Flat-bottomed Sailboat

King's Landing, Hook Alley, afternoon.

Gryn had just entered the courtyard with Mutton and Anguy when they ran into a young man in a blue robe. He was of average height but very sturdily built.

When the young man in blue spotted Gryn, he hurried over, visibly excited, and dropped to one knee. "Lord Gryn, your loyal Martier Baker greets you."

After motioning for Martier Baker to rise, Gryn smiled. "Martier, does this mean you're allowed to leave home now?"

The twenty-two-year-old Martier rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I finally have a son. My father's still in the old country, and no one knows when he'll return. I couldn't wait any longer, so I asked Steward Herschel to put me aboard a merchant ship. I came here using the address Steward Herschel gave me. I just arrived."

Martier Baker was the legitimate eldest son of Mason Baker, a Crabb House Knight. The Mason Baker family had an inviolable rule: the eldest son could not go to war or travel far from home until he had a son of his own.

Word had it that the Crabb ancestors had established this rule specifically for their household knights. Pell Pili's family, also among the Crabb household knights, followed the exact same rule.

Married at fifteen by Sir Mason's arrangement, Martier had spent seven years diligently trying to fulfill his family's duty—and earn his freedom.

Gryn understood how eager Martier must have been to rush off the moment his son was born. The Crabb ancestors had done a fine job!

Gryn patted Martier's sturdy shoulder. "Welcome, Martier. From now on, you're my squire. You'll look after my mount and keep my bow and arrows safe."

Suppressing his excitement, Martier dropped to one knee again. "I swear to follow the Baker family's traditions and remain loyal to you until death. I swear it by the Old and New Gods."

Following Crabb tradition, Gryn rested both hands on his sword and spoke in a steady, solemn voice. "There will always be a place for you by my hearth, and meat and wine for you at my table. I swear it by the Old and New Gods."

Anguy watched, envious, and whispered to Mutton, "Have you sworn your loyalty to Lord Gryn?"

Mutton blinked his big, vacant eyes. "No. Didn't you read the lord's military regulations? Except in special circumstances, you can only swear loyalty to him personally after serving him for three years, based on your record. I'm in no hurry."

Anguy rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed. "I can't read very well... Wait, you can read?"

Mutton looked a little pleased with himself. "My mother taught me. She wouldn't let me eat my fill until I learned."

Anguy's expression dimmed, but he quickly recovered. "What counts as a special circumstance?"

Mutton answered in his simple, earnest way. "Someone like him? Martier's family has served the lord's family for hundreds of years, ever since their ancestors."

Hundreds of years? Anguy couldn't compete with that. His spirits sank at once.

Mutton comforted him. "The most important thing in the first three years is obedience. Follow every order from Lord Gryn. It's just doing what you're told, right? I think that's easy."

When Mutton was little, disobeying his mother meant going hungry. To him, obedience was a familiar word, almost a comforting one.

Mutton continued, "After three years, you'll qualify to swear loyalty to the lord. Once you've sworn, if you do something great, he might even knight you. I asked about it specifically—even a bastard can be knighted. I might become a knight too, hehe!"

As Mutton spoke, Anguy saw a very clear path to advancement.

I could be knighted too? Anguy's spirits were instantly restored.

"Yeah, right..."

Mutton suddenly remembered something else. "I thought of another special circumstance. Amparo, commander of the Thorn Legion—she swore loyalty on her very first day."

Anguy's interest was piqued. "From the name, she sounds like a woman. How did she manage that?"

Mutton wore his usual guileless expression. "She's strong. Everyone says she's impressive, the best female warrior in the territory."

Anguy suddenly asked, as if something had occurred to him, "Are the women of Whispers all that impressive?"

Mutton, who had an animal's instincts, used a little trick in his answer. "Some people are rather unusual."

That made sense. It was normal for a small number of women to be a little different. Anguy nodded in agreement.

The women of Whispers... Well, the Spearwives were just a little stronger, a little fiercer, and a little more ruthless. Aside from being able to fight as well as men, they were perfectly nice!

Mutton, who was usually so earnest, nodded vigorously along with Anguy.

Mutton decided he ought to change the subject. "Anguy, you're really skilled. Don't rush. You'll have your chance too."

Anguy thanked him. "I will, Mutton. I didn't realize you knew so much. I'll have to ask you for advice more often."

Mutton grinned. "I've had good hearing since I was little. When everyone was eating, they'd talk about all sorts of things, and I could hear it all."

Anguy first gave him an impressed look, then said, "You'll have to teach me to read. I'll give you all my ale from now on."

Mutton shook his big head. "It's fine. I like working with you, and I'm happy to help. You like ale, so don't give me any. If you can read, you can memorize the lord's military regulations. Those really matter."

A certain flower blossomed between Mutton and Anguy.

Ahem, the flower of friendship!

Leading Gryn's mount by the reins, Martier hesitated for a long while before speaking. "My lord, do you remember the merchant Jeffries?"

Jeffries was a moderately successful merchant. He owned two hundred-foot-long flat-bottomed sailboats and mainly traded along the shores of Blackwater Bay. He had traded leather with Whispers several times.

The merchant ship Gryn had taken from Mermaid Harbor to King's Landing belonged to Jeffries.

The steep fare had left a lasting impression on Gryn, and he nodded.

"My lord, I was aboard one of Jeffries's ships this time too. On the first night of the voyage, we ran into pirates. The Royal Fleet's patrol ship in Blackwater Bay came to our rescue quickly, so we avoided major losses. But Jeffries took an arrow to the abdomen. His injury is severe, and I fear he won't last more than a few days."

Stannis Baratheon, Duke of Dragonstone, was King Robert Baratheon's younger brother and served as Master of Ships. Stannis Baratheon was stern and reserved, scrupulous about the law, and utterly uncompromising. As a result, under Master of Ships Stannis Baratheon's authority, the Royal Fleet never dared slacken its patrols of Blackwater Bay and other waters.

But the sea was vast, and there were always bold, cunning pirates who managed to evade the Royal Fleet and risked sailing into Blackwater Bay, the sea Master of Ships Stannis Baratheon cared most about protecting.

Gryn's heart stirred, and his brown eyes turned toward Martier.

"After I boarded, Jeffries learned who I was and treated me warmly. He said he had great respect for you, my lord."