Greatjon Umber and Rickard Karstark arrived at Riverrun with their armies.
Along with them came a piece of news steeped in grief.
Eddard Stark had been executed by the false emperor Joffrey.
Inside the council chamber, Robb convened another meeting. Great and minor lords of the North and the Riverlands gathered together.
Greatjon was overcome with sorrow. The moment he saw Robb, tears streamed down his face."The Lannisters will pay the price. I swear to the gods—I will avenge Duke Eddard no matter what!"
Rickard Karstark was equally furious."The Kingslayer! We must take the Kingslayer's head. We must strike back!"
Robb sat in his chair, lifting a cup of ale, his expression cold and composed."The Kingslayer cannot be killed. I'm going to use him to exchange for my sister. And he isn't the one who killed my father. Debts must be collected from the one who owes them. The one we must kill is Joffrey."
At present, Robb had no interest whatsoever in executing Jaime. That simply wasn't his way—pouring one's rage onto the wrong person served no purpose.
If it had been Cersei who ordered Ned's death, Robb might have killed Jaime. After all, Jaime was the person Cersei cared about most. Breaking her sanity would have been sound strategy.
But Joffrey was a defective monster to begin with. Even if Jaime's head were placed right before him, he would only feel fear, not the slightest grief.
Greatjon had already heard of Robb's many feats on the road here. His admiration and loyalty toward Robb had reached their peak, and he raised no objection to Robb's words.
Rickard Karstark's eldest son had been captured by Tywin. Robb was currently negotiating an exchange using the hostages he had taken, and Rickard was deeply grateful for this. He, too, said nothing further.
Greatjon spoke in his rough, booming voice,"My lord, what should we do next? We'll follow your lead in everything."
Robb drank his ale and looked toward the Blackfish.
The Blackfish gave a slight nod and spoke of the news he had just received."Renly Baratheon, the former King Robert's youngest brother, has declared himself king. He has married into House Tyrell of Highgarden and raised an army of one hundred thousand. He's preparing to march on Joffrey."
Greatjon was startled."One hundred thousand?! How can there be that many men?!"
The Blackfish explained,"After Robert Baratheon took the Iron Throne, Renly inherited Robert's former lordship. I've heard he's fairly capable, and many Stormlands lords support him."
Rickard Karstark added,"He's also allied with Highgarden of the Reach. The Reach is the richest land of all. With the two regions combined, raising one hundred thousand troops isn't impossible."
There were seven kingdoms on the continent of Westeros, plus King's Landing as the capital. Now, five of those kingdoms were already caught in this chaotic struggle. For a time, no one could say who would have the last laugh.
Robb knew the time was not yet ripe."The situation is chaotic. Let them fight among themselves like dogs for now. The most urgent thing is to get my sister back."
Lord Tytos Blackwood had already departed under Robb's orders, heading for King's Landing to negotiate the exchange of prisoners with Tywin's forces. This matter would soon be settled.
The Blackfish felt uneasy about the situation."We are already locked in a fight to the death with the Lannisters. If we make a deal with the false emperor Joffrey, we'll immediately become a thorn in King Renly's eye."
Greatjon immediately roared in rebuttal."What king?! I don't recognize that bastard king at all!"
The Riverlands lords also shouted in agreement. Most of their lands had already been ravaged by the Lannisters, and they had long been holding back a breath of fury.
But they also knew that by themselves, they were no match for House Lannister. That was why they desperately hoped Robb would lead them to sack the Westerlands—not only for revenge, but to recover their losses.
"House Lannister's father and sons plundered our fields and slaughtered our people. The castles of everyone here are now nothing but blackened ruins. Can that so-called King Renly bring us justice? If he cannot, then he is no king of ours!"
Maege Mormont of Bear Island, who had remained silent until now, suddenly stood up and barked at the lords,"You call Joffrey a false emperor, and you say Renly cannot bring you justice. Are you planning to declare independence?"
The lords of the Riverlands and the North were struck speechless. Of course, they had no capital to stand on their own—but just because they couldn't, didn't mean no one could.
All eyes turned toward Robb, who still hadn't spoken.
Robb's expression remained unchanged, but he said nothing.
At that moment, loud-voiced Greatjon slammed his hand on the table."My lords!"
He bellowed, his voice echoing through the hall."Let me tell you what I think of these two kings! Renly Baratheon is dogshit to me! Why should we be ruled by flower-strewn Highgarden folk and some man who can't even decide whether he likes men or women?"
"What do they know of the Wall, the Wolfswood, or the barrows of the First Men? Even the gods they worship aren't true gods. The Seven? I seven their grandmother's legs! As for the Lannisters—let the Others drag them off, I've had enough!"
The Riverlands lords looked rather awkward. They, too, worshiped the Seven. But this was hardly the time to argue theology.
When discussing the tides of war, even the Seven would have to suffer a little indignity.
Greatjon reached over his shoulder and drew an enormous, terrifying two-handed greatsword, pointing it straight at Robb.
"Why can't we rule ourselves like we used to? My lords, I don't mind kneeling—but I'll kneel only to this one king."
His voice thundered."Long live the King in the North!"
Greatjon dropped to one knee and laid his sword at Robb's feet.
"Long live the King in the North!" Maege Mormont rose to her feet, placing her spiked warhammer beside Greatjon's blade.
Count Rickard Karstark immediately followed, performing the same act.
Robb, who had remained expressionless all this time, finally reacted. His face filled with shock."Y-you! What are you doing?! Get up, all of you—don't do this!"
At this point, the Riverlands lords also stood. Though houses like Mallister had never been ruled by Winterfell, they rose together, drew their swords, and knelt.
All voices cried out an ancient title in unison:"King in the North! King in the North!"
Robb looked completely at a loss."How can you do this? What do you think you're doing? How can I usurp a crown and call myself king?!"
Maege produced a crown that had clearly been forged long ago. She pressed Robb down and forcibly placed it upon his head.
It was an exquisitely crafted crown. At its center was carved a golden tree, within whose dense branches a wolf gazed forward.
Robb had no strength to resist. He could only watch helplessly as the crown settled onto his head—perfectly fitted, neither loose nor tight.
"Damn it… you've really ruined me this time!"
Robb was furious.
...
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(End Chapter)