Artys Arryn POV
"These cowards," I said while looking at the group of men running back to the forest.
"NO! Don't chase them. There could have laid traps in the forest" Ser Jasper shouted to the group of knights who were running toward the forest.
They all stopped in their tracks after hearing him.
"Are you okay, my lord?" I heard Lord Royce's voice from behind.
He scanned me from top to bottom again and again to check if there were any injuries on me. I mean, there were no major injuries, just some bruises and blood—not mine, though.
"Don't worry, there are no major injuries on me," I said reassuringly.
"We should check our losses," I added, looking around. There were dead bodies around us some of our men and others of those savages.
"No time for that," Lord Grafton said.
"I agree," replied Lord Royce.
Wait, what? Aren't we supposed to check the bodies, collect them, and maybe send them to their families or give them a proper burial? I mean, I know it's like medieval times, but Vale lords were supposed to be honorable.
Abandoning the dead bodies of your comrades certainly is not honorable, but then again, it will take a lot of time to bury them, or if we take them, it will slow our speed. These are things we cannot afford right now.
"Go around and check these bodies quickly. Check if there is anyone alive that we could take back. We will leave shortly. Quick!" Lord Royce barked an order.
"Get the horses ready," he instructed them.
"My lord, shouldn't we take their bodies too, or at least give them a proper burial?" said Noll, who was standing beside his big brother Bryce.
Looking at Bryce's expression and the blood on his hand and the cut on his face, he probably had his first kill.
Welcome to manhood, is all I have to say to him. He might serve as a good sword in the future.
"No time for that. The hill tribes might attack again. There might be more of them. Usually we would take the dead with us, but with the little lord here, it's better we prioritize his security. No risk," Lord Royce replied.
"There are about twenty men dead and over a dozen heavily injured," said the Royce knight who had come back after checking the surroundings.
"Good. Have all the men mounted on their horses. Leave the supplies or anything heavy behind. We need to reach Ironoaks as fast as we can. It should not be far. We should reach it within an hour at full speed," Lord Royce instructed.
~~~ As the sun began to set~~~
"Hey, what's that?" I said, looking at the two bodies that were hanging from the trees.
"Oh God! My lord, why don't you wait here and we will go and take a look?" said Ser Jasper.
"No need, I have seen enough blood. How bad could it be?" I kicked my horse and rushed forward.
There was a man and a woman hanging from the trees, the ropes tied to their necks. There was a little girl below, playing with some rocks as we approached.
"Jesus Christ!" I muttered. It just came out of my mouth after seeing what was in front of me.
Something stirred. I felt a wave of anger, empathy, hatred, pity—I don't know what it was, but I knew it was bad.
"B-Big brother, mommy and daddy are stuck on the tree. Could you help them come down?" the girl said innocently as she came near my horse.
Oh fuck. Fuck the gods, old or new. A child should not suffer like that.
I got down from my horse and looked at the girl. She looked back at me, straight into my eyes. It was different, as if—I don't know, man.
"Are you hungry, little one?" I asked.
"Hmm... water. I am thirsty," she said sweetly.
To that, I took my bottle from the saddle, opened it, and gave it to her.
"Would you tell big brother how you and your mommy and daddy came here?" I asked her.
"My village is nearby. Yesterday, a few bearded men came to our village and burned lots of houses, and they took us with them. I don't know, I was asleep, but this morning they beat us and they put mommy and daddy on the tree," she said while taking sips of water.
"But then someone came and told them some lord is coming, and they left me here. They said they would come back. Don't go, then they will help mommy and daddy come down from the tree," she added.
"Big brother, could you help mommy and daddy come down? They are on the tree for a while," she smiled sweetly.
"Ahh," I sighed. This world is cruel, yes. But even a monster like me has a line. Children are where I draw it. I looked at the two dead bodies. There was blood near the pelvic region of the woman—lots of it. I don't think I need to explain further.
"Get the bodies down and bring them with us," I ordered a few of our men.
"But my lord, won't it slow us down a little?" one of the knights asked.
"It's an order. Do it," I said in a loud voice. I need to give these two a burial. The girl must know where her parents are buried.
She might not know what has happened now, but when she grows up, she will need revenge.
Plus, she could be a good example for me to present to the lords of the Vale to raise more men.
Her story and many others would be enough reason to recruit and train more men.
"Come now, big brother will take you with him. Don't worry, mommy and daddy will come with us too. The uncles will help them. Till then, why don't you and I take a horse ride? Have you ridden a horse before?" I asked the girl.
"No, but I want to, like the knights of the Vale. I will be a knight too when I grow up," the girl said, her face brightening.
Looks like Arya will have some competition in the future.
"Yes, you will be the best knight. Come now, come with big brother," I held her hand and took her with me as Ser Lyn helped her climb my horse, and I sat too.
Today's debt will be paid with interest.
I will have to put a few crows here to monitor the movement of these people. After all, when she grows up, she must seek justice for her parents.
POV ends
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~~~ King's Landing~~~
Tywin Lannister POV
I am done with my children. Each one of them has been nothing but a disappointment. The eldest left his seat to be a glorified Kingsguard.
While the girl, for whom after so much effort I had arranged a match with the king, couldn't control him. The rumors about Robert's infidelity and his love for brothels are widely known. At least he should have some decency to do that in the dark, not in broad daylight.
As for the youngest of them, well, he is no better than his siblings—just a little smarter, that's probably it.
"Why is he so dense all the time?" said my brother Gerion Lannister. He seems to have inherited the personality of our worthless father.
Truly a shame to the name Lannister.
"Let him be, brother. Don't forget why we are here," said Kevan.
"Why else? Aren't we here to meet with our nice grandnieces and nephews?" Gerion replied.
To which Kevan just sighed. Does this fool really think I would come all the way from Casterly Rock to meet them? For the Seven's sake, I have a kingdom to run that is already tottering, and the mess my family tends to make—I had to clean that up.
"No, Uncle Gerion, we are here to make the wrong right. Our influence has loosened in King's Landing, and we are here to get that back. Of course, the official reason would be to meet the family," Tyrion explained the plan.
I can't blame him. We didn't discuss it with Gerion.
Soon our entourage arrived at the gates of the Red Keep.
This place brings so many memories. I served as Hand of the King for twenty years—for that fool. I remember his face, his arrogant look, thinking he is above the rest of us.
But now my blood is in line to rule, while his is probably begging in some city in Essos.
"Lord Tywin, I hope your journey was smooth," I heard the voice of an old acquaintance. He stood at the entrance along with a few guards.
"Lord Arryn, it has been a while since we have met. Congratulations on the birth of your son, and of course the Valyrian swords," I said politely, as much as I could.
"Thank you, Lord Lannister. Come in, the royal family has been waiting for you," Lord Arryn said as the gates of the Red Keep opened.
POV ends