Catelyn and Ser Rodrik are on the road back to Winterfell. It is raining heavily, and they decide to stay at an inn for the night. It is an inn Catelyn stayed at many times in her youth, run by a fat woman named Masha Heddle.¹ Lord Jason Mallister, his son Patrek, and a contingent of knights pass them on the road. Lord Jason is a bannerman to Catelyn's father, but he does not recognize her because she is so disheveled. They take rooms at the inn. Once in her room, Catelyn glances out at the crossroads and ponders what to do next. If she turns west, she can be at Riverrun quickly to warn Lord Hoster of the coming danger. She would take that course of action, except Hoster has been bedridden for two years. To the east, the road passes through the Mountains of the Moon to the Vale of Arryn and the Eyrie, where Lysa may have proof that could bring down House Lannister. That route is extremely dangerous, with both predators and hostile mountain clans blocking the way, and only well-armed parties have a chance of making the journey safely. Catelyn decides she must wait until she is back in the North and then send riders. She thinks of her father's bannermen, House Blackwood and House Bracken constantly in feud, Lady Shella Whent of Harrenhal, the last of her line,² and Lord Walder Frey, who has outlived seven wives. She wonders how many are truly loyal to Riverrun, as when Lord Hoster called the banners during Robert's Rebellion, House Darry, House Ryger, and House Mooton fought for House Targaryen and Lord Walder held back his strength until after the decisive battle on the Trident, leading Hoster to label him the Late Lord Frey.

Catelyn and Ser Rodrik return to the common room for dinner and decide to masqerade as father and daughter. A singer named Marillion strikes up a conversation with them. He asks who the greatest singer they know is, and when Rodrik answers Alia of Braavos, he claims he is far better. Just then, Tyrion enters with Jyck, Morrec, and Yoren and asks for rooms. He is not glancing in Catelyn's direction, but Marillion leaps up to get his attention, and Tyrion sees her and calls her by name. Catelyn gets up and turns to an older man in the service of House Whent³ and asks if he is loyal to Riverrun. He replies in the affirmative. Next, she turns to three men-at-arms of House Bracken⁴ and courts their loyalty as well. Finally she turns to a group of Frey men-at-arms and asks the same. When all is settled, she formally accusses Tyrion of conspiring to murder Bran and orders him seized in the name of King Robert.