Eagle of the Valley of Ice and Fire.

Chapter 335 Before the War
Black leaves were flying in the air and the pungent smell of smoke was close to his nose. Beric Dondarrion recognized that this was the burnt smell of cloth commonly used by soldiers. He was worried and his left hand unconsciously stroked the left mane of the warhorse under his crotch and held his breath.

The personal soldiers behind him all understood, and they all gripped the hilts of their swords tightly, looking around with sharp eyes. They stood still with their eyes rolling, and used their hands to soothe their horses, and the restless sounds subsided.

There was silence for a few moments, and then there were a few tremors in the distance. The cavalryman who had been sent out as a scout came galloping over, with dirt and dust flying around his horse's hooves. He quickly stood beside Beric Dondarrion and reported in a low voice, "There are unknown troops four miles to the south."

"Is there a golden spear emblem?" Berry asked.

The guard nodded and joined the team with his consent.

Bailey bent down and took his hands, and threw the heavy bag on the saddle to the ground. "Travel light and make sure you reach the military camp before them."

After a few shouts, the war horses raised their four hooves and headed straight to the north.

Dust rose, and the scorched infantry uniform fabric in the air was blown away by the wind, or stopped in place by the treetops, or spun in the air and disappeared. Half a while after Beric Dondarrion left, it came into the sight of the Golden Company's vanguard scouts.

"How far is it to Storm's End?" asked the leader.

The scout beside him replied: "It's only half an hour's journey."

The leading scout frowned and said, "It's too close. Captain, if you keep taking so long, I'm afraid you'll miss the opportunity to fight."

"I think the captain wants to attack the enemy at night, to take them by surprise, right?"

"Unexpected?" The leading scout shook his head. "I think Harry Strickland just wanted to have dinner at Storm's End. I'm afraid the enemy has already discovered our presence in Westeros." He patted the dust off his arm armor with disgust, tightened the rope a little more, and after feeling the fit between his arm and the arm armor, he said loudly, "You go back and report, and the rest of you follow me to continue."

"Yes Yes!"

After a few responses, the scout team split into two teams and went north and south respectively.

At this moment, outside Storm's End, the provocative frontier soldiers were still there, but the previously restless morale of the soldiers inside the castle gradually calmed down after Gilbert Farin's several countermeasures. He stood on the top of the city wall, looking at the frontier soldiers below the city. After a moment of silence, he said to the attendant beside him: "How long have these people been here?"

"I have been standing here since early morning." the servant replied.

Gilbert Farin raised the corner of his mouth and sneered: "Send them some water and food."

The city gate slowly opened, and several riders came running towards them, shouting. The frontier soldier who was in charge of provocation in front of the castle was stunned for a moment, then immediately took out his sword, pulled up his trousers, and ran towards his own camp as if his legs were running wild.

But it was obvious that the riders from Storm's End had no intention of doing this. Instead, they threw the black bread and water bags into the distance, turned their horses around and returned to the castle.

The border soldiers saw the riders throw away food and water, staring blankly at the ground, looking at the closed gate of Storm's End, and looking at each other in bewilderment. Gilbert looked at the border soldiers at the bottom of the castle, looking at their bewildered and embarrassed appearance, and his smile became more curved. He patted the heavy battlements of Storm's End and turned away.

Barristan's march was not fast, and even in the eyes of many Vale officers he seemed a little lazy. The camp had been stationed for two days, and this morning he gave the order to break camp, and only then began to march slowly at noon.

Harold Hutton thought that it would take at least another day for his two thousand cavalry to catch up with Barristan's ten thousand troops, but he did not expect them to catch up so quickly. He couldn't help feeling worried and went straight into the command tent of Ser Barristan Selmy.

"Ser Barristan," Harold Hatton bowed his head and saluted, "Isn't the march too slow? The soldiers on the border are still outside Storm's End, facing the danger of being attacked by two groups of troops. If we don't provide timely support, I'm afraid the battle at Storm's End will not be settled soon."

Harold looked young, having followed Artis Arryn in marches and battles for a long time. He had a strong and sturdy body, and golden hair and beard around his lips. It was obvious that he had hired a barber to trim his hair, which was exquisite and delicate. Most of the young knights in the Vale were like this, Barristan thought. But this was not strange. In the eyes of many lords, the army of the Vale had become a symbol of repeated victory, and victorious generals were usually full of vigor.

"Please take a seat," Barristan extended his hand, motioning Harold to take a seat. He stood up and pressed his scabbard against the map hanging beside him. "Storm's End has always been a solid rock firmly embedded in the cliffs of the Broken Ship Bay. Even if there are only a few dozen or a hundred people inside, it will not be taken down in a few days."

"Stannis," Harold said.

Barristan nodded. "Stannis did take Storm's End quickly, but only after he won the Battle of the Hills. He used the complex terrain of the Hills to divide the army of the Reach, and was able to defeat Renly's army of tens of thousands with a small force. This caused panic inside Storm's End, and led to the surrender of the city."

Harold said nothing, choosing to listen quietly.

"I have arranged to take the initiative. I have spread the word that I, Barristan, am old and frail. I fell ill while marching in the Kingswood, and the army is stuck at Hayhall." Barristan's old face became more serious. "Stannis used the hills to divide Renly's forces. If the Golden Company really has 10,000 elite soldiers as rumored, then this will be a tough battle."

Harold Hutton looked at Barristan's old face and felt quite surprised. He had only heard of "the Fearless" Barristan, the model of knights, and had never thought that Barristan would consider strategies before the battle. He thought that Barristan would choose to face the enemy openly.

Barristan's next words seemed to answer him: "Times are different now. Those who follow the way of chivalry are dying one by one, while those who will do anything to survive are thriving. The despicable are driving out the noble."

He placed his hand on the map and shouted, "Storm's End won't run away. I have arranged for the border camp to retreat to the depths of the hills. It would be best if we could lure these mercenaries out." Barristan's voice became sharp, his brows furrowed. "Storm's End will be ours sooner or later. It's just a matter of how much loss we suffer. It all depends on the commander."

The camp on the borderland quietly broke camp in the evening. After showing off their might outside Storm's End for an hour, Astan Selmy's cavalry quickly returned to the camp. After showing off their might for a while, they quickly lightened their load and headed further west.

As night fell, under the moonlight, Harry Strickland's Golden Company arrived at the foot of Storm's End.

Harry Strickland didn't look like a warrior at all. He was fat, had sparse hair, and his weapon was not an ordinary sword, but a Dothraki scimitar that was very inconsistent with his body shape.

He tilted his big round head upwards, blinked his light grey eyes, and waved his hand back, and the flags of the Golden Group stood up in unison, with torchbearers surrounding the flagpoles, the flames illuminating the emblem of the Golden Group's flag.

The gate of Storm's End slowly opened. Harry Strickland breathed a sigh of relief with satisfaction. He waved his hand, and rode his horse into the castle.

(End of this chapter)