Riverrun's reinforcements chased along the river for nearly a week, but could not find any trace.
Each time, Ironborn left only an empty camp, laughing at their slowness.
They had no choice but to return to Deddings Castle and monitor the three intersections of Trident.
Suleiman Standing on the city wall of Deddings Castle, looking at the camp of more than 4,000 people, one can feel an invisible pressure.
A voice identifying the knight with his family crest sounded behind Suleiman:
"Master Suleiman, Master Norbert. Vance of Wayfarer's Rest sent me here to ask you to go to his camp to discuss matters."
Suleiman turned around and stared at the silent Qitu, why are you looking for me? Seeing that the knight's eyes seemed to say it was you, and he was sure that he was looking for him, he had no choice but to nod.
He took Bryn, Rosso and Lushen on their war horses, galloped out of the castle, crossed the wooden bridge over the creek leading to the camp, and walked towards the unfamiliar camp.
In the camp, the flags of Wayfarer's Rest House Vance with a green dragon on a white background and a white pagoda on a black background fluttered in the wind, and the tents were arranged neatly, as if they were drawn with a ruler.
Only a small number of soldiers wore uniform chainmail, held spears, and looked solemn. They patrolled meticulously inside and outside the camp. Most of them were still no different from farmers.
Everything is an attempt to demonstrate the majesty and order of Riverlands, an old-style aristocracy.
The soldiers in the camp ran out and looked at him curiously, all wanting to get to know the young man in front of them who had become famous and even represented Trial by Combat as a civilian representative. The crowd was crowded for a while, and finally, under the angry rebuke of Bryn, they all stepped aside to make way.
The commander's tent was the largest in the camp. There were several knights wearing heavy armor standing at the door. The House Vance logo and their personal logos were engraved on the breastplates.
Suleiman announced his name, and one of the knights opened the tent door and said inside, "Sir, Master Suleiman has arrived."
"Let him come in." An old, hoarse but forceful voice came from inside the tent.
Suleiman walked in. The tent was simply furnished, including a camp bed, a tin box, and a wooden table with maps and wine glasses. An old man was facing the door, looking at the Riverlands map hanging on the wall.
He turned around. He had sparse gray hair and a face full of wrinkles, but his waist was straight. What caught the eye were his eyes, which were a pair of gray eyes with almost no pupils visible, as if covered with a layer of mist.
When the old man looks at himself, his head will tilt slightly to one side, as if he needs to use his ears to assist his vision. Suleiman wonders whether his eyes are clear enough to see.
House Vance and Suleiman have some impressions. It is said that they are also the old family of Riverlands. They rule a wider territory and have more troops than the lord House Tully. They compete for the king across the river and bear the blood of the king.
Master Norbert spoke, his voice louder than Suleiman expected. "Are you Suleiman?"
"Yes, sir." Suleiman bowed slightly politely to the old man.
Norbert Master pointed to the chair opposite the table and sat down slowly. "Sit."
"I've heard a lot about your deeds."
"Although outside Deddings Castle, you suffered the first defeat in your life."
"But you are brave and loyal, young man."
Suleiman pulled out the chair and sat down slowly. "I just fulfilled my duties as a vassal, my lord."
Master Norbert's cloudy eyes seemed to flash with a glimmer of light. "Responsibility?"
"In many cases, being able to distinguish one's responsibilities and recognize one's own identity is a great wisdom."
"Lady Roslin appreciates and promotes you, which is the good luck she deserves now."
Suleiman didn't answer, just sat quietly, his appreciation sounded more like a scrutiny.
Master Norbert didn't seem to care. He poured himself a glass of wine and pushed a glass filled with wine to Suleiman.
The old man spoke slowly, "Before I led the army to set off, Sir Brynden wrote me a letter."
"He seldom praises people, especially a young man."
"He said in the letter that Riverlands has produced a young man with brains. He asked me to listen to your opinion at Deddings Castle."
Norbert's mouth curved slightly. "Now, I am indeed in trouble."
He picked up the wine glass, but did not drink it. His cloudy eyes stared at Suleiman.
"Tell me, kid, does that Ironborn really have three thousand people?"
Here comes the problem, Suleiman feels that the air in the tent has become thicker, this may be a trap.
He was silent for a moment, organizing his words, and finally chose the description that was closest to the truth. "Sir, Ironborn's team is very large."
"They have brought a large number of Riverlands farmers and refugees to serve as their numbers, and they look very powerful."
"I estimate that the number of Ironborn who can truly take up arms and fight will not exceed 1,200."
Suleiman deliberately said a number that was slightly higher than his actual estimate. Based on his observations in previous battles, the opponent's number should be between six and seven hundred.
Master Norbert listened quietly without any change in the expression on his face. He seemed to be satisfied with the answer and nodded, "Twelve hundred Ironborn is enough to make the entire Riverlands uneasy."
The old man finally picked up the wine glass, took a sip of wine, and then placed the glass heavily on the table.
"Sir Suleiman, you and your soldiers are both good and brave Riverlands."
His tone suddenly became serious and formal,
"Now, in the name of Riverrun House Tully, I call on you and your troops to join my army immediately and wipe out this group of scum from the sea."
The tent fell into a deathly silence, and Suleiman's mind suddenly became clear. This was his purpose. He talked a lot, and in the end there was no line of resistance. This judgment clearly appeared in his mind. Based on his observation, the number of combat-ready soldiers in the army in front of him should be one thousand. A large number of his own troops were spotted, and he wanted to pull up to the line of resistance.
Suleiman's mind was racing. From a legal perspective, he had every reason to refuse. The vassal of a vassal is not my vassal. He only takes orders from House Deddings, not House Tully or any lord commander sent by him. He has no obligation to House Tully.
But he couldn't refuse with this excuse, otherwise he could clearly foresee what would happen next.
The old man in front of him would immediately get up, with a look of regret on his face, and go to Deddings Castle to visit Lady Roslin in person. He would repeat what he just said to the lady, using the name of House Tully, the righteousness of Riverlands, and the name of the king to persuade her.
And Lady Roslin, she will agree without hesitation, and then she will personally give herself the order. By then, she will completely lose the room for maneuver, whether to become a chess piece pushed onto the chessboard or to jump onto the chessboard on her own initiative.
There is a difference between being dragged into an arena and facing a life-and-death fight and walking in with your head held high.
Norbert didn't urge him, he just picked up the wine glass and slowly rubbed the side of the glass with his fingers. His half-blind eyes stared at Suleiman calmly.
There was silence in the tent. Just when Suleiman was about to speak and was about to delay time in a tactful way, the tent curtain was suddenly opened.
A knight stumbled in. The coat of arms on his body belonged to House Blackwood.
He was panting, his face was covered with sweat, and he held a letter tightly in his hand. "Norbert Master!"
When the knight saw Suleiman sitting in the tent, he was obviously stunned for a moment, and the next words were stuck in his throat.
Norbert didn't even raise his head to look at him, he just stretched out his hand towards him, his movements were slow but unmistakable. The knight did not dare to disobey, he quickly stepped forward and respectfully handed a letter into the old man's hand.
The old man unfolded the letter and took only one glance. His ancient and unwavering face froze instantly. The muscles in the old man's cheeks twitched. The knuckles of the hand holding the letter turned white from excessive exertion, and there was even a trace of trembling that was extremely difficult to detect.
The air in the tent seemed to turn into ice, but that was only for a moment. The next second, all Norbert's expressions calmed down.
He slowly and carefully refolded the letter and placed it on the table.
Then, he raised his head again and looked at Suleiman: "Kid, remember, loyalty will definitely be rewarded."
"You should go back first, think carefully about my proposal, and give me an answer tomorrow morning."
He paused and let out a long sigh, with a hint of exhaustion in his voice.
"Time is running out, for all of us."
Suleiman saluted Mr. Norbert. It seemed that it was the news from Seaguard. He turned around and walked out of the tent quickly.
As soon as he stepped out of the Riverrun reinforcement camp, he saw a House Deddings knight galloping from the direction of the Deddings Castle fort.
When the knight saw Suleiman, his face immediately showed an expression of amnesty.
He reined in the war horse fiercely, and the horse made a long neigh, and the voice became sharp due to eagerness. "Suleiman Master!"
"Madam, we have an urgent military situation! Please return to the city immediately!"