Chapter 374

TYWIN LANNISTER POV

"About 300 scouts dead. And 200 more who deserted last night." Lord Rupert Falwell -who was the substitute of Lord Adamm Marband ever since he got an arrow to the head- said and he nodded.

After the first two days of harassing his men and scouts with the direwolves and Wyverns, most of the attackers had left and now only a few horse archers remained to harass them.

On one hand, he was happy that they would be able to get to the Golden Tooth without fully breaking apart. One the other hand, he couldn't help but feel that this was a trap of some kind and he was being lured in with the promise of victory that he would never achieve.

"How many deserters did our men managed to catch?" he asked.

"About 40 my lord." Lord Rupert replied.

"Good." He nodded "Take them up ahead and hang them through the trees. Once we start marching the men would see the fate of those that try to desert."

"It'll be done my lord." Lord Rupert said and then hesitated.

"What is it?" he asked.

"My lord… we've almost run out of food."

"Have our hunters found any game?" he asked.

"A little." The man replied "With the direwolves and most of the Horse riders gone, the men are able to go deeper into the forest but most of the animals have left the area. The little food we managed to scrounge up won't be enough for the men."

He thought about those words for a moment and then nodded "Take horses of the dead scouts. Butcher them and feed the men horse men."

The man grimaced at his words and he frowned.

"I know many men don't prefer horse meat. But we're only two days from the Tooth. Make do with it." He said.

The man nodded but didn't left the camp.

He was starting to get irritated by the timid personality of the man and was about to ask him to continue once again when he stopped and tried to listen.

It started small but soon enough he could hear the hoof beats of horses coming closer and closer.

Then the sound of fighting and slaughter entered the tent.

He frowned and quickly went out of the camp and get a proper look at the situation and snarled in anger when he saw that about 2500 Bolton cavalry was currently attacking his forces from the North side.

He did not understand the meaning of this surprise attack.

For one, it was done after dawn when his men had started to wake up so it was not a total surprise.

For two, the area they had attacked held no particular significance.

But then he saw the banner of Lord Bolton in the midst of the enemy cavalry and his eyes widened as he realized that this was his chance. His only chance to gain a victory against the Northerners.

If he captured Lord Bolton here, then he would be able to force the enemy forces in the Golden Tooth to not only give up all the gold they'd taken from Casterly Rock but also the other hostages they'd taken with them.

He gritted his teeth as he realized that this was most likely a bait meant for a trap of some kind. But he also knew that his chances of taking over Golden Tooth before the Northern and Vale army managed to catch up with him were practically none.

So with clenched fists he turned to Lord Rupert Falwell and said "Take all the cavalry we have. And chase after the enemy cavalry. I want him in my custody by afternoon."

"It'll be done my lord." Lord Rupert said and was about to leave when he continued.

"And Lord Rupert." The man turned to look at him "This is probably a bait and trap tactics. Be mindful."

Lord Rupert gave him a confident smile "Don't worry my lord. No trap will stop me from taking this Northern savage in custody today."

With that the man left on his horse and he was left wondering if he made a very bad decision.

He realized that he did. It was a gamble. And he had a lot riding on his attack and it's unlikely that he'll get another chance like this again.

He just hoped that his gamble pays off.