A few days later, Aegon led most of the craftsmen from the Whispers and his directly held lands on the peninsula, along with nearly three thousand temporarily conscripted laborers, westward in a vast procession along the route scouted several days earlier.
The column stretched for miles along the winding mountain paths. Craftsmen pushed wheelbarrows laden with tools, laborers shouldered shovels and picks, and horses carried bundles of rope, tents, and provisions.
Among them were young, able-bodied Wildlings from the Mountain Clans who had only surrendered in the past few days. Though still dressed in animal skins, they now carried the same tools as the other laborers.
Over those days, Aegon had been busy tracking down, hunting, and wiping out the remaining Mountain Clan Wildlings who had crossed Crab Bay southward to raid Crackclaw Point. He had also found time to return to the Whispers and expend considerable effort soothing Rhaenyra.
With time so short, he could hardly prepare for everything.
After all, developing new territory meant sending some people and supplies ahead. He also had to finish the preliminary work before the Velaryon family visited King's Landing, then return there as quickly as possible.
At the very least, he had to plant his golden three-headed dragon banner in this river valley first.
Fortunately, the valley was neither too near nor too far from the Whispers.
With people and baggage in tow, the main column reached the foot of those towering mountains early on the third day.
What had taken less than half a day on horseback was another matter entirely with thousands of laborers and a baggage train.
But Aegon was in no hurry-
After all, Rome had not been built in a day, and what he intended to leave behind on Crackclaw Point would certainly be more than a