"Runestone is at your command."
"Redfort is at your command."
"Seagull Town is at your command."
"House Thorne is at your command."
"House Crakehall is at your command."
All the participants also stood up, then laid down their swords at Gendry's feet. They swore an oath together...
The Green Fork River near Two Cities was deep and swift, and the Frey Family's influence had spanned both banks centuries ago, quickly growing rich from the tolls paid by those crossing the river.
Of course, compared to ancient noble families whose histories stretched back thousands of years, the Frey Family could at best be considered nouveau riche; though their wealth had increased, they were still scorned by the older nobility.
Just as Tywin was furious upon hearing that a Frey Family's second son had married his sister, it was said that Tywin had slapped his father.
Two Cities consisted of two castles situated on opposite banks of the Green Fork River, connected by a stone arch bridge.
Two Cities also featured towering walls, deep moats, and heavy oak-and-iron gates.
The two castles were almost identical: square, ugly, but sturdy.
The massive, smooth arch bridge was wide enough for two four-wheeled carriages to pass side-by-side and was guarded by a tower in the middle of the bridge called the River Gate Tower.
The River Gate Tower overlooked the river and roads with its arrow slits, murder holes, and iron portcullises.
Both entrances to the bridge were located within the heavily defended inner city, with bridgeheads and iron portcullises on both banks.
Due to the continuous pleas from Riverrun and the raging war in the Riverlands, Two Cities had long been armed.
The walls were filled with the glint of spears and swords, and large ballistas.
Archers were deployed at every merlon and arrow slit, the drawbridges were raised, and the portcullises were lowered.
The city gates were tightly shut and bolted.
"Marquess Walder ordered us to defend against Stark, but after all this time, we haven't even seen a wolf cub."
"Shut up, maybe the wolf cub will come tonight."
Two Frey Family taxi soldiers chatted idly on the city wall.
This kind of daily high-pressure defense actually greatly drained the soldiers' morale, causing them to gradually relax.
As afternoon approached, a hurried group of knights appeared in the sight of the Two Cities defenders.
Contrary to what these West River defenders imagined, the first people they saw were not from House Stark, but from House Piper.
The banner of Pinkmaiden was tattered and covered in dust, as was the knight carrying it.
However, the emblem on the banner—a pink maiden dancing with a white ribbon on a blue background—was still recognizable as belonging to House Piper.
Their forces included not only their own family members but also some disheveled Mercenaries.
Ser Marq had exchanged his heavy armor and helmet for light scout leather armor, with a maiden emblem pinned to his cloak.
"Open the gates, Marquess Walder, save Riverrun!" Ser Marq and his men shouted loudly.
After they grew tired of shouting, Ser Marq even began to curse Walder.
Ser Marq shouted until he was hoarse, but the city gate did not open.
Only after a long time, when Ser Marq had almost lost hope, did a side gate of Two Cities slowly open, extending a wooden plank across the moat, and about ten knights rode out towards them.
This was a large group of men wearing blue steel ring mail and silver-grey cloaks, with the twin towers emblem of the Frey Family embroidered on their shoulders.
The Frey Family banner also unfurled, silver-grey with deep blue twin towers.
These men were led by four of Marquess Walder's sons.
Every member of the Frey Family looked like a weasel.
People didn't just look down on them because they were nouveau riche; primarily, they were genuinely ugly, which was deadly in a looks-obsessed society.
The Frey Family heir, Ser Stefflon Frey, looked at the young Ser Marq and spoke on behalf of the group.
He was already over sixty, but unfortunately, he was still the poor heir.
The eldest son of Frey was like an old and tired weasel, but he was at least polite.
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