At night, Robb personally escorted Bran back to his room to rest.
"You have magic! Osha was right, there really is magic! Look at them tonight, they almost pulled their hearts out and gave them to you!" Bran excitedly discussed everything that had just happened in the banquet hall.
Even Bran, a teenager, could see that after tonight, there was no longer any hint of defiance in the hearts of all the lords present, especially Greatjon, who had been the loudest; after Robb's display of power, his willingness to kneel before Robb's throne was identical to Maege of Bear Island.
"I bet if you told him to go to his death right now, he wouldn't even blink."
Robb brought Bran to his bedroom and affectionately patted his younger brother's head.
At this age, Bran was at the peak of his cuteness; anyone who saw him would say he was adorable.
"I won't send him to his death; he is a loyal subordinate."
Bran didn't care about any of that; his admiration for his brother had reached its peak: "You'll definitely rescue Father and my sister, right? And Arya, even though she always steals my thunder."
Robb shook his head: "I can't promise. You've met that false king Joffrey; he's actually a product of incest, and his personality is a bit abnormal.
I can't guarantee I can reach him and rescue Father before he goes mad."
Bran thought of Joffrey's arrogant and cowardly demeanor, and his newly settled heart became anxious again.
Robb looked at him: "Bran, are you a man?"
Bran glanced at his crippled legs: "I am, but they all say I..."
Robb interrupted Bran: "Listen, Bran.
If you lie in your bedroom your whole life, no one will ever talk about you, but can you lie in bed your whole life?
Other people's opinions don't matter, because their opinions will change with your performance.
When you act timid, they will look down on you; if you are self-reliant, others will admire you.
When I depart, only you and four-year-old Rickon will be left in Winterfell.
The Stark Family can rally the North with a single call, but there will also be those with ill intentions.
They will take this opportunity to attack Winterfell and the other lords who are helping us with all their might.
I will leave some men with you, and Maester Luwin will also help you.
You must learn to lead them and defend Winterfell in times of danger."
Bran listened to Robb's words and his spirits lifted slightly: "I can!"
Robb earnestly instructed: "No matter what happens, you must stay indoors and wait for my return."
"I will, even if they mock me, I will protect our home."
...
The next morning, Robb packed everything, said goodbye to Bran, and prepared to leave Winterfell, leading the army south.
Bran, who came to see him off, said worriedly: "Rickon wouldn't come to say goodbye to you; he's afraid you won't come back, just like Father."
Robb shook his head: "I will come back, and then I can teach you the magic you've always wanted to learn.
From what I've observed, you have great talent."
Bran's face lit up with joy: "Really?!"
Robb chuckled playfully: "Of course it's real.
You're not as good as Arya at riding, archery, or swordsmanship, and being a knight isn't that interesting, so why not learn some magic with me?"
Bran's face immediately fell, yet he felt an unexplainable, long-lost joy inside.
Not being able to compare to Arya was a constant source of teasing from his brothers, but ever since he was pushed from the tower by the Lannister and became crippled, his brothers and sisters had never said such things again.
Perhaps it was to spare his feelings, but that pity always made him want to cry at night.
Yet, Robb's current demeanor made him both angry and happy; it was truly strange.
Watching his brother Robb depart, Bran saw Grey Wind, agile and swift, running beside the warhorses.
At the very front of the procession, the grey and white banner of the Stark Family was held high, its standard fluttering in the wind.
Theon Greyjoy and Greatjon walked on either side of Robb.
Since last night, Greatjon had willingly become Robb's personal guard.
The remaining three thousand knights followed in two columns, their steel spearheads gleaming in the sunlight.
From this moment on, an elite force appeared on the King's Road.
The King's Road is a public thoroughfare that runs north and south through Westeros.
In an era of low productivity, a good road meant countless souls buried along it, so the entire continent of Westeros only had this one 'highway,' the King's Road.
The North is located in the northernmost part of the continent.
Because of its extremely harsh winter climate, it is difficult to attract outsiders, so although the North covers a vast area, almost one-third of the entire continent, its population is not that large.
The vast area also meant that Robb had a long journey to King's Landing.
Robb led his army slowly south.
Initially, the journey was relatively easy, but soon they entered areas with more swamps, and the pace of the march slowed down.
The soldiers were fine walking, but the logistical supplies simply couldn't move quickly through these swamps.
Wagons often got stuck in the mud, requiring several soldiers to lift them out.
To gather more information, Robb dispatched riders from House Cerwyn as scouts, sending out over a hundred men to collect intelligence along the way, recruit wandering knights who wished to join, and establish contact with the people of The Neck.
Advancing and gathering intelligence like this for several days, Robb led his army to one of the most important castles in the North—Kalin Bay.
Robb instructed Theon beside him: "Issue my military order: the army will rest here, and the leaders of each family are to come for a meeting tonight."
Kalin Bay is the strongest fortress in the North, not because of its grand and magnificent appearance, but because of its unique geographical advantages.
North of Kalin Bay is Winterfell, accessible by following the King's Road, which is largely unobstructed.
However, to its south lies a vast swamp.
This swamp is extremely dangerous, filled with mists and dense bushes, countless venomous insects and strange snakes, and the ground is all muddy.
Outsiders who enter get lost, and it's virtually impossible to send a large army through this treacherous terrain to attack Kalin Bay.
The castle in The Neck is called Greywater Watch, and its lord is Howland Reed, who is loyal to the North.
He and Ned are also brothers who have faced life and death together.
The inhabitants of Greywater Watch are the people of The Neck, whom Maester Luwin previously mentioned to Bran.
South of The Neck is the Riverlands, the territory of one of the other seven dukes, a fertile land.
Therefore, as long as Kalin Bay is defended, the North will always be invincible.
Before the meeting that night, the scouts who had been sent out in large numbers over the past few days all returned to Kalin Bay.
Robb received a lot of intelligence, but what they brought back was not good news.
Ser Jaime of the Lannister had charged with his army at Golden Tooth, defeating the Tully Family army of the Riverlands, and Lord Vance, a Riverlands lord, was killed in battle.