Chapter 206: Besieging the Westerlands, the Wolf King Crushes the Enemy

At the Westerlands fortress of Golden Tooth, Duke Tywin finished reading the letter. Jaime noticed that Duke Tywin was very satisfied; for a moment, it seemed as if Duke Tywin was about to smile. One must know that ever since Lady Joanna passed away, Tywin had never smiled.

Jaime was curious, "Father, could it be that there is good news from Deep Den?"

Duke Tywin used those vigorous and powerful hands to display the letter written in cinnabar ink.

"Kevan and the Golden Lady have achieved a great victory at Deep Den. Sir Baron Swann has been captured, and captured along with him are the Goat Girl Gisela, the Cat Girl Jeyne, and the barbarian Tigris who rides a saber-toothed tiger. Bronze Yohn and Barristan, leading the Wolf King's army, have retreated to the mountainous region in the north of the Westerlands."

Jaime said excitedly, "Uncle Kevan can lead the Westerlands Army to sweep away the enemies in the mountains and hills of the northern Westerlands."

Duke Tywin disapproved, "If we march toward the northern hills and mountains, we will fall into the Wolf King Eddard's trap. The Mountain Legion under Wolf King Eddard is composed entirely of Rockborn from Skagos, warriors of the Northern Mountain Clans, Night Runners from the Frostfangs beyond the Wall, Cave Dwellers, and mountain clan tribes from the Mountains of the Moon."

"The mountain folk of the Westerlands are mostly miners; they spend their lives in gold and silver mines and are not skilled in mountain warfare. The Westerlands Army is simply no match for the Wolf King's Mountain Legion in mountainous terrain. Furthermore, while Bronze Yohn may have suffered a defeat, his army has not been routed, and their numbers still far exceed Kevan's forces."

Jaime said gloomily, "Are we just going to let Bronze Yohn and Barristan stay in the mountains of the Westerlands? They are constantly abducting the women and children of the Westerlands!"

Duke Tywin said, "I will order Kevan to march west, retake Castamere and the Pendrey Hills, and then march north to retake the Westerling stronghold of Crag and recover the lands of House Banefort. In this way, the morale of the Westerlands vassals will be stabilized, and Bronze Yohn and Barristan can be thoroughly driven into the mountains of the Westerlands."

"The mountainous region of the Westerlands north of the Tumblestone River is rich in gold and silver mine resources, but has very little farmland. If the armies of Bronze Yohn and Barristan remain in the mountains, they will inevitably run out of provisions. When that time comes, they will have no choice but to retreat, retreating in a sorry state back to the Riverlands."

Jaime stroked the sword belt of his gilded sword.

"According to intelligence from the west coast of the Westerlands, dozens of giant eagles have appeared in the sky, and some have even witnessed a magic dragon flying wolf. If nothing goes wrong, this is the Giant Eagle Legion led by Wolf King Eddard. Wolf King Eddard has arrived in the Westerlands in person; Bronze Yohn and Barristan will soon make a comeback from the mountains of the Westerlands."

Duke Tywin said indifferently, "Of course I know that Wolf King Eddard's Giant Eagle Legion and magic dragon are a huge threat. However, I believe that since the Golden Lady defeated the Goat Girl Gisela, the saber-toothed tiger warrior Tigris, the Cat Girl Jeyne, and other skinchangers, she can just as easily defeat skinchangers like Wolf King Eddard, Prince of Giant Eagles Michu, and Giant Eagle Princess Bessa."

Jaime was overjoyed, "The letter writes very clearly that the Golden Lady not only captured the skinchangers, but the skinchangers' eagles, saber-toothed tigers, goats, owls, and shadowcats were all controlled by the Golden Lady. Perhaps the Golden Lady can rely on her sorcery to help us control Wolf King Eddard's giant eagles and the magic dragon."

"If the Westerlands had its own Giant Eagle Legion and magic dragon, then the situation of the war would be reversed in an instant."

Duke Tywin said, "I will not be blindly optimistic, but the Golden Lady has proven her strength; we have every opportunity to defeat the Wolf King."

Jaime said excitedly, "If the Golden Lady helps us seize Wolf King Eddard's magic dragon and giant eagles, we have every opportunity to kill Wolf King Eddard. Once the Wolf King is dead, the wolf pup Robb is not to be feared, and the alliance of the Riverlands, the Vale, and the North will inevitably fall apart."

Sir Addam Marbrand arrived before Duke Tywin and Jaime with a hurried expression.

"Duke Tywin, Count Diego Charlot of Silver Hall and Count Lins Leyton of Deep Den have both sent ravens to Golden Tooth. In their letters, they claim that the Wolf King's army has appeared in the lands of House Sarwyck south of the Golden Road and the lands of House Leyton north of the Golden Road."

The Golden Road is a major thoroughfare in the Westerlands running east-west, starting from Lannisport on the Sunset Sea in the west and reaching King's Landing in the east; it is the shortest road from Lannisport to King's Landing.

Currently, the main force of the Westerlands is assembled at Golden Tooth, holding the River Road and blocking the enemy's advance. The defense of the Golden Road is relatively weak; the Golden Road is far from the Riverlands, and the border area with the Riverlands consists mostly of high mountains and steep ridges.

Under normal circumstances, for the Wolf King's army to set out from the Riverlands and try to attack the Westerlands via the Golden Road, they would not only have to take a long detour but might also be attacked by the Lannister ally, Tyrell.

The appearance of the Wolf King's army on the Golden Road caught both Duke Tywin and Jaime by surprise.

Duke Tywin frowned, "The Westerlands Army holds Golden Tooth. A few days ago, the Blackfish Brynden and the little imp Robb sent House Frey to attempt a sneak attack via a small path, but I saw through it. House Frey suffered heavy casualties and retreated. The Wolf King's army has been blocked outside Golden Tooth; why would they appear on the Golden Road in the south? Could the Wolf King's army have snuck across via a small path near Golden Tooth?"

Sir Addam Marbrand shook his head, "Duke Tywin, the enemies appearing on the Golden Road did not pass through the Golden Tooth defensive line, but crossed mountains and ridges from the mountains near Deep Den to reach the Westerlands. Leading this army is the Red Priest Thoros, the Lightning Lord, and another commander is Prince Oberyn the Red Viper; his Viper Group has appeared in the Westerlands."

Jaime said gloomily, "Aren't these people in the Riverlands dealing with Vargo Hoat's Brave Companions and the Mountain's legion?"

Duke Tywin had been sending the mad dog The Mountain and the brutal Brave Companions to burn, kill, and pillage in the Riverlands, leaving a scorched earth policy wherever they went. After the Wolf King's army counterattacked the Westerlands, they also employed a scorched earth policy, even more ruthlessly than the Westerlands army, abducting women and children.

Due to being at a disadvantage in troop strength, The Mountain's legion and Vargo Hoat's Brave Companions had been persisting in guerrilla warfare in the Riverlands.

Sir Addam Marbrand said, "It is rumored that the Lightning Lord, Lord Beric, and his Red Priest Thoros can use fire to predict the movements of the Westerlands army. I heard that Brienne of Tarth, the Knight of Flowers Loras, and The Hound Sandor have all joined the Lightning Lord's ranks. Coupled with the fact that the Lightning Lord has skinchangers by his side, the Brave Companions and The Mountain have been defeated repeatedly in the Riverlands."

"The legion of The Mountain Gregor does not know where they have gone; it is very likely they have been routed. As for Vargo Hoat's Brave Companions, they fled to the Westerlands and sometimes even run to the lands of the Reach to pillage. The Lightning Lord and the Red Viper are pursuing them all the way to the Westerlands precisely to hunt down The Mountain and the Black Goat Vargo Hoat."

Duke Tywin said angrily, "The Mountain Gregor and Vargo Hoat are both trash. I had them contain the enemy in the Riverlands, and as a result, after they were routed, they actually led the enemy into the Westerlands."

Jaime said, "What about Sir Amory Lorch?"

Addam Marbrand said, "The Red Viper Oberyn captured Amory Lorch. He tortured Amory Lorch to death. Oberyn has now made a trident banner with Amory Lorch's head hanging on it. The Red Viper Oberyn has put out the word that the other two positions are reserved for The Mountain Gregor and... and Duke Tywin."

During the Usurper's War, Duke Tywin tricked the gates of King's Landing open, and the Lannister army sacked King's Landing. In order to stand on the side of the victors, Duke Tywin ordered The Mountain Gregor Clegane and Sir Amory Lorch to torture Princess Elia Martell, the sister of the Red Viper Oberyn, to death.

Back then, The Mountain smashed the head of the infant Prince Aegon against a wall, and subsequently, The Mountain raped Princess Elia Martell with hands covered in the infant's brains and blood. Sir Amory Lorch stabbed Princess Elia's daughter Rhaenys dozens of times with his sharp sword.

Subsequently, Duke Tywin placed the blood-covered infant before the Iron Throne, wrapped in a crimson Lannister cloak, and presented him to the new King Robert.

This blood debt has not been forgotten by the Red Viper Oberyn or Dorne.

Sir Addam Marbrand said, "According to news sent by the Sarwyck family of Silver Hall and the Leyton family of Deep Den, the Lightning Lord and the Red Priest Thoros are no different from the Wolf King's Mountain Legion; they abduct women and children and sack villages near the Golden Road. However, it is said that the Lightning Lord is very good at winning people's hearts."

"The Red Viper Oberyn's Viper Group is even more brutal. It is rumored that Oberyn's Viper Group smears poison on their lances and arrows. The Sarwyck family and the Leyton family, as well as the Knighted Landed Knights, are simply no match for the Lightning Lord and the Red Viper Oberyn."

Jaime said grimly, "The Red Viper Oberyn of Dorne, under the name of a mercenary group, runs to the lands of the Westerlands to show off his power. How is this any different from Dorne formally declaring war on the Lannisters?"

Duke Tywin said gloomily, "We should be thankful that the Dornish have at least not yet formally declared war on the Lannisters. If Prince Doran of Dorne were to send fifty thousand Dornish warriors, the Lannisters would have no chance of victory facing the pincer attack of the Wolf King and Dorne."

Jaime clenched his fists, "There are too many experts under the Lightning Lord: the Westerlands traitor The Hound Sandor, the beauty Brienne, the Knight of Flowers Loras, and the Red Viper—all are tough nuts to crack. Father, if we let the Lightning Lord and the Red Viper run rampant on the Golden Road, the morale of the Westerlands will become even more volatile. With morale unstable, how can we win?"

"Furthermore, once Silver Hall and Deep Den fall, the Wolf King's army can move unimpeded along the Golden Road, threatening Casterly Rock and Lannisport. I request that Father grant me three thousand elite cavalry, three thousand iron cavalry; I will certainly be able to defeat the Lightning Lord and the Red Viper."

Duke Tywin pondered for a long time, "You must remain here, because there are more of the Wolf King's army under Golden Tooth. I analyze that the troop strength of the Lightning Lord and the Red Viper cannot be very large. The enemy came over mountains and ridges and has no heavy siege engines. Silver Hall and Deep Den are sturdy castles and can hold out."

"The Westerlands Army is assembled at Golden Tooth; even if there were some mishap at Silver Hall or Deep Den on the Golden Road to the south, our army could calmly retake them. I will send Daven Lannister with three thousand cavalry to support the Golden Road; it will be foolproof."

Daven Lannister is the son of Jaime's uncle Stafford Lannister and is brave and skilled in battle. Duke Tywin immediately granted Daven Lannister three thousand elite troops to go and reinforce the Golden Road.

Duke Tywin looked toward the northwest, "Now, we must wait for Sir Kevan and the Golden Lady to clear out the enemies in Castamere and the Pendrey Hills. Once we crush Bronze Yohn and Barristan in the north, we can free up our hands to wipe out the Lightning Lord and the Red Viper in the southeast."

In the Pendrey Hills north of Deep Den, Bronze Yohn, Barristan, and Eagle King McCain finally met Wolf King Eddard, the Giant Eagle Legion, and the magic dragon flying wolf.

After experiencing the defeat at the Battle of Deep Den, the Wolf King's army had originally been low in morale, but upon seeing Wolf King Eddard arrive with the giant eagles and the magic dragon, the Wolf King's army cheered and shouted, their morale greatly boosted.

Barristan's snow-white cloak was tattered and torn, the famous bronze armor on Bronze Yohn's body was stained with blood, and Eagle King McCain was covered in dust. The moment the three saw Wolf King Eddard, their spirits were immediately lifted.

Eagle King McCain grasped Eddard's hand, "Father of Life, you have finally come. Our army was defeated at Deep Den by Kevan and the Golden Lady. The Goat Girl Gisela, the Cat Girl Jeyne, the saber-toothed tiger warrior Tigris, and Sir Baron Swann have all been captured."

Eddard frowned, "It is normal to lose when clashing with the Westerlands Army, but why were so many skinchangers captured?"

Bronze Yohn said, "It is all because of that witch, the Golden Lady. She bewitched the skinchangers' beasts; Gisela's goat, Jeyne's shadowcat, and Tigris's saber-toothed tiger were all controlled by the Golden Lady. Those beasts were controlled by the Golden Lady and counterattacked our army. The Golden Lady used the sorcery of golden sand to attack our army; many of our soldiers' eyes were attacked and they were temporarily blinded. Coupled with Kevan and Count Damon Marbrand sending Westerlands cavalry to charge, our army was defeated as a result."

Eagle King McCain said, "My eagle, owl, and falcon were all controlled by the Golden Lady."

Sir Barristan said, "Wolf Prince, the Golden Lady can easily occupy the skinchangers' beasts; I fear she can also occupy your giant eagles and the magic dragon. Coupled with our army's miserable defeat at Deep Den and low morale, I suggest that our army should proactively withdraw from Castamere, Crag, and Hollow Hill, assemble our forces at the Pendrey Hills, and then march south to attack Deep Den again."

Eddard said, "No need. Our army suffered a setback at Deep Den, but the Iron Bitch Harlen is leading the North Coast Fleet and is currently slaughtering her way toward Fair Isle, Ketch, and Lannisport. Ravens at Crag have received news that the Red Viper Oberyn and the Lightning Lord have already led troops to attack the Deep Den lands and Silver Hall lands near the Golden Road."

"The Lannisters are playing 'The Rains of Castamere' on all sides; our army should regroup and fight Deep Den again."

Bronze Yohn said worriedly, "Wolf Prince, our army does not fear the Westerlands army, but that Golden Lady is very sinister and possesses powerful strength. In the event that the Golden Lady occupies the magic dragon flying wolf and the Giant Eagle Legion, our army will be routed on the battlefield, which would also be a heavy blow to the Wolf King's soldiers."

Eddard said indifferently, "Rest assured, the Golden Lady can defeat skinchangers, but she cannot defeat me."

Eagle King McCain disapproved, "Father of Life, there are too many gold and silver mines in the Westerlands, but too few weirwoods. The golden powder used by the Golden Lady—the Old Gods do not have enough power here. How will you defeat the Golden Lady?"

Eddard stroked the Weirwood Bracelet on his right wrist; the Weirwood Bracelet flickered, emitting a blood-red halo.

"The Old Gods have always been with me."

Eagle King McCain closed his eyes, as if he could smell the scent of weirwood sap and hear the rustling of the weirwood's blood-red leaves.

"I feel it, Father of Life, I feel as if I am standing within a Weirwood Forest."

Ever since he obtained the Weirwood Bracelet, Eddard's power had become unprecedentedly strong, in the Haunted Forest Beyond the Wall, the Godswood of Winterfell, the weirwood stump at High Heart, the weirwood forest of the Isle of Faces, the dead weirwood of House Blackwood, and the weirwood on Griffin Peak in The Vale.

Eddard would use the Weirwood Bracelet to absorb the power of every weirwood, the Natural Force belonging to the earth, mountains, rivers, lakes, animals, and humans, making Eddard grow ever more powerful.

Eddard would not allow a retreat, and Bronze Yohn looked troubled, "Wolf Prince, Eagle King McCain has lost his eagles, falcons, and owls; if we are to advance, I must send out scouts to reconnoiter. But the Golden Lady has birds and beasts; how could scouts possibly contend with birds and beasts?"

Eagle King McCain looked toward the Giant Eagle Prince Michu and the Giant Eagle Princess Bessa at his side.

"Perhaps we should send out the giant eagles to scout? But if we send out the giant eagles, there is a possibility they might be occupied by the Golden Lady."

Eddard smiled, "I will personally ride a giant eagle to strike; if the Golden Lady dares to come, she thinks herself the hunter, but in the end, she will become the prey."

The Golden Lady, Ser Kevan, led the Westerlands Army to march toward the Pendrey Hills.

Ser Kevan was somewhat worried, "Did you see clearly? The Wolf King Eddard has appeared in the Pendrey Hills?"

The Golden Lady rode on the back of a lion, with an eagle and an owl perched on her shoulders, and beside her were a saber-toothed tiger, a Goat, and a Shadowcat. Because not a single skinchanger had betrayed the Wolf King Eddard, and the skinchangers refused to serve the Lannister, the Golden Lady had incorporated these fierce beasts.

"My falcon saw it; the Wolf King Eddard is riding a giant eagle, and beside him are the warriors of the Giant Eagle Tribe, as well as the Magic Dragon. As long as we capture Eddard, the Lannister will have won this war."

Ser Kevan said: "Could this be a trap? The Wolf King has giant eagles and a Magic Dragon in his hands; why would he not hunt your falcon, but instead let the falcon bring the news back?"

The Golden Lady explained: "The Magic Dragon and the giant eagles are indeed powerful in their lethality, but their speed is far inferior to the falcon; they could not catch up even if they wanted to! Rest assured, I can easily occupy those giant eagles, and the Magic Dragon too; Ser Kevan, the Lannister will soon have their own Giant Eagle Legion, as well as a Magic Dragon."

At the hour of midnight, Ser Kevan led the Westerlands Army into the Pendrey Hills, where the surroundings were filled with uneven, undulating mountains. Kevan was very cautious, having the Golden Lady send out eagles, falcons, the Goat, owls, the Shadowcat, and the saber-toothed tiger to scout continuously, with crossbowmen standing ready.

"They are here!" the Golden Lady warned.

More than thirty giant eagles appeared from all directions, with the Wolf King Eddard riding on the back of a giant eagle, while the Magic Dragon at his side lit up the night sky with Dragonfire.

The Golden Lady's golden eyes turned blood-red, and she cast out rays of red light; two giant eagles were instantly occupied by the Golden Lady.

"Success!" the Golden Lady was filled with excitement.

The two giant eagles broke away from the Wolf King's Giant Eagle Legion and flew toward the Golden Lady. Ser Kevan smiled, "Golden Lady, you really are something!"

In the air, Eddard, on the back of his giant eagle, used his will to reclaim those two giant eagles. When the giant eagles flew to the side of Kevan and the Golden Lady, they suddenly returned to Eddard's control, and the two giant eagles extended their Longclaw, attacking the Golden Lady and Kevan respectively.

Kevan was taken by surprise and fell from his warhorse; the warhorse was torn open by the giant eagle, blood gushing out like a fountain. The lion beneath the Golden Lady tangled with the giant eagle, and the Golden Lady fell onto its back.

Kevan asked gloomily: "Golden Lady, what on earth is going on?"

The Golden Lady said hatefully: "The Wolf King does indeed have some tricks, but these giant eagles and the Magic Dragon will ultimately be mine!"

The Westerlands crossbowmen began to fire arrows at the giant eagles and the Magic Dragon in the air. Unexpectedly, Eddard used Mind Control to instantly control the Goat, saber-toothed tiger, eagles, falcons, owls, and the Shadowcat in front of the Westerlands formation. These birds and beasts began to attack the Westerlands crossbowmen; some crossbowmen had just fired an arrow before their throats were torn open by the Shadowcat or the saber-toothed tiger.

The Golden Lady scattered a handful of Golden Sand, and for a moment, a sandstorm of Golden Sand appeared in the night sky. The eyes of the Giant Eagle Prince Michu, the Giant Eagle Princess Bessa, and many giant eagles were attacked, and the Golden Lady took the opportunity to occupy several giant eagles. The Golden Lady aimed at the Magic Dragon, her eyes emitting red light, attempting to charm the Magic Dragon, but she failed.

The giant eagle beneath Eddard was also occupied by the Golden Lady. Eddard stroked the Weirwood Bracelet on his right wrist, and rays of white light were cast out; a mirage of a Weirwood Forest appeared in the sky! The Golden Sand vanished in an instant, and all the giant eagles had their control reclaimed by Eddard.

The Golden Lady was stunned, staring at the Weirwood Forest, trembling uncontrollably.

On the weirwood were terrifying human faces; the Westerlands Army was frightened and at a loss. The Giant Eagle Legion swooped down upon the Westerlands Army on the ground like eagles catching chickens, and the Westerlands Army was slaughtered by the giant eagles, the Magic Dragon, the Shadowcat, the saber-toothed tiger, and the Goat. Ser Kevan shouted to organize a counterattack, but the rout was already inevitable.

At this moment, Barristan, Bronze Yohn, and Eagle King McCain led the cavalry and infantry of the Wolf King Army out of the valley, cutting into the enemy formation of the Westerlands Army like a sharp sword through cheese.

The Golden Lady rode the lion, attempting to flee, when suddenly, the weirwood mirage in the sky cast out a ray of white light; the lion was instantly occupied by the Wolf King Eddard, and the Golden Lady was thrown to the ground by the lion.

By the time the Golden Lady regained her senses, the shadows of the Magic Dragon and Eddard had already loomed over her.

"Golden Lady, you are my prisoner."

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(End of chapter)