Twenty-year-old Empara was tall, only half a head shorter than Grim, standing at about five foot nine.
Her light brown hair was tied casually behind her head, possessing a feminine elegance yet looking valiant and heroic.
Her slightly dark, wheat-colored skin was a bit rough.
The muscle lines on her body were smooth, not appearing overly bulky.
Most women in the Crabb lands plowed the fields and hunted just like the men.
Someone like Empara was considered quite well-maintained.
Empara wore a brown sackcloth tunic that left her arms bare.
The hem of the tunic only reached mid-thigh, and a thick rope was tied around her waist.
Leggings were wrapped around her calves, and she wore straw sandals woven from wheat stalks on her feet.
Perhaps noticing Grim’s gaze, Empara’s toes curled and uncurled a few times.
Being summoned by the lord personally for the first time, and so suddenly at that, the master hunter Empara was very nervous.
“Empara, rumor has it you’ve hunted down a black bear?” Though Grim’s voice carried a hint of youth, it was steady enough, revealing a maturity beyond his years.
Empara’s nervous tension seemed to calm significantly.
“I had people helping me.
I just landed the most arrows.” After a brief chat, seeing she had relaxed, he asked, “Would you be willing to fight for me?” Empara was confused.
“Fight the wildlings?
I’ve killed quite a few, at least ten.
The wildlings often sneak into our hunting grounds and try to steal our prey.” *A bit single-minded.* Grim changed his phrasing.
“You are very brave.
What I am asking is, do you want to become one of my men-at-arms?
Like those fellows in the training yard.
I will grant you iron armor and a sword.” Empara stared blankly, and Grim continued, “At least two gold dragons a year.” “It will mostly depend on your performance.
There will be even more rewards from the spoils of war.” Empara replied hastily, “I am willing, my lord.” As if to make sure she hadn’t misheard, Empara asked again, “But I am a woman, and they are all men.
Will they…” The men-at-arms of House Crabb were all men.
Empara was worried about being ostracized by them.
As a woman, she wasn’t worried about being harassed—at most, they’d spout some filthy words.
If they dared to go too far, she’d just cut them down.
She was very strong!
Grim offered his affirmation.
“It’s a valid concern.
The spearwives of the territory sometimes follow my men-at-arms into battle, but they aren’t officially part of the fighting force; they just assist with simple tasks.
That is only temporary, so no one minds, but officially joining is different.” “Besides, mixing men and women together all day will cause a lot of unnecessary trouble.” Empara nodded in agreement.
*That’s exactly what I thought, but I didn’t know how to say it.
The lord is very wise.* “You are well-known among the spearwives.
If I sent you to recruit, how many could you gather?” “To become men-at-arms?
I know twenty or thirty who are good hunters.” “I want to establish a company in the territory composed entirely of spearwives.
It will be called the Thorn Company.” [A tribute to the Queen of Thorns] “War is coming.
Recruit as many as you can.
Those who dare to fight alongside men, especially those without husbands—as long as they can follow your command.
You will serve as the commander of the Thorn Company.” Grim was very patient.
Under his detailed explanation, Empara heard clearly and understood.
Her chest heaved as she suppressed her excitement, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Grim.
Grim’s tone turned serious.
“Empara, can I trust you?” At this moment, only Grim, Empara, and Maester Aehl were in the study.
Maester Aehl had been sitting very quietly in a corner, as if asleep.
How to prove it?
Empara stared at the quiet Maester Aehl for a moment, her eyes darting left and right.
She gritted her teeth, as if making up her mind.
“Shall I prove it now?” Faced with Empara’s bizarre counter-question, Grim raised an eyebrow and calmly nodded.
*Rustle, rustle.* All the clothing on Empara’s body left her delicate frame.
Looking at Empara staring at him with flushed cheeks, Grim was reminded of a leopardess.
Grim’s pupils dilated and then contracted, and he turned his face away.
“Ahem, nice figure.” Maester Aehl, who had woken up at some unknown point, revealed his sparse teeth.
He sat there trembling slightly and even blinked at Grim.
The thick-nerved Empara finally sensed that something was wrong, and her hands hurriedly flew up to cover her important parts.
“That’s not what I meant.
Put your clothes back on.
Well, I don’t blame you.
I am honored to have admired your charms.
Today is a pleasant day.” Fully dressed once more, Empara’s cheeks were still flushed red, her toes curling hard enough to dig a new moat for the Whispers.
“Empara, kneel.
Ahem, you are my warrior.
Take a knee.” The little interlude turned the page, and the lord’s work had to continue.
“Repeat after me.
I, Empara.” “I, Empara…” “I swear my fealty, to love what you love, and hate what you hate.” “I swear my fealty, to love what you love, and hate what you hate…” “I swear that my every word and deed, my every action, shall be guided by the will of Grim Crabb, without fail.” “I swear that my every word and deed, my every action, shall be guided by the will of Grim Crabb, without fail.” “From this day until my last day.” “From this day until my last day.” “I swear it by the old gods and the new.” “I swear it by the old gods and the new.” A silken drizzle shrouded the entirety of the Whispers.
Outside the castle gates.
A sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, wearing leather armor over a short orange tunic, carried an old hunting bow on her back.
The girl was not tall and leaned toward skinny, yet she gave off a fierce, capable impression.
The girl’s name was Lyra.
She had brown skin, beautiful silver hair, and a high ponytail that shot straight up.
Lyra was bored of waiting, occasionally peering through the castle gates.
Empara’s figure finally appeared in the doorway, and Lyra nimbly hopped to her feet.
“Hey, leopardess, did Lord Grim finally bear to let you out?
How was it?” Empara walked up to Lyra and said, “Little Lyra, in heat again?” With that, she turned sideways to show off a cloak of deep blue, embroidered with golden bog marigolds.
Lyra vigorously wiped the rainwater from her face, her large eyes widening even further.
“Bog marigolds?
Isn’t that the sigil of House Crabb?
Empara, you’re mad, you’ll be hanged!
Even if the lord forgives you, the Others will bite your neck off.
Hurry up and return it…
don’t pull me, let’s flee!
We have to leave here, right now!” “Stop, stop, stop, it’s not what you think.” “Oh, oh, then…” Lyra raised an eyebrow, her expression suggestive.
“Did the leopardess’s passion please the lord?
Is this a reward?” Empara’s cheeks flushed dark red first, and she put a hand to her face, sighing.
“Lyra, stop guessing and shut your mouth.
Listen to me, let me explain.” The cloak embroidered with the Crabb sigil was a gift from Grim to Empara.
Within the Crabb lands, wearing this cloak was a symbol of status.
Before this, the only people in the entire territory who wore cloaks bearing the sigil were Ser Pell and Ser Mason.
Empara’s task was on a tight schedule.
To increase her authority in recruiting the spearwives and make things easier, this was Grim’s advance reward.
Whether she could hold onto this cloak later would depend entirely on her own abilities.
Grim’s test had quietly begun.
After Empara explained everything in detail, Lyra said excitedly, “That’s wonderful!
Truly great news.
There will definitely be many sisters willing to join.” “Quick, quick, what are we waiting for?
As long as we deal with a few troublemakers, you can gather a hundred or two.” “Haha, grab the money, grab the men!” “By the way, Commander of the Thorn Company, I’m the first to sign up!” Lyra spoke too fast, one sentence right after another, leaving Empara no room to get a word in.
But Lyra’s good mood infected the usually unsmiling Empara.
Empara smiled and nodded, and their footsteps unconsciously quickened.