In the Westerlands, due to the abundance of gold and silver mines, every month large carts and ox-drawn wagons travel along the Goldroad to the King's Landing mint to be processed. To ensure these carts and wagons can smoothly travel the mountainous terrain of the Westerlands, the region boasts the most well-built roads in the Seven Kingdoms.
Apart from the Searoad leading to Highgarden, the Goldroad to King's Landing, and the Riverlands road to the Riverlands, the roads crisscrossing the Westerlands are also meticulously paved and wide, ensuring that even rural paths can accommodate carts and oxen. Horseback riders can travel together through the fields without hindrance.
Alec was sowing rice seeds in the fields.
It hadn't been long since Ser Gregor had given the order to replace the opium poppies with rice. The poppies had been cleared from her field not long ago. Alec, along with her neighbors, had drawn water from the irrigation ditch, plowed the land, leveled the paddy fields, and planted the rice seeds after soaking them and allowing them to sprout.
It was a bit late for the first season of planting. In other noble lands, the crops had already begun to flower. However, because the Westerlands enjoyed a climate that was warm all year round, rice could be planted at any time and still yield a harvest.
In the North, the weather was still cold in March, while in Dorne, it was already quite hot, but in the Riverlands and Westerlands, it was the perfect time, not too hot, not too cold.
Lost in her work, Alec heard the sound of hooves approaching from the field path.
Although the path was narrow, it was wide enough to allow carts and ox-drawn wagons, with a smooth and durable gravel surface, a rare feature found only in the Westerlands among the Seven Kingdoms.
Alec looked up briefly before returning to her task.
She recognized the rider as someone of noble standing, judging by the warhorse, helmet, armor, and longsword, things most common soldiers and mercenaries didn't have.
Noble knights were often cruel and would stop to harass any peasant woman they fancied when passing through the fields. Alec's heart began to race.
This was the territory of the Mountain, and she, like all the peasants here, was one of his people. Yet, everyone knew the Mountain didn't protect his subjects. He was indifferent to their lives and fates. For a passing knight to rape a lone woman working in the fields was, in the eyes of the nobility, nothing more than an insignificant affair.
Alec lowered her head, hoping the knight would pass by quickly.
But her fears were realized when the hooves stopped, and the rider did not move forward.
"Hey, woman, come here!" A rough voice called out to her.
The knight was shouting at her from atop his horse.
She was the only one working in the fields nearby.
Alec's first instinct was to flee, but she knew she couldn't outrun a horse. If she ran down the path, the knight would catch up with her easily. The paths between the fields were interconnected, and a warhorse would have no trouble overtaking her.
Her heart pounded, and she pretended not to hear, continuing her work. She hoped to wear down the knight's patience and prayed he would leave soon. At least for now, the mud of the fields was her only protection. Surely a knight wouldn't dismount and chase her through the dirt!
But she was still afraid he might get angry or grow patient enough to wait for her on horseback.
Though the Mountain had killed dozens of knights in a violent conflict over Thomasson's young daughter, Julie, this didn't mean he cared for his subjects' protection. The Mountain only did what he wanted to, and his actions had nothing to do with his responsibility to protect his people.
"Woman, do you want me to come down and grab you? If you come up willingly, I won't kill you or harm your family." the knight said lazily.
Alec's home was not far away. It was mealtime, and her children, an eleven-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl, had gone home to cook. From the field, she could see the smoke rising from the thatched roof of her cottage.
The knight tapped a small knife against his armored arm twice.
Alec felt a rush of heat through her body. Her breathing became shallow, and her limbs grew weak. She felt herself raise her head, and her voice spoke out before she realized it: "Knight, I am a subject of the Mountain."
"I'm not a knight." the rider replied. "I'm a soldier, a miner. Woman, you look quite nice. Come here, let's go into the grass up ahead. It'll be quick. I won't hurt you or your family."
Not a knight.
Alec immediately felt a sense of relief.
He was just an ordinary soldier, one of the common folk, just like her. There was no need to be particularly afraid of him.
"Soldier, you should leave. Haven't you heard of the Mountain? Lord Alva Serrett, the seventh son of the Serrett family, abducted Julie and took her to the mines. When the Mountain found out, he went to the mine and killed Lord Alva. I am under the protection of the Mountain."
The miner chuckled. "Woman, when has the Mountain ever protected his people? Don't make me wait any longer, or you'll regret it." He pointed at her cottage. "That's your home, right? Someone is cooking there. If you don't come up, I'll go wait for you at your house."
Alec was terrified. Her two children were at home.
"Soldier, swear on the Seven Gods' name that once you're done, you'll leave. Don't hit me, don't go to my house, and don't harm my children."
"I swear by the Seven Gods' name!" The soldier raised his hand. "I swear I won't hit you, won't go to your house, and won't harm your children."
"…Thank you, soldier…" Alec felt her face grow warm, and when she touched it, she realized she was crying. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
"Come up now, Alec!" the soldier called, dismounting.
Alec was confused as to how the soldier knew her name. Her mind felt foggy, unable to comprehend what was happening. With a thud, she mechanically walked out of the paddy field, set down her basket of rice seeds, cleaned the mud off her legs, and heard her voice speaking: "Soldier, please, hurry up. I don't want my children to see."
Suddenly, the soldier pulled her close and whispered, "Alec." His voice sounded strange but familiar.
"Stone!" Alec gasped in shock.
Her husband had suddenly returned, dressed in full knight's armor, sword at his side, looking every bit the imposing figure!
"Alec, I'm sorry." The man's voice returned to normal. "I just wanted to play a joke on you."
Slap!
A loud slap echoed.
Half of the man's face turned red.
He grinned and quickly scooped Alec up, carrying her swiftly toward the grass.
Slap!
Another resounding slap.
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