King's Landing — Hook Alley, Afternoon
As Grenn stepped into the courtyard with Mandon and Anguy flanking him, a solidly built young man in a blue cloak strode forward to meet them. He was of average height but thick-set, his frame sturdy like a stone wall.
The moment he saw Grenn, the young man's face lit up. He dropped to one knee with practiced ease."My lord Grenn, Martell Beck of House Beck greets you with undying loyalty."
Grenn gestured for him to rise, a faint smile tugging at his lips."Martell… so you're finally allowed outside?"
The twenty-two-year-old scratched at the back of his head, sheepish."I've had a son, at last. My father's still in the old lands—no word on when he'll return. I couldn't wait anymore. I begged Steward Herschel to put me on a merchant ship. I followed the directions he gave me and just arrived."
Martell Beck was the legitimate son of Ser Mason Beck, a household knight sworn to House Clegane. The Beck family upheld a strict ancestral law: no firstborn son was to go to war or leave the region until he had sired a son of his own.
It was said the rule had been laid down long ago by Lord Clegane's ancestors—one that applied not only to the Becks, but also to the family of Per Pillie, another knight of the household.
Martell had been wed at fifteen by his father's command. And for the last seven years, he had labored toward that one singular goal—driven by duty, but also by the hunger for freedom.
Grenn understood that urgency well. Any man bound by such a yoke would bolt the moment the leash loosened.
He clapped Martell's thick shoulder with approval."Welcome, Martell. From this day forward, you are my squire. Tend to my mount and keep my bow and quiver in your care."
Martell pressed his hand to his chest and dropped to one knee again, this time with greater solemnity."I swear, by the Old Gods and the New, to serve you faithfully until death. I speak these words in the name of the Becks and the oath passed down through our blood."
Following the old Clegane custom, Grenn placed both hands on the hilt of his sword. His voice grew firm, carrying a quiet gravity."There shall always be a place for you at my hearth, meat and mead at my table. I swear it, by the Old Gods and the New."
…
Off to the side, Anguy watched the oath with a touch of envy in his eyes. He leaned toward Mandon and whispered,"Have you sworn fealty to Lord Grenn yet?"
Mandon blinked, his big dull eyes slow to focus."Nope. Didn't you read the rules? Unless it's a special case, you can only swear direct fealty after three years of service—and only if your deeds warrant it. I'm not in a rush."
Anguy scratched his head, a little embarrassed."I… can't really read. Wait—you can?"
Mandon puffed his chest with pride."My mum taught me. Said I'd go hungry until I could read."
Anguy's expression faltered for a moment, but he quickly shook it off."So… what counts as a special case?"
Mandon rumbled,"Like him. Martell's family has served the lord's house for centuries. That sort of thing counts."
Centuries? That hit like a cold wave. Anguy's spirits dropped.
Seeing it, Mandon gave him a pat on the shoulder."The first three years are about obedience. Just follow every order. Simple, right?"To Mandon, who'd spent his youth obeying his mother to earn his meals, obedience wasn't just easy—it was natural.
He went on,"Once you've served three years, you're allowed to swear fealty. Do well after that, and the lord might even knight you. I asked—bastards can be knighted too. So I've got a chance!"
Anguy's eyes lit up. A path was beginning to form in his mind.
I could be knighted too? The thought alone reignited the fire in his chest.
"Right, and there's another special case," Mandon added. "Elmporo—the commander of the Thorn Guard. She swore fealty on her first day."
Anguy perked up."Elmporo? That a woman's name? How'd she manage that?"
Mandon nodded, his grin wide and foolish."She's strong. Everyone says she's the fiercest warrior among us—best woman fighter in the whole domain."
Anguy tilted his head, curiosity giving way to something more thoughtful."Are all the women in Whispering Town like that?"
Mandon, whose instincts often outpaced his wit, gave a deliberately vague reply."Some of them… are special."
Anguy nodded. That tracked. A few exceptional women didn't shake the order of the world.
The women of Whispering Town, he thought. Spearwives. Stronger, fiercer, tougher than most. They fight like men—but otherwise, they're just fine.
Mandon, as always, nodded along with him.
Wanting to lift his friend's spirits, Mandon nudged him."You've got real skill, Anguy. Don't rush it. Your time will come."
"Thanks," Anguy replied, sincerity in his voice. "Didn't know you were this clever. I should learn more from you."
Mandon chuckled."I've got good ears. Folks talk while eating—I listen."
Anguy looked impressed. Then he added,"You'll teach me to read, yeah? I'll give you all my ale."
Mandon shook his big head."You don't need to give me anything. I like working with you. I'll help. Once you learn to read, you'll know the rules better. That's important."
And just like that, something bloomed between them—
Ahem. A flower of friendship, of course.
…
As Martell led Grenn's horse through the courtyard, he hesitated, then asked,"My lord, do you remember the merchant Jeffreys?"
Jeffreys. A minor but successful trader. He owned two flat-bottomed ships, each a hundred feet long. He mostly ran routes along Blackwater Bay and had done business in Whispering Town before—leather goods, if memory served.
Grenn remembered him well. He had ridden one of Jeffreys's vessels from Mermaid Port to King's Landing. The steep fare had left a lasting impression.
He nodded."I remember."
"I took his ship again this time," Martell continued. "First night out, we were attacked by pirates. The royal patrols came fast and prevented major losses, but Jeffreys… he took an arrow to the gut. It was bad. I don't think he's got long."
Stannis Baratheon—Lord of Dragonstone, brother to King Robert, and Master of Ships—was known for his cold severity and legal zeal. Under his command, the royal fleet never dared ease its patrols of the waters around Blackwater Bay.
But the sea was vast, and bold pirates always found ways to slip past.
Grenn's eyes narrowed."And he knew who you were?"
Martell nodded."Once he learned I served you, he treated me like an honored guest. Said he held you in the highest regard."
.
.
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