They were anticipating a slaughter.
The Kingslayer knew it in his heart. A bloody, forgiving slaughter, just like the countless battles of the past.
He had experienced them.
Conscripted soldiers died in droves, painting grand, stirring chapters of war with their flesh, wails, and souls.
Knights in neat armor, mounted on tall warhorses, were invincible. Unlike ordinary soldiers, they would die in glorious duels, against equal enemy generals, or surrender or be captured with honor.
Most died, a small few survived.
This was the true outcome that those who were speaking up so eagerly desired in their hearts.
Jaime himself had been accustomed to and indulged in this, and didn't find anything wrong with it. War was like this, people were always going to die, and dying in battle was considered a decent end.
But Joffrey said he would "forgive."
Jaime Lannister had also come to understand the meaning of this word.
The exact opposite.
Those who were supposed to die in batches during war, Joffrey would "forgive" them. But the lords and knights who should have been in the safest positions were not accepted by the King.
Most people would live, and very, very few would die, so few that even if their bodies were abandoned in the wilderness, it would be absolutely impossible to cause a plague.
Of course, these bodies, which were distinguished and noble in life, would be treated with luxurious coffins.
The sorcerers accompanying the army would ensure there were enough coffins.
It was just unknown at that time, who would mourn for them, and who would seek revenge for them?
And, who killed them?
Several faces flashed in the Kingslayer's mind instantly. Joffrey's arrogant smile, his father's majestic gaze, Cersei's proud eyes.
He finally looked at the Blackfish in the Light Screen.
Brynden Tully, the Blackfish, the younger brother of Lord Hoster Tully, the Knight of the Bloody Gate in the Vale.
The Blackfish was weathered and calm.
The Blackfish was the shared opinion leader of these cavalrymen from the Vale and the Riverlands.
It shouldn't have been him.
But Lysa Tully refused to send out a more powerful figure, and the Tully family of the Riverlands also hid the heir to Riverrun.
The Blackfish was the only person from a ducal family.
Although some other earls and knights had come, in terms of reputation and power, there really wasn't anyone more suitable than the Blackfish.
Jaime Lannister was not disappointed.
He and the Blackfish had been able to talk about anything. He understood this knight, Brynden Tully was a true warrior and general, and sending him to battle was reassuring.
As long as the Blackfish was on their side.
Was he?
The Kingslayer observed the Blackfish.
His face had sharp angles, and beneath his messy, stiff gray hair was a face that was older and more weathered than before, etched with deep lines.
But the spirit within remained.
It reminded Jaime of the great knight who had captivated the young attendant with stories of the King of the Ninepenny Kings.
When the Kingslayer hadn't yet received this title, and wasn't even a knight, his father had taken him to visit Riverrun, and they had dined with two generations of the Tully family for many days.
Jaime was seated next to Lysa.
At that time, Lysa was still very delicate, not as neurotic as she was now, and could be considered a pitiful beauty.
But the young attendant Jaime's attention was solely on the Blackfish, who had gained such a great reputation in the War of the Ninepenny Kings, and he persistently asked about all sorts of exciting stories of bravery.
The Blackfish was also willing to satisfy his curiosity.
Even after leaving Riverrun, Jaime was still immersed in those stirring stories, filled with joy, as if he had already made friends with his idol.
What a naive young man.
Always holding onto unrealistic fantasies, dreaming of all things beautiful.
Jaime only realized the purpose of this trip much later. His father wanted to arrange a marriage contract between him and Lysa Tully.
After understanding this, Jaime felt even more fortunate in his heart.
Whether it was for Cersei, or simply personal preference, Lysa was clearly not to his liking. Not even the little girl Lysa from the beginning.
Attendant Jaime only had his sister and honor in his heart.
So, when the Mad King wanted him to be a glorious Kingsguard, and when Cersei wanted him to stay in King's Landing, by her side, Jaime didn't even think about his father's potentially terrible reaction, and agreed without hesitation.
His father was indeed enraged, and actually resigned from the position of Hand of the King, returning to Casterly Rock.
The Mad King also began to reveal his true colors.
Some say: Every time a Targaryen is born, the Gods flip a coin, choosing between madness and greatness.
If that were the case, then Aerys II, the Mad King, had undoubtedly received the coin of madness.
The Mad King was so obsessed with wildfire and reliant on spies. Any action in the Red Keep that displeased the King could lead to immense disaster. Burning at the stake, trial by combat, or the Black Cells—no one could survive any of these punishments.
Ser Jaime, in his white cloak, witnessed the Mad King tormenting the poor Queen, yet could only perform his duty and silently guard.
The Throne Room was merely an execution ground for the Mad King.
Countless lives died in agony beneath the Iron Throne.
Here, fire roasted Lord Rickard Stark of the North, while his son Brandon watched from the side with a noose around his neck.
Brandon struggled fiercely, the noose tightening, and finally, he died a step sooner than Lord Rickard.
Later, someone finally raised the banner of rebellion.
The Targaryens were about to fall, yet the Mad King refused to let go, even planning to use wildfire to make all of King's Landing his funeral pyre!
Ser Jaime, in his golden armor, killed him.
But Eddard Stark looked at him with that look! As if immediately condemning him as deeply sinful!
The people of King's Landing all called him the Kingslayer!
Heh! I saved all your lives! Is this how you repay your benefactor?
But just like Eddard Stark, no one was willing to listen to his explanation. The lion's pride also made him disdain excessive explanation.
Let them talk!
So people obediently did as they were told.
The name "Kingslayer" became increasingly famous. Robert Baratheon often called him that to his face. Others whispered or let it slip inadvertently.
Fortunately, the Blackfish hadn't called him the Kingslayer yet.
Jaime Lannister looked at the Blackfish, understanding that he had to act in this way, and his mood became complicated.
Oathbreaking, conspiracy, framing.
Haha, it really does sound like something the Kingslayer would do.
The Kingslayer had no choice.
Ding~
Littlefinger heard the notification sound from the Light Screen.
The great Ser Jaime Lannister finally couldn't help but signal him.
The Blackfish.
This was also an old acquaintance.
Littlefinger looked at Brynden Tully in the Light Screen. The elderly Knight of the Bloody Gate wore chainmail and leather armor. As always, his cloak was fastened with an obsidian pin shaped like a blackfish.
Aside from the wrinkles, he looked almost exactly as he did when they last met at Riverrun.
But things had changed drastically.
Littlefinger spoke from the Light Screen, "Ser Brynden, if you would, could you share your insights on the battle?"
He decided to integrate his task into the fight.
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