NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25: Ashes and Alliances
Chapter 25: Ashes and Alliances
The victory at Wayfarer's Rest was hard-won, but the aftermath left the Riverlands teetering on the edge of ruin. While Tywin's forces had been driven back, the scars of his retaliation remained. Villages burned, fields lay fallow, and the people looked to their lords with uncertainty. Ivar Sunblode stood at the heart of this chaos, his growing legend both a beacon of hope and a source of unease.
The Cost of Victory
At Wayfarer's Rest, the castle's battered walls stood as a grim reminder of the battle that had raged only days earlier. Ivar walked through the courtyard, now crowded with wounded soldiers and grieving villagers. The air was heavy with the scent of blood and smoke, mingled with the faint sweetness of rotting hay.
Roland Emberhill, his armor still dented from the siege, approached. His face was lined with exhaustion, and a fresh scar ran along his cheek.
"We lost a third of our forces," Roland said, his voice low. "The Vances fared worse. They're grateful, but…"
"They're wondering if it was worth it," Ivar finished, his tone somber.
Roland hesitated, then nodded. "The people are scared, Ivar. Tywin's retaliation wasn't just about the castle. He wanted to remind us that he can strike anywhere, at any time."
Ivar's gaze hardened. "Then we remind them that the Riverlands won't break so easily. Rebuild the defenses here. Send word to the nearby villages—we'll provide aid and protection."
"And the lords?" Roland asked.
Ivar sighed, the weight of the question evident in his posture. "The lords need reassurance. They need to see strength."
A Gathering at Riverrun
Back at Riverrun, Hoster Tully had called another meeting of the Riverland lords. The great hall buzzed with tension as the nobles assembled, their voices low and wary.
Walder Frey was the first to speak, his tone sharp and accusatory. "You call this unity? Half the Riverlands burned while the other half marched to save one castle. This isn't a war—it's a disaster."
Tytos Blackwood glared at Frey. "A disaster you're more than happy to profit from, no doubt. While we fought, where was House Frey? Guarding its precious bridge?"
Frey bristled, his thin lips curling into a sneer. "We guard the Twins because someone has to! While the rest of you play at war, I ensure our survival."
"Survival by cowardice isn't survival," Brynden Blackfish said, his voice cutting through the argument.
Ivar, seated near the head of the table, let the bickering continue for a moment longer before rising to his feet. The room fell silent as his presence commanded their attention.
"Enough," he said, his tone calm but firm. "This division is exactly what Tywin wants. Every moment we spend arguing is another moment he uses to regroup. We must act as one—or not at all."
"And who will lead us?" Jonos Bracken's cousin, a minor lord who had assumed Jonos's seat, asked pointedly. "You? The man who's brought the lion's wrath upon us?"
"I don't seek to lead for my own sake," Ivar replied, his gaze sweeping the room. "But leadership isn't a title—it's action. While others hesitated, House Sunblode acted. We've held the line against Tywin before, and we'll do it again. But only if we stand together."
A New Strategy
After the council, Ivar convened his closest allies in Riverrun's solar. Brynden Blackfish leaned against the wall, his sharp eyes watching as Ivar unfurled a new map of the Riverlands. Lysa Blackthorne and Timothy Sunrise stood nearby, while Roland sat at the table nursing a cup of wine.
"We can't keep fighting Tywin on his terms," Ivar began. "The battle at Wayfarer's Rest was a victory, but it cost us too much. If we continue like this, we'll bleed out long before Tywin does."
"What's the alternative?" Roland asked.
"We shift the battlefield," Ivar said. "Tywin's power is rooted in his wealth and his alliances. If we weaken those, we weaken him."
Lysa nodded thoughtfully. "You're proposing more raids, then? Target his supply lines, disrupt his trade?"
"Not just raids," Ivar said. "We strike at his alliances. House Lannister thrives because of the fear it inspires. But if we show the other great houses that Tywin isn't invincible, we can sow doubt. And doubt is a powerful weapon."
Brynden smirked. "You think you can convince the great houses to turn against Tywin?"
"Not all of them," Ivar admitted. "But cracks in his alliances will force him to divide his attention. The more enemies he has to manage, the weaker he becomes."
Timothy leaned against the table, his grin returning. "Sounds ambitious. I like it."
The First Target
Ivar's first move in this new strategy was to target House Westerling, a minor but strategically significant vassal of the Lannisters. The Westerlings controlled a key pass through the hills leading into the Westerlands, and their loyalty to Tywin was tenuous at best.
Lysa's spies reported that the Westerlings had grown disillusioned with Tywin's demands, particularly after he had taken their eldest son hostage to ensure their compliance.
"They're ripe for persuasion," Lysa said as she laid the reports before Ivar. "If we offer them protection and the promise of freedom from Tywin's grasp, they may turn."
"But if they refuse?" Roland asked.
Ivar's gaze was cold. "Then we remind them of the cost of standing with Tywin."
A Delicate Negotiation
Ivar rode to the seat of House Westerling under the cover of night, accompanied only by Timothy, Lysa, and a small group of enhanced soldiers. The castle, a modest fortress perched on a rocky hill, was quiet as they approached.
Lord Westerling, a thin man with a nervous demeanor, greeted them in the great hall. His wife, a stern-looking woman with streaks of gray in her dark hair, sat beside him, her expression guarded.
"Lord Sunblode," Westerling began, his voice wavering. "I must admit, I was surprised to receive your message. What brings you to my halls?"
"The future of your house," Ivar said, his tone even. "Tywin Lannister demands much and gives little in return. You've seen what happens to those who defy him. But you've also seen what happens when the Riverlands stand together."
Westerling exchanged a glance with his wife, who spoke for the first time. "And what happens when your unity collapses? The Lannisters are relentless. They don't forgive, and they don't forget."
Ivar stepped closer, his voice lowering. "The Lannisters thrive on fear. They make you believe that resistance is hopeless, but it's not. They've been beaten before, and they can be beaten again. Join us, and your house will have a place in the new Riverlands—one where Tywin's shadow no longer looms over you."
Westerling hesitated, his hands trembling as they rested on the arm of his chair. "And if we refuse?"
Timothy stepped forward, his grin sharp as a blade. "Then you'll face Tywin's wrath… and ours. But only one of us is here offering you a choice."
The silence that followed was heavy. Finally, Westerling's wife nodded slowly. "We'll consider your proposal. But know this, Lord Sunblode—if you falter, we won't hesitate to protect our own."
Ivar inclined his head. "Fair enough. But I don't intend to falter."
The Winds of Change
The Westerlings' tentative agreement marked the first crack in Tywin's alliances, but it was only the beginning. Over the following weeks, Ivar's agents worked tirelessly to undermine the Lannisters' influence, spreading whispers of dissent and offering hope to those willing to stand against the lion.
At Riverrun, Hoster Tully received word of Ivar's successes with cautious optimism.
"You're playing a dangerous game," Hoster said during a private meeting with Ivar.
"All games worth playing are dangerous," Ivar replied.
"And what happens if you lose?"
Ivar's gaze was steady. "Then we make sure we don't."