Game of Thrones: Knight’s Honor

Upon hearing Lynd's words, everyone present froze momentarily, then exchanged glances and broke into laughter for no apparent reason.

Seeing their reactions, Lynd felt a pang of confusion. Barristan, standing beside him, leaned in and whispered a reminder, "The matter of Seagard Castle was discussed just before."

Lynd's expression shifted slightly, a trace of embarrassment showing as he responded, "I spoke rashly just now..."

"Ser Lynd, I would like to hear your opinion on the current situation in Seagard," Lord Arryn interjected, his voice steady and measured.

At his words, the room grew serious. The laughter ceased, and all eyes turned to Lynd with renewed focus.

Despite the awkwardness of the earlier moment, Lynd remained composed. After a brief silence, during which he appeared to gather his thoughts, he spoke with calm determination, "Seagard is a critical position for the Iron Islands. If they manage to take Seagard, they could exert significant control over the Riverlands through waterways such as the Blue Fork and the Green Fork of the Trident. This would discourage the Lords of the Riverlands from sending troops to King's Landing. Moreover, they could block The Kingsroad, preventing the North's armies from marching south. To be more strategic, they might even attack Moat Cailin. Holding Seagard and Moat Cailin with minimal forces would effectively pin down both the North and the Riverlands."

As Lynd finished, the weight of his words settled over the room. The others exchanged startled glances, their expressions marked by newfound respect. Robert subtly signaled Varys, who stood and approached Lynd, pulling a document from his robes.

"This is the intelligence we just received," Varys said, handing the parchment to Lynd.

Lynd unfolded it and read through the contents. The report confirmed that Balon Greyjoy's brother, Victarion, had successfully captured Moat Cailin, annihilating its defenders.

Lynd's face darkened as he absorbed the news. The Ironborn rebellion was proving to be far more complex and dangerous than he had anticipated.

First, there was the fall of Faircastle, Banefort, and The Crag in the Westerlands. Lynd recalled that while these castles had been raided by the Ironborn in the past, they had never fallen completely. Their defenders had always managed to hold out until the raiders retreated.

Then there was the situation in Seagard. Under normal circumstances, Lord Jason of Seagard would have repelled Rodrik Greyjoy, killing him near the castle walls and forcing the Ironborn to retreat to their ships.

However, Lord Jason had fallen ill due to the extreme cold and had yet to recover. Unable to take up arms or command the army, he had been forced to pass command to his son, Patrek Mallister. This was the primary reason Seagard remained under siege.

Then there was Moat Cailin. Although Lynd recognized its strategic importance, this understanding stemmed from his broader perspective, akin to viewing events from the gods' vantage point. He could see that stationing a small force at Moat Cailin could effectively block the Northern army from advancing south.

Now, however, Balon Greyjoy had acted decisively, dispatching his most capable general, Victarion Greyjoy, to seize Moat Cailin. The intelligence also revealed that the Moat Cailin garrison had suffered heavy losses due to the unrelenting cold, leaving them incapable of mounting any meaningful resistance.

As Lynd had suspected, the Northern army sent to relieve Moat Cailin had been stopped in the Barrowlands of the First Men.

Attempts to bypass the stronghold by traversing the nearby swamps had ended in disaster. Many soldiers had drowned in the treacherous bogs, and those who made it through were ambushed by the Ironborn, who had been lying in wait. More than a thousand men were lost, forcing the Northern forces to retreat.

After reading the report, Lynd instinctively handed it to Nymeria. Then, to everyone's surprise, he asked, "What about the Twins? House Frey is the only lordship capable of aiding Seagard and Moat Cailin right now. Have they taken any action?"

As his question hung in the air, the expressions around the room grew noticeably darker.

"The Twins sent a messenger," Varys replied, stepping in to explain. "They claim that many in their lands froze to death during the extreme cold. They insist that their remaining manpower is barely sufficient to defend their own territory, leaving them unable to provide support. The Riverlands have suffered similarly. It will likely take time for each lordship to muster the necessary forces to assemble in King's Landing, and even then, the reinforcements will be limited."

The unseasonable and devastating cold had undoubtedly upended expectations. The Ironborn rebellion, once thought to be easily quashed, had transformed into a more complicated and arduous conflict.

After a moment of contemplation, Lynd asked, "Since His Grace and the Lords have just discussed this matter, could you share the outcome of that discussion?"

Stannis, ever stern and cold, responded in a low tone, "This is top secret. It's not for a knight like you to inquire—"

Robert interrupted him, his voice equally low but firm. "No, tell him. I want to hear what he has to say."

Though Stannis frowned, clearly displeased, he did not argue with his elder brother's decision.

Lord Arryn took up the explanation. "Our conclusion is this: the Riverlands will be tasked with assembling troops to rescue Seagard. As for Moat Cailin, we will leave it be for now. Once we capture the Iron Islands, the situation at Moat Cailin will naturally resolve itself."

Lynd considered the plan for a moment before posing another question. "What if the Riverlands' forces are defeated by the Ironborn besieging Seagard?"

His question elicited incredulous reactions from the gathered lords. They exchanged glances, some shaking their heads in disbelief, as if Lynd had voiced an impossibility. Despite the challenges posed by the cold, the Riverlands were far stronger than the Iron Islands. Once the various lords of the Riverlands gathered their troops, they were more than capable of repelling the Ironborn's forces, even if the latter were bolstered by their raiding success.

To the others, Lynd's suggestion seemed absurd—an unwarranted worry. Yet, amidst their dismissive reactions, Robert's expression was somber, his demeanor pensive and uncharacteristically serious.

Then Robert raised his hand to stop the taunts against Lynd and said to him, "Continue."

Lynd said calmly, "If the Ironborn besieging Seagard defeat the coalition army of the Riverlands, they could shift their target and attack King's Landing directly to the south. At that point, the Ironborn stationed at Moat Cailin could simply abandon their position, join forces with the Ironborn at Seagard, and march south through the Riverlands, which would be completely defenceless, heading straight for King's Landing. By then, the people of King's Landing will have gone to aid the Westerlands, leaving the capital vulnerable to a sudden attack. Even if the city manages to defend itself, the Ironborn could still pillage the surrounding area and retreat through the Riverlands to avoid pursuit."

Upon hearing Lynd's grim speculation, the room fell into immediate silence, each person deep in thought.

"With Moat Cailin no longer obstructing them, the army of The North could march south. If the Ironborn turn north, they would encounter the Northern army," Howard Tully, a member of a House Tully branch from Riverrun, said, believing he had found a flaw in Lynd's argument.

Lynd explained, "It's quite simple. The Ironborn retreating from Moat Cailin could set traps along the way to slow the Northern army's advance. Alternatively, they might leave a small contingent behind to hide in the swamps and harass the advancing troops. These tactics would significantly delay the Northern army, buying the Ironborn enough time to strike at will in the Riverlands."

As he spoke, Lynd walked to the table where everyone was gathered, pointing at the map spread out before them. "Moreover, the Ironborn don't have to retreat solely through the Riverlands. They could move into the Crownlands, seize ships, and leave by sea. Alternatively, they could head south through Kingswood into the Stormlands, loot the area, and escape by ship. Or, if they were even bolder, they might enter the Westerlands via the end of The Goldroad, following the supply columns into the region. Before the support army realizes King's Landing has been attacked, they could coordinate with Ironborn landing on the western coast to ambush the support army. Once the Ironborn breach King's Landing's vicinity, their options become almost limitless."

When Lynd finished, the room was silent once again. While most of those present believed such an elaborate scenario was unlikely, they couldn't entirely dismiss it. If events unfolded as Lynd predicted, even if they ultimately subdued the Iron Islands, the Baratheon dynasty's reputation would be irreparably tarnished—a potentially devastating blow to the newly established rule.

"Ser Lynd, since you've already thought of this, do you have a solution?" Grand Maester Pycelle asked Lynd.

"I can handle it," Lynd volunteered.

"You?" Everyone was stunned.

Lynd walked back to Nymeria and said, "Lady Nymeria and I have brought a total of more than 2,000 people with us, all of them our most elite warriors. Your Grace can leave the recapture of Moat Cailin and the rescue of Seagard to me."

"Are 2,000 people enough? I remember there are over 10,000 Ironborn besieging Seagard, and several thousand stationed at Moat Cailin. You only have 2,000..." Stannis questioned sharply.

"My lord, war isn't decided by sheer numbers. If it were, both sides would simply count their forces before the battle and the larger army would declare victory without lifting a sword," Lynd interrupted confidently. "My 2,000 men, if used properly, can achieve the effect of 10,000—or even tens of thousands."

"How are you going to fight?" Robert asked, seemingly intrigued by Lynd's confidence.

"I will first rescue Moat Cailin, then join forces with some of the Northern army. We'll pass through The Twins and bring additional troops from there, forming a force of nearly 10,000. That will be sufficient to deal with the Ironborn besieging Seagard. With some cooperation from within Seagard, we can completely trap the Ironborn under the castle walls," Lynd explained clearly. "After breaking the siege, the Northern army can continue south, joining forces with the Riverlands army to march on King's Landing—or directly to the Westerlands. Meanwhile, I can march along the coast from Seagard to Banefort, The Crag, and Faircastle, attempting to liberate them from the Ironborn before it's too late."

In truth, this strategy was not entirely Lynd's own. He had borrowed the concept from Robb Stark, the Young Wolf, whose southern campaign against the Westerlands a decade later had followed a similar path.

After hearing Lynd's explanation, Robert didn't mock his ambitious plan. Instead, he fell silent, contemplating for a moment before asking, "What is your level of confidence?"

Lynd did not answer directly. "No one can predict the outcome of a battle that hasn't yet been fought. It's meaningless to speculate on chances beforehand. I can only promise that I will not betray Your Grace's trust."

Robert was quiet for another moment before saying, "I remember that Lord Mace gave you the title of commander of the anti-bandit forces in the Reach. The Reach is just a bit too small. I will expand the scope of that title. From now on, you are the commander of the anti-bandit forces across the Seven Kingdoms."

"Your Grace..." Jon Arryn, standing nearby, immediately began to protest.

"There's no need for discussion, my lord. Let's leave it at that. It's just a title. It grants no real authority—merely nominal support for his actions," Robert said, raising his hand to silence the Hand of the King.

Robert then picked up a blank document, quickly wrote down Lynd's appointment, affixed his royal seal, and handed it to Jon Arryn to add the Hand of the King's seal. Seeing Robert's determination, Jon Arryn remained silent, affixed the seal, and handed the document to Lynd.

Holding the appointment, Lynd felt a sense of disbelief. He had not anticipated receiving such a prestigious title simply by presenting his plan. While, as Robert had stated, the title granted no substantive power, Lynd understood its potential. If used wisely, it could provide him with additional support.

"When do you plan to leave? What do we need to prepare for you?" Robert asked again.

Lynd thought for a moment before replying, "I will rest for one night and set off north tomorrow. Since I need to reach Moat Cailin as quickly as possible, I cannot afford to carry many supplies. I only require some dried food, and I'll purchase whatever else is needed along the way."

"In that case, you may go and rest. I'll have someone prepare the provisions you need." Robert gestured for Lynd to leave, but as Lynd and Nymeria turned to go, he added, "If you can truly accomplish all you've claimed, I will personally make you a Lord once the war is over."

Upon hearing Robert's words, Lynd turned back and bowed deeply to him, then exited the courtyard with Nymeria without uttering another word.

"Your Grace, this is inappropriate. Lynd Tarran is, after all, a knight of House Tyrell, and it should be..." Lord Arryn began to remind him, his expression serious.

"I know, I know! When the time comes for the investiture, I'll just have Lord Mace do it for me," Robert interrupted, brushing off Lord Arryn's concerns with a dismissive wave. He then urged, "Let's move on to the next topic. We shouldn't waste time discussing things that don't need to be discussed. By the way, the royal fleet from Dragonstone doesn't need to join this rebellion. Once the armies of the various lords gather in King's Landing, it's enough for the fleet to simply display its presence in Blackwater Bay."

Stannis's expression darkened slightly, his dissatisfaction with this decision apparent. However, he chose not to voice his objections and simply nodded in acknowledgment.