Early the next morning, Gregor escorted Lord Tywin back to Casterly Rock.
Accompanying Lord Tywin were Lady Jeyne Westerling, Raff Clegane, and several dozen mounted men from Clegane's Keep.
After passing Casterly Rock, Lady Jeyne and her escort took the northern king's road toward Ashemark, where preparations were underway for a private family wedding to be held in ten days between her and Gregor Clegane.
With their departure, only three people remained at Gregor's side: the executioner Dunsen Clegane, the ever-loyal Polliver Clegane, and his adopted daughter, Julie Clegane.
Before Lord Tywin departed, Maester Harry released a raven at dawn, sending word to Bighead Chiswick in Lannisport. The message ordered him to return at once to Clegane's Keep with his fiercest and most fearless brothers, Gregor had something big planned.
Clegane's Keep lay very close to Lannisport, with the two lands sharing a border.
Chiswick, busy consolidating his old forces and absorbing smaller gangs and mercenary companies in the city, received the raven swiftly. Though illiterate, he had brothers who could read the message aloud.
Upon hearing the contents, Chiswick was overjoyed. Since pledging loyalty to Ser Gregor, he hadn't had the chance to prove himself. Though some of his former Bladewrath men had gone off to be pirates, their whereabouts on the Sunset Sea were still unknown, and Chiswick had yet to set sail to recruit them.
Now was his chance.
Ser Gregor had sent for him, personally, to return and take part in a great undertaking. Chiswick felt energy surge through his very toes, he was like a fully inflated ball, ready to burst with eagerness. He carefully selected seventeen of his toughest and bravest brothers, making a total of eighteen riders including himself, and galloped back to Clegane's Keep like a storm.
After lunch, Gregor set out with twenty-three riders. Each had two horses; Gregor rode with three. They took along old warhorse Thomasson and left the village under the joint stewardship of the witch, Lady Ellen, and Master Tobho Mott.
Satisfied, Gregor led his twenty-two men out of Clegane's Keep.
They took shortcuts, avoiding Casterly Rock, heading directly north at a rapid pace. In less than half an hour, they reached the River Road.
The River Road was the only highway connecting the Westerlands to the Riverlands to the east. As it entered the mountains near the edge of the Westerlands, it passed a famed stronghold, Golden Tooth, the region's sole fortified city bordering the east.
Gregor's first target was Golden Tooth.
But Golden Tooth was in a completely different direction from Ashemark, the seat of House Marbrand in the north.
What was the strategy here?
Though puzzled, none dared question Ser Gregor. They simply tightened their grips on the reins and rode harder.
Before setting out, all twenty-two men knew they were marching against House Marbrand of Ashemark. Lord Damon and his heir, Ser Addam, had dared to unite the northern lords into an alliance, seize lands from House Westerling, and openly defy the threat of war.
If it's war they want, then war they'll have.
Though Ser Gregor had said nothing when he heard the news, he was furious. To not deal with House Marbrand would be unlike the Mountain.
But could just twenty-two men really take on an alliance of over twenty northern noble houses? Especially when one of them was a young girl, Julie Clegane, and another an aging soldier like Thomasson?
Before setting out, even the fearless Chiswick and Dunsen had expressed doubts. Gregor had merely given them a cold glance and said:
"If you're afraid, stay behind."
That single sentence turned Chiswick's face crimson and left Dunsen burning with shame.
To be dismissed so casually by the Mountain, that was true humiliation.
Dunsen was used to it; he'd followed Gregor for years. But Chiswick was new, and Ser Gregor had personally summoned him for this mission, a rare chance to prove himself. For Gregor to tell him to stay behind before they even left, that cut deeper than any blade.
And in that moment, Chiswick finally understood: Gregor Clegane was a man apart.
All those local gang takeovers in the East, South, and North of the city? They were nothing in the eyes of the Mountain.
This was a man who dared challenge twenty noble houses with only twenty-two companions.
That sheer audacity won Chiswick's full respect. He and his death-defying brothers now followed Gregor without a word of protest, filled with reverence and resolve.
No one questioned the mission again.
By nightfall that same day, Gregor and his men had arrived at Golden Tooth, several hundred miles away.
It had been a hard ride. But the River Road was smooth and wide, and Gregor had kept a relentless pace. When the horses were tired, they were swapped. When the men grew hungry, they chewed dry bread in the saddle. When thirsty, they drank wine straight from the skin. Not once did they slow.
Under the dark sky, they finally reached the gates of Golden Tooth.
At the drawbridge, Gregor called out loudly for entry. The centurion on guard, recognizing his voice, was stunned and rushed to inform the lord of the castle, Lord Leo Lefford.
Lord Leo was just as surprised. Why had the fearsome Mountain suddenly come to Golden Tooth?
He dared not delay. Mounting his horse, he personally rode out to greet the visitor. Under the glow of countless torches, the drawbridge slowly lowered.
Gregor and his men entered the city, where Lord Leo met them with proper courtesy.
On the bridge, Gregor said, "My lord, prepare food, wine, and hot water. We're starving. Let us eat first, then we'll talk about business."
Dunsen, Julie, Thomasson, Chiswick, and the rest all let out a collective sigh of relief. So Gregor had planned this all along, to come to Golden Tooth and seek Lord Leo's support.
Every one of the twenty-two men quietly relaxed.
House Lefford was one of the four great houses of the Westerlands, and in terms of military strength and political clout, far surpassed House Marbrand of Ashemark.
Gregor was welcomed inside with full honors.
After feasting and a much-needed hot bath, Gregor addressed Lord Leo:
"My lord, in three days I am holding a family wedding at Ashemarkl. I came all this way, from the westernmost border to the eastern edge, to personally invite you to attend."
Lord Leo blinked in realization, then smiled. "If Ser Gregor has come all this way to sincerely invite me, I would be honored to celebrate with you. We'll leave first thing in the morning."
"No," Gregor said. "There's no time. I must leave tonight."
Lord Leo laughed. "Ser Gregor, you jest."
"I do not jest," Gregor replied, expression hard. "You won't need your guards, we'll be your escort. I swear on the honor of House Clegane and before the Seven, we will ensure your safety. My lord, please change into your riding clothes. Dunsen, Chiswick, what are you standing around for? Gear up. We are riding now."
To get from the eastern edge of the Westerlands at Golden Tooth to the northwestern coastal stronghold of Ashemark, they would have to pass through one major city, a crucial chokepoint:
House Marbrand's Ashemark.
Tomorrow night, Gregor would storm the high walls and heavy gates of Ashemark, with just twenty-two men!
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