The Crackclawmen were overwhelmed by the honor, for the king truly possessed the legendary charisma that made men willing to die for him.
Most of these houses had never appeared in the original books' storyline. True to their reputation as diehard Royalists loyal to the True Dragon, the Crackclawmen had paid only lip service to royal edicts. But the region was notoriously poor, and King's Landing saw little profit to be squeezed from it. Besides, Crackclaw Point's terrain was complex and its people unruly and defiant, leaving King's Landing little choice but to let them be. They could only impose a token increase in taxes and keep out of one another's way.
"Ser Boggs has already led us in killing the Mountain. We must send Tywin more gifts," Jaqen said.
"Let the Lannisters howl for having crossed our path."
"Beat the Lannisters!"
"Beat the traitors!" the Crackclawmen roared, whether veteran warriors, children, or women.
Among those the Crackclawmen hated most were the Lannisters, Arryns, Baratheons, and Starks. Relatively speaking, the treacherous Lannisters were the foulest and most ruthless, so naturally they hated them with gritted teeth. Now King Robert was dead, the stag and dragon had reconciled, and revenge against Tywin went without saying.
"Your Highness, I have assembled our men. As you instructed, I have organized twenty-five hundred cavalry. We can depart. I also prepared large riverboats on Crackclaw Point ahead of time; they can transport soldiers as well," Ser Boggs said.
Twenty-five hundred cavalry was not Crackclaw Point's limit, but that was roughly all they could muster if they selected only the finest.
"Very good," Gendry said. "But one of our reinforcements has yet to arrive."
"Very well." Ser Boggs knew whom Gendry meant: the Blue Cloaks coming from the Vale, of course.
Gendry had his "Gold