Twenty-year-old Emparo stood tall, barely half a head shorter than Green, roughly 1.75 meters tall.
Her light brown hair was loosely tied behind her head, combining feminine grace with a valiant, martial air.
Her wheat-toned skin was slightly deep and rough.
The muscle lines across her body were smooth, far from bulky.
Most women in the Crabb domain farmed and hunted just like the men; someone like Emparo was considered well-maintained.
Emparo wore a sleeveless robe of coarse brown linen that fell to mid-thigh, bound at the waist with a thick rope.
Cloth wraps bound her calves, and she wore straw sandals woven from wheat stalks.
Perhaps sensing Green’s gaze, Emparo curled her toes a few times.
Being summoned in person by her lord for the first time—and so suddenly—left even an expert hunter like Emparo feeling nervous.
“Emparo, word has it you once killed a black bear?” Though Green’s voice possessed a touch of youthfulness, it was steady enough and carried a maturity beyond his years, causing Emparo’s tension to ease considerably.
“Others helped me, My Lord.
I simply landed the most shots.” After a few brief pleasantries, seeing that Emparo had relaxed, Green asked, “Are you willing to fight for me?” Emparo looked puzzled.
“Against the wildlings?
I’ve killed quite a few—at least ten.
Wildlings often trespass into our hunting grounds and try to steal our game.” She was a bit simple-minded.
Green rephrased his question.
“You are brave.
What I’m asking is: do you want to become one of my house guards?
Like those men on the training ground.
I will grant you iron armor and a sword.” Emparo froze.
Green continued, “At least 2 Gold Dragons a year.” “Depending on your performance, loot rewards will be even higher.” Emparo blurted out hurriedly, “I am willing, my lord!” As if trying to make sure she hadn’t misheard, Emparo asked again, “But I’m a woman, and they’re all men…
won’t it…” All the house guards of House Crabb were men.
Emparo was worried about being ostracized by them.
As a woman, she wasn’t afraid of harassment—at most they’d throw vulgar talk her way, and if anyone pushed too far, this old girl would slash them with a knife!
She was strong!
Green acknowledged her point.
“That makes sense.
The spearwives of our domain sometimes fight alongside my house guards, but not in an official capacity—they only assist with simple tasks.
That’s merely temporary, so no one minds.
Joining officially, however, is a different matter.” “Besides, mixing men and women together all day causes a lot of unnecessary trouble.” Emparo nodded in agreement…
*That’s exactly what I was thinking, but I didn’t know how to say it.
The lord is truly wise.* “You are well-known among the spearwives.
If I have you recruit them, how many can you gather?” “Can all of them become house guards?
I know twenty or thirty who are close to me, all skilled hunters.” “I want to establish a regiment in the domain composed entirely of spearwives.
Its name will be the Thorn Corps.” [A tribute to the Queen of Thorns] “War is imminent.
Recruit as many as you can—women brave enough to fight alongside men, especially those without husbands, as long as they obey your commands.
You will serve as the commander of the Thorn Corps.” Green was extraordinarily patient.
Under his detailed explanation, Emparo understood everything clearly.
Her chest heaved as she fought down her excitement, her eyes shining bright as she looked at Green.
…
Green’s tone turned serious.
“Emparo, can I trust you?” Only Green, Emparo, and Maester Al were in the study.
Maester Al had been sitting quietly in a corner the entire time, looking as if he were asleep.
How could she prove it?
Emparo stared at the quiet Maester Al for a moment, her eyes shifting, then gritted her teeth as if making up her mind.
“Should I prove it now?” Facing Emparo’s odd counter-question, Green raised an eyebrow and nodded calmly.
*Rustle, rustle.* All the clothes on Emparo’s body left her lovely frame.
Looking at Emparo staring at him with flushed cheeks, Green was reminded of a wild leopardess.
Green’s pupils dilated then contracted before he turned his face aside.
“Cough, nice figure.” Maester Al, who had awakened at some point, bared his few remaining teeth, trembling with silent chuckles as he gave Green a wink.
Emparo, thick-headed as she was, finally realized something was amiss and frantically covered her private parts with her hands.
“That’s not what I meant.
Put your clothes back on.
It was a privilege to appreciate your charms—today has been a pleasant day.” Once dressed again, Emparo’s cheeks were still burning red, her toes curling hard enough to dig out two Whispers Castles.
“Emparo, kneel.
*Cough*, you are my warrior—on one knee.” Putting the little episode behind them, the lord’s duties had to resume.
“Repeat after me.
I, Emparo…” “I, Emparo…” “…swear my allegiance, to love what he loves, to hate what he hates.” “…swear my allegiance, to love what he loves, to hate what he hates…” “I swear that my every word and deed shall be guided by the will of Green Crabb, without transgression.” “I swear that my every word and deed shall be guided by the will of Green Crabb, without transgression.” “From this day until my dying breath.” “From this day until my dying breath.” “I swear it in the name of the Old Gods and the New.” “I swear it in the name of the Old Gods and the New.” …
A threadlike drizzle enveloped all of Whispers Castle.
Outside the castle gates.
A girl of sixteen or seventeen wore leather armor over an orange tunic, carrying an old hunting bow on her back.
She was short and thin, yet gave off a lean, fierce vibe.
Her name was Raina, with brownish skin and silver hair tied into a high ponytail.
Bored of waiting, Raina peeked inside the castle gate from time to time.
When Emparo’s figure finally appeared at the gateway, Raina bounded to her feet with agile grace.
“Hey, Leopardess!
Lord Green finally let you out?
How was it?!” Walking up to Raina, Emparo said irritably, “Little Raina, in heat again?” Saying that, she turned slightly to show off her cloak—dark blue, embroidered with golden marsh marigolds.
Raina wiped the rain off her face, her big eyes widening even further.
“Marsh marigolds?
Isn’t that House Crabb’s sigil?
Emparo, are you mad?!
You’ll be hanged!
Even if the lord forgives you, the White Walkers will rip your neck open!
Hurry and give it back…
No, wait, let’s run!
Leave this place, right now!” “Stop, stop, stop!
It’s not what you think.” “Oh, oh, then…” Raina raised an eyebrow, her expression sly and suggestive.
“Did the leopardess’s passion make the lord happy?
Is this a reward?” Emparo’s cheeks flushed dark red.
Covering her face with one hand, she sighed, “Raina, stop guessing.
Shut your mouth and just listen to me.” The cloak embroidered with the Crabb sigil had been gifted to Emparo by Green.
In the Crabb domain, wearing such a cloak was a symbol of status.
Previously, the only ones in the entire domain who wore cloaks bearing the sigil were Ser Pell and Ser Marston.
Emparo’s mission was urgent; the cloak was an advance reward from Green, meant to raise her authority when recruiting spearwives and make her work easier.
Whether she could keep this cloak afterward would depend on her own capability.
Green’s test had already quietly begun.
…
Once Emparo finished recounting everything in detail, Raina said excitedly, “Fantastic!
That’s wonderful news!
So many sisters will want to join!” “Hurry, hurry, what are we waiting for?
Once we deal with a few troublemakers, you can easily gather one or two hundred women!” “Haha, plunder money, plunder men!” “Oh, right, Commander of the Thorn Corps, I’m signin’ up first!” Raina spoke so fast, sentence after sentence, that Emparo couldn’t get a word in edge-wise.
But Raina’s high spirits infected the usually solemn Emparo.
Emparo smiled and nodded, both of them unconsciously quickening their pace.