Whispers, Lord Gallen Crabb, Ser Phillip Rally, Ser Mayson Beck, Maester Ars, Hershel the Steward, and Emer were seated around the table in the lord's council chamber, discussing the "Eastern Expansion" plan to reclaim their old lands.
Spread out on the table was a large map of the eastern part of Crackclaw Point.
The entire plan had been discussed nearly to completion. After a moment of contemplation, Gallen spoke up, "Reclaiming our old lands is an expedition, and ensuring our supply lines is of utmost importance. Every so often... at intervals of about half a day's march at our normal pace, we must establish fortified encampments with wooden walls for protection as we advance."
"Everyone, House Crabb hasn't embarked on long-distance campaigns for over a dozen years. In the past, our battles always took place near our territory, making it easy to replenish supplies and provide timely medical care for injured soldiers."
"Once we step outside our doorstep, it's different. You're surrounded by potential enemies at all times. If our supply lines aren't secured, we might collapse before the battle even begins. As commanders of House Crabb, you must always prioritize the security of our supply lines. Remember this."
The others responded solemnly, "Yes, my lord!"
"Gallen, your scouting party needs to depart in advance to gather intelligence along the way. They must scout locations for encampments ahead of time, taking into account terrain and water sources. I'll lead the main army in three days."
Lord Gallen rose from his seat, and the others followed suit.
Gallen scanned each person's eyes before saying, "Reclaim our old lands, united we stand!"
"United we stand!"
"United we stand!"
"United we stand!!!"
.....
As soon as the war council ended, everyone else left the council chamber, leaving only Steward Hershel behind to report on other matters concerning the territory.
There were numerous affairs in the territory, and Hershel could only report them one by one.
Gallen was attentively listening when suddenly the doors of the council chamber were pushed open, and the tall figure of Surlana appeared at the entrance.
Surlana bowed, "Forgive the interruption, my lord. I thought the meeting had ended."
Gallen's calm gaze shifted to Surlana, "Is there an urgent matter, Surlana?"
"Your cousin, Lady Lyna Crabb..."
Before Surlana could finish, another slender figure appeared at the door.
The newcomer bore a resemblance to Gallen, and it was none other than Gallen's cousin, Lyna Crabb.
Gallen had barely risen from his chair when the disheveled Lyna Crabb threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably with a sense of grievance in her cries.
Gallen speculated in his mind about what might have happened, but he didn't speak. Instead, he gently patted Lyna's back with one hand, silently comforting her.
After a while, Surlana approached and whispered a few words of comfort, helping Lyna to sit in a nearby chair before pouring her a glass of wine.
Gallen waited quietly for Lyna to take a few sips of the wine before saying, "Lyna, tell me what happened."
With tears in her eyes, Lyana replied, "My husband, Wolfnir, wants to dissolve our marriage...."
Wolfnir's full name is Wolfnir Meyer, a merchant from Gulltown. Lyana Crabb was married to Wolfnir Meyer about four years ago under the arrangement of Gallen's mother.
How could a noblewoman like Lyna marry a merchant?
After the War of the Usurper, King's Hand and Vale Duke Jon Arryn did not relax their suppression of loyalists to the Targaryens on Crackclaw Point. Naturally, the forces of the Vale followed suit.
Gallen's mother struggled to maintain the oppressed House Crabb. After ten years of resistance, exhausted, Gallen's mother chose to compromise, arranging for Lyna Crabb, who had just reached puberty, to marry into the noble families of the Vale.
The nobles of the Vale look down on the half-wild noble families of Crackclaw Point. As a second choice, Gallen's mother had no choice but to choose Wolfnir Meyer, a merchant from Gulltown who was rumored to have maintained good relations with various noble families in the town.
Strictly speaking, this marriage alliance was an insult from the Vale nobles to House Crabb.
The Vale nobles had blocked and suppressed the noble families of Crackclaw Point for nearly ten years, and they had already lost their initial enthusiasm. After a continuous blockade and suppression for ten years, coupled with this humiliation, it was enough to show their loyalty to King's Hand and Vale Duke Jon Arryn. They could relax their grip.
Indeed, House Crabb's dignity as nobles was hurt, but the marriage alliance did help ease tensions with the Vale. The blockade on House Crabb was lifted, and traveling merchants began to enter their territory, bringing various much-needed supplies. Their leather could also be sold at normal prices to traveling merchants from various regions.
Sacrificing Lyna Crabb's marriage brought a respite for House Crabb, but the entire incident sowed deep-seated hatred.
It's just that House Crabb was too weak at the time, and nobody cared too much.
...
"Why did he want to dissolve the marriage?"
".... I only found out later. It's because a noble widow from Runestone noticed Wolfnir! That widow doesn't have any children yet. After divorcing me, their child will be able to inherit the title."
Upon hearing the answer, Gallen tightened his fingers around his knee.
Lyna continued, "Our marriage was already mocked by the people of the Vale. If I were divorced, how could I live... I naturally wouldn't agree. He even struck me. Later, I was really afraid. I took advantage of his absence and quietly ran back with a handmaid...."
Gallen's eyes narrowed slightly. "It seems the people of the Vale really don't regard us highly."
Surlana, feeling sorry for Lyna, spoke indignantly, "Damn those bastards of the Vale! That scoundrel Wolfnir thinks that as long as he divorces Lady Lyna and marries that shameless widow noblewoman, he'll become a member of the Vale nobility. And House Crabb dares not retaliate and can only endure it."
Lyana nodded sadly, yes, that damn bastard thought just that.
Gallen rubbed his brow and looked directly at Lyana, "Lyna, everyone in Whispers has never forgotten your contributions, and you are my family. Your room has remained unchanged since you got married, with someone dedicated to cleaning it, as if you had never left this home."
As the lord, Gallen made his stance clear, and immediately, Lyna's eyes welled up with warmth, "Gallen..."
Lyana had been extremely uneasy all this way. When she got married, Gallen was only eleven years old, shy and thin.
Gallen's mother had passed away, and Lyna's memory of Gallen inheriting the lordship was somewhat blurred. She dared not optimistically imagine how Gallen would treat her after hearing about her ordeal.
Lyna felt she had brought shame upon her family, unable to face Gallen. But in the end, she found that besides Whispers, she had nowhere else to go.
Only the thought of Whispers, mocked by outsiders as a place of half-wild, could bring Lyana a sense of security.
So Lyna came without hesitation!
The cousin she hadn't seen in four years had grown up, his calm demeanor reassuring.
Gallen rubbed his brow and looked directly at Lyna. "Lyna, Whispers will always be your home."
"I want to ask you, would it make you feel better if I were to give you Wolfnir's head?"