Lord Tytos and Ser Edmure felt that everything that happened today was too mind-bending. However, broken limbs and bones were normal occurrences on the battlefield, a reality Knights had to face.
"Please enter Riverrun," Lord Tytos invited.
"No need," Lord Gendry shook his head. "Our numbers are too great; we will encamp tonight in the former Lannister camp."
Lord Tytos was somewhat puzzled, not knowing what the savior of Riverrun was thinking.
But subsequent events interrupted Lord Tytos's thoughts. It turned out that Lord Hoster himself had come out of the city, surrounded by a retinue of Attendants, half-reclining on a low bed as he exited Riverrun. The trout-armored taxi soldiers stood on either side, guarding the poor Old Man.
"Lord Hoster, why is this necessary?" Lord Gendry couldn't help but say, looking at the Old Man before him. Perhaps only these two brothers of House Tully were considered normal.
"You, you are the King. Please forgive me for not being able to welcome you with the proper King's etiquette. I should be half-kneeling, placing my longsword at your feet, and then bending my knee," Lord Hoster said, looking at the tall warrior before him with a pained expression.
Hoster Tully had always been a large man: tall and burly in his youth, becoming somewhat corpulent in old age. Yet now he looked somewhat shrunken, all his muscles seemingly melted into his bones, his face so gaunt, appearing so pathetic.
"Father," Ser Edmure burst into tears, deeply saddened.
"Don't be like this, Child, you should rest well and then take a bath," Lord Hoster said to his son, interrupting the crying Child.
"I have not been crowned," Lord Gendry said to Lord Hoster. "So I am not yet King."
"You... you are the King's heir, the legitimate one," Lord Hoster said.
"It's windy outside, shouldn't you return to Riverrun?" Lord Gendry asked. It seemed Hoster was planning a 'bitter stratagem'?
The Riverlands now had a deep enmity with the Lannister. If they didn't align with the royal family near King's Landing, they could only rely on their in-laws. But it wasn't Stark coming to the rescue, but a legitimized bastard heir from Across the Narrow Sea. Hoster already sensed that Lord Gendry's arrival had a grand scheme. The favor of relief was hard to repay, and the Lords of the Riverlands would also favor their benefactor, especially one with a powerful army and strength.
"Let's stay here. Please light some torches; that will warm me. I have some important things to say," Lord Hoster pleaded.
"Father," Ser Edmure pleaded.
"You wait here too," Hoster said to Ser Edmure, insisting on his opinion, his eyes full of pleading.
"Very well," Lord Gendry nodded, then said to Lord Hoster. "Please, my Lord, order the Maesters or envoys to strictly forbid summoning vassals and to prevent any news of Riverrun's relief from spreading."
"Obey His Highness Gendry's command. Not a single bird, not a single message, is to be let out," Lord Hoster instructed Lord Tytos.
"Yes, my Lord," Lord Tytos nodded, not understanding Lord Gendry's intentions. Not allowing celebration or the summoning of vassals?
The military tents were already set up, occupying the former Lannister Commander's position. A roaring fire burned. Lord Gendry wanted to hear the Old Man Hoster's true feelings. Because the Commander had died hastily, nothing inside the tent had been tidied, and there were still the lion banners of House Lannister, like fresh red blood.
"I beg, I beg you to look after my family, my son Edmure. Although he is incompetent, he has a good heart and knows how to care for his people," Lord Hoster said tremblingly, wanting to kneel again.
Lord Gendry refused his action. Hoster's hand, once large, now looked withered, his skin loose over his bones, having long lost all its strength.
"How can you say that?" Lord Gendry looked at Hoster. "You have a brother, and a daughter."
"Power, the Riverlands are bound by loyalty. I only hope you will look after him a little. He truly struggles to survive in this world; it's too chaotic and bloody. He is not a born warrior, and a good heart cannot win wars," Lord Hoster pleaded.
Lord Gendry looked at the Old Man, "I will look after him a little, but only that much."
"Then, that's good," Lord Hoster's face showed sadness. "I once thought I had brought House Tully to its peak, but I never realized how vast and perilous the whirlpool of power is."
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