Chapter 64 Rose Boulevard
King's Landing, Queen's Quarter.
In a residence near the city watch station, Glynn's young steward, Leyton, was speaking with a sturdy man.
"Captain Rattler, you and your men can stay here for now. Lord Glynn will have new arrangements for you upon his return."
After The Whispers received Glynn's raven, twenty soldiers from the Scouting Party were dispatched as ordered and had arrived in King's Landing.
Rattler, who appeared to be around thirty years old, was the captain of this Scouting Party.
Rattler nodded, habitually surveying his surroundings. "Leyton, thank you for the welcome. What do we need to do for the time being?"
Leyton moved closer to Rattler and lowered his voice. "Lord Glynn needs you to first familiarize yourselves with this area—every house, every road."
"I'll make the arrangements at once."
Leyton shook his head. "We need to prepare first. King's Landing has many hidden eyes. You'll also need a change of clothes. We still have some time, so we need to plan this carefully."
"I understand."
Leyton grunted in acknowledgment and asked, "Captain Rattler, did you see my sister, Carlaia, before you departed?"
"I did not. As you know, our Scouting Party is always stationed in the Old Lands. After Ser Pell received the mobilization order and selected his men, those of us who were chosen were dispatched. We didn't pass through The Whispers; we went directly to Mermaid Port."
Having been apart for some time, Leyton missed his sister.
After a pause, Rattler added, "This is just what I've heard, but Steward Herschel, who oversees Mermaid Port, is extremely busy. Your sister has been helping him with many of the affairs of The Whispers. I imagine she's doing quite well, so you needn't worry too much."
Leyton nodded slightly. "That's good to hear. My mother and I are both in King's Landing, so I'm always a little uneasy leaving her in our lands by herself."
Although Rattler didn't quite understand such sentiments, he still shrugged to show he understood.
...
Southeast of the old Crabbe lands, in the Thorn Legion camp.
Inside the legion commander's tent, Aemparoa, dressed in a short shirt, sat at her desk writing something with a serious expression.
Just then, Reina, her hair tied up in a high ponytail, entered the tent.
"Gods, what weather! It's been so muggy these past few days. Is a storm coming?"
As Reina spoke, she pulled off her tunic and tossed it aside.
Aemparoa glanced up at her ample bosom, her thick lips parting slightly.
Noticing Aemparoa's gaze, Reina tilted her shapely body, striking a pose. She giggled, "I know, I know. I'm just too hot. Let me cool off for a moment. I'll be more careful when others are around."
Aemparoa's gaze returned to her desk.
Reina leaned over the desk, looked down, and exclaimed in exasperation, "Aemparoa!"
Aemparoa put down her quill, a blush rising on her cheeks.
Reina sighed. "This must be difficult for you. You've been at it all morning and have only written a few words..."
Aemparoa pulled the parchment aside, her tone tinged with annoyance. "Don't you forget, this was your idea! It's just... it's been too long. I can't remember how to write some things."
Toward the end, Aemparoa's voice seemed to lose its conviction.
Reina, however, nodded in agreement. "That's true. We only learned a few letters from a septa when we were very young. I just remember you were the best student back then, but I forgot how much time has passed."
Reina shook her head and threw up her hands. "Once we got a little older, we were busy hunting every day. Where would we find the spare time?"
Yes, that's it exactly.
I have a good reason for forgetting how to write.
Aemparoa nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Sigh, what a shame. I saw several new shortswords with the Scouting Party. The size is perfect for us... and the blades have been thickened quite a bit. They must be very sturdy!"
Aemparoa wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. "Those few you saw are the only ones in the whole territory for now. Ser Pell told me the smiths will be forging more."
"Exactly! That's why I'm telling you to hurry up and write a letter to the lord! Not even the Others know if the next batch of new shortswords will fall into our legion's hands!"
"Reina, Ser Pell is a just knight!"
Reina sighed again. "I know, I know, but that shouldn't stop you from writing to the lord! We're constantly at war now. Which legion's weapons aren't heavily worn? You don't need to guess to know that the others have already made their move!"
As she spoke, Reina placed a hand on Aemparoa's shoulder. "Look how soaked with sweat you are!"
Reina withdrew her hand and moved behind Aemparoa. "I just realized you're soaked through. Lift your arms, I'll help you take off your tunic."
Aemparoa hesitated for a moment but still lifted her arms to cooperate with Reina.
After helping Aemparoa remove her tunic, she continued, "Where were we just now? Hmm... ah... anyway, just listen to me. Everyone else is doing it!"
Aemparoa shifted, and indeed, she felt much more comfortable.
Aemparoa covered her face in frustration. "This is harder than fighting... Reina, the problem is, there are so many things I don't know how to write!"
This wasn't the sort of thing she could easily ask someone else for help with.
Aemparoa decided then and there that the next time she went to The Whispers, she would definitely recruit a sister who knew how to write!
Reina crossed her arms, her eyes darting about, then suddenly said, "When you come across something you can't write, you can just draw it!"
Aemparoa blinked. "Draw?"
She thought Reina's idea was terrible. Drawing was an even more advanced skill. With her artistic ability, she figured not even the Others would be able to understand her creations.
Seeing the excited look on Reina's face, now that she had thought of a good idea, made Aemparoa, who couldn't think of a better solution herself, a bit hesitant.
Should I give it a try?
...
The day before the royal hunt in the Kingswood was set to end, Glynn and his house soldiers discreetly departed from the camp.
After Glynn left, Jaime took over command of the hunt's guards.
Having set out early in the morning, Glynn entered Rose Boulevard around noon.
Near Rose Boulevard, Glynn found Steward Rosser and his men waiting to rendezvous.
Glynn noticed that Steward Rosser seemed much more energetic than the last time they had met.
"Good day, my lord. Rosser bids you well."
Glynn nodded slightly. "Rosser, what have you learned about the prices?"
"My lord, the grain prices in King's Landing were the easiest to inquire about. I compiled them quickly after receiving your order. Since leaving the city, I've continued to make inquiries along the way. However, my face is too unfamiliar around here. They have one price for locals and another for strangers, so I cannot be certain if the information I've gathered is reliable."
"This is sufficient. This is exactly what I wanted."
Glynn's goal was simply to get a general understanding of the range of price fluctuations between the north and south.
Glynn pulled on his reins and called out, "Move out!"
(end of chapter)