Chapter 286 Wolf Born
The ancient Red King's Road stretches on a bumpy uphill slope, with the narrow moon in the sky. The cavalry of White Harbor stay behind, while the hills in front are already filled with the flags of the Stark, Severn and Horwood families, and Stark's direwolves. Standing side by side with Hornwood's northern moose, riding Severn's black battle ax, the flag is as shadowy as the mountains and grass.
The remnant army of the Glover family entered from the rear right. The team of less than 300 people could only rely on friendship to recognize each other. They escaped from the ironborn ax and could not even bring out a decent family flag.
With the broken cloth armor draped on his body, he was extremely shabby compared to the elite White Harbor Cavalry.
Harrenhal has released most of the northern captives, and this group of people has been integrated in Moat Cailin, including Lord Gelbert Glover who escaped from the south.
The morale of the army was temporarily stable, and Eddard Stark rode his horse, panting heavily in the cold wind.
"Duke," Galbert Glover came over with his horse, "I want to serve as the second echelon in the battle to regain Winterfell." The earl's cheeks trembled in the cold wind, and the atmosphere was a bit embarrassing. , he said in a low voice, "If I continue to be a pioneer, Deepwood Castle may not survive this winter."
Ed nodded. It was his decision to divide the troops in Horwood City. Let the families that suffered greater losses in the war take the credit for recovering Winterfell. He would lead White Harbor and the family troops with relatively intact strength along the Red King's ancient road. Heading towards Lonely Mountain, march slowly to stop Bolton.
The Glover family's presence in Winterfell also facilitates the next attack on the Ironborn, and Deepwood Castle is still in Greyjoy's hands.
"Ser Caleb Condon and his five hundred men are the vanguard to regain Winterfell. You don't have to worry about this," Eddard said. There was no worry in his cold eyes. After all, after the little skinned one was dealt with, Winterfell There may be almost no one guarding them. "Earl Meech Severn has returned to Severn City first. They can even take back Winterfell unilaterally. You only need to ensure the contact with me from the rear."
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Gabbert nodded without saying anything, pulled his hood and led the horse away.
The army has been marching for seven days after leaving Horwood City. Earl Meech and Sir Keller have already led the advance army westward to cross the White Knife River. Earl Glover is still holding on with his men. Ed has guessed this early. As long as he sees through his thoughts but doesn't tell them, neither of them will be embarrassed.
He was the one who caused everyone misery. Eddard deliberately remained reserved, and no one among his men mentioned Robb who was still at Harrenhal.
Also have decency with each other.
Marching late at night was not conducive to the war situation. After most of the troops occupied the hills in front of them and looked at the long foothills surrounding them, Ed ordered to set up camp. The scouts and cavalry left the camp and rushed in all directions. The scouts during the day happened to gather and return to camp. This place was originally It was their pre-set rendezvous point.
The moonlight is cold and gloomy, but the people from the north who will never forget have finally returned to their own land. Even if it is still snowing lightly, and even if the air still hurts the throat, the enthusiasm of returning home still makes the camp a little less tragic.
Information about the terrain and Bolton's movements were also sent to Ed's camp when the scouts returned.
Daisy Mormont, the brave warrior who followed Robb southward, returned to camp surrounded by sergeants.
It was a great move for him to put her in charge of the Scout Cavalry. This Mormont bear had almost no shortcomings and rarely made mistakes in investigation. Her own intelligence analysis ability was even comparable to his own, and Eddard also knew a lot about her. To help Robb in the south, if his son could be less arrogant and listen more to the advice of others.
No ifs, no ifs.
Eddard kept turning over the letters sent by the scouts. Some of the scouts could write, while others could only be conveyed by Daisy Mormont orally.
"There is no trace of Bolton for dozens of miles around." Daisy concluded after presenting the scouts' intelligence.
There was no danger around, Ed made his judgment.
He put down the letter and the sketch the scout had drawn, and looked up at Daisy Mormont, who was standing upright.
"Any news from the south?"
"There has been no raven sent from Carlin Bay so far, at least there is no news from Horwood City." Daisy answered briefly and directly.
But Mormont did not close his mouth. He opened his mouth slightly, as if he was about to speak.
"Anything else to say?" Ed asked.
Daisy took a breath and said bluntly: "I'm worried about the sea monster and Bolton uniting."
Ed remained unmoved and stared at Daisy, "Go on."
"The ravens have been sent to all parts of the North. Even the nobles who were dissatisfied with Stark because of the Young Wolf Lord will now be shaken because of you. Now only Cahor City, Last Hearth and Wilderness Village have not responded, and the rest are all Oath of allegiance, Karstark and Amber's people left in the city are all in the Seal Bay area. Maybe the letter may have been intercepted by Bolton's people, and although Dustin did not reply, it is unlikely to attack from behind. We.”
That's not necessarily the case, Ed thought, choosing to continue listening.
"Bolton has no choice. He has reached the end of his rope. He can only cooperate with the sea monster."
Ed put his hands on the desk, remained silent for a long time, and sighed.
Daisy heard words that were unimaginable to her.
"You should be Robb's wife." Daisy pursed her lips. She could feel the loneliness in the Duke's mouth.
"Mormont's men are all warriors. They think about the battle on the sword first, and the pregnancy bed second." She said seriously, and no one could restrain the Young Wolf Lord at his peak.
A few chuckles came from Ed's mouth, but he nodded appreciatively, even though he thought the woman was thinking far ahead.
He thought for a while and asked Daisy: "How is Robb doing at Harrenhal?"
Daisy hesitated for a while, looked into the Duke's eyes, and told him everything she had seen at Harrenhal.
"Your son was not tortured in any way. Robb only spent a short time in the dungeons of Harrenhal before being moved to a tower at Harrenhal. Although he was carefully guarded, the Valemen did not do anything to him. , and we saw him behind the battlements under the city gate when we were released.”
Ed nodded silently, at least it was much better than he thought.
"You leave." Ed said to her.
Daisy nodded, turned and left the camp.
Ed took a few deep breaths to calm his heart and recalled Daisy's guess.
The Skinners and Sea Monsters unite. He has discussed this issue with Marlon Manderly a long time ago, but so far he does not know any news about Greyjoy and the Ironborn. He only knows that they have opened the King Selection. , but no one told him the result.
The northern border is too isolated, and few nobles from the south travel thousands of miles to send trained ravens to the cold north, so news and intelligence are never dominant.
Moreover, the war in the south was probably not over yet. He did not yet know the outcome of the war south of the Neck. There was no king to send ravens to Winterfell or the White Harbor faction. The north seemed to be ignored, and the news was never shared.
So, who is the master of the Iron Islands now?
Is it Victarion, or Asha Greyjoy, the sea monster?
All in all, Theon Eddard won't have mixed feelings.
He frowned. If the sea monster and Bolton united, Winterfell must be captured as quickly as possible. Once the ironborn penetrate deep into the interior of the north, they will die. Unless Bolton and Bolton look after each other, the ironborn will not be able to survive in the north at all. It’s snowing weather again to survive.
Winterfell is a possible intersection between the two.
Severn City is less than half a day's journey south of Winterfell. Madam Qiao Lier's scouts have been scouting for information from the Wolf Wood to the area around Winterfell, and will definitely report any changes in time.
If Bolton and the Ironborn really reach a cooperation.
The memory of the Stark family, which has been passed down for thousands of years, was evoked deep in Ed's heart.
The North will never be forgotten
If this is the case, Bolton is equivalent to self-destructing the Great Wall, just like the dilapidated Red King Avenue. Without new disputes, it will only be permanently abandoned in the long river of history.
Thinking of this, Ed's hanging heart sank. He stroked the rough desk and looked at the giant sword "Ice" hanging on the wall. He once again thought of Attis Arryn's conversation with him, and his eyes became serious again. stand up.
Daisy Mormont wiped her sword with a handkerchief dipped in water in the blue moonlight, over and over again.
The scattered dirty snow was a bit dazzling in the refraction, so she simply turned around, facing away from Narrow Moon, and breathed on the sword.
The smooth and flawless white blade of the sword appeared on her face. She did not have the delicate and fair skin of the southern noble lady, and it felt rough and hard. She put away the sword, half-lying in the tent while hugging her, closing her eyes and preparing to fall asleep.
But the rustling footsteps kept her awake.
"My lord," his own bodyguard whispered. He was one of the seventeen bodyguards who followed Mormont back from the south. The rest were either buried in the hills of the Westerlands or in the streams of the Riverlands.
"The scouts came to report that there is a Bolton team lurking in the woods in the northeast."
"How many?"
"There are less than fifty people, they should be a group of advance scouts."
Daisy stood up, "I will inform the Duke and let the soldiers prepare to see blood."
"Yes!"
(End of chapter)