The cool, salty, and damp sea breeze from Seaguard couldn't dispel the heavy atmosphere in the council chamber.
The tall, thin Lord Jason Mallister paced back and forth on the stone floor of the council chamber.
His sea-blue eyes were bloodshot, and his brown and white hair was somewhat disheveled; exhaustion practically overflowed from his broad shoulders.
Each pass he made was like stepping on the taut nerves of the lords present.
Finally, he stopped, his voice hoarse as he announced, "That is the news from Riverrun."
"My Lords."
"I know what you are worried about."
"Lord Hoster has already dispatched troops to pursue those damned pirates who have poured into the Riverlands."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the Lord of House Paege, seated at the far end of the long table, couldn't help but stand up, his face filled with anxiety: "Lord Jason! They are raiding everywhere along the Trident River! My lands are right by the river! My wife's raven told me! The farmers have already seen those damned longships with black sails!"
His words were like a stone cast into still water, immediately stirring up ripples, and the lords of the Riverlands began to murmur amongst themselves.
"Half of the farmers I conscripted have already fled during the night! They say their wives and children at home need protection! My men couldn't stop them!"
"If this continues! Before the Ironborn even arrive! Our army will disperse!"
"This cannot go on! My men caught a dozen deserters last night! They actually said! They said they were going home to fight the Ironborn! To at least die by their families' sides!"
"My lands are even closer to the Trident River, what will happen if the Ironborn go to my lands..." "Shut up! You cowards! If this great gate of Seaguard falls! None of us will escape!"
Panic continued to spread; these nobles, who had lived in the Riverlands for generations, looked at Jason Mallister, their eyes filled with hesitation and wavering.
Defending Seaguard meant exposing their own lands, property, and families to the Ironborn's plunder.
Jason Mallister's gaze swept over them, and he merely rubbed his brow wearily; he knew what these men were thinking—they wanted to go home.
Farmers were fleeing, lords were wavering, and Seaguard, a great ship, had begun to leak in the storm.
He announced Riverrun's support to steady these tottering crewmen. This news did temporarily suppress the vassals' thoughts of withdrawing their troops to protect themselves, but the water in the hold was still rising.
But everyone knew that the four thousand farmers sent by Riverrun were absolutely no match for two thousand, or even one thousand, Ironborn.
"Silence!!!" A furious roar instantly quieted the noisy hall. It was Lord Clement Piper of Pinkmaiden speaking.
He slammed his hand on the table, spilling wine from his cup, and glared at everyone: "A bunch of cowards!"
"Deserters? Then let the blood of deserters warn the rest! Erect gallows in front of the army and hang a hundred every day!"
"I want to see! Which is harder! My noose! Or their necks!"
His corpulent body trembled, and everyone fell silent as a calm yet powerful voice spoke up.
"Lord Clement, your methods will only make things worse."
Lord Tytos Blackwood slowly began, "These farmers are not soldiers; they picked up pitchforks and spears and traveled all this way to protect their homes."
"Now their homes are burned, their families threatened, and you want to force them to fight for you with a noose? They will only flee faster."
Clement sneered, "Lord Tytos, you are always so merciful, but can your mercy stop the Ironborn's swords? Can it make those pirates go back to their rocky shores?"
"No," Tytos replied calmly, "but a united army can."
"Lord Hoster has already mobilized Riverrun, and an army of two thousand is gathering."
"My House is also mobilizing, each contributing troops for a total of four thousand."
"This force is enough to eliminate the invading Ironborn, and our mission is to hold Seaguard and defend the Riverlands."
He looked at Jason Mallister: "Lord Jason Mallister, am I right?"
Jason Mallister nodded heavily. As an old adversary of the Ironborn, he did not believe that four thousand farmers could defeat several thousand Ironborn, but at this moment, he needed a weighty ally like House Blackwood to stabilize morale.
"Lord Tytos is right." Jason stood up, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his gaze burning, "We are the shield of the Riverlands! I promise you! The eagle banner of Seaguard will not fall! The Ironborn will not pass through!"
He paused, his voice becoming sterner: "I understand your concerns, but anyone who dares to withdraw their troops without orders at this moment will be considered a traitor to House Tully and an enemy of Seaguard! His name and House will be carved on the pillar of shame of the Seven Kingdoms!"
The lords fell silent. Jason Mallister's prestige, coupled with Tytos Blackwood's support, and the news of Riverrun's army soon pursuing, temporarily suppressed their unease.
Although their faces still showed worry, no one dared to openly suggest withdrawing troops again.
Lord Raymon Dayne, who had been silent and unconcerned, watched all this with complex eyes. His lands were still far from that Ironborn force, and he had always remembered what Arthur had told him: stay away from rivers, build fortifications. His army was also the least damaged along the long coastline.
Baron Deddings thought of his wife and her letter. That vassal, who had fortunately survived, had sent four hundred of his own soldiers to support his city of Deddings amidst the hypocritical displays of other vassals, which for some reason made him feel a touch of shame.
Just then, the heavy oak door was violently thrown open.
A soldier in Seaguard guard armor rushed in, panting, his helmet askew.
Clement jumped up in a rage, pointing at the soldier: "Who gave you the audacity to burst into a lords' council! Guards, drag him out and behead him!"
Several guards immediately stepped forward, ready to seize the intruder.
"Wait!" Jason Mallister raised his hand to stop them. He saw the expression on the soldier's face, and an ominous premonition gripped his heart.
His voice was somewhat dry: "Let him speak."
The soldier fell to his knees with a thud, breathing heavily from running too fast, almost unable to utter a complete sentence.
The soldier tremblingly pulled out a scroll of blood-soaked parchment from his chest. A squire took it and carefully presented it to Jason Mallister.
The hall was dead silent, all eyes focused on that small scroll of parchment.
Jason Mallister looked up, scanning everyone present, his face turning ashen.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but ultimately just handed the parchment to the maester beside him.
The maester took the scroll, looked at it, and read in an equally trembling voice: "Lannister City... has fallen to the Ironborn..."
Lord Raymon Lannister's wife has abandoned the castle::
... Fleeing to Harrenhal... The maester's voice grew softer and softer, finally almost inaudible. When the last word fell, the entire hall seemed to have been drained of air.
The fall of a strong castle, with the lord's family leading the flight—the impact of this news was more deadly than a thousand deserters or ten thousand complaints.
In the hall, the lords looked at each other, their expressions varied. This meant that the scale and destructiveness of this invading Ironborn force had far exceeded their imagination.
Jason Mallister slowly sat back in his high seat. He felt all the strength drain from his body. This was a big problem now.
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