"For the glory of the Vale of Arryn!"
The Valley Knights struggled forward in the muddy terrain, the neighing of warhorses and the shouts of the cavalry intertwined.
However, the pride and courage of the knights alone could not make the horses advance smoothly through the mud pit; more and more warhorses suddenly fell to the ground, throwing off the knights on their saddles.
"For the glory of the Valley Knights!"
More and more horses were startled, and the Valley Knights tried to control their warhorses, but it was all in vain; they became even more frantic, crashing everywhere, and the cavalry formation instantly became chaotic.
Doo-doo, doo-doo, doodoodoodoodoodoo, the horn of the Vale suddenly sounded; it was the signal for retreat.
Most of the cavalry completely sobered up at the sound of this retreat horn; they had no choice but to despairingly admit... the Valley Knights had truly lost, they had lost to the despicable wildlings.
But there were still many who, like gamblers who had lost all their possessions, ignored the retreat horn; they absolutely could not accept that the Valley Knights had lost to the wildlings of Crabclaw Point, and they wanted to continue forward, for the glory of the Vale of Arryn.
This also brought even greater chaos to the Valley Knights.
...
Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo, Kleber's long horn sound echoed across the battlefield.
More than 1,000 Crabclaw Point warriors, mainly Klaeber Tribe Soldiers, marched out of the battle formation under the command of Amparo Thornes, their weapons mainly consisting of poleaxes, warhammers, battle axes, and other armor-piercing weapons.
Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo, the horn sound quickly rang out again, and more than 500 Kleber spearmen marched out of the army formation, following closely behind.
Their target was the Valley people wailing and struggling in the mud, and Lord Green's order was—no prisoners needed.
...
...
That night, in the camp of the Alliance of the Righteous.
Countess Anya Waynwood, with red eyes, said tearfully, "Gods, Lord Jon... he really... How could this be?! How dare they... How dare they..."
Ser Jeewood said in a deep voice, "Given Lord Royce's standing in the Seven Kingdoms, no matter where he is, even as a captive, he should be treated with respect and courtesy."
He looked at Lord Horton Redfort and continued, "Lord Horton, could it be... a mistake? The Kleber Family..."
He paused, then added, "After all, the half-wildlings are not truly barbarians."
Lord Horton Redfort stared silently at the brazier, and after a long silence, he finally spoke with a trembling voice, "My son, he, his son, they are all dead, truly all dead."
"Gods forgive me..." Lady Anya sadly closed her eyelids.
Ser Jeewood suddenly stood up, paused, then said hoarsely with grief, "This is murder! This is a crime! His crimes are unforgivable! We must protest to King Joffrey and demand a fair trial for Greene Kleber's wickedness under the witness of the Seven Gods!"
"Red Keep?"
Lord Horton sighed a long, weary breath and said, "The current Red Keep is not the same place it was when Lord Jon Arryn was alive. If the Old Duke were still here... hah... If he were still here... who would dare challenge the Vale, would Kleber dare?"
He shook his head and added, "Before King Joffrey comes of age, everyone knows the Red Keep belongs to Lannister, and Lord Kleber is Queen Cersei's favorite minister. Perhaps they will treat our protest as a joke."
Lady Anya reminded him, "Lord Horton, we must protest to the Red Keep; we must quickly let the Seven Kingdoms know of Lord Kleber's barbaric atrocities in the Vale."
After speaking, she couldn't help but murmur, "Seven Hells..."
Lord Horton said sadly, "Today's agreed battle is known throughout the Seven Kingdoms; I'm afraid they will mock the honor of the Valley Knights even more then..."
Lady Anya shook her head slightly; she reminded him again, "Lord Horton, I can understand your concerns, but... who can accept such a horrifying outcome? The knightly families of the Arryn Family, passed down for a thousand years, have almost all... In just half a day, they have disappeared forever. This is an unforgivable act of barbarism by the Gods... This can no longer be explained away by merely using the excuse of an agreed battle; no good person in the Seven Kingdoms will forgive such cruel brutality."
Lord Horton nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, this is no longer a matter of kingdom law, wise Lady Anya."
Ser Jeewood said resentfully, "All Crabclaw Point people must pay for this blood debt!"
Lady Anya sighed and said, "We must first speak with the Red Keep..."
Lady Anya's words were interrupted by a sudden commotion outside the tent.
Not long after, Lord Lyono Corbray of Heart's Home strode in, saying as he walked, "Good evening, my lords, please forgive my intrusion."
"Lord Corbray?"
"You should have had your guard announce you before entering; that is basic courtesy."
"Why are you here?"
Lord Lyono first sat down in an empty seat nearby, then he scanned the three solemn-faced individuals and said, "I felt the sorrow emanating from here from a great distance. As a vassal of the Arryn Family, I had no choice but to intrude."
Lady Anya, Lord Horton, and Ser Jeewood exchanged glances, and Lady Anya spoke, "Lord Corbray, I would rather see honesty from a man of the Vale, not insincere excuses."
Lord Lyono shrugged and said, "Lady Anya, Lord Horton, Ser Jeewood, in the name of the Duke of Eyrie, I have brought you reinforcements tonight."
Lord Horton frowned and said, "Duke Robert?"
"Following Lady Anya's instructions, I will be direct..."
Lord Lyono curled his lips and continued, "It is Lord Baelish, Duke Robert's foster father, who ordered me to bring aid to the Alliance of the Righteous."
Ser Jeewood scoffed, "You truly arrived just in time. I must inform you... Lord Corbray, you are too late."
Lord Lyono spread his hands and said, "It is precisely because of the Alliance of the Righteous's defeat that I have intruded here... According to Lord Petyr's instructions, if you had won, my task would have been to reclaim Seagull Town from the wildlings, and then conveniently retrieve my own things."
Ser Jeewood snorted, "We will reclaim Seagull Town ourselves; the Alliance of the Righteous will never accept Lysa Tully's help. We haven't forgotten that she is the murderer who poisoned Lord Jon Arryn."
Lady Anya echoed, "Lord Corbray, as vassals of House Arryn, we must ensure the murderer receives due judgment."
Lord Horton nodded, also stating his stance.
Lord Lyono sighed, paused, his expression turning serious, and said, "Lady Anya, Lord Horton, Ser Jeewood, I wish to inform you... not long ago, Lysa Tully chose to pass away because she could not forgive herself for the sins she had committed..."
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