"And Hoster's daughter, Lysa, hmph, equally ill-intentioned. I remember clearly... About a year ago, Jon was still hand of the king. I went to King's Landing to watch my son participate in a tourney... I proposed to Lord Arryn and his wife that my two grandsons be fostered in the court, and at the same time, their son would come to the Twins for a period... Hmph, are my grandsons so unsightly, unworthy of being seen by those in court? In short, Lord Arryn refused them all, and for this, I can only blame Lady Lysa. And that Child, Lord Arryn, to smooth over the awkward situation, said the Child would be sent to Dragonstone to the Lord of Dragonstone. Lady Lysa rushed straight out the door... Hmph hmph hmph..."
Ser Marq listened with growing irritation, then couldn't help but speak. "Lord, if that's the case, then I request to leave. I still have to go north to Winterfell."
"No rush. Unless I see favorable terms, I always take my time to gather my troops. You said there are Stark and Tully forces, but where are they?" Marquess Walder laughed heartily. "Although you're not Edmure, you're still a Ser. I still have many unmarried daughters, surely there's one you'd like."
"You." Ser Marq's face twitched. Did this mean he too would be confined to the Twins?
"This won't do," Ser Marq's face was ashen. "Then I can at least leave with my men, can't I?"
"Leave? The area around Riverrun is in chaos. Is there anywhere safer than here? I can even arrange a marriage for you. As for those Mercenaries, I suppose they can earn money anywhere. We at the Twins also need soldiers."
"You will regret this, Lord Walder. Send troops quickly! Riverrun cannot wait much longer."
"Hmph, regret? I only know that acting too early leads to regret. I won't make a move until the outcome is certain."
Ser Marq stood frozen until he heard the sound of bells, and a large group of Frey entered the hall again. Ser Marq was swept along to join the banquet.
The Bluebeard Mercenaries had indeed joined Black Walder. These hungry Mercenaries seemed starved, acting like brothers with the Frey Family's children.
Ser Marq, with a defeated mindset, arrived at the Frey banquet. There were steaks, roasted suckling pig, roasted fish, and fine wine. Ser Marq was forced to stay here, and Walder would slowly introduce his family's daughters to him.
Ser Marq and all his men were scattered in different places. The number of people they brought might not even be as many as the Frey Family's children. Only Ser Marq was kept on the high platform; the rest were on the benches below.
As it turned out, those Mercenaries, the crude Mercenaries Ser Marq brought, seemed to be more welcomed by the Frey, as in this chaotic era, swords were needed everywhere... Under the night, the Twins fell into a kind of tranquility. The clamor of the banquet had long faded, after all, Marquess Walder was too old, and others were more or less still drinking with the guests. As for poor Riverrun, what did that have to do with House Frey? The twin castles standing on the river were like a mirroring magic, reflecting the same image in the water.
Sentinels were posted on the River Gate Tower of the Twins, but the war beast had not yet awakened. Under the cover of night and laughter, the sentinels not only lacked the tension of war but were somewhat lax. After all, the Twins were strategically located and close to the north, and the war in Riverrun had not spread here.
The drunken Bluebeard, holding a bottle of pear brandy, compared to the chaotic Riverrun, the Twins were almost paradise.
----------------------------------
I've already posted 70 new chapters on Patreon!
If you like the story and want to reaad more, please visit my patreon. Every support is very meaningful!
[patreon.com/Kazenova223]
Thank you very much!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"