When Eddard arrived at the Twins, the weather was quite unpleasant; not only was it raining heavily, but strong winds were also blowing, and the sound of surging water penetrated the rain curtain, like a monster roaring.
The width of this damned river had increased by half again.
The four hundred soldiers following him also became drenched like drowned rats.
However, when the black sunburst banner arrived at the city gate, the guards on the city wall reacted extremely quickly, and soon two people ran out of the gate, both wearing heavy black wool cloaks over a layer of gleaming grey fine steel chainmail.
Eddard recognized one of them, Black Walder.
He was Lyman Frey's second son, Stevron Frey's grandson, and Walder Frey's great-grandson.
Damn it, Old Frey's grandsons could form a dozen cavalry units if they organized themselves.
This guy had a terrible temper and was quite strong, always threatening to hang this person or that person at the slightest provocation.
As the three approached, Black Walder, with his black beard, rudely asked, "Why are people from House Karstark coming to the Twins? What? Don't want to fight anymore, trying to sneak back to the North? That's a crime punishable by hanging."
Eddard did not speak, merely raising his hood to reveal his wet face.
After seeing him clearly, Black Walder taunted, "Oh, it's Young Master Eddard. I heard you're about to become the Lord of Golden Tooth. Why do you still have the leisure to visit our small place?"
Ever since defeating Tywin, he and his father, Lyman Frey, had returned to the Twins ahead of time to hold Stevron Frey's funeral.
He had heard rumors in the army, and naturally, he was very displeased.
House Frey had sent four thousand soldiers to fight to the death, and his own grandfather had died—though this wasn't necessarily a bad thing—but in the end, they gained almost nothing, while this young man, without a sound, had become a lord by flattering.
It was simply as absurd as a dragon mating with a sheep!
Eddard coldly glanced at Black Walder and said in a chilling tone, "His Majesty the King has appointed me Commander of the River Crossing Legion, to assist Walder Frey in guarding the Twins, lest the enemy take advantage of the emptiness and conquer this place."
"What, are you planning to defy the King's order? Or have you already become the Lord of the Twins, allowing you to speak to me as an equal?"
Eddard was no stranger to slandering others, and ridiculing people came even more easily to him.
"You…!"
In the pouring rain, Black Walder's eyes immediately filled with fury, his face turning unpredictable shades, his lips moving for a long time, but in the end, he dared not vent the anger in his heart, only suppressing it and saying, "How dare I compare myself to Young Master Eddard? My great-grandfather is in the city; please come with me."
After speaking, he glanced at Eddard's subordinates behind him and then said sarcastically, "However, Young Master Eddard's subordinates will have to endure the rain for a while. Until things are confirmed, the army cannot enter the city."
"No problem."
After agreeing, Eddard whispered to Dita Kalander beside him, "Arrange for our people to set up camp on the spot, then cook a good pot of meat soup, with plenty of ginger and white pepper, to help them ward off the cold. Walder is old and talks endlessly, so it will probably take at least half a day to finish talking."
"Leave it to me, my lord!"
Dita Kalander nodded, called a few subordinates, and left.
Eddard tugged the reins, making his mount move, and shouted loudly, "Black Walder, let's go!"
The horses galloped, splashing mud onto several Frey men, and Black Walder's face showed even greater anger, but he could only swallow his pride and follow them towards the Twins.
Several of Eddard's longest-serving retainers also followed on horseback.
Kalas Snow was among them; Eddard had brought back the two men who had been left at Riverrun when passing through.
Theoretically, it should no longer be necessary.
More than six hundred years ago, House Frey acquired the vast territory around the Crossing, and after long-term efforts, they built a stone fortress on each bank of the Green Fork River, with high walls, deep moats, numerous arrow towers, and murder holes, and an extremely wide moat outside the city.
Between the two fortresses, a bridge was built that was wide enough for tens of thousands of troops to pass quickly, with a guard tower in the middle for protection.
The bridge was House Frey's gold mine.
Eddard rode his horse into the bridgehead, where the layout was quite orderly: stables, barracks, warehouses, courtyards, and a sept; though not large, it was fully equipped.
In the dim hall, he saw Walder.
At this moment, Old Frey was curled up at the highest point of the hall, a fluffy mink robe spread over his knees, gleaming black under the light, and behind him, the lord's chair was made of black oak, with House Frey's emblem carved on its back—a twin city connected by an arched bridge.
This old man had lived for too long, and his body had long suffered from ailments similar to rheumatism, making him particularly uncomfortable whenever it was windy or rainy.
"Young Master Eddard, I heard you had a slight conflict with my great-grandson. Don't worry about it; when the thing between the legs is too good, it produces all sorts of little brats, and there are always some with tempers as bad as wild boars that crawl out of a woman's belly."
When Walder spoke, he especially liked to lean forward, speaking slowly, with not a single tooth left in his mouth.
Eddard thought he looked exactly like an old weasel preparing to steal a chicken.
"My lord, I didn't mind it," he said. "I have come with the King of the North's command; please examine it."
After speaking, he took out a wrapped letter from his pocket, placing it on the table in front of him.
"Scholar Bennett, please take a look. I'm old; these eyes are only useful when I'm with women now."
Walder's watery eyes blinked, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking. Scholar Bennett whispered in his ear after reading the letter.
A moment later, he nodded and said to Eddard, "Alright, I understand."
Realizing that Robb Stark had again placed someone to monitor him, Old Frey was extremely displeased.
He had just let Roose Bolton take those four hundred men away, and it hadn't even been a few days, and another batch had arrived!
But the King's command could not be defied.
So, Old Frey could only helplessly say, "According to His Majesty the King's command, House Karstark's army can enter the Twins, but it must be divided into two parts: two hundred men on the East Bank and two hundred men on the West Bank, Young Master Eddard. Is this arrangement acceptable?"
"No problem."
Eddard shook his head; these soldiers were all veterans of House Karstark, their wives and children lived in Karhold, and the few officers leading them had already been recruited into his system, all with 'Good' loyalty.
There was no need to worry about anything after separating them.
"Hmm, that's good then."
Old Frey nodded. Eddard thought the matter had ended so happily, but the other party suddenly brought up a question, "Young Master Eddard, some time ago, Renly Baratheon suddenly died. I heard that someone incited His Majesty the King to break off his engagement with House Frey and marry The Rose of Highgarden."
"Is there such a thing?"
After speaking, he stared intently at Karstark's face.
Eddard raised an eyebrow, nodded nonchalantly, and said, "Indeed, there is such a matter, but King Robb possesses several noble qualities and did not adopt this suggestion, so, my lord, you do not need to worry too much."
Even though this was House Frey's stronghold, Eddard was not afraid at all!
If it had been before, he might have been slightly concerned, saying something irrelevant to divert attention, but after becoming the Commander of the River Crossing Legion, he could recruit fifty subordinates!
On the way to the Twins, Eddard got to know the family soldiers who followed him one by one, specifically choosing to recruit those with high loyalty.
Now, he had eighteen subordinates with 'Excellent' loyalty and thirty-one with 'Good' loyalty.
The overall combat power bonus was more than triple!
Although this power came from different subordinates, they were all veterans.
Leaving aside other things, Northmen, their physical quality was top-notch.
Now, under Eddard's black cloak were plate armor and chainmail, and if necessary, he could even cast 'Magic Armor' on himself.
In battle, he wouldn't care about attacks from ordinary people. Wielding a battle axe or a great hammer, he could carry Old Frey in one hand and smash those who sought death in his path with the other, breaking through the Twins with his retainers.
Didn't I just say a few bad things about your family?
What, not convinced?
Seeing Eddard's nonchalant demeanor, Walder was also a bit stunned. In fact, he still didn't know who exactly had offered this suggestion.
But his grandson-in-law, Roose Bolton, had sent a letter saying that it was most likely this boy from House Karstark who said it, and that he was currently collecting evidence and would soon have results.
So, at this moment, he decided to probe him in advance.
However, seeing the other party stand tall and fearless, he didn't seem like someone with a guilty conscience.
Was it not him?
Was that fellow Roose Bolton slandering him randomly?
"Hmm, that's good, that's good."
Walder, unable to figure it out, muttered to himself, then changed the subject, beginning to introduce his daughters, "Young Master Eddard, I heard that you will soon become the Lord of Golden Tooth. How about it? Are you interested in choosing a wife from here and taking her back?"
"I have many suitable candidates here, those with big breasts, those with wide hips, even daughters and widows are all available. Look, even the King chose a queen from House Frey."
Eddard directly shook his head and refused, "No, I have already decided on my marriage partner."
"Alright, alright."
Hearing his suggestion flatly rejected, Old Frey's face immediately clouded over, feeling that House Karstark looked down on Frey, and stiffly opened his mouth to dismiss him.
"Then I won't keep you, Young Master Eddard."
It's finally over!
Eddard sighed inwardly, and just as he was about to nod and leave, he heard Old Frey ask from behind, "By the way, do you need me to prepare food and supplies for you? House Frey is not wealthy now; food and fodder are all stretched thin."
"No need, we can purchase them ourselves in nearby villages and towns. You don't need to trouble yourself, my lord."
After Eddard finished speaking, he left without looking back, and a light voice drifted from behind him, "Oh, what a polite child."
Old man, even when I'm leaving, you don't forget to take advantage of me.
After stepping out of the hall, Eddard spat a mouthful of saliva fiercely onto the ground beside him.
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