CHAPTER 167
Garon did not openly question Lord Jason Mallister's decision.
First, he had only just arrived at Seagard and knew nothing of the friction between Ser Petyr Frey and Lord Jason. Second, he intended to use this member of House Frey to learn more about the current situation at the Twins.
After confirming the arrangements, Garon immediately ordered the landing to begin.
The fleet slowly maneuvered toward the harbor before dropping anchor outside the port.
Once the ships had settled, the soldiers began disembarking in orderly ranks.
Petyr Frey stood beside Garon, quietly watching as the Glover soldiers filed ashore one after another.
Looking over the men, he noticed they were all unmistakably Northmen, and a thought surfaced in his heart.
"Could what he said earlier actually be true?"
Just as Petyr was pondering Garon's words, a sudden commotion erupted aboard one of the ships.
Several Glover soldiers and Ironborn became stuck together at the gangplank, neither side willing to give way.
"You lot move aside! We're going first!"
"Bastard, why should you go first? We're taking the gangplank!"
"Take another step if you dare!"
"Try stopping me!"
The argument instantly drew everyone's attention.
Petyr was startled at first, but his frown soon eased.
"The Ironborn have always been rough and unruly."
"Arguments like this aren't unusual."
"But now that the North and the Iron Islands are supposedly allies, internal conflict could become a serious problem."
As someone trained in warfare, Petyr understood perfectly well that discord within an army could cripple its effectiveness.
In the best case, it reduced morale.
In the worst, it shattered discipline entirely.
An army without cohesion was nothing more than a mob waiting to be slaughtered.
Because of that, Petyr found himself increasingly pessimistic about the fighting strength of Garon's coalition.
Ironically, the Ironborn's performance also made Garon's earlier explanation seem more believable.
At that moment, Garon strode toward the dock while Rodrik Harlaw followed a short distance behind.
As their eyes briefly met, Rodrik gave the slightest nod, signaling that everything was proceeding according to plan.
"Enough!"
"What are you doing?"
Garon roared furiously, immediately suppressing the argument on the gangplank.
One of the Ironborn, who had been instructed beforehand, stiffened his neck and shouted back.
"Lord Garon, this is our ship!"
"Why should your Northmen disembark before us?"
Rodrik Harlaw also let out a disdainful snort, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"Lord Garon, your soldiers know nothing of proper respect."
"We crossed the sea to help you fight."
"Don't they even understand who deserves precedence?"
Garon's expression darkened.
"Help me fight?"
"Lord Rodrik, you came because Queen Asha commands you to honor the alliance sworn between the Iron Islands and the North."
"If House Harlaw wishes to break that oath, you may return to Pyke immediately."
"I won't stop you."
Turning fully toward Rodrik, his voice became as cold as the winter winds beyond the Neck.
"But while you remain with my army..."
"You will obey my orders."
His gaze swept across every soldier present.
"I'll repeat this only once."
"In my army, there is only one set of rules."
"Obey them."
"Or sail back to the Iron Islands."
"You..."
Rodrik's face flushed red with anger.
He pointed accusingly at Garon, but in the end only let out a heavy snort before turning toward the Ironborn still blocking the gangplank.
"What are you idiots waiting for?"
"Get off the ship!"
With that, he stormed away toward another section of the beach.
The Ironborn who had been acting exchanged quick glances before hurriedly following after him.
Thus, the confrontation ended with the furious departure of the Ironborn commander.
On the docks, the Northmen and Ironborn naturally separated into two distinct groups, glaring coldly at one another.
The atmosphere became oppressively tense.
Petyr Frey's expression grew increasingly complicated.
The more he watched, the less confidence he had in this so called allied army.
Naturally, he had no idea that everything he had witnessed, including every conclusion he had drawn in his own mind, had been carefully arranged by Garon from the very beginning.
Soon afterward, under Garon's stern commands, the army reorganized itself and began marching toward Seagard.
Everything that had happened on the beach had not only been witnessed by Petyr.
The soldiers stationed in the harbor village had seen it as well.
After Garon's army departed, they quickly rode back to Seagard and vividly recounted everything they had witnessed to Lord Jason Mallister.
"Hmph."
"Ironborn."
"Glover is still young."
"It won't be easy for him to keep those reavers under control."
Jason Mallister snorted after hearing the report.
He held little hostility toward House Glover itself.
His distrust was directed entirely toward the Ironborn.
That was why he had chosen to remain safely inside Seagard rather than personally greeting Garon.
Better to risk offending a Northern ally than fall victim to an Ironborn trap.
After pondering for a while, Jason ordered Maester Harmune to prepare a raven.
The letter quickly took flight toward Riverrun.
By the time it arrived, two days had already passed.
Inside Riverrun's council chamber, Robb Stark excitedly held the letter aloft.
"Haha!"
"I knew Garon wouldn't disappoint me!"
"He actually did it!"
"He really captured Pyke!"
"And formed an alliance with Queen Asha Greyjoy."
"Well done!"
Unlike Robb's flushed excitement, Lady Catelyn remained silent.
Her expression appeared calm, but the occasional distant look in her eyes revealed the turmoil hidden beneath the surface.
Edmure Tully, meanwhile, remained frozen where he stood.
He quietly repeated the same words again and again.
"Impossible..."
"Impossible..."
Robb immediately looked toward him.
"Why impossible?"
"Garon's talent was praised by both my father and King Robert."
"If Father hadn't already betrothed him to Sansa, he would certainly have taken Garon to King's Landing long ago."
"If Garon had been there..."
"My father..."
Mentioning Eddard Stark dimmed Robb's expression for a brief moment.
But the thought of Garon's imminent arrival quickly rekindled his spirits.
This was undoubtedly the best news he had received in a very long time.
The burden weighing upon his shoulders suddenly felt much lighter.
Without even consulting his mother, Robb immediately changed one of his previous decisions.
"Mother."
"I think your journey to the Vale can wait a little longer."
"Judging by the timing, Garon should arrive at Riverrun within three or four days."
"I want to hear his opinion before making any further decisions."
"With him here, even if the Vale refuses to support us, I'm confident we can still defeat the Lannisters."
Catelyn was caught off guard.
She had never wanted to leave Robb in the first place.
But hearing her son place such faith in Garon revived the unease she had already felt back in Winterfell.
"Even if Glover comes..."
"He only commands fewer than two thousand men."
"What difference can such a force make in a war of this scale?"
"And Queen Asha's fleet hasn't appeared."
"Who knows whether she'll truly honor her alliance?"
Her words immediately cooled Robb's enthusiasm.
He slowly sat back down, his brow knitting together once more.
"That's true."
"Against the Lannisters' tens of thousands, two thousand men are barely enough to matter."
"If the full strength of the Iron Fleet doesn't join us..."
"Our chances are still slim."
He sighed deeply.
At that moment, however, Edmure finally recovered from his shock.
"Still..."
"The fact that Queen Asha has already sent troops proves she intends to honor the alliance."
"When Garon arrives, we can ask him about the situation ourselves."
Robb nodded, visibly calming down.
"Uncle Edmure."
"Send mounted scouts east at once."
"Have them meet Garon's army and escort him safely to Riverrun."
"We can't afford any accidents along the way."
Edmure acknowledged the order before leaving the council chamber.
Meanwhile, while Robb continued worrying about the worsening war, Stannis Baratheon's fleet completed its voyage and arrived near Saltpans.
The Dragonstone army quickly occupied the town before marching toward the Trident.
Soon afterward, they encountered Roose Bolton, who had been leading Robb's forces toward Harrenhal under earlier orders.
After a brief exchange between the two commanders, Roose quickly understood Stannis's intentions.
He also learned that Rickon Stark remained in Stannis's custody.
After only a brief hesitation, Roose abandoned his march toward Harrenhal.
Instead, he established camp along the Kingsroad.
A raven carrying Stannis's demands was immediately dispatched to Riverrun.
Another messenger rode north toward the Twins to inform Lord Walder Frey.
"Change is coming."
"It seems..."
"I must also begin preparing."
Inside his command tent, Roose Bolton silently made up his mind.
The first move of his own scheme had quietly begun.