On the main road outside Crigganburg, a procession of people approached at a steady pace. In the middle of the procession, a large banner was raised, on which a lifelike peacock with its tail feathers spread was displayed.
In the middle of the procession were several prison vans, each containing more than a dozen people, including the elderly, the young, the men, and the women.
Adoo Saloth led the way with his guards.
The prison wagon was flanked by the most elite cavalry of the Salot family.
This cavalry unit has fifty men.
With a sharp, metallic whistle, shouts, the clashing of hooves, and the clanging of swords echoed from Clegane Castle. Soon, a cavalry unit, lances at their ready, assembled from Clegane Castle, lined up, and charged.
The leading knight was none other than Sweet-Talking Raphthong Clegane. His breastplate was newly engraved with the Clegane family crest: a three-headed, roaring hound.
Only those who have acquired the Clegane surname are qualified to carve the Clegane family crest and wear the Clegane family crest pin on their clothing.
A yellow banner with three black dogs arranged in columns also moved with the cavalry.
The cavalrymen who went to meet the enemy were all wearing red cloaks, the traditional color of the Western Frontier Army. The same color as the red cloaks worn by the Saloth family cavalry.
The three-headed hound standard of Clegane Fortress was carried by a dark-skinned, strong cavalryman named Blackstone, a miner.
Leading the procession were Gregor's four henchmen: the sweet-talking knight Ralph Clegane; the executioner Dunsen; the fanatic Polliver; and the notebook Mark.
Four people surrounded a petite figure: Julie Clegane.
Julie wore a light and well-fitting suit of armor, with leather protecting her elbows and knees, which ensured her agility. A sword belt hung at her waist, from which hung a sword and a short dagger, while a bow was slung across her back, and a quiver filled with arrows hung at her waist.
The reason the men and horses of Crigganburg could react so quickly was because they were receiving cavalry training in the courtyard of Crigganburg.
Each member of this cavalry unit carried a bow on their back and a quiver of arrows at their waist.
Julie, focus on archery! — This is Lord Gregor's order.
There was no room for discussion; it was an order.
Lord Gregor believed that Julie was too small in stature and had small arm bones, giving her a natural disadvantage in strength compared to men. He thought she would lose her strength advantage in close combat, so he ordered Julie Clegane to focus on archery.
However, whether practicing spearmanship, swordsmanship, knife skills, or archery, strength is required.
Drawing a longbow and wielding a hard arrow requires strength no less than that required for practicing swordsmanship.
Julie's practice sword was filled with lead to help her develop strength in her arms.
Gregor's four henchmen surrounded Julie, for Julie was Gregor's adopted daughter. Gregor had married two wives, both of whom died from broken necks, leaving him no children. Thus, his adopted daughter Julie Clegane became the only young lady of the influential Clegane family.
Even the four ruthless demons under Lord Gregor's command dared not bully her.
*
Ador Sharoth reined in his warhorse.
His team stopped together.
Ador was surprised to see a cavalry unit rushing out of Clegane Castle; he estimated that the unit numbered more than fifty men.
The cavalry swept in, the wind whipping the three-headed hound banners in the ranks, making a snapping sound.
"Where did Lord Gregor get his cavalry in just twenty days?" Ador asked.
Accompanying him was the calmest of the seven brothers: Adam Saloort.
Adam was skilled with a spear.
"Is that Duke Tywin's cavalry guard?"
Ser Gregor was the captain of Tywin Lannister's guard, commanding an elite cavalry force of five hundred men responsible for Tywin's safety. However, since it was peacetime, Tywin no longer needed a cavalry force of five hundred men by his side every day.
"Very likely!" Ador Sharoth said.
The arriving cavalry was fully armed, clad in armor and helmets, carrying longswords and fine horses, with round shields slung across their backs. Such a well-equipped cavalry unit was most likely Duke Tywin's personal guard cavalry.
"No!" Adam stared intently at the swiftly advancing group. "They're flying the Three-Headed Hound Flag."
If it were Tywin's cavalry, they would fly the Golden Lion Banner.
"It's Sir Gregor's private cavalry!" Ador's voice revealed shock.
They all knew Gregor was a penniless man, living off Lord Tywin Lannister. Normally, his Clegane Keep housed only three people: a cook, a servant, and a young steward. His lands comprised no more than eleven households, making him a minor noble with the smallest estate and fewest inhabitants.
"The Mountain used the golden dragon we gave him as compensation to buy a cavalry unit," Adam said, sounding frustrated.
"Maybe he hired mercenaries," Adu thought bitterly.
"It won't be mercenaries. With the Mountain's reputation, Tywin's dual status as a general and captain of the guard, and his small territory, he has no need for mercenaries to protect his little land."
"But he doesn't need his own private cavalry to protect his territory. Who would dare to touch his territory?" Ador retorted to his fourth brother.
*
The sound of hooves rang out, and the Clegane cavalry approached. Ador noticed the three-headed hound insignia on Sweetmouth Ruff's armor and saw the petite figure in the center. Julie Clegane was fully dressed, wearing a helmet, so no one could see her face.
But both Adu and Adam guessed who the petite figure was.
Sweet-Talking Raff let out a sharp whistle, and the troops behind him quickly parted, each man brandishing a long spear, surrounding Sharlout's group. Adoo was surprised by the sound Sweet-Talking Raff made; he had never heard it before.
Adam and his soldiers had never heard the sound of an iron whistle before. In this world, generals and centurions shouted during battles. Noblemen's sons were specially trained in shouting from a young age because they would lead troops in battle. This world had advanced iron smelting technology, but the iron whistle had not been invented.
Gregor, coming from another civilization, effortlessly invented the iron whistle and, within two days, incorporated various battle commands into the long, short, light, and heavy sounds of the whistle, using it to train cavalry units in advance, retreat, and maneuvering.
The penetrating power and recognizability of a whistle are far superior to a shout from the throat, especially in the midst of a large-scale battle.
Adu and Adam also noticed that in addition to their swords and lances, each of these cavalrymen carried two javelins.
This is a well-trained cavalry unit, with a bow on their backs and quivers hanging from their waists.
Arrows are used for long-range attacks, while javelins are used for medium-range, high-angle throws.
The Saloth family's cavalry were surrounded and immediately became easy prey.
The petite woman in the center took off her helmet, revealing a heroic spirit and an icy indifference. Her single eyelids and thin lips exuded coldness and ruthlessness, making her a completely different person from when she was in the mine. But she was indeed Julie Clegane.
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