iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 285 The Heavy Crown (End)
Hearing Robb's decision, Edmure couldn't help but widen his eyes. He opened his mouth and couldn't help but said: "Do you have to kill him? Can you spare his life..."

Robb's sharp eyes moved and he hesitated: "Robb... Your Majesty... I hate him as much as you do. He killed my people. The guards in the cell are all my father's veterans, but they suffered this bad fate."

His Adam's apple rolled, and he continued: "We must punish Lord Karstark, that's for sure...perhaps, lock him up...Halion, yes, Harion Karstark!"

He seemed to have finally found a reasonable reason: "We can take Count Karstark as a hostage and tell him that as long as he promises to be loyal to you, we will spare his father's life!"

He spread his hands: "Old Frey's matter has not been resolved yet. If we lose the cavalry and infantry of the Karstark family, what hope do we have in the war with the Lannister family?"

The atmosphere in the room was dull, Edmure swallowed secretly, and King Robb murmured: "I hope..."

Breathing heavily, Robb continued: "Marquis Frey still didn't reply. The Vale... fell into the hands of the Lannister... Damn it! How could the Knight of the Vale, who was famous in the Seven Kingdoms, be defeated so quickly? That's tens of thousands of heavy cavalry! Ten thousand... no, three thousand is enough. If three thousand valley heavy cavalry join us, I can immediately change the war situation."

With a splash, Ser Brynden poured a glass of wine and placed it in front of Robb.

He was always kind to his grandnephew king, but now his tone was stern: "As a king, you cannot complain about the arrangements of the gods. This is the test of the gods for the new king."

Robb was slightly startled. He raised his glass and took a big sip of wine. He paused and said, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be like this."

He took a breath and continued: "Lannister has just experienced a great war, and they will not be able to advance in a short period of time. I will take advantage of this to solve the problem at hand."

Recalling the beauty of Cersei described by Tyrion, Edmure's mind was spinning rapidly. He suggested: "King Robb, we must first let Duke Tywin send Cersei Lannister to Riverrun before we can release her." Take his son.”

Ser Brynden looked away and said nothing. Robb gave Edmure a rare smile and said, "Your idea is a good one, uncle."

After speaking, he remembered his uncle's advice and added: "The Karstark incident happened so suddenly that I didn't have time to tell you about it."

Edmure was secretly relieved, and he told Tyrion's proposal in detail.

Ser Brynden frowned slightly: "King Robb, Marquis Frey's reply..."

He glanced at the two relatives in front of him and said: "Uncle, grandpa, I plan to take this opportunity to reorganize the troops and prepare for the decisive battle in the future."

Ser Brynden's expression was kind. He nodded and said, "I will support you, my king."

"In ten days," Robb announced, "I will be married to Jeyne Westerling."

Edmure was flattered by Robb's compliment. He couldn't help but laugh. Ser Brynden finally resisted the urge to hold his forehead.

Ser Brynden nodded slightly and said: "There is a possibility that we need to always be wary of the Lannister's cunning. If this is the Lannister's conspiracy, you can also use their conspiracy to get more rectification for us. 'time."

Robb stared at Edmure, whose eyes were a little evasive for a while, and said, "Uncle, please continue."

Robb looked at Edmure with cold eyes, and he quickly said: "Marriage, I mean marriage. The Lannister waiter proposed to me that I marry Cersei Lannister."

Robb raised the crown made of steel and bronze with both hands, put it on his head, and said: "The first thing is that Rickard Karstark must die."

After listening, Robb frowned and thought for a moment. He looked at Sir Brynden and said, "Uncle, I don't trust the Lannister. Could this be their conspiracy to rescue Tywin's eldest son?"

Robb moved his heavy crown and said: "Uncle, I have my own responsibilities. When the war breaks out, I will kill Martin Lannister with my own hands, but this is not a battlefield. He is unarmed and is my prisoner." , under my protection. Rickard Karstark murdered more than just Martin Lannister, he murdered my honor. Tomorrow morning I will put him to death."

Edmure's face turned red when Sir Brynden saw him. He pretended to be confused and said, "What's wrong? Is my idea bad?"

Sir Brynden was silent for a moment, nodded, and said, "What's the second thing?"

"Two things."

Edmure was so surprised that he blurted out: "Wouldn't it be better not to kill him?!"

Edmure first looked at his uncle, then at Robb for a while, and said, "King Robb, maybe we can end this war without fighting."

King Robb shook his head and said: "Uncle, we don't have much time. We must let the Frey family make a choice as soon as possible. Before the war comes, I must figure out who my enemy is. I would rather lead the loyal Ten Thousand Soldiers and horses will not choose 30,000 soldiers and horses (metaphor) who have different intentions.”

Aren't you going to marry the Lannister? Why are you mentioning war again? Just when Edmure was confused, Robb said to him: "My uncle, I would like to ask for your help with the wedding arrangements."

Edmure retracted his thoughts and was very happy that his nephew trusted him: "Don't worry, leave everything to me. I will definitely arrange everything."

…………

The next morning, the storm all night had passed, the sky was gray and the air was freezing. The seven prisoners of Karstark had been hung up on the high wall of Riverrun earlier, and the long ropes pulled the bodies to swing in the wind.

The godswood in Riverrun was crowded with people. The lords of the Riverlands and the North, nobles and servants, knights, mercenaries, blacksmiths, merchants, camp maidens, etc. all stood in the forest to watch the execution. .

The soldiers of Greatjon took the bound Lord Rickard to the execution platform under the heart tree.

King Robb took the executioner's long-handled axe, stood on the side of Earl Rickard, and said: "Rickard Karstark, it was I who sentenced you to death. According to the tradition of the North, I I’ll do it myself.”

Rickard was wearing a dark woolen coat with the sunburst emblem of the Karstark family embroidered on it. He raised his head stiffly and said, "For this, I thank you, for the rest, I hate you."

He looked directly at Robb: "Boy, please remember that the blood of running wolf not only flows in your body, but also in mine. I, Rickard, gave this name in memory of your grandfather, and I gave it to your father. Fight with King Aerys (Mad King), and fight against King Joffrey for you. In the Westerlands, in the Riverlands, I fight side by side with you! On the banks of the Trident, I help your father fight to the end. Stark and Kar Stark, we are inseparable."

A thousand years ago, Caron Stark, the youngest son of Winterfell, led the army to quell the rebellion and was granted a fief for his bravery in battle. He named his castle the City of Caron, and over time it became the City of Cahor. The Starks of Cahor were also called the Karstarks.
King Robb said coldly: "You are my relative, but you still betray me. Blood cannot save you. Kneel down, Rickard Karstark."

Rickard's rip-off: "Both the old and new gods will forever curse the parricide."

King Robb repeated in a cold voice: "Do you want me to ask someone to put you on the execution platform? Kneel down, traitor." Earl Rickard knelt down and put his head on the execution platform while saying: "You Judge me, and the gods will judge you.”

"Rickard Karstark, Lord of Cahor, in the presence of gods and men, I, Robb Stark, commit murder and rebellion in the name of Lord of the North and the Trident. I sentence you to death for the crime and execute it myself."

King Robb followed the tradition of his ancestors and said to Earl Rickard: "Do you have anything to say?"

Count Rickard's voice was full of hatred: "Kill me quickly and accept the curse. You are no longer my king, boy."

The ax rose and fell, heavy and precise, blood splattered everywhere, and Earl Rickard's head was separated from his body.

Pat pat pat, heavy rain came suddenly.

…………

In the distance, Tyrion wiped the rain off his face and said, "A very fair young man, but this kind of person is not suitable to join the Game of Thrones."

The rain was getting heavier and heavier, and Bronn didn't hear clearly: "Sir, what did you say?"

Tyrion's short legs increased his walking speed, and he said casually: "I mean Lord Tywin will love this young man to death."

His vision was blurred by the heavy rain. Although he still couldn't hear clearly, Bronn stopped asking and quickened his pace slightly.

In the hotel, Tyrion threw the towel to the young squire. He took the wine glass to the window and took a sip of the wine.

Bronn combed his hair with his fingers, leaned against the window, and said, "Sir, you seem to be in a bad mood."

Tyrion looked at the pouring rain outside the window, took a sip of wine, and said: "A bad world needs just people, but truly just people often cannot win the game of power."

Bronn scratched his cheek with his index finger and said: "My lord, in order to get your reward, I really want to flatter you, but to be honest, the mercenary in front of you didn't quite understand what you said."

He pinched his chin and continued: "You seem to be feeling sorry for that Stark King...?"

After a pause, he added: "Or, do you think there is something wrong with his handling?"

Tyrion looked at Bronn sideways and said, "Mercenary, has anyone told you that you are a little too smart?"

Bronn shrugged and said: "As a mercenary, I don't have to understand my employer's words, but I must understand his preferences. This is related to how much reward I can get."

Tyrion tilted his head and said, "What a disturbing answer."

Bronn stared at the money bag hanging on Tyrion's waist and grinned: "Noble lord, I will always be yours."

The Lannister Lion took off his purse and threw it away, saying, "Lisa again?"

Bronn bowed and said, "It's Lisa."

Showing a lewd smile: "She can make me feel the value of the golden dragon."

He bowed gracefully again: "I still want to thank you for the reward. Her craftsmanship is excellent."

Tyrion pinched his chin and said suspiciously: "It seems that she likes golden dragons very much. Why didn't I know?"

Bronn's smile became even more lewd: "Perhaps, she knows that you can give her more."

Tyrion suddenly laughed: "I want to warn you, don't ask her about my size, Bronn."

He grinned: "I'm worried you'll be depressed from now on."

While they were still joking, Robb's captain of the guard, Leonard Westerling, came out of the rain.

He said: "Lannister envoy, the King of the North and the Trident will summon you in the main castle hall tomorrow morning."

Tyrion looked at the heir to the Earl of Lower West and Crag City, and said with a smile: "It's a great honor, and please thank King Stark on my behalf."

Sir Leonard put down his high chin, turned around and started walking. When he was about to reach the door, Tyrion suddenly stopped him.

Sir Leonard turned around and looked, and Tyrion said with doubt in his voice: "Sir, did the Westerling family decide to move to the snowy Winterfell because it was too hot in the West?"

Ser Leonard blushed and said: "Nine days later, my sister will hold a grand wedding with King Robb. Westerling is the queen's family, Lannister."

With a cold snort, he opened the door and left.

Tyrion looked at Bronn standing aside, spread his hands, and said: "It's really easy to find out a secret here."

Bronn grinned. "It will soon be no secret, my lord."

After a pause, Tyrion sighed: "My kind father is really lucky. The Seven Gods are too partial."

He leaned on the back of the chair, took a sip of wine, and said, "I'm actually very curious as to why King Stark doesn't let his relatives wear black clothes. Is it true that the Seven Gods are protecting the old lion?"

"...I don't want to think about it anymore, maybe I can know the answer after meeting King Stark." Tyrion walked towards a room with his little hand behind his back.

(End of this chapter)