Twenty-year-old Emparo was tall, only half a head shorter than Glyn, standing at 175 CM.
Her light brown hair was loosely tied behind her head. She looked feminine, yet strong and spirited at the same time.
Her skin was a deeper wheat color, a little rough from years outdoors.
Her muscles were firm and smooth, not bulky.
In House Crabb's lands, most women farmed and hunted like men. By comparison, Emparo was actually quite well cared for.
She wore a coarse brown linen robe with bare arms. The hem reached mid-thigh, tied at the waist with a thick rope.
Her calves were wrapped with cloth bindings, and straw sandals covered her feet.
Noticing Glyn's gaze, Emparo flexed her toes slightly. (TL/N: Fetish..?)
Being summoned by the lord himself, and so suddenly, made the skilled hunter very nervous.
"Emparo," Glyn asked, "is it true you once killed a black bear?"
His voice was still a little youthful, but calm and steady, carrying a maturity beyond his age. Emparo's nerves eased at once.
"Someone helped," she replied honestly. "I just landed more shots."
After a few casual words, seeing her relax, Glyn asked, "Are you willing to fight for me against the Mountain Clans?"
Emparo looked confused. "Fight the mountain clans? I've killed quite a few already. At least ten. They often break into our hunting grounds and try to steal our game."
A bit straightforward, Glyn changed how he asked.
"You are brave. What I mean is—do you want to become one of my soldiers? Like the men on the training field. I would grant you armor and a sword."
Emparo froze.
Glyn continued, "At least two Gold Dragons a year."
"And if you do well, you will earn even more from spoils."
"I'm willing!" Emparo blurted out. "My lord!"
She hesitated, as if unsure she had heard correctly, and asked again, "But I'm a woman. They're all men. Wouldn't that be a problem?"
House Crabb's clan soldiers were all men. Emparo worried about being pushed aside. Harassment didn't scare her much—words were nothing, and if anyone dared go too far, she'd cut them down. She was strong.
Glyn nodded. "Your concern makes sense. The spear-women sometimes fight alongside my soldiers, but they're not part of the main force. They only handle simple tasks. That's temporary, and no one cares much."
"But becoming a full member is different."
"Men and women mixed together every day also causes many needless troubles."
Emparo nodded at once. Yes—that was exactly what she thought, but couldn't put into words. The lord was very wise.
"You're well known among the spear-women," Glyn said. "If I let you recruit, how many could you gather?"
"If they can become real soldiers?" Emparo replied. "Around twenty or thirty who know me well. All are skilled hunters."
"I plan to form a unit made entirely of spear-women," Glyn said. "It will be called the Thorn Corps."
"War is coming soon. Recruit as many as you can. Women brave enough to fight men—especially those without men of their own. As long as they follow your command, you will serve as the commander of the Thorn Corps."
Glyn explained carefully, step by step.
Emparo listened closely. She understood.
Her chest rose and fell as she held back her excitement. Her eyes shone brightly as she looked at Glyn.
Glyn's tone turned serious. "Emparo, can I trust you?"
Only three people were in the study: Glyn, Emparo, and Maester Al. Maester Al sat quietly in a corner, almost as if he were asleep.
How to prove it?
Emparo glanced at the silent Maester Al. Her eyes shifted, she bit her lip, and seemed to make up her mind. "Right now? You want proof now?"
Glyn raised one eyebrow at her strange question, then nodded calmly.
Rustle. Rustle.
Emparo pulled off all her clothes.
Seeing Emparo standing there, cheeks burning red as she stared at him, Glyn suddenly thought of a mother leopard.
His pupils widened, then shrank. He quickly turned his head aside. "Ahem. Good figure."
At some point, Maester Al had woken up. Showing his few remaining teeth, he trembled with laughter and even winked at Glyn.
Only then did Emparo realize something was wrong. She hurried to cover herself with both hands.
"That's not what I meant," Glyn said quickly. "Get dressed. I'm honored to have seen your charm. Today has been… pleasant."
After dressing again, Emparo's face was still burning red. Her toes were curling so hard they could have dug two Whispers Castles into the floor.
"Emparo, kneel," Glyn said. "Cough—single knee. You are my warrior." (TL/N: Hawk Tuah)
The small incident passed, and the lord's work continued.
"Repeat after me. I, Emparo."
"I, Emparo…"
"I swear my loyalty, to love what he loves and hate what he hates."
"I swear my loyalty, to love what he loves and hate what he hates…"
"I swear that every word I speak and every action I take will follow the will of Glyn Crabb, without betrayal."
"I swear that every word I speak and every action I take will follow the will of Glyn Crabb, without betrayal."
"From this day until my death."
"From this day until my death."
"I swear this in the name of the old gods and the new."
"I swear this in the name of the old gods and the new."
–
Fine rain fell like silk over all of Whispers Castle.
Outside the city gate.
A girl of sixteen or seventeen stood there, wearing a short orange tunic with leather armor over it. An old hunting bow was strapped to her back.
She was not tall and was rather slim, yet she looked sharp and capable.
Her name was Lena. She had brown skin and silver hair tied into a high ponytail.
Bored from waiting, Lena kept peeking toward the gate.
At last, Emparo appeared.
Lena jumped up lightly. "Hey, mother leopard! Did Lord Glyn finally let you out? How was it? Did you enjoy yourself?"
Emparo walked up to her and said irritably, "Lena, are you in heat again?"
Then she turned slightly, showing the dark-blue cloak embroidered with golden marigolds.
Lena wiped rain from her face hard. Her eyes grew even wider.
"Marsh marigolds?! That's the Crabb family sigil! Emparo, are you crazy? You'll be hanged for this! Even if the lord forgives you, the Others will bite your neck off! Give it back now—don't push me! Let's run, let's leave, right now!"
"Stop, stop. It's not what you think."
"Oh? Then…?"
Lena raised an eyebrow, her smile full of teasing. "So the mother leopard pleased the lord? Is this your reward?"
Emparo's face burned red. She pressed a hand to her cheek and sighed. "Lena, stop guessing. Close your mouth and listen to me."
The cloak bearing the Crabb sigil was a gift from Glyn. In the Crabb lands, wearing such a cloak meant status. Until now, only Ser Pell and Ser Massen had worn one.
Emparo's task was urgent. The cloak was meant to give her authority when recruiting spear-women, making her work easier. It was Glyn's early reward.
Whether she could keep the cloak later would depend on her ability.
Glyn's test had already begun.
–
After Emparo explained everything clearly, Lena grew excited. "That's amazing! Such good news! So many sisters will join for sure."
"Haha! We will steal money and men!"
"Oh, right! Commander of the Thorn Corps, I'm signing up first!"
Lena spoke so fast, one sentence after another, that Emparo couldn't get a word in.
But Lena's excitement infected Emparo, who usually kept a serious face. As Emparo slowly smiled and nodded. Without noticing, their steps grew faster.
(End of chapter)