Catelyn felt as though all the blood in her body had frozen in an instant!
She looked at the meaningful smile on Roose Bolton's face beside her, pulled aside his clothes, and her pupils contracted.
Armor!
She sprang to her feet, knocking over the wine cup before her.
"Robb!"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared in astonishment at Lady Catelyn's loss of composure.
Old Walder Frey slowly rose from the high seat. The false smile faded from his shriveled face, leaving only cold malice and cruel delight.
He sharply waved his hand!
"Do it!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The hall's doors and windows were slammed shut and barred in an instant!
"Seize that whore!" Old Walder pointed at Jeyne Westerling, who had gone deathly pale and was clutching her lower belly protectively.
Several burly men disguised as attendants immediately lunged toward the corner where Jeyne stood.
Greatjon Umber roared, snatched up a bench, and knocked one of them down, but more Frey soldiers poured through a side door.
"Protect His Grace!"
"It's a trap!"
The northern nobles and guards drew their swords, but it was already too late.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Shrill whistles cut through the air from the shadows of the galleries around the hall.
Thwack! "Aaargh!"
The most loyal guards at Robb's side, including Ser Wendel Manderly, were instantly pierced by multiple crossbow bolts.
Blood sprayed like fountains.
A bolt grazed Robb's shoulder, tearing through flesh and trailing a spray of blood. The searing pain made him grunt.
Catelyn watched her son take the bolt, overcome with terror.
She screamed and lunged toward Robb, only to be blocked by the chaotic crowd and the blades.
The hall became a slaughterhouse in an instant.
Caught unprepared, the nobles and soldiers of the North and the Riverlands were