"Avoiding battle is avoiding battle. That is the truth. Lord Stark's conduct is truly disappointing..."
Ever since he had miraculously... defeated Stannis's army besieging Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, Lord Hand Mace had been riding high.
Whenever he had nothing to do, he sent out ravens urging his eldest son, Willas, to hasten his reinforcements, intending to wipe out Stannis in one stroke and make his name known throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
However, Lord Stark's handwritten letter had spoiled his good mood.
He was furious.
The reason was somewhat understandable, but... Lord Stark's wording in refusing to cooperate with his battle plan had been far too blunt.
He was the king and queen's most trusted—Lord Hand!
If the insignificant Starks had not suddenly submitted, Winterfell would have become the foundation of his fame as a great commander!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Lord Hand Mace unconsciously twisted his beard with increasing force.
In truth, he had not begun with good intentions in the first place, but at this moment, all his calculations had been swallowed by his anger...
And that Tyrion!
His mouth was full of lies. As expected, not a single Lannister was any good. Sooner or later, he would deal harshly with that treacherous Dwarf.
Hmm...
Hmm...
Suddenly, the fingers twisting his beard froze. Another possibility had occurred to him.
A barely contained excitement flashed through his eyes. "Winterfell... could they have secretly reached a truce with Stannis?"
As Lord Hand Mace's words fell, everyone below was stunned, including the Stark envoy.
Ser Rodrik Harlaw was the first to recover. His rage made every strand of his great white beard tremble. "Lord Hand! This is a baseless slander! It tramples upon the honor of House Stark!"
Yet Lord Hand Mace paid no attention to the old knight's