The crescent moon hung like a hook in the sky, and the red comet, like a burning crimson battle flag, silently observed the bloodshed and cruelty of the mortal world.
The city of Luanhe had become a vast battlefield, the sum of all earthly clamor, with the West River gates, walls, squares, and arched bridges being the most fiercely contested areas.
The shouts of soldiers, the clash of steel, the neighing of horses, and the desperate wails of the wounded and dead intertwined.
All the high ground on the West River castle had been seized, and most of the archers on the Frey Family's battlements and arrow slits had surrendered; a few stubborn resistors were either killed directly or pushed off the walls.
Torches were relit on the city walls, their flames casting a reddish glow on every face stained with blood and dust. Ser Michel of the Vale and the heir of House Grafton drew their longswords and secured the city walls.
The gates of the West River castle had all been opened; some oak doors still bore traces of fire, and the drawbridge creaked down, allowing cheering cavalry to pour out from all the gate passages like a tide.
"long live the storm!"
"long live the storm!"
"For Seaguard!"
"Surrender or die!" Gold Cloaks, crabfeeders men, Knights of the Vale, and Seaguard cavalry shouted their battle cries, rapidly surging into the West River castle.
"For Frey!"
"For Luanhe City!" The loyal soldiers of the Frey Family fought desperately, but there was a clear disparity in numbers and strength.
"It's the Dragon stag banner. No, there are also the banners of Seaguard and the Vale, these bastards."
"It's the black-hearted bastard." The Frey Family's taxi soldiers slowly discovered the enemy's origin.
Gendry led the Gold Cloaks in the vanguard, and the breached West Fortress began to crumble.
The cavalry charged into Luanhe City, seizing high ground, controlling important figures, then clashing in the square, and finally converging at the arched bridge gate of the inner city.
"Mercy!" Hosdton Frey, guarding the west fortress gate, wailed, looking at the blood and mud before him.
Most of the Frey Family's taxi soldiers lay beside him, dead in pitiful and contorted ways; some were dismembered, others cut in half.
The Frey's twin towers banner was also stained with blood, its blue turning dark red.
Gendry stood his arakh before him; Hosdton's surrender meant the West River fortress was largely secured.
The arakh, though drenched in blood, remained bright as new.
Gendry, holding his scimitar, was like a giant-horned god of slaughter charging through Luanhe City; the surrendering Frey soldiers dared not look him directly in the face.
"Black Walder is here!" Someone shouted, and the Frey Family seemed to regain some morale as a group of Frey Family taxi soldiers emerged onto the square from the darkness.
The leader was the lean, strong, full-bearded Walder Frey, extremely fierce and seemingly drunk, reeking of alcohol.
Black Walder was the second son of Lyman Frey, the grandson of Stefflon Frey, and the great-grandson of Marquess Walder.
Those around Black Walder feared him; he was very strong.
He earned the nickname "Black Walder" for his quick temper and harsh demeanor.
Black Walder led the absolute elite of the Frey Family, Black Walder's companions, the very men who, in the original timeline, would climb walls for Robb, the "King in the North," and undertake vanguard missions.
"Run, Black Walder! Don't come here, take the Marquess and leave, go to East River!" Hosdton suddenly stood up, unable to resist cursing, and tried to pick up a sword blade from the ground.
Almost everyone in the family had a poor relationship with Black Walder, but he couldn't just watch him come to his death.
The Old Knight Barristan glanced at Hosdton, then swung his sword, and Hosdton similarly fell stiffly into the blood.
"It's too late." Gendry looked at Black Walder, then tightened his grip on his longsword.
Black Walder had already charged over, followed by a dozen Frey Family soldiers, all wielding long-handled heavy axes.
Other soldiers also followed, armed with long spears.
"Was it all your doing? Bastard, oh, let me see, there are also people from the Vale, the falcons of Seaguard.
trout and eagles don't have such brains, it's all your idea.
You Bastard, you ambitious man, you black-hearted The Boy Blacksmith." Black Walder saw the tragic state of Luanhe City, his uncle dying before him, and felt his blood begin to burn.
His nature was already prone to anger.
"Since I haven't found Marq Piper, let me be the deer killer.
This sword was already meant for Marq and Bluebeard."
"It was me." Gendry looked at Black Walder, his longsword unyielding. "The Freys are traitors to the Riverlands; those who resist will die."
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