Chapter 422: Hard to Guard Against Hidden Arrows

How many truly listened to Tywin's explanation was uncertain, especially since the missing messengers couldn't stand up to vouch for him.

However, with a smattering of applause, Tywin managed to squeeze out the politically powerless commander of the Kingsguard and temporarily became the commander of the allied forces.

It seemed reasonable for the king's father-in-law to take over as the commander of the entire army in place of the injured and unconscious king.

After all, they were family, and the Kingsguard, no matter how loyal, were outsiders.

Thus, Tywin, leading the rear guard and the newly arrived reinforcements from the Westerlands, easily relieved Barristan Selmy of his duties.

The man had been commander for less than an hour before he was reduced to a high-ranking bodyguard once again.

Under the command of Duke Tywin, the allied forces returned to Riverrun to rest and recuperate. Soon, the cavalry of the Seven Kingdoms, returning from the front lines, brought good news.

The retreat of the White Walkers this time was thorough, and it seemed they wouldn't return for a while.

The maesters accompanying the army also noticed the change in temperature, predicting that winter had passed and a new spring had arrived. The last spring was the 'false spring' of the Conquest Year 281...

The retreat of the White Walkers was like the collapse of a mountain that had been pressing on everyone's hearts. The apocalyptic crisis was gone, the gloom overhead dispersed, and everyone felt their breathing become smoother.

Some even proposed holding a grand victory feast and tournament in Riverrun to celebrate this victorious moment.

After all, this was how it had been for many years. King Robert loved grand celebrations and was generous with his gold, and his vassals were willing to indulge him.

If King Robert hadn't been shot and fallen into a coma, perhaps he would have invited the Dothraki to join in a victory feast and tournament to commemorate their sincere feelings of fighting side by side.

After the two sides celebrated with wine and laughter, whether they would draw swords or sit down for talks would be a matter for later.

But defeating the White Walkers was certainly a joyous occasion worth a few drinks.

If King Robert hadn't fallen into a coma, given his temperament, such a thing might really have happened...

But unfortunately, there are no ifs in this world, and Robert still lay unconscious on his sickbed.

As the commander of the entire army, Tywin, with his meticulous green eyes, was strict in his command and hated drinking and revelry in the army.

Therefore, he harshly rebuked the fool who proposed this idea, and sternly told him that defeating the White Walkers did not mean complete victory, because they still had a more powerful enemy waiting for them.

Tywin's words were like a bucket of cold water poured on people's heads, completely sobering them from the joy of victory.

Who was the more powerful enemy?

Without Tywin explaining, everyone knew.

The enemy who could repel the Night King would naturally be a more powerful enemy, and he still had a large number of soldiers on the other side of the Narrow Sea who had not landed in Westeros.

However, although Tywin's words extinguished people's joy and made them tense again, overall, they were not as tense as when they faced the White Walkers.

Because no matter how terrifying Viserys and his Dothraki horsemen were, they were still humans. Since they were humans, they could communicate, unlike the White Walkers who didn't even give them a chance to negotiate.

If they really couldn't resist the Targaryen army swallowing Westeros in the future, they could simply surrender, which wouldn't be a psychological burden or affect their family's honor.

Moreover, the alliance and Viserys had not completely fallen out yet.

Therefore, although Tywin poured a bucket of cold water, the overall atmosphere of the alliance was still relaxed and active.

But among all the soldiers in Riverrun, there were two people who felt a bit worried.

One was Eddard Stark, Duke of Winterfell, and the other was Stannis Baratheon, the king's elder brother.

Both of them were in a difficult situation, holding the titles of Warden of the North and Duke of Dragonstone, but without any territory.

They had followed the Dothraki deep into enemy territory to fight the White Walkers, so they knew how terrifying Viserys's Dothraki horsemen were.

And they had witnessed the power of dragons up close, so they were worried about the future.

As long as they didn't fall out with Viserys, it was fine. But if they really fell out with Viserys, they feared they wouldn't stand a chance.

Moreover, after the two of them returned with their troops, they first went to see the unconscious Robert Baratheon. They were originally qualified to become the commander of the entire army.

One was the king's most trusted brother, the designated next Hand of the King, and the other was the king's own brother. They also had considerable support within the alliance.

But because of Robert's absence when he fell into a coma, they missed the best opportunity, allowing Tywin to take the position of commander, making it much harder to seize power.

At this moment.

The horn on the city wall of Riverrun suddenly sounded.

Woo——

The long and desolate horn sound quickly spread across the sky.

The soldiers of the alliance and the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms came out one after another. It turned out that the figures of the Dothraki army had appeared at the end of the horizon, so they sounded the horn.

Rumble——

The sound of horse hooves was thunderous, the ground trembled slightly, and the Dothraki army, which stretched as far as the eye could see, appeared in the soldiers' field of vision like a wind sweeping away the flying grass, and then arrived in front of them in the blink of an eye.

The Dothraki arrived under Riverrun, separated by the rushing river and the towering drawbridge.

Riverrun's stone arch bridge was protected by two castles, with towering walls, deep moats, and heavy oak and iron doors.

Viserys, still clad in Valyrian steel armor, rode a white horse at the front of the formation.

Then he reined in his horse and looked up at the city wall of Riverrun. He saw Tywin Lannister, Eddard Stark, Stannis, and others, but he didn't see Robert.

Viserys's brows furrowed slightly, then he asked, holding the reins with one hand at the foot of the city wall.

"Where's Robert?"

"Let him come out and see me."

However, at this moment, the sound of a giant crossbow being fired suddenly erupted from the city wall of Riverrun.

Bang——

A spear flew out at a tremendous speed, emitting a sharp whistling sound, aiming straight at Viserys, who was riding a white horse under the city wall.

And Viserys, under the city wall, raised an eyebrow, a faint purple light flickering in his eyes. He then swiftly drew Twilight from his waist and turned slightly towards the direction of the incoming spear.

Crack——

Then he split the incoming crossbow bolt

in two with a single stroke.

However, at this moment, a painful roar from a dragon came from the sky above.

Several dozen giant crossbow bolts were suddenly fired from the city wall of Riverrun, one of which hit Balerion in the chest, and dragon blood splattered on the ground.