"Among the hostages I captured from the Westerlands are the squire William Lannister and several children from the western branch of House Frey. They are all Lannister relatives. Perhaps these youngsters can give the false king and false queen mother in King's Landing something to think about," Gendry continued. These young captives were worth little money; he might as well use them to do the Starks a favor. "We can send a minor noble to carry this news back to King's Landing, though not in my own name. But Lady Catelyn, even while the messenger is on the road, our war will not stop."
Catelyn thanked him profusely, tears in her eyes. This was already a gesture of goodwill from Storm.
The Blackfish comforted his niece. "Little Catelyn, this is how war is. The gods above chose to make sport of us."
"That settles Lord Eddard's girls, but what about our strategy? I can't wait to stab the Lannisters in the kidneys and kick their arses," Greatjon asked impatiently.
"Yes, there are many crowns in the south now," Earl Jason Mallister asked. "We will have to act eventually."
"Anguy, bring out the map."
Anguy took out a rolled leather map and unfurled it for everyone to see. The Vale remained silent, the North had marched, and Runnymede Castle had fallen. The main task now was to bring the Riverlands and northern armies together.
"I understand how everyone feels, but Tywin's force numbers roughly twenty thousand, most of them his finest troops. To swallow that army whole, we would need more men than that." Gendry pointed toward Harrenhal. Beyond Luan River Castle, the land was almost entirely flat.
"If we join forces, we'll have about as many men as that old bastard Tywin," Greatjon bellowed. His fists looked truly fearsome.
Roose