Chapter 193
3:10 PM.
Overcast, distant thunder rumbled faintly.
Outside Riverrun, Bolton and Frey stood on the city wall, gazing at the gradually approaching Northern army.
Roose Bolton’s gaze was sharp, carefully scrutinizing the barely orderly contingent, as if trying to discern something from it.
But no matter how he looked, the appearance of this army could indeed be described as disheveled.
Their banners were askew, their soldiers’ armor was covered in mud and signs of damage, many were bandaged with bloodied cloths, and they occasionally looked back nervously.
The soldiers were like this, and so were the nobles leading them on horseback.
They hung their heads dejectedly, their faces unclear, giving off a lifeless impression.
The entire contingent was shrouded in the anxious atmosphere of a defeated army.
“Looking at the banners… there are about four thousand men…”
Roose Bolton, with his rich combat experience, easily estimated the number of these routed soldiers with a glance.
Moreover, he saw many familiar faces in the contingent—Galon Glover, Greatjon Umber, Lady Mormont… and the Blackwood family from the Riverlands.
These were the most loyal bannermen of the North and Riverlands.
Old Walder Frey, at ninety years old, did not have as good eyesight as Roose Bolton.
He squinted hard but could only make out some outlines.
At this moment, hearing Bolton’s words, he gave up trying to see with his own eyes and chuckled twice.
“Then it seems the battle report wasn’t false.”
“In that case, take Lyman to welcome our guests!”
Roose Bolton nodded, then turned and walked down the city wall.
Old Walder glanced at the “defeated” army again, revealing a weasel-like smug smile, and slowly walked back to the council hall.
Soon.
The drawbridge of the main gate of Riverrun’ west bank castle slowly lowered, emitting a grating squeak.
Roose Bolton rode a tall black horse, while Lyman Frey, the current heir of Riverrun, rode a brown horse beside him.
The two, leading a squad of The Dreadfort and Frey Family guards, unhurriedly rode out of the city gate.
Unlike the lecherous and pale-faced Lyman, Roose Bolton’s stern face remained calm and cautious.
But in his pale eyes, a trace of cold excitement, like a hunter waiting for prey to enter a trap, was hidden.
“Soon… soon…”
“Only one last step remains for Bolton to control the North…”
Roose Bolton forcibly suppressed his excitement, spurred his horse to a hundred meters outside the city gate drawbridge, and reined it to a halt.
The group silently waited for the army to arrive.
About half an hour later.
A scattered, long-drawn-out contingent appeared in everyone’s sight.
At the very front of the contingent, Galon, clad in smoke-black scale armor, showed fatigue on his face, which was covered in dried blood.
According to the plan, after determining that Stannis could not be captured in a short time, he immediately rushed to Riverrun without stopping.
He had to take down Bolton and Frey in Riverrun in one fell swoop before Riverrun learned of the battle situation.
Therefore, he marched rapidly all the way.
It only took a few days to get from the Trident crossing to here, hence the fatigue on the soldiers’ faces.
When Galon was about to reach Riverrun in the morning, he split his forces into two.
One route, led by himself, pretended to be routed soldiers and made contact with Riverrun.
The other route, led by Rickard Karstark, waited for a night signal to cooperate with the army and internal agents to capture the city.
It is worth mentioning that, to ensure Karstark’s obedience, Galon tacitly allowed Lord Rickard to avenge his son by killing Kevan and other Lannister captives.
Now, as Galon drew closer.
Roose Bolton spurred his horse forward, a perfectly timed expression of grief and surprise on his face.
“Lord Glover!”
He shouted loudly, his voice filled with “concern.”
“Thank the old gods, you are still alive!”
“We… we all heard…”
Galon reined in his warhorse, stopping about twenty meters from Roose Bolton.
His handsome face was covered in dust and blood, his eyes weary, as if he had lost all his sharpness.
He feigned sorrow, his voice hoarse, yet with a harsh questioning tone: “Lord Bolton, I sent Ser Paewen to ask for help, why did Riverrun and you not come to assist?”
“If you had made it to the battlefield, Lord Rickard, Ser Manderly… and Lord Bracken would not have died like this!”
“I wanted to help, but…”
Roose Bolton sighed, glanced at Lyman, who was not far behind him, and hesitated to speak.
“The Frey Family insisted on waiting until Lord Edmure’s wedding before agreeing to provide aid.”
“And according to the customs of the Seven Gods, only today is a good day for marriage, so it has been delayed.”
“And if Frey doesn’t move, my going would be useless.”
He attributed his lack of support to the marriage alliance between Frey and Tully.
This reason was full of loopholes.
But Roose Bolton didn’t care.
He knew very well that if Glover was rational, he wouldn’t fall out with him over this matter at this time.
After all, he was still the Lord of The Dreadfort, and Glover was merely Stark’s fiancé, completely unable to control him.
Even with Robb Stark’s dying words, it was still the same.
Galon was also well aware of this.
So, his face flickered with displeasure, but he didn’t pursue the matter further.
“In that case, where is Lord Edmure?”
Galon looked around but did not see Edmure Tully.
“Lord Edmure, he…”
Roose Bolton deliberately shook his head, revealing a difficult expression, and finally said.
“Since His Majesty’s death, Duke Edmure has been overcome with grief. Fortunately, Miss Roslin’s comfort has kept him from collapsing.”
“However, he hides in his room every day and sees no one except Miss Roslin!”
As these words came out, the Northern Lords behind Galon instantly understood the meaning of Bolton’s words and immediately stirred.
“We fought for him, defended the Riverlands, and he’s playing with women?!”
“Fuck…”
A string of angry curses instantly erupted.
Even Lord Blackwood couldn’t hide his anger, shouting: “Let Duke Edmure come out and see what we look like now!”
“We shed our last drop of blood for Riverrun.”
“But what is he doing?!”
“Sleeping with women!”
Their furious reactions were exactly what Roose Bolton wanted to see.
“Impulsive… anxious… filled with restless anger…”
“This is the reaction one should have after a disastrous defeat…”
Roose Bolton assessed in his heart, and his last shred of doubt vanished.
After the cursing subsided slightly, he spoke again to invite them.
“My Lords…”
Roose Bolton sincerely invited: “Regardless, your safe arrival is the greatest fortune for the North and the Riverlands.”
“Lord Frey has prepared a banquet in the city to welcome you and all the Lords!”
“However…”
He glanced at the soldiers behind Galon, pausing slightly.
“However, Riverrun cannot accommodate so many people for now. Please settle your army and follow me into the city!”
However, Galon’s eyes darted, but he did not move.
He was no fool; how could he enter Riverrun without preparation?
Galon coldly stared at Bolton for a moment, then glanced at the castle that resembled a monstrous beast with an open maw.
After a long while.
He slowly opened his mouth, saying something that made Roose Bolton’s heart skip a beat.
“No need, Lord Bolton.”
“We have already lost this war.”
He turned his horse around, facing the group of equally weary lords and soldiers behind him.
“I have decided!”
He announced loudly: “I will lead the last sons and daughters of the North back to our homeland, to defend our lands!”
As his voice fell, Galon turned back to Bolton.
“Lord Bolton, you are the most important bannerman of the North.”
“Now, by the command authority granted to me by His Majesty before his death, I order you—immediately gather your troops and return north with me!”
Boom—!
These words, like an invisible heavy hammer, struck Roose Bolton’s heart.
Go back?!
He actually wants to go back now?!
Roose Bolton instantly realized that he couldn’t let Glover take his men back like this.
Once Galon returned to the North with these thousands of loyal Stark followers, it would be a huge variable.
It would be even harder for him to take Winterfell.
Therefore, no matter what, he had to keep Galon here.
“My Lord, absolutely not!”
Bolton eagerly spurred his horse forward a step, his face filled with “anxiety.”
“The King’s revenge has not been taken, and that despicable scoundrel Stannis is still alive!”
“Moreover… moreover, Duke Edmure’s wedding to the Frey Family is tonight.”
“This was an alliance set by King Robb during his lifetime!”
“You are the one who can best represent King Robb now. If you do not attend this wedding, wouldn’t that be tantamount to King Robb breaking his oath again?”
“Where is the King’s honor then?!”
He successfully elevated personal retreat to an issue of the honor of the entire alliance and the Starks.
And upon hearing that Robb’s honor might be sullied by him, Galon’s face appropriately showed a look of “hesitation.”
He glanced at the Northern Lords behind him, who also looked troubled, seemingly weighing a difficult decision.
After a long while—
As a loyal vassal of the Starks, he seemed to have made up his mind, letting out a long sigh.
“Alright.”
Galon said wearily.
“The King’s alliance cannot be abolished because of me. The King’s honor cannot be scorned because of me!”
“I promise you, I will attend tonight’s wedding and witness Duke Edmure’s marriage on behalf of King Robb.”
“However, tomorrow morning, I must take my men and leave!”
A great weight was finally lifted from Roose Bolton’s heart, and a warm smile returned to his face.
“Of course, of course!”
Just as he thought everything was settled, Galon proposed a new request.
“However, before that,” Galon’s tone remained cautious, “I need to see someone!”
“Captain Rodrik Harlaw, he should be in the city too, right?”
Roose Bolton instantly calmed down, a subtle glint flashing in his eyes.
“Captain Harlaw?”
“Of course, as King Robb’s honored guest, he is still in Riverrun.”
“My Lord, do you need him for something?”
“Yes!”
Galon’s answer was concise and powerful.
“King Robb is dead, and the Northern allied forces exist in name only!”
“The alliance I signed with the Iron Islands was based on the strength of the North.”
“Now, I must personally speak with Captain Harlaw to ensure that after we return north, the Ironborn will not take advantage of the situation and attack our western coast.”
“I need his personal assurance!”
Roose Bolton was silent for a moment, finding nothing amiss in Galon’s words.
After all, the feud between Glover and the Ironborn was well known.
Not long ago, Galon personally led troops to attack Pyke, resulting in many casualties on both sides.
It was reasonable for him to worry about the safety of his territory now that the North’s strength was greatly diminished.
However, this also indirectly confirmed Roose Bolton’s previous judgment at the Ferry Camp—Glover and the Ironborn were indeed at odds despite appearances.
“He’s afraid…”
“Afraid the Ironborn will turn on him, afraid the Iron Fleet will seize the opportunity for revenge and attack Deepwood Motte…”
Roose Bolton sneered inwardly, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.
He was even already calculating how to use this Harlaw to further exploit the Iron Islands’ interests once Galon was dealt with.
“That is only right, My Lord.”
Roose Bolton showed an understanding expression, “Captain Harlaw is currently in the East Bank castle. Why don’t you all come into the city with me for a discussion?”
But Galon shook his head, “Lord Bolton, my army was defeated. To be safe, I would rather meet Captain Harlaw outside the city!”
Roose Bolton felt a slight disappointment.
At this moment, behind him, Lyman Frey, who had been bored watching their conversation, casually spoke up.
“Aren’t you all a bit too timid? Do you really fear that we would kill you in the city?”
“Don’t forget, this is Riverrun!”
“If we made a move, could you routed soldiers stop us?”
Galon raised an eyebrow, his sharp gaze passing over Bolton to Lyman Frey behind him.
“This is…?”
“Idiot!”
Roose Bolton cursed Lyman inwardly and quickly explained: “This is Lord Walder’s grandson, the son of the late Stevron, and the current heir of Riverrun!”
“Ser Lyman speaks somewhat… bluntly. My Lords, please forgive him.”
“Ser, please go ahead and invite Captain Harlaw out. Tell him Lord Glover wishes to see him!”
He turned to dismiss Lyman Frey, then looked back at Glover.
“My Lords, you have had a long journey. Why not set up camp and rest now?”
“I will have Lord Frey send some food and drink later to fill the soldiers’ stomachs. What do you think?”
Due to Lyman Frey’s interruption just now, Roose Bolton could not bring up the idea of them entering the city again.
Lest Galon suspect his true intentions.
Galon nodded, forcing a smile, “Then I trouble you, Lord Bolton!”
“By the way, Lord Bolton, after you return to the city, please also have your soldiers prepare. How about we return to the North together tomorrow morning?”
Roose Bolton naturally agreed wholeheartedly to this.
Anyway, he didn’t plan to see this group of people again tomorrow.
Seeing Bolton agree, Galon nodded slightly, then turned his horse around and, with his “remnant forces,” began to set up camp on an open field outside the city.
Roose Bolton stood his ground for a moment longer, and only when the restless sounds of the army reached him did he finally relax.
“Kevan Lannister’s purge was very successful!”
“Next, I need to contact the Lannisters and get the iron throne’s investiture…”
As he mused in his heart about how to deal with the families of the people before him after becoming Lord of the North, he returned to Riverrun with a victor’s smile.
And just as Roose Bolton turned around, Galon also shifted his gaze to his retreating figure.
“Heh heh…”
He sneered twice, his eyes full of murderous intent.
“Whether tonight is a Hongmen Banquet or a Red Wedding, the ultimate winner can only be me!”
“Let me hear for whom the Rains of Castamere will play their final tune!”