Kleyber gestured for the others to leave, leaving only himself, Gryphon Huth, and Miranda Hersy in the small hall.
Kleyber did not return to the dining table but sat in the chair in front of the fireplace; he leaned back in the chair and rubbed his brow.
Baron Gryphon quickly walked over and knelt before Kleyber, saying, "My Lord, I am ashamed of my presumptuous cleverness, and I dare not ask for your forgiveness; I only ask for your punishment."
Kleyber's soft sigh was heard, and Baron Gryphon bowed his head even lower.
After a pause, he said, "Gryphon, the second heir of House Arryn is locked in a cell in Iron Oaks."
Baron Gryphon looked up at Kleyber's calm face and cautiously said, "My Lord, are you referring to Hallyne?"
Kleyber nodded his chin and said, "Merit is merit, and fault is fault, but... merit can sometimes compensate for some faults."
His brown eyes looked at Baron Gryphon, and he continued, "Use him to prove your loyalty to Kleyber to the people of the Vale... If you do well, I will not only completely forget tonight's unpleasantness, but I will also make the Hersy Family one of the most distinguished families in the Vale.
You can take this as my promise to you; Kleyber never forgets."
Baron Gryphon's pupils contracted; he spoke loudly, "Yes, Lord Kleyber.
The Hersy Family will forever remember your kindness and grace."
"Miss Miranda, please, help Baron Gryphon up."
...
The next day, at dawn, Reon Hersy led 52 elite Blue Cloaks up the mountain path to the Eyrie.
Near evening, with the support of Ser Vadis, Kleyber's swamp marigold banner fluttered atop the spires of the Eyrie, and the Duke of Eyrie, Warden of the Vale, true Warden of the East, Robert Arryn, became Kleyber's captive.
...
...
Although the House Stark-Tully led by Robb Stark was invincible in the Westerlands, his plan to ambush the Lannister Army reinforcements in the Westerlands was ruined because Edmure Tully blocked Duke Tywin's return at the Red Fork River.
When Kevan Lannister returned to the Westerlands, he commanded the Lannister Army in the Westerlands to set up defenses at strategic locations, which left Robb Stark, who relied mainly on cavalry, temporarily without a countermeasure.
Later, Robb set his sights on Casterly Rock, located on the western coast of the Westerlands, whose walls had fallen into disrepair over the years.
Robb intended to capture Casterly Rock and use it as their temporary stronghold in the Westerlands, to rest his troops and, at the same time, use the port of Casterly Rock to transport the treasures plundered by his lords in the Westerlands by sea to appease his army.
However, Casterly Rock's dilapidated walls withstood repeated assaults from the House Stark-Tully.
With Casterly Rock resisting for so long, Robb Stark, in desperation, personally joined the siege.
The King of the North and King of the Trident's participation instantly boosted the House Stark-Tully's morale during the siege; although Casterly Rock was eventually captured, Robb was shot in the shoulder with an arrow and fell unconscious.
...
Inside Casterly Rock, Robb, who had been unconscious for two days and two nights, laboriously opened his eyelids; he hoarsely murmured, "Water... water..."
"That's great, you're finally awake? Oh... please wait..."
Robb vaguely heard a cheerful voice; after being given water, he vaguely saw chestnut hair right before his eyes, and then quickly lost consciousness.
When Robb woke up again, it was already the afternoon of the next day.
The young woman was carefully changing the dressing on Robb's wound; she was slender, with a heart-shaped face beneath her curly chestnut hair.
After tidying up, the young woman's brown eyes looked at Robb, who was staring at her; her cheeks seemed to be slightly flushed from shyness.
The young woman's voice was soft: "Stark King, you are very strong; I think you will recover very quickly."
Robb's voice was still a bit hoarse: "Thank you for your care... I believe this is the first time I've seen you; who are you?"
The young woman's lips curved upwards, revealing a row of white teeth: "Your Majesty, I am Janei Westerling; it is my honor."
Janei Westerling's smile was like summer sunshine, and Robb's lips couldn't help but curve upwards as well: "It is my honor to be cared for by you, thank you again, Miss Westerling."
"Perhaps... you can just call me Jeyne, King."
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