Chapter Fifty-Seven
Riverrun. The Riverlands.
I now walked the halls of this large castle and centuries old castle, which was located in the central-western part of the Riverlands. It sat at the point where the Red Fork of the Trident River is joined by its major tributary, the Tumblestone River, which flowed out of the west. This might not seem important, but it was as it meant that Riverrun had a strategically important position.
In times of danger I knew that sluice gates could be opened to flood a channel cut to the west of the castle, turning Riverrun into an island. Its walls, that were damaged during our attack, along with its defences should have made taking his castle a rather costly affair in terms of lives. It would have if not for Imperial technology.
The childhood home of Catelyn Stark had fallen quickly before my might. Stone walls meant little to support craft that were armed with laser cannons and once a big enough hole was made in the walls it was just a matter of expending a premade bridge across the water. Lasers of smaller size had been able to handle any defender who did not surrender.
"We have Lord Tully, but I doubt he'd live long if we move him," reported an officer.
That wouldn't do, the man had a cell waiting for him in the Red Keep and trial before he was found guilty of treason against the Targaryens. He would die soon, but when it suited me.
"Have the best physicians tend to him" I ordered "I only need him alive long enough for the King to order his head removed".
At least we had his son Edmure Tully, or was it Edward?, it hardly mattered as the coward had thrown down his sword quickly enough. The dropped swords often found their way into the possession of members of the regiment as while they didn't need swords, if you didn't have one you weren't considered to be a proper member of the Thrax 2nd. I neither discouraged nor encouraged this practice as I knew it was important for the regiment to come up with their own traditions.
"There was little glory to be had here" another of the officers following me around stated "I hope the Vale will prove more of a challenge".
While the conquest of Riverrun, a castle that would soon be turned over to the new ruling family, was not one for the history books, I felt some pleasure in overseeing such a swift victory as while it had been somewhat bloody for the defenders there had been little in the way of losses for the Imperium. This was good yet it didn't make for a good entry in anyone's biography.
"Perhaps it will" was all I had to say on that matter" But first we need to clear out this castle and see to repairs".
It wouldn't do to install a new ruling family and leave them defenceless. So the walls would need to be repaired and I intended to leave them some guns so that they would have an easier time pacifying the Riverlands.
"I'll be returning to the capitol" I said.
The clean up and repair work would be better handled by others. I'd rather spend the night with the wife before I headed out to deal with The Vale.