Chapter 17. A Spy Among Us
The Tyrell-Martell Alliance had sacked Castles Silverhill and Crakehall. The Allied forces camped near the port town of Westport. The town burned in the background as the Alliance camped outside the city. There fleet was just off shore transferring much needed medicine and supplies. Mace and Doran were in the command tent with their Banners planning to move against the Lion's Keep. That is when a squire rushed in carrying a message.
Mace read it, "What is it!" Doran asked.
He handed him the letter, "Do you have a spy among the Lannisters-because someone just sent us the strength of the Lannister-Positions of scouts-Supply line dispatches and key points the Lannisters are defending with their lives."
Doran handed the letter to his bannerman Manwoody. He walked up to the map, "If we take Lion's Keep we will stretching our supply lines to thin-It looks like the Lannisters are willing to sacrifice the coast to defend Casterly Rock Lannisport, Ashemark, and Cornfeild."
"And why not?" Lord Hightower said, "If Tywin wishes he can summon the Iron Born to take back the coast."
Mace took a little statue of a flower and set it on Lannisport-then he took a statute of a sun with a spear in it on a stand and set it next to the flower. "Lord Hightower is right! They are hoping to cut us off from the sea-Defeat our land forces and summon Iron Born to attack from the sea!"
Lord Redwyne took a dagger and stabbed it in the heart of the North, "Consider how the Lannisters control the North-The Greyjoys and Freys control the North with support from Lannisters-If any Northmen rise up against them they can count on help from the Lannisters-Tywin doesn't trust Little Finger and the Knights of the Vale will only fight to defend their lands-Riverrun will fight with the Vale but so long as the the Greyjoys and the Freys stay in the North their hands are tied-If they come to the aid of the Lannisters against us-The Tully's and the Vale will rise up against the Lannisters." He took a lion's head statue and placed it over Harranhal and another at King's Landing. "The only other army in the south that may come to the aid of the Lannisters is at Harranhal. Tyrion controls 10,000 men."
"But Tyrion Lannister has cut off all contact with his family." Manwoody said.
"That doesn't mean the Imp won't ride to defend his ancestral lands." Mace countered.
Doran looked at Lannisport, "I say we feint towards Lion's Keep then make a line for Lannisport and fight our way back south until we reach Westport."
"Why not just march up the coast?" Lord Tarly asked, "At least our fleet can cover a retreat!"
Mace tapped Lannisport-it was a juicy target, he shook his head. "No I say we attack Lion's Keep-burn it to the ground and fall back towards the coast and fight our way towards Lannisport." They all voted on the offered ideas. 4 wanted to march on Lannisport, 2 banners wanted to just fight their way up the coast, while rest voted for the Keep.
Arya stood on a hill and watched as the Alliance assaulted the Lion's Keep. Because of misdirection and switching orders to troops the Lannisters were unable to defend the Keep and after 5 days of intense battle the Keep was burned to the ground. Then the Tyrell-Martell forces marched west to the coast. With victory after victory the allies marched up the coast all the way to Lannisport. Sir Clegane lead the defense of the city personally but with the bombardment from the sea and the land attack he had to retreat towards Casterly Rock and assemble his forces near cornfield for the next battle.
Arya was in the tent copying the maps to send a message to the Allies. She left the tent by crawling under the edge and went to the Raven's watch guard. She stole a raven and sent it to the Allies. "I say there is a spy in our mist!" Lord Lefford yelled as he followed Clegane through the camp.
"Find the spy then or bring me proof!"
Lefford saluted, "I will!"
The Lannisters lost another major battle and the plan to cut off enemy supply lines failed as well. Clegane had all soldiers searched and the camp turned upside down but they found nothing. Arya was very stealthy as she even drugged soldiers to get information. It got to the point that Clegane had to ban all women from the camp as they knew Arya Stark was behind Lannister murders so it was logical that she was somehow in the camp sneaking information to their enemies. As the battle of Cornfeild unfolded Arya sat on her horse with Nymeria at her side watching the battle. By sunrise the next day the Lannisters were retreating as they were outnumbered and outmaneuvered. It was time to go to the Red Keep and deal with Joffrey. Arya had not questioned anyone about her sister Sansa-she wanted to learn her fate when she reached the Capital city.
