The knight at the head of the charge was young and brave, his armor gleaming in the sunset.
It was Andar Royce!
When he learned that Mya was trapped and the Grafton army was attacking Arryn Castle, Andar had unhesitatingly mustered the several thousand soldiers left to guard Runestone to rescue her.
He owed his escape entirely to Mya. He could not leave her to die!
Andar Royce roared and leveled his lance.
The two thousand cavalrymen left to guard Runestone smashed into the unprotected rear of the Grafton army.
The sudden, deadly blow instantly shattered the Grafton army's morale and formation.
They were under attack from front and rear!
The soldiers panicked, their ranks falling into chaos.
The troops assaulting the castle also fell into confusion, and the mercenaries on the walls seized the chance to recover and counterattack.
"Hold steady! Rear ranks, turn around! Face the enemy!"
Lord Gerold's eyes bulged with fury as he shouted himself hoarse trying to organize resistance.
But the rout was unstoppable.
House Royce's cavalry charged back and forth through the disordered infantry, meeting no resistance.
House Grafton's formation was utterly broken.
Lord Gerold himself was struck in the shoulder by an arrow from an unknown direction during the melee. The searing pain nearly sent him tumbling from his saddle.
"Protect his lordship! Retreat! Fall back to Gulltown!"
His captain of guards screamed desperately, leading the remaining household guards as they protected the badly wounded Lord Gerold, abandoning helmets and armor in their frantic flight toward Gulltown.
Across the battlefield, the slaughtered soldiers of House Grafton lay strewn everywhere, while the survivors scattered or surrendered.
On the walls, Eson Arryn watched the Grafton army collapse and Andar Royce cut through the enemy ranks like a god of war. The fear in his heart