Inside the military tent, Catelyn sat at the head, while Jon stood before her with his hands at his sides.
As for Sora, who was pouring tea for her, her disguise was seen through at a glance.
"Jon, I have never heard of a noble whose squire is a woman, nor have I heard of a bastard being allowed his own personal guard."
Jon glanced at the tea spilled due to Sora's trembling hand and said, "My Lady, actually, I refer to what you call a 'personal guard' as a reserve force. At critical moments, I lead them to support various battle lines.
"Because I lead them personally and train them frequently, people mistake them for a personal guard."
By now, Sora had wiped the table clean and poured Catelyn a cup of tea.
However, Catelyn didn't take it. In her eyes, Jon's so-called "reserve force" was a personal guard.
But she couldn't be bothered to argue semantics. Catelyn's goal was to transfer Jon's military command to Roose Bolton.
Naturally, the "reserve force" he mentioned was included in that.
"Jon, how many troops do you currently have in hand?"
"Less than three hundred."
"I want you to... What?"
Catelyn thought she had misheard and leaned forward abruptly.
She hadn't expected Jon to be so shameless. Just the soldiers she saw in the camp moments ago numbered more than three hundred.
Yet he dared say this number without batting an eye or skipping a beat, treating her like a fool.
"Jon, say again how many men you have. Lord Bolton told me you have a full five thousand men, including nearly five hundred heavy armored guards!"
Jon chuckled inwardly, thinking Roose Bolton had sold him out fast.
"My Lady, among those five thousand, more than two thousand are warriors from the mountain clans of the Mountains of the Moon. They are allies I won over with weapons and food.
"Another five hundred or so are veterans from the Northern mountain clans. Their lord died in the Battle of the Green Fork. Because I saved them, they are willing to let me command them. There are also several hundred Northern soldiers who follow me because their lords died in battle. The troops that truly belong to me indeed number only three hundred or so."
"You went to the Mountains of the Moon?"
"I asked for Robb's permission."
Jon's tone was calm, his expression serene as he met Catelyn's gaze.
Having just returned from a "diplomatic mission" herself, Catelyn knew rallying allies wasn't simple. Some logic couldn't even be explained to civilized people, let alone winning over uncivilized wildlings like the mountain clans.
She couldn't imagine how Jon had managed it.
Catelyn looked at the familiar yet strange young man before her. Suddenly, she felt she couldn't see through him at all, and this sudden unfamiliarity only intensified her dislike.
Catelyn took a sip of tea and continued, "Regardless, these five thousand men must have a unified command. I still hope you will hand over military authority to Lord Bolton."
Hearing Catelyn make such a demand, Sora clenched her fists tightly.
Because of her mother, Sora had always held goodwill toward "outside" women.
But today, Catelyn shattered that filter. Jon had worked so hard to gather these troops, yet she wanted him to hand them over to someone else so casually.
"My Lady, Jon worked hard to build this army. You..."
"It is not your place to speak here, miss from the Mountains of the Moon." Catelyn said, holding her teacup and leaning back in her chair, placing heavy emphasis on "Mountains of the Moon."
Fine, since you're showing your hand, I won't pretend anymore. Jon simply walked to a chair on the other side of the table and sat down under Catelyn's disgusted gaze.
"My Lady, as you said, I am just a motherless bastard. Whatever... let's call it power... I have today comes from the Starks." As he spoke, Jon took out a roster and placed it next to Catelyn.
"This is the roster of officers. You can order them to obey Roose Bolton's command in the name of the King in the North's mother. As long as they choose to listen to you, I imagine I would have no way to stop it, nor dare I disobey your orders."
"What do you mean?!" Catelyn slammed her teacup heavily onto the table, splashing water everywhere, and spoke in a low voice.
"The roster is right here. Do whatever you wish, My Lady. Additionally, I have one more thing to remind you of.
"If Robb plans to send Theon to ally with the Iron Islands, you must stop him. Once Theon returns to the Iron Islands, Balon will have no scruples. He is highly likely to launch a surprise attack on the North and Winterfell."
"Theon is Ned's ward. He wouldn't."
"But he is also Lord Stark's hostage. Why wouldn't he?" Jon immediately retorted. "My Lady, you wouldn't want to lose two more children, would you?"
Hearing Jon mention Bran and Rickon, Catelyn could no longer hold back. She grabbed the teacup and splashed it toward Jon's face.
But Jon had been prepared the moment her hand reached for the cup. He reached out to cover the rim, preventing the splash while avoiding any physical contact with Catelyn.
"My Lady, Winterfell raised me, a motherless bastard, for fourteen years. But in the Battle of the Green Fork, I saved far more than fourteen hundred soldiers. My achievement of slaying The Mountain is second to none. It would be best if you didn't interfere in military matters."
"You!" Catelyn's chest heaved violently, her blue eyes wide as if about to spew fire.
Jon couldn't be bothered to say more to her. There was no doubt this woman cared about her children; otherwise, she wouldn't do something like privately releasing Jaime.
But with his warning, Robb should be more cautious about allying with the Iron Islands.
"The North is empty now, and so close to the Iron Islands. Given Balon's character, it's entirely possible. If Robb insists on allying with the Iron Islands, make sure Theon remembers my words."
"What words?" Catelyn frowned.
"He knows."
"You!"
Seeing Jon's indifferent attitude, Catelyn was furious.
"My Lady, I've said all I need to say. All my efforts are to avenge my father, Lord Stark. I will do it my way, even if it means disobeying Robb and your orders. You can condemn me as you wish. Once the war is over, I will return to the Wall to continue as a Night's Watchman." With that, Jon left directly.
"Jon! Jon!"
This bastard had always avoided her, never daring to disobey her.
Today, he dared to speak to her like this. It must be because he held power now. But since he explicitly stated he would return to the Night's Watch, she had no leverage over him.
He was completely ungovernable!
However, Jon's words stuck in her heart like a thorn. Sansa and Arya were in enemy hands, her greatest worry. Catelyn couldn't imagine what she would do if something happened to Bran and Rickon.
Sure enough, she quickly put the matter of military command aside and rushed non-stop to Riverrun. To show goodwill, Jon sent twenty veterans to escort her and personally saw her out of the camp with due courtesy.
Watching Catelyn leave, Sora felt indignant.
"How could Lady Catelyn be like this..."
But Jon cut her off halfway.
"Once when I was young, I was sick with a fever for several days. Lady Catelyn stayed by my bedside until late at night. In my daze, I saw her sleeping by my bed.
"I never knew my mother. Whenever I think of a mother, Lady Catelyn's figure appears in my mind. I can understand her feelings, so don't blame her."
Right now, Catelyn was just a mother worried about her children. Jon couldn't be bothered to hold a grudge against her.
He had built this army himself; no one could take it away. Jon wasn't bored enough to get angry at someone who wasn't even on the same cognitive level as him.
Instead, this behind-the-scenes tolerance would earn him more respect from his subordinates.
But Jon's intention changed flavor for Sora. Seeing Jon still defending Catelyn at a time like this, her heart ached for him.
Although her mother had also died early, she at least had her company during childhood. Sora suddenly remembered what her mother once told her:
People who have suffered a lot need only a little sweetness to be comforted.
And people who are starved for love will cherish even a tiny bit of love forever.
"Jon." Sora felt a sting in her nose.
"Use titles," Jon said, turning around.