`` if daemon had ridden over gwayne corbray ... if fireball had not been slain on the eve of battle ... if hightower and tarbeck and oakheart and butterwell had lent us their full strength instead of trying to keep one foot in each camp ... if manfred lothston had proved true instead of treacherous ... if storms had not delayed lord bracken 's sailing with the myrish crossbowmen ... if quickfinger had not been caught with the stolen dragon 's eggs ... so many if s , ser ... had any one come out differently , it could all have turned t'other way .