Chapter 7 Traitors Within

Robb was growing thinner, Catelyn worried.

He ate less and less each day, and seemed to have lost his appetite entirely. Sometimes he had to be reminded to eat. Catelyn watched as he probed a shred of beets around his plate. She could almost see the shape of his skull beneath the skin. His pride is wounded, thought Catelyn, the series of defeats and retreats wounded his soul.

Thankfully Robb seemed a bit more cheerful tonight. Mayhaps he has come up with some master plan to win back the north, thought Catelyn, trying to be hopeful.

Other than her, her uncle the Blackfish, Edmure, Sers Edwyn and Walder Frey, Lord Jason Mallister and Lord Piper were with them, Robb had decided to sup with the River Lords tonight. He was chatting about military tactics, and Lord Jason seemed particularly interested.

'The heart of winning battles is to strike where the enemy does not suspect,' Robb was saying. 'I won the Battle of the Camps and the Whispering Wood both with this strategic, striking the enemy in the rear. Both of these battles were great victories.'

'Aye. One surprise army is stronger than a hundred thousand men,' Lord Jason agreed.

'For the Lannisters, I think a similar tactic could be used. A surprise attack on the Lannister camps in the night… that would not entirely destroy their army, I fear, but when Lord Bolton's bastard son joins us with his heavy infantry we shall be able to give the Lannisters a good battle. I assure you, I will not allow the Kingslayer to slip from my fingers this time.'

Ser Benfrey Frey entered the room, in his hand a long strip of parchment. He whispered something in Robb's ear. Robb went white. He spread out the parchment, his eyes moving back and forth slowly. A vein began throbbing on his temple.

'Roose Bolton… has offered unconditional surrender in name of the North to Queen Regent, Cersei Lannister in King's Landing.' The Freys put down their forks and shared an uneasy glance. Lord Piper was startled, so was Edmure. Uncle Brynden did not seem much surprised though. 'A spy in the South has reported this to us…' Robb put down the parchment. It curled up again as if eager to hide up its secrets. Robb was fuming, his face as red as his hair.

'Bolton… out of all the possible betrayals, Bolton? Why would he do this… he was the loyal of the loyal, my strongest bannerman… THIS IS THE WORST BETRAYAL OF ALL!'

Robb stormed to his feet. He ripped a dagger out of his belt and began stabbing the parchment savagely until the letter was reduced to nothing but shards. 'Umber, yes, a blusterous brute, Manderly, a fat coward, yes, but not Bolton… why would he do this… Do you know how did he gain the power to negotiate? He must've said I am sick! Maybe he told them I'm dead!'

Robb sat down breathing heavily. He grabbed a fistful of paper shards and threw them back to Ser Benfrey. 'Send a raven to Lord Hornwood and Lord Manderly,' said the king after gulping down an entire cup of wine, 'command them to gather a hundred men and march for the Dreadfort. Tell Maester Luwin to draft a paper, denouncing Lord Roose Bolton of all lands, title and honors. Let him be known as a traitor. I claim his lands and men for Winterfell.'

'You three, stay, the rest of you, My Lords, please leave.' Robb pointed at the Freys and the Blackfish.

Catelyn made to leave but was stopped by Robb. 'No, mother, you stay as well.'

'And bring me Theon Greyjoy!' Robb shouted to the Lords Mallister and Piper, 'I heard he's being spending suspicious amounts of time with Bolton recently, mayhaps he knows something.'

'But Your Grace, we've lost Theon Greyjoy…'

'What do you mean, lost him?'

'We haven't seen him in the Castle for two days…' said Piper.

'Then bring him to me!' Robb roared. 'I want a report at once!'

'Yes, Your Grace,' said Mallister and Piper, hastily leaving.

'Please sit, Mother, My Lords.' Robb turned to the Freys. 'Ser Walder. I am aware that your bastard brother Walder Rivers is leading a resistance in the Riverlands.'

'Aye, Your Grace,' said Black Walder, 'talk is he's joined up with the Brotherhood without Banners.'

'We have several more groups of men scattered around the Crownlands, Westerlands and maybe as far south as the Kingswood and the Reach,' added the Blackfish, 'but we've failed to make contact with them.'

Robb nodded. 'Good. I want you to find a way to contact with your brother. See that he does everything he can to make sure Bolton is apprehended to justice.'

'I shall, Your Grace,' Ser Walder Frey nodded.

'Great-nuncle Brynden, you also have orders. Under Winterfell there are vaults stuffed to the brim with fat bags of silver, and there is more in White Harbour. Take as much as you can carry and cross the Narrow Sea, to Braavos and Pentos and Lys, maybe as far as Volantis and hire Sellsword Companies. Unsullied would be ideal, but I heard some idiot bought all of them. Do not return before you have ten thousand men. If I am alive you will join forces with me. If not…' Robb sighed. 'You will do whatever you can to avenge my death, and name Bran or Rickon the King in the North. Am I clear, Uncle?'

'Your Grace… I have chosen to remain here and die for my country with you.'

Robb looked touched. 'Thank you, Uncle, for your loyalty. But Bolton is a traitor, maybe Theon as well. He must die for his crimes. I made a good decision of keeping him out of my plan.'

'What plan, Your Grace?' asked Ser Edwyn Frey.

'Did you think I would just meekly allow the Lannisters to storm through the North? No, My Lords, no. This is all part of the plan, to lure the enemy into a false sense of security, they will soon wake up. In the North, Lords Umber and his nuncles are gathering a second army, in the East we still have the Manderlys and soon the Bolton forces. In the west we have a strong garrison of Freys, Whents and Mallisters. In the east Lord Wyman has built up an impregnable defense line, sufficient to strand the Kingslayer's host south of the White Knife whilst we deal with Tarly, who is deep in our territory without a supply line or backups.' Robb pointed at a map on the wall. It was his custom to hang maps instead of tapestries.

'Manderly's cavalry will attack from the east first, catching Tarly unawares, forcing him to use all of his forces to defend the attack, freeing up the men of the Trident to join the attack from the west. Then I shall attack myself, with my own good Stark Men from the North, capturing and destroying the Reach host in a pincer movement. Then we concentrate our forces to deal with the Lannisters.'

The Blackfish was surprised. 'I did not know Manderly had so much men, Your Grace.'

'He was the first to retreat once Lord Tywin took Riverrun. He did not suffer much losses.'

Catelyn felt reassured. She was almost glad to know her son would be going to war, that he had a plan to drive the Lannisters out of the North.

Servants entered and cleared away the meal, scarcely touched.

'Your Grace!' at the moment Catelyn prepared to leave Lord Piper burst in, panting heavily. 'Your Grace… we've searched the castle, Your Grace. Theon Greyjoy is lost.'

'What do you mean, Theon is lost?' demanded Robb.

'He is nowhere to be found in Winterfell, Your Grace.'

'Then keep on searching! Maybe he is in a whorehouse somewhere outside.' Robb's rage started to come back again. 'If he chooses to flee at this time he is a deserter… a traitor! You bring me Theon Greyjoy, Greyjoy! Greyjoy, Greyjoy!' Robb smashed his fist against the table.

Her son sat down fuming, a fat drop of blood welling at his knuckles. 'You bring me Theon Greyjoy right now,' said Robb, slowly, 'and I will hold trial over him myself and ask him why. Before I cut his head off.'