As Daenerys finished speaking, the three little dragons flapped their wings and shrieked, seemingly expressing their excitement.
A large basin of roasted lamb was brought over by a maid, its aroma filling the air, causing Samwell and the others to unconsciously swallow their saliva.
The fragrant roasted meat was placed before them. Viserion, the white dragon closest to it, was about to devour it, but was bumped aside by Rhaegar, the largest black dragon.
Viserion shrieked in anger. Rhaegar, with a large piece of roasted meat in his mouth, glanced sideways, and Viserion immediately stopped his cries.
When Rhaegar turned back to continue eating, Viserion first let out a few low growls, then seemed to try to go around Rhaegar, but was bumped again by Jones, the green dragon.
He was furious!
Viserion opened his mouth wide and shrieked loudly at Jones. Jones responded with a similar shriek, and a great battle between the two dragons seemed imminent.
With Daenerys's clear laughter, she tossed roasted meat into the open mouths of the two little dragons.
The two little dragons, who had just been "challenging" each other, suddenly had large pieces of roasted meat in their mouths, and their movements clearly paused, as if they were stunned.
Viserion and Jones quickly made up, and the two little dragons bypassed Rhaegar and plunged their heads into the basin of roasted meat.
The first to finish eating, Rhaegar, spread his wings, his wingspan nearly three times his body length, his body primarily composed of neck, tail, and wings.
Daenerys's violet eyes held a smile as she gently stroked Rhaegar.
She looked at the roasted meat in the basin, which was nearly empty… The roasted meat the three little dragons ate had been specially prepared since they arrived at Crabclaw Point. The meat was heavily flavored, and they loved it very much.
The corners of Daenerys's mouth curved slightly… Green had told her that this heavily spiced roasted meat was "mother's taste."
Daenerys knew… her three little dragons would eventually grow up, they would learn to hunt for themselves, and they would learn to fly far away, but wherever she was… that would always be their home, because it had their most familiar "taste."
Hiss~~! Hiss~~!
Viserion and Jones, having eaten their fill, were at it again. Daenerys helplessly pulled them apart. She suddenly felt that without Green's "fatherly love," they were a bit naughty.
Rhaegar, who had already established his dominance, raised his head and glanced at the two little dragons. Samwell, who had been observing the three little dragons intently, read from his eyes… was it disdain?!
Samwell murmured, "Gods…"
Daenerys stood up and ordered Borona to put the three little dragons into wooden cages.
"Let's go back."
When the 15,000 Westerlands soldiers led by Jaime Lannister arrived near Riverrun, Edmure Tully, the heir to Riverrun, was still reassembling the scattered Riverlands army.
Seeing that the Lannister Army would soon besiege the city, Edmure Tully immediately led the hastily assembled 16,000 Riverlands soldiers and proactively marched out to launch an attack.
Edmure Tully: Riverlands Army 16,000 VS Westerlands Army 15,000, the advantage is mine!
In a direct confrontation, the Riverlands army was quickly routed by the formidable Lannister Army. Edmure himself and many Riverlands vassals became Jaime's captives.
Count Tytos Blackwood of Raventree Hall led the remnants of the Riverlands army to retreat and defend Riverrun.
After the battle, Riverrun was directly exposed to the Lannister Army's encirclement, its fate hanging by a thread.
Riverrun is situated at the tip of the delta where the Tumbling Stone River flows into the Trident River. The rivers form two sides of a triangle, and in times of danger, the Tully Family can open the upstream sluice gates, creating a wide moat on the third side, turning Riverrun into an island in the river.
The castle walls rise high from the water, and the defenders from the towers can see everything for miles on the opposite bank.
To cut off all support, the besieging force must place an army on the north bank of the Tumbling Stone River, the south bank of the Red Fork River, and the west bank of the moat, that is, between the two rivers.
As the besieging force, Jaime Lannister had no choice but to encamp the Lannister Army in three locations: the North Camp, the West Camp, and the South Camp.
While the Lannister Army was besieging Riverrun, Ser Marq Piper of Pinkmaiden Castle in the Riverlands led dozens of cavalrymen in frequent attacks on Jaime's supply lines.
Jaime spent a large sum of gold dragons, and within a few days, someone betrayed Ser Marq Piper's whereabouts. He personally led 300 cavalrymen to attack.
The intelligence was accurate, and by evening, Jaime had found the enemy. Ser Marq Piper dared not engage in battle and fled towards the Whispering Wood.
Jaime led the Westerlands cavalry in pursuit, but was ambushed by Robb Stark, King of the North. Jaime and many Westerlands knights became the Young Wolf's captives.
On the night Jaime was captured, the Northern Army, which had been blocking news along the way, suddenly launched a night attack on the unsuspecting North Camp.
Seeing the North Camp under attack, Count Andros Brax, commander of the West Camp, led his troops on rafts to reinforce them, but was sunk midway by Riverrun's trebuchets. Count Andros drowned, and the remaining landing soldiers were annihilated by the Northern Army.
At the same time, Robb Stark, with 2,000 North Cavalry, and the Riverrun garrison led by Count Tytos Blackwood, launched a pincer attack and broke through the Lannister's West Camp.
Ser Foller Prester had no choice but to lead the remaining 5,000 Westerlands soldiers in a night retreat towards Golden Tooth in the Westerlands.
Harrenhal's Great Hall.
Lord Tywin Lannister sat with his fingers interlocked, resting his chin, his short golden beard framing an unmoving face, like a mask.
He spoke, "My son is in their hands."
The messenger's tattered sleeveless surcoat bore the dried bloodstains covering the Crakehall Family's brindled boar on its chest. His voice was filled with weariness: "Yes, Lord Tywin."
The lords and knights summoned by Lord Tywin all fell silent, listening to the messenger recount how Robb Stark had lifted the siege of Riverrun.
After the messenger finished, Lord Harris Swyft (Kevan's father-in-law) spoke, "Gods, how is this possible?"
His voice was like a wail: "What was Ser Jaime thinking… How could he divide the army into three encampments? Surely he must have known the risks involved?"
"I would have done the same!"
Kevan Lannister looked coldly at his father-in-law and continued, "Lord Harris, I suggest you first look at a map of Riverrun. I believe once you've seen it… you will understand that Jaime had no choice."
The lords murmured amongst themselves.
"The Little Stark is too cunning. Who would have thought he would secretly divide his forces?! So, this defeat cannot be blamed entirely on Ser Jaime alone!"
"Even if it was a night attack, did your sentries see nothing? Did they give you no warning?"
"We need support. I think we should quickly raise a new army from the Westerlands."
"Did Ser Foller only take 5,000 soldiers? This… Gods save us."
"My father, my lord father he…"
"Damn Tyroshi Sellswords, they actually defected to the enemy!"
"Those who fight for money will only fight for their own pockets."
Lord Tywin usually remained silent during meetings, accustomed to listening to others' opinions before speaking.
Lord Tywin's silence today was somewhat unusual; as he listened, only his eyes moved, and he didn't even touch his wine.
Kevan's father-in-law wailed again, "Ser Jaime captured, and the besieging army routed, this is a disaster!"
Ser Adam Marbrand's voice carried a hint of anger: "Lord Harris, we are all grateful for you pointing out the obvious, but the immediate priority now is… what should our next step be?"
Adam Marbrand is a knight from the Marbrand Family, the son and heir of Lord Damon Marbrand of Ashemark in the Westerlands.
Ser Adam is an excellent horseman. He served as a page at Casterly Rock from a young age and was a childhood friend of Jaime Lannister.
Harris Swyft spread his hands and said, "What else can be done? Jaime's army has either been killed, captured, or scattered, and the Stark Family and Tully Family armies are now blocking our supply lines. Our connection to the west is completely cut off! They can even march openly on Casterly Rock, and who could stop them?"
His gaze swept over everyone, and he said mournfully, "My Lords, we have been defeated. We should sue for peace immediately."
Ser Adam clenched his fist and said, "One defeat does not determine the success or failure of the entire war. We are far from defeated!"
He looked at Lord Tywin and said loudly, "Lord Tywin, I would be delighted to personally contend with this Stark Little Wolf Cub on the battlefield! In my opinion, we should advance immediately!"
Some people seconded Ser Adam's call for war, while others seconded Lord Harris's call for peace, and the hall once again erupted in clamor.
Suddenly, Lord Tywin rose abruptly and repeated once more, "My son is in their hands!"
The hall immediately fell silent.
Lord Tywin said coldly, "Leave, all of you!"
The lords and knights of the Westerlands were accustomed to obeying Tywin Lannister's commands, and they all rose and left.
Lord Tywin then said, "Kevan, you stay."
Lord Tywin sat back in his chair and said, "Kevan, if the Direwolf Lord were in our hands, we could use him as a bargaining chip to reach a truce with Winterfell and Riverrun. This would give us time to focus entirely on Stannis. But now…"
His hand clenched into a fist, and he continued, "Cersei can't even control a disobedient child…"
After a moment of hesitation, Kevan spoke, "Lord Tywin, Tyrion is doing… not bad over there. You can rest assured."
Lord Tywin snorted coldly, a subtle flicker of disgust crossing his thin lips.
After a moment of silence, he spoke, "Kevan, my daughter commands us to immediately proceed to King's Landing, to help defend King's Landing against Stannis."
He pursed his lips and added, "Note, she commands us in the name of the King and the Small Council."
Ser Kevan: "…"
After a pause, Ser Kevan still spoke, "Lord Tywin, Cersei is after all in… the Red Keep. She… might not fully understand the situation outside."
Lord Tywin snorted coldly again, saying, "What if she did understand? She would still treat the tiny King's Landing as the entire Seven Kingdoms."
After a pause, Ser Kevan spoke, "Lord Tywin, Stannis is indeed very dangerous right now."
Lord Tywin frowned and said, "From the beginning, I have considered Stannis more dangerous than everyone else combined. Given the current situation… Kevan, bring me the map."
Ser Kevan immediately complied. Lord Tywin took the map and spread it flat on the table.
Lord Tywin gazed at the map and said, "Since Jaime has been captured, his army no longer exists. He has left us with a mess… Roose Bolton, with most of the Northern infantry, is stationed to our north, and Robb Stark, with the North Cavalry, is holding the west… Unless we go to war, we cannot retreat to Lannisport and Casterly Rock."
He pointed to Storms End on the map and continued, "I have received intelligence that Stannis is there, consolidating the forces Renly left behind."
Ser Kevan's forehead furrowed into deep lines. He looked at the map and frowned, saying, "Right now, Robb Stark has the support of the Riverlands. Their total strength exceeds our army, plus the more than ten thousand Northern troops led by Roose Bolton… Lord Tywin, staying here, I fear we will be attacked from three sides."
Lord Tywin nodded slightly and said, "I do not intend to stay here. We must deal with the Little Wolf Cub before Stannis marches. I am not worried about Bolton; he is a cautious man, and his pursuit will not be swift. So…"
His gaze left the map and turned to his brother: "Tomorrow morning, we will set out for Riverrun. Kevan, order Ser Adam to lead the light cavalry to conceal our army's movements, in small teams of four. Give him as many men as he needs."
He then said, "Send out Ser Amory Lorch, and have him lead the Mountain's old men to raid everywhere…"
Amory Lorch was a landed knight (owning his own castle and lands, with peasants and soldiers under his command) who served the Lannister Family directly. He was considered a cruel and narrow-minded man.
During the Usurper's War, when King's Landing fell, he dragged Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, only 3 years old, from under her father Rhaegar Targaryen's bed and cruelly stabbed her dozens of times.
Afterward, when Tywin Lannister, who had ordered the killings, asked him why he did it, Lorch replied that it was because she kept screaming and wouldn't shut up.
Lord Tywin continued to give orders: "Send out Vargo Hoat's Brave Companions as well…"
The Brave Companions, also known as the Bloody Mummers, were a notorious Sellsword company whose members were primarily criminals and exiles from various places.
Rumor had it that because Vargo Hoat, the leader of the Brave Companions, enjoyed cutting off the hands and feet of prisoners, they were also known as "the Foot-Hunters."
Finally, Lord Tywin's voice was like a howling cold wind: "Kevan, you tell them, from God's Eye Lake to the Red Fork River… I want the Riverlands turned into scorched earth."
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