"The Rains of Castamere."
The tune had been cheerful, but now Walder Frey had requested this song instead.
Its melody was low and oppressive, as though heralding an approaching storm.
The air in the High Hall grew thick, every note striking their hearts like a cold raindrop.
Edmure Tully watched the wrinkles bunching with excitement on Walder Frey's aged face and the perverse smile that flashed deep within his cloudy old eyes.
His stomach churned as though he had swallowed something filthy.
He knew what this song meant.
It was House Lannister's elegy for the extermination of House Reyne.
A warning, and a declaration written in blood.
By choosing to have it played now, Walder Frey was undoubtedly issuing the most direct and vicious provocation to House Tully and every visitor from the North present.
"Walder! What is the meaning of this?!"
A rough voice broke the deathly silence in the High Hall.
It was Brynden Tully, the Blackfish.
His eyes were wide, his face blazing with fury.
He shoved aside the attendant beside him, strode up to Walder Frey's table, and slammed both hands down with a resounding bang.
"What do you think this place is?!"
"Your brothel, where you can do whatever you damn well please?!"
Brynden Tully pointed at Walder Frey's nose, his voice thunderous.
He paid no attention to Lysa Arryn's dark expression, nor did he look at Ned Stark or Catelyn Tully.
At that moment, all his fury was directed at Walder Frey.
He had already learned of the destruction of the Bloody Gate.
As the man chiefly responsible for it, he was in a foul mood.
"This is Riverrun! House Tully's castle! Not somewhere House Frey can trample as it pleases!"
Startled by Brynden's roar, Walder Frey instinctively shrank back.
But he soon regained