King's Landing, Hook Alley, afternoon.
As Green entered the courtyard with Mondon and Angai, he encountered a young man of average height but very sturdy, clad in a blue robe.
Upon seeing Green, the blue-robed young man excitedly stepped forward and knelt on one knee: "Lord Green, your loyal Matier Baker greets you."
Signaling Matier Baker to rise, a smile appeared on Green's face: "Matier, are you able to go out now?"
The 22-year-old Matier scratched the back of his head sheepishly: "I finally have a son. My father has been in the Old Territory, and his return date is unknown. I couldn't wait. I asked Herschel the butler to put me on a merchant ship, and I came here following the address Herschel the butler gave me. I just arrived."
Matier Baker is the legitimate eldest son of Mason Baker, a sworn sword of Kleber. The Mason Baker family has an unbreakable rule: the eldest son cannot participate in war or travel far until he has fathered a son.
It is rumored that this rule was specifically set by Kleber's ancestors for the families of their sworn swords. Pel Pili's family, also sworn swords of Kleber, has the exact same rule.
Under Ser Mason's arrangement, Matier, who married at fifteen, to fulfill his family's task and, more importantly, for his freedom, toiled for seven consecutive years.
Green could well understand Matier's impatience to leave home as soon as his son was born. Kleber's ancestors did a splendid job!
Green patted Matier's solid shoulder: "Welcome, Matier. From now on, you are my squire, responsible for caring for my mount and keeping my bow and arrows."
Suppressing his excitement, Matier knelt on one knee again: "I swear, following the generations-old tradition of the Baker family, I will always be loyal to you, until death, I swear by the new and old gods."
Following Kleber's tradition, Green rested his hands on his sword, his steady voice carrying a hint of solemnity: "By my hearth, there will always be a place for you, and on my table, there will always be meat and wine for you. I swear by the new and old gods."
...
Angai watched enviously and quietly asked Mondon: "Have you sworn allegiance to Lord Green?"
Mondon blinked his large eyes, which lacked the light of wisdom: "No, why? Haven't you read the Lord's military regulations? Unless there are special circumstances, only after serving the Lord for three years, and based on past merits, is one qualified to swear allegiance to the Lord individually. I'm not in a hurry."
Angai scratched his head sheepishly: "I'm not very literate… Huh, you're literate?"
The simple Mondon was a little proud: "My mother taught me. If I didn't learn, she wouldn't let me eat my fill."
Angai's expression darkened for a moment but quickly returned to normal: "What are those special circumstances?"
Mondon replied simply: "Like him? Like Matier's family, they have been loyal to the Lord's family for hundreds of years, ever since their ancestors."
Hundreds of years? I really can't compare to that. Angai's spirits instantly plummeted.
Mondon comforted him: "The most important thing for the first three years is obedience, obeying every command of the Lord. It's just listening, I think that's too simple."
When Mondon was young, if he didn't listen to his mother, he would go hungry. For Mondon, the word 'obedience' was too familiar and even felt endearing.
Mondon continued: "After three years, you'll be qualified to swear allegiance to the Lord. After swearing allegiance, if you achieve great merits in the future, the Lord might even knight you. I specifically asked, even bastards can be knighted. I'll also have a chance to become a knight, hehe!"
In Mondon's words, Angai saw a very clear path to advancement.
I can also be knighted? The despondent Angai instantly regained his full vigor.
"Oh, right..."
Mondon suddenly remembered something and added: "I remembered another special circumstance: Aimu Pa Ruo, the commander of the Thorn Legion, Aimu Pa Ruo, she swore allegiance on the very first day."
Angai's interest greatly increased: "From the name, she's a woman? How did she do it?"
Mondon had a simple expression: "She's very strong. Everyone says she's amazing, the best female general in the territory."
Angai suddenly asked, as if he remembered something: "Are all the women in Whispering City so powerful?"
Mondon, who had an almost animal-like intuition, played a little trick when answering Angai: "Some people are more special?"
Right, it's normal for a small number of women to be special. Angai nodded in agreement.
The women of Whispering City, well, the spearwives, they're just a bit strong, a bit fierce, a bit ruthless, other than not losing to men in a fight, everything else is pretty good!
Mondon, who usually had a simple expression, also nodded vigorously with Angai.
Mondon felt he should change the subject: "Angai, you're very skilled. Don't be impatient, you'll also have a chance."
Angai expressed his gratitude: "Mondon, I will. I didn't expect you to know so much. I'll have to ask you for more advice in the future."
Mondon chuckled simply: "My hearing has been very good since I was little. I can hear a lot of things people talk about when they eat."
Angai first had an expression of 'you're amazing', then said: "You have to teach me to read. From now on, all my wine is yours."
Mondon shook his big head: "It's okay, I like working with you. I'm happy to help you. You like wine, you don't need to share it with me. Being literate means you can memorize the Lord's military regulations, that's really important."
A certain flower bloomed between Mondon and Angai.
Cough, the flower of friendship!
...
Matier, leading Green's mount, hesitated for a long while before speaking to Green: "My Lord, do you remember that merchant, Jeffries?"
Jeffries was a moderately successful merchant who owned two 100-foot (a little over 30 meters) flat-bottomed sailing ships. He mainly engaged in trade along Blackwater Bay and had several leather transactions with Whispering City.
Green had traveled from Mermaid Port to King's Landing on Jeffries' merchant ship.
The expensive ticket left a deep impression on Green, and he nodded.
"My Lord, I also traveled on Jeffries' merchant ship this time. On the first night of our journey, we encountered pirates. Although the Royal Fleet patrol in Blackwater Bay responded very promptly, preventing major losses, Jeffries was hit by an arrow in the abdomen. His injury is very serious, and he probably won't last for more than a few days."
Stannis Baratheon, Duke of Dragonstone, is King Robert Baratheon's younger brother and serves as Master of Ships. Stannis Baratheon's character is serious and reserved, meticulous about the law, and never compromises. Therefore, under Master of Ships Stannis Baratheon's jurisdiction, the Royal Fleet never dares to relax its patrols of Blackwater Bay and other sea areas.
But the sea is vast, and there are always some bold and cunning pirates who manage to evade the Royal Fleet and take risks to enter Blackwater Bay, the area Stannis Baratheon, Master of Ships, values most.
Green's heart stirred, and his brown eyes shifted towards Matier.
"After I boarded the ship, Jeffries, upon learning my identity, treated me with great hospitality, saying he held great reverence for you, my Lord."
Please support with monthly votes, dear ones!