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"He will pay for his arrogance," Stannis growled on the way back to Storm's End, his anger barely contained.
Cole unfastened the buckle of his armor, removed the stag-horned helmet from his waist, and took a deep breath of fresh air, savoring the crisp scent of grass.
"Your Majesty, there's no need to be angered by this," he said calmly. "An arrogant and overconfident opponent is far easier to defeat than a cautious and cunning one."
"You… you are Cole!?" Catelyn Stark suddenly exclaimed from behind them.
Cole turned, a slight smile on his lips. "It's been a long time, Lady Stark."
"If you're not Lannister's man, then how…?" She hesitated, then rephrased, "Why are you here?"
"It's a long story, my lady. His Majesty saved me, and now I serve him."
Harris Moran, the knight accompanying Catelyn, also recognized Cole. His shock ran even deeper than hers. He vaguely recalled the first time he had seen this man—back in Winterfell. The second time had been on the battlefield of the Trident.
Now, looking at the silver armor Cole wore, Harris couldn't help but wonder—just what had this man been through?
Storm's End – The War Council
Upon their return to Storm's End, Stannis wasted no time convening a war council. He declared that they would use Storm's End as a defensive stronghold.
Axell Florent was tasked with leading the fleet to intercept the enemy at Shipbreaker Bay. Lord Velaryon was assigned to oversee supply transport, while Stannis himself would command the defense of Storm's End.
However, Lord Velaryon did not take kindly to his repeated reassignment to supply duty. He argued that his fleet should take part in the battle and subtly hinted that if denied, he might withdraw his forces entirely and return to Driftmark. Unwilling to risk losing him, Stannis reassigned the responsibility to Lord Celtigar instead.
During the meeting, many lords and knights noticed that Ser Cole Julius had not been given a command. Even the city defense, which had been previously entrusted to another, was now revoked by Stannis.
Some among them exchanged smug glances, quietly gloating.
Yet, the Silver Knight sat motionless, his face impassive, offering no complaints or suggestions.
The Queen's Party
After the council adjourned, Cole retreated to the study, but he was not alone for long. Soon, Melisandre, the red priestess, entered, followed by Axell Florent and several other key figures—most of them members of the Queen's Party.
Save for Maester Pylos and Cole himself, nearly everyone present was aligned with Queen Selyse.
Melisandre stood gracefully, her red robes flowing. "My lords, dark forces stir, and the Long Night approaches. Only the Lord of Light can bring salvation. Only Azor Ahai Reborn can lead us out of the darkness. The war ahead is not just for thrones—it is for the very fate of the world."
She scanned the room, her intense gaze settling on Cole. The other lords followed suit, watching him expectantly.
Damn. Why is she looking at me? Cole felt a tingling sensation run down his spine, as though the red priestess could peer directly into his soul.
Turning away from her, he addressed Stannis instead. "Your Majesty, according to the reports I've received, Renly's army is moving fast. Their supply lines are in the rear. If we strike at them in the King's Forest and along Rose Road, we could cripple their logistics."
Stannis nodded. "That was my thought as well. I will give you a thousand cavalry and send Durran Bar Emmon with you." He did not ask—it was an order.
Cole hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, Your Majesty. I will do my best to harass their supply lines."
As he left the study, he sighed. He would have preferred to sow chaos behind enemy lines on his own terms, but someone had to do it.
Preparing for War
Back in his tower, Cole wasted no time. He summoned Camillo, his trusted aide, instructing him to gather men and prepare. They had to leave before Renly's army arrived—preferably under the cover of night.
He had only fifty cavalrymen under his direct command. The thousand he'd been given were an unknown factor. If they were mostly sellswords, morale could crumble at the first sign of trouble, leading to desertions—or worse, outright surrender.
Before he could seek out Durran Bar Emmon, the young noble came bursting into his tower, grinning excitedly.
Cole poured him a glass of wine, watching as the boy downed it in one gulp. With his short neck and plump frame, it barely seemed as though he had swallowed at all.
Can I really rely on this man for guerrilla warfare? Cole thought grimly.
"Ser Cole, when do we set out?" Durran asked eagerly, his enthusiasm making it seem as though they were heading on a grand hunt rather than into battle.
"My lord," Cole said, taking a slow sip of his own drink, "do you understand what we are about to do?"
"Of course! I have three hundred cavalry and eleven sworn knights under my command. I will support you fully. I know I am young and inexperienced, but I remember my family's words."
Cole observed him closely. The young lord had already donned his armor and looked restless, eager to depart.
"We still need to make preparations, my lord," Cole said, keeping his tone measured.
The Cavalry Regiment
At the parade ground, Cole inspected the thousand cavalrymen assigned to him.
Four hundred were Stannis's personal troops—disciplined and battle-hardened. Two hundred were knights leading their own retainers, sworn to their lords. The final two hundred were well-equipped but independent sellswords.
It was more than the king had initially promised. If Stannis was planning to stake everything on this force, then it meant he was truly betting on Cole's success.
Does he really think I can lead this force to defeat Renly's sixty thousand men?
The knight leading Stannis's personal cavalry was Ser Geoffrey Florent, a member of the queen's family.
"Ser Julius," Geoffrey greeted him with a respectful nod.
Cole returned the gesture before turning his attention back to the cavalry regiment.
This was not a force that could simply be set loose on horseback. Logistics had to be handled. Tasks had to be assigned. The road ahead would be long and filled with uncertainty.
And war was coming.
The free riders were placed under the command of his deputy, Camillo, along with twenty of Cole's personal guards. Each guard was assigned to lead a team of ten men, setting off first as scouts.
Cole spread out the map. The scouts would take two routes—one through the Royal Forest and the other through the Dornish Mountains. Their mission was to survey the terrain, and both groups were to rendezvous at the junction of the Wend and Lhazareen Rivers.
Cole himself led Bar Amon and 700 men from the King's personal army as the central force. The logistics were entrusted to the rotund Earl Durran, who, along with his sworn knights, 200 noble cavalry, and the support personnel, would establish supply stations in the Dornish Mountains.
The White Dragon had already identified several ideal locations for these logistical hubs.
With a total of 700 cavalry and 500 logistics personnel, preparations were underway. But before launching the attack, Cole requested an audience with Stannis. He proposed forming an alliance with the North and Dorne. The Reach was vulnerable—if Dorne acted, it could force a strategic shift, drawing Renly's forces away from Storm's End.
Eddard Stark, however, was in poor health. Though he had endured the hardships of exile, he now lay bedridden, fading in and out of consciousness. A troubling sign.
As for Dorne, its hatred for House Baratheon was deep-rooted—Prince Oberyn and others still held Robert responsible for Elia Martell's death. But Lannister diplomacy had softened tensions by offering a princess, instantly improving relations. Of course, this didn't mean Dorne had forgotten the past. Prince Doran was a master of patience, waiting for the right moment to act.
The Cavalry's Advance
Cole led his cavalry out of Storm's End, José riding beside him. The young man had proven himself in battle and earned a promotion under Cole's command.
Shortly after departing, Cole's forces ambushed and eliminated three groups of enemy scouts—spotted from above by the White Dragon. But the dragon's aerial surveillance had limits; it was unclear if some scouts had slipped past undetected.
The cavalry moved with remarkable speed. By the time the enemy scouts could warn Renly, the tracks had already vanished.
In a single day, they crossed the Royal Forest and reached Greendale, where the Medou family ruled. Baron Elwood Medou, once a deputy commander of Storm's End, had swiftly bent the knee to Stannis after Ser Cortnay Penrose's death. Now, he answered to Cole.
The castle straddled a bridge over the Lambrun River. Cole wasted no time seizing control of its defenses. Before Bitterbridge's garrison could react, he stationed his troops there and used the White Dragon to monitor enemy movements.
Over the past two months, the dragon had grown stronger—its wings broader, its scales harder—and it could now fly higher, providing an even greater strategic advantage.
To ensure supplies, Cole ordered Greendale's garrison to gather food and forage, stripping the castle of its resources. Baron Medou was visibly displeased, but Cole could not risk betrayal should the baron waver upon seeing Renly's army.
Renly's Movements
With Stannis unwilling to meet him in battle, Renly swiftly ordered the Bitterbridge garrison to march on Storm's End. He personally led a vanguard of 20,000 men—mostly cavalry—toward Bronzegate.
Meanwhile, 40,000 troops remained stationed at Bitterbridge, primarily infantry and logistical support. Though outnumbered, the real combat strength lay in the vanguard.
Against poorly armed infantry—many of whom were little more than peasant levies with pitchforks—armored cavalry would be devastating. Unlike the armored foot soldiers seen in games, equipping a medieval army was a costly endeavor. Even within Renly's host, only about a thousand knights bore full plate armor. Stannis had fewer than 300 armored cavalry, most of whom were now under Cole's command.
Settled in Greendale, Cole seemingly ignored the larger war outside, occasionally dispatching riders to intercept enemy scouts.
Back in Storm's End, his absence had not gone unnoticed. Many cursed his name—Renly's forces were freely cutting trees, building siege equipment, and preparing for an assault without interference.
The Supply Convoy
As the walls of Storm's End braced for battle, a massive supply convoy—nearly 10,000 strong—began its journey north along Rose Road. The first wagons reached the midstream of the Lambrun River while the last ones were only just departing Bitterbridge.
Several convoys had already passed through under heavy escort, safely reaching Bronzegate.
High above, a pair of sharp eyes tracked their movements. And in Greendale, a silver-haired figure leaned over a map, marking several crosses along the supply line.