CHAPTER 176
After everyone had left the command tent, Catelyn slowly rose and walked toward Robb.
"Robb, we can't delay any longer."
"Since King Stannis has already sent envoys toward the Vale, I must leave immediately."
Thinking of her younger sister, Catelyn's expression became unusually complicated.
"Lysa..."
She remembered the last time they had met.
The once gentle girl she had grown up with had become fearful, suspicious, and unstable after everything she had suffered in King's Landing.
She quietly sighed.
"Your aunt is no longer the Lysa I once knew."
"Everything she endured has changed her."
"For the sake of her son, she has become almost impossible to reason with."
"But even if I cannot persuade her to help you..."
"I'll make certain she doesn't side with King Stannis."
Robb looked into his mother's determined eyes.
Knowing there was no changing her mind, he finally nodded.
"Mother."
"I'll have Ser Marq Piper escort you safely to the Bloody Gate."
"If Lady Lysa refuses..."
"You must return immediately."
Catelyn gently brushed a hand through Robb's hair before smiling.
"Don't worry."
"Even if Lysa refuses to help..."
"She'll never harm me."
"We're sisters."
She then looked at him seriously once more.
"And Robb..."
"You must be especially careful around House Frey."
"Lord Walder's pride is smaller than a crab's shell."
"I'm afraid he'll try to humiliate you during Lord Edmure's wedding feast."
"And before leaving this camp..."
"You must prepare for every possibility."
Robb nodded.
"I'll ask Lord Bolton to remain behind."
"If the Lannisters suddenly attack..."
"He'll be able to command the army."
Catelyn immediately shook her head.
"No."
"Those men shouldn't be left entirely in Bolton's hands."
"Summon Garon."
Her voice became exceptionally firm.
"I once opposed him because I believed he wasn't worthy of your sister."
"But now..."
"He has proven himself exactly as your father once described."
"Loyal."
"Capable."
"And he is Sansa's betrothed."
"If this kingdom reaches its darkest hour..."
"Others may betray you."
"But Garon never will."
Her unwavering tone caused Robb to nod instinctively.
"Very well."
"I'll immediately send a raven to Riverrun."
"I'll ask Garon to come as quickly as possible."
Relief finally appeared on Catelyn's face.
Moments later, however, thoughts of Rickon clouded her expression once again.
"Robb..."
"Promise me something."
Seeing his questioning expression, she continued softly.
"You must do everything possible to rescue Rickon."
"And if..."
"I mean..."
"If Stannis ever forces you to choose between your own life and Rickon's..."
Her voice trembled.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
Before she could continue, Robb embraced her tightly.
"Mother."
"That won't happen."
"I promise."
"I'll bring Rickon home safely."
"When you return from the Vale..."
"Our family will be together again."
Catelyn quietly wiped away her tears before smiling through them.
While mother and son continued speaking inside the pavilion, Black Walder followed Roose Bolton's instructions and sought out Ser Petyr Frey.
Near the edge of the camp, Black Walder found him inspecting horses.
He looked Petyr up and down with open curiosity.
"Weren't you serving Lord Jason Mallister at Seagard as captain of the city watch?"
"How did you suddenly become one of King Robb's household guards?"
Facing his former superior, Petyr's emotions became rather complicated.
Years earlier, while living at the Twins, he had often served beneath Black Walder, usually receiving every unpleasant task others refused.
Only three years earlier had he finally left for Seagard to enter Lord Jason Mallister's service.
Now he answered honestly.
"Lord Garon recommended me to His Grace."
"Garon?"
Black Walder frowned.
"Why would he recommend you?"
Petyr slowly shook his head.
"I'm honestly not certain."
"Perhaps because I helped him gather food and supplies while his army marched through the Riverlands."
Even now, Petyr himself still wasn't entirely sure.
Originally, he had intended to ask Garon after the welcoming feast at Riverrun.
Instead, Robb had departed the very next morning.
The opportunity never came.
Of course...
Petyr secretly hoped Garon had simply recognized his abilities.
But that wasn't something he could tell Black Walder.
The older man carefully studied his face.
Seeing nothing suspicious, he changed the subject.
"You spent considerable time around Lord Garon."
"What do you think of his relationship with Lord Rodrik Harlaw?"
Remembering Roose Bolton's instructions, Black Walder deliberately skipped directly to the most important question.
Petyr sighed.
"It's not particularly good."
"Lord Garon is undoubtedly an excellent commander."
"But controlling the Ironborn..."
"That's another matter."
"During our journey..."
"I witnessed several disputes."
"Many of the Ironborn deliberately sought trouble."
Since Black Walder belonged to his own family, Petyr concealed nothing.
He even recounted how Garon had conquered Pyke before reaching an agreement with Queen Asha.
"Lord Rodrik Harlaw doesn't seem particularly fond of Lord Garon."
"Although Lord Garon usually keeps matters under control..."
"There are always tensions beneath the surface."
He shook his head.
The unfinished sentence was already obvious.
Black Walder silently considered everything he had heard.
After a long pause, he lowered his voice.
"Petyr."
"I don't particularly care how you entered King Robb's household guard."
"But remember one thing."
"We're Freys."
"If King Robb discusses anything important..."
"I expect you to let me know."
"Lord Walder rewards loyal family members."
Petyr stared at him in disbelief.
"Is this Lord Bolton's idea?"
Black Walder simply nodded.
"Don't tell anyone."
"Lord Bolton merely wishes to determine whether King Robb sincerely intends reconciliation with House Frey."
"Our family has already suffered one humiliation."
"It won't suffer another."
Petyr immediately became conflicted.
One side was his own blood.
The other was the king to whom he had recently sworn his sword.
He hesitated.
"But..."
"I've already sworn my oath."
"How can I secretly watch my own king?"
Black Walder immediately interrupted him.
"You misunderstand."
"I'm not asking you to spy."
"I only want you to judge whether King Robb truly means what he says."
"If he does..."
"Everyone benefits."
"If he doesn't..."
"Our family deserves advance warning."
Petyr fell silent.
No matter how Black Walder dressed it up, it still amounted to spying upon his king.
Black Walder stepped closer.
"Petyr."
"Your family still lives at the Twins."
"We're family."
"You aren't planning to disobey Lord Walder..."
"Are you?"
His expression suddenly became frighteningly cold.
The memories of years spent beneath Black Walder's authority instantly resurfaced.
Petyr's lips moved slightly.
After a long struggle, he finally lowered his head.
"I understand."
Black Walder immediately smiled with satisfaction.
"Excellent."
"When you arrive at the Twins with King Robb..."
"I'll personally recommend you to Lord Walder."
"I've heard you still haven't married."
"Perhaps Lord Walder will even arrange an excellent match for you."
A chill ran through Petyr's body.
He knew Black Walder's reputation far too well.
The man's private life was infamous even among the Freys.
Still...
A man beneath another's roof sometimes had no choice but to bow his head.
Petyr forced a smile.
After making an excuse that the king still required his presence, he quickly departed.
Watching him leave, Black Walder waited a moment before entering another nearby pavilion.
Inside, Roose Bolton had been waiting patiently.
Without delay, Black Walder repeated every detail Petyr had revealed.
The moment Roose heard that Garon had conquered Pyke before forging an alliance with Queen Asha, his pupils immediately narrowed.
His fear of Garon deepened considerably.
"No."
"Garon must die."
"The longer he lives..."
"The greater the threat he becomes."
Roose slowly paced across the tent.
Before long, an idea formed.
"His relationship with the Ironborn isn't entirely harmonious."
"Perhaps..."
"I can make use of that."
"If I manipulate the right people..."
"They may remove him for me."
He stopped walking.
"But first..."
"I must determine Lord Rodrik Harlaw's true intentions."
"Only then can I encourage him to act."
A trace of murderous intent flashed across Roose Bolton's pale face.
His decision had already been made.
While Roose secretly began laying plans for Garon's death, Lady Catelyn departed the camp under the protection of Ser Marq Piper and her escort, riding east toward the Bloody Gate and the Vale.
At the same time, a raven carrying Robb Stark's summons left the camp and flew swiftly toward Riverrun, where Garon awaited.
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