"Mating fluid?"
Galon's eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed Cersei and Jaime's expressions change in an instant.
After Robert's reminder, Ned stepped forward and sniffed the scent himself. He then nodded grimly. "That is correct. It is indeed bodily fluid left after coupling."
His expression darkened with fury. "Who exactly was copulating in the broken tower? And why would they try to murder Bran?"
"Galon, Jon, did you discover anything else?"
At that moment, Jon blurted out, "Isn't it obvious? Bran must have seen someone coupling while climbing the tower."
"To keep Bran from talking, they pushed him off the tower!"
Bang!
Robb slammed his fist heavily onto the table.
Ned's gaze turned razor sharp as he once again ordered, "Theon, go summon Ser Rodrik.
I want a full account of where everyone in Winterfell was and what they were doing during the day."
Theon, who had only just regained his senses, dared not move. If Ser Rodrik truly investigated, he would almost certainly die.
Fortunately, Tyrion stepped forward at this moment and offered a different view.
"If that were the case, how do you explain the blood? Your Majesty, Lord Stark, surely the blood wasn't caused by friction during the act?"
Tyrion smacked his lips exaggeratedly. "That would have to be quite intense."
Robb, already furious, snapped coldly, "What are you implying?"
Tyrion glanced at Jaime and Cersei, then turned to Galon. "You said there were many bloodstains at the top of the broken tower?"
Galon's eyes flickered. Realizing Tyrion's intention, he cooperated smoothly.
"That's right. Most of the blood droplets were concentrated near the window at the top of the tower, but there were no signs of a fight."
Tyrion smiled. "Exactly."
Facing Robert and Ned's puzzled looks, he explained, "This tells us one thing. Bran knew the man and woman who were coupling."
"And they were very familiar with him."
A faint, unreadable smile appeared at the corner of Galon's lips as he continued, "Lord Tyrion means that because Bran knew them well, he had no guard up at all."
"When they suddenly attacked him, he had no time to react and could only bite or claw at them, leaving behind bloodstains."
Tyrion looked at Galon in surprise, unable to understand why he was helping him. Still, he followed along.
"Exactly.
I suspect Bran overheard something he should not have heard, which is why they decided to silence him."
"I believe that as long as Lord Stark checks who in Winterfell bears bite marks or scratch wounds today, the culprit will be revealed."
As he finished, Tyrion deliberately looked toward Jaime and Cersei.
Unexpectedly, both of them turned their gaze toward Theon, who was already near the doorway.
Galon noticed this and his smile deepened.
He no longer bothered to hide it and directly pointed the spear at Theon.
"There is something I've been curious about. Theon, what happened to your wrist? Why is it wrapped in bandages?"
Inside the great hall, all eyes focused on Theon's right wrist.
Theon froze in place.
"You were perfectly fine at the feast yesterday. Why are you bandaged today?
Surely you are not going to tell His Majesty and Lord Stark that you accidentally cut yourself?"
Theon's body trembled, cold sweat covering his forehead. "I… I…"
Robb had not suspected him at first, but seeing his stammering, doubt crept in. "Theon, did you go to the broken tower today?"
"I did not!" Pushed to the limit, Theon snapped back.
"Robb, we have grown up together for years. You don't trust me? You suspect me just because of this?"
Robb fell silent. The evidence before him truly could not conclusively prove that Theon was the culprit.
Theon pressed on. "I also see Bran as my own brother. How could I harm him?"
"And didn't you say it was a bite or scratch mark? Then look carefully. What kind of wound is this on my wrist?"
With that, Theon ripped off the bandage, revealing mangled flesh beneath.
It was neither a scratch nor a bite.
Robb and Jon's suspicions eased slightly.
At this moment, Theon finally realized that Galon had been deliberately pushing the blame onto him.
He glared venomously at Galon. "This Glover guy has only been in Winterfell for a few days, yet so many things have happened."
"And he keeps pouring dirty water on me. In my opinion, Bran's accident was caused by him!"
Ned naturally did not believe such angry words. After all, Galon had been with the hunting party the entire day.
Frowning deeply, Ned barked, "Enough!"
If this continued, it would only make a spectacle for the King and Queen.
But Galon had no intention of stopping halfway.
He examined the wound on Theon's wrist and suddenly said, "You've said so much, yet you still haven't explained how this wound was caused."
Theon was instantly speechless.
"The wound on your wrist is indeed not a scratch or a bite, but it is also not a clean blade cut.
Instead, it looks like the flesh was deliberately gouged with a dagger to conceal the original injury."
Robert and Ned were both seasoned warriors. They could tell at a glance whether a wound was genuine.
They exchanged a look, their suspicions growing heavier.
Robert slammed the table and roared, "Theon, where exactly were you during the day? Speak! Was it you who harmed Bran?"
"I did not!" Theon cried desperately. "I really didn't, Your Majesty!"
Galon gave him no room to breathe. "Then why did you tamper with the wound on your hand?"
"I didn't hide a bite mark!"
Galon laughed sharply. "How do you know it was a bite mark and not a scratch?"
"I don't know…"
"You don't know? Then why were you so certain it was a bite mark?"
"I… I…"
"In my view, you used a knife to kill Bran and then pushed him off the tower to create the illusion of a fall!"
Galon shouted loudly, "Look into my eyes and answer me!"
The rapid barrage of questions left Theon completely flustered.
Hearing this, he instinctively looked at Galon and blurted out, "Nonsense! I only pushed him down. I didn't stab him!"
In an instant, the great hall fell silent.
Everyone stared at Theon with different expressions.
"Your Majesty, Lord Stark, he has confessed!"
Galon smiled faintly, delivering the final verdict.
Ned's face twisted in pain.
For nine years, he had treated Theon as his own son. Never had he imagined that Theon would betray him and attempt to murder his child.
In that instant, Galon's words from when he first arrived in Winterfell echoed in Ned's mind.
'Ironborn are ironborn. Their nature never changes.'
Robert understood his friend well. Knowing Ned would never act dishonorably, he made the decision for him.
"Jaime, seize Theon and interrogate him thoroughly!"
"I want to know who gave him the audacity to murder the son of the Warden of the North!"
The killing intent in Jaime's eyes could no longer be restrained.
He knew that if Theon lived to be interrogated, everything about him and Cersei would be exposed.
Jaime strode forward, drawing his sword as he shouted:
"Theon, you attempted to murder the son of the Warden of the North, violated the laws of the realm, and defied the will of the gods. Your crime is unforgivable!"
Seeing Jaime approach with murderous intent, Theon stumbled back in terror. "Jaime… Ser Jaime…"
"You… you can't do this!"
"You promised…"
Jaime swung his sword, cutting him off mid-sentence.
As Theon dodged, Jaime feigned fury.
"You dare defy the King's command! Theon, in the name of the Kingsguard, I order you to surrender!"
But Theon saw the killing intent in Jaime's eyes. How could he possibly stand still?
As he dodged, he shouted in rage, "Jaime, you clearly—"
Before the words could leave his mouth, Jaime's eyes flashed coldly and he stepped forward, slashing Theon's throat in one swift motion.
Blood sprayed forth.
Gah—
Theon clutched his throat and slowly sank to his knees, bloody foam spilling from his lips.
"Promised me…"
He stared at Jaime with venomous hatred before collapsing to the ground, dead, his eyes full of resentment.
__________
Upto 20 chapters ahead on patreon :-
patreon.com/Xorath