If you're enjoying these stories, consider leaving a comment, review, or vote.
You can also visit the Pat** on at: CaveLeather
Between life and death, Earl Quentyn chose silence.
Arthur did not kill him, for a living earl was far more useful than a dead one.
After a quick cleanup of the battlefield, the Mountain Corps had suffered around twenty casualties but had completely routed the elite cavalry of House Roxton. They captured sixty warhorses and a comparable number of prisoners.
"Pass my order," Arthur commanded. "Bring Earl Quentyn and the prisoners. We march for Derring Keep immediately."
Derring Keep was situated between the Red Mountains and the Ring, guarding the vital Pebble Way. It had to be taken, whether to secure supply lines or to facilitate a future retreat from the Reach.
In Arthur's eyes, its strategic value surpassed even that of Ring itself.
The messengers wasted no time relaying the orders to the entire army.
Arthur turned to Penrose, who was pale and trembling. "Send the ravens. Tell Gerold and Jimmy to lead their troops to rendezvous with me at Derring Keep as planned. Tell the three tribal chieftains to cease their harassment raids and bring their forces to join us at Derring Keep."
Penrose nodded and hurriedly released the ravens with clumsy, shaking hands.
The Mountain Corps, honed by long periods of professional training, followed orders with strict discipline and marched rapidly toward Derring Keep.
When they arrived beneath the castle walls, the defenders of Derring Keep—built with its back against the hills and possessing a wide field of view—had already spotted them. Heads bobbed along the battlements as soldiers prepared for battle.
"My Lord, this castle will be hard to take. A storming attempt will require trebuchets and siege ladders," Bear Di reported after observing the walls. "And they have ample manpower. Derring Keep is a tough nut to crack."
Arthur sat atop his captured warhorse. "Prisoners are more useful than trebuchets. Set up camp first. Wait for the forces from Eagle's Roost to join us."
He had no intention of storming this fortress. With Quentyn in hand, things were much simpler.
Even if Quentyn refused to order the gates open, Arthur had other ways to crack Derring Keep.
The Mountain Corps quickly established a camp on the south side of the Pebble Way, near a stream. A detachment was sent to the nearby Roxton cavalry encampment to retrieve stockpiled supplies and horses.
That night, the camp swelled as five hundred Starfall soldiers and four hundred wildling irregulars arrived from Eagle's Roost via the Pebble Way.
Outside the main tent, Quentyn watched the arrival of nearly a thousand troops with an ashen face.
He thought again of the letter from Highgarden. House Redwyne's fleet has pinned down Starfall's main force?
To compensate for my tax losses, they'll send a shipment of Arbor wine?
If these troops hadn't gathered in the Red Mountains beforehand, how could they have crossed the mountains from Starfall to here in a single day? Did they all fly here on dragons?
At this moment, Quentyn felt that the letter from Starfall accusing the Redwynes of atrocities—the one he had burned—was far more credible than the letter from Lady Olenna.
Inside Arthur's command tent.
A wildling chieftain explained nervously, "My Lord, Lu Li and the others are further away. It will take time for them to arrive. These four hundred men are just the warriors my tribe could muster."
"Don't be nervous. I'm just checking numbers for future deployment," Arthur waved his hand. "Chieftain, have some soup first. Fill your belly."
Jimmy clicked his tongue. "My Lord, we haven't even started fighting properly, and you've already captured the Lord of the Ring. That's just..."
He had recognized the guarded Quentyn outside the tent immediately. He had met the Earl at the tourney after winning the archery competition. Quentyn had even invited him to serve at the Ring. To think that in the blink of an eye, the Earl had become Arthur's prisoner.
"This is just the beginning," Arthur said, taking a sip of milky-white fish soup. "Capturing a Reach earl is far from achieving my goal."
"The letter accusing the Redwynes has been sent. We cannot start strong and end weak," Gerold said, sipping his unsweetened lemon water. "We crossed the Red Mountains and traveled a thousand miles to be here. If we don't cause a massive headache for the Reachmen—one that makes them resent the Redwynes for provoking us—then we have failed."
Crow-Eater, the wildling chieftain, watched the confident men in the tent and silently drank his soup. He was somewhat glad he hadn't been swayed by Chian and had joined Starfall instead.
Next, the group discussed how to breach Derring Keep and the Ring.
Conventional methods like building siege engines and night raids to seize the gates were proposed one by one.
Arthur listened to their suggestions and delegated tasks. He assigned Jimmy to oversee the construction of siege engines, Gerold to organize night raids, Crow-Eater to handle scouting and intelligence gathering, and Bear Di to manage camp security.
Early the next morning.
Arthur, accompanied by seven cavalrymen and Earl Quentyn, rode to a spot near Derring Keep under a white parley banner.
After stating their purpose and revealing Quentyn's captive status, seven knights soon rode out from the castle's side gate.
After the heralds exchanged names, Arthur spoke.
"Ser, order your men to lay down their arms and walk out of the castle. I will ensure the safety of all who surrender.
"You should have heard that we are not like the Redwynes. We do not kill those who surrender, nor the elderly, women, or children."
Ser Folk, the Lord of Derring Keep, looked grim. He had suspected as much when he saw the large number of strange soldiers gathering yesterday. But to see his liege lord captured meant the two hundred cavalry were finished as well.
"Ser Arthur Snow, you are not my liege lord. You have no right to demand my surrender," Ser Folk replied.
He looked at Earl Quentyn, and seeing the Earl remain silent, he felt a bit more confident.
"Release my liege lord and take your men back to Starfall, Ser!
"If you want to take this castle, be prepared to lose ten men for every one of ours."
"I led my army here only to seek justice for the people of Starfall who were murdered and the property that was destroyed," Arthur said.
"I am not here to trade ten of my men for one of yours."
A burly knight behind Ser Folk spoke up. "Then you should go to the Arbor and find Paxter Redwyne, not come here, Ser. We do not wish to conflict with you."
"I cannot reach the Arbor. Everyone knows the Redwyne Fleet is the largest in Westeros," Arthur said with a faint smile.
"So, here is the situation: I want the castle behind you. You want me to release your liege lord and leave this place.
"Since that is the case, let us have a trial by combat under the gaze of the Seven. One on one. The loser agrees to the winner's demands. How about it?"
Ser Folk and his six companions looked at each other, falling into silence. The fame of the Sword of the Morning was simply too great.
Arthur gave them a look of disdain. "If your cause is just, surely the Seven will stand with you."
"Or is the chivalry the Reach boasts of just empty words, like that of House Redwyne?"
Ser Folk and the others looked uncomfortable. The burly knight flushed red at the insult.
"Accept it, Ser Folk!" the burly knight couldn't hold back. "I will use my sword to prove the honor of the Reachmen! The Seven will stand with us!"