CHAPTER 180
Inside the command pavilion, the king's blood still slowly cooled upon Roose Bolton's hands.
The Northern lords resembled a pack of wolves that had suddenly lost their alpha.
Some roared in grief.
Others stood frozen in disbelief.
The entire pavilion had descended into chaos.
Only Roose Bolton remained remarkably calm amid the confusion.
"He's dead."
"Robb Stark is truly dead."
"The plan has changed."
"But this is also an opportunity unlike any other."
Two names quietly echoed through his mind.
"Garon."
"Sansa."
His pale eyes shifted slightly as he considered the consequences.
Roose Bolton had never imagined that with his dying breath, Robb would declare Lady Sansa Stark his heir and entrust command of the Northern host to Garon Glover.
Especially Garon.
That single name had become like a poisoned thorn buried deep within his thoughts.
Robb's final command had elevated the one man Roose feared most to the highest position beneath the king himself.
"No."
"Garon must never leave the Riverlands alive."
As the thought settled, another plan immediately formed.
"I must inform Lord Walder."
"He has to prepare immediately."
"As for Sansa..."
"Ramsay must seize Winterfell before anyone else."
"But before Garon arrives..."
"I must control this army."
With his decision made, Roose slowly released Robb's lifeless hand before rising to his feet.
He surveyed the grief-stricken lords surrounding him.
"Everyone."
"Enough."
His voice was calm rather than loud.
Even so, it immediately cut through the chaos.
"King Robb has fallen."
His emotionless words only deepened everyone's grief.
"But the war hasn't ended."
"King Stannis murdered our king through dark sorcery."
"What we need now..."
"Isn't tears."
"It's vengeance."
Those words immediately stirred the Northmen.
"Kill Stannis!"
Greatjon Umber wiped away tears before roaring in fury.
"Avenge the King!"
"Avenge King Robb!"
The entire pavilion erupted in agreement.
Once the cries finally subsided, Roose calmly continued.
"Vengeance is necessary."
"But first..."
"We require order."
He slowly looked around the gathering.
"His Grace entrusted command of the army to Lord Garon."
"But Lord Garon hasn't yet arrived."
"He cannot command soldiers while still days away."
The assembled lords exchanged uncertain looks.
Roose continued.
"King Stannis could attack at any moment."
"He still holds Prince Rickon Stark."
"We don't have the luxury of waiting."
"Until Lord Garon arrives..."
"We need someone to direct the army."
Lord Tytos Blackwood immediately spoke.
"There's nothing to discuss."
"Lord Edmure Tully now holds the highest rank."
"He should naturally command us."
Before anyone else could respond, Lord Jonos Bracken coldly interrupted.
"And after that?"
"Will you crown Lord Edmure king as well?"
Edmure immediately shook his head.
"No."
"I'll never claim Robb's crown."
He still stared blankly at Robb's body.
Grief had robbed him of clear thought.
At that moment, Rickard Karstark spoke.
"The Northern host should be commanded by a Northern lord."
"Until Lord Garon arrives..."
"Lord Bolton should assume temporary command."
"He's already led the Northern infantry throughout this campaign."
Several Northern lords nodded in agreement.
"Lord Bolton is the logical choice."
"Only until Lord Garon arrives."
"That seems reasonable."
Roose offered only a modest nod.
"If everyone agrees..."
"I'll merely hold command temporarily."
He then turned toward Edmure.
"My lord."
"The Riverlands also need strong leadership."
"I propose that we command together."
"I'll oversee military matters."
"You'll continue representing Riverrun."
Edmure remained visibly shaken.
His eyes never left Robb.
He could barely think about anything except how he would explain this tragedy to Catelyn.
Without truly considering the proposal, he quietly nodded.
Roose immediately began issuing orders.
"Every man remains armed tonight."
"Double every watch."
"Increase patrols."
"Send mounted scouts toward Saltpans."
"And watch every crossing along the Trident."
One order followed another.
Before long, no one questioned his authority.
Less than half an hour after Robb Stark's death, Roose Bolton had quietly assumed temporary command of the combined Northern and Riverlands army without drawing a single sword.
Soon afterward, every lord returned to prepare his own men.
Only after the pavilion had largely emptied did Roose quietly summon Black Walder Frey once more.
"The situation has changed."
He spoke without preamble.
"We can't allow Garon to reach this army safely."
Black Walder simply asked,
"What do you intend to do?"
Roose answered immediately.
"Our plans must change."
"Garon is too intelligent."
"And too dangerous."
"We'll never defeat him through open confrontation."
"So we'll lure him somewhere he cannot refuse to enter."
Cold murder flashed across his pale eyes.
"We'll use Lord Edmure's wedding."
"King Robb is dead."
"The Riverlords now need that marriage more than ever."
"We'll invite Garon to attend."
"The moment he enters the Twins..."
Black Walder immediately understood.
"His fate belongs to us."
A sinister smile spread across his face.
"Excellent."
"I'll send riders to Lord Walder immediately."
"He'll begin preparing."
Roose slowly nodded.
"Before that..."
"We still have another problem."
Seeing Black Walder's puzzled look, he calmly explained.
"Garon enjoys enormous support."
"Especially after King Robb's final command."
"Many Northern lords will immediately follow him."
"Particularly House Stark's most loyal supporters."
"They must disappear before we ever reach the Twins."
He paused only briefly before revealing the next stage.
"I'll secretly contact Ser Kevan Lannister."
"I'll encourage him to attack our army."
"When that happens..."
"I'll withdraw with my own men."
"And any Northern lords willing to follow me."
"We'll claim we're preserving the army."
"As for Stark's most loyal supporters..."
"They can remain behind."
"They'll die buying time for their dead king."
Black Walder's heart skipped a beat.
The scheme would weaken every loyal Stark faction while giving Roose a perfectly reasonable excuse to retreat.
He looked carefully at Bolton before asking,
"And what about Rickon Stark?"
Roose answered without hesitation.
"King Stannis intends to use the boy to claim the North."
"But Stannis lacks the strength for open battle."
"He'll attempt persuasion instead."
A cruel smile slowly appeared.
"When that meeting happens..."
"I'll arrange confusion."
"You'll have your men kill the boy."
"The moment Rickon dies..."
"I'll immediately attack Stannis."
"If we can deliver Stannis's head to King's Landing as well..."
"Our reward will become even greater."
Greed immediately appeared within Black Walder's eyes.
He nodded enthusiastically.
"I'll make the arrangements."
Without another word, he left the pavilion.
Once Black Walder had gone, Roose returned to the table.
He calmly wrote a sealed letter before summoning one of his most trusted retainers.
"Ride immediately to Harrenhal."
"Place this letter directly into Ser Kevan Lannister's hands."
The man accepted the letter.
Disguised as an ordinary scout, he quietly departed the camp.
Roose remained standing silently for some time.
Eventually, he sat once more and wrote a second message.
"The King is dead."
"Ride immediately to the North."
"Secure Winterfell before anyone else."
He carefully rolled the parchment closed before leaving the pavilion.
Walking alone toward the rookery, he waited until no one remained nearby.
Only then did he fasten the message to a raven's leg.
The bird immediately took flight.
Roose watched it disappear into the northern sky.
"Ramsay..."
"Don't disappoint me this time."