Three days later.
Galon's army appeared suddenly beneath Torrhens Square, as if descended from the heavens.
Galonlema stopped and looked at the dilapidated castle before him.
The city wall collapsed in several places, and charred marks were visible everywhere.
On the city wall, several indistinct corpses still hang there, swaying gently in the cold wind, like some kind of terrifying decoration.
The castle gates were tightly shut.
Galon's army lined up outside the city, and the somber atmosphere made the dilapidated castle seem even more desolate.
A moment later.
The castle gates opened a crack, and several people rode out on horseback.
Leading the group was none other than Lord Lambert Toha, whose face was haggard, eyes were bloodshot, and filled with shame.
Behind him were three noblemen who were dressed reasonably well, but had pale faces and shifty eyes.
This is clearly the "vassal who cowers in the city" mentioned in Lambert's letter.
"Lord Garen!"
Sir Lambert was the first to dismount, kneeling on one knee, his voice hoarse and heavy.
"It is my incompetence! I have failed the Toha name and Winterfell's expectations. I..."
Galon did not dismount.
He sat upright on his horse, his cold gaze passing over Lambert and shooting directly at the three nobles behind him.
"Get up, Sir Lambert."
Galon's voice was devoid of warmth. "I received your letter. Tell me, among those who hanged themselves on the city walls, were any of your blood relatives?"
Lambert closed his eyes in anguish, "My…my brother's son and daughter, and my wife…and my eldest son…"
"So!"
Galon's voice suddenly rose, like an ice pick piercing everyone's eardrums, "Tell me, which of these people watched their lord's family members hanged on the wall and were too cowardly to go out of the city to meet the enemy?"
His roar echoed across the empty snowfield. The nobles behind Lambert trembled with fear, their eyes wide with terror as they looked at the army behind Galon, their faces ashen.
One of the tall noblemen, who was about thirty years old, mustered his courage and explained in a trembling voice.
" Lord Glover, it's not that we... dare not, but the Ironborn are incredibly ferocious, our forces have suffered heavy losses, and we need to rest and regroup."
"Besides, who knows if the Ironborn passing by are part of a trap..."
The others nodded in agreement.
"That's right, that's right."
"You should know that this is how Lord Lambert's eldest son was killed by Crows Eye!"
"Yeah, it's already pretty good that we managed to hold onto Torrhens Square."
"And Lord Glover, my territory has been burned to the ground by the Ironborn, and I only have a dozen or so men left. Why is no one else leaving...?"
Galon's gaze was like ice, and he suddenly shouted, "Shut up!"
The people behind Lambert immediately spoke.
Galon stared at Lambert for a moment, knowing that the letter Lambert had given him did not clearly state the true situation, but rather contained only half the truth.
Half of this group was afraid of Ironborn, and the other half was afraid that their family's strength would be diminished again.
But whatever their reasons for not pursuing the Ironborn, it gave Galon the opportunity to intervene in Torrhens Square.
" The Toha family swears to defend Torrhens Square to the death, and is willing to give their lives to uphold the honor of the North!"
"And what about you..."3
Galon's voice was calm, but his words were utterly scathing.
"Afraid of an ambush by the Ironborn?"
"Afraid of losing your troops?"
Are you afraid that your efforts will not be rewarded?
His gaze swept over Lambert and his companions like a sharp blade, and his voice gradually rose.
"You are afraid, but aren't we afraid too?"
" Lord Karstark's sons all perished in the Riverlands, yet even so, on the day Winterfell pleaded for help, he still dispatched a royal guard to their aid." " In the Battle of Ox Horn Mountain, House Bolton lost over 70% of his 1,000 troops, yet they fought to the death!"
"And my Glover soldiers, they followed me first to defeat Asha, then tirelessly rushed to the rescue of Winterfell, and then fought alongside me in the Battle of Ox Horn Mountain —aren't they afraid?"
Galon said heavily, "They are afraid, but they are even more afraid that the North will fall into the hands of the Ironborn! That their own families will become slaves to others!"
Every word he uttered was like a slap in the face to those nobles.
They lowered their heads, none daring to meet his gaze.
"The North is facing a change unseen in a thousand years!"
Galon's voice was like a declaration: "With the Southern War and the Ironborn invasion, if we ourselves are not united and instead each protect our own interests, we might as well open Moat Cailin and let the enemy army in!"
He paused, and the icy silence was almost suffocating.
" Sir Lambert Toha! "
"Gallon shouted."
Lambert immediately straightened up. "Yes, sir!"
"In my capacity as Acting Lord of Winterfell and Supreme Commander of the Northern Army, I hereby temporarily grant you the title of Acting Lord of Torrhens Square, and order you to immediately conduct a thorough inventory of all combat-ready troops in Torrhens Square."
"Anyone who conceals anything will be punished for breaking their oath!"
Lambert's face lit up with excitement, and he nodded solemnly.
Then, Galon looked at the nobles behind him, his gaze sweeping over them one by one.
"Since the Toha family has given you a dignified opportunity, yet you choose not to accept it dignifiedly."
"Then let me help you maintain your dignity!"
Galon turned to his soldiers and ordered, "Tie them up!"
A squad of Glover soldiers immediately swarmed forward.
They tried to struggle, but were firmly controlled by the soldiers.
"My lord, spare my life!"
" Lord Toha, please spare us, for the sake of our family's centuries of loyalty to you!"
" Lord Toha!"
Galon waved his hand, and the soldiers gagged them.
He turned his gaze back to Lambert and asked meaningfully, " Lord Toha, what do you think should be done with them?"
Lambert glanced at the vassals who were under the control of Glover Soldiers, hesitated, and finally whispered.
"I am willing to obey your command, sir!"
A look of satisfaction flashed in Garon's eyes. "The cowardice of these people has tarnished the oath and honor of the North, and chilled the hearts of all the warriors of the North who have fought and bled."
He pointed at the group of nobles and said to Lambert, "I will use their blood to dye the banners of the North red once more. I will show everyone what will happen to those who cower in fear and refuse to come to the rescue!"
" Jon, enforce military law!"
" Call out everyone in Torrhens Square and let them watch as these people are hanged!"
Galon waved his hand, and the soldiers stepped forward, ignoring the struggles of the men, and dragged them toward the city gate.
Meanwhile, a group of soldiers huddled in Torrhens Square were thrown out by the army.
A group of people watched in terror as three more corpses appeared on the city wall, slowly turning in the wind and snow.
Garon stood atop the city wall, pointing at the corpses, looking down at the soldiers and vassals below.
"The North will never forget!"
" The shame of Torrhens Square can only be washed away with blood, either yours or the enemy's; you have only one choice!"
Now! Tell me your answers!
After a brief silence, the soldiers at Torrhens Square suddenly erupted in a violent roar.
"revenge!"
"We must get our revenge!"
After the soldiers shouted several times, Galon pressed down with both hands to stop the noise.
"Tomorrow morning, we'll head to Stony Shore and sweep through Ironborn!"
"Sweep away Ironborn!!"
Galon watched the soldiers' shouts, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
While Galon was boosting the morale of Torrhens Square, King's Landing was also preparing for battle.