"It's time for a good fight!"
"Following Renly to rebel against the divinely blessed and legitimate King? What's the point of keeping such people! Killing them all wouldn't be too much!"
"I, Malkor Piper, am willing to be the vanguard!"
The leading earls and knights were not to be outdone, each rubbing their fists and palms, speaking passionately, vowing to seize this opportunity to demonstrate their loyalty and courage to the King.
The scent of blood and fire grew stronger.
Yet, Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, calmly stated, "We should show mercy."
The heated discussion in the Light Screen suddenly paused.
Mercy? How to show mercy? The generals were deeply surprised, never expecting to hear that word from the Kingslayer's mouth.
"At least defeat the enemy first before talking about mercy," a Knight from the Riverlands spoke first. He wore the Sigil of the Blackwood family of Ravenswood – a group of ravens surrounding a dead Weirwood on a black shield, on a crimson background.
Clearly, the awe everyone felt for the Kingslayer himself was far less intense than that for King Joffrey.
Ser Kevan Lannister, the Master of Ships, had not yet expressed his stance. Thus, the generals' admonitions and suggestions increased, varied and diverse, and could ultimately be summarized in one sentence:
All-out attack.
Littlefinger was not surprised by the current situation.
Among these twelve thousand Cavalry, eight thousand were from the Westerlands, two thousand from The Vale, and one thousand each from the Riverlands and King's Landing.
The composition was quite complex.
The Officers leading the troops came from different backgrounds, either familiar or unfamiliar with each other, close or hostile. If not for the unified command and orders from the Light Screen, let alone harmonious cooperation, it would have been good if they didn't fight among themselves.
And this situation could actually have been avoided.
Kevan Lannister himself brought ten thousand Cavalry, plus the vassals from the Crownlands and newly recruited Knights, which was more than enough to take Rising Stone Town. There was no need to mix in Northern Cavalry at all.
If it was said that they were worried about the Northern Allied Forces causing trouble in King's Landing, and thus called them to battle, it was equally unreasonable.
King's Landing was no longer what it used to be.
The various buildings that had risen from the ground in this Holy City could be seen as sturdy fortresses, capable of defending not only against external enemies but also against attacks from within the city.
Moreover, there was the surveillance of the Light Screen.
If the Northerners truly wanted to rebel, they probably wouldn't even have gathered their army before the city guards and the Security Bureau would come to arrest them.
There was absolutely no need to worry about these things.
So, was this a mistake? Did Joffrey not foresee this?
Recalling that terrifying name, Littlefinger still shivered uncontrollably. For a moment, those tangible and intangible pains returned to him, making him dare not harbor any extravagant thoughts.
Littlefinger transformed his fear into seriousness.
Joffrey, who had completely changed, had truly become an unfathomable King. This must have been intentional!
Yes, it must be.
But for what? Littlefinger racked his brain, pondered deeply, and tried his best to guess the King's thoughts.
By speculating on people's minds, he had successfully climbed to the high position of Master of Coin, regaining his freedom and embracing a new life earlier than Varys. He wanted more.
As long as he guessed the King's thoughts and acted accordingly, power would quickly return to his hands.
Littlefinger firmly believed this.
Why was the troop composition so complex?
The conversations in the Light Screen rose in waves, not settling down for a long time. Littlefinger carefully examined each speaker and their words.
Ser Symond Templeton, the Knight of Nine Stars City, still maintained a tough attitude.
Littlefinger had known him for a long time.
Nine Stars City was the second stop on his journey to Riverrun that year. Seeing this Castle, it was hard to imagine that its owner only held the title of "Knight."
However, although the Templeton family was only a Knight family, their strength and influence were no less than many Lords. Of course, they were also much stronger than the Baelish family, who only had titles.
In fact, Nine Stars City was quite hospitable to Petyr at the time.
Although Ser Symond Templeton, the "Knight of Nine Stars City," was cold and unsmiling, he provided hot soup and meat, vegetables, and fruits. More importantly, there was no ridicule or contempt.
Petyr's vague good impression of Nine Stars City lasted for a long time.
Until he lost his beloved Catelyn, and happened to hear: Eddard Stark's grandfather's sister married the youngest son of Lord Rory Royce, and the youngest daughter born after that married into the Templeton family.
Nine Stars City and the Starks intermarrying?
Littlefinger's impression of Nine Stars City was instantly shrouded in a dark shadow, making him unable to like it no matter how he looked at it.
At that time, he was already the tax collector of Gulltown.
With the ambition to climb the ladder of power, he began to secretly collect information on the families of The Vale and the Seven Kingdoms, seeking any opportunity to gain profit.
He thus gained a more real and in-depth understanding of Nine Stars City.
As one of the prominent Lords in The Vale, the Templeton family of Nine Stars City could easily summon a legion of thousands, owned a large area of prosperous coastline, were famous, and had a thriving population.
But the ambitious Ser Symond Templeton was not satisfied. He craved more power and glory.
But the Vale has been at peace for many years, and the wars of the Seven Kingdoms have also disappeared. How else could Nine Stars City expand and grow stronger, or boast of its military prowess?
Ser Symond Templeton thus became a famous busy man in the Vale, rushing between various tourneys all day long, or actively helping to settle various disputes between lords, making a name for himself with his swords.
But this could obviously only slightly suppress his burning ambition, not extinguish it.
Now, war has finally arrived.
Once the desire of Nine Stars City erupts, how far can it burn?
Littlefinger examined the sigil of Nine Stars City, which featured a golden diagonal cross on a black background. Eight six-pointed stars were evenly distributed within the cross, surrounding a central seven-pointed star.
Six-pointed stars and seven-pointed stars.
How strange.
Is it the traditional seven-pointed star, or King Joffrey's six-pointed star?
Perhaps both.
Littlefinger looked at Symond Templeton's cold face. Perhaps neither.
"Lord Kevan, Lord Jaime, I am willing to lead my men as the vanguard and blow the horn of victory for the army!" Ser Donnel Waynwood sincerely offered again.
He was the second son of the Lady of Ironoaks, Anya Waynwood, and only twenty years old. Littlefinger hadn't seen him at Ironoaks back then.
But looking now.
Ser Donnel Waynwood was not handsome, but he had a trustworthy demeanor. He was indeed his mother's son.
Littlefinger sighed silently.
The Waynwood family's Ironoaks was the third stop on that journey. Petyr was once moved by Lady Anya's elegance and grace, seeing her as a kind elder.
But later, a more mature Littlefinger saw more.
Lady Anya Waynwood of Ironoaks had three sons and an adopted son - Ser Harrold Hardyng.
There was nothing much to say about the sons.
As for this adopted son, some now called him "Harry the Heir".
According to the legal line of succession, Harrold Hardyng was the first in line to inherit the title of Duke of the Eyrie from Robert Arryn.
Did Ironoaks have no thoughts about this at all?
Looking at the seemingly simple and honest Donnel Waynwood, Littlefinger was deeply suspicious. He would no longer be easily deceived by appearances.
This time.
Lysa, who no longer trusted anyone, dared not refuse the summons from the Iron Throne, but she did not hide her conservative intentions.
Any Knight of the Vale who was completely loyal to the Eyrie should not appear.
So.
Who exactly are these people loyal to now?
-----------
Machine Translation by: beta.randomtranslator.com
Read 1400+ original & fanfic translations and Translate for Free at: www.randomtranslator.com