Aldric scratched his scalp. "The Silver Hand only has six professional cavalrymen, including Eddie. The others just use horses for transport and can't fight on horseback. Doesn't that mean I have to be assigned to Lord Roose Bolton's side?"
Hearing this, Anderson Barnes clapped his hands happily. "Isn't that right? Commander Aldric, please take care of us after the battle starts!"
However, Sigel Novak objected loudly, "No! Commander Aldric, how can he go to the infantry side!"
Anderson retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about?! Isn't Lord Halys Hornwood going there too? And Harrion Karstark, Wylis Manderly... the infantry needs excellent generals to command too!"
Sigel wasn't outdone. "Nonsense. Commander Aldric only has these thirty-odd cloves of garlic—" He turned to give Aldric an apologetic smile. "If he goes under Bolton, how many men can he command? Better to follow Young Lord Robb to the West Front to better utilize his personal combat power..."
Watching the two argue heatedly, Aldric quietly asked his acting commander Conrad, "What's going on with them?"
Conrad lowered his voice. "Sigel has thirty-odd cavalry, so he follows Robb Stark to the West Front, straight to Riverrun. Anderson has infantry, so he must follow the Kingsroad to the East to block Tywin's troops. They both hope you follow their team to increase their chance of survival."
"Bullshit, do you really think you're the commander? If I listen to you, you're the commander; if not, you're nothing!"
Sigel seemed to lose the argument against Anderson and stormed off in anger.
Anderson watched Sigel's back coldly, spat on the ground, muttered "idiot," then turned to Aldric with a smile. "Commander Aldric, since we are in the same battalion, how about we merge forces?"
Aldric thought for a moment. "Merge forces? Sure, no problem. But I'm not familiar with large corps operations. how should we merge?"
As they chatted, Sigel returned, interrupted them. This time, he wasn't alone; Robb's Captain of Guards, Hallis Mollen, came with him.
Hallis Mollen asked, "Commander Aldric, are you going to Lord Roose's side to participate in infantry combat?"
Aldric explained, "Not that I want to go, but my subordinates are mostly infantry; cavalry is scarce."
Hallis Mollen asked, "What if you separate your infantry subordinates and give them to Lord Roose?"
Aldric shook his head firmly. "That won't do. These brothers were brought out of the mountains by me personally; I can't leave them behind. Besides, fighting on either side is serving House Stark, isn't it?"
Hallis Mollen seemed to understand Aldric's stance, so he asked, "Meaning, you personally don't care which side you go to, right?"
"Hmm..." Aldric pondered, recalling yesterday's talk with Rodney. When discussing Heart Trees in the South, Rodney mentioned a Godswood in Riverrun.
Though he just refilled a bottle of sap, war was imminent. No one could predict casualties. Rationally, he would be more useful at Riverrun.
So, Aldric said after thinking, "If I can choose, I hope to go to Riverrun."
Hearing this, Sigel looked elated, while Anderson looked disappointed. Hallis nodded and turned toward the Gatehouse Tower.
Soon, Hallis returned to Aldric. "Commander Aldric, how many of your men lack mounts?"
Aldric calculated quickly. "I need another thirty-six horses."
"Good. Prepare the money. I'll help you find these horses," Hallis agreed readily.
Anderson knew Hallis Mollen represented high-level decisions, so he stopped striving in vain. He called over a young man and said to Aldric, "Commander Aldric, this is my son, Harvey. He was going to join Lord Robb's cavalry. If you have spare capacity, please look after him for the sake of our colleagueship."
The youth named Harvey looked confused. "Father, didn't you say let me follow you—"
Anderson said sternly to Harvey, "Shut up. From now on, you are Commander Aldric's guard. Go where he goes. Even if he goes to relieve himself, you guard him."
"—Yes, Father," Harvey answered.
Looking at Anderson, Aldric had a vague realization. Is this... entrusting an orphan?
To comfort Anderson, Aldric said, "If Harvey is willing, I can include him in my warband."
Anderson held Aldric's hand tightly, saying gratefully, "Thank you, Commander Aldric."
Seeing Anderson do this, other Sheriffs in Aldric's battalion followed suit, arranging their sons and nephews under Aldric.
Suddenly, Aldric gained eight real cavalrymen.
Not long after, Hallis brought soldiers leading dozens of horses to Aldric's camp.
Though not all were warhorses—there were draft horses and plow horses—they could be ridden. Paying the soldiers meant receiving them.
Looking at the forty-odd neighing horses, Aldric was moved. "Hallis, I really don't know how to thank you."
"Don't thank me. It's Young Lord Robb's order. He also said," Hallis leaned close to Aldric's ear, whispering, "take care of his brother."
Since Jon had joined the Night's Watch, normally he shouldn't appear on a southern battlefield.
But as an apprentice sent by the Night's Watch to learn from Aldric, Jon was pushed into this war by fate.
Neither Aldric, Robb, nor Jon wanted others to know his true identity and awkward position. Thus, Robb could only express concern through this subtle way.
Aldric said solemnly to Hallis, "Please tell the Young Lord, nothing will happen to Jon in my hands."
Hallis nodded and returned to the Gatehouse Tower.
Dust settled. Aldric wasted no time. "Quick, Eddie. Have your men pick apprentices and teach them to ride. Ensure they don't fall off, even if led by reins. Don't fear injury; I'm here."
Eddie nodded confidently. "Leave it to me." He shouted to his men, "Lads, work to do, come here!"
For the whole day before leaving Moat Cailin, Aldric supervised riding training personally.
Fortunately, Silver Hand members had developed motor nerves and strong learning abilities.
After a day of intensive teaching, they could sit steadily on horses. Aldric only consumed a few Flash of Lights to heal fall injuries.
At night, when the last warrior passed the test and collapsed on the ground, Aldric stopped the grueling training.
Though spending nearly seventy extra gold coins, upgrading his armored infantry to mounted armored infantry improved the warband's mobility. Aldric felt it was worth it.
Looking at the looming Red Comet in the sky, he prayed silently: "Hope the North wins the first battle and returns in triumph, preserving strength to fight the Others beyond the Wall."
Past Moat Cailin was the Riverlands.
According to army "rumors," the Riverlands lords' alliance was scattered, and Tully's Riverrun was besieged by Jaime Lannister.
To rescue allies, the Northern Army split after Moat Cailin.
Lord Roose Bolton led most infantry southeast along the Kingsroad to engage Tywin's main force.
Robb Stark led cavalry southwest to The Twins, intending to cross and strike Riverrun directly.
The Twins, or the Crossing, was House Frey's stronghold at the river crossing.
They grew rich by collecting high bridge tolls. From the North to the West Riverlands, this was the only crossing point on the Green Fork for hundreds of miles.
The Twins consisted of two castles on opposite banks and a stone arch bridge connecting them. The bridge was wide enough for two wagons and guarded by the Water Tower in the middle.
Arriving outside the Twins, the army halted to rest.
The Riverlands climate was much warmer than the bitter North.
Dismounting, Aldric took his two students to the calm Green Fork, looking at the wide stone bridge and fortified castles. A worry rose in his heart.
"Teacher, what's wrong?" Jon asked, seeing Aldric frowning.
Aldric pointed at the sturdy castle. "Jon, look. High walls not inferior to Winterfell, deep moats, heavy iron-studded oak doors."
"The wooden bridge before the gate can be raised or lowered anytime. Taking this by surprise is almost impossible."
"And an identical castle sits opposite."
"If we besiege the North castle, the South castle gives endless support; and vice versa. Even if we besiege both, House Frey can get support via river boats..."
"Yet this castle's location is so important. If we can't control it firmly and an accident happens, the Northern Army must detour via the Kingsroad."
"But that road nears the Iron Throne's Crownlands, with Tywin's army eyeing us. Once the Twins are lost, Tywin Lannister will cut our connection to the North from the northeast."
"Then, these few thousand cavalry will be an isolated force. With Riverlands lords unable to protect themselves, once the Westerlands attack again, pincer us... this Northern cavalry will be crushed."
Hearing this, Jon sweated. "Not that bad, Teacher? Didn't you say the Twins are almost impregnable?"
Aldric shook his head, eyes deep. "The city might not be lost, but what about the people inside? Are they truly reliable?"
Jon hesitated. "Should be reliable. House Frey is House Tully's vassal—"
"Oaths aren't that reliable."
Aldric sighed emotionally.
He thought: If oaths were reliable, there wouldn't be stories like the 'Oath of the Luo River' in my hometown.
A decisive thought rose: If I were your brother, even if I couldn't conquer the Twins, I'd use elites to ambush House Frey while passing through. Sacrifice some soldiers to control Frey leadership and station a direct unit to guard this passage firmly.
However, this plan was too insidious, contrary to the Kingly Way. A pure, kind child like Jon couldn't accept it. So Aldric buried it deep, waiting for orders.
The army waited from noon to afternoon. Finally, orders came to camp and cross the next day.
Night fell. Rennel brought news: "Heard Robb Stark will marry a Frey daughter in exchange for crossing rights and thousands of elite soldiers."
Aldric nodded after a pause. "Not a loss. Since force fails and we can't turn back, this is the best result."
Rennel sighed. "But the Young Lord's vassals seem dissatisfied. Historically, Stark Lords married other Lords' daughters or Targaryen princesses. Walder Frey is just a Tully vassal, a noble for only 600 years, rich from tolls. They don't deserve to marry an ancient house like Stark."
"Heh," Aldric laughed, asking Kevin, "Remember the story I told about the Storm Kingdom when I first joined the army?"
Kevin nodded. "I remember. Why?"
"Back then, the rebellious Stonemasons Guild quoted a high price to build the city. Stormwind nobles refused to pay after completion because the price was too high. Think today's scene is similar?"
Kevin thought. "You mean House Frey is like the Stonemasons, and Northern lords are like Stormwind nobles?"
Aldric sighed. "A sage in my hometown said: Oaths made under duress are not believed even by gods. Hope nothing goes wrong later."
Next morning, Robb Stark and Ser Stevron Frey announced the alliance and marriage pact.
As the price, House Frey opened the passage, and Ser Stevron led 4,000 soldiers to join the Northern Army.
Yesterday, these 4,000 men held bows on the walls against Northerners; now the walls were empty.
Crossing to the south bank, the road to Riverrun was open.
Frey infantry joined Bolton on the East Front; cavalry joined Robb to rescue Riverrun.
To reach Riverrun quickly, Robb ordered a forced march. After three days, the Northern Cavalry arrived in the mountains north of Riverrun.
Riverrun, House Tully's ancestral castle, stood at the junction of the Tumblestone and Red Fork. North was mountainous; south had the Whispering Wood.
As a small officer, Aldric didn't attend the war council.
Soon, on a dark moonless night, orders came to assemble and wait on high ground south of the Tumblestone valley.
Judging by terrain and troop distribution, Aldric realized Robb planned an ambush here.
Arriving at the designated area, the Young Wolf Robb was waiting. Wearing armor similar to Jon's but with a silver wolf head, he moved through the crowd, encouraging men.
Night wind blew Robb's auburn hair. From afar, he looked very much like Catelyn.
Tension of imminent battle spread like a tide.
Aldric turned to his comrades. "Eddie, lead cavalry and follow me closely."
"Conrad, tell others to stay back. Wait for the melee below, then dismount and form the 'Swan Formation' to kill enemies in chaos."
"Brother John, Juan, and the Engineer Squad, find a quiet place to hide. Find me after dust settles."
"Jon, let Ghost and Bell protect our non-combatants."
"Martha, stay with Combat Squads 1-3. If you see Northerners fall injured, drag them off the battlefield and wait for my return."
"Yes, Commander."
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