Bronze Yohn was very tall. Although his face had many wrinkles and his hair was gray, his large hands made him still look very strong. He had gray eyes and very thick eyebrows. His armor was silver-plated, inscribed with the same bronze protective charms as his ancestors.
"Lord Yohn brought a thousand men, six hundred from Runestone, and two hundred each from Redfort and Seagull Town," Ser Barristan said. He was the messenger Gendry had sent.
"Your Highness," the young man representing Redfort greeted Gendry. "Michel Redwyne, my father sends his regards." He was said to be one of the best young swordsmen in the Vale, exceptionally brave.
"Oh, I know you, from my sister Mia."
"That's me." Michel's cheeks flushed. It was precisely because of this relationship that his father saw hope for the family to rise to a higher level, and his attitude changed dramatically. If the overall situation was settled, they would have married a princess.
"Your Highness. my father sends his regards," the young man representing Seagull Town greeted Gendry, Mauls Grafton, heir to Seagull Town.
Mauls then handed Gendry an envelope, "This is a gift from my father."
"Then I thank you for this gift." Gendry accepted the envelope, which contained everything Earl Grafton knew: Littlefinger's network of confidantes in Seagull Town, his personnel deployment in the Vale, and the tasks Littlefinger had once entrusted to him. Littlefinger might have thought Grafton was full of greed, but Grafton also disdained Littlefinger, and Grafton could still jump ship.
"We have always been The King's party, since my grandfather," Mauls smiled.
"I will thank you for your goodwill."
"Very good, now our men are all here." Gendry looked at them. The Knights of the Vale came from three families: Yohn, who was old-fashioned and related to Stark by marriage; House Redfort of Redfort, who was considering the love with Mia and clinging to power; and the well-informed House Grafton, who had previously fought for The King's party and now knew their own strength. It's not about the number of soldiers, but their quality, and these were already the most reliable units in the Vale.
"Let the soldiers have a good meal first, and then we'll depart," Gendry said to everyone.
"Time is pressing, Your Highness," Yohn asked.
"I know what you mean. I have no kin among the soldiers; everyone is here for justice. Let's eat first, then we'll seek revenge. If we start a forced march, the soldiers will only get poor food."
"Alright then."
So the soldiers gathered, those from the Vale, the crabfeeders men, and the Gold Cloaks. Ships from Across the Narrow Sea also brought many supplies: salted meat, fruit, white pears, jerky, candy, and more. They distributed a batch, letting the soldiers eat a good meal first. The crabfeeders men also offered fresh hot bread and roasted pork and fish to the soldiers.
The soldiers, in groups of a dozen or so, simply spread blankets in the camp and ate casually on the ground. They weren't allowed alcohol, but Gendry made sure they had plenty of meat, fruit, and milk.
Gendry poured honey lemonade for each soldier. Lemons were an expensive commodity, and the common soldiers rarely enjoyed them, so they drank with great relish.
After everything was arranged, Gendry, Ser Barristan, Lord Yohn, and the others gathered around the central ground to eat. The food was delicious, and Gendry ate quickly. Everyone saw the Commander's meal; these nobles ate the same food as them, showing unity between officers and soldiers.
"After we lift the siege, I will drink a celebratory toast with all of you."
"Certainly, certainly." Just as the few of them were gathered around the dining table, their relationship rapidly improving, a curse disrupted the situation.
"Damn you, you wretched savage!"
"Shut up, you people of the Vale are only fit to screw sheep." A Crabfeeder's Man and a Knight of the Vale started fighting. Shoving each other, they moved from the dining table to the aisle. Everyone stopped eating, watching the two clowns.
"What are you doing?"
Michel Redwyne of Redfort and Jak Crakehall immediately stepped in to control their subordinates.
Gendry watched this farce. The Vale and the crabfeeders men had always been at odds because the Vale was the first foothold taken by the andals, and most of the crabfeeders men had first men blood, having fought many battles with the Vale. Moreover, after the War of the Usurper, most of the punitive measures against them were enacted by Old Arryn.
"He called me a savage."
"He said I only screw sheep, and that Lord Arryn's family couldn't have children."
"..." These soldiers were very hot-headed, and there were long-standing grievances between the two regions.
"Both of you shut up!" Gendry walked over, shouting loudly, his voice like the clang of steel. The two arguing men fell silent. He looked at them; they were two naive young men, and young men at this age were most easily angered and provoked to violence over honor and regional divisions.
"Go get my warhammer." Gendry walked over and said to the arguing Knight of the Vale and Crabfeeder's Man. The two young men paused, stunned.
Then, both of them, red-faced, asked, "Are we both trying?"
"Let's try one by one," Gendry said. Gendry's warhammer was by the Commander's dining table in the very center of the camp, so everyone fell silent, quietly watching the unfolding drama.
First, the proud Knight of the Vale walked over. In front of thousands of eyes, he tried to drag the warhammer, but found it difficult to even lift, let alone wield. The Knight of the Vale was red-faced, his face covered in sweat.
"Can I use two hands?" The Knight of the Vale stammered, using both hands, but still felt unable to swing it.
"Let me try." The Crabfeeder's warrior said disdainfully. He wasn't tall but was very burly. The Crabfeeder's Man's face immediately turned red; the weight of this warhammer was more than an ordinary person could bear, let alone wield. The Crabfeeder's Man managed to lift it a few times before dropping the hammer to the ground again.
"Argue then! Are your mouths the only hard thing about you?" Anguy mocked.
----------------------------------
I've already uploaded over 70 new chapters on Patreon!
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead, feel free to check it out.
Your support truly means a lot to me!
patreon.com/Kazenova223
Thank you so much for being here!
And if you're having fun with the story, don't forget to drop a Power Stone for me!