The Blackfish gave a sharp nod, adding a couple of sentences that felt like a punch to the gut.
"Look, Edmure couldn't say no to the local lords begging for help, so he let them go," Brynden growled. "But he doesn't get it, the more the enemy wants you to do something, the more you should do the opposite. Basic war 101."
He tapped a spot on the map near the Westerlands. "Anyway, I intercepted a raven. Tywin, that old fox, has Stafford Lannister training a whole new army of recruits back in the West. This is our shot. If we invade now, we can wipe them out while they're still green. After that, the Lannisters will be stuck playing defense while we hit them wherever we want."
The Blackfish went quiet, crossing his arms and looking at me. It was his way of saying, Your turn, kid. Don't waste my time.
I wasn't about to. I gave him a slow clap. "Solid plan. Seriously."
Then I looked at Robb. "But what's the end game, Your Majesty? Are you trying to play tag with Tywin in the Westerlands to keep him away from King's Landing? Or are you planning to use our speed to pull off a hit-and-run and lure him into a massive ambush near the Golden Tooth?"
Robb blinked, looking like he'd just been hit with a bucket of cold water. He stared at the map, clearly recalculating. "The first one," he said finally.
The Blackfish jumped in to clarify. "The idea is to let Tywin chase us. We lead him all the way to the coast, then we slip out through the Golden Road further south. We find some high ground, dig in, and wait. If he attacks, we crush him. If he doesn't, he has to sit there and watch his home burn while Stannis or Renly takes the Iron Throne in King's Landing."
I looked at both of them, keeping my face straight. "Okay, it sounds brilliant on paper. But since you asked for my advice, I'm gonna give it to you straight. And I need you both to let me finish before you get pissed off."
Robb nodded, his face serious. "Go ahead, Eddard. You've got the floor. My word on it."
At this point, Robb actually liked me. Toren died for him, my dad had stayed loyal despite his grief, and I'd just handed him a massive win at the camps. In his eyes, I was the ultimate "Ride or Die" cousin.
"Alright," I said, pointing to the river crossing near Riverrun. "I have no doubt we can get into the West. And I know Tywin the second he hears his home is in trouble, he's gonna haul ass back through the River Road toward the Golden Tooth. But have you thought about how Edmure and the other Riverlords are gonna react?"
Robb nodded quickly. "I have. I'll order my uncle to hold Riverrun and just stay out of the way. Let the Lannisters pass."
Exactly like the original story. He wasn't going to tell Edmure the full plan because he didn't think he had to.
I shook my head. "If that's the plan, it's gonna fail before it even starts."
The Blackfish looked like he was about to explode, but Robb held up a hand to stop him. He'd made a promise.
"Look," I continued, "I've been hanging around Riverrun. Your uncle Edmure is a nice guy. Honestly? He's too nice. He can't stand to see people suffer. When the siege was on, he stuffed the castle full of refugees he couldn't feed. He just let the Riverlords go back to their own lands to 'defend' them."
I looked the Blackfish dead in the eye. "With Edmure's personality, you think he's just gonna sit behind a wall and watch Tywin march past his front door? He's gonna think he's being a hero. He's gonna gather his men and pick a fight at the crossing to 'protect' the commoners."
"Are you done?" the Blackfish snapped, his voice tight with anger. "Eddard Karstark, you're talking about my nephew. Edmure swore an oath to Robb as his King. You think he's just gonna blow off a direct order because he feels bad for some peasants? Watch your mouth."
The Blackfish was a hard-ass. He was loyal, professional, and couldn't wrap his head around someone ignoring a strategic order for something as "small" as human emotion.
But Robb was different. He looked troubled. He understood because his own dad, Ned, had been the same way. Ned had died because he'd tried to be honorable and merciful in a city full of snakes.
"Ser Brynden, you might not get it, but think of it this way," I said, ignoring the old man's glare. "The Kingslayer humiliated Edmure. He beat him, captured him, and dragged him around in chains. For an heir to a Great House, that's a stain you need to wash off with blood. If Edmure sees Tywin marching past with half his army, and he thinks he can beat him and prove he's a 'real' commander... he's gonna take that shot. Every single time."
The Blackfish went silent. He knew I was right. He knew Edmure's ego was a factor even if he didn't want to admit it.
"So what do you suggest?" Robb asked.
"Take him with you," I said simply. "Take Edmure to the West. Or put Ser Brynden in charge of Riverrun while we're gone."
"I can't do that," the Blackfish sighed. "I won't undermine my nephew's authority like that unless it's a total emergency."
"We're in a war against the richest family in the world, Ser. It is an emergency," I retorted.
Robb suddenly straightened up, a look of pure confidence on his face. "You're right. Both of you. We need to change the plan."
"Change it?" the Blackfish and I said at the same time.
"Yeah," Robb said, his eyes bright. "The trap stays, but we're gonna do it differently. Eddard, you reminded me that we've still got Roose Bolton sitting up at Moat Cailin with over ten thousand men. If Tywin leaves Harrenhal, we don't need to defend the Moat anymore."
He pointed to the map, tracing a line from Harrenhal to the Golden Tooth. "Once we move into the West, we send word to Bolton. He moves his army south to The Twins, then down to Riverrun. We let Tywin march past, but we don't let him get away. We ambush him from both sides. We'll have thirty thousand men more than enough to crush the old lion once and for all."
I looked at the map, then at the "Young Wolf." He was fast, I'll give him that. He'd just integrated Bolton into the play like it was nothing. But internally, I was already thinking about Doren, the spy in my camp. Putting Roose Bolton in a position of power was like inviting a vampire to a blood drive.
"If the plan works, the war is basically over," Robb finished, looking at me for approval.
I nodded. "It's a much better play, Your Majesty. Let's just hope the Bolton army moves as fast as you think they do."