The atmosphere at the banquet remained cheerful, but Catelyn's eyes were filled with heavy concerns.
She picked up her wine cup, then set it down again. When accepting the congratulations of others, her smile seemed somewhat mechanical and stiff.
After thinking it over, she finally made up her mind and asked everyone, "I heard on the way here that Tywin's fierce general, Gregor Clegane, was personally killed by Jon. Is that true?"
Before anyone else could speak, a distinctly childish voice rang out.
"Absolutely true, my lady!"
It was a little boy who answered. Everyone turned to look and found that it was Lyman.
Lyman first rose and bowed to Catelyn, then looked toward Jon.
When Jon turned to look at him as well, Lyman's smile was impossible to hide. He was so excited that he did not know where to put his hands and feet.
He tugged at the hem of his clothes to straighten them, cleared his throat, and said, "If not for Brother Jon that day, Darry Castle would have been breached by The Mountain. Brother Jon defeated The Mountain, and Brother Jon avenged my father. And my brother Martin is now the captain of Brother Jon's personal guard,
"All of Darry Castle's troops are under Brother Jon's command, and everyone admires Brother Jon very much!"
Lyman called him "Brother Jon" over and over, yet none of the other lords in the military tent voiced any objection or found it inappropriate.
Even his two bastard cousins wore approving expressions.
But in Catelyn's eyes, this would not do!
Though Lyman was only eight years old, he was still an earl. Jon might be an adult, but he was only a bastard. This situation could mean only one thing: Jon's prestige within the East Road Army had grown to