"My lord"

Kalen jogged up to Davion.

With a thud, he dropped to his knees and knocked his forehead hard against the ground.

He did not so much as glance at his father lying to one side.

"Greetings, honored Earl!"

Kalen's voice was tight, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably. This time, he truly was gambling with his life!

Davion watched his performance and nodded inwardly.

"Ah, young master Kalen. Why didn't you come with your father?"

Kalen did not dare raise his head to look at Davion's expression, but hearing his calm tone still made his heart shudder.

"You jest, my lord!"

"I've always opposed what my father and the others were doing, but my standing in House Vance is so low that no one listens to a word I say! There was nothing I could do!"

With those words, Kalen was already hinting that he meant to distance himself from his father and elder brother.

But Davion did not think that was enough!

"Oh, I see. Then what brings you down here now, young master Kalen?"

Kalen's mind raced as he considered the deeper meaning behind Davion's words.

The Earl was the one who called me over. What does he mean by saying that?

Kalen truly was a clever man. Within a few breaths, he had figured out the crucial point.

His heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Could it be what I'm thinking? Could it?! Whatever happens, I'll take the gamble!

Kalen raised his head slightly, keeping his eyes on Davion's knees, and said,

"My lord, I am willing to compensate you for all your losses and apologize for House Vance's past insolence."

Davion frowned slightly.

Kalen's words were exceedingly veiled!

Taken one way, he was asking Davion to spare his father and elder brother.

Taken another way, his father and elder brother had been in the wrong first and were at their lord's mercy! As for the compensation mentioned earlier, Kalen was offering to shoulder it all.

Davion thought to himself,

Perhaps this is a common failing among clever people. They always leave themselves room to maneuver! Even when sounding someone out, they speak in vague terms!

Naturally, Davion was not satisfied.

His voice grew a little colder as he said,

"Young master Kalen, what do you mean by that? I didn't understand. Say it again!"

Davion paused, then emphasized,

"For the last time!"

Panic swept through Kalen.

I've already made it so plain. How can he still not understand?

No, he understood!

Otherwise, he wouldn't have told me to say it again.

He's just forcing me to be clearer and more explicit!

Once he realized this, Kalen immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

This meant Kalen had gambled correctly. The Earl intended to support him as the head of House Vance.

But if he truly stated his position that plainly, word of what he had done would spread throughout the Riverlands by the next day!

Kalen clenched his teeth, a fierce struggle raging in his mind.

After a little over half a minute, Kalen once again knocked his head hard against the ground.

Then he quickly crawled two steps forward and reverently clasped Davion's worn leather boots in both hands.

He gently kissed them.

"My lord, I, Kalen Vance, swear upon my bloodline and honor! House Vance shall serve House Whent for generation after generation, doing everything in our power, following you in life and death, and never betraying you!"

His voice trembled uncontrollably with emotion, yet it was exceptionally firm.

Hearing Kalen's words, Raymond spat out a mouthful of blood.

He pointed a trembling finger at Kalen and cursed,

"Kalen, you're only a second son! With your elder brother here, it's not your turn to become lord of Grey Stone Keep! You have even less right to swear an oath on behalf of House Vance!"

Kalen gave a cold laugh, lifted his head slightly, and cast a sidelong glance at his father behind him.

His eyes were sinister and cold.

"Father, why do you never understand the situation? You and my elder brother have no future! I will become House Vance's sole heir!"

Enraged, Raymond struggled to prop up his upper body and spat a mouthful of blood-flecked saliva at Kalen.

"Kalen, you're dreaming! Even if I leave Grey Stone Keep to your sister, I won't give it to you!"

Kalen did not argue with his father's impotent rage. He merely snorted and ignored him.

Davion asked in confusion,

"Young master Kalen, you have a sister? Why haven't I heard of her?"

Davion could hardly be blamed for this. It was entirely because his body's original owner had known little about the nobles within his domain.

"My sister has always kept to herself. It's only natural that you haven't met her."

At this point, inspiration flashed through Kalen's mind, and he said,

"My lord, I am willing to offer you my sister, so she may attend you on behalf of House Vance!"

Davion stroked his chin with interest.

"Is your sister beautiful?"

Hearing that, Kalen realized he had a chance!

He hurriedly explained,

"My sister has fair skin and delicate features. She's certainly a budding beauty! And she had her first monthly bleeding just last month, so she's ready to share your bed!"

Davion heard something not quite right in that.

"Stop. Don't say any more! Let me ask you, how old is your sister this year?"

"She'll be twelve in a few months!"

Davion slapped his forehead. Sure enough, standards in Westeros really were low. Yes.

"There's no need for her to share my bed. Just let her stay at my side as a maid! Harrenhal happens to be short of hands!"

Davion most certainly had not made that decision because he had heard she was beautiful!

Kalen was overjoyed at his words!

Since the Earl had agreed to take his sister, that meant he had accepted his allegiance.

Kalen knocked his head against the ground three more times with loud thuds. His forehead was already a little red and swollen.

"Thank you, my lord! My sister is also very good at work!"

Davion waved a hand.

"Enough, 'Lord' Kalen. There's no need to stand on such ceremony! Get up!"

Hearing the word "lord," Kalen excitedly planted several more kisses on Davion's boot!

After rising, he looked at Davion with excitement written all over his face.

Davion continued,

"First, prepare a carriage drawn by eight horses. Remember, the horses pulling it must be warhorses!"

The size of Davion's appetite somewhat exceeded Kalen's expectations.

After all, Grey Stone Keep only had around sixteen usable warhorses.

Davion had demanded half of them in a single breath.

Yet he could not refuse. He was still counting on Davion to kill his father and elder brother.

Then Davion continued,

"Also, prepare five thousand gold dragons for me."

"Five thousand!"

Kalen cried out, looking at Davion in disbelief.

Davion chuckled, his smile both friendly and kindly.

He stepped forward, slung an arm around Kalen's neck, and said in his ear,

"Lord Kalen, you're a clever man, unlike your father and elder brother, who are both greedy and stupid!"

"But deep down, you're actually the same sort of man as your father and elder brother. None of you believe in things like oaths and loyalty!"

"As it happens, neither do I!"

"So it would be safer to maintain our relationship through money!"

"But think about it. Buying a lord's title for three thousand gold dragons is an absolute bargain!"

Hearing Davion's words, Kalen felt as though he had fallen into an ice pit.

He suddenly realized that he had utterly misjudged the young lord before him.

Davion's objective had actually been very clear all along: he wanted both to kill and to amass wealth.

At the Earl's prompting, he had actually played out this entire performance with him.

But by now, he had already spoken his oath of allegiance, and everyone inside Grey Stone Keep could hear it clearly. There was no turning back.

He looked at Davion's gentle smile and nodded numbly.

Davion patted Kalen on the shoulder.

"That's more like it, Lord Kalen! Hurry and get everything ready! I'm sure you can manage it quickly. I'll give you half an hour!"