The team moved swiftly, dust swirling under the hooves and feet.
The gray towers of Daintings City appeared at the edge of the horizon, and Arthur reined in his horse, his team stopping behind him.
His pact with Lyman Leicester, the boast of the madman and the little madman gambling with two Houses, now echoed in his ears. It was no longer about self-preservation by retreating into the mountains but a daring gamble to stir up trouble in the Riverlands.
He turned and spoke, his voice not loud, but it cut through the din of the moving team: "Lucien!"
Lucien spurred his horse to his side, his face covered in dust.
"You will immediately take twenty veteran soldiers from Lions Den, leave the team, and return to Lions Den."
Arthur's gaze remained fixed on the distant castle. Lucien's face was full of surprise; he wanted to stay with Lord Arthur.
"Tell Evelyn to immediately strengthen the defenses of all military forts, recall all personnel who are outside, and you and Hakon will guard Lions Den together."
"Order all the commoners on the plains to immediately evacuate into the High Mountain, taking everything they can carry."
His commands came one after another, clear and cold.
Lucien opened his mouth, his eyes red and unable to speak. After a long while, he wiped away his tears: "My Lord, what about you?"
Arthur turned his head, looking at his most loyal subordinate, his eyes showing no hesitation: "I'm not going back, Lucien."
His voice was calm, yet it carried a decisive resolution, as if cutting off all retreat.
"Lions Den is easy to defend and hard to attack. With you there, two hundred men can withstand a thousand. I have absolute confidence in this."
"I need to stay in the East Riverlands to find an opportunity for myself."
Lucien choked up, wanting to say more, hoping others could be sent instead, but Arthur's gaze stopped him.
Arthur looked into his eyes and spoke, enunciating each word: "I only trust you."
"Tell Evelyn that all matters in the mountains are to be decided by her with full authority."
"There is only one primary task."
"Hold fast."
"Take care, Lord Arthur!" Lucien wiped away his tears, said no more, and galloped away.
When Arthur and Lyman Leicester led their army to the foot of Daintings City, the heavy city gates slowly opened.
Lady Roslyn personally came out to greet them. She was no longer the simple-dressed liege lady with a hint of gentleness and calmness that Arthur remembered. Her face was pale, her long brown hair hung disheveled over her shoulders, and her plain robe was wrinkled, as if she hadn't tidied herself in days.
Her eyes were hollow, her whole being as if her soul had been drained, leaving only a tottering shell. Everything was as it had been when he first met her during the wildlings' invasion, perhaps even worse.
Seeing her stumbling steps, Arthur immediately dismounted and rushed forward to support her cold arm.
"Lady Roslyn!"
This cry was like the last straw that broke the camel's back. Lady Roslyn clutched Arthur's hand, her fingernails almost digging into his leather glove, as if she had grasped a lifeline.
A hoarse voice squeezed out from her throat, broken and tuneless: "Seaguard... Seaguard has fallen."
"Lord Jason Mallister... Lord Clement Piper... and many others have fallen in battle..."
Lady Roslyn could no longer control her emotions, her voice suddenly rising with a heartbreaking sob: "My husband! Your liege lord!"
Her body trembled violently, and tears finally streamed down.
"My husband... my husband... Balon, he and Lord Tytos Blackwood, upon hearing the news of Seaguard being besieged, immediately led their forces back to rescue it..."
"They were defeated at the foot of Seaguard..."
"Now... their fate is unknown!"
The last four words exhausted all her strength. Lady Roslyn's body went limp, her eyelids fluttered, and she fell straight backward. Arthur quickly caught her, avoiding an impolite contact, and shouted loudly.
The handmaidens rushed forward in a panic, haphazardly taking their unconscious mistress and hastily carrying her back to the castle. Arthur stood rooted, the coldness of Lady Roslyn's body seemingly still lingering on his arm.
He looked up and met the gaze of Lyman Leicester not far away. Both saw extreme solemnity in each other's eyes. The situation was quite serious. In these circumstances, their secret pact about an adopted son seemed somewhat ill-timed.
To make this proposal a reality and gain the King's approval, they first had to survive and achieve sufficient military merits.
Arthur turned to Lyman, who nodded. Arthur then looked at his subordinates: "Pass on my order."
"All soldiers are to encamp outside the city and are not permitted to enter Daintings City."
Inside the council hall of Daintings City, the flames in the fireplace danced, but they could not dispel the chill in the air. Arthur and Lyman Leicester sat opposite each other, silence enveloping them.
Arthur was the first to break the silence, his voice chillingly calm: "The news the lady received was likely from a routed soldier."
"Westeros armies are rarely truly annihilated. Lord Balon's army was more likely scattered."
He looked at Lyman and continued his analysis.
"The more accurate news I received is this:"
"Lord Tytos Blackwood charged into the Ironborn formation with his cavalry, so his fate is likely dire."
"But there is no such news about Lord Balon, only that the counterattack was a crushing defeat. He may not be in danger."
Lyman Leicester picked up his wine cup, but found his hand trembling slightly. He glanced at his adopted son again and found Arthur terrifyingly calm, so composed in the face of crisis. Was this adopted son of mine really from a minor House? Did I hit the jackpot?
Arthur's gaze sharpened. He looked at Lyman and stated his decision: "Therefore, I need to go to the front lines myself."
Lyman almost jumped up, wine spilling from his cup: "Are you mad!"
"Going west now is like walking straight into the Ironborn's jaws!"
He lowered his voice, glancing around to ensure no one was present, with a hint of exasperation.
"You're my newly recognized son; you can't just disappear like this!"
Arthur leaned forward, his hands clasped on the table, and spoke slowly: "On the contrary, Lord Lyman."
"To forge our East Riverlands alliance, we absolutely cannot just look out for ourselves at this moment. We must demonstrate a sense of responsibility far exceeding that of other lords."
He smiled, looking at the old man, his tone carrying a convincing power.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to fight."
"I'm just going to do one thing on the way: gather routed soldiers and rally morale."
Lyman Leicester stared intently at Arthur, as if trying to discern a hint of wavering or recklessness on his face, but he only saw calmness and strategy. After a long while, Lyman let out a long breath, drained the remaining wine in his cup, and nodded. This adopted son of his was terrifyingly bold.
Lady Roslyn's bedroom was filled with the scent of herbs and despair. Arthur, led by a handmaiden, entered alone. The lady waved the handmaiden away, leaving only him and the mistress lying on the bed in the room.
Lady Roslyn stared blankly at the ceiling, like a lifeless statue.
Arthur stood by the bed, his voice soft: "Lady, please pull yourself together."
"Lord Balon may not be in danger."
His words were like a stone dropped into calm water. Lady Roslyn's eyes moved sharply. She slowly turned her head, her gaze focusing on Arthur's face. In those hollow eyes, a faint spark of life finally ignited.
Arthur nodded, giving her a reassuring look:
"Lady, please immediately, in the name of the mistress of Daedings Family, summon all vassals and soldiers who can still fight."
He did not offer any empty words of comfort, but directly proposed a course of action.
"I will personally lead the army to the front lines to find the Lord! I will definitely bring him back!"
Lady Roslyn struggled, propping herself up on her elbows. She tightly grasped Arthur's hand, her cold fingertips turning white from the force. Tears of gratitude welled up again, but this time, the tears carried hope. This young man had helped her too much.
Her voice was still hoarse, but had regained some strength: "Little Suleiman... thank you..."
Speaking seemed to exhaust her strength, and she gasped for breath, finally using all her might to utter a long sentence.
"In the name of Daedings Family, I promise you! For every Ironborn head your soldiers take on the front line! I will take ten silver deer from the treasury as a reward!"
"I only ask... only ask that you safely bring my husband back!"
Arthur looked at her tear-streaked face, feeling the trembling and plea in her hand, and nodded solemnly. The East Riverlands alliance for self-preservation was an indispensable part of Daedings Family.
His voice was clear and strong, echoing in the quiet bedroom, dispelling all weakness and hesitation:
"I assure you, Lady."
"I will certainly bring Lord Balon safely back to his castle, and deliver him into your hands."
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