Faced with Stow's challenge, Halsen showed no panic at all. He stared straight into his eyes and reiterated each word, answering instead with righteous conviction:
"I told you, don't let me see you bullying Lady Stark again."
"You failed to keep your men in line, Stow, so I dealt with it for you."
At those words, Stow's face turned livid.
He glanced at his subordinate's corpse on the ground, its eyes still open in death, then at Arya beside it, her face buried in her hands as she sobbed, her shoulders shaking.
Stow knew all too well what that man was usually like. The idiot must have let his cock do the thinking and caused a world of trouble!
"Damn it..."
Stow cursed inwardly, having guessed most of the "truth."
Yet being in the wrong was one thing; Halsen bypassing him, the captain, and killing someone outright was another.
It was no different from slapping him in public, a serious challenge to his authority. With so many eyes watching, how could he, Harag Stow, lead these men in the future if he backed down now?
He had to teach Halsen a lesson today, even if only for show!
Shing!
Having made up his mind, Stow drew his longsword before all his men and pointed it straight at Halsen.
Just then, however, Halsen's companions arrived. Seeing the tense standoff, they hurried forward without hesitation and stood beside Halsen, their hands likewise resting on their sword hilts.
The situation instantly became five against eight.
Although Stow's side still held the numerical advantage, it had shrunk to almost nothing.
Besides, Halsen and his men were all renowned fighters from Karhold. If it came to blows, even a victory would cost Stow's side dearly. It would not be worth it.
"Fuck, it's been over an hour. Why hasn't Rhaegel come back yet?"
Finding the situation extremely troublesome, Stow could not help looking back toward the other end of the woods, an ominous feeling lingering in his heart.
The other camp was at most a league away. They should have returned long ago!
After much deliberation, reason finally overcame impulse.
It would not be too late to settle accounts with Halsen once Rhaegel returned with his men and their side held an overwhelming advantage!
With that thought, Stow forced down his anger and pointed irritably into the darkness beyond the camp, ordering Halsen, "You and your men will relieve Wal and Ryan on night watch, starting today and continuing until we return to Riverrun!"
This was both a punishment and a disguised form of exile and marginalization, stripping them of their right to rest and move about the center of the camp.
As far as Stow was concerned, this was the best way to assert his authority without resorting to violence.
"Fine!"
Sure enough, after a moment's silence, Halsen agreed.
After all, he understood that executing a comrade without authorization was a grave overstepping of his authority.
Yet just as he signaled his men to put away their weapons and turned to leave-
"Sob... don't... don't leave me alone... please!"
"I want to go home..."
Beneath the tree, Arya let out a muffled sob at just the right moment.
The sound struck precisely at the softest part of Halsen's heart, like a noose binding him tightly to the honor he upheld.
As though compelled by some unseen force, Halsen looked back and met Arya's tear-filled eyes.
Boom!!!!
Hot blood surged into his head.
That look, filled with fear, pleading, and longing for home, made Halsen cast every consideration and concern out of his mind!
"I... am taking her with me!"
Halsen looked Stow straight in the eye and spoke firmly, in a tone he had never used before.
Stow froze at his words, almost believing he had misheard. "What did you say?"
"I said," Halsen straightened his back before everyone and declared in a ringing voice, "I'm taking Lady Stark back to the North, back to her home, Winterfell!"
"Fuck you!"
That righteous demeanor nearly made Stow jump with rage.
He pointed north and roared, "Did you get your fucking head caught in a door, Halsen?"
"Don't forget, Moat Cailin is still in those bastards' hands!"
"We can take a ship!"
Halsen refused to yield before Stow's rebuke. "Land at White Harbor or Widow's Watch, whatever it takes. Either way, I can no longer stand by and do nothing!"
"As a soldier sworn to the North, protecting the members of House Stark is my duty and my honor!"
"Fuck your honor!!"
Looking at this stubborn, utterly brainless man, Stow cursed furiously, "You're so wonderful, so high and mighty!"
"You're the only fucking one with any honor, and the rest of us are villains, is that it?"
"Don't forget, Earl Rickard has yet to be avenged. That kinslayer Robb Stark must pay!"
Halsen gripped his sword hilt tightly. "Revenge is men's business. It has nothing to do with a little girl!"
"Besides, all you're after is Gold Dragons, isn't it?"
Those words left Stow speechless for a long moment.
Seeing this, Halsen pointed at the figure swinging from the tree nearby. "You can have The Hound. Do whatever you like with him. I won't take a single coin!"
"All I ask is to leave with Lady Stark. Nothing more!"
With that, Halsen ignored him, turned his head, and signaled one of his men. "Untie her!"
The soldier stepped forward without hesitation, drawing a dagger to cut the ropes binding Arya.
That decisive action made Stow's eyes bulge with fury.
He could no longer tolerate it. Halsen clearly intended to take her by force!
If he actually succeeded, what dignity would Stow have left as captain?
Would that mean anyone could leave whenever they wanted from now on?
"Stop him!"
Halsen roared, and several of his men drew their swords.
Just as the confrontation reached its breaking point-
"We're under attack!!!"
A night sentry's urgent cry suddenly rang out from the edge of the camp!
It was followed by several short cries of pain and the thuds of heavy bodies hitting the ground!
Before Stow or Halsen could react, a jumble of roars erupted around the camp. "For Lady Stark!"
"Kill them all!"
The sudden uproar made Stow's head buzz. He whipped around, his gaze locking onto Halsen. In an instant, all his suspicions found their answer!
"You traitor!"
"You led the enemy here!"
Roaring with fury, Stow swung his longsword straight at Halsen, who stood within arm's reach!
Clang!
Halsen hastily raised his sword to block. The two blades crashed together, sending sparks flying!
As the two leaders squared off, both groups joined the brawl, and the entire camp descended into chaos.
For a time, the clang of weapons echoed ceaselessly through the woods.
The battle cries on the perimeter continued. The men scattered as they fought, and soon, after leaving three corpses behind, the battle moved elsewhere, leaving Arya all alone.
"Ha ha... hahahahaha!!!!"
Perhaps it was because these past days had been too oppressive. Looking at the bloody corpses before her, Arya froze for a moment, then actually began laughing aloud!
But just as her laughter grew increasingly smug, a voice suddenly sounded beside her.
"I must say, cunning little she-wolf."
"You've grown beyond anything I imagined."
Arya shuddered and turned. In the firelight, half a face came into view, its burns leaving it as twisted as maggots!