Dawn's dim light pierced the morning fog and illuminated a hell.
The charred remains of the tent, the broken sword, the twisted Ironborn, and the blood that solidified into black dyed the soil another color. In the air, the smell of burnt leather, blood and death was so strong that it was nauseating.
The soldiers moved silently. They dragged the bodies of Ironborn and piled them together, preparing to use a fire to completely send away these predators from the ocean.
Riverlands civilians who heard the news from all directions came and, after getting Suleiman's consent, rummaged through the ruins, trying to find any usable supplies.
The whole scene was so depressing that not a single insect or bird could be heard.
Tytos. Blackwood stood alone in the center of this destruction. He was not wearing a helmet, and the morning wind blew his black crow cloak. He lowered his head and moved his lips silently, praying to Old Gods.
He was not grateful for the victory, he was repenting for his crimes. The treacherous murder last night, even if he did not wield a sword with his own hands, the shame was like a red-hot iron, burning into the depths of his soul.
He prayed for those Ironborn who were killed under the protection of bread and salt, and for his own tarnished honor.
Suleiman walked to his side, his footsteps stepped on the ashes without making any sound, "Tytos. Blackwood Lord."
"What are you praying for? For dead enemies? Or for our bloody victory?"
Tytos. Blackwood slowly opened his eyes, which were filled with bloodshot eyes and pain. "I pray for the crime committed by House Grell."
"I pray for the crime we committed."
His voice was hoarse and tired.
"All this goes against the gods."
Su Lymond looked at him without refuting. He felt like a spiritual comforter now. He just calmly asked a question, "Master Blackwood, please answer me."
"If we had not taken action last night and this Ironborn army of nearly two thousand people had continued to roam Riverlands, how many villages would have been burned down?"
Tytos. Blackwood was silent.
"How many innocent civilians will be massacred? How many Maiden people will be irreparably crippled?"
Every word of Suleiman is like a precise fist, hitting the code of honor that Tytos. Blackwood adheres to. Tytos. Blackwood cannot answer because he knows the answer, and the answer is countless.
Suleiman's voice becomes lighter but more penetrating.
"If murdering a ferocious Ironborn can save a hundred defenseless Riverlands people, how would you make your decision, sir?"
Judging from the numbers, the answer was obvious. This question was like a sharp knife, cutting open Tytos's chest, but the word murder itself was sin. He found that he could not give a straightforward answer, and his tongue seemed to be tied up.
Suleiman watched the painful struggle on his face and continued to push this logic to the extreme.
"What House Grell did last night was an enlarged version of this multiple-choice question."
"House Grell used a treacherous massacre to end the two thousand perpetrators. They shouldered this sin with their own hands, but this sin can save thousands of Riverlands people in the future."
He took a step forward, looked into Tytos's eyes and spoke slowly.
"Sometimes the most noble ends require the most despicable means."
These words did not bring any comfort to He An, but pushed Tytos into deeper torture. Murdering one Ironborn and saving a hundred civilians, he chose the latter without hesitation, but he actually chose not to participate...
Is my inaction a noble perseverance or selfish cowardice? In order to maintain the purity of my soul, does it mean that I indirectly gave up the opportunity to save those one hundred civilians?
This thought is like a poisonous snake, tightly wrapped around Tytos's heart, constantly tightening. If the price of honor is the death of innocent people, then is this honor still honor?
The faith he had firmly believed in throughout his life showed cracks like spider webs in the face of the cold and cruel utilitarian logic. He felt that the ground beneath his feet was collapsing, and he became more confused and more painful.
What's going on? Suleiman looked at the expression on Tytos's face that was not relieved but became increasingly distorted, and felt a little confused. My logical chain was very clear. Sacrifice a few perpetrators and save the majority of innocent people. Isn't this a very simple calculation problem? Sacrificing personal honor for the sake of the overall situation shouldn't be a praiseworthy virtue.
Why does he look more miserable...
He decided not to provide such ineffective comfort. The brain circuits of these honorary nobles... It was really difficult to understand. There was an insurmountable gap between the two of them.
Suleiman's expression returned to its usual seriousness, and he expressed his true purpose. "Master Blackwood, this is the end of my sentiments and prayers."
"We need to talk about what's next and... the promises you should keep."
Suleiman's words brought Tytos. Blackwood back from their thoughts. This young man could not afford to be early. He knew that Suleiman came to comfort him just to elicit what he really wanted to say, which was his promise to support House Lychester in a future vote.
Suleiman stretched out his fingers and traced the outline of Riverlands in the dusty air.
His voice was full of unshakable confidence and control. "The general trend of this war has been decided since last night."
"Ironborn troops are scarce, and last night, they lost more than two thousand people at once. This is a huge loss that cannot be compensated. West Riverlands no longer has an Ironborn army that can be used for activities."
"The most critical thing is that they no longer have enough power to maintain effective rule over the existing control areas.
"Soon, in order to shrink their troops, Raventree Hall and the siege troops of some other family castles will inevitably withdraw from the siege."
"And once they withdraw from the siege, the liberated Riverlords of the Riverlands will immediately start to move. At that time, the activities of the Riverlands people will become more and more frequent, and the situation of the Ironborn people will become more and more difficult day by day."
He turned to look at Tytos. Blackwood said slowly, "I have fulfilled my promise."
"It's time to grow up in the future."
Although he didn't know what Suleiman was talking about voting for, he had already promised, Tytos. Blackwood slowly spoke with a hoarse voice, "I will fulfill my promise."
He turned his head and looked into Suleiman's calm eyes. "I'm going back to the Raventree Hall."
"This Ironborn army has been wiped out. Ironborn has no active force in West Riverlands. If it is true as you said, Ironborn will withdraw from the siege.
"Then I must return. My territory has been devastated by Ironborn, and my people have been displaced."
"They need me, I have to go back and rebuild our homeland."
Suleiman nodded slightly. "Of course, sir, I have no right to order you. This is your right."
Tytos. Blackwood took a step forward and spoke calmly, "Suleiman, I think from now on, House Blackwood will not ask you for any help."
After a long pause, he squeezed out the next sentence through his teeth.
"I really don't understand your code of conduct."
A slight change finally appeared on Suleiman's face, a kind of smile and playfulness, "You don't have to talk so early, and don't talk too fullly, Mr. Blackwood."
"Who can say for sure what will happen in the future?"
He looked at Tytos. Blackwood. The smile at the corner of his mouth had disappeared, replaced by a kind of absolute calmness and confidence. It was hard to say whether War of the Five Kings could still join the Five Kings, but the war would eventually begin.
"You will come to me, my lord."
This is a statement, an unquestionable assertion. Tytos. Blackwood looked at him strangely. I wonder why this young man has the confidence to dare to make such an assertion that he will ask for help from him in the future.
It was enough to get House Blackwood's promise. Suleiman also lost interest in continuing the conversation and turned away, leaving behind his last words.
"Let us wait and see, Master Blackwood.
Muyin thought Suleiman's face finally showed a change, a kind of smile and playfulness, "You don't have to speak so early, and don't speak too fullly, Master Blackwood."
"Who can say for sure what will happen in the future?"
He looked at Tytos. Blackwood. The smile at the corner of his mouth had disappeared, replaced by a kind of absolute calmness and confidence. It was hard to say whether War of the Five Kings could still join the Five Kings, but the war would eventually begin.
"You will come to me, my lord."
This is a statement, an unquestionable assertion. Tytos. Blackwood looked at him strangely. I wonder why this young man has the confidence to dare to make such an assertion that he will ask for help from him in the future.
It was enough to get House Blackwood's promise. Suleiman also lost interest in continuing the conversation and turned away, leaving behind his last words.
"Let us wait and see, Master Blackwood."