In the Riverlands, at Pinkmaiden of House Piper, the lord and heir had long since fled.
House Piper's blue, red, and white banner, featuring a pink maiden dancing with a white ribbon on a blue background, lay discarded in the mud.
Inside the castle, the banner of House Lannister was raised, red-cloaked Lannister soldiers were everywhere, and the remaining soldiers of House Piper were hanging dead.
Lord Tywin Lannister led an army of twenty thousand men along the Gold Road, crossing the Red Fork, sweeping through the Riverlands, and echoing his son Ser Jaime's army.
Inside the council hall of Pinkmaiden, Tywin listened to his brother Ser Kevan's report, his brows furrowed.
Bitch's Pool was not far from here.
The main issue was that the twenty-thousand-strong army moved a bit slowly, and Ser Gregor, who had gone ahead to set an ambush, was completely wiped out.
"How could Ser Gregor be utterly defeated? And no bodies found?" Lord Tywin asked.
Tywin, who held the titles of lord of casterly rock and warden of the west, was over fifty years old but as robust as a twenty-year-old.
Even seated, Tywin still appeared tall, with long legs, broad shoulders, a flat stomach, and slender but muscular arms.
After his once thick golden hair began to thin, he ordered his barber to shave his head bald; Lord Tywin was a decisive man, so he also shaved his mustache and chin clean, leaving only his sideburns, two thick clumps of golden beard covering from his ears to his jaw.
His eyes were a pale green with hints of gold.
"That is indeed the case, almost none survived.
When the routed soldiers fled, Ser Gregor was already surrounded," Ser Kevan said, always a loyal and reliable subordinate to Tywin.
Kevan was a bit overweight, nearly bald, with a fleshy chin and a short-trimmed yellow beard.
"Every lord has a good dog, but a useful one is rare.
A knight like Ser Gregor is hard to find; there is no knight in all the Seven Kingdoms who can spread more fear," Tywin sighed.
"I will avenge my dog."
"Could the information from King's Landing be inaccurate?" Tywin asked.
"The intelligence from King's Landing is naturally accurate; Grand Maester Pycelle participated in Eddard Stark's meeting throughout.
The small detachment Eddard sent numbered just over a hundred men, no match for Ser Gregor.
The key was the unexpected situation; after Lord Beric's army fell into an ambush, Ser Gregor was about to annihilate them, but unexpectedly, the enemy had black-armored cavalry support."
"Cavalry?" Tywin asked curiously.
"All the Riverlands troops have been transferred by Edmure."
"It is indeed strange, though.
Those black-armored soldiers were well-equipped and had considerable combat experience, skilled in their movements.
They also had custom-made Myr five-shot crossbows.
However, they carried no insignias, so we don't know which house they belong to.
Their leader seemed to use a long spear and was very fierce."
"They are Mercenaries from Myr Across the Narrow Sea," Tywin's eyes burned with a fierce flame.
"That Child, I haven't even gone looking for trouble with him, and he comes to me."
"I thought the same," Kevan nodded.
"It seems their strength should not be underestimated, but where did they land?"
"The coastline is long; besides King's Landing, there are the Claw Peninsula and the Stormlands.
Myr's cheese and butter merchants have plenty of smuggling routes," Tywin snorted.
"Then we need to warn Cersei and them to be on guard."
"King's Landing has many soldiers; I imagine they will know how to handle it."
"However, if Myr keeps sending troops to land, then I will face enemies on two fronts," Tywin said calmly.
"I will not let this Child do as he pleases; I will give him some trouble.
Pirates, Mercenaries, former governors, as long as they help."
"Let our envoys get moving, and our old friend Grand Maester Pycelle.
If I recall correctly, King's Landing also has merchants and envoys from Lys and Volantis; surely they won't just watch Two Cities rise.
Oh, and have Cersei's spies watch the movements on the Claw Peninsula and Dragonstone; they are too close to King's Landing."
"I will do so as soon as possible," Kevan replied.
"You also need to pay attention to that letter; Robert's will has now spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms," Ser Kevan couldn't help but say.
"The letter? That is nothing more than Eddard Stark and Barristan concocting a slander against the honor of House Lannister.
I will make them pay sooner or later.
Those who shed the blood of House Lannister shall be punished; they will not escape unscathed!"
"That is true, but..."
"As long as we win this war, I believe these slanders and smears will cease abruptly.
Fight this battle well, Kevan; this is our best response."
"Any news from Tyrion?" Tywin asked.
"He's on his way; the Child said he's bringing us some gifts," Kevan said.
"Gifts? Humph, his brother has won again and again.
Jaime first routed Lord Vance and Lord Piper's armies outside Gold Tooth, then fought a decisive battle against House Tully's main forces below Riverrun.
In that battle, the Lords of The Three Rivers were utterly defeated, and many of Ser Edmure Tully's bannermen and knights were captured.
Lord Blackwood gathered a small number of remaining troops and fled back to Riverrun, holding out behind closed doors, and Jaime is currently besieging it.
Most of the other Lords of The Three Rivers scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing back to their homes," Tywin said proudly.
"I think when Tyrion returns, he'll only be able to drink some soup."
"Then for now, we only need to worry about the Northmen," Ser Kevan said.
"Eddard Stark's son has already begun to summon the Lords."
"The Northmen marching south will take a lot of time, and the Riverlands will have been swept clean by me.
That Child of House Stark is still a Child; he probably enjoys the sound of trumpets and fluttering banners, but war is, after all, a matter of slaughter, and I fear he cannot bear it," Tywin said.
"We will go all the way to Harrenhal, splitting the Riverlands in two.
Jaime will besiege Riverrun, and we will capture the other castles in the Riverlands."
"As you command," Ser Kevan nodded.
"I am not worried about those Children now; House Arryn's is still nursing, and House Stark's is just starting out.
Instead, I am worried about Stannis; he is like steel, and one of the Seven Kingdoms' renowned generals.
Dragonstone is too close to King's Landing," Tywin lamented.
"King's Landing needs a reliable person to guard it.
I originally considered you, but on second thought, you need to be with me."
"Then let it be Tyrion; he needs this opportunity," Kevan said.
"Not yet; I want to see Tyrion's mettle."
"Are you not worried about that young man Across the Narrow Sea?" Kevan asked.
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