The vast forest made their march slow, though fertile farmlands and orchards dotted the landscape. Military camps now surrounded Rain House, a city recently captured by the army led by Cole.
During the creation of this professional army, Cole had strictly enforced discipline among his soldiers, forbidding any burning, killing, or looting during wartime.
Cole sat alone in his tent, deep in thought after their victory against the Rainwood forces. It was Camillo's unexpected flanking maneuver from beyond the mountains that had turned the tide, catching the Rainwood forces by surprise.
Ser Aemon Estermont had been slain by a cavalryman named Gabriel, whom Cole had personally knighted on the spot.
His feelings were even more complex after the capture of Rain House. Cole quietly gazed at the map. Despite the win, he felt no sense of accomplishment.
In this battle, which he had initiated and commanded, his performance as a leader was terrible. He had severely underestimated his enemy and failed to understand them thoroughly. He also proved incompetent in seizing battlefield opportunities.
He was merely a rookie leading an army, and a few easy victories and some flattery had led him to overstate his own abilities. Without dragons, immense power, or the Eye of Time, he would be an ordinary person with no special talents.
He tried to recall his mindset when he first left the Wall. Back then, he was consumed by a sense of crisis, viewing everything in Westeros as a devastating tidal wave.
He simply wanted to find a peaceful place to live and save his own life. At that time, he was unaware of the destiny he carried, seeing himself as rootless driftwood, with no idea what impact he would have on the world.
He moved cautiously, like a child testing the darkness. What had changed him? Was it power, strength, or the dragons? And what kind of person would these changes transform him into?
He picked up a list of Seven Kingdoms nobles he carried. The first page read "Aegon the Conqueror." Flipping through it casually, he saw "King Aegon the Unworthy" and "Aemon the Dragonknight." Further on, he found "Daemon Blackfyre" and "Brynden Rivers." He gently closed the book.
An officer entered the tent. "My lord, this news has just arrived."
Cole took the dispatches and began to examine the news from Storm's End.
News from the North and King's Landing
The news from the North was grim: the Northern Army, led by Eddard Stark, had suffered a devastating defeat on the plains north of Duskendale. Their main force was almost annihilated by the Reach Army, led by Randyll Tarly.
The Reach Army had advanced north, lifting the Northerners' siege of Riverrun. Simultaneously, Walder Frey's betrayal had forced Robb Stark's army into a battle with the Reach Army on the Blue Fork.
Robb Stark had led his army in a breakout and had now retreated to the Neck. The North had completely lost control of the Riverlands. Cole put down the letter, frustrated. The people of the North aren't strong enough!
The next letter came from King's Landing. Old Tywin was preparing to move against Dragonstone. The letter from King's Landing called for their participation in this action. They were still bogged down in the Rainwood.
Although he was dealing with the enemy as quickly as possible, he couldn't disengage immediately. Besides, it was still unclear whether the Golden Company was an ally or an enemy. Of course, this applied to "Aegon," not Cole himself, at the moment.
The Martell family seemed to be closely watching the Targaryens across the Narrow Sea, so Dorne would be responsible for influencing their secret alliance.
Cole was eager to integrate the Stormlands and prepare for the Dragon Mother's arrival across the sea. He had hoped the Starks could keep the Lannisters occupied in the Riverlands, but as soon as he left the Stormlands, the Starks were driven back to the North. Now, Cole was even a little worried that the Lannisters might try to feign an attack and move on him.
After all, the remaining strength of Storm's End was not much better than that of the Riverlands. The low proportion of knights in the Storm's End and Rainwood armies highlighted the region's weakened state; it was this near-destitute situation that had forced them into this civil war.
Of course, with the Free Folk entrenched in the Kingswood, Cole had a land barrier, but the sea was another matter. All the ships of the Stormlands were currently with him.
The Rainwood had only just over twenty large ships, and Storm's End possessed a mere ten thin warships. He was somewhat reluctant to withdraw his troops now.
Clearly, once he captured Greenstone, he would be the sole authority in the entire Stormlands, but at this moment, the situation in the North had suddenly changed.
Shireen and Lord Swann
Another piece of news arrived from the North, with no indication of its source.
Bang!
He slammed the letter onto the table. Shireen had been taken north by the Queen's party. Rage surged within him. What was Melisandre trying to do? What damned prophecy did the Lord of Light give you to make you travel thousands of miles to the North? He thought of Shireen, and his anger mixed with worry. He didn't dare to guess what mad actions those fanatical followers of the Red God might take.
"Your Highness, Lord Gillen Swann is asking for an audience outside the camp," José said, entering the tent.
Cole calmed his heaving chest. "Bring him to me." Although he should have gone to greet him in person, the late arrival of Lord Swann displeased him, not to mention his current anger. After José left, Cole composed himself, trying to suppress his fury until Gillen Swann, clad in armor, entered the tent.
"Bring the Earl a chair," he ordered the officer.
"I trust your health is well?" Cole inquired, looking at the seated Earl of Stonehelm. Swann controlled the land from the red soil to the Cape of Wrath on Dorne's eastern border, a house with a long history and considerable strength.
Crucially, they had suffered minimal losses in the series of battles throughout the Stormlands. Therefore, after Cole defeated the Rainwood coalition, he had stationed another army near Stonehelm as a deterrent.
Two fighting swans, one white and one black, were etched onto Earl Swann's ornate armor. In choosing between the Baratheon and Lannister camps, the border earl had decided to bet on both sides.
His eldest son had fought for Stannis before the Battle of the Blackwater, and his second son was the current Kingsguard, Ser Balon Swann. Cole had seen Ser Balon in King's Landing; he was a strong man with thick arm muscles, a very good knight, and had a good reputation.
At present, both of Earl Swann's sons were in King's Landing, making Cole 100% certain that this Stormlands lord was allied with the Lannisters. Cole picked up the wine glass and poured wine for him. Gullian Swann's demeanor, to some extent, mirrored Tywin's attitude.