Suleiman drew rein and looked back.
The column stretched across the plain like a long gray serpent.
The soldiers wore their spoils on their belts, their faces bright with excitement and satisfaction as they headed toward Lion's Den.
Only one man stood out: Brynden Tully, riding at an easy pace among the troops and claiming he was headed the same way.
Suleiman suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu, as if he had done this himself before.
Blackfish seemed to notice him watching. He rode up alongside Suleiman and said, "Young man, don't look at me like that."
"We really are going the same way."
There was a hint of teasing in his voice.
"And besides, I'm helping you."
Suleiman stared expressionlessly at the road ahead.
"I have a feeling you're going to bring a lot of trouble down on my family, Suleiman."
"So you'd better stick with me. Pick a few men, and don't go back to Lion's Den just yet. We'll take a detour into the Vale and talk to House Moore."
He pointed his riding crop toward the mountains to the east.
"I'll go in person as a mediator and negotiate for you."
Suleiman stopped his horse and considered the proposal. After a moment, he said, "Ser, that's a good idea."
As he'd said, a dispute with the Vale was different from an internal conflict in the Riverlands. With Blackfish there to mediate, they could avoid a great deal of trouble.
He turned his horse around and rode back, telling Lushen and Olivier to lead most of the troops and return to Lion's Den with the ransom and spoils.
Then he had Bryn and twenty riders follow him, and they turned onto another road leading to the Vale. The Vale was truly rugged, easy to defend and