Chapter 18. Toppling the Chessboard

"What brilliant swordsmanship, brave Young Wolf. May I test your skills?"

Jaime, who had been watching from the sidelines, grew angry seeing Joffrey humiliated. However, he smiled as he invited Robb to a sparring match.

"What's this? Kingslayer, do you plan to stab Robb in the back during the duel, just like you did to the Mad King? Hahaha!"

Before Robb could answer, Robert, standing on the second-floor balcony, shouted down to the training yard with laughter.

"Humph!"

Hearing that detestable voice, Jaime knew he couldn't avenge Joffrey for now. Without even glancing at Robert, he turned and left the training yard.

"Ned, it seems that filthy, piss-soaked King's Landing could only give me a useless fawn, while the cold Winterfell can raise a fierce wolf like yours."

Standing on the wooden balcony, Robert waved his hand at Robb and the others in the yard who were bowing to him. He then turned to Eddard, standing beside him, and said so.

Ned slightly lowered his head, replying sincerely, "Your Grace, only a ferocious wolf can better guard the North for us."

"Hahaha, you always know what to say!"

"I only speak the truth."

After Robert and Eddard left the wooden balcony, the Wolfguards in the yard finally erupted in laughter.

They continued discussing the farce they had just witnessed, with Robb occasionally joining in with a smile. Yet, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Owen, one of the captains of the Wolfguards, quietly leaving the training yard.

Later that evening, Owen came to Robb's chambers to report on Jaime's movements that day.

Robb smiled, offering a few words of encouragement, then instructed Owen to keep a distant watch on Jaime unless he approached the ruined tower. They didn't want to alert him unnecessarily.

After nodding in understanding, Owen bowed and took his leave.

Over the next 3 or 4 days, Robb and the others continued their daily training, but Joffrey was nowhere to be seen.

On the fifth day of the King's stay at Winterfell, Robert, who had been aimlessly wandering, drinking, or visiting prostitutes, began to grow restless.

Early that morning, he excitedly declared that he had heard of a direwolf sighting in the Wolfswood and insisted that Eddard accompany him.

He even said that if they couldn't find the direwolf, they would treat it as a hunting trip.

The nobles of the Seven Kingdoms all knew that ever since Robert had taken the throne, his only pleasures were drinking, hunting, and women.

Not wanting to dampen the King's mood, Eddard could only order the servants to prepare for the journey.

After hours of preparation, and with the sun high in the sky, Robert and Eddard finally set off from the Hunter's Gate on the western side of Winterfell, accompanied by their personal guards and a large retinue of servants.

As a member of the Kingsguards, Jaime was supposed to accompany the King on such excursions.

However, Cersei used the excuse of Joffrey's humiliating defeat in the swordplay against the Young Wolf to demand that Jaime stay behind to teach Joffrey swordsmanship.

Who knew whether Cersei wanted Jaime to teach Joffrey swordsmanship or to teach her some "swordsmanship" herself.

Robb stood nearby, watching Cersei's performance with a smile on his face, unable to help but admire her. Everything was going even more smoothly than he had anticipated!

***

As night deepened, most people had already fallen into a deep sleep.

"Ah!..."

On the walls of Winterfell's inner gate, a night watch soldier exhaled a cloud of white mist as he let out a long yawn.

Creak... creak...

From below the wall came the faint sound of a cart, growing louder.

Hearing the noise, the drowsy soldier quickly became alert, looking down to see a hooded driver steering a cart filled with barrel-like cargo, slowly approaching.

Surrounding the cart were several Wolfguards warriors, clad in armor bearing the sigil of the direwolf.

"Open the gate! Those are my things!"

Hearing a clear voice behind him, the gatekeeper soldier turned and immediately bowed before answering, "At once, Young Lord!"

Robb, accompanied by Theon and a few Wolfguards, smiled and nodded as the gatekeeper turned the winch, lowering the drawbridge with a loud creak.

"Thank you, you've worked hard!" Robb thanked the soldier before heading down from the wall.

"Young Lord!"

As the cart passed through the gate into the inner city, it met Robb, who had just descended from the wall. The driver quickly pulled down his hood, bowed, and greeted Robb.

"Sam, you've done an excellent job!"

Seeing Sam, who had clearly grown thinner but also more mature after more than half a month, Robb sincerely praised him.

"Thank you for the compliment, my Lord. It's an honor to serve you!"

Sam smiled slightly, pleased with the praise, and nodded in response.

"You didn't leave the cart during the journey, did you? Were there any problems along the way?"

Robb's gaze passed over Sam, focusing on the barrel-shaped cargo behind him.

When Sam heard Robb's inquiry about business, he immediately straightened up and said, "From the moment Lord Ramsay handed me this cargo, I haven't left its side. I checked it before entering the city, and there were absolutely no issues."

"Good! Theon, take them. Deliver it to the location as planned."

Seeing Sam handle things properly, Robb nodded and spoke.

"Yes!" Theon responded with a nod, but there was a hesitation on his face.

"Theon, there's no need to say anything else. Once everything is set up, send someone to notify me. When I give the signal, proceed as planned. Be careful!"

Robb noticed his expression and knew exactly what Theon wanted to say.

Waving his hand to stop him, Robb gave his final instructions and then turned toward the main gate of the keep.

Theon, seeing that Robb wasn't giving him any chance to argue, bit his lip and steeled himself. He led Sam and the Wolfguards around to the back of the keep.

After 10 minutes of slow travel, they arrived at the rear wall of the keep, where there was a spot marked with a white circle of paint.

Theon directed Sam and the Wolfguards to unload the barrel-shaped cargo near the white circle.

The Wolfguards, having been well-trained, followed orders without question, despite the cargo's pungent smell. They carried out the task without any unnecessary remarks.

Thud!

One of the barrels was dropped heavily by two Wolfguards, causing both Theon and Sam's faces to change. They shouted in unison, "Be careful!"

The two exchanged a glance, understanding that they both knew exactly what this cargo was.

It was Wildfire, acquired by Ramsay through a special channel.

***

Whistling a tune from a modern Earth song, Robb walked through the corridors of the keep, trying to use this distraction to ease the tension and frustration weighing on his mind.

Dacey, fully armed, emerged from the shadows of the corridor and approached Robb from behind, reporting in a low voice, "Lord Robb, Lady Catelyn and the other young lords and ladies have gone to sleep. There are guards stationed at their doors. Our people have switched out the guards in the guest rooms of the keep today. All the Lannisters are accounted for, and no one has left."

"Good. If the Wildfire doesn't finish off all the Lannisters, then we'll make sure to end their lives ourselves."

Robb fully trusted the six Wolfguards captains, whose loyalty had already been tested. He had informed them of this long-planned scheme three days in advance.

Although the captains didn't all agree with Robb's plan; Theon, for one, had repeatedly urged him to reconsider. In the end, they chose to help him see it through.

Yes, what Robb intended to do now was... flip the table!