Chapter 255 Price
Before the sun set, Samwell led his army back to Storm's End again.
Across the open fields and craggy hills, he watched the mighty Storm's End looming high above the sky, obscuring the ocean beyond.
Against such a majestic castle, the Reach Army looked so small and helpless.
The violent sea wind from the Narrow Sea has been blowing for decades, but it still can't shake the castle.
Its stalwart outer wall is hundreds of feet high, and the boulders are inlaid extremely closely, rounded, curved and smooth, and impenetrable to wind and rain.
It's no wonder that from ancient times to the present, no one has ever been able to occupy this castle by storm.
After feeling deeply, Samwell joined the remaining army and set up camp.
At this time, he also saw the messenger from Hewan who came to the North Route Army to deliver the letter, and brought the same order to withdraw the troops.
The envoy also told him that Earl Landau had already begun to withdraw his troops at this time, and told him that he would meet him at Bronze Gate City.
Seeing that it was getting late, Samwell ordered the whole army to rest overnight and prepare to set off again the next morning.
Piles of bonfires dispelled the thick darkness. Not far away, the majestic city walls of Storm's End could be faintly seen under the dim starlight.
Sam Will was sitting in front of the bonfire, holding a roasted deer leg in his hand, but he had no appetite, and finally threw it to Cleopatra.
Bailong was not affected by his master's mood, fluttering his wings excitedly, feasting on it.
"Brother, what are you thinking?" Dickon asked, seeing that Samwell had been out of his mind.
"I was thinking, if I miss this opportunity, will it be possible to capture this castle in the future." Samwell looked at Storm's End towering in the darkness, his eyes blurred.
It is not so easy to start a war, not to mention that Hewan is not his own word. After this withdrawal, it will not be so easy to mobilize the nobles of Hewan to fight the Stormland.
Moreover, the situation of the Seven Kingdoms will probably undergo great changes by then. Even if he can organize the River Bend nobles to carry out an Eastern Expedition, it may not be as free from interference from other forces as they are now.
"Brother, since you want this castle so much, let's attack it again tomorrow." Dickon suggested.
Samwell sighed: "Storm's End is not so easy to conquer, it's better not to waste the lives of the soldiers. Moreover, Lady Olenna has issued an order to withdraw the troops, and the army has no intention of fighting anymore..."
Having said that, Samwell's tone still showed a strong unwillingness.
"Is there no other way?"
"This castle is too difficult to conquer from the outside, but if you start from the inside, it will be much easier."
"How to do it internally?"
"Kill that illegitimate duke." Samwell stared at the dancing flames in front of his eyes, and murmured, "As long as he dies, the army in the city won't have the point of sticking to it."
"Kill that illegitimate son..." Dickon stared at his brother, red and gold lines suddenly appearing in his eyes.
"Yes. It's just that you need to pay some price..." Samwell struggled.
But Dickon seemed to have made up his mind, quietly got up and left.
Samwell was immersed in his thoughts and didn't notice his brother's departure.
He is still debating whether to adopt the method proposed by Melisandre.
The time attribute is halved for one year. Is it worth changing Storm's End for such a price?
Finally, Samwell made up his mind.
Attributes can be restored, and when he occupies Storm's End, he can get more free attribute points after his title is promoted. Overall, he must be profitable.
If he misses this golden opportunity, he really may not have such a good opportunity to plot against Stormland in the future.
The fall of Gaoting this time has reminded him that his enemies will not just stand still and wait for him to develop slowly.
If the armies of the Riverbend withdraw from the Stormlands, the Lannister family will definitely extend their hand again. At that time, those castles that have been captured will continue to be controlled by the people of the Riverbend?
Done!
Samwell finally made up his mind.
When he got up and turned around, he saw Melisandre standing just behind him.
Wearing a red robe, her skin is as white as snow, the ruby in her throat glistens with blood-red light, exuding a strange and seductive aura.
"My lord, have you decided?"
"It's decided." Samwell adjusted his mentality, "I'm going to trouble you."
"Okay." Melisandre was very calm, bowed slightly, "It is my honor to serve you."
As he spoke, he turned and walked towards his camp.
Samwell took a deep breath and followed.
When he opened the curtain and entered the tent, he saw that Melisandre had already untied the ribbon, allowing the red robe to slide slowly to the ground, revealing her milk-white skin.
She approached slowly, still with an indifferent and pious look on her face, and threw herself into the man's arms.
Samwell reached out and hugged Melisandre, scorching hot,
…
Storm's End.
Duke Edric Baratheon was wearing a gorgeous dark green dress, and was sitting on the throne that once belonged to the Storm Kings.
"Ser Gladwell, why did you betray me?"
"Why?" Sir Gerald's hands were tied and his body was stained with blood, but he still had a calm and fearless expression, "Bastard, you locked us in the city and let the people of the River Bend wreak havoc on the territory of the Stormlands. You actually asked me why I betrayed? How can you, a coward who only dares to hide behind the city walls, have the qualifications to be the guardian of the storm?"
"We don't have enough troops." Duke Edric tried to justify himself.
"This is all an excuse for your cowardice!" Sir Gerard roared, "Sir Cortnay was intercepted by the Riverbend Cavalry outside the city before, why didn't you support? And Earl Ralph asked you to send troops to Copper Why didn't you agree to block the Hewan people in the gate city? And the imperial forest before..."
"Enough! Glad Wilder!" Sir Elton Ismond interrupted, "Our main army is trapped in Dorne. If we attack rashly as you said, we will only be defeated." Worse."
Sir Gerard looked at Sir Elton with a sneer on his face:
"Elton, of course you don't care if your Greenstone Castle is isolated overseas, anyway, the army of the Reach people can't beat it. But our territory is all taken by the Reach people! Just guarding Storm's End Shit use!"
"The people of Hewan are just going crazy for a while, when Lord Tywin frees up his hands, they will naturally..."
"Tywin shit! Lannister shit!" Sir Gerard became more and more angry, "Do they have the ability to help us? Kevan Lannister swore before that he would lead an army of 60,000 to the south, but what about him?"
"Sir Gerard." Duke Edric said again, "Since you don't like our method, tell me, what method do you have to deal with the people in the river bay?"
Sir Gerard fell silent for a moment.
Sir Elton sneered: "What can he do, he just wants to surrender to the people of the river bay."
Sir Glad was about to refute with a slap in the neck, when he heard hurried footsteps coming from outside the door.
An armored knight strode forward and said:
"My lord, Hewan has sent an envoy."
"The Messenger of the River Bend?" Duke Edrick said with a look on his face, "Bring it up."
The rest of the knights in the hall also had different expressions after hearing the messengers sent by the people from Hewan.
It's just that when they saw the Messenger of the Reach, they were all shocked.
Because the envoy was actually carried in, and his body was covered in blood, and a few arrows were stuck in it.
"What's going on?" Duke Edric frowned.
The knight was also a little embarrassed: "When he was close to the tower, we thought it was the people from Hewan who wanted to attack..."
"Assault a castle alone?" Ser Gerard sneered.
"Okay." Duke Edric waved his hand, "Is he not dead?"
"No, it's just that he was seriously injured... In addition, the coat of arms on his chest is a walking hunter. Someone recognized him as Dickon Tarly, the second son of Earl Randyll."
"Ed... Derek... Your lord... I am... Deacon Tarly..." Deacon on the stretcher made a weak voice.
Duke Edric is also a little embarrassed, even if the two sides are in a hostile relationship, since he is an envoy, he should be respected and protected.
With shame and curiosity, Duke Edric got up and walked off the high platform, came to the stretcher, and said:
"Sir Dickon, I'm really sorry for making you like this. I don't know why you're here?"
"Father...sent me...for peace talks..."
"Peace talks?" Duke Edric was shocked when he heard the words, and his tone was unavoidably anxious, "Earl Landau is willing to talk about peace? What conditions?"
"Father...said...as long as...you promise..."
Dickon's words became lighter and lighter, and Duke Edric had to bend down:
"I'm sorry, Sir Dickon, I didn't catch you..."
At this moment, Dickon on the stretcher suddenly pulled out the arrow on his shoulder, and plunged into Duke Edric's throat.
The whole process was as smooth as silk, and the other people present did not react at all.
They never thought that a person who was seriously injured and dying would burst out with such a deadly killing intent.
It is even more unexpected that someone would adopt such an extreme method of assassination.
Hot blood gushed out all at once, spraying all over Dickon's face.
Duke Edric was caught off guard and wanted to shout, but was choked by blood.
The hall was quiet for a moment, and then suddenly became a mess.
Someone rushed up to support Duke Edric who was lying on the ground, some shouted the name of the bachelor, and some roared and drew out their long swords, intending to cut off the head of the insidious Riverbend Assassin.
Dickon lay peacefully on the stretcher, seemingly unafraid of the imminent death, with a faint red-golden gleam in his eyes.
"Stop! Elton!" Sir Gerard yelled, "Edric Storm is dead! If you don't want to die, don't kill the Reachman!"
The long sword stopped in mid-air immediately.
(end of this chapter)