The atmosphere at the banquet remained joyous, but Catelyn's eyes betrayed heavy thoughts.
She picked up her wine goblet and put it down again, her smile mechanical and stiff as she accepted congratulations from others.
After some thought, she finally made up her mind and asked the crowd, "On my way here, I heard that Tywin's fierce general, Gregor Clegane, was killed by Jon himself. Is this true?"
Before anyone else could speak, a distinctly young voice rang out.
"It is absolutely true! My Lady."
This time, the answer came from a young boy. Everyone turned to look and found it was Lyman.
Lyman first stood up and bowed to Catelyn, then looked at Jon.
When Jon also turned to look at him, the smile on Lyman's face could hardly be hidden, and he seemed so excited he didn't know where to put his hands and feet.
He tugged at his clothes to make himself look neater, cleared his throat, and said, "That day, if not for Big Brother Jon, Darry would have been taken by The Mountain. It was Big Brother Jon who defeated The Mountain, and Big Brother Jon who avenged my father. Also, my cousin Martyn is now the captain of Big Brother Jon's personal guard. All the forces of Darry are under Big Brother Jon's command, and everyone admires Big Brother Jon very much!"
Lyman kept calling him "Big Brother Jon," and none of the other lords in the tent expressed any objection or found it inappropriate.
Even his two bastard cousins looked approving.
But in Catelyn's eyes, this was unacceptable!
Although Lyman was only eight, he was an Earl. Although Jon was an adult, he was just a bastard. This situation indicated only one thing: Jon's prestige in the Eastern Army was terrifyingly high.
Roose Bolton, seated nearest to Catelyn, glanced at her sideways, suddenly forming a plan in his mind.
He rubbed his index finger back and forth on the base of his wine goblet, his leech-like eyes crawling between Jon and Catelyn.
However, Catelyn knew now wasn't the time to trouble Jon. Perhaps she could find a chance to talk to Roose Bolton later.
So she looked at Roose Bolton, Harrion, Medger Cerwyn, and the other lords, and spoke again: "My lords, as you know, Renly was assassinated. Now, the Stormlands army has mostly pledged allegiance to Stannis, who also commands the strongest naval fleet in the Seven Kingdoms.
"Stannis is a stubborn man. Once he captures King's Landing and takes the throne, the North's independent status will be challenged. Although I am just a woman, I would like to know what you lords plan to do next."
As she spoke, Catelyn looked at Roose Bolton.
Roose Bolton realized his guess was likely correct, so he said, "My Lady, I have already discussed this with Jon—Lord Jon. Next, we plan to take Harrenhal, severing the connection between the Westerlands army and the Crownlands. By controlling Harrenhal, if Stannis wants to lay a finger on the Riverlands or the North in the future, he will have to face the largest castle in Westeros."
Listening to Roose Bolton's explanation, the corner of Jon's eye twitched.
Could this guy's attempt to sow discord be any more obvious? House Bolton was an "ancient noble house" of the North, yet he addressed a bastard like Jon as "Lord."
Jon looked coldly at Roose Bolton, who then deliberately mentioned discussing the capture of Harrenhal with him. This undoubtedly further elevated Jon's status in the army.
Since Jon was right there, Bolton couldn't embellish things too much.
But even simply describing the facts heightened Catelyn's wariness. Sure enough, Catelyn spoke again: "Lord Bolton, you need not be so polite. Although I am not Jon's mother, I watched him grow up.
"Robb entrusted the command of the Eastern Army to you, which means you are the person he trusts most. For such a major battle plan, you should discuss it with the other lords."
The implication in Catelyn's words was basically, "Jon is just a bastard; why the hell are you being so polite to him?"
Her remarks also indirectly strengthened Roose Bolton's authority, especially since she emphasized the word "other."
"Eh~" At this moment, Medger Cerwyn stood up and said, "My Lady, please do not underestimate Jon. If not for him, these old bones of mine might have become a prisoner of the Lannisters.
"Back then, our defeat was all but certain. I took an arrow, and the Westerlands cavalry was hot on our heels. If not for Jon, I might have died in Tywin's prisoner camp."
Soon, Harrion and Wendel Manderly also jumped in to "vouch" for Jon. These were all ancient nobles whose status was in no way inferior to the Dreadfort, and they were exceptionally close to House Stark.
Although Jon knew they meant well, they were only making things worse right now.
Catelyn had disliked Jon since he was a child, projecting all her dissatisfaction with the woman who shared "Ned's love" onto Jon.
Now that Jon might threaten Robb's position, her dislike deepened.
Sure enough, after the reception banquet ended, Catelyn held a private meeting with Roose Bolton.
"So you're saying Jon currently has a full five thousand troops under his command, and these five thousand are not subject to your orders?" Catelyn asked in surprise.
Five thousand men. Although they were a "patchwork army," in Catelyn's eyes, this was comparable to the number of soldiers Winterfell could muster at once.
"Yes, my Lady. But this was also His Grace's wish. Actually, when we first marched south, His Grace only allocated fewer than five hundred men to Jon.
"But by rallying routed soldiers and recruiting Riverlands militia, he expanded his force to five thousand..." Roose Bolton skillfully omitted the most crucial parts, and Catelyn gave him the response he wanted.
"This is absolutely unacceptable!" Catelyn said sternly, her body stiffening. "The entire Eastern Army is just over twenty thousand men. For Jon, a bastard, to control five thousand—nearly a quarter of the army—without being under your command is unjustifiable no matter how you look at it."
"My Lady, these are men Jon recruited..."
"Still unacceptable!" Catelyn reiterated, her tone firm as if driving a nail into a board. "Leave this matter to me. I will go see Jon."
"My Lady... I have disappointed His Grace."
Catelyn waved her hand and immediately went to confront Jon. Watching Catelyn leave, a smile appeared at the corner of Roose Bolton's mouth.
"This is great, my Lord. Lady Catelyn will definitely demand that bastard's military command. Then we can control half of the Northern army," Bolin said excitedly beside Roose Bolton.
Roose Bolton smiled but said nothing. He felt that what he was doing now was no different from what Jon had done earlier: advancing by retreating.