Chapter 182

Upon the road that ran from the Twins toward Riverrun a long column moved like a forest of horses, spears, banners and lances. Among them flew the moose of House Hornwood, the sunburst of House Karstark, the battle-axe of House Cerwyn, the mailed fist of House Glover… and, threaded through them all, the twin blue towers upon grey of House Frey. The white banners of House Stark were everywhere; they streamed and snapped from every staff. The grey direwolf seemed almost to leap upon the cloth.

After the alliance with House Frey of the Crossing, Robb Stark had drawn the cavalry from his main host. Leaving the foot behind, he took nearly nine-tenths of the horse and crossed the river southward—some four to five thousand riders. The remaining fourteen thousand men marched down the kingsroad under Lord Roose Bolton, their task to draw the eye of Tywin Lannister’s main strength.

Along the way south a scattering of Riverlands survivors, lesser lords and the men of House Mallister of Seagard had joined him. By now the elite cavalry under Robb’s command numbered more than six thousand.