In the wilderness on the west bank of the Upper Rhoyne River, the remaining Greenvine Family cavalry and retainers, although still guarding the carriages and supplies, had not yet recovered from the recent storm and were still in a dazed state.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The rousing sound of hooves rose, and the banners they carried were the seven-pointed star banners representing the faith of the Seven Gods; besides these, there were also the three-headed god banners of the Tyroshi.
The burly and strong Yorn Greenvine arrived at the camp with his two hundred cavalry and three hundred hired Tyroshi mercenaries.
Yorn was a strong warrior, always responsible for managing the family's guard. Unlike his reserved elder brother Jake, he was very supportive of Lord Aman's current actions.
"What? My father and brother were both captured by that silver-haired brat? How is this possible?" Yorn Greenvine roared, grabbing a servant's clothes, his voice hoarse, after dismounting to observe.
The anticipated scene had not occurred; Yorn's army was originally just a reserve force, meant to assist Patriarch Aman Greenvine's operation.
Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, the Greenvine Family's plans had fallen apart.
"Yes, Young Master. There was a slight mishap when we made our move. Viserys came and took control of Lord Aman, pinning his palm with a dagger. The gladiator failed to control Viserys and was instead killed by Viserys's guards," the servant said timidly.
"What about the Unsullied?" Yorn panted.
"The Unsullied only obey Lord Aman's commands. Lord Aman told them to stop..."
"Why are so many of our family's cavalry missing?"
"Some people were dissatisfied with Lord Aman's blasphemous actions and left with them," the servant whispered.
"Seven Gods, this is truly terrible..." Yorn Greenvine dropped the horsewhip in his hand and began to ponder the catastrophic defeat that would follow the failure of this plan; the Greenvine Family was the sole victim.
Especially an abduction that disregarded guest hospitality like this, it would surely tarnish the Greenvine Family's reputation.
Once Viserys returned to the fortress and rallied the andals to slay them, the Greenvine Family's fate was already hanging by a thread.
"How long have they been gone?"
"They left a short while ago, not far yet."
"Young Master, you don't know how insidious that Viserys is, and there's also that tower-like strongman Argus next to him, who directly chopped off the gladiator's head. Why don't we go back? We can pay some ransom then and buy back Lord Aman and Young Master Jake," the servant suggested.
"Damn it." Yorn gripped his horsewhip tightly, his thoughts racing like lightning.
The bad news was that his father and brother were captured; the good news was that if they died in the chaos, he would be the rightful heir.
"Are we doing this or not?" The purple-haired Tyroshi mercenary leader urged impatiently. "We've taken your money, but we're only responsible for this one action. If we go back, the money is still ours."
Yorn gritted his teeth. The only option now was a head-on confrontation. If he eliminated all of Viserys's people, the news would naturally not leak.
"But the enemy still has a fortress. What if we rush in and encounter an ambush?" Yorn protested softly.
"What's there to fear?" The Tyroshi man stroked his beard disdainfully. "The andals are just a bunch of bandits, and the men I've brought this time are all top-notch Tyroshi warriors. I don't believe they have the guts. Are you going to pursue or not?"
Yorn steeled himself. All the military strength was in his hands now. If he launched a full-scale attack, not only would Viserys be killed, but his father and brother might also 'accidentally' die in the chaos.
By then, he would absolutely be the unique king of the Greenvine Family—no, of the andals.
"Many things aren't about whether you can succeed, but whether you dare?"
The Tyroshi man's words ignited Yorn's greed. With these foreign reinforcements, the probability of success was high.
War was about taking risks, and he had to seize this opportunity.
"All forces, charge! We must intercept that brat Viserys before he returns to the castle and rescue my father and brother." Yorn raised his horsewhip. The most crucial thing now was speed, speed.
"Yes, sir," the cavalry troop roared like the heart of a wild beast, beginning to cross the river and ride towards an unpredictable future.
Yorn Greenvine felt like a raging wind; he seemed to already see the dawn of victory.
The brat Viserys and the brute Argus would have their heads chopped off by him, and his father and brother would also cleverly die in the chaos.
Only he, Lord Yorn, would not only accomplish his revenge, sell the Targaryen orphan girl for a good price, but also become the supreme king of the andals.
Thinking of this, Yorn's warhorse ran even faster.
"Lord Yorn, enemy cavalry movement has been spotted ahead. They are right in front of us."
"Excellent." Yorn was very satisfied; only one pursuit was needed.
Yorn had already seen the enemy's black and red royal army banner. With their numerical and combat advantages, he was confident of victory.
The Greenvine Family's army roared as they chased the enemy forces ahead, hooves thundering over the muddy mountain paths, which were a characteristic feature of the Andals Hills.
However, as the cavalry ahead grew closer, Yorn felt an ominous sensation. They seemed to have ridden into a narrow passage between two unknown hills.
Now, despite the obvious numerical advantage of his two armies, the enemy cavalry ahead remained completely unchaotic, instead acting like hounds chasing rabbits.
From the ridge, Viserys watched the approaching troops. Now was the perfect opportunity.
"Didn't you say the andals couldn't defeat the Tyroshi?" Viserys asked, looking at the bound Aman and Jake, then smiled and replied, "Then today, I will accomplish it."
A look of terror appeared on Aman's face. He had long understood that this seemingly handsome and dashing young man was no angel; on the contrary, he was a devil in war and the arena of power.
Aman regretted more and more why he, with nothing to do, had provoked this madman.
"Money, money, we have money!" Aman shrieked, his voice broken.
Viserys scoffed. After killing them, all that money would still be his.
Four hundred yards!
Three hundred yards!
Two hundred fifty!
The longbowmen on the hills were already eager, having spotted the distinctive purple, red, blue, and other colored hair of the Tyroshi.
"Draw your bows!" The master archer Hugo raised his hand. All the longbowmen were ready, their bodies coiled like tightly wound springs.
"Fire!"
The andal longbowmen's bowstrings roared, and arrows rained down.
The most skilled longbowmen could ensure the speed and force of their shots, guaranteeing maximum lethality at this timing and distance.
Arrows surged fiercely into the narrow passage between the hills, towards the Greenvine Family cavalry and Tyroshi mercenaries.
In an instant, the Stranger began to harvest lives on a grand scale.
"Retreat!"
"Quickly retreat!" Yorn Greenvine shouted. This was not an opportunity for glory. On the contrary, it was a death trap prepared for him by the enemy.
Horses neighed in the arrow rain, then one by one they fell to the ground, bringing down the cavalry on them.
"Hurry." Yorn was still directing his army until he saw an arrow flying towards him, directly pinning his chest and abdomen.
Pain. Yorn Greenvine fell from his horse amidst increasing agony.
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)