The news of Edmure Tully's death quickly reached maidenpool, causing widespread panic.
Therefore, when Ser Mason appeared with over 3,000 Kleber's Blue Cloaks beneath maidenpool's walls, the aging Earl William Muton wisely chose to surrender for the sake of his family's survival.
Dick Cleboe, a collateral member of House Clebber, married Elanor Muton, the Earl of Lady Spring Town's eldest daughter and heir, and became the Governor of maidenpool.
… … … …
Late that night, Queen Cersei's guard, Osney Kettleblack, finally found his opportunity; he quietly snuck into the Great Sept and smothered the sleeping Archbishop with a pillow.
… … … …
Under the command of King Balon of the Iron Islands, over 100 Ironborn longships carrying more than 3,000 Ironborn sailed north to support Asha Greyjoy's invasion of the North.
… … … …
Rumor had it that Oberyn Nymeros Martell, nicknamed the Red Viper, left Sunspear by ship under the command of his elder brother, Prince Doran, to go to King's Landing as a Dorne Envoy.
… … … …
… … … …
Tyrion, a Lannister by birth, naturally chose expensive knight's warhorses when preparing mounts as a precaution.
Knight's warhorses were tall, strong, beautiful, and had great explosive power, but they required meticulous care and were much inferior in endurance compared to Northern warhorses.
Under normal marching conditions, this was not a major drawback, but… once Tyrion and his party were "bitten" by cavalry riding Northern warhorses with excellent endurance, it became a "fatal" weakness.
Three days after their movements were discovered by a searching North Cavalry squad, Tyrion and his group had no choice but to abandon their foaming horses.
The North Cavalry could appear at any moment; from then on, they could only rely on their legs.
As night fell, the fleeing group finally had a chance to catch their breath.
Tyrion's trembling fingers combed through his sweat-soaked hair; he could swear that never in his life had he complained so much about his short legs.
Today, if not for his squire, Podrick, carrying him and running at a crucial moment, he would surely be kneeling pitifully before a Direwolf right now.
He prayed to pray with a sincerity he had never shown before: Bronn, bring that bastard Green to me quickly!
Jaime, looking extremely pale, stumbled over, supported by Ser Adam.
Looking at Jaime slowly sitting down, Tyrion grinned: "Brother Jaime, pray with me."
Jaime gave a weak smile, paused, and then said seriously: "More and more North Cavalry are pursuing us, and without horses, it will be difficult to escape their encirclement."
He slightly moved his injured left arm and continued: "If Earl Green doesn't arrive tomorrow either… Tyrion, we need to make a choice."
He gazed at his younger brother: "I am their biggest target; you and Adam hide, and I will lead the others to draw the Direwolf away."
Tyrion stared at his older brother for a while, then said: "I must refuse your kindness; if I were to escape back alone, our benevolent father would never forgive me."
Jaime frowned: "Do as I say, I want you to live, my brother."
Tyrion grimaced: "Tywin will make me suffer a fate worse than death."
Jaime opened his mouth and said: "Tyrion, Father… he wouldn't, we are all his sons."
Tyrion seemed to mock: "Tywin doesn't want me to be his son; I knew that when I was very young, Jaime."
He stretched, then said: "Compared to believing in Lord Tywin's benevolence, I'd rather believe… or pray to pray, for Green to appear quickly; I will offer him my most passionate kiss."
Tyrion's jesting did not ease the heavy atmosphere; Ser Adam, who had been silent, suddenly said: "Earl Kleber's bounty is a mistake; it has made everyone search for us like madmen.
Otherwise, our whereabouts could not have been exposed so quickly."
Ser Jaime frowned and said: "Adam, without Earl Green's bounty, at least Qyburn wouldn't have come looking, and I wouldn't be sitting here listening to you complain."
Tyrion said with a smile: "Ser Adam, I think you are just being… well, rational in your analysis.
If you see Green, perhaps you can point out his mistakes to him directly; he loves listening to others' advice."
Ser Jaime glanced sideways at the ill-intentioned Tyrion and said: "Adam, don't listen to him; that little savage is very dangerous.
No one can restrain his sword except Cersei…"
He suddenly murmured, repeating: "Cersei… Cersei…"
After his injuries improved, Jaime easily fell into the "vortex" of Cersei.
Tyrion shrugged, ignoring his older brother who was temporarily lost in thought, then looked at the stern-faced Ser Adam: "Marbrand, Jaime is just showing deep sibling affection."
He said with a smile: "You and Green are both leaders of armies; you will surely have much to talk about.
Jaime's worries are superfluous; no one understands Green better than I do."
Ser Adam stared at Tyrion for a moment, then said coldly: "Lannister, do I look like an idiot?"
Tyrion's reaction was exaggerated surprise: "You actually figured that out?!"
His smile suddenly vanished, and he said in a serious tone: "Ser Adam, for the sake of our shared life and death, I am reminding you that Earl Kleber, whom you speak of, is the de facto ruler of the Valley.
Do not cause trouble for the Lannister because you cannot control your tongue."
His mismatched eyes stared at the stiff-faced Ser Adam, and he said word by word: "Did you remember?"
After a pause, Adam Marbrand slowly nodded.
Tyrion immediately beamed: "Ser, according to my analysis, the Direwolf should have brought troops to pursue us the morning after we escaped Riverrun.
The land beneath our feet is the Direwolf's territory, and we couldn't even find a small boat on the Red Fork River.
Who do you think gave that order? The bounty Green offered at least prevented all Riverlands people from becoming the Direwolf's eyes… Well, I have to admit, his method is a bit crude."
He scratched his hair and sighed: "It's my fault for underestimating Robb Stark."
Seeing Tyrion's pained expression, Ser Adam hesitated, then said: "You've done very well; no one expected so many accidents."
Upon hearing this, a smile gradually spread across Tyrion's face: "Adam, if we're lucky, we can still successfully…"
The next day, Tyrion and the others were not so lucky.
Near noon, with the sound of thunderous hooves, they were suddenly exposed to the sight of the North Cavalry.
About twenty loyal Lannister Red Cloaks stopped, attempting to block them.
With Direwolf banners fluttering, hundreds of North Cavalry, in black and grey, holding gleaming long spears, galloped towards them like a fierce wind.
The Red Cloaks fearlessly faced the charging North Cavalry, but they fell one after another into pools of blood; the battle was almost over in an instant.
Tyrion ran and ran on his short legs… He saw Ser Adam, who was carrying Jaime, fall to the ground in front of him.
Tyrion could no longer run; he was out of breath.
He laboriously drew the short axe from his waist, his trembling hand gripping the hilt tightly, wondering… if he would be considered to have died honorably in battle.
No fear could be seen on the face of his squire, Podrick; he held his sword hilt with both hands, bravely standing in front of Tyrion.
Woo woo woo, the Northern war horn sounded, and the charging North Cavalry slowly reined in their horses.
Jaime and Adam got up.
Tyrion and Jaime exchanged a glance; the four of them gripped their weapons tightly.
Just then, woo woo woo, the low and prolonged sound of a war horn came again, but… from another direction.
Tyrion immediately looked in the direction of the sound; the swamp marigold banner was fluttering… He wept.
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