"Thank you for your kindness, brother."
"Then I am eternally grateful," Lady Maege said.
"It's an honor," Daisy immediately stood up and said.
Gendry helped up the female guard and thanked Robb. The Jon and Daisy that Gendry took from Robb were both capable and courageous, and he still needed to guide the Young Wolf.
Everyone had finished discussing the general plan and had talked very thoroughly. The small interlude from Bear Island indicated that it was time for everyone to disperse. However, there was still a small-scale wine reception in the tent, and in the end, only a few people attended: Gendry, Ser Barristan, Anguy, Robb of the North, Bronze Yohn of the Vale, Brynden 'Blackfish', Lord Jason of Seagard, and Ser Boros of Claw Peninsula.
When everyone had left, the tent still felt a little empty, but fortunately, the fire in the hearth still kept everyone warm.
"Theon is a Child of Pyke; I hope you remember that," Gendry said to Robb first.
"But he..." Robb's face flushed. "We grew up together, we are good friends."
"But he is not a Stark. Jon is, Bran is. Will he change his nature just because he lived in Winterfell for ten years?" The Blackfish looked at Robb. "Lord Eddard often played the role of a father to Theon, but it was King Robert and Lord Eddard who brought revenge and slaughter to Pyke. Theon has probably always lived under the shadow of your father's stern face and the cold, and as for your mother's character, I think you know, it must have been suspicion and estrangement. However, regarding Theon, you might want to listen to your mother."
Ser Barristan couldn't help but interject, "Child, it is good that you have the spirit of a knight, but the people of the Iron Islands, I think you cannot consider them normal people. Initially, King Balon incited his own father to rebel, which resulted in his father's death. King Balon's own rebellion then led to the deaths of his two sons; they are inherently somewhat cruel. Even I, an old man, can see that although young Theon hides it well, he knows he is merely an outsider to House Stark."
"Robb, I treat you as my younger brother, so I hope you take these words to heart," Gendry said to Robb. "If a warrior doesn't use his brain, he will only ever be a warrior, not a true Lord. I hope you think of those Starks, Lord Cregan, Lord Torrhen."
"Yes," Robb's face flushed, and he suddenly felt Gendry was even more unfathomable, seemingly at ease in the political maelstrom of the South. Was this why his father resisted the South, because the waters of the South were too deep, and only the strongest and most cunning had the right to laugh last?
"Robb, order your men to strengthen the defenses of the western coastline," Gendry said to Robb. "King Balon might not consider the Westerlands, but rather the North."
"Indeed, Robb," Lord Jason also nodded and said, "Our castle is precisely for defending against Ironborn raids; they don't care which kingdom it is, they just raid and kill."
"Yes," Robb nodded, half understanding, but also grasping the weight of everyone's warning. Robb left after accepting everyone's caution, but there was no sign of the others dispersing. They were about to march along the Kingsroad and had to be prepared for anything.
"This Child is still a good Child, but they were led astray by my niece. It would be very good if they went to other places to be fostered or as Attendants. My niece's mind is full of those Lady-like ideas from the Green Lands, but unfortunately, this is not such an era," the Blackfish sighed. One could only say that comparing people was not good. Compared to Robb, the blacksmith truly was born in adversity. But these children of House Stark had lived in love and tolerance since childhood, as if they were children of summer.
"Everything will be fine, Lord Brynden," Gendry said.
"The main thing now is to secure Riverrun and advance into the Vale," Bronze Yohn said.
"After we leave, Riverrun will still be managed by Lord Jason for the west, and Clebb's men will handle the River Gate Tower and the east."
"As you command."
In the new era, everyone should march forward.
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