However, the quality of The Usurper's mistresses was much higher than Robert's; Robert was truly hungry and indiscriminate.
The Usurper, on the other hand, had many mistresses from noble Houses and even cared for and looked after his bastards, which even led to the Blackfyre Rebellion, making him completely different from Robert.
Gendry felt it was still a matter of power; Robert's kingship was too unstable and he always relied on Lannister.
"Enough, Ser Brynden, Earl Yohn, it wouldn't be good if the Dragon Princess heard this," Ser Barristan warned Blackfish to be careful.
He knew a lot about Robert's romantic escapades.
"Not every Baratheon is like The late King; Stannis, for example, is loyal to his marriage."
"But do the women of Bear Island even need men?" Anguy, seeing Daisy hadn't arrived yet, also interjected softly.
"I heard they sleep with bears."
"That's nonsense!" The bastard Jon immediately retorted.
"From what I understand, Lady Maege's husband might have come from a lower noble family or a commoner than House Mormont, and in such a situation, the Lady might prefer to keep her own surname for herself and her children."
The bastard Jon was well-versed in the situation of the North, and his observations of people and their surroundings, characteristic of a bastard, made him much more perceptive than Robb.
Coupled with his gloomy and Stark-like appearance, it was normal for Lady Catelyn to dislike him.
"That's right," Ser Barristan also nodded.
"The Dornish also have such customs, like Prince Oberyn and his kin; their father's name is not well known."
Dacey Mormont was galloping up, and the conversation had not yet ended.
"As we march, I shall learn from everyone.
Regarding the kingdom and the North, I have much to ask of you all." Gendry looked at Snow and the Old Knight Barristan.
"You are too modest," Jon laughed.
Being with young people his own age, and not having to see Catelyn's sour face, he felt much more relaxed.
"It's not modesty.
Speaking of smithing, none of you are probably as skilled as I am.
Didn't Tywin and some governors all call me The Boy Blacksmith?"
"That's fine.
According to legend, many blacksmiths have become kings; the blacksmith is one of the Seven Gods."
Everyone laughed joyfully, as if the impending bitterness and war would all be smoothed over.
The army rushed south with high morale, but when they saw the burnt manors and farmlands, they realized that supplies would be a major difficulty for their continued southward march.
Lannister's methods were truly vicious, repeatedly ravaging the Riverlands.
"Our supplies are difficult, and Lannister's supplies are even more troublesome," Gendry said.
"We need Robb and his men to accelerate their harassment of Lannister's supply lines.
Ser Marq had a lot of experience with that before."
At the Crossroads Inn and its vicinity, the Direwolf Army's vanguard eliminated some Mercenaries left by Tywin.
Tywin was indeed entrenched in Harrenhal, and The Imp had been sent back to King's Landing, while several special units engaged in burning, killing, and looting were deployed from Gods Eye to the Red Fork.
"Take that body down," Gendry said, seeing the gallows Tywin had erected in the courtyard.
The night wind blew, and the innkeeper's body on the rope swayed incessantly.
Her muscles were thin and decaying, like the poor people of the Riverlands.
"Tywin hanged her as retaliation for her inaction," Ser Barristan said.
"Lannister always pays its debts, and so do we," Anguy said angrily, ordering someone to arrange a grave for the innkeeper by the river.
"If we continue south, Tywin will have strong forces ready by the river to prevent a landing," Barristan said.
Tywin's main camp was in Harrenhal, but the mouth of the great river, which would be crossed by the Kingsroad heading south, would definitely be guarded.
Tywin might have thought this army was coming to fight him to the death, but it wasn't.
"We are ready, winter Sun," Earl Rickard said.
"Fight if you can, retreat if you can't," Gendry told Rickard and Lady Maege.
"If you pass through the river mouth, there's no need to charge Tywin's main camp; disperse and wage guerrilla warfare in the Riverlands.
If you cannot cross the river mouth, then return to Riverrun."
"Understood," Rickard and Maege nodded.
The two armies separated there, and as night deepened, the troops heading east through The Bloody Gate were also about to set off.
Heading east through the Mountains of the Moon was destined to be a rugged and arduous journey; the Vale was treacherous.
Whether in chaos or peace, the Vale could always take priority.
"I heard The Imp once ingeniously recruited a group of wildlings; that's good news for us."
"They should have followed him into King's Landing, the savages and The Imp."
"Though the dwarf isn't good at fighting, his mind is sharp."
Recalling his subtle friendship with The Imp, Jon felt a pang of sadness.
His few friends were about to become enemies.
Gendry and his companions set off under the cover of night, heading east after leaving the inn.
The gradually appearing hard and cold rocky terrain made them uncomfortable.
The terrain here was rugged and dangerous; the so-called main road was merely a stone path.
But Gendry thought, great achievements come from hardship; such a circuitous attack would surely surprise The Eyrie.
They moved slowly in the deep night because of the rugged roads; even with the best guides, many horses would be lost.
"Once we reach The Bloody Gate, I need to write to Runestone again immediately," Bronze Yohn said.
Actually, a plan to write letters had already been made, but further clarification was needed now.
If they fought for justice in the Vale, with Bronze Yohn's prestige and the general dissatisfaction with Lysa, this group of Lords was also preparing.
Lysa managed The Eyrie but did not allow Robert to learn governance experience.
Due to vigilance against Littlefinger, notification had to be within a very small circle.
"The Eyrie is indeed easy to defend but difficult to attack, but all its supplies rely on what's below," Blackfish added.
"If we drive straight in, we can trap The Gate of the Moon, cutting off supplies and food."
Everyone was cautious, moving carefully in narrow places and accelerating where it was wider.
The soldiers needed to watch out for Shadowcats and wildlings.
Though they slept little, it was sufficient, as their large numbers allowed for shifts.
When daylight broke, Gendry again saw the narrow stone path before him, the increasingly steep and treacherous hillsides all around, and the jagged, Snow-capped peaks on the distant horizon.
------------------------
There are already 70+ chapters available on my Patreon!
The story will continue to update 1 chapter per day on Webnovel,
while early access chapters are posted on Patreon.
Maybe it's not worth it today but it could be later
[email protected]/Kazenova223
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"