While the two girls in Summerhall Castle's Hall of Affairs were meticulously exposing Roose Bolton's abnormal behavior, two Lannister men were also discussing Roose Bolton in the Duskendale lord's study.
"That's how it happened." Although he had received some treatment and rest, Davos Lannister's condition was not very good; he had been hit in the head by a member of the Brave Companions during the ambush. There wasn't much of a problem at the time, but he fell into a coma on the way to Duskendale and only recovered recently. As soon as he recovered, he came here to report the events of the Battle of Harrenhal to Kevan.
Kevan heard this and couldn't help but complain, "I told you, those mercenaries are not trustworthy, but Tywin said we could use them as cannon fodder. Now something has finally gone wrong." Saying this, he looked at Davos, who had his head down, and said, "Get up, this is not your fault. You have done very well. It's already impressive that you managed to bring so many people back under those circumstances."
Hearing Kevan's praise, Davos hesitated slightly, wanting to say something, but then didn't speak.
"Is there anything you want to say?" Kevan asked, puzzled.
Davos thought for a moment and said, "I feel like Roose Bolton deliberately wanted to let us leave."
Kevan was startled and asked, "Why do you think that?"
"Actually, when Roose Bolton entered the castle, we hadn't had time to prepare for battle, but Roose Bolton didn't attack immediately. Instead, he gathered his army and only sent a force of less than a thousand men for a probing attack. This allowed us to annihilate that army of over a thousand men and eliminate the general named Tauha," Davos analyzed very seriously, "It was precisely because this general named Tauha was completely annihilated by us that the Northern army became apprehensive, which bought us time to retreat. Moreover, when we retreated, Roose Bolton did not attack us, nor did he even pursue us. Only the Brave Companions chased us out. At first, I just thought Roose Bolton had seen through my plan and knew I would set an ambush during the retreat, but now that I think about it carefully, it seems more like Roose Bolton never intended to pursue us from the beginning, letting us leave."
Kevan looked puzzled. If it was truly as Davos said, that Roose Bolton deliberately let them leave, then this matter was too strange. He couldn't figure out what Roose Bolton wanted to do for a while.
Davos suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "Oh, right! I think I saw Jaime."
Kevan exclaimed, "What? You saw Jaime? Where?"
"In Harrenhal, next to Roose Bolton." Davos recalled, "When I was retreating, I saw Jaime appear next to him. It seemed like Roose Bolton deliberately let me see him, not only having him stand at the front of the ranks but also intentionally holding a torch nearby."
Kevan also showed a thoughtful expression. Davos's words made him suddenly think of something.
Davos stood aside, watching Kevan fall into contemplation, and did not interrupt him again.
After a long while, Kevan slowly said, "I remember Tywin once said that we have a hidden ally in the North. Could this ally be Roose Bolton?"
"Ally?" Davos looked startled, his face showing doubt as he said, "If Roose Bolton is an ally, why did he attack Harrenhal?"
Faced with this question, Kevan also couldn't answer. Roose Bolton's actions in no way resembled those of an ally.
The best way to resolve this question was to ask Tywin, but Tywin's current location was very sensitive. Sending messengers or using raven mail was unreliable; if the letter fell into enemy hands, it could very likely expose their hidden ally and affect Tywin's overall plan. So, they could only speculate on their own for now.
However, the issue concerning Roose Bolton was quickly set aside by the two, as a more important matter lay before them: a battle report from King's Landing had just arrived in their hands.
"Since our forces have merged, with our current strength, we can march south to support King's Landing." Kevan handed the battle report from King's Landing to Davos and said, "King's Landing is nearing its limit."
Davos looked at the report and said, "Lord Kevan, how many men should we send? Who will lead them?"
Kevan thought for a moment and said, "You stay here to guard Duskendale, and I will go to King's Landing."
Davos frowned and said, "With Duskendale's defenses, if Roose Bolton and those fellows from Crab Claw Peninsula attack simultaneously…"
"Impossible." Kevan shook his head and said, "After Robb Stark declared himself King of the North, Stannis would absolutely not cooperate with him in any way, unless the people of Crab Claw Peninsula acted on their own."
Davos nodded upon hearing this. Everyone in the Seven Kingdoms knew how stubborn and rigid Stannis's personality was.
"In that case, I will go prepare and take over the city's defenses." As Davos turned to leave, he stopped again and said, "Lord Kevan, please take the Mountain with you this time! With his assistance…"
Before Davos could finish speaking, Kevan nodded and said, "I know. The Mountain will be with me, you don't need to worry." Then he said earnestly, "Although the Mountain is cruel in his actions, he is a good dog. You will have to face more people like the Mountain in the future. If you cannot adapt, it will be very difficult for you to take my place."
"My Lord, you…" Davos looked at Kevan in surprise.
Kevan waved his hand, like an elder, and said, "I will have to step down from this position sooner or later. Among the younger generation of the Lannister, your ability is the most outstanding, and you are the most likely to succeed me. So, from now on, you need to think about things from a higher position and no longer think like an ordinary knight."
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