The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Wyman Manderly's company brought up the rear.

When Robb Stark saw Wyman Manderly, he understood why. While the other lords were on horseback, Wyman Manderly was being carried in a litter.

Wyman was outrageously fat. The flesh on his chin was so abundant that it obscured his neck. Robb hadn't realized that Wyman would bring a litter to war.

This made him very uncomfortable. What would Father do in such a situation? Robb suppressed his anger and asked himself inwardly.

Father would send Wyman rolling back and demand that he send someone who could ride a horse.

Wyman had two sons: Wylis and Wendel. The two young men came forward together to greet Robb. They could see that Robb's expression was displeased, even though the young man was trying his best to appear unaffected.

Robb also understood why Wyman was called 'Lord Merman'; eels were also pale and fat. Robb restrained his temper and decided to listen to what the obese 'Lord Merman' had to say before asking him to return. He hoped that when he asked Wyman to leave, his tone would be as tactful as possible, so as not to cause Ser Wyman any embarrassing humiliation.

The young man wanted to lead his troops well and also wanted to handle the friction with the nobles properly. He hoped to control his youthful impulsiveness and appear as mature, steady, and dignified as his father, Eddard Stark.

"Lord Stark, please forgive me for not being able to kneel," Wyman said from the litter. "I am simply too fat. Please, my lord, step into the litter."

"Whatever it is, say it quickly," Robb said, hearing the sharpness in his own tone.

The young man lacked experience and still revealed the strong dissatisfaction in his heart.

"Please, my lord, step into the litter. There is someone who wishes to see you," Wyman said with a smile, his tone humble.

The Manderly family had once been vassals of House Tyrell of the Reach, but were forced into exile due to territorial disputes with neighboring nobles. The Starks of the North took them in and granted them the lands of White Harbor. This family had always been loyal and humble to the Starks, and their gratitude had been passed down through the generations.

Robb looked at Wylis and Wendel. The two knights also looked embarrassed. They didn't know why their father insisted on seeing Lord Robb, nor did they know that there was someone else in their father's litter.

Whoever it was, they should get out of the litter to greet Lord Robb.

Wylis and Wendel walked to the litter, intending to remind their father, but Wyman raised a hand to stop them. Lord Merman did not allow his two sons to say more, but ordered them to take the guards away, further away, leaving only him and Robb face to face.

The warhorse suddenly neighed in fright. Grey Wind had arrived. He galloped all the way over, startling several horses, and one cavalryman fell from his horse.

Seeing Grey Wind arrive, Robb felt instantly calm and composed. He felt a surge of vigilance in his heart. Was he still afraid just now? That was not allowed, absolutely not allowed. Starks knew no fear.

Robb dismounted and straightened his chest. Grey Wind passed between his legs, not being affectionate with him, and went straight for the litter. Robb was taken aback, and Wyman was also frightened by Grey Wind until he 'lost color'.

Grey Wind made a whimpering sound inside the litter, not a threatening whimper, but a joyful one. Robb could hear Grey Wind's joy, but others could only hear Grey Wind's threat.

Only someone familiar to Grey Wind would elicit such a reaction.

Robb was surprised. He no longer hesitated and stepped into the litter. Wyman immediately lowered the curtains of the litter, blocking the gaze of any of the family soldiers outside.

Inside the litter sat a tall figure with his face hidden in a hood. Grey Wind was rubbing against his legs, wagging his tail non-stop, like a house dog reunited with its master after a long separation.

Robb's heart caught in his throat. He was too familiar with this person's figure and scent.

The burly man slowly removed his hood, revealing a face as hard as the rocks of the North. This face was weathered and worn, and a thick beard covered most of it, clearly having not been shaved for a long time.

"Father," Robb choked out.

*

The next day, the sun rose. On the banks of the Green Fork, at the edge of the lands of House Frey.

The sunlight spilled like gold on the woods, meadows, the Kingsroad, and the banks of the Green Fork. The morning breeze was gentle, and the air had the fresh scent of green grass.

A song suddenly rang out, startling the small birds in the roadside woods.

Along with the vulgar and lewd song, a ten-man scouting party appeared on a small hill to the right of the Kingsroad.

The light scouts wore light leather, tied with red cloaks, and rode steeds. Someone was singing loudly on horseback, as if afraid others wouldn't know they were coming.

"Hey, Captain, we'll soon be entering the lands of House Frey ahead."

"Forward, until we see the Little Wolf's company."

"It would be best to shoot a few of the Little Wolf's scouts and bring them back."

"Ser Adam Marbrand wants us to sneak close to the Little Wolf's camp tonight to count the campfires. Lord Tywin wants a precise number of the Northern army."

"Then we'll just wait here slowly."

"That won't do. We need to know if the Little Wolf will divide his forces to cross the Twins."

"Don't worry about the Little Wolf getting up to march so early. I'm just afraid the Little Wolf is still sleeping in his mother's arms."

A burst of laughter.

"Giddy up!" the squad leader shouted, spurring his horse and galloping ahead.

"Giddy up!"

"Giddy up, giddy up!"

The sound of hooves clattered, shattering the peace of the morning on the Kingsroad.

In the forest, ten Northern scouts lying on the ground immediately rose. The leader was Brynden 'Blackfish' Tully. They ran into the woods, where ten horses were tied. They leaped onto their horses and ran through the woods, following the Westerland scouts.

"Shoot them all, leave no one alive," Brynden ordered.

"Hah!" the brothers responded, taking down their bows and arrows.

Brynden 'Blackfish' Tully, an old-generation ruthless character who became famous at the same time as Duke Tywin in the War of the Ninepenny Kings. The younger brother of Duke Hoster Tully of the Riverlands, and the uncle of Lady Catelyn Tully. After Tyrion escaped using trial by combat, Catelyn and Blackfish together asked Lysa Tully of the Vale to send troops, but were rejected by Lysa Tully.

Helpless, Catelyn and Blackfish left the Eyrie and took a boat from Gulltown to White Harbor in the North. After resting for a while at Wyman Manderly's home, they soon heard that Robb's army was marching south, so they waited in White Harbor for Robb's army to arrive, and then joined the Northern army led by Robb.

Last night, when everyone was sound asleep, Robb secretly summoned Blackfish and ordered him to lead the scouts south along the Kingsroad in the dark of night to scout the movements of Duke Tywin's army, while also ensuring that the enemy's scouts could not bring back their true situation.

Last night, Brynden 'Blackfish' Tully set off with his brothers. The one responsible for receiving Blackfish was Theon Greyjoy.

Theon Greyjoy was skilled in archery. He led twelve riders to set off in the early morning, heading south along the Kingsroad to meet Brynden Tully, who had set off in the middle of the night last night.

Theon Greyjoy led the scouts and discovered the Westerland scouts coming along the road, and the Westerland scouts also discovered them at the same time. Neither side hesitated. They were both full of confidence in their archery skills and wanted to annihilate their opponents. Thus, a skirmish between scouts began on the banks of the Green Fork.

Theon Greyjoy's archery was superb. He rushed to the front, firing two arrows in succession, knocking two enemies off their horses. Just as he was shouting happily, several screams came from behind him. Four Northern scouts were shot off their horses by the enemy.

Theon was shocked. The opponent's arrows seemed to have a longer range.

In that brief moment of stunned silence, the opponent's arrows fell from the air again, still passing over Theon and landing in the middle of Theon's brothers behind him.

Theon was furious and led the charge. The opponent retreated while fighting, attempting to maintain a longer shooting distance.

Except for Theon, who was in the very front, the arrows of the other soldiers barely reached the front of the opponent's horses, always falling just short.

This tactic of shooting down the brothers behind Theon first was likely intentional by the opponent to capture a live target, namely Theon, who was in the very front. Moreover, the opponent had also seen that Theon was commanding this scouting team.

Theon fired two arrows in succession while advancing, but both missed. The opponent formed a crescent shape while retreating, displaying good training, and everyone was skilled in archery. He was a little flustered. Theon's judgment of distance was accurate. The range of the opponent's scouts seemed to be slightly longer than that of the Northern scouts.

Again, two screams were heard, and two brothers behind him were knocked off their warhorses.

As if in the blink of an eye, six of Theon's brothers had been shot, while the opponent had only lost two. Moreover, the crescent-shaped arrow formation had taken shape and began to advance instead of retreating.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

Several arrows grazed past Theon's side.

Theon decisively chose to escape. Just then, the rapid sound of hooves suddenly came. A scouting team appeared behind the enemies. The one in the lead was Brynden 'Blackfish' Tully. Blackfish fired an arrow first, and an enemy fell off his horse in response!

Theon was overjoyed and greatly encouraged. He immediately ordered his brothers to hold their ground and not retreat. In just an instant, the Westerland scouting team was caught between two sides. For a time, on the banks of the Green Fork, bowstrings twanged, and sharp arrows whistled. Three more Westerland scouts fell from their horses.

*

ps: Thank you for Jin Xiaoyanei's generous alliance leader reward and the two rewards from Punishing Knight Zero Degree Thinking. I will try my best to add more updates today.

Thank you: [Punishing Knight Zero Degree Thinking, Jin Xiaoyanei, Loving Your Heart 2] for the reward support, thank you, handshake.