chapter 100 part 1
Under the escort of his guards, Glyn appeared on the docks. Herschel, who had been waiting expectantly, immediately went to greet him. His voice was filled with excitement as he said, "Good day, my lord!"
Glyn smiled and nodded, sizing Herschel up. "My loyal Herschel, it has been a long time."
Glyn took the reins from Maesel Beck and swung onto his horse. "Herschel, take me on a tour."
Glyn led the group on an inspection of Mermaid Port.
The current Mermaid Port could be described as small but exquisite. All the buildings were predominantly white, and though not large in scale, they were finely detailed.
Although the docks had an unavoidable smell of salted fish, the cleaning crews organized by Herschel kept the area very tidy.
Mermaid Port's sanitation regulations were detailed and strictly enforced, making it unique in Westeros.
Naturally, the stunning mermaids of legend would prefer a clean environment... The pristine conditions further cemented Mermaid Port's claim as the origin of the mermaid myths.
...
Mermaid Port was the face that Glyn presented of the Crabbe lands to the outside world.
Most people perceived Crackclaw Point as a land of uncivilized wildlings. Glyn's goal was to gradually change this preconceived notion through Mermaid Port.
Whether he marched west or north in the future, after achieving military victory, Glyn would have to face the problem of governance.
If others felt they were being ruled by a half-wildling noble, they would inevitably pay lip service but not truly submit. This would increase the cost of governance. It was even more likely that newly acquired territory wouldn't increase his strength, but instead become a burden for House Crabbe, tying his own hands and feet.
Glyn did not want to be bogged down in endless wars that would exhaust Crackclaw Point. In Westeros, one had to use Westerosi methods.
While prioritizing military strength, political tactics for the lowborn, the middle class, and the highborn could not be ignored.
The road ahead was long and arduous, but it was a challenge fit for the highly ambitious Glyn.
...
Mermaid Port already had an air of prosperity. New stone buildings were still being constructed with fervent enthusiasm.
Herschel reported, "My lord, as you commanded, I posted notices at the docks recruiting stonemasons. Many from other lands have since joined in the construction of Mermaid Port."
Glyn nodded. "Well done, Herschel. We are in urgent need of manpower. You must remember, Mermaid Port represents the face of House Crabbe."
Herschel first bowed to accept the order, then said, "Rest assured, my lord. I will take it to heart."
At this moment, Herschel's heart swelled with emotion. The Crabbe lands were changing day by day under Glyn's hand. He felt he was witnessing the rise of House Crabbe.
He felt that Crackclaw Point was already within House Crabbe's grasp. The other nobles of the peninsula had been weakened by the war with the usurper. Faced with the powerful rise of House Crabbe, they had no choice but to submit.
...
Having acquired 150,000 gold dragons, combined with his income from King's Landing and Highgarden, Glyn felt financially secure for the time being.
Riding his horse, Glyn looked around him. A passion for infrastructure stirred within him.
Glyn suppressed the impulse. Given the state of his lands, the construction of Mermaid Port was already a taut bowstring. He had to remain steady!
A thought stirred in Glyn's mind. He suddenly felt he was being too upright. He bore a heavy responsibility; how could he possibly consider the 150,000 gold dragons a loan?
Young dragons grow. As long as the Targaryens were still across the Narrow Sea, he, as the chief of the Dragon Elimination Plan personally appointed by the king, had to increase the Red Keep's funding to deal with the increasingly complex situation.
What would happen after Robert's death? Would the Red Keep cancel the hunt for the young Targaryen dragons?
Absolutely not! This was King Robert's last wish. The ever-loyal Glyn would see it through to the end. When the time came, Glyn's loyalty would put everyone else in the Red Keep to shame.
Glyn remembered from the original story that King Robert, on his deathbed, seemed to have personally canceled the hunt for the Targaryen children, with Eddard Stark as a witness.
If such a situation arose, Glyn would blame it all on the queen, believing she had caused the heroic king to lose his resolve.
The queen's position was unique. The politics of the Red Keep were inseparable from Cersei, and her support was necessary. Glyn still had to cling tightly to his boss, Cersei's, thigh.
Glyn secretly declared that the greatest expense of the Dragon Elimination Plan was pleasing Queen Cersei. Time for a grand shopping spree in Essos!
...
Glyn condescended to meet with a portion of the old and new residents of Mermaid Port.
"Lord, may the Old Gods and the New protect you!"
"My lord, the outsiders relieve themselves anywhere they please! They..."
"My lord, there are too few men! I want..."
"Lord Glyn, we haven't had a fight in a long time! When are we..."
"My lord, may you live long and prosper!"
"My lord, I want a strong husband!"
"..."
The lord showed his concern for his people. The exceedingly patient Glyn maintained the image of a proper lord in their minds.
Whether they had been personally received by the lord or not, the people were all put at ease. Their lord was still healthy.
Belligerence was a tradition on Crackclaw Point, but the simple folk of House Crabbe, both new and old subjects, were like docile cats before Glyn.
The first reason for this was Clarence Crabbe, the legendary hero of Crackclaw Point. His legacy gave Glyn the inherent quality to become the peninsula's leader.
According to Westerosi tradition, combined with the unique customs of Crackclaw Point, Glyn, as the heir to House Crabbe, only needed to be strong enough for the mountain clansmen to easily integrate into his territory, becoming a part of House Crabbe once more.
Secondly, the years of relentless pressure on Crackclaw Point from the Vale nobles, led by Lord Jon Arryn, had made the struggle for survival there even harsher.
The people were desperate for a leader, and Glyn's arrival was perfectly timed. The people of Crackclaw Point were more willing than ever to rally behind a strongman. The harshness of their lives created the conditions for a hero to emerge.
Third, most of Crackclaw Point was inhabited by mountain clansmen living in tribal structures. Following their chief was a tradition thousands of years old, a tradition that ran deep in their bones.
Thus, few nicknames are inaccurate. It wasn't wrong to call the nobles of Crackclaw Point "half-wildling nobles." At least in the hearts of House Crabbe's new subjects, Glyn was their clan chief.
...
Glyn looked up at the sun, tugged the reins to turn his horse around, and said, "Maesel, that's enough of the inspection for now. Let's head to The Whispers."
Hearing this, Herschel spurred his horse to Glyn's side. "My lord, I'll make the arrangements at once!"
...
Anguy, who was riding close by Glyn's side, straightened his back. A natural archer, he was exceptionally sharp.
Ever since disembarking, Anguy had felt many eyes sizing him up, and he could sense they were from women.
Feeling good about himself, Anguy casually glanced at the surrounding crowd... *Not bad*, he thought. *But no need to rush!*