chapter 95 part 1
**Chapter 95: Loyalty Without Fear**
Three days later, Crackclaw Point.
The first to receive the news was Maester Al, who managed House Clegane's messenger ravens.
"Lord of The Whispers…" Maester Al grinned, showing a few teeth, and with trembling hands, handed the letter to an excited Kalaina.
"Child, take this to Steward Herschel immediately."
"Maester Al, I'm on my way."
After giving his instructions, Maester Al slowly shuffled to a table and sat down, still trembling.
The dutiful Maester Al needed to record this. He opened the tome that chronicled the history of House Clegane and solemnly picked up a quill.
As if several years younger, Maester Al thought for a moment, then a faint smile appeared on his face. With a flourish, his quill began to move.
In the year 297 AC, the young Lord turned a new page for House Clegane.
…
Maesel Beck and Pael Pili, who were discussing matters together, simultaneously received a message from Steward Herschel.
As household knights, Maesel and Pael's gazes met, sparks flying.
After composing themselves, they both stared at the map laid out on the long table.
Maesel and Pael had the same thought: "I need more military honors!"
…
Inside the Thorn Legion commander's tent, Aemparoa pushed away Reina, who was practically hanging off her, with a look of disgust.
Inside the Thorn Legion camp, the cheers of the soldiers rose and fell, threatening to echo through the clouds.
…
Herschel, who had been automatically promoted to the lord's steward, sucked in his ample belly and puffed out his chest.
Herschel, enduring a pang of heartache, faithfully carried out Glynn's order. With a wave of his plump hand, he opened the storeroom doors.
The Clegane lands temporarily sheathed their swords and held a grand celebration.
[House Clegane Morale +1]
[House Clegane Vigor +1]
[House Clegane Reputation +1]
…
[House Clegane Cohesion +1]
[House Clegane Loyalty +1]
[House Clegane Wealth -1]
…
…
Outside King's Landing, at the Clegane Estate.
For days, the clever Dik had never endured such a dense barrage of punches and kicks.
When he was first captured by the Scouting Corps, Dik could still boldly talk back a few times, but now he was so tormented that only fear remained.
After Glynn arrived, Dik, who had been kept in the basement, was brought out by soldiers of the Scouting Corps. With a thud, he was thrown onto the cold stone slab.
Dik could not help but cry out in pain.
"Dik Clegane?"
Hearing this, Dik suddenly looked up in the direction of the voice. First, he saw the seated Glynn, then the marsh marigold crest on Glynn's clothes.
Dik's pupils contracted, and his body trembled.
Glynn chuckled softly. "It seems you understand the laws of the kingdom."
Dik stared at Glynn in terror, opened his mouth, and said, "I... I am your kinsman."
Although Dik's face was filled with terror, his eyes kept shifting.
Though such a subtle detail might have gone unnoticed by others, it did not escape Glynn's eyes.
Glynn frowned slightly, his eyes flickering as he spoke to Joffrey, who stood at his side, "Why can I still see deceit in him? Was he not looked after properly?"
[Joffrey, the head of the Scouting Corps in King's Landing.]
Joffrey first placed a hand on his chest and bowed, then said, "My Lord, please allow me to bleed him a little."
Glynn nodded slightly. With a *shing*, Joffrey drew his sword and strode toward Dik.
Joffrey grabbed Dik's hair, pulled his head back, and placed the cold glint of his longsword against his throat.
The icy steel completely shattered the last shred of hope in Dik's heart, and he wet himself in fright.
Smelling the foul odor, Joffrey furrowed his brow and looked up at Glynn.
Glynn waved Joffrey away. "Dik, your biological father was the son of a cadet branch of House Clegane, am I right? Dik Waters?"
Dik nodded blankly, pleading, "I beg your forgiveness for my offense. I was doing it for..."
Glynn interrupted him. "Joan? Or Yuria Waters?"
"My sister... she... she..."
"She is safe for now. Whether she keeps her life depends on you."
On the verge of death, Dik lowered his face, his eyes shifting once more.
At this moment, Dik was filled with endless remorse; he had, after all, implicated his poor sister.
Dik's hair was drenched in cold sweat, but he did not give up, nor did he dare to.
"My esteemed lord, for the sake of... please give a humble man like me a chance."
Glynn scoffed. "I will naturally give you a chance."
The clever Dik was about to express his profound gratitude when Glynn continued, "I don't want to get your blood on my hands. Do it yourself. Use your life to trade for your sister's safety."
After speaking, Glynn glanced at Joffrey.
Joffrey nodded, drew the dagger from his waist, and with a clang, threw it before Dik.
Dik stared at the dagger before him in horror and couldn't help but wipe the sweat that drenched his face.
Seeing that Dik still dared not pick up the dagger, Glynn patiently persuaded him, "Alas, the Seven Hells... but the law is the law, Dik. Of you and your sister, I will only take one."
Ashen-faced, Dik muttered, "I'm sorry, sister. Your brother has failed you."
Dik cried, tears and sweat mixing on his face, blurring his vision.
Dik tremblingly raised his hand and abruptly grabbed the dagger.
"I hope you..."
Glynn's cold snort interrupted Dik's words.
The last shred of courage before death, the warning he had painstakingly gathered, was swallowed back in fright.
"Do not try to test my patience, Dik Waters."
Dik screamed in his heart, *If you don't keep your word, I won't let you go even as a vengeful ghost!*
Dik trembled as he sat up, both hands gripping the dagger hilt tightly, its tip pointing toward himself.
"Brother!" Dik cried out, closing his eyes tightly, and plunged the dagger toward his chest.
Clang!
Joffrey's longsword accurately knocked the dagger from his hand.
Joffrey sheathed his sword, paused, and said to Glynn, "My lord, the force was sufficient. If I hadn't parried, the dagger would certainly have taken his life. He has..."
Dik, his eyes vacant, first looked at his hands, then at Joffrey, who was still speaking, before his eyes rolled back and he fainted.
Joffrey glanced at the limp form on the ground and continued, "...half-courage, at most."
Glynn looked up toward the upper floor of the great hall. A soldier from the Scouting Corps had been "accompanying" Yuria there, and she had witnessed the entire process.
She didn't know when it started, but Yuria had begun to dislike Dik, sometimes even loathing him.
Today, Yuria watched the usually timid Dik show his willingness to sacrifice his own life for her. A hundred different feelings flooded her heart.
He had repeatedly said he would take her away from that place; it wasn't empty talk.
Her brother, known as clever Dik, who was always full of nonsense, had, it turned out, only ever been honest with her.
Yuria suddenly burst into laughter through her tears.
Now, the only thing left in her memory was that tall, imposing figure of her older brother, Dik—the one they had relied on since childhood, the one who had always been her greatest support.