Chapter 165

Following the ancient road laid through the canyon and continuing west past the last lone peak, one can see Terror Fort situated where forest and hills meet.

Terror Fort sits on a tributary of the River of Lament; the river flows along the valley at the castle's edge, dividing forest and hills, then winds behind the lone peak, gathering the waters of the Lone Mountain range into the rushing River of Lament.

Before the river mouth enters the lone peak, various streams are diverted via canals into the huge artificial lake excavated there; an open space is left at the lake's center, where a tall tower is built, not for warning but for ornament and recreation.

Earl - Earl (title)

Herlun Bolton - Herlun Bolton (person name) Actually we need to separate: person name Herlun Bolton; title Earl. We'll list both.

The lake indeed adds much color to Terror Fort; in midsummer, as the sun rises, the lake shimmers with light, reflecting the green mountains and dark cypresses. When there is no wind, the water becomes a mirror, and from the main fort one can see the surrounding lone peaks towering all around, so Terror Fort is encircled by lone peaks on all sides.

Since ancient times, the heads of the Bolton family have believed that this place, beneath the spur of the Lone Mountain, is where the mountains gather, a land guarded by myriad peaks. Going east out of the River of Lament, it leads straight to the coast; along the nearby embarkation point, one can also follow the current straight to the sea; heading north, passing through the Noble Lady Peak Forest and along the Stone Iron Road, one can reach the Mo River Pride Sun Ford, from which one can remotely control the mines scattered across the Lone Mountain and the surrounding lords; heading south, crossing the natural barrier of the River of Lament, lies a continuous stretch of mountain valleys, farmland, and forest wetlands—the heartland of the expansive northern territories east of the White Blade River, where great and small northern lords thrive and multiply; while to the west, where the great enemy lies, mountains entwine, mountain clans are scattered and contend, and passes, defiles, and ditches are impassable by human strength.

Golden Tree City - Golden Tree City

Beyond the Red Lake, beneath the southern lone peak lies a modest clearing opened up by the Boltons; the Duke spent much of his youth there galloping after hares, leading hounds and holding up hawks, just like all the youths who have ever passed through Terror Fort.

Occasionally, the Duke would stand quietly in the castle's bedchamber, watching Damalik and the other youths compete and scuffle below the castle and on the grassland, running about in playful tumult.

That was a rare noisy moment; most of the time, Terror Fort is a quiet castle.

The castle was built relying on the risen hills, quarrying the hill's own stone on site; the hill's broken walls and severed blocks revealed a dark red matching the castle's exterior—ancient, rugged, and mysterious.

The castle's base color is not easily changed; only in bright sunshine can the dark red and obscure dullness be stripped away, revealing its uncommon majesty—not somber, not twisted, expansive not warped, bright not grotesque. But the northern territories are forever northern; they never have such abundant sunshine, so the castle remains somber, introverted, yet sharp and pressing.

People often liken the castle to a demon's dwelling; over the centuries it has acquired countless epithets, but its unchanging name is Terror Fort, thanks to the Boltons' harsh discipline and punishments, and to its walls, crenellations, and labyrinthine murder holes that rise like swords.

People describe Terror Fort's defense by its towering walls, but its true strength lies not in the walls themselves, for the castle is built upon the risen hills; the walls stand on the shoulders of the cliffs, appearing naturally extraordinary—even Herlen Castle falls short. Moreover, the space left at the base of the walls for an attacking army is extremely slight, so that tens of thousands can only sigh and shake their heads beneath the castle.

Hongpaoseng - Red-robed monk (person name)

The Terror Fort before us differs slightly from when the Duke left it. He departed near the end of summer, having conscripted many soldiers in preparation for a southern campaign, but the hastily erected camp occupied only a small patch of the grassland and foothills; now, however, tents sprout everywhere beneath Terror Fort, making everything look chaotic and somewhat anxiously tense.

Likke Bolton - Likke Bolton

The Duke believes Terror Fort's winter is not as lovely as its summer; indeed, the whole northern territories may be the same. When the howling blizzard arrives, snow buries everything in the north, and the world before us turns into a blank white expanse—there is truly nothing to see.

Anyone who first arrives at Terror Fort will marvel at its peculiarity—it is not the most majestic, not the most beautiful, not the most practical, but in terms of defense it is absolutely the most chilling.

The east-facing gate is called the Sun Gate; just a few dozen meters ahead lies a lost cliff of the hills, and one must detour via the opposite road to slowly reach the narrow space before the main gate—enough room for transport vehicles, but utterly insufficient for a besieging army and its equipment. Any attacking force could not launch an assault in such a confined space, or else they would be shot down like targets by the defenders on the ramparts.

He originally did not wish to enter through the Sun Gate, but having returned from the east, he chose the eastern side out of a whim; the east is the castle's principal position.

The red-robed monk gazed up at the dark-red brick-and-stone Terror Fort, curling the corner of his mouth into a mysterious smile; his scarlet outer cloak at that moment matched the color of the outer wall.

Bartasa - Bartasa (person name) maybe we need to include title Viscount separately.

The Duke felt utterly weary, yet he roused himself; following the routine, the overseeing officers distributed the spoils of the southern troops one by one. He could see the soldiers' excitement, but each, before him, suppressed their joy and delight. It was unclear whether this was because they had returned alive to the northern territories or because they had received rewards.

The officers' rewards are more complicated. Deceased mid-level officers directly belonging to the Bolton family have already been registered; a dedicated team will allocate their spoils to them. If they left underage heirs, Terror Fort bears the duty to record and support their upbringing, and must ensure that males, when the time comes, have the right to join the guard, becoming sentinels or gaining the chance to study and serve under the heir.

Kashitake - Kashitake (clan/house)

"We now lack nearly three thousand elite infantry." Some of the remnants belonging to other families cannot take part in the spoils distribution; Terror Fort can only provide them with partial supplies for their return.

Kahoe City - Kahoe City

"Three thousand exhausted soldiers," Rick Bolton replied, "after a month we will have more spirited and better steel warriors."

The Duke curled his lip; only soldiers who undergo continuous training can be called steel warriors. After a month of laxity, any experienced soldier will deteriorate into a mere rank-and-file, even worse than an ordinary grunt, for they have learned that survival is better.

Langnv - Wolf Girl (person nickname)

"We summoned ten thousand from our own lands; a portion were too old—I think they came just to mooch meals—and another portion were too young, I don't know if they were here to fool around with swords and spears, so I weeded out these unfit impostors, leaving six thousand infantry and fifteen hundred cavalry. Moreover, thanks to the eastern lords Flint, Lang, and Welles, we have received nearly six thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry as reinforcements. My lord, if you do not return, to ease the burden of provisions I will certainly drive them back again."

"I have returned now." The Duke nodded; the eastern lords, aside from the few great houses under White Harbor's sway, have all pledged themselves to the Boltons, which is good, for they know the consequences of opposing the Boltons: "The Lannister army has already won us a preliminary victory; I must say, they have been most active, heh, and the effect has been utterly perfect."

"Viscount Balthasar and Sir William Rollo also brought their families' troops to assist." Rick Bolton replied, but he was clearly not entirely serious; he kept glancing at the loot already packed and distributed for the soldiers in the courtyard, and the Duke knew what he worried about: "They sneaked across the Pride Sun Ford and defeated the hastily assembled Karstark troops in the wheat fields. I heard from his reply that the severed heads of those old, toothless men would fill a wagon."

"Karhold is too far from Stark," they won't come to aid, and Hearthcastle is probably the same; "in fact, if the she-wolf does not go south, these two castles might just as well turn to us..." The core strategy has already begun, but the formal strategy will not be settled until Tybert Lannister, Gaillard Tyrell, and their key subordinates arrive.

Leswir - Leswir

The difference is too great. Voluntary allegiance and conquest are entirely different matters.

The officers continued to distribute supplies to the soldiers, the most important being bags for carrying gear; the loot itself was straight gold and silver, after which they would buy food, furs, armor, or weapons as needed—shouts interrupted his train of thought; the Duke need not criticize the heir, nor directly oppose his opinion. Yet this sort of careless arrogance made him somewhat uneasy.

"The northern situation has become settled; Amber and Karstark are too zealous in their southern campaign, their losses are too great, and now they cannot resist the well-equipped lion. You should worry about the west of the river." The Duke did his best to guide Rick Bolton, who lacks battlefield experience and has little involvement in the nobles' decision-making circle; compared to Rogar Bolton, the gap is vast.

Streamlands - Streamlands

"I have seen the she-wolf several times; though I hate to say it, she might be a blend of Rickard Stark's several children—the she-wolf's shrewdness, the alpha wolf's confidence, the beta wolf's foolishness, and the pup's innocence," Rick Bolton's expression twisted; perhaps the topic had made him feel odd, so the Duke directly spoke what he wanted to say: "She may not be that obtuse, waiting in Longstream City to gather Lord Eddard's remains. She is highly likely to swiftly rally the Streamlands' nobles' soldiers and march toward Barren Grave Village. I heard you say the Streamlands have already issued a conscription order, so she need not wait for troops to assemble."

"According to intelligence, in her southern engagements she has won every time by relying on swift cavalry charges, even the surprise attack on Twin River City was likewise carried out by cavalry. The Streamlands will indeed provide her with some warhorses, but to think that a few horses could defeat…" Rick Bolton trailed off.

Gray Wolf Ford - Gray Wolf Ford

Wind Snow Wind? Actually Wind Snow Ford => Wind Snow Ford

"I have already done it, even before the red-robed monk saw the she-wolf marching westward."

The heir pressed his lips, not voicing his doubt. The Duke will tell him someday.

"Even if Lady Dustin makes preparations, it's not certain she will gain victory," the Riverlands, the Barrowlands, and even the Fingers are important allies—we cannot lightly abandon them. "She likely intends to use a strategy of striking west then east; if so, we can only force her to send reinforcements."

"We will take Grey Wolf Pass directly and launch a surprise attack on Winterfell!"

"The main force is too far from Grey Wolf Pass; by the time the troops arrive, the Starks will surely have made preparations." The plan is too rash; a slight misstep would turn it into a decisive battle, which is utterly unnecessary at this stage. "However, it's also quite close; we can turn Grey Wolf Pass into the Snowy Pass, changing a surprise attack on Winterfell into a sweep of the surrounding area. The Snowy Pass is not near Winterfell, but not far either; there is a dagger planted here; she should not have the energy to cause trouble again in the Riverlands and the Barrowlands."

"So it's a raid, huh?"

"This task is very suitable for the angry Frey."

"Raiding cannot defeat the enemy."

"But it can mobilize the enemy, wear down the enemy. 'She intends to strike west then east; we can feint north, attack south.'"

"What does 'feint north, attack south' mean?"

"Our threat is positioned in the north, but aside from Karhold and Last Hearth, we take no action—this is the feint. We have not taken any southern castles, but we will launch an offensive against southern targets, overthrow them, intimidate them, win them over—this is the real strike." Wolves are hasty creatures; when facing such beasts, it is best to choose grappling. "We need Hornwood," I want Lady Hornwood, "Open the road to the south, besiege White Harbor," use the army to exert pressure on him, "Win your marriage with Miss Manderly."

"Sounds good, but what if we still can't win it?"

"That shows our intimidation is insufficient."