"We don't have that much money to support a mercenary group right now," Gregor Clegane said.
"Mercenaries are for making money, sir," Jenny said, carefully spreading honey all over the Duke Tywin's bread.
"Okay," Gregor said.
"Sir Gregor, our hundred-man cavalry regiment is being built, and the monthly military pay is one hundred gold dragons. We don't have the money. There's also the care of the horses, and the food and supplies that must be stockpiled in advance for the winter. Everything costs money."
The counts at the dinner table all laughed.
Earl Odd smiled and said, "Sir Gregor, you've married a fine wife."
"Of course! I told her last night that she can't get up later than me or go to bed earlier than me every day. All the household affairs, income and expenses, will depend on her," Gregor laughed.
Lord Marbrand laughed and said, "Sir Gregory, what about you? You do nothing?"
"I'm in charge of protecting her and the territory," Gregor said. "Anyone who bullies her or the Cleganes will be dealt with! I'm the commander of the Clegane mercenary group hired by Lady Jenny."
*
The nobles from the northern part of the Westerlands returned after attending Gregor and Jenny's wedding, just as the morning was beginning.
While it's already summery enough to wear fur coats and mole gloves in the North, it's springtime in the West. Except for a slight chill in the mornings, the temperature rises steadily after breakfast.
This is the ninth year of the long summer. Except for the bitter cold in the north, the rest of the country has enjoyed favorable weather and sufficient rainfall, and the nobles have ample food reserves.
The first rice crop in the Westerlands is already half-ripe. Walking along the official road north of Casterly Rock, one can see endless fields of pale yellow rice.
A main road runs from Casterly Rock to many cities in the northern part of the western border.
The northernmost part of the western border is surrounded by mountains, which extend directly to the sea, where the famous Iron Islands lie not far away. To the east of the mountains are the Riverlands, a desolate and uninhabited region with no roads.
The nobles from the north, dressed in light clothing and small hats, traveled along the official road, their laughter carrying far and wide.
Ten miles from the city, in the middle of the main road, two large banners suddenly appeared: one was the banner of Gavin Westerling's territory—six white seashells against a yellow sandy background; the other was the banner of House Clegane—three black dogs on yellow earth.
Beneath the banner stood Gregor Clegane, fully armed and wearing a massive flat-topped helmet. His bronze armor gleamed in the sunlight.
Wearing this armor in this warm climate would be extremely stuffy.
Lined up along the main road were Clegane's imposing red-armored cavalry: exactly eighty-six men, no more, no less. Beside them stood eight Westerling family guards, arranged in a single file. They appeared utterly insignificant compared to the Clegane cavalry.
Gavin Westerling and Gregor Clegane were at the front of the line.
The entire road was blocked, and it seemed Gregor had no intention of giving way.
The dozen or so nobles from the north were all surprised; they all sensed something was wrong.
Everyone was having breakfast in Lord Tywin Lannister's dining room this morning! What is the Mountain up to?!
The cavalrymen behind Gregor all had their lances pointed to the sky, forming a dozen or so rows of lances.
These spears can be used for charging and thrusting, or as javelins for throwing.
The most powerful nobleman in this group was Count Marbran of Branded City. The Marbran family's sigil is a burning tree with orange smoke, and their family motto is "Burning."
The Earl of Marble was Tywin Lannister's mother, and he himself was a cousin of Tywin Lannister. Tywin Lannister was his cousin.
Count Marble has a very heroic son named Adam Marble, who has come to Casterly Rock with his father for the wedding of Jenny and Gregor. He is also returning to Branded City with his father.
Adam is the heir to the city of Branded. He is an excellent rider and archer, highly skilled in martial arts, and Gregor knows that Adam's military talent will also be remarkable in future wars.
Adam grew up in Casterly Rock, serving as a page to Lord Tywin Lannister. He was Jaime Lannister's childhood friend, best friend, and cousin. He was tall and thin, with long, copper-colored hair.
Everyone else fears the Mountain, but in the Westerlands there are at least two people who are not afraid of it at all: Jaime Lannister and Adam Marbran. Neither of them has ever been afraid of the Mountain.
Adam spurred his horse forward and shouted, "Lord Mountain, congratulations on your marriage! Are you going north with your father-in-law to pay your respects to your mother-in-law?"
Tywin Lannister disliked Jenny's mother-in-law because she was the daughter of a merchant, and the other nobles also looked down on her. To avoid an awkward atmosphere at the wedding banquet, she was not invited to Casterly Rock to attend her daughter Jenny's wedding.
Gregor said, "Adam, thank you and your father, Earl Marble, for attending my wedding. Now that Jenny Westerling and I are married, we are part of the Westerling family. I heard that someone tried to sabotage my father-in-law's ancestral lands by buying them all at double the price. I'm sorry, but they all have to be returned today. I'm not one to wait for others to return things; I prefer to take them myself."
Adam laughed: "Mountain, your father-in-law's ancestral property was either sold to us or mortgaged to us. Whether it was sold or mortgaged, there were written agreements and contracts. Besides, you want to buy it back at the original price, but you don't allow others to offer a higher price. Heh heh, you think you can take it back just because of one sentence?"
"Yes, but not just because of my word, but also with my greatsword. It was so unfair that you took my land and people at such a low price. Now I will take them back at the same low price." He suddenly roared, "Who dares to say no?"
Suddenly, the Mountain roared like a thunderclap. Adam's horse was startled and lurched backward, crashing into the guards' horses behind it. Several horses were startled at once, and the centaurs reared up, throwing Adam to the ground.
Adam was furious. As he jumped up from the ground, a spray of hot blood splattered all over his face. The Mountain Sword swung diagonally, cleaving Adam's warhorse in two.
Count Marbran was shocked and rushed forward to protect his son. Adam was the heir to the City of Branding; he could not be allowed to fall.
"Earl Marbrand, you have seized my father-in-law's fertile fields and mountains for many years, and now you are secretly buying back other knights' lands that were supposed to be returned at double the price. I have only one question for you today: will you return my land?" the Mountain shouted sternly.
Clang clang clang!
The four knights beside Marbrand drew their longswords to protect their master.
Earl Marble sneered, "The Mountain, I didn't seize it by force back then. I paid for it. I also paid for the lands of the other knights. If you dare to use force again, I will immediately return to Casterly Rock and report to Lord Tywin."
The Duke of Tywin's mother was the Earl of Marble's aunt, which was Marble's advantage.
The Mountain chuckled: "Count Marbrand, I will take back what belongs to my family at the original price. Don't try to intimidate me with the Duke."
Adam swung himself onto another warhorse, his youthful arrogance and boiling blood filling him as he roared, "The Mountain has insulted me! Knights of the Marble family, what are you waiting for? Slay this vicious dog!"
Upon hearing the young master's order, the four family knights immediately shouted and charged towards Demon Mountain on four horses, each wielding a sword.
The Mountain asked his father-in-law Gavin, whose expression had slightly changed, "Father-in-law, are these four guys surnamed Marbrand?"
Earl Gavin shook his head.
Oh, sorry, they were just four of Marble's pet dogs.
Although we are all dogs, there are actually different levels of dogs!
The surname Marbrand certainly carries weight, but—
Mo Shan charged forward on horseback, his heavy sword sweeping across like a sharp blade cutting through straw. The leading cavalryman was cleaved in two at the waist, his upper body flying off while his lower body remained firmly on his horse.
Amidst gasps of surprise from the opposite side, The Mountain reined in his horse, deftly twirled his right wrist, executed a beautiful sword flourish, and suddenly slashed vertically with his greatsword, splitting the second knight and his horse in two. Blood splattered like rain, dazzling and spectacular.
"good!"
The more than eighty livestock behind him erupted in thunderous cheers!