When Ser Edmure finished speaking, he bowed slightly to Duke Willas on the dais. Several others then murmured their agreement, offering polite assurances that they would obey the king's command and return home to take stock of their provisions and soldiers.
Duke Willas and Olenna remained still. Only after the murmurs gradually subsided did Willas slowly speak. "Since Goldengrove has agreed, that means at least two-thirds of the houses in the Reach have accepted the terms His Grace has laid down. All we need to do is carry out his wishes. When the time comes, I hope none of you will blame House Tyrell."
"However, I heard some people say earlier that House Hightower still seems to have reservations about His Grace's arrangements. What is more, I do not recall hearing this representative of House Hightower voice his agreement just now. The Iron Throne has ordered every house in the Reach to send troops north. Why have we still heard nothing of any preparations in Oldtown?"
As Willas spoke, he first glanced back at Olenna. Seeing that she made no move, he continued.
His tone was mild, but his words were anything but courteous. He had brought the friction between the Reach's great houses out into the open.
The target of Willas's words was clear, but the Hightower knight did not immediately respond. He merely sat there with his fingers resting on the edge of the table, as though weighing his words.
After a while, the knight finally spoke, his words clear. "Lord Willas, House Hightower has no intention of defying the order. But Oldtown lies on the coast, where the threat from the Ironborn is indeed more immediate than it is for the inland domains."
"Moreover, Oldtown's harbor holds merchant ships from the Seven Kingdoms, the Free Cities across