The nobles of the Riverlands were far less daring than the brutes from the North. Not a single one dared speak up.
Greatjon Umber, for instance, had openly mocked Robb Stark in front of the Northern lords, calling him a greenhorn and even implying that he "peed grass-green." He had drawn his sword in the Banquet Hall, causing chaos. Rude, volatile, yet undeniably courageous. The price? Two fingers bitten off by Grey Wind. And yet, afterward, Greatjon became Robb's right-hand man and most loyal supporter—a man capable of both bending and standing firm.
Now, in the quiet Banquet Hall of Twin River City, Ser Leslyn Haigh rose again. His expression was solemn, and after a pause, he said, "Lord Eddard, I wish to carry out your commands and truthfully report the situation in my territory. But I have just returned from the battlefield and have not yet been home. I do not know the exact numbers. I hope you can grant me some time."
A qualified lord should have this knowledge at their fingertips—the number of people, craftsmen, arable land, annual income, and the soldiers they could muster in wartime. It was as essential as knowing one's own age or house words. In other words, a lord should at least know how much gold is in their treasury!
But Leslyn had no intention of revealing the truth. Doing so would leave House Haigh exposed, vulnerable to House Karstark. He used delay as a tactic, waiting to see how others would react.
Eddard merely nodded, as if he had anticipated this response. "Good," he said, dismissing Leslyn with a gesture. Then he turned to Ser Niel Emford of Heron Keep. Emford's daughter was Old Walder Frey's eighth wife; Eddard knew his mood was foul.
Emford rose stiffly. "I… I do not know either," he said and promptly sat down again. His defiance was clear.
"Hmm," Eddard murmured, nodding slowly, a faint smile on his lips. "I suppose the rest of you lords also do not know the status of your own territories?"
Instantly, the hall erupted.
"That's right!"
"We've been away at war; we have no clear knowledge!"
"You must let us return home to survey our lands first!"
"I don't know."
"...Exactly."
Perhaps Eddard's smile misled them, or perhaps they believed that if all refused to cooperate, the matter would fizzle out. Almost all shook their heads, collectively choosing refusal.
"Clack, clack, clack."
Eddard picked up the wooden hammer and struck it sharply against the table. Silence returned immediately.
"Are you all senile, or do you think I am a child to be fooled?" he barked. "You are the controllers of your lands, and yet you know nothing? How can I trust you to safeguard the territories I have granted? How can I believe you will serve House Karstark loyally?"
No one answered. A heavy, tense silence settled over the hall.
"Very well," Eddard continued, his tone calm but firm. "Then you will remain in Twin River City to learn how to manage your lands. Each of you will appoint one person to assist in managing your territory. If you do not appoint anyone, I will choose for you."
At that moment, every one of the twenty-eight landed knights had a loyalty rating of either [Very Poor] or [Extremely Poor]. Letting these men leave was unthinkable.
Eddard's request for territory information had two purposes. First, it allowed him to centralize power. One cannot properly control soldiers and finances without understanding them first. Centralization meant bringing as much control under his hand as possible, using every excuse to assert authority.
Second, he had anticipated their reluctance. By keeping the family heads in Twin River City, he effectively held their families hostage, ensuring compliance. With loyalty already low, controlling the heads of these families would secure the rest, perhaps even earning grudging gratitude from some.
To the outside world, Eddard framed this as dissatisfaction with their governance. Keeping them in the city for "intensive study" was justifiable to Robb Stark and Ser Brynden. In truth, it was a swift, decisive consolidation of power.
As Eddard expected, protest came quickly.
"This is house arrest! This is unjust!" Leslyn Haigh shouted, standing.
"We are not prisoners! I will go to Winterfell to complain to King Robb!" Niel Emford followed, adding, "I have shed blood on the battlefield! My brother died for the King! My soldiers suffered losses, and this is the reward?"
The room erupted. Knights who had sat silently now stood, yelling, some drawing swords in anger. They had not anticipated such severe measures. Typically, new liege lords used conciliatory methods—marriages, tax relief, or land grants—to win loyalty. This sweeping, uncompromising action was unprecedented.
Just as the hall became chaotic, the door burst open. Karas Snow entered with a squad of elite soldiers, clad in heavy armor and wielding massive shields. Their speed surpassed even unarmored soldiers. They formed a protective cordon along the walls, raising pre-loaded crossbows at the still-fuming knights.
Instantly, the hall fell silent.
"Lord Eddard," Leslyn Haigh whispered, "are you truly going to violate guest right and slaughter us, your vassals?"
"No," Eddard replied calmly. "These loyal soldiers are here to prevent you from harming me. They have not drawn their weapons, have they?"
He then drew Heartbreaker from beside the table. "Several of you should have been loyal, yet you drew swords against me at my banquet. In the North, that is a capital offense. Is it different in the Riverlands?"
The lords who had drawn weapons recoiled. Their faces drained of color as they realized the gravity of their actions. Instinctively, they dropped their swords and knelt, pleading for forgiveness.
"No, no, forgive my sin, my lord!"
"It was an unintentional mistake!"
"I offer my sword and loyalty in service to you!"
Eddard roared, cutting them off. "Silence! I have no mood and no reason to forgive. Karas, imprison these lords in the black cells. Notify their families to come to Twin River City to confess their crimes. The others, take them to the tower, guard them, and ensure they name an assistant. Any failure will be considered forfeiture."
"Yes, my lord," Karas Snow replied, swiftly moving to execute the orders.
Scholar Bennet, observing from the side, frowned. "My lord, are you not worried that this might create misunderstandings?"
Eddard smiled faintly. "Scholar, my methods may seem harsh, but they are effective. Leslyn Haigh is Old Frey's die-hard loyalist. Bligh Hill and Lyman Frey are intertwined in ways I have already investigated. Niel Emford is an in-law of Old Walder. Theodore Smoot is betrothed to a Frey granddaughter. Aevor Brown was enfeoffed personally by Walder Frey. The rest appear simple, yet are bound in countless secret ways. Walder Frey left too many heirs. I ended House Frey, killed a quarter, sent another to execution, and the rest to The Wall."
"Brutality is necessary here. Violence and mercy are merely choices. What matters is what is suitable. Their rebellion must not be allowed to fester."
Bennet's face paled. He had underestimated Eddard's decisiveness. "But… if their families unite… they could muster fifteen hundred men. With soldiers at home, two thousand at least."
Eddard laughed, a long, hearty sound. "If that were the case, I would thank them for presenting themselves for execution. My father is stationed here with ten thousand soldiers. Even if the Northern army leaves in two days, reinforcements from Riverrun or Harrenhal will arrive within ten. My personal guard will be strengthened over the next two days. No one will dare act foolishly."
He patted Bennet's shoulder. "Do not worry. Such matters will not trouble me."
Raising his goblet, he drank deeply. "Scholar, write to Winterfell. Inform Robb that the Reach army has been defeated at minimal cost. My father, Earl Rickard, returns north in two days. Request a cavalry escort to avoid ambushes from Dreadfort or Ironborn raiders. Travel with too few cavalry along the King's Road is nearly blind, especially in the North."
"Understood, Lord Eddard," Bennet replied promptly.
Eddard remained seated briefly, then called Rollger and Theodore, who had been standing behind him, and headed toward the prison. He had a very special "guest" awaiting him and needed to confirm certain matters personally.
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