"What do you mean by that?" Lord Mace said discontentedly. "I've been fighting wars for over twenty years."
Ser Garlan did not know whether to laugh or cry. The honors Lord Mace had earned in twenty years of campaigning were less dazzling than the battles Storm had won in a single year.
Mace's sole victory had been defeating the rebel Robert Baratheon at Ashford more than ten years earlier, and the credit for that largely belonged to Earl Tarly, who had commanded the vanguard. By the time the lord arrived with the main force, the battle had all but ended. The siege of Storm's End, which Mace had commanded himself, had dragged on fruitlessly for a year. Once the decisive battle on the Trident had been settled, the Lord of Highgarden could only lower his banners and submit to Ned Stark.
"The young lord is quite right. We're already moving very quickly. We may arrive just in time to see the end of the battle for King's Landing. Whoever wins, we'll win with them," Earl Randyll Tarly said. "King Robert's son against the Lannisters. This battle is bound to be spectacular."
"The Vale, the North, Crackclaw Point, and the Stormlands all support Storm and the Targaryens. We won't be anyone's second choice," Earl Mathis said.
"I think Storm will win," Ser Loras said gloomily.
"Why?" Lord Mace looked curiously at his youngest son. By rights, he hated Storm more than anyone.
"I don't like him, but that doesn't stop him from being an excellent commander and warrior. If the Kingslayer was no match for him, I'm afraid the Imp won't fare much better."
"Tell the army to advance at full speed. I don't want to miss this show."
"Yes."
The green roses set off in a vast procession. Mace had