Count Oder and his party were stopped by a troop of cavalry as soon as they reached the crossroads of Clegane.
Leading the group was a young girl dressed in a fitted leather armor, with the rest of her body made of leather except for the vital areas which were made of iron.
Leather conforms better to the body's movements and is more form-fitting.
This makes the girl look very agile, and her movements are cleaner and more efficient.
This is a protective armor specially designed by Gregor for his adopted daughter, Julie Clegane. It uses leather instead of traditional armor to reduce weight, allowing Julie to move more agilely and exert greater power. However, it also features iron armor in vital areas, ensuring safety.
Julie Clegane was pleased with her armor and felt even more respect and loyalty to her adoptive father.
Although her adoptive father, Gregor, was domineering and uncompromising, Julie was deeply moved by his meticulous attention to detail, such as the weapons and armor he provided for her. Even her biological father, Thomas Mann, had never shown Julie such meticulous care in her daily life.
"Earl Odd." The young woman rode in the middle of the road, a short sword at her waist, a longbow on her back, and a full quiver of quivers. She didn't give way. "Excuse me, are you passing by or do you have business with Sir Gregor?"
The girl had met many nobles in Casterly Rock as a Gregorian cavalryman. Count Odd was a big figure in the Westerlands, and Julie knew from the picture of the port warship on the flag that the person coming was Count Odd.
Julie blocked the road, her cavalrymen behind her arranged in a fan shape, clearly well-trained. These cavalrymen all had menacing expressions, their fierce spirit seemingly innate, their fighting intent impossible to conceal.
But this was very rude to the Earl.
Count Auder raised his hand to stop his centurions from scolding him and chuckled, "Little girl, are you Julie Clegane?"
Earl Odd learned of the conflict between Gregor and Salriot during Tywin's adoption ceremony at Casterly Rock, which stemmed from an adopted daughter who had inexplicably appeared out of nowhere. This adopted daughter's name was said to be Julie Clegane.
Count Ode was a meticulous man, and he remembered the name.
Julie's demeanor was in no way inferior to that of any centurion. Her life was an extra gift to her. Having experienced the nightmare of the Silver Mountain, her temperament had changed drastically. She replied calmly, "Yes, sir!"
"Julie Clegane, could you please take me to see your father, Sir Gregor Clegane?"
"Of course, sir. Please allow me to send troops to inform my father in advance."
"Then send someone." Count Ode said with a beaming smile.
Ode showed no airs of a count; he was approachable, humble, and polite, displaying excellent manners. He also showed rare affability towards those of lower status, even commoners—a rarity among nobles.
Julie didn't speak, but simply tilted her head slightly and glanced at a cavalryman beside her, who immediately spurred his horse and rode away.
Count Auder noticed these details; these cavalrymen, who looked like bandits, treated Julie with great respect. This didn't surprise him; after all, she was Gregor's adopted daughter.
"Count, please!" Julie reined in her horse, and the cavalry behind her parted to make way for her.
The small cavalry unit was well-trained, disciplined, and moved in perfect unison, but the count was not surprised.
Gregor's military discipline was absolutely first-rate, a fact already proven in Casterly Rock, where disobedient soldiers either became as obedient as children and worked as hard as oxen, or they were already beaten to death by him.
Those who dared to serve under Clegane were either citizens of the territory who couldn't escape conscription, or ordinary people who were either not normal or hardened criminals on the run. Even if they were normal, Gregor couldn't recruit anyone outside the territory because of the territorial laws and conscription order.
All lords' troops come from within their territories. If there are not enough troops within their territory, they can only hire mercenaries, which is why mercenaries are so prevalent in this world.
Count Odd walked ahead, followed by a centurion and dozens of guards, as well as two carriages carrying ten housewives whom Gregor had sent to teach the cooks at ten taverns how to make noodles.
The village of Clegane is undergoing a major construction boom, with rows of new houses visible from afar. The tall sanctuary is very eye-catching, with a huge seven-pointed star representing the faith in the seven gods standing atop its tower.
At the entrance to New Clegane village, the Earl's party was stopped again by Dunsen, who was not on horseback but accompanied by his four guards.
When you are promoted from a common soldier to a knight by the lord, you have the right to be equipped with guards, ranging from one to several.
"My lord, the lord has ordered that only you and the centurion are allowed into the village; the rest of the brothers must remain outside," Deng Sen said nonchalantly. His hand rested on his sword hilt, his expression arrogant. His four guards, equally arrogant and emboldened by their master's power, also stood by him.
Even the usually composed Earl couldn't save face. His expression darkened, and he was about to reprimand them when Julie Clegane, who was escorting him, interjected, "Your Excellency, there's plenty of building materials in the village, but the space is small and the roads are narrow. Please dismount and enter the village with the centurions. The rest of the guards, please stay and have a drink. Your Excellency need not worry, I will arrange for someone to accompany these men. Men, unload the carriages and take the horses to feed them hay."
"Yes, Captain."
Julie's cavalrymen dismounted with her, and the housewives of Clegane Village got off the carriage. Julie took the Count's reins, and the Count, with a breath stuck in his throat but unable to vent it, had no choice but to dismount.
Dunsen's rudeness and Julie's tactful response formed a stark contrast.
If the smooth-talking Ralph were here, he would surely have coaxed the Earl into dismounting and entering the village with a smile. But Dunsen couldn't do that; his sword was dozens of times more powerful than his words.
Over the past month, under the tutelage of her stepmother Jenny Westerling, adopted daughter Julie has learned a great deal, from aristocratic etiquette to interpersonal skills and verbal communication. Julie has learned very quickly.
The Earl dismounted: "Densen, even if I enter Casterly Rock, Duke Tywin will not make me dismount prematurely."
Deng Sen said stiffly, "My lord, Lord Gregor has given orders. What can I do?"
"snort!"
The Earl, accompanied by four centurions, followed Dunsen into New Clegane village.
Along the way, the new houses were built neatly and tallly, each with small windows and high doors, and courtyards made of huge stones. Livestock pens, wells, and mills were scattered among them. The roads connecting all the houses were consistent, and the spacing between them was uniform, showing that they had been meticulously planned.
Such construction is not unusual; architecture has achieved unique accomplishments in this world. However, the fact that these constructions took place on Clegane territory made the Earl somewhat reluctant to accept them.
After walking for a long time, a group of people came towards us. In the middle was a tall and mighty man like a giant, and the people around him seemed to come from Lilliput.
Gregor Clegane, accompanied by his father-in-law Gavin Westerling, his fiancée Jenny Westerling, Knight Pollifer, Chief Secretary Notebook, and others, came to greet the Earl.
The fact that Lord Mountain came to greet him personally greatly improved the Earl's depressed mood.