him.
His reasoning quickly won widespread agreement.
"Lord Glover is right."
"Kevan Lannister would never gamble so carelessly unless he believed victory was certain."
"Thinking about the timing, he marched from Harrenhal only two days after King Robb's death."
"The timing is far too perfect."
"There are simply too many coincidences."
One after another, the assembled lords voiced their agreement.
Following Garon's reasoning, a frightening conclusion gradually took shape.
"Traitor!"
Greatjon Umber's eyes widened with fury.
"There is a traitor among us!"
The single word instantly ignited the entire tent.
"Who is it?"
"Who betrayed us?"
Lord Bracken shouted angrily, his suspicious eyes immediately turning toward Lord Blackwood.
Lord Blackwood gave a cold snort and was about to retaliate when a guard hurried into the tent.
"My lords!"
"Ser Kevan Lannister has awakened!"
Garon, who had been studying the campaign map, slowly raised his head.
A sharp glimmer flashed across his eyes.
"Bring Ser Kevan here."
"If there truly is a traitor among us..."
"We'll know soon enough."
The guard bowed and hurried away.
The assembled lords reluctantly suppressed their anger and quietly waited.
Not long afterward, Kevan Lannister entered the command tent under heavy guard, his wrists tightly bound with rope.
Despite being a prisoner, he deliberately stood tall in the center of the tent.
There was no trace of fear on his face.
Instead, he calmly surveyed everyone around him.
When he saw the hatred burning in countless pairs of eyes, even his heart sank slightly.
Finally, his gaze settled on Garon.
"What is this?"
"My lords..."
"Do you intend to execute me?"
Several lords immediately became agitated.
Some even opened their mouths to threaten him.
But seeing Garon remain perfectly composed, they gradually fell silent again.
Only after the tent became quiet did Garon slowly step forward.
"Ser Kevan."
He stopped directly before the older man and looked down at him.
"You are Lord Tywin Lannister's brother and the man he trusts most."
"I have no intention of harming you."
"In fact, there is something I wish to ask."
Kevan narrowed his eyes.
"Ask me?"
"That's right."
"I want to know why you launched your attack so soon after occupying Harrenhal."
"Did Lord Tywin have another strategy in mind?"
Garon deliberately avoided mentioning the possibility of a traitor.
Instead, he chose to probe Kevan's motives first.
If Roose Bolton became involved naturally during the conversation, all the better.
Kevan looked at him and let out a mocking laugh.
"You think I'd betray my own family?"
"I'm not like certain people in your North..."
Before finishing the sentence, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
"That flayed bastard Bolton intended for both the North and me to destroy each other so he could seize all the rewards."
"Hmph."
"You won't use me as your pawn."
"Glover is clearly no fool."
"I may as well expose Bolton and let them tear each other apart."
"It will weaken the North while buying precious time for Tywin."
Having made his decision, Kevan slowly looked back at Garon.
"I'm not like your Lord Bolton."
"Why would I betray my own people?"
The instant Roose Bolton's name left Kevan Lannister's mouth, the entire command tent erupted.
Shock.
Anger.
Disbelief.
Then countless furious voices exploded throughout the tent.
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