Lord Auren and his retinue had just reached the border of the Clegane's Keep when they were halted by a squad of cavalry.
Leading them was a young woman clad in form-fitting leather armor. Except for key vital areas protected by iron plating, the rest of her armor was made of supple leather, allowing for greater ease of movement and a tighter fit.
The leather armor accentuated her agility, and her movements were clean and sharp. This specially designed armor was a gift from Gregor Clegane to his adopted daughter, Julie Clegane. By replacing heavier metal plates with leather, Gregor had reduced the armor's weight, enabling Julie to move more swiftly and unleash her full strength. Yet, the inclusion of iron at critical points still provided vital protection.
Julie was quite satisfied with the armor and, as a result, had grown even more respectful and loyal to her adoptive father. Although Gregor was known for his brutish and unreasonable nature, his meticulous attention to the details of her equipment touched her deeply. Even her biological father, Thomasson, had never shown her such thoughtful care in daily life.
"Lord Auren." said the young woman, sitting astride her horse, a short sword at her waist, a longbow on her back, and a full quiver of arrows at her hip. She made no move to step aside. "Are you just passing through, or do you have business with Ser Gregor Clegane?"
Julie had met many nobles while serving as part of Gregor's cavalry in Casterly Rock. The naval warship emblazoned on the visiting banner made it immediately clear to her who this man was, Lord Auren, a prominent figure in the Westerlands.
Her troops, arranged in a fan formation behind her, looked well-drilled. Their expressions were fierce, and they radiated an innate ferocity that couldn't be hidden. It was impressive, though also a bit rude, for them to block the road like this in front of a noble.
Lord Auren raised a hand to stop his soldiers from scolding the riders and said with a pleasant smile, "Young lady, you must be Julie Clegane?"
He had heard of her during her adoption ceremony in Casterly Rock, when conflict had erupted between Gregor and Ser Ado. The root cause? A mysterious adoptive daughter who had suddenly appeared, named Julie Clegane.
Lord Auren was a meticulous man, and he had remembered the name.
Julie, calm and composed, radiated a presence on par with any seasoned centurion. To her, life itself was a gift, something extra she'd been granted. After surviving the nightmare of Silver Mountain, her outlook had changed completely.
She responded coolly, "Yes, my lord."
"Julie Clegane, would you be so kind as to take me to your father, Ser Gregor Clegane?"
"Of course, my lord. Please allow me to send a rider ahead to inform my father of your arrival."
"By all means," said Lord Auren, smiling warmly.
Lord Auren showed none of the haughtiness expected of someone of his rank. He was courteous and approachable, displaying the manners of a man well-raised. Even when dealing with those of lower status, commoners included, he exuded a rare warmth. It was a quality seldom found among nobles.
Julie didn't respond verbally. She simply tilted her head slightly at a nearby rider, who immediately spurred his horse and galloped off.
Lord Auren noted these subtle gestures. These riders, who looked more like bandits than soldiers, clearly held deep respect for Julie. That wasn't surprising, she was, after all, Gregor's adopted daughter.
"This way, my lord." Julie said, tugging on her reins. The cavalry behind her parted in a clean, disciplined movement, opening a clear path forward.
The unit may have been small, but their coordination was impressive. Their discipline and uniformity were evident, though the lord wasn't particularly surprising.
Gregor's military discipline was legendary. This had already been demonstrated in Casterly Rock, where undisciplined thugs either straightened up under his command or ended up beaten to death. Under Gregor's rule, you either followed orders like a child or worked like an ox, or you died.
The only men who dared to serve under Gregor were those who couldn't escape conscription due to local law or criminals and fugitives from outside the territory. Because of territorial laws, Gregor couldn't recruit from outside his lands.
All lords sourced their soldiers from their own territories. If those populations were too small, they had to hire mercenaries, which was why mercenary bands flourished in this world.
Lord Auren's party moved forward. Behind him, aside from his soldiers and a few dozen guards, were two wagons carrying ten women. These women had been sent by Gregor to ten different taverns to teach the local chefs how to make noodles.
As they approached the newly built new Clegane's Keep, the outlines of the new houses became visible from afar. The construction was extensive. The tall, imposing sept was especially eye-catching, with a large seven-pointed star atop its tower, a symbol of the Faith of the Seven.
At the village entrance, the group was stopped again. This time, it was Dunsen, unmounted, with four guards of his own.
When a common soldier was promoted to knight by a lord, he was entitled to a personal guard, ranging from one to several men.
"My lord." said Dunsen loudly, "Ser Gregor's orders are that only you and your soldiers may enter the village. The rest must remain outside."
His hand rested on his sword hilt, his manner brusque and rude. His guards, emboldened by his position, wore smug, arrogant expressions.
Even the well-mannered lord found this hard to stomach. His face darkened, and he opened his mouth to rebuke the knight, only for Julie Clegane to step in.
"My lord." She said, "There's limited space in the village. The roads are narrow, and there are building materials everywhere. Please dismount and enter the village with your soldiers. The rest of your men can remain here and enjoy some refreshments. Don't worry, I'll have people see them. You there, start unloading the wagons and take the horses to be fed."
"Yes, my lady!"
Her riders dismounted in unison. The women in the wagons climbed down as well. Julie herself stepped forward and took the reins of the lord's horse.
Lord Auren swallowed his anger. He couldn't very well explAuren at someone who had handled the situation so tactfully, so he dismounted.
Dunsen's bluntness contrasted starkly with Julie's graceful diplomacy. If Raff had been here, he probably could've charmed Lord Auren off his horse with a few jokes. But Dunsen's sword was far sharper than his tongue.
In the past month, under the tutelage of young Lady Jeyne Westerling, Julie had learned much, noble etiquette, social decorum, and the art of conversation. She was a fast learner.
As he dismounted, Lord Auren grumbled, "Dunsen, even Lord Tywin doesn't make me dismount at Casterly Rock."
Dunsen replied stiffly, "My lord, I'm just following Ser Gregor's orders. What choice do I have?"
"Hmph."
With that, Lord Auren and four of his soldiers followed Dunsen into New Clegane's Keep.
Along the way, they passed rows of neatly built homes. Each house had tall gates and small windows. The massive stone courtyards were interspersed with stables, wells, and mills. The roads were laid out in a uniform grid, clearly the result of careful planning.
None of the architectural feats were surprising in and of themselves, this world had achieved great things in construction. But the fact that they were happening in Gregor Clegane's lands made the Lord Auren somewhat uneasy.
Midway through the village, a group approached from the opposite direction. Leading them was a towering figure, Gregor Clegane himself, who looked like a giant among men.
Flanking him were his future father-in-law, Gawen Westerling; his betrothed, Jeyne Westerling; Polliver; and his chief steward and record-keeper, among others.
Seeing Ser Gregor the Mountain come in person to welcome him instantly lifted the dark cloud over Lord Auren's mood.
⚔────────
Visit my Patreon for more: patreon.com/vynthor
Extra Content Already Available:
The Mountain of Ice and Fire (GOT) – 56 advanced chapters!
Naruto: I Am Nara Shikamaru – 30 advanced chapters!
One Piece: Summoner of the 3D Zone – 38 advanced chapters!
That's a total of 124 chapters ahead of public updates!
With your support, I release 10 chapters per fanfics every week, keeping the stories alive and growing.
Thank you so much for being part of this journey!