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Ser Andar Royce's face was ashen.
He was the eldest son of Bronze Yohn and the rightful heir of House Royce.
A dozen Vale knights looked at each other, their hands on their sword hilts hesitating.
They were the pride of the Vale, bannermen knights sworn to House Arryn, not a band of robbers kidnapping kin!
Andar Royce frowned deeply.
He urged his horse forward a step, bowing to Lysa, his voice carrying the calmness and firmness belonging to a scion of a noble house.
"My Lady, with all due respect."
"Lord Edmure is your brother, the Warden of Riverrun and the Riverlands."
"We came here for an alliance, as you told us beforehand, not like this now, launching a despicable sneak attack."
"The honor of House Royce does not allow me to point my sword at an ally, let alone your kin."
He mentioned House Royce, the ancient house that had stood in the Vale for thousands of years, proud of bronze and runes.
His father, "Bronze Yohn," was the most respected lord in the entire Vale, and also the staunchest supporter of House Stark and House Arryn.
Andar's words made the surrounding knights waver even more.
They respected the prestige of Bronze Yohn and also believed in knightly honor.
"Honor?"
Lysa laughed hysterically.
The laughter echoed on the empty river beach, startling a flock of waterbirds.
"Can honor bring back my Petyr?"
"Can honor make Jon Arryn crawl out of his grave?"
Her laughter stopped abruptly; only hideousness remained on that twisted face.
"Honor is a dirge sung for the dead!"
"Ser Andar, I order you one more time, take him!"
"Otherwise, you are rebelling against House Arryn!"
"My loyalty is to House Arryn, to the Vale."
Andar Royce didn't yield an inch.
His hand pressed on the hilt of his sword.
"Not to your madness."
"My Lady, what you are doing now is forsaking our alliance with the North, defiling the moon-and-falcon banner of House Arryn!"
Edmure looked at Ser Andar blocking in front of him, a warm current surging in his heart.
He saw it; that was the backbone and responsibility of a true noble, seen in his father and his uncle "Blackfish" Brynden!
This gave him a sense of security.
Even if Lysa was crazy, she wouldn't ignore the advice of her bannermen, right?
After all, Royce was the strongest and most important house in the Vale.
"Lysa! You're crazy!"
Edmure finally found his voice from the shock.
"Stop now! It's not too late to turn back!"
"I swear, I won't reveal anything about today to anyone; I beg you, go back to the Eyrie quickly."
"Shut up!"
Lysa screamed at him like an enraged female beast.
"You have no right to speak here!"
She stared fixedly at Andar Royce, anger flashing in her eyes.
She knew the opportunity had come.
Today, she must establish her authority here!
Andar Royce was the chicken used to scare the monkeys!
"Very good, Ser Andar."
Lysa's voice suddenly became unusually calm.
Under that calmness was a heart-palpitating killing intent.
"You chose your honor."
"Ser Vardis! Ser Lymond!"
She turned to the other two knights.
They were veterans of the Eyrie, also loyal to House Arryn.
"This traitor openly defied the order of the Lady of the Vale and attempted to attack me!"
"In the name of House Arryn, I order you, kill him immediately!"
Ser Vardis and Ser Lymond's faces changed.
They looked at Andar Royce, then at Lysa's unquestionable face.
On one side was the future hope of the Vale, Bronze Yohn's heir.
On the other side was the monarch they swore allegiance to, the mistress of House Arryn.
This was an order leaving them no choice.
"What?"
"Do you also want to die with him for that laughable honor?"
This sentence was like a basin of ice water.
Thoroughly extinguishing the last bit of hesitation in their hearts.
They were knights, but they also had families and fiefs.
"Please... forgive us, Ser Andar."
Ser Vardis squeezed out a few words with difficulty, then slowly drew his longsword.
Ser Lymond also silently drew his sword.
Seeing this, the remaining knights retreated one after another, leaving the open space in the center of the river beach to the three of them.
An unavoidable tragedy was about to unfold.
"Come on."
There was no fear on Andar Royce's face.
He urged his warhorse, steel sword drawing a sharp cold light in the air, actively engaging his former comrades.
Clang!
Three longswords collided back and forth in the air, sparking dazzling fire.
Andar Royce was indeed Bronze Yohn's son; his swordsmanship was open and bold, full of power.
Even fighting one against two, he didn't fall into a disadvantage at all.
Ser Vardis's swordsmanship was steady, but his strength was obviously inferior to Andar.
Every collision of weapons made his tiger's mouth numb.
Ser Lymond was more agile; he constantly roamed on Andar's flank, looking for a chance for a fatal blow.
Edmure watched with fear and trepidation.
He wanted to help, but he was unarmed.
He wanted to call for help, but the nearest castle was miles away.
He could only watch helplessly.
Watch this fratricide caused by his sister's madness.
On the river beach, sword light flashed, hoofs flew.
Andar Royce fought more and more bravely; seizing a gap when Vardis caught his breath, he slashed down fiercely!
Vardis blocked hastily but was knocked back several steps, man and horse, by that huge force.
Now!
A glint flashed in Andar's eyes; just as he prepared to pursue the victory and completely eliminate one opponent.
Just then.
Whoosh——
A sharp breaking air sound rang out abruptly.
The sound was very light, almost covered by the loud noise of weapons colliding.
But Andar Royce still heard it.
Alarm bells rang in his heart; he instinctively wanted to dodge sideways.
But in front of him was the longsword thrusting from Ser Lymond.
He couldn't dodge.
Thud!
A section of black fletching protruded from the side of his neck.
That was a bolt from a crossbow.
Andar Royce's body movements froze abruptly at this moment.
The steel sword in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.
He slowly lowered his head, eyes filled with disbelief.
Sneak attack...
He slowly turned his head, gaze crossing the stunned Vardis and Lymond, staring fixedly at the woman standing by the river.
Lysa Arryn.
On her face, a victor's smile already hung.
Andar's lips moved, seemingly wanting to say something.
But finally, the light in his eyes dimmed rapidly.
His tall body swayed, falling heavily from the horse, smashing onto the pebbly river beach.
Blood spread from under him, dyeing those colorful stones red.
On the river beach, silence.
Ser Vardis and Ser Lymond looked at Andar lying in a pool of blood, then at the direction of the forest, faces written with lingering fear and horror.
They knew if they didn't act just now, they couldn't dodge the crossbowmen arranged by Lysa either, ending up just like Andar.
Lysa walked slowly to Andar's corpse.
Using the tip of her shoe, she kicked the still-warm body, like kicking a dead dog.
"Honor?"
She spat out the word contemptuously.
She had no honor, but she was still alive.
Andar had honor, but he was dead.
This was the best interpretation of honor!
Then, she turned around, gaze sweeping over every knight present.
That gaze scraped over everyone's face.
"Now, anyone else wants to talk to me about honor?"
No one answered.
All knights lowered their heads, daring not look her in the eye.
That pitiful pride and persistence in their hearts collapsed at the first blow before Andar Royce's corpse.
Fear replaced honor.
They were now just a group of tamed beasts.
And Lysa was the master holding the whip and butcher knife.
"Very good."
"Andar Royce attempted to attack me and was suspected of communicating with the enemy."
"Send someone back to the Eyrie immediately. Without alerting House Royce, quickly control all members of House Royce in the Vale, wait for my disposal after I return!"
Lysa nodded with satisfaction.
Finally, she could legitimately deal with House Royce, who always sang a different tune from her.
Then use Royce's blood to thoroughly establish her supreme status in the Vale!
As for other families uniting to boycott?
She was looking forward to that group of people rebelling!
Finally, Lysa's gaze landed on Edmure, whose face was pale and body trembling.
"Take him."
She issued the order again.
This time, no one hesitated anymore.
Ser Vardis and Ser Lymond dismounted, holding Edmure's arms left and right.
The cold iron armor hurt Edmure.
Edmure didn't resist.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
Father... you were right.
She is not my sister.
She is a monster.
An out-and-out monster who has long gone mad!
Radiance returned to Lysa's haggard face.
She turned her horse around, glancing at the towering keep of Riverrun, eyes flashing with greed and ambition.
"Edmure, as long as you can fully support me, for the sake of our past friendship, I won't kill you."
"But if you are still stubborn, then don't blame me for being impolite!"
"Now, tell me your choice!"
"Will you listen to my arrangements obediently, or die right now!"