Star Station, Main Keep, The Eyrie.
"I thought you came specifically to see me off."
Lady Nym stood on the Eyrie's terrace, looking across the Torrentine. On the opposite bank, a hundred soldiers were marching across the stone bridge in perfect order.
"It seems seeing me off is just incidental?"
"Can't be helped. You know how busy I've been lately." Arthur tossed a strip of meat from a bucket to Sharpwing, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
"Besides, have you ever seen a normal man personally escort his lover to her ex-husband's house?"
Lady Nym rolled her eyes. "Is that the wildling army you trained in Violet Canyon?"
"Yes, but they are called the Regular Mountain Corps," Arthur corrected.
"They aren't entirely made up of wildlings. There are Dornishmen and Braavosi among them too."
The soldiers of the Regular Mountain Corps crossing the bridge maintained a strict formation. Their burly physiques and the fierce aura typical of wildlings radiated an intense pressure that was palpable even from a distance.
While the corps crossed, occupying only half the width of the bridge, the other half remained completely empty.
No one dared to cross the river at that moment. Travelers on both banks simply watched from afar, afraid to approach.
"They look impressive."
Lady Nym felt that if the corps weren't flying the banners of Starfall and Arthur's personal heart sigil, the onlookers on both banks would have fled and hidden as fast as their legs could carry them.
Beyond their physique and aura, every soldier was armed to the teeth. Their equipment was uniform—a stark contrast to the motley gear seen on typical levies or even castle guards.
Apart from a few officers, every man in the unit wore identical standard-issue equipment.
"I hope they don't just look impressive," Arthur said calmly. "I hope they fight impressively too."
Lady Nym asked, "How much does it cost to outfit a single soldier like that?"
She didn't wait for Arthur to answer, making her own estimate.
The soldiers wore open-faced basinets with nasals—good protection without compromising vision.
She noticed linen drapes hanging from the back of the helms to protect the neck from the harsh Dornish sun. A helmet like that, adapted for the climate, would sell for about 5 golden dragons in Dorne.
Their armor looked similar to the rattan suit Arthur had given her. She knew it was protective, lightweight, and breathable—perfect for Dorne.
She wasn't sure of the price of rattan armor, but a new mail hauberk could sell for 15 golden dragons. She'd be willing to pay double that for a rattan suit.
On their backs, they carried rattan shields. Their weapons were a single-handed arming sword and a short spear.
"100 golden dragons."
Just as Nym was finalizing her mental calculation, she heard Arthur's casual answer.
Arthur had finished feeding Sharpwing and was now standing beside her.
"100 golden dragons?! For one soldier?"
Nym frowned. That was more than double her estimate.
"And that's the factory price," Arthur explained, counting on his fingers. "That means I control everything from raw material collection to forging, keeping costs as low as possible."
Arthur was slightly exaggerating. The actual cost for a standard set of Mountain Corps gear was around 50-60 golden dragons.
The main cost driver was the rattan armor, which required soaking in tung oil and a long, complex production cycle.
Seeing the corps forming up at the North Gate, Arthur glanced back at Sharpwing, who was perched quietly on his stand.
The eagle immediately spread his wings and took to the sky with a powerful flap.
At the North Gate, Arthur gave a brief speech to the troops, clarifying the objective: bandit suppression. Then, he led the hundred-man unit north along the road beside the Torrentine.
As they marched, Lady Nym grew increasingly astonished.
The Regular Mountain Corps maintained a constant marching speed. Their steps were synchronized, and not a single man fell out of formation.
The impression they gave her was superior not only to the guards of the various Dornish lords but even to her father Oberyn's personal guard in Sunspear. In terms of marching discipline and formation, this unit was leagues ahead.
"How did you get them to this level?" Nym asked.
Arthur held up three fingers. "Three meals a day, full pay, and competitive employment."
Ser Bard, who was leading the column, added, "This hundred-man unit does nothing else. Their daily task is solely training and drills."
"Nothing else?" Nym squinted at Arthur.
"I seem to have underestimated your wealth. Where do you get the money to support them?"
"They achieve this through effort and sweat," Arthur shrugged.
"And I have this much money, naturally, through effort and sweat as well."
---
The troops arrived at High Hermitage before nightfall as planned. After resting for the night, they turned east toward Nightfall Keep the next morning. Halfway there, they met Ser Williams and the 200 levies he had mustered.
Perhaps feeling his numbers were inadequate, Ser Williams looked ashamed when he met Arthur.
"My lord, this is every man I could muster from my lands."
"I do not doubt your loyalty to Starfall or to me," Arthur said, noticing old men and women in the ranks.
"Ser Williams, dismiss the elderly and the women. The men remaining are enough."
Seeing Ser Williams hesitate, Arthur offered a few more words of reassurance. Only then did the knight gather the elderly and women to send them back.
120 levies remained.
With the addition of the 120 unevenly trained levies, the overall marching speed slowed.
It wasn't until noon the next day that the outline of Nightfall Keep came into view.
Built against the hills, Nightfall Keep guarded the Prince's Pass and the main route from eastern Dorne to High Hermitage.
Arthur had passed by here on his way to the Sunspear tourney, but rushing and unsure of the tourney dates, he hadn't stopped.
Lady Corinne, the Lord of Nightfall Keep, was waiting early at the gates, with her maester, guards, and servants lined up behind her.
"L-Lord Arthur... infinitely grateful... for your aid... please allow me to offer... again reiterate... Nightfall Keep's l-loyal declaration."
Whether she was terrified of Arthur or the army behind him, Lady Corinne stammered badly.
She knelt and, prompted by her maester, recited a prepared declaration of loyalty as if from memory. Arthur helped her up.
"As the Acting Castellan of Starfall, I accept your allegiance."
Arthur and his retinue then ate the bread and salt offered by the servants of Nightfall Keep.
Seeing Arthur eat the guest right offerings, Corinne seemed visibly relieved. She invited them into the castle and led them to the Great Hall.