The cool sea breeze at Seaguard carried the smell of salt and dampness, but it did nothing to dispel the gloom in the Council Chamber.
The tall, lean Lord Jason Mallister paced back and forth across the stone floor of the Council Chamber.
His sea-blue eyes were bloodshot, his brown-and-white hair was disheveled, and exhaustion seemed ready to spill from his broad shoulders.
Every pass felt like another step on the lords' taut nerves.
At last, he stopped and announced in a hoarse voice, "That is the news from Riverrun."
"My lords."
"I know what you're worried about."
"Lord Hoster has already sent troops to hunt down those damned pirates pouring into the Riverlands."
As soon as he finished speaking, the lord of House Piper, seated at the end of the long table, could no longer restrain himself. He sprang to his feet, his face full of anxiety. "Lord Jason! They're raiding everywhere along the Trident! My lands are right by the river! My wife's raven told me the farmers have already seen those damned longships with their black sails!"
His words were like a pebble thrown into still water, sending ripples through the room. The Riverlords began talking among themselves.
"Half the farmers I called up have already slipped away during the night! They said their wives and children needed protecting! My men can't stop them!"
"At this rate, our army will fall apart before the Ironborn even get here!"
"We can't go on like this! My men caught more than a dozen deserters last night! They actually said they were going home to fight the Ironborn! They'd rather die beside their families!"
"My lands are even closer to the Trident. What will happen if the Ironborn reach them..."
"Shut up! You cowards! If the gates of Seaguard fall,