The warm-toned scene only stirred Green's heart for a fleeting moment.
There were still some things he couldn't quite get used to right away.
In his memory, Kalaya had remained the shy little girl who used to trail behind Sullana—a girl he hadn't seen in over a year.
First, he marveled at how fast people matured in this world.
But what was truly on Green's mind at that moment?
In truth, his thoughts focused on one thing: the security of the castle needed serious reinforcement.
No matter how vigilant he was or how much he trusted his own combat skills, relying solely on personal alertness to fend off threats day after day was both foolish and exhausting.
Important individuals and key areas within the domain should be better guarded.
Ahem—one must always be wary of fragile necks; a dagger could flash by at any moment.
When he had the resources, he planned to purchase some Unsullied to serve as guards.
The Unsullied were reliable.
He imagined keeping two of them stationed outside his chambers at all times.
Such were the ambitions of a poor lord.
A faint smile tugged at Green's lips. "Kalaya, it's been a while. Has Lady Sullana started assigning you any duties yet?"
"I wanted to serve as your maid, my lord. But my mother says I'm still too immature and need more training. She told me that only once she is satisfied can I be permitted to serve you personally."
"But I couldn't wait… so I chose to come see you directly. Please forgive my boldness."
It was a fair explanation. Sullana was a diligent woman, and Kalaya's seemingly impulsive behavior could be seen as a display of loyalty to her lord.
As the daughter of a trusted retainer, she wouldn't be blamed too harshly.
Green had soaked long enough. With Kalaya's help, he put on his robe.
She handed him a goblet of red wine. He took a sip—and immediately frowned.
Sour red wine. One of House Klebold's local specialties.
Gods knew how it was brewed… it was incredibly sour.
Could it be the grape variety?
Better-tasting wine had to be imported, and that was far too expensive—he'd have to make do.
Hmm… upon closer tasting, it wasn't that bad…
Still, he put the cup down. He had no desire to drink more.
Now he had yet another reason to fight for dominance as a lord.
The night passed quietly.
The next morning, Green arranged for Kalaya to assist Maester Arl.
The old man was so frail that he trembled when he walked. Lord Green was genuinely concerned for the maester's life.
If a lord's maester died, the Citadel would send a replacement immediately—but it was far away.
There would be a gap of at least three months. And in Whispering Keep, only Maester Arl knew how to handle ravens.
That included feeding and maintaining them.
Ravens were the most important means of communication, and Green took them very seriously.
All of this was part of what Kalaya needed to learn and master.
Green had too many tasks to handle, and too few capable people. A literate girl like Kalaya was a rare asset.
Most importantly—Kalaya was trustworthy.
At last, Ser Massen returned.
According to the tally, there were thirteen blacksmiths in the domain, and a few more carpenters—thirty-two in total.
Apprentices would also be assigned, each learning one specific process at a time to speed up progress.
The basic framework for a workshop was just barely adequate.
In response to the lord's summons, the craftsmen would move with their families, one household at a time.
Steward Herschel was in charge of the resettlement in Whispering Keep.
...
Whispering Keep – The Lord's Study
Lord Green, Ser Pell, Ser Massen, and Maester Arl convened for a military council regarding the mountain wildlings.
Originally, Lord Green planned to wear the enemy down and then set fire to their surroundings—aiming to defeat them without casualties.
There were plenty of dry grasslands in the area, perfect for burning. Any regions near water sources could even be cultivated afterward.
As for actual battle experience, Green mostly remembered following his mother's command, leading men to hunt down those who had slipped through the net.
After hearing everyone's reports, Green summarized it himself: fighting around here was a bit like organizing a duel.
Whispering Keep would send someone to negotiate. If war was inevitable, both sides would agree on a time and place.
Then, at the appointed time and place, they would clash.
It was essentially a scheduled brawl!
Green tapped his fingers on the table a few times, drawing everyone's attention.
"Ser Pell, I'll have Herschel prepare shields, longswords, bows, and ten household guards for you. You'll recruit another ninety men, mostly experienced hunters."
"When that's done, you'll command a force of one hundred."
"I'm naming this unit the Survey Corps, and you'll be its first commander."
"Find as many people familiar with the terrain as possible. When Massen and I move against the mountain wildlings, I want you to have already dined in their homes."
"I've had enough of their raids. This time, I'm going to crush them."
"I need a large number of prisoners. Our territory desperately needs people for construction. The more captives, the greater your merit."
It was a bit more complicated than the traditional ways of war, but not hard to grasp. Ser Pell quickly understood.
He accepted the command with solemnity.
Maester Arl spoke, his voice trembling with age:
"My lord… I have a map. In my spare time, I've kept track of the wildlings' movements over the years. I've marked their activity zones and the locations of their lairs. There may be some errors, but overall, it should be accurate. I hope it's of help."
Green placed a hand over his heart and said solemnly:
"Thank you for your service, Maester Arl. House Klebold will never forget your contributions."
...
King's Landing – The Red Keep
Cersei Lannister clutched a letter in her hand, basking in Jaime Lannister's caresses with greedy satisfaction.
After a long moment, she rose and draped a red robe over her bare shoulders.
Even in her thirties, Cersei Lannister remained slender and fair-skinned.
She filled a goblet with wine, taking a large sip to soothe her dry throat.
Watching as Cersei picked up the letter once more, Jaime Lannister's face lit up with indulgent affection.
His smile always carried a sense of reckless pride.
"That boy is just a bootlicker," Jaime muttered.
Cersei's lips curved upward, her sharp chin lifting in that familiar, haughty way.
"Jaime, you don't understand me. He does."
"'Beauty and bravery, all in one'—I liked that opening line."
Jaime sighed. "He's not exactly a well-behaved child."
Cersei stepped up to him, gently stroking his handsome face with a smile.
"Jaime, don't tell me you're jealous of a boy. Honestly, that dress of mine would suit you better."
Jaime Lannister scoffed, unwilling to dignify the jealousy comment with a reply.
"You're bringing him on this hunt?"
"He is adorable, isn't he?"
.
.
.
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