After he finished speaking, Suleiman didn't wait for a reply. He turned and headed straight out of the Council Chamber, and the people from House Lychester and House Deddings immediately sheathed their swords and followed.
Ser Keke of House Vance hesitated for a moment. He glanced at Lord Tytos Blackwood, then at Suleiman's resolute retreating figure. At last, he hurried over to Tytos Blackwood, hastily bowed, then led his men out without looking back.
Raymun Darry finally stood up. He gave Lord Tytos Blackwood an apologetic look. His lips moved, but he said nothing. With a long sigh, he followed the others.
In the broad, disorderly Council Chamber of Oldstones, only Tytos Blackwood and young Patrick Mallister's men remained.
The coalition's banners snapped in the wilderness wind as the army hurriedly retreated toward the East Riverlands.
Suleiman rode side by side with Lymond Lychester. Their mounts trotted in the very middle of the column, surrounded by Suleiman's mounted retainers and the knights of House Lychester and House Deddings.
At the rear of the column, two forces followed at a distance. Their banners drooped somewhat: Tytos Blackwood's Raven Banner and Patrick Mallister's Eagle Banner. The bloodshed and humiliation in the Council Chamber had not yet faded, but in the end, they still came along despite their objections. To separate from this massive main force and act alone in land ravaged by the Ironborn would have been tantamount to courting death.
Suleiman reined in his horse and looked back, his gaze passing over the long column to settle on the two banners keeping their distance. A phoenix in distress was no better than a chicken. Clinging to their so-called dignity at a moment of life and death was laughable. They really thought they were something special.
"But what a pity," he said