Two days later, a force of about two hundred men returned to the Northern Camp.
When the Northern soldiers learned that they had breached the dam and flooded the area, they immediately gave Old York and the others a heroic reception.
"Well done, old knight!"
"Thanks to you all! And thanks to Lord Jon."
"You are excellent."
'Did that bastard's plan actually succeed?' Old York couldn't suppress the smile on his face as he accepted everyone's greetings.
Amidst his joy, he inquired about the day's battle situation.
The more he learned, the more alarmed he became!
What did it mean that Jon had to go to the battlefield even after losing?
What did it mean that Jon even led the routed soldiers in a counterattack!
What did you mean by wanting him to be the overall commander of the army!?
Ah!? He refused!
When he learned that Jon was still in the prisoner-of-war camp, he hurried over.
And at this moment, Jon truly found a treasure in the prisoner-of-war camp—Amory Locke.
Amory was a vassal of the Westerlands, and he committed an act that angered both gods and men when he followed Tywin into the Red Keep in King's Landing back then.
To curry favor with Tywin, he abused Princess Rhaenys, Rhaegar's daughter, who was less than six years old.
The princess's body was covered in blood, and Tywin had to wrap her in red cloth to present her to Robert.
And the mother of this Princess Rhaenys was Princess Elia of Dorne, the Red Viper's sister, and Prince Doran's younger sister.
Her fate was also tragic—she was raped and murdered by the Mountain.
The Martells of Dorne dreamed of getting the Mountain's head.
As for this Amory, he was naturally also on their 'head shopping list.'
Actually, Jon and that Princess Rhaenys were also half-siblings.
Catching Amory was truly an unexpected surprise.
With Amory, Jon could exchange some benefits with Dorne in the future.
Looking at this Amory, one has to say that his appearance was truly uncomplimentary.
His plump cheeks, short, thick neck, and a pair of piggish eyes were repulsive.
And his skin was deathly pale, making him look even more disgusting.
Amory felt that Jon's gaze towards him was a bit off.
But Jon's performance on the battlefield during the day had already terrified him, and coupled with the fact that he was a captive, he didn't dare to say much.
He forced a smile and said:
"My Lord, I am from the Locke family, and my family will soon redeem me with at least a thousand gold dragons, but your heroic bearing today is deeply etched in my mind, and I am willing to offer three... two thousand gold dragons."
However, Jon smiled and shook his head:
"No, Lord Locke, you are worth at least ten thousand gold dragons."
"Ten thousand... this..." Amory's face lost all color when he heard Jon's exorbitant demand.
He wasn't a great lord, so where would he get ten thousand gold dragons?
Just as he was about to say something more, Jon said to the attendant beside him:
"Someone, cut this fellow's right Achilles tendon and guard him well."
"Yes, my Lord!"
As soon as he heard that Jon was going to cut his Achilles tendon, Amory struggled madly.
If his Achilles tendon was cut, he would be no different from losing a leg.
He cried out in a hoarse voice:
"Lord! Lord! I'll pay! I'll pay ten thousand gold dragons!"
Amory twisted his fat body and cried, and the soldier who was about to go forward and cut his Achilles tendon looked back at Jon.
"Cut it!!"
Jon said sternly. Although the soldiers didn't know why Jon hated this fellow, they still complied.
With a scream, Amory was completely crippled.
And his fate also made more Westerland captives cower in fear.
The reason Jon wanted to cut his Achilles tendon was partly to collect some interest for little Rhaenys, but mainly to prevent this fellow from escaping.
Although the possibility was small, he still had to be careful.
This made him wonder, if Amory could be exchanged for ten thousand gold dragons with Dorne, what about the Mountain?
The Red Viper might even be willing to serve him in bed.
Just then, Old York arrived upon hearing the commotion.
Seeing Amory's bloody heel, he couldn't help but try to dissuade Jon:
"My Lord, Amory is a nobleman. If you do this, you will be looked down upon by the nobles of Seven Kingdoms.
How about this, since I'm almost sixty, just say I did it!"
Jon looked at Old York, whose attitude had changed dramatically, and knew what was going on in his heart.
"No need, I'm just seeking some justice for the innocent Princess Rhaenys.
It's not about position, I just simply detest this scumbag."
Learning that this Amory was the one who killed Princess Rhaenys, Old York said no more.
Instead, he praised Jon's strategy, broad-mindedness, and his character of hating evil as if it were his personal enemy.
Amidst his flattery, Jon came to the place where the Mountain Clans captives were held.
Unlike Amory, whom Jon personally sought out, the Mountain Clans captives proactively requested to see Jon.
Arriving at the place where the Mountain Clans captives were held, he saw a group of people deliberately forming a circle.
They used their bodies to create a relatively independent and private space for the person behind them.
There was nothing strange about this.
That person's status must be very high, perhaps a priest leader or someone of that sort.
"The person you want to see is here."
The soldier who brought Jon here announced loudly, and soon a strong woman in clothes sewn from animal skins walked out from behind the human wall.
She came before Jon and knelt down with a thud.
It should be noted that these people, known as uncivilized wildlings, disdained to submit to the mainstream rules of Westeros.
It seemed certain that she was pleading for something important.
"My Lord, our person is injured, and we hope you can save her." As she spoke, the human wall slightly parted, revealing a white-haired woman.
The woman's face was pale, indicating she had sustained a serious injury.
"Bring her over, let me see." Jon said.
"No, she can't move right now." The woman who had just spoken refused.
Jon approached the fence where they were held, and the soldiers behind him quickly warned: "Be careful, My Lord!"
Jon waved his hand, indicating it was fine, but the soldiers behind him already had their hands on their sword hilts.
Jon walked closer and was greatly surprised.
He had thought this should be an 'old priestess,' but he didn't expect the injured woman to look very young.
It seemed she had naturally white hair!
If she had better nutrition, she might even have silver hair.
Although not only Targaryens have silver hair in Westeros, whenever silver hair is mentioned, people first think of Targaryens.
But Jon really couldn't recall any records of a Targaryen member being abducted.
'Perhaps it's some kind of illness?'
Jon didn't think much of it and stepped forward to examine the woman, finding a terrifying sword wound on her back.
Although it hadn't damaged internal organs, the wound was difficult to stitch, and there was a risk of infection.
Coupled with excessive blood loss, he wasn't sure if she would make it.
Just as Jon was about to refuse, the woman suddenly said:
"If My Lord can heal her, we are willing to serve My Lord."
Jon shook his head and said: "It's not that I'm unwilling to save her, but I'm not confident I can." He then turned to leave.
But the speaking woman suddenly placed her hand at Jon's feet. Jon withdrew his foot, and she quickly touched Jon's toe again.
"As long as My Lord is willing to save her, whether she lives or not, we are willing to offer you a great gift! The whole world has already vanished..."
But unexpectedly, before the woman could finish speaking, the woman who was on the verge of death from excessive blood loss suddenly coughed lightly, desperately opening her eyes to signal her not to continue.
Such an action undoubtedly caught Jon's attention.
He ordered the soldiers to bring a stretcher and carry the woman on the ground away.
Soon, a maester skilled in trauma care came to treat her.
What good things could a Mountain Clans tribe have?
Jon thought, but there was no harm in trying.