The Riverlands.
The Trident Crossing.
The old inn at the crossroads had been massacred on Kevan's orders. The abandoned corpses had long since been picked clean by wild dogs.
Now—
Galon stepped inside the deserted inn.
Aside from dried bloodstains buried beneath layers of dust, there was nothing left.
It was obvious no one had come here for a very long time.
"Let's head back."
After making a quick circuit of the building and finding nothing of value, Galon spoke to the soldiers accompanying him.
He mounted his horse once more, cast one last glance toward the Ruby Ford, then tugged the reins and turned back toward the Crossing camp.
"Ride!"
With a crack of his whip, Galon urged his horse into a gallop.
More than an hour later, the party finally returned to camp.
The camp, once shaken by the king's death and the bloody battle at the Green Fork, had regained both order and morale under Galon's leadership.
Men shouted.
Horses neighed.
Every corner bustled with activity.
"My lord Protector!"
"My lord Protector!"
As Galon rode toward the stables, the grooms hurried forward to greet him.
He dismounted, handed over the reins with a smile and a nod, then headed toward the command tent.
Just then, Ron, who had been waiting near the stables, hurried over. "My lord, John and the others have returned."
Galon paused and turned toward him.
"Where are they?"
Ron glanced around before lowering his voice. "I brought them to your personal tent."
Galon nodded without slowing his pace.
Soon, he entered the tent and found the three travel-worn soldiers waiting inside.
"My lord!"
The three men hurriedly bowed, but Galon waved the formalities aside.
"Forget the ceremony."
"How did everything go?"
John immediately reached into his cloak and produced two letters.
Galon accepted them.
One had already been opened.
Recognizing it as the very letter he himself had written, he looked at John in confusion.
"My lord," John explained, "after Lady Catelyn finished reading your letter, she instructed me to bring it back to you."
Galon nodded.
He casually tossed his own letter onto the table before opening the one Catelyn had written.
Its contents were straightforward.
Catelyn had confirmed the truth about Littlefinger and Lysa.
She urged Galon to seek out Lord Royce of Runestone to discuss an alliance and expressed her hope that Royce would agree.
After silently reading the letter, Galon looked back at John.
"What happened afterward?"
"My lord, before reaching the Eyrie, I spread the information exactly as you instructed.
When I met Lady Catelyn, she was devastated by King Robb's death.
After hearing everything I had to say, she wrote this letter and entrusted it to me. As for herself..."
John hesitated briefly.
"She said she had to find an answer."
He carefully recounted everything that had happened.
After listening, Galon fell silent in thought.
At last, he picked up his own letter, held it over the candle, and watched it burn.
Only after it had turned completely to ash did he grind the remains beneath his boot.
"John."
"What happened must stay with the four of us. No one else is to know."
The three soldiers immediately nodded.
"Yes, my lord."
"You've all done well. Go and get some rest. Once this matter is settled, you'll all be rewarded."
The three men beamed with relief.
After bowing once more, they quietly withdrew.
Galon remained standing in the tent.
Only after the ashes had been completely scattered did he speak again.
"Ron. Summon every lord. We're holding a council in the command tent."
"At once, my lord."
Half an hour later, the principal lords of the North and the Riverlands had assembled once again.
"Galon, what's happened now? Have the Lannisters attacked?"
Edmure hurried in, looking visibly anxious.
The other lords wore equally grave expressions, clearly fearing the Lannister army had begun another offensive.
Galon merely shook his head.
Instead, he handed Catelyn's letter to Edmure.
"My lord."
"Read this first."
Puzzled, Edmure accepted the already-opened letter.
The moment he finished reading it, his eyes widened.
"Impossible!"
"Absolutely impossible!"
He stared at Galon in shock and fury.
"Who wrote this? I'll have them arrested and hanged alive! How dare they insult House Tully!"
The assembled lords exchanged puzzled glances.
What could possibly have been written to provoke such a reaction?
Galon sighed.
"My lord... Have you forgotten your own sister's handwriting?"
Those words struck Edmure like a thunderbolt.
"It can't be..."
"My sister... how could she..."
Unable to force another word from him, Lord Bracken finally asked,
"My lord Protector, what exactly does the letter say? Has the Vale refused our alliance?"
Galon shook his head.
After glancing at the stunned Edmure, he spoke with deliberate hesitation.
"No. I sent men to contact Lady Catelyn.
Instead, she uncovered a terrible scandal within the Vale.
That's why she sent me this letter and asked me to deliver it to Lord Royce of Runestone."
The command tent erupted into discussion.
"A scandal?"
"What scandal?"
"Does it concern the Eyrie?"
"What did Lady Catelyn discover?"
The less Galon explained, the more impatient the lords became.
Eventually, someone turned directly toward Edmure.
"My lord. What does the letter actually say? What does the Vale's scandal have to do with us?"
Edmure slowly raised his head.
His eyes wandered across the room before settling on Galon.
Understanding the silent request, Galon spoke quietly.
"My lord.
This can't remain hidden forever.
My men discovered on their journey back that these rumors are already spreading throughout the Vale.
Even the mountain clans know of them."
Edmure lowered his gaze once more. His expression grew even more sorrowful.
"I never imagined the honor of House Tully would be ruined in my generation."
He let out a weary sigh.
"Go ahead, Galon."
Without another word, he turned and took his seat.
Galon nodded.
He carefully recounted everything John had witnessed at the Eyrie, along with Catelyn's final instructions.
The entire tent exploded into uproar.
"Seven hells!"
Lord Bracken swore.
"Lysa actually poisoned Lord Arryn?"
"So she and Littlefinger were the ones who killed Lord Stark."
Greatjon slammed his fist onto the table.
"We march!"
"My lord Protector!"
"We should march immediately and avenge them!"
"March where?"
"The Vale is the strongest fortress in all Westeros!"
The arguments quickly descended into chaos.
Everyone shouted over one another.
Some cursed Lysa and Littlefinger. Others argued over whether invading the Vale was even possible.
Finally, Galon spoke.
"My lords."
His calm but commanding voice immediately silenced the tent.
Every eye turned toward him.
No one even looked at Edmure anymore.
"The crimes committed in the Vale concern the Vale, the Riverlands, and the North alike.
We cannot ignore them.
But the Lannisters stand just beyond our borders. We also cannot leave the Riverlands defenseless."
He drew a slow breath before announcing his decision.
"I will personally lead part of our army into the Vale. I will negotiate an alliance with Lord Royce of Runestone.
And I will rescue Lady Catelyn from the Eyrie."
He looked first toward Edmure, then nodded to Lord Rickard Karstark.
"Lord Edmure will continue raising troops throughout the Riverlands.
Lord Rickard will command the defenses.
Until I return... You are not to force a decisive battle with the Lannisters.
Is that understood?"
At once, every lord answered together.
"We obey the Protector's command!"
With the decision made, preparations began immediately.
Before departing, however, Galon sought out Rodrik Harlaw.
"Lord Harlaw. I need you to send word to Queen Asha.
Tell her the time has come.
Have the Ironborn fleet strike the southern coast. They are to inflict as much damage as possible upon the Redwyne Fleet."
Rodrik smiled.
"So... The hour of the final offensive is approaching?"
Galon nodded.
"If all goes well... We'll meet again at King's Landing. When that day comes, the Iron Islands will earn wealth beyond imagining."
Hearing Galon's promise, Harlaw bowed respectfully.
"The Iron Islands will follow the will of the God's Chosen."
With that, he departed to dispatch a raven to Asha.
Watching him leave, Galon carefully reviewed every part of his plan once more.
Only after convincing himself that nothing had been overlooked did he march out with his own forces and the Mormont troops, setting out for the Vale.
Five days after his departure, a small party escorted by Barristan the Bold arrived at the Crossing camp.
At the very same time, Ramsay Snow returned once again to the gates of Winterfell at the head of the Dreadfort's army.
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