nashuaworldcup #340 - Chapter 74 The Road Home (Part 3)
#340 - Chapter 74 The Road Home (Part 3)
Immediately following, with a flick of her wrist, she swiftly thrust out two counter-attacks, striking both guards squarely on their shoulders. The guards stared at Arya, dumbfounded, clearly not expecting such formidable skill from the seemingly delicate girl.
"Amazing!" Nina couldn't help but exclaim.
Arya's lips curved into a faint smile. She then increased her speed, her swordsmanship becoming even more fierce and ruthless. Faced with this sudden change, the guards gradually lost their footing, unable to withstand Arya's airtight swordplay and forced to retreat.
Nina smiled, calmly picked up a shield and a longsword, and resolutely plunged into the fray. She fought alongside the other guards, launching a fierce attack on Arya, applying just enough pressure. In this tense and stimulating atmosphere, Arya gradually found her rhythm in battle.
After the training session, Arya and Nina sat down to rest. "That was wonderful! Arya, your swordsmanship has improved greatly," Nina praised.
"Thank you, Sister Nina," Arya smiled, "I will continue to work hard."
Nina: "Oh, right, I was interrupted earlier. I forgot to tell you, Rickon returned to the North seven days ago. After more than a year of recuperation, the North has gradually recovered from the wounds of war and regained some strength. Robb knows that the North cannot be allowed to fall into long-term turmoil. Therefore, he has summoned the Northern vassals, preparing to launch a decisive attack, targeting the Dreadfort. This formidable fortress has always been the Bolton family's base and the key to their control of the North. Robb is determined to completely eliminate the unstable elements in the North this year, wiping out the Bolton and Frey families in one fell swoop to restore peace and order to the North. Rickon responded to Robb's call, leading a thousand warriors to provide support. He should have passed the Neck by now..." Then Nina told Arya in detail about the Red Wedding and the feud between the Stark family and the Bolton and Frey families.
After listening, Arya's eyes became unusually firm, and she resolutely said, "Sister Nina, I must return to the North. I have been away from home for too long."
Nina could understand Arya's feelings at this moment, and she tried to persuade Arya to stay a little longer, to rest for a few days before making a decision: "You have only just returned here, and your body needs time to adjust. Why not rest well and adjust your condition before setting off?"
However, Arya had already made up her mind. She gripped the longbow in her hand tightly, her eyes fixed on the distant North, as if endless power was calling her: "My brothers are fighting bravely on the front lines. As a member of the Stark family, I have a responsibility to fight alongside them!" Her voice was full of determination and resolution, without the slightest hint of retreat.
Seeing this, Nina knew that she could not change Arya's decision, so she said, "At least wait until tomorrow to leave; you should rest for one night. I will give instructions to prepare what you need for the journey."
The next morning, at the first light of dawn, Arya resolutely refused the guards carefully arranged by Nina. Faced with this decision, Nina felt deeply helpless but firmly stated that she would silently support her in Highgarden. Thus, Arya resolutely embarked on her journey to the North alone, accompanied only by the loyal Nymeria.
Arya traveled north along the wide Kingsroad, riding her steed at lightning speed, while Nymeria followed closely behind, running like the wind. The giant wolf, as tall as a person, was a magnificent sight to behold, frightening passersby into scattering. However, when they noticed that Arya's attire clearly belonged to the noble class and that she had no malicious intent, they gradually calmed down. They regarded the giant wolf as merely a large hunting dog. Thus, Arya and her companion traveled on and off, and the scenery along the way changed like a scroll. However, once they crossed the line of Harrenhal, the road conditions suddenly became much worse.
After three days of arduous travel, Arya finally arrived at the crossroads of the Kingsroad, the River Road, and the Vale Road—the Inn at the Crossroads. She saw the flag fluttering above the inn from afar, and returning here gave her a sense of things having changed. Arya led her horse slowly into the inn, intending to rest and recuperate for a day before continuing her journey. She led her warhorse to the stables, gently patted its back, and skillfully tied the reins to the stable railing. Then, she took out a shiny silver coin from her pocket, tossed it to the groom, and instructed him to wash the horse's body well and feed it the best fodder.
Afterward, she turned and led Nymeria through the inn's doors. The originally noisy hall instantly fell silent, and everyone silently moved their feet, trying to stay away from her. The landlady, Jenny Heddle, leaned over tremulously, forcing a smile on her face.
"My lord, I am the owner of this inn. How may I help you?" Jenny's voice trembled slightly; in fact, she was almost crying with fear, but she dared not not come. Because noble lords were not to be trifled with, and Auntie Martha's experience was a living example.
Arya looked at the landlady expressionlessly and slammed five silver stags onto the table, making a crisp sound. "I want the best room you have. Clean the room spotless, and change the sheets and covers to new ones. Also, prepare a sumptuous dinner for me to enjoy later. And prepare a roast lamb for my wolf, rare."
Seeing the shiny silver coins, Jenny's eyes lit up, and her somewhat tired expression instantly became energetic: "Hehe, rest assured, I will arrange it for you right away. Our inn is the best on the Kingsroad." Jenny reached out her right hand and lightly swiped across the table, and the silver coins disappeared without a trace. Then, she turned her head and shouted loudly inside: "Mark! Willow! You two lazybones! Did you hear that? Hurry up and get to work! If you displease the noble lord, I won't spare you; I'll break your legs!"
In the room, Arya quickly sorted through her luggage, carefully checked everything, and made sure all the weapons were placed within easy reach. Then, she took out a map from her bag and studied it carefully to determine the next route.