The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 87: New Clegane Village

As soon as Earl Odes and his party arrived at the entrance to Clegane territory, they were stopped by a troop of cavalry.

Leading them was a young girl, wearing a fitted leather armor. Except for the vital parts, which were iron, the rest was leather.

Leather conformed better to the body's movements and was more form-fitting.

This made the girl look very athletic, and her movements were clean and efficient.

This was the protective armor that Gregor had specially designed for his adopted daughter, Julie Clegane. It used leather instead of full plate to reduce weight, allowing Julie to move more nimbly and exert her strength more freely. But the vital parts were still iron, which ensured safety.

Julie Clegane was very satisfied with her armor and even more respectful and loyal to her adopted father.

Although her foster father, Gregor, was tyrannical and unreasonable, Julie was very touched by his attention to detail in her weapons and armor. Even her biological father, Thomasman, had never shown such meticulous concern for Julie in her life.

"Earl Odes," the girl said on horseback in the middle of the road, a short sword at her waist, a longbow on her back, and a quiver full of arrows, not giving way. "Are you passing through, or do you have business with Ser Gregor?"

The girl had seen many nobles in Casterly Rock as part of Gregor's cavalry. Earl Odes was a big figure in the Westerlands. Julie knew who he was from the port warship on the banner.

Julie cut off the road in the middle, and the cavalry behind her were arranged in a fan shape, which showed that they were well-trained. These cavalrymen all had unfriendly faces, and their fierce aura seemed innate, and their fighting spirit could not be concealed.

But this was very rude to the Earl.

Earl Odes reached out to stop his centurions from reprimanding her and said with a smile, "Young lady, are you Julie Clegane?"

Earl Odes had already learned about the conflict between Gregor and Shalyot at Tywin's adopted daughter ceremony, which was caused by a baffling adopted daughter who suddenly appeared. The adopted daughter's name was said to be Julie Clegane.

Earl Odes was a meticulous person, and he remembered the name.

Julie's demeanor was not inferior to any centurion. Her life was a gift to her. Having experienced the nightmare of Silver Hill, her mind had changed greatly. She responded indifferently, "Yes, my lord!"

"Julie Clegane, could you please take me to see your father, Ser Gregor Clegane?"

"Of course, my lord. Please allow me to send troops to notify my father in advance."

"Then send someone," Earl Odes said with a kind smile.

Odes did not have the airs of an Earl at all. He was approachable, humble, and courteous, showing good upbringing. Even to people of lower status than him, even commoners, he showed rare kindness. This was rare among nobles.

Julie did not speak, but just tilted her head slightly and glanced at a cavalryman beside her. The cavalryman immediately rode away.

Earl Odes noticed these details. These bandit-like cavalrymen were very respectful to Julie. This did not surprise him, she was Gregor's adopted daughter after all.

"Earl, please!" Julie reined her horse, and the cavalry behind her split to both sides, giving way to the road.

The small cavalry team was well-trained, disciplined, and moved in unison, but the Earl was not surprised.

Gregor's military management was absolutely first-class. This had already been proven in Casterly Rock, because disobedient rabble either listened to him like children and worked hard like oxen, or had already been beaten to death by him.

Those who dared to serve as soldiers under Clegane, apart from the people in the territory who could not escape military service, the other sources of soldiers were either not normal people, or murderers and felons who were hiding everywhere. Even if they were normal people, because of the territorial law and military service order, Gregor could not recruit anyone other than those in the territory.

All lords' soldiers came from within the territory. If there were few soldiers in the territory and it was not enough, they could only spend money to hire mercenaries, which was why mercenaries were so popular in this world.

Earl Odes advanced, followed by centurions and dozens of guards, as well as two carriages. In the carriages were the ten housewives sent by Gregor to the ten taverns to teach the chefs how to make noodles.

Clegane Village was under construction, and rows of new houses could be seen from a distance. The tall sept was very conspicuous, and the huge seven-pointed star representing the Faith of the Seven stood on top of the sept's tower.

At the entrance of New Clegane Village, the Earl's team was stopped again. This time it was Donson who stopped them, not on horseback, with his four guards beside him.

When you are promoted from an ordinary soldier to a knight by the lord, you have the power to equip guards, ranging from one to several.

"Earl, the lord ordered that only you and the centurions can enter the village, and the rest of the brothers must stay outside," Donson said bluntly. He held the hilt of his sword, his expression rude. The four guards beside him were also arrogant and overbearing.

The well-mannered Earl could not hold back his face. His face sank, and just as he was about to reprimand, Julie Clegane, who was escorting the Earl, interjected: "Earl, there are many building materials in the village, the space is small, and the roads are narrow. Please dismount, Earl, and enter the village with the centurions. The rest of the guards, please stay and have a drink first. Earl, don't worry, I will arrange for someone to accompany these brothers. Someone, unload the carriages first and lead the horses to feed them grass."

"Yes, Captain."

The cavalrymen beside Julie dismounted with Julie. The housewives of Clegane Village got out of the carriages together. Julie came forward to take the Earl's reins. The Earl felt suffocated, but he couldn't explode, so he had to dismount.

Donson's rudeness and Julie's proper response formed two distinct contrasts.

If Sweetmouth Ralph were here, he would surely coax the Earl to dismount and enter the village with a smile. But Donson couldn't do that. His sword was dozens of times more powerful than his mouth.

In the past month, under the influence of Little Mother Jeyne Westerling, the adopted daughter Julie learned a lot about noble etiquette, about dealing with people, and about responding to words. Julie learned very quickly.

The Earl dismounted: "Donson, even if I enter Casterly Rock, Duke Tywin would not let me dismount in advance."

Donson said stiffly: "Earl, Ser Gregor ordered it, what can I do?"

"Humph!"

The Earl led four centurions and followed Donson into New Clegane Village.

Along the way, the new houses were built neatly and tall, with small windows and high doors in every household, and huge stone courtyards. Livestock pens, wells, and mills were scattered among them. The roads of every household were connected, and the front and rear spacing was consistent, which showed that they had been carefully planned.

This kind of construction was not surprising. Architecture had unique achievements in this world, but these constructions were happening in Clegane territory, which made the Earl somewhat unwilling to accept.

After walking a long way, a group of people came towards them. The person in the center was tall and mighty like a giant. The people around him seemed to be from Lilliput.

Gregor Clegane brought his father-in-law Gavin Westerling, his fiancée Jeyne Westerling, Ser Polliver, the chief affairs officer Scribe, and others to greet the Earl.

The Mountain himself came to greet him, which made the Earl's depressed mood suddenly improve a lot.

Thank you Chau534 for the reward and support, thank you!