Galon did not comment much on Jason's decision.
First, he had only just arrived and did not yet understand the conflict between Patrek and Jason.
Second, he wanted to learn more about the current state of the Twins through this member of House Frey.
So, after confirming the arrangements, Galon immediately ordered the landing to begin.
The fleet slowly rowed forward before finally anchoring outside the harbor.
Once the ships stabilized, the soldiers began disembarking in orderly lines.
Patrek stood beside Galon and watched as Glover soldiers descended from the ships one after another in perfect sequence.
He noticed that every one of them was a Northern soldier, and suspicion began stirring within him.
'Could what he said earlier actually be true?'
Just as Patrek was pondering Galon's words, a sudden conflict erupted right before his eyes.
Several Glover soldiers and Ironborn became stuck together along the ship's railing, refusing to yield.
"Move aside! Let us go first!"
"Bastard, why should your lot go first? I'm the one going first!"
"Take another step and see what happens!"
"Then I will! If you've got the guts, let's fight!"
The noisy argument drew the attention of Galon and the others standing on the beach.
Patrek was initially startled. His brows tightened before gradually relaxing again.
'The Ironborn always act lawlessly. Conflict like this is normal.'
'But now that they're cooperating, internal discord would be a serious problem...'
As someone with military training, Patrek understood very well—
If an army was divided internally, at best its combat strength would weaken. At worst, it would completely lose cohesion.
And an army without cohesion would become nothing more than scattered sand upon the battlefield, ready to be slaughtered.
Because of that, Patrek no longer thought highly of the combat capability of this so-called allied army.
Still, thanks to the Ironborn's behavior, he found himself believing Galon's story about taking Pyke a little more.
At that moment, Galon had already walked toward the docks, with Rodrik at his side.
Their gazes briefly crossed.
Rodrik gave a subtle nod, indicating that everything had been arranged by him.
"Stop!"
"What are you doing?!"
Galon roared in feigned anger, suppressing the argument on the ship's railing.
Yet one of the Ironborn actors stubbornly raised his neck and shouted back, "Lord Galon, this is our ship! Why should your men leave first?!"
Meanwhile, Rodrik sneered coldly and arrogantly added, "Lord Galon, your soldiers seem rather lacking in manners."
"We came here to help you wage war."
"What? They don't even understand basic courtesy?"
Galon's expression darkened.
"Help me wage war?"
"Lord Harlaw, you are obeying your queen's command and honoring the oath of alliance."
"If you wish to break your oath, you may leave at any time. I will not stop you."
Turning slightly, he stared at Rodrik, his voice as cold as the winds of the North. "But if you stay, then you obey my orders."
Galon swept his gaze across everyone present and thundered, "I'll say this once more. In my army, there are only my rules!"
"Either follow them, or crawl back to your Iron Islands!"
"You...!"
Rodrik flushed red with fury.
He pointed at Galon, but in the end merely snorted heavily and violently waved his arm toward the men still crowding the railing.
"What are you still standing there for?! Get down!"
After shouting that, he strode off toward the opposite side.
The few Ironborn participating in the act exchanged glances before quickly disembarking and hurrying after Rodrik.
Thus, the confrontation ended with the Ironborn commander storming away in anger.
On the docks, the Northern soldiers and the Ironborn stood distinctly separated, glaring hatefully at one another.
The atmosphere became oppressive to the extreme.
Patrek's expression grew complicated, and he felt increasingly pessimistic about the future of this army.
What Patrek did not know was that everything he had "seen," every conclusion and analysis forming in his mind, had long since been calculated by someone else.
Soon enough, under Galon's harsh orders, the army began moving toward Riverrun.
And the scene upon the beach was witnessed not only by Patrek, but also by the soldiers stationed in the harbor village.
After Galon's forces departed, those men rode back to Seagard and vividly recounted everything that had happened at the shore to Jason.
"Hmph. Ironborn!"
"Glover is still just a young man in the end. Trying to control those pirates won't be easy."
After hearing the report, Jason immediately snorted coldly.
He did not harbor much hostility toward House Glover itself. He simply did not trust the Ironborn.
That was why he remained hidden within Seagard, preferring to risk offending House Glover rather than personally venturing out.
He feared there might be some trick involved and that he himself could be dragged into danger.
After thinking carefully for a moment, Jason ordered the maester to draft a letter to Riverrun.
The raven spread its wings and quickly flew above Galon's marching army toward Riverrun.
By the time Riverrun received the letter, two more days had passed.
Inside the council chamber, Robb held the letter in his hands and excitedly shouted to Catelyn and Edmure,
"Haha! I knew Galon wouldn't disappoint me!"
"He did it!"
"He actually did it!"
"With just over a thousand men, he took Pyke and formed an alliance with Asha Greyjoy. Well done!"
Unlike the flushed and exhilarated Robb, Lady Catelyn maintained a calm expression, seemingly unconcerned.
Yet the absent look in her eyes betrayed the turmoil within her heart.
As for Edmure, he had already fallen into stunned silence, muttering repeatedly, "Impossible..."
"How is it impossible?"
"Galon's intelligence and talent were praised highly by both Father and King Robert."
"At the time, if Galon hadn't just become betrothed to Sansa, Father would certainly have brought him to King's Landing to display his abilities."
"If he had been in King's Landing, then my father..."
Mentioning Eddard caused Robb's expression to dim briefly, but his excitement quickly returned.
Galon's imminent arrival was the best news he had heard in a long time.
Nothing else even came close.
The news greatly eased the burden weighing upon Robb's shoulders.
So much so that he bypassed his mother entirely and immediately decided to postpone her journey to the Vale.
"Mother, I think the matter of going to the Vale can wait for now."
"Judging by the timing, Galon should arrive at Riverrun within three or four days. I want to hear his opinion first before making further decisions."
"With him here, even if the Vale refuses to join us, I still have confidence we can defeat the Lannisters!"
Catelyn froze.
Deep down, she was reluctant to leave Robb.
Yet hearing him praise Galon so highly caused the resentment she had felt back in Winterfell to surge up once more.
"Even if Glover comes, he only has fewer than two thousand men. What use are those numbers in the current war?"
"And Asha Greyjoy's fleet has yet to appear. Who knows whether she might change her mind?"
Catelyn's cold words immediately dampened Robb's enthusiasm.
He slumped into his chair, his brows furrowing once more.
"Yes... two thousand men are only a drop in the bucket against the Lannisters' tens of thousands."
"Without the full strength of the Iron Islands, our chances of victory are still slim."
"Sigh..."
At that moment, however, Edmure finally recovered himself and offered consolation.
"Since Asha Greyjoy sent troops, it means she's willing to cooperate with us."
"When Glover arrives, we can ask him about the details directly."
Robb nodded, his expression easing somewhat. "Uncle Edmure, please dispatch cavalry scouts toward Seagard."
"Guide Galon's army safely to Riverrun as quickly as possible and prevent any accidents along the road."
Edmure acknowledged the order and departed the council chamber.
Meanwhile, just as Robb sighed anxiously over the war situation, Stannis's fleet finally arrived near Saltpans after several days at sea.
The Dragonstone army swiftly seized control of Saltpans and immediately advanced toward the Trident.
Before long, they collided with Roose Bolton, who had been marching toward Harrenhal under Robb's orders.
After a brief exchange,
Roose Bolton learned of Stannis's intentions and also discovered Rickon Stark's whereabouts.
After a short hesitation, he chose not to continue toward Harrenhal.
Instead, he established camp directly upon the kingsroad.
At the same time, he sent a raven to Riverrun relaying Stannis's demands, while also dispatching messengers to inform old Walder Frey at the Twins.
"A great change is coming..."
"It seems I must also make preparations..."
Inside his camp, Roose silently resolved himself and took the first step in his own plan.
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