A sleepless night.
Solomon sat in the command tent outside the castle, dark circles under his eyes, slumping wearily in his chair.
Lauchlan and Lushen sat to his right, giving him strange, knowing smiles.
Bronn sat cross-legged on the left, carefully cleaning his nails with a dagger.
"You look terrible, Lord Solomon!" Bronn looked up, grinning wickedly.
Solomon rubbed his neck, ignoring him.
"Is sleeping on a noblewoman's soft bed harder than sleeping on a hard camp cot?" Bronn blew the filings off his nails. "A pity. I was planning to show you the delights beyond the Riverlands."
Solomon ignored the teasing. "I need someone to stay in Deepden as Captain of the Guard. Any suggestions?"
Lauchlan and Lushen immediately stopped smiling and lowered their heads, terrified of being picked. Neither wanted to leave Solomon's side.
"Sigh..." Solomon knew they were loyal dogs, but they had no administrative skills.
"I plan to send Old Nikken here," Solomon said. "The captain will answer to him."
He needed to leave soldiers to protect Nikken and ensure his interests. Mirekeep Castle was too poor; he had to abandon it temporarily to focus on the new land. Deepden would be his supply base.
He couldn't rely on Lady Roslin forever. He had over a thousand mouths to feed.
"I have a candidate," Bronn said, twirling his dagger.
"You do?" Solomon was surprised.
"Tommen," Bronn said, twitching his face as if annoyed by Solomon's doubt. "The kid is quick-witted. And loyal to you."
He remembered how Tommen had threatened him with Solomon's authority.
"Hmm..." Solomon remembered the young rider.
"Bring him."
Tommen entered nervously. "Lord Solomon!"
"Tommen, I am leaving ten men in Deepden under your command. You will also manage the castle garrison, obey Lady Rona, and follow the orders of the incoming steward."
"Yes, my Lord!" Tommen's eyes lit up. It was a promotion.
"Tommen," Solomon asked slowly. "If I leave Deepden to you, and traitors try to cause trouble, how will you handle it?"
Tommen got nervous. "I will obey Lady Rona and the steward..."
Solomon shook his head. "I asked what you would do."
Tommen hesitated, then his eyes hardened. "I will kill them secretly, my Lord! I answer only to you!"
"Good." Solomon nodded. "Dismissed."
Once Tommen left, Solomon turned to Bronn.
"Bronn, I have another job for you."
"Name it. As long as the coin is good."
"Hire mercenaries. As many as you can. Money is no object."
Bronn dropped his dagger. "What? Mercenaries? As many as possible?"
"With your loot, you could build a nice castle and live like a lord for life! Mercenaries are expensive!"
"Gold is just metal," Solomon smiled calmly. "It runs out. But land doesn't."
Money buys temporary safety. Power and land buy eternal security.
"Fine, fine." Bronn threw up his hands. "How many?"
"As many as you can get."
"I want half my fee upfront," Bronn demanded. "And half the hiring cost now."
"Lushen," Solomon ordered. "Give him a bag of gold dragons. And the best black horse."
Lushen obeyed instantly.
Bronn weighed the heavy bag, grinning. He vaulted onto the horse.
"Aren't you afraid I'll run with the money?" he asked, reining the horse.
Solomon stood outside the tent, his expression unreadable in the shadows. He just smiled.
Bronn said nothing more. He kicked the horse and galloped away, a black streak of lightning disappearing into the horizon.
Solomon watched him go.
"Lushen, Lauchlan. Gather the men."
Soon, three hundred soldiers stood in formation.
Solomon climbed onto the makeshift platform. He held up a map.
"Lady Roslin has given me land." He pointed to a spot on the map.
The soldiers stared, confused.
"But..."
"There is a small problem with that land."
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