Arthur and Lady Nym rested at Nightfall Keep for a day. After attending the betrothal ceremony of Ser Williams and Lady Corinne, Nym and her entourage departed for Skyreach.
Arthur didn't linger at Nightfall Keep either. Following the red circles he had marked on his map, he led the Regular Mountain Corps along the planned route, sweeping away banditry and lawlessness like a broom.
These small bandit dens, hideouts, and settlements tucked away in the nooks and crannies of the hills were the perfect targets for the Mountain Corps, especially with the [Southman Invasion] buff still active.
Combined with Arthur's aerial reconnaissance via Sharpwing, their efficiency was terrifying.
Over the next seven days, one bandit nest after another was uprooted.
When Arthur finally led his troops back to Star Station, Ser Balon, who was responsible for receiving the prisoners, reported that over a thousand captives had already been sent to Ironrock Castle.
As for the soldiers of the Regular Mountain Corps, after a week of continuous combat, their eyes now held the steely glint of true veterans. Just standing there silently, they radiated an aura that commanded respect and fear.
Star Station, Main Keep, Council Chamber.
Arthur summoned Ser Balon, Ser Bard, Nick (the Steward of Star Station), and Maester Ewan to discuss rewards for the soldiers and the disposal of the loot and prisoners.
Outside the window, the setting sun dyed the castle's stone walls a golden red. Inside, candles flickered on bronze stands, illuminating a long table covered in documents.
"Any issues with the prisoners at Ironrock Castle?" Arthur asked, drumming his fingers lightly on the table.
"None," Ser Balon shook his head, his thick beard trembling slightly.
"Stone-Drum, the leader of the Stone Goat Clan, has managed the prisoners and criminals well. If not for his experience in handling such a complex mix of captives, I don't know what kind of chaos we might have had."
Arthur nodded. Stone-Drum had been a capable assistant in managing and training wildling captives before. His performance in prisoner management had always been commendable and trustworthy.
He turned his gaze to Nick. "What about the loot inventory?"
Nick was one of the five Braavosi who had followed Pate to Starfall, capable of speaking both the Common Tongue and Braavosi. He had formerly worked in the Braavosi customs office and was a man meticulous to the last copper.
Nick placed a stack of ledgers on the table. "My lord, here is the detailed list, categorized by type, quantity, and condition."
Arthur opened the book. The pages were densely filled with records of various spoils—rusted swords, damaged mail, grain, livestock, coins...
The items were miscellaneous, but Nick had listed every single one.
They were broadly categorized into weapons and armor, grain and livestock, and coin and goods. The quantity was substantial.
After passing the ledger around, Arthur asked, "What are your suggestions for the disposal of these spoils?"
"My lord," Maester Ewan spoke first.
"The grain, livestock, and goods can remain at Star Station. The site for the upcoming tourney is not far from here. I believe they will fetch a good price then."
Maester Ewan came from a family of landed knights in the Riverlands. As a younger son, he had been sent to the Citadel. He had forged his chain only three months ago and been assigned to Star Station.
Nick quickly added, "Most of the weapons and armor are heavily damaged. I suggest sending them to the Artisan District to be melted down or repaired. The serviceable pieces can be kept for the reserve troops or sold."
Ser Balon nodded in agreement. "That is a sound suggestion. Damaged equipment is worth little more than scrap iron."
Ser Bard stroked the scar on his chin. "Regarding the captured coin, I suggest setting aside half—about fifteen hundred golden dragons—for rewards and compensation for the families of the fallen."
Arthur looked around the table and nodded with satisfaction. Their suggestions were all pragmatic.
"Dispose of the materials as the Maester and Nick suggested," Arthur decided. "As for the rewards for the soldiers..."
He paused, his gaze deepening. "In addition to coin, I intend to reward them with land in Violet Canyon."
Ser Bard's eyes lit up.
Although Violet Canyon had developed over the past two years and was no longer barren, there was still plenty of empty land.
Granting land would not only encourage cultivation but also secure the loyalty of the Mountain Corps soldiers.
Sure enough, Arthur continued:
"I plan to have all the families of the Regular Mountain Corps migrate there to live. This way, the soldiers will have no worries on the battlefield. The families of the fallen, if they wish, will enjoy the same treatment."
Ser Balon frowned. "The wildling chiefs might not let them go easily."
"If they refuse, they are violating the agreement they signed with us," Arthur said coldly.
"Forcibly keeping the soldiers' families will only alienate the Corps from their original tribes."
Arthur's move was also a direct response to the recent desertions among the reservists.
Since he had spent so much gold and effort building this army, he wasn't about to let anyone else reap the benefits.
This elite force had to be loyal to him, not their original tribes.
Ser Bard asked, "Do the families of the reservists need to move to Violet Canyon as well?"
"Not for now," Arthur replied. "Let's wait until after the tourney to decide on the reservists."
Arthur knew the dangers of overreaching. Starfall was currently revolving around the tourney preparations, and he didn't want to create unnecessary complications during this critical period.
While the Great Purge had tempered the Regular Mountain Corps and yielded loot, what Arthur valued most was actually the thousand-plus prisoners.
Though their backgrounds were complex, Arthur believed that after a mature labor reform process at Ironrock Castle, they would become useful labor for Starfall.
Violet Canyon and the subsequent development of Starfall were in dire need of manpower.
Arthur planned to launch an infrastructure project once these prisoners were sufficiently reformed.
He intended to build a road from Star Station to Nightfall Keep, and then to the Prince's Pass. This would not only facilitate overland trade and transport but also expand Starfall's influence outward.
After the meeting concluded, Arthur asked Ser Bard to stay behind.
"Ser, after you lead the troops back to the Mountain Corps training grounds, distribute the rewards and compensation first," Arthur instructed.
"Then organize an assessment for the reservists to fill the vacancies in the Regular Corps."
"Understood."
"Besides that," Arthur said solemnly, "the most important thing is to ensure the migration of the Regular Mountain Corps soldiers' families. This is our top priority."
"If any wildling chief refuses, note their name and let Stone-Drum handle the mediation. Do not engage in direct conflict with the chiefs."
Ser Bard nodded gravely, thumping his chest. "As you command, my lord!"