Chapter 18: Semi-Barracks Farmsteads
Bernard Brune of the Dreadfort was once a squire to Lord Arryn Slynt, who had served as Hand of the King to Aerys I.
During the War of the Usurper, at the Battle of the Ruby Ford, House Crabbe of Crackclaw Point and House Brune fought shoulder to shoulder, bleeding together for Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.
They were both model loyalists of House Targaryen, the most trusted of the trusted.
Under the new Baratheon Dynasty, they both fell on hard times—the most wretched of the wretched.
…
Perched atop a towering cliff, the thick gates of the Dreadfort—estimated to be over forty meters high—were shut tight. Glyn decisively abandoned his plan for a frontal assault.
Glyn felt the cost of taking a well-defended fortress with conventional siege methods was simply too high. The path to supremacy was fraught with sieges, and without a Giant Dragon, Glyn needed to prepare more unconventional tactics and methods for taking fortresses.
As it stood, Glyn was unprepared for a siege on the Dreadfort. If an opportunity arose, he would gain spoils; if not, he would decisively abandon the plan.
Glyn consoled himself: they were both poor lords. Why must the poor make things difficult for the poor?
…
"When someone dares to challenge you, you must answer resolutely with iron and blood. When they bend the knee in submission, you must help them up with your own hands. Otherwise, no one will ever be willing to submit to you again."
Recalling the words from his memory, he turned to Knight Ma and said, "Knight Ma, I'll leave the rest to you. Handle the ransom for the House Brune captives according to the usual customs. For the sake of having once fought side-by-side for the Targaryens, we'll let them off this time. Warn them there won't be a next time."
Knight Ma nodded and accepted the order.
Glyn then quietly instructed Ser Pell, "Have Aimparu escort the prisoners. Your Scouting Corps will stay behind to continue striking the Wildling Tribes, especially those on good terms with House Brune. Just like last time, destroy their encampments and relocate the population. The Crabbe Old Lands need a large number of farmers."
Knight Ma would soon be responsible for implementing the semi-barracks farmsteads Glyn had planned in the newly recovered Crabbe Old Lands.
With time, Crabbe's semi-barracks farmsteads would spread across all the arable land in the eastern region of Crackclaw Point.
"As you command, my lord."
Glyn nodded with a grunt and continued, "We've already crushed the main fighting force of the Wildling Tribes near the Crabbe Old Lands, so there won't be any more fierce resistance. However, I still require you to be cautious in every battle. Recruit any skilled hunters you find into the Scouting Corps. Enlisting soldiers while fighting the wildlings is a rare opportunity to train our troops."
Pell: "My lord, I will follow your orders strictly. House Brune..."
Glyn flicked his reins, and the horse beneath him started off in another direction. Ser Pell urged his own horse to follow.
Glyn rode alongside Pell. "Pell, it's always easy talking with you. Yes, we may have lost this time, but House Brune will not submit to me. For a time, there will be no power in the Crabbe Old Lands capable of threatening House Crabbe. This gives us a good opportunity to consolidate our gains. At the same time…"
"Aside from the twenty warhorses I've selected to take back, I will allocate all the remaining horses to you. The Scouting Corps needs the speed more."
Glyn turned his head to glance at the Dreadfort again. "House Crabbe cannot stop moving forward. We need to constantly raid to support the population of our new and old territories. We've expanded too quickly, and our farmlands can't sustain so many people."
"The only noble house left in the eastern Crackclaw Point that can cause us trouble is House Brune, and that is something I cannot tolerate. One master is enough for the eastern Crackclaw Point—House Crabbe."
"Knight Ma will stay behind to oversee the development of the Old Lands. I will order him to coordinate with your campaigns. Start by conquering the Wildling Tribes friendly with House Brune, one by one. I want you to blockade House Brune, make it impossible for them to move, until they either submit or disappear."
A smile touched the corner of Glyn's lips as he patted Pell's shoulder. "I'm about to leave for King's Landing. I can't be in two places at once, so I can only rely on you. I'm glad you're here. I've always had the utmost confidence in your loyalty and ability."
"Ser Pell, for the glory of House Crabbe."
Pell's expression grew solemn. He placed a hand over his chest and bowed his head in a salute. "My sword will always serve you!"
…
Monton Waters, a large round shield on his back and a warhammer tucked into his belt, was gnawing on a smoked sausage.
Reina, standing to the side, said with a sigh, "Fatty Montun, don't you ever get full? Why are you always eating?"
Monton Waters replied sheepishly, "Ah, I'm just scared of being hungry. I could never fill my stomach before. It's so much better now. Since following the lord, I've never gone hungry again."
Reina rolled her beautiful eyes at Montun. "How can you be so stout if you've never been full!"
Monton Waters scratched the back of his head. "Hehe..."
Reina's eyes glinted with mischief. "Fatty Montun, if you keep eating like this... be careful the Lord doesn't punish you for eating too much."
Montun's eyes, which seemed to lack the light of wisdom, widened. "This... this, this... I know I have a big appetite. Should I... should I go to the lord and confess my crime?"
Reina first let out a snort, then couldn't help but clutch her stomach and burst out laughing, leaving Montun even more confused.
Fortunately, Glyn's voice arrived just in time. "Montun, Reina is just joking with you."
Glyn walked over and lightly patted the top of Reina's head. "He'll take you seriously."
With a cry of pain, Reina squatted down, clutching her head with both hands. Glyn calmly glanced at his own palm.
Montun suddenly tattled in a loud voice, "My lord! Reina's not hurt! She's pretending! I saw it! She was snickering just now! I saw it!"
Monton Waters had the instincts of a wild beast. From the first day he joined Glyn's camp, he sensed that the military regulations were intrinsically linked to his future.
To Monton Waters, Glyn was the first person who didn't despise him for his large appetite, and the one who had stopped him from ever going hungry again.
Monton Waters chewed the food in his mouth nonstop, having painstakingly used his not-so-bright mind to memorize the rules by rote.
He had just been momentarily startled by the cunning Reina. But then, Monton Waters finally realized that eating a lot didn't violate any military rules, so naturally, he had to get his "revenge."
Monton Waters jumped up and down, ruthlessly exposing her. His large belly seemed to undulate like a wave of flesh.
How did this guy get smarter?
Reina said pitifully, "Lord Glyn, I beg for your forgiveness... I..."
Montun scratched his head. Had his revenge gone too far?
Glyn waved his hand helplessly. "Go on, get Montun something else to eat. He'll forgive you immediately."
…
…
King's Landing, a corridor in the Red Keep.
Tyrion Lannister sat on a marble balustrade along the corridor, his short legs swinging back and forth.
In his hand, Tyrion held the wine cup that seemed to never leave his grasp, his face flushed from the drink. "Brother, think of something more cheerful. You worry too much. Sometimes I suspect your devotion to our dear sister isn't entirely normal."
Jaime Lannister, still worried, glanced again in the direction of Cersei's chambers. He let out a long sigh and also sat on the railing, his handsome face still showing traces of anger. "King Robert... he's forgotten the meaning of honor. I can't even remember how many times he's gotten rough with Cersei."
Tyrion scooted closer to Jaime and patted his arm. "You have to understand why I stopped you. If you had gotten involved, the outcome would only have been worse."
Jaime rubbed his face with both hands in frustration. "Tyrion, you're always so clever and rational."
Tyrion's gaze was profound, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Our sister likes to think she is Lord Tywin Lannister with teats, but in reality, she falls far short. To say nothing else, Father has always been as merciless and calm as a great glacier, whereas Cersei, whenever her emotions flare up, burns like wildfire. Our king and Queen are like two infernos; the slightest touch makes them burn even brighter."
Jaime sighed deeply once again. "I just want Cersei to be happy."
(end of chapter)