This chapter might be a little bit underwhelming but it moves the plot forward.
Pate looked around his Chambers, once he was sure that no one was there, he leaned back and relaxed. Finally, he could have some damn rest.
He had spent nearly all day tending and stitching wounds of the new guardsmen. Bloody men don't even know how to hold a spear.
Damn Lord Estren, for taking away all the competent men.
Pate has been serving at Wyndhall for nearly ten years.
The Estrens were not a particularly powerful house. Their mines only produced a few metals and none of them very precious ones like those of Leffords and Lannisters. Nor were their lands very populous.
To compensate for this Lord Estren in recent times had tried to make his house more influential by tying it to house Reyne. It was a good plan at the time. Tion Lannister was married to the daughter of House Reyne, and it was well known Reyne's had his ear. So Lord Estren nearly emptied his coffers as an incentive for marrying his sister.
But then Tion Lannister had died in the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion. There was still hope, however,as Ellyn Lannister was pregnant.
Then the raven from Lannisport arrived.
Dark wings, dark words indeed.
He had advised Lord Reginald to not go against the Lannisters, or to at least remain neutral. But Roger Reyne's letter had made sure his lord wouldn't do that. The letter had stated that to succeed they needed Tytos Lannister.
Dead or alive.
So Lord Estren had taken most of his garrison and many able-bodied men in a force totalling nearly athousand men and marched towards Tytos Lannister last known location.
At Hornvale.
Lord Estren was hoping to either catch the Lannister scion on his way to Deep Den or join forces with other Reyne sympathizers and trap him at the seat of House Lydden.
Personally, he thought it was a foolish idea. Tytos Lannister could easily be at either Riverspring or Deep Den. Not that his lord listened to him.
Due to a shortage of men, they were forced to recruit young inexperienced boys to garrison the castle. An increase in raids from bandits who had noticed the shortage of men did not help the situation.
He was interrupted from his thoughts by a knock on his door. Yet, before he could open it, the door was kicked open, and several armored men entered his chamber.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" he asked hoping for an explanation. Instead of answering Pate, the man at the front grabbed him. He tried to struggle, but one of them punched him in his stomach. They dragged him through the halls. Everywhere, men wearing the Estren crest were either down or dead.
He managed to take a look out the window to see the towers of the castle were not flying Estren banner like they usually did. They were flying a crimson banner proudly displaying the Golden lion of Lannister.
(Scene Break)
I sat at Lord Estren's Hall, eating Lord Estren's food and drinking his wine ( it tasted pretty bad) with Lord Estren.
Taking the castle had been pretty easy. Having some of my men lure out the new guardsmen and taking the guardsmen place and sending them back into the castle. They had then waited till midnight after which, they managed to open the gates allowing rest of my men to enter the castle and take it. All of it would not have been possible with Lord Reginald's utter stupidity.
But even this did not soothe my sour mood. I still had no freaking idea what the hell was happening at Lannisport, even though I had my doubts. The only news I had gotten from Casterly Rock was from Ser Rupert. His letter was short and crisp. Confirming that my father was indeed a captive at Lannisport and that he was handling it. He also told me to be careful as Roger Reyne was going to come after me.
And rightly so just a day after I received the letter from Ser Rupert and raven from Ashemark had arrived. Reynard Reyne had somehow managed to take the Crag. This ensured that Marbrand and their allies have to deal with him before committing their forces anywhere else.
Meanwhile, according to Lord Alyn, Roger was last seen moving south with most of his men. As far as I know, he had been joined by Houses Kyndall, Greenfield, Doggett, Garner and Yew.
It was understandable that he would come for me. The Reynes had no chance of taking the Rock even with my father as a prisoner. My father had already kicked out most of their men in the Rock before the Blackfyre Rebellion.
But if they were to kill me and my father, the next Lord of Casterly Rock, not counting Ellyn's unborn child, would be seven years old Jason.
As much as I hate to admit. Roose Bolton is right; child Lords are the bane of a house. If neither my father or I make it out alive of this, it wouldn't matter if crown intervened and punished the Reynes.
The west would fall into anarchy. The Targaryens might put someone in charge, but in the end, it wouldn't matter. All the major Lords would end up fighting for either influence or Regency.
Ironically, while there were several Lannister cousins at the Rock, the closest to the mainlinewere the Lannisters of Lannisport, who were descendants of Damon Lannister's (my grandfather) sister.
So yeah, it was necessary for me to live.
The only reason Tywin was able to deal with Reynes so easily in canon was that he had the element of surprise. They were the second strongest house after the Lannisters for a reason after all. I had actually toyed with the idea of not giving Reynes a fight and wait for King Aegon's response. My father was after all one of his main supporter so surely he would take the decision in my father's favour.
But Lord Roland Lydden, the loyal bugger he is, had already sent ravens to all nearby houses, whose loyalty he was sure of, telling them of my arrival to Deep den and to gather their levies for me. Within days of my arrival, he had gathered around twelve hundred men who were joined by five hundred men from House Sarwyck.
Serrett, Vikarys, Swyfts and Paynes are going to join me here and Wyndhall.
So I had the choice of fighting Reynes or looking like a coward in front of the Lords.
I, of course, chose the former.
Thankfully Jeyne was safe at Deep Den. She had made me promise to come back alive (like I would do anything else if I had a choice). I was really lucky to be married to someone like her.
So here I am, at Wyndhall, waiting for my allies to arrive so I can take Roger Reyne, the Red Lion of Castamare, in a fight.
You know what? I am gonna kick his ass. I am gonna kick his family's ass. I have had enough of the Reyne's bullshit.
Fuck those bloody Reynes.
Next chapter will be showdown with Reynes. Also if anyone can help by looking into and correcting mistakes for the battle in next chapter. It would be great.