Facing Stole's questioning, Halson didn't panic at all. Staring straight into his eyes, he reiterated word for word, answering righteously:
"I said, don't let me see you bully Lady Stark again."
"You couldn't control your subordinate, Stole, so I handled him for you."
Hearing this, Stole's face turned livid instantly.
He glanced at the corpse of his subordinate lying on the ground with eyes wide open in death, then at Arya, who was covering her face and crying, her shoulders shaking constantly.
Stole knew too well what kind of virtue this guy usually had. It must be that this fool who couldn't control his lower body let lust rush to his head and caused big trouble!
"Damn it..."
Stole cursed inwardly, guessing seventy to eighty percent of the "truth."
However, being in the wrong was one thing, but Halson bypassing him, the captain, to kill someone directly was another.
This was tantamount to slapping him in the face publicly, severely challenging his authority. With so many eyes watching, if he, Harrag Stole, backed down now, how could he lead the team in the future?
Today he must teach Halson a lesson, even if just for show!
Schwing!
Having made up his mind, in front of all his subordinates, Stole immediately drew his longsword, pointing straight at Halson.
However, just then, Halson's companions also arrived. Seeing the tense atmosphere, they didn't hesitate to step forward quickly, standing with Halson, also pressing their sword hilts in confrontation.
The situation on the scene instantly turned into five against eight.
Even though Stole's side still had the numerical advantage, this advantage was now small enough to be almost negligible.
Moreover, Halson and his men were all well-known experts in Karhold. If they really fought, even if his side won, they would inevitably suffer heavy losses, outweighing the gains.
"Damn it, it's been over an hour, why hasn't Ragg come back yet!"
The situation before him made Stole feel very tricky. He couldn't help looking back towards the other end of the woods, an ominous premonition lingering in his heart.
The opponent's camp was at most one league away. Reasonably, they should have been back long ago!
After pondering for a long time, reason finally suppressed impulse.
Wait until Ragg brings his men back. When our strength has absolute advantage, it won't be too late to settle accounts with Halson!
Thinking this, Stole forcibly suppressed his anger and pointed grumpily at the darkness outside the camp, ordering Halson: "You, and your men, go replace Val and Ryan on night watch. From today until we return to Riverrun!"
This was meant as a punishment, as well as a disguised exile and marginalization, depriving them of the right to rest and move around in the center of the camp.
In Stole's view, this was the best way to demonstrate his authority without resorting to force.
"Fine!"
Sure enough, Halson was silent for a moment but still agreed.
After all, he also understood that executing a companion without authorization was a serious overstep.
However, just as he signaled his men to sheath their weapons and turned to leave.
"Woo... don't... don't leave me alone... please!"
"I want to go home..."
Under the tree trunk, Arya issued suppressed sobbing sounds at just the right time.
This sound accurately pierced the softest part of Halson's heart, like a noose firmly binding the honor he adhered to.
As if possessed, Halson turned back, meeting Arya's tearful eyes.
Boom!!!!
A rush of hot blood surged to his head.
That look, full of fear, pleading, and longing for home, made Halson throw all calculations and concerns to the back of his mind!
"I... want to take her away!"
Halson looked straight at Stole, speaking firmly in an unprecedented tone.
Hearing this, Stole froze for a moment, almost thinking he misheard: "What did you say?"
"I said." In front of everyone, Halson straightened his back, declaring loudly: "I want to take Lady Stark back to the North, back to her home, Winterfell!"
"Fuck you!"
This righteous appearance made Stole jump in anger.
He pointed north, roaring loudly: "Has your brain been squeezed by a door, Halson!"
"Don't forget, Moat Cailin is still in the hands of those bastards!"
"We can take a ship!"
Facing Stole's rebuke, Halson didn't back down at all: "Landing at White Harbor or Widow's Watch, any way will do. In short, I can no longer stand by!"
"As a soldier sworn to the North, protecting members of House Stark is my duty and honor!"
"Honor my ass!!"
Looking at this incredibly stubborn, brain-dead guy, Stole cursed foully: "You're amazing, you're high and mighty!"
"You're the only one sticking to honor, and we're all villains, right?"
"Don't forget Earl Rickard hasn't been avenged yet! That kinslayer Robb Stark must pay the price!"
Halson gripped his sword hilt tightly: "Revenge is a man's business, it has nothing to do with a little girl!"
"Anyway, your goal is just Gold Dragons, isn't it?"
As soon as these words came out, Stole was choked speechless for a long while.
Seeing him like this, Halson immediately pointed to the figure swinging back and forth on the tree nearby: "Leave that Hound to you, dispose of him as you wish. I don't want a single copper!"
"My request is only to take Lady Stark away, that's all!"
With that, Halson ignored him, turned his head, and signaled one of his subordinates: "Untie her!"
The soldier didn't hesitate, stepping forward immediately, taking out a dagger to cut the ropes on Arya.
This decisive action made Stole's eyes crack with rage.
He could endure no longer. Halson was clearly forcibly snatching the prisoner!
If he let him succeed, where would his face as captain be?
Would this mean anyone could leave whenever they wanted in the future!
"Stop him!"
Stole roared. Several subordinates drew their swords one after another.
Just at this tense moment.
"Enemy attack!!!"
From the periphery of the camp, the hurried alarmed cry of a night watch soldier suddenly came!
Immediately after, there were a few short wails of pain, and the sound of heavy objects falling to the ground!
Before Stole and Halson could react, chaotic roars suddenly erupted around the camp: "For Lady Stark!"
"Kill them all!"
This sudden commotion made Stole's brain buzz instantly. He jerked his head back, locking his gaze dead on Halson. For a moment, all suspicions instantly found the "truth"!
"You traitor!"
"You led the enemy here!"
Stole roared angrily, swinging the longsword in his hand directly at Halson who was close at hand!
Clang!
Halson hurriedly raised his sword to block. The two blades clashed fiercely, sparks flying!
With the two leaders starting their match, the two groups of men also immediately joined the melee. The entire camp instantly fell into chaos.
For a time, the clanging sounds of weapons echoed constantly in the woods.
The shouts of killing from the periphery continued. People fought and scattered. Soon, after leaving three corpses behind, the battlefield shifted elsewhere, leaving only Arya alone on the scene.
"Haha... Hahahaha!!!!"
Perhaps because life had been too repressive these days, looking at the bloody corpses in front of her, Arya was stunned for a moment, then actually started laughing out loud!
But just as she laughed more and more triumphantly, a voice suddenly came to her ears.
"I have to say, cunning little she-wolf."
"Your growth has exceeded my imagination."
Arya trembled all over. Turning around, under the illumination of the bonfire, half of a face burned twisted like maggots came into view!