"Yes." Stevron Frey nodded.
"Liars, liars," old Walder wailed. "The Piper brat and the Mercenary betrayed us."
"Go, quickly." Ser Stevron Frey led the way, having the guards escort them out.
The party descended the spiral staircase, only to encounter several Silver-Grey Cloaks rushing up from below. The men still smelled faintly of blood.
"Get out of my way! What are you rushing about for?" old Walder berated them furiously.
"Fall back!" Ser Stevron shouted. He had already realized these men meant them harm.
One of the Silver-Grey Cloaks raised his head. It was Marq Piper. "Bluebeard may have snatched the first honors, but my luck isn't bad either. Good to see you again, Lord Walder."
Marq had, after all, been under certain restrictions. Most of his men had gone to Bluebeard, but a few bold souls had still slipped through the darkness to join him. Ser Marq had made his preparations in his room as well. Only once Luan River Castle had descended into complete chaos, and the guards had grown lax, had they found the opportunity to escape and don Frey disguises.
A merciless fight broke out on the stairs. Ser Marq was younger, after all, and soon defeated Ser Stevron, who was around sixty. The old knight retreated, finding the struggle taxing.
But the spiral staircase was narrow, and House Frey's guards covered old Lord Walder and his heir Stevron as they withdrew.
Then the gates of the keeps on both sides of the river were thrown open. Orderly ranks of Gold Cloaks charged inside, bringing Frey prisoners in their midst and even heads on spearpoints. Most conspicuous were Hosteen and half of Black Walder's body.
The towering gold knight stood beside the white knight, an imposing sight: Gendry and his Iron Guard, the old knight Ser