Under Arthur's supervision and direction, the various development plans fueled by the million gold dragons were all on track. Aside from a shortage of personnel and labor, there were essentially no other problems.
At the moment, Arthur was in the small hall listening to Ser Barton report on the expansion and training of the Mountain Corps. He planned to lead the Mountain Corps to the Prince's Pass in the coming days to have a chat with the Old Falcon, Lord Franklyn Fowler.
First, he wanted to integrate the wildlings of the Prince's Pass in the Red Mountains into the development of the Torrentine domain, solving the labor shortage and completing the expansion of the Mountain Corps to two thousand men.
Second, he intended to justify his title as Governor of the Dornish Marches, letting the Marcher lords know the true strength of their new Governor.
Penrose pushed open the door and announced, "My Lord, the gate guards report that Earl Quentyn Rogers has arrived with his family."
Arthur exchanged a surprised glance with Ser Barton. "Who?"
"Earl Quentyn Rogers of Amberly, whom you previously held captive," Penrose explained. "He is at the South Gate with his family and retinue."
Arthur was puzzled. When he had sacked Amberly and returned to Eagle's Nest, he had kept his promise and only taken Earl Quentyn, leaving his wife and children unharmed.
Had Quentyn Rogers developed an addiction to being a prisoner in Starfall, bringing his family along to join him this time?
Arthur stood up. "Have the kitchen prepare bread and salt."
Quentyn was a landed earl, after all. The basic etiquette of guest right must be observed.
Exiting the keep and crossing the training grounds, Arthur saw three carriages parked outside the South Gate. A group of people stood near them, looking around anxiously.
"Lord Quentyn, I didn't expect to see you again so soon." Arthur had servants present the bread and salt. "Are you stopping over in Starfall on your way elsewhere, or do you have business with me?"
Quentyn hadn't expected Arthur to come out personally to welcome him. He dipped a piece of bread in salt and ate it. "I came specifically to see you, Lord Arthur. Forgive my sudden arrival without prior notice."
Quentyn's wife and daughters ate the bread and salt, their visible fear and tension easing slightly.
Arthur laughed heartily. "No matter. I visited Amberly quite suddenly last time, too. Shall we call it even?"
He stepped aside and gestured. "This is not the place to talk. Please."
Quentyn gave an awkward laugh and gestured back. "After you, my Lord."
Arthur was somewhat surprised by Quentyn's humble attitude. He instructed the captain of the guard to settle Quentyn's party and prepare guest rooms, then led Quentyn to the reception hall.
After half an hour of very frank conversation, Arthur understood Quentyn Rogers' purpose and the current situation in the hill country.
Quentyn wanted to befriend Arthur—or even betray Highgarden and swear allegiance to him—in exchange for Starfall not attacking Amberly again.
It seemed that the previous battle, combined with the current state of the hill country, the expansion of the Mountain Corps, and the "Lord Pufferfish's" attitude, had convinced Quentyn that Highgarden was unreliable.
However, for Arthur, a hill country that was practically a wasteland held little value.
Geographically, the Red Mountains separated Starfall from the hill country. Exerting influence there would require twice the effort for half the result.
Timing-wise, he had just reached a settlement with the Reach and shifted his focus to internal development. Rashly intervening in the hill country's affairs and provoking a conflict with Highgarden now wouldn't be wise.
After weighing the pros and cons, Arthur said to the conflicted-looking Quentyn, "I can accept your request to foster your children at Starfall. As for swearing allegiance..."
"My conflict with the Arbor has just been resolved through the mediation of the Iron Throne. It is not suitable to provoke another dispute now. That would benefit neither you nor me."
"I will follow your counsel, my Lord."
Quentyn breathed a sigh of relief. He knew well that the hill country was caught between Starfall and the Reach. Avoiding conflict was definitely the better outcome.
"Since you trust me enough to entrust your children to me, I should show some goodwill in return," Arthur continued.
"If any refugees from the hill country wish to live in the Torrentine domain, I will arrange ships to transport them and settle them properly."
"Additionally, I will lend you one hundred thousand gold dragons to purchase grain, livestock, tools, and weapons in Starfall to help you restore rule and order in the hill country."
Quentyn was overjoyed. This was exactly what he had hoped for. "Thank you immensely for your aid. House Rogers will remember your kindness."
He suppressed his excitement. "My Lord, I have another request. Could you dispatch troops to help suppress the banditry in the hill country? The costs can be added entirely to the loan."
Arthur frowned. "Sending troops into the Reach now... wouldn't that be inappropriate?"
"Before coming here, I asked Oldtown and even Highgarden for help suppressing the bandits. They all refused." Quentyn looked first indignant, then solemnly respectful.
"You would be entering the hill country at my invitation, in your capacity as Governor of the Dornish Marches, to suppress bandits and save the people from fire and water. Justice and morality are on your side. There is nothing inappropriate about it."
Arthur almost broke character hearing this. He glanced at Quentyn and saw the man looked earnest and sincere, without a hint of sarcasm.
"If that is the case, then as you say."
Arthur planned to have Lothor Brune lead the expedition.
Previously, Lothor and the cavalry soldiers had complained about having no battles to fight.
He figured they wouldn't be needed for the upcoming campaign against the wildlings in the Red Mountains anyway, so he might as well grant their wish and send them to the hill country to hunt bandits.
As for payment for suppressing the bandits, Arthur decided to be generous and waived the fee. He only asked for the right to dispose of the captives and for the hill country to provide grain supplies for the expeditionary force.
After Quentyn signed the loan agreement for one hundred thousand gold dragons, Arthur hosted a banquet for the Rogers family.
After the banquet, Arthur ordered his steward, Fat Karen, to begin preparing the supplies for the reconstruction of the hill country.
He also ordered Lothor Brune to ready his troops to accompany Quentyn back to the hill country to suppress the bandits.
Three days passed quickly.
Lothor Brune's reorganized force was lined up neatly on the training grounds of Starfall.
In addition to his long-standing cavalry unit, there was a squad of archers led by Anguy. The total force numbered over three hundred men.
Arthur introduced them. "These three hundred men are all veterans of several battles. You could say they are Starfall's elite."
"Their commander, Ser Lothor, fought with valor and was knighted by my own hand."
Quentyn looked at them. "To be honest, using such troops to suppress bandits seems like using a butcher's cleaver to kill a chicken."
His eyes shone as he looked at the unit. From their teeth-to-toe equipment to their disciplined formation and the lethal aura they exuded...
Even without Arthur's introduction, anyone who wasn't blind could tell this was a top-tier elite force in the Seven Kingdoms.
Fat Karen pointed to a dozen wagons beside the troops.
"Lord Quentyn, in addition to these, a large portion of the first batch of supplies has already been sent to Starfall Port for loading."
"I will arrange ships to deliver subsequent supplies to Amberly continuously."
"Thank you for your trouble, Steward." Quentyn nodded. Then, after a tearful farewell to his three children with his wife, he followed the three hundred troops out of the South Gate toward Starfall Port.