WMK 132

Chapter 132: A Miscalculation

The rising sun cast a rosy hue over the Red Fork.

Elyn was heading for Moat Cailin, and Raymond was returning to Darry. Since their paths aligned eastward, they decided to travel together, taking a dozen or so men.

Beric, with his fifty-plus men, left the main road. Their target was a village not far away. The Westerland host could pass through there at any moment, turning it into a living hell. They were going to protect the villagers and help them evacuate.

Aside from Beric's own men and the muttering red priest, the remaining soldiers from Houses Woode and Mallery, and even a few men from Stark and Darry, were willing to follow him.

Lord Beric Dondarrion was young, handsome, and instantly likable. Though highborn, he was amiable to everyone, even common servants and attendants, possessing genuine charisma.

He could have been riding a magnificent warhorse, clad in shining armor, leading fully armed soldiers in a glorious and honorable war, a war for nobles.

But he chose the same path as in the original story, a very difficult one. The soldiers from other houses followed him willingly precisely because he was willing to fight for the smallfolk.

This time, thanks to William's interference, he hadn't been killed by the Mountain and resurrected by the red priest. It showed that his choice was truly born of his own beliefs, not because of a death and resurrection.

William deeply admired this but found it hard to emulate himself. He wasn't afraid of difficult battles, but he truly couldn't endure the hardship of roughing it outdoors.

Watching Beric's figure disappear into the dense forest, William spurred his horse forward. The cavalry around him also quickened their pace, the rumble of hooves spreading out around them, fading into the distance.

Lord Lychester's keep was a small castle. The square fortress, built of grey stone, looked quite old.

Much like its lord.

Even lying in bed, Lymond Lychester looked burly. One could imagine how mighty and imposing he was in his youth.

It's just a pity that even the bravest knight cannot withstand the erosion of time.

The old Lord was over eighty. His hair and beard seemed covered in a layer of frost, his eyes were deeply sunken, his teeth were almost all gone, his face was etched with wrinkles, and there were brown spots on his cheeks.

Jermaine tucked the blanket around the sleeping old Lord, his voice somewhat low. "He was fine when I last returned."

Jermaine's cousin, the heir to Lord Lychester's keep, Ser Leggen, sighed. "When the old Maester passed away a year ago, Lymond still seemed fairly normal. After that, he declined day by day."

Witnessing the sorrow of a hero in his twilight years, William couldn't help but sigh with feeling.

After standing in the room a while longer, leaving the young Maester to care for the old man, the three moved to the hall and took their seats.

Leggen personally poured William a cup of wine. "Ser William, I am deeply grateful you have led your army here to support us. But as you can see, Lord Lychester's keep's situation makes it truly difficult to resist the Westerland host."

"Lord Tywin cannot come with his full force. His target should be the God's Eye, or even Harrenhal. At most, he'll send a thousand or two thousand men here." William wore a confident smile. "Lord Lychester's keep's defenses are sound, and there are hundreds of men guarding it. It won't be easily taken. When the Westerland forces attack the castle, I'll lead the cavalry to strike them from behind. Defeating them shouldn't be difficult."

"And if Lord Tywin gets angry because of this and sends more troops to attack Lord Lychester's keep?" Leggen narrowed his eyes. Within the slits, his small pupils gleamed with a brownish-yellow hue.

"If four or five thousand enemy troops really come, the mountains are high and the forests dense here. We can just take refuge in the hills." William took a sip of wine. It wasn't top-quality, but given the castle's condition, he understood. "Moreover, this isn't just House Lychester's affair. All the Riverlands nobles will rise in rebellion. Even with twenty thousand men, Lord Tywin wouldn't dare leave these few thousand troops stranded in the hill country. He'll have to leave in a few days."

Leggen raised his cup, covering half his face. "But as you saw, the Lord's health... He really shouldn't be subjected to the hardships of travel."

Jermaine looked at his cousin in surprise. "Then what do you plan to do?"

"To avoid the smallfolk being caught in the crossfire, I've decided not to engage the Westerland forces." Leggen's gaze became evasive. "Lord Lychester's keep is only a small castle, truly powerless against the Westerland host. I believe Riverrun will understand."

"No!" Jermaine shot to his feet. "The Westerlands have invaded the Riverlands! How can House Lychester, as bannermen to Riverrun, stand by and do nothing?"

"Last month, when Riverrun called its banners, I personally led troops in response. When the Golden Tooth needed men to garrison it, I sent fifty soldiers. And now, Ser Ronnel's fate is unknown. I have fulfilled my duties as a vassal." Leggen looked at Jermaine, his expression gloomy. "I'm different from you. I must also consider the future of this domain."

William stood up, patted Jermaine's shoulder, signaling him to say no more.

Then, looking into Leggen's small eyes, he said with a smile, "Understood. Thank you for your hospitality, Ser Leggen. We must hurry to other locations, so we'll take our leave now."

Leggen saw them to the hall entrance with a thin, insincere smile.

The two quickly left the castle.

The moment he returned to camp, William immediately found the apprentice Ron. "Is there urgent news?"

"Yes, Ser. Right after you left the camp, an urgent message arrived from Harrenhal." Ron handed over a scroll sealed with red wax.

Scanning the first line of the letter, William immediately understood what had happened. Edmure, just like in the original story, had been captured by Jaime right outside Riverrun.

'Beware of pig teammates, not godlike opponents.'

Previously, William hadn't had a deep understanding of the implications of Edmure's capture, thinking it was just a lost battle, and victories and defeats were common in war.

So, in his initial planning, since Margaery had been 'dug up' by him, the possibility of the Stag-Rose alliance was gone – why would Mace work for Renly for nothing?

Thus, the Reach likely wouldn't move.

And without Highgarden's support, Renly could only sit on the sidelines; the Stormlands wouldn't move.

Dorne was playing a deep game and wouldn't move.

Through Lysa, Littlefinger could keep the Vale from sending troops, using the excuse of avoiding bloodshed, but he could never make the Vale attack the Wolf and the Trout. They couldn't move.

The way this war developed, it could only be the Wolf and the Trout joining forces against the Lion.

So, if Edmure could be obedient and stay safely in the city, that was fine. But if he got captured, it wasn't a big deal – just consider it conceding the first move to the esteemed Lord Tywin.

As long as Riverrun tied down Jaime's army, and he himself tied down Tywin's forces in the hill country, waiting for the Riverlords to finish gathering and the northern reinforcements to arrive, Tywin would have no choice but to sit down at the negotiating table.

But now, thinking of Leggen's attitude, he suddenly realized the political impact of Edmure's capture far outweighed the military one.

Perhaps in the minds of most Riverlands nobles, this war was already over – the sole heir of Riverrun had been captured by Lord Tywin. What else could they do besides negotiate for peace?

If they fought the Westerlands to the death, and Lord Tywin, in a fit of anger, executed the last Tully scion, who would bear that responsibility?

It could be said that Edmure's capture made the Riverlands nobles hesitant to act, fearing severe consequences, and morale plummeted to near zero. So, in the original story, until Robb emerged, reversing the situation outside Riverrun, the Westerland forces could move through the Riverlands as if encountering no resistance, precisely because few nobles were putting up a serious fight.

'Still a miscalculation. If the nobles of the riverlands offer no resistance, the war will spread directly to the shores of the God's Eye. The losses there could be substantial.'*

William remembered the scenery he had once beheld by the lakeshore: the boundless plains, the shimmering blue waves of the lake. Could it be that all this ultimately couldn't be preserved?

He felt a wave of melancholy rise within him.

After a moment of silence, William collected his thoughts and had his guards notify all officers to gather in his tent for a meeting.

Hearing the news William delivered, the assembled knights looked shocked, speechless for a long while.

The usually shrewd Creighton even couldn't help but ask William for the letter, reading it over himself. He read softly, "... the Kingslayer, clad in golden armor, impervious to blades and spears, slew over a dozen knights in a row and single-handedly shattered Ser Edmure's lines..."

William awkwardly rubbed his neck, thinking that future communications with Tobho needed to be even more secret.

After Creighton finished reading the letter and everyone confirmed the news, they gradually calmed down.

Jermaine seemed to understand something. "Ser William, did Leggen... already know?"

"Judging by the distance, the ravens likely arrived at Lord Lychester's keep and Harrenhal simultaneously. And our message came from Harrenhal."

Jermaine sighed and said no more, the indignation he had felt since leaving the castle fading considerably.

Seeing the inquiring looks from the others, William explained their experience at Lord Lychester's keep and his assessment of the situation.

Deathly silence fell over the tent again. The neighing of a warhorse from the camp outside was clearly audible.

"Ser Edmure's capture has too great an impact on the war. It's truly hard to judge whether Ser Leggen's actions are right or wrong," Rosso broke the silence. "I'm afraid the nobles won't be very supportive of us. What should our next step be?"

Creighton said, "We should return to Harrenhal immediately. Using House Whent's influence to unite the nobles around the God's Eye, we might still be able to put up a fight."

William nodded. This was a relatively prudent suggestion.

Jermaine objected, "Even so, we should do our utmost to delay Lord Tywin's advance, to give Lord Walter time to gather more men."

The knights looked at William.

After a moment's thought, William said, "Let's go to Pinkmaiden and see. If Lord Piper holds the same attitude, then we'll go to Wayfarer's Rest. If that doesn't work, we'll try Acorn Hall. As long as one lord is willing to stand up, we will give him our fullest support."