Chapter 563: Strife within The Vale

Immediately, he burst into the tent of the Count of Rune Stone.

Inside, he found a muscular, still-vigorous Lord Yohn Royce, stripped bare, atop his own niece, Lysa Tully.

Lysa's dress was torn to shreds, her eyes red as though she'd just cried.

"Damn you, old cur!"

Seeing this, Brynden Tully's eyes flamed with anger. The restraint he'd practiced earlier shattered, and with a sharp sound, he drew his sword.

Equally shocked, Yohn Royce hadn't anticipated Brynden Tully's sudden intrusion into his tent.

In truth, Lysa hadn't been abducted by Yohn; she had come on her own. Lord Royce wouldn't be so foolish as to forcibly take Lady Lysa at such a time.

Furthermore, Lady Lysa had expressed her desire to find a guardian for her son, Robin Arryn. After much contemplation, she felt Lord Yohn Royce was the most trustworthy.

As the leader of the Alliance of the Righteous, wielding the mightiest army in the Vale, Yohn had no reason to doubt Lysa's decision. He genuinely felt he was her best choice.

He naively believed Lysa had chosen him, and as a result, was lured into her trap. One thing led to another, and they ended up together in bed.

But Yohn hadn't expected Brynden Tully to arrive at such a pivotal moment. Startled, he hastened to explain.

"Lord Brynden Tully, there's been a misunderstanding."

He felt like he'd been duped.

However, in his fury, Brynden could no longer hold back.

With a swift motion, the Blackfish plunged his sword into the heart of the Count of Rune Stone. Blood flowed immediately.

"You!"

Devoid of his enchanted bronze armor, Yohn Royce was defenseless against Brynden's blade.

His eyes widened, seemingly not expecting Brynden to actually strike.

"It was you."

As his life waned, Yohn finally realized something. Struggling, he turned his accusing gaze to Lysa, who was just beneath him moments ago.

He tried to utter some words, but blood choked his voice. The corpulent body, covered in chest hair, fell lifelessly onto the bed.

Brynden Tully, having acted in a fit of rage, seemed to regain his composure after delivering the fatal blow.

"Damn!"

He cursed under his breath. The damage was done; the man was dead by his hand.

Holding his blood-streaked sword, he looked at Yohn's bulky corpse and clenched his teeth.

"Lysa!"

"Quickly, get dressed!"

He hastily instructed his niece to dress, then rallied his men to fight their way out.

"Brothers, we must fight our way out!"

Although they were in the Vale's encampment, they were in the heart of the Rune Stone army, all of whom were foes.

Now, they had to carve a path of blood, rendezvous with their main forces, and then gather all the nobles of the Vale to explain the situation.

Brynden Tully's thoughts raced as he devised a plan.

Lysa, on the bed, scrambled to put on some clothing, trying to ignore the body beside her with its eyes still glaring accusingly.

However, their intrusion into the Count's tent had drawn attention.

The soldiers of Rune Stone quickly surrounded the tent. Brynden's men, visibly tense, drew their swords in readiness.

"Halt!"

They were outnumbered, and more Rune Stone soldiers kept arriving.

"What's happening?"

"Why the commotion?"

At that moment, the heir of Rune Stone, Andar Royce, Yohn's eldest son, rushed over. Seeing the crowd, he feared for his father's safety.

"Move!"

Andar, unsuspecting, pushed through the soldiers and entered the tent.

Inside, he found Brynden Tully with a bloodied sword, a barely clothed Lysa, and the ignoble corpse of his father.

"What...?"

It took a moment for the reality to sink in. Realization dawned, and with a mix of horror and rage, he drew his sword.

"Brynden Tully! You murdered my father?!"

But before any more could transpire, one of Brynden's men acted swiftly.

"Die!"

In a flash, the soldier beheaded Andar Royce.

His head rolled, blood spraying, staining the tent's canvas.

Lysa, unaccustomed to such brutality, screamed in terror.

The entire sequence was over in the blink of an eye.

With Brynden killing Yohn Royce and his soldier executing the heir, the encampment was in chaos.

"Revenge for our Lord!"

The Royce soldiers attacked, while Brynden's men defended fiercely.

Brynden's camp was not far, and as word spread, more soldiers from the Stormlands, unwilling to see their brethren bullied, joined the fray.

"Attack!"

The entire Vale encampment erupted into chaos, cries of battle echoing.