"Kingsgrave…" Valar racked his memory, only to find it utterly blank. Evidently, he had slept through Maester Visari's lessons on noble houses.
"My Lord, Kingsgrave lies west of our current position, on the eastern side of the Prince's Pass," Lucerys chimed in, panting as he ran up. Riding Silverwing alongside Valar had allowed him to catch up after his own dragon, Arrax, struggled to match Silverwing's speed.
"House Manwoody originally built their castle on the mountains east of the Prince's Pass, using its elevated position to dominate the mid-section of the pass. Long ago, a Gardener King from the Reach attempted to invade Dorne through the Prince's Pass but was beheaded by the head of House Manwoody. That's the origin of their sigil—a crowned skull," Lucerys explained.
"House Manwoody is not a major Dornish house. They once had territorial disputes with Housee Wyl and Fowler. During the Age of the Hundred Kingdoms, the Fowlers ruled the entirety of the Prince's Pass. They defeated House Manwoody, dismantled the original Kingsgrave, and forced them to relocate to the valley to the east. Rustwood Keep, held by House Wyl, and Whiskey Gorge, where we're camped, were once Manwoody lands."
Lucerys scrutinized the frail old man before them, who had introduced himself as Caswald Manwoody. "The Manwoody has always been small in number. The main branch ruling Kingsgrave currently has four members: Lord Dagos Manwoody, his wife Lady Perianne Vaith, and their two sons, Ser Dickon and Quentyn Manwoody. If this man truly is Caswald, then he must be the head of the Shrimpwater branch, one of the two cadet branches. That line was reduced to a single member around 121 AC. The other cadet branch, the Manwoodys of Redstone Heights, died out in 117 AC."
"Well-researched, Prince Lucerys," Caswald said with a respectful bow.
"State your business, Ser," Valar said, quickly piecing together the current state of House Manwoody despite his disdain for study.
"Your Highness, House Manwoody is at the brink of ruin," Caswald's voice turned sorrowful. "Lewyn, the so-called 'King,'" he emphasized the word with disdain, "drove the family's forces to assault Skyreach. Both Lord Dagos and Ser Dickon fell in battle. Nearly all of our knights and retainers were lost. Lady Perianne, stricken with grief over the deaths of her husband and eldest son, leapt to her death from the tower."
The old man's eyes suddenly gleamed with desperation as he lifted his gaze. "Princes, House Manwoody humbly bends the knee to the Iron Throne and House Vaelarys." A single tear slid down his deeply wrinkled face. "Quentyn is just a child. The family needs protection. Kingsgrave has no strength left to resist. If you were to land your dragon atop its walls, the entirety of House Manwoody would pledge their loyalty."
Valar tilted his head, appearing to consider the man's words. "Ser Caswald, you should rest for now. We will have an answer for you soon."
"If House Manwoody's bloodline can survive, it will remain eternally loyal to House Vaelarys and the Iron Throne." The old man practically collapsed to the ground, requiring the assistance of knights from the Silverblood Guard and Blackhaven to carry him away.
"This could very well be a trap, Your Highness," said Lord Randyll Carvryn as soon as the old man was out of sight. "The Dornish are treacherous by nature. To them, the rules of nobility and sacred laws are worth less than parchment scraps. I guarantee that the moment you dismount your dragon, poison and assassins will not be far behind."
"I know." Valar tapped his temple. "I may not have my brother's wisdom, but I do have a brain. Lucerys, Lord Edric—are there any men in our ranks familiar with the members of House Manwoody?"
"There are," Lord Edric Dondarrion replied after a moment's thought. "Ser Oberyn Sandal. He's met every living member of House Manwoody."
"Lord Randyll, could you escort Ser Oberyn to verify Ser Caswald's identity?" Valar rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.
"As you command." Without hesitation, Lord Randyll made his way to Oberyn's tent. Having been richly rewarded by Prince Draezell, Oberyn had become a wealthy man, marrying the daughter of Teclis Hoeth and acquiring new retainers and levies.
Oberyn readily agreed to the task and, after a short investigation, confirmed that the old man was indeed Ser Caswald Manwoody. However, he cautioned against trusting any great Dornish lord too easily. "Betrayal comes more naturally to them than drinking water," Oberyn remarked. "This is especially true of those lords who've spent generations feuding with the Marcher lords."
"My Lord, should we inform Prince Draezell?" Lucerys suggested as he watched Valar lapse into deep thought.
"No need," Valar raised his hand. "There's no reason to trouble my brother over something this minor." He glanced at the gradually brightening moonlight outside the tent. "Lucerys, relay this to Ser Caswald Manwoody: I require their sincerity. Quentyn Manwoody must come to Bitterbridge. I will appoint a great lord as his foster father. Also, send a raven to Tygarro to confirm the true situation of House Manwoody."
"Understood." Lucerys immediately ran out of the tent to carry out Valar's orders.
Valar sat silently for a moment before spreading a sheet of parchment across the table and writing quickly.
"Thinking is such a chore. Brother, when are you coming back?"
The young prince sighed.
\---
The chaos in Dorne, which began in the year 123 AC, escalated further. King Albain Dayne launched a tentative assault on Sandstone but was defeated by the garrisoned forces of House Yronwood. At a critical moment, Obara led her cavalry to the battlefield and tore through the Corgyle cavalry pursuing the retreating Dayne forces. Lord Corgyle was beheaded on the spot by Obara herself.
Faced with the grisly sight of their lord's head raised on a spear, Sandstone surrendered. However, after Obara marched her troops northward, the new Lord Corgyle immediately killed the bastard castellan installed by House Dayne and once again raised the Iron Gate banner of House Yronwood. Enraged, King Albain rallied his forces once more, vowing to make House Corgyle pay for their treachery.
The Ullers resumed their raids on House Martell's lands, causing immense destruction. They burned villages, seized large quantities of grain, and disappeared before Martell's main forces could arrive, leaving the Lord of Godsgrace, Elion, cursing their retreat.
Lewyn Yronwood suffered heavy losses beneath Skyreach but ultimately captured the stronghold at its base. The heir to House Fowler was killed by a javelin, forcing the remnants of their forces to retreat into Skyreach itself.
The situation across Dorne remained turbulent.
Meanwhile, scouting parties from the forces stationed at Bitterbridge made tentative incursions southward, targeting villages and oases. To their surprise, they discovered that many villages under Yronwood control lacked able-bodied men and women. Vast tracts of farmland lay untended, and several once-thriving oases had reverted to barren sand.
Perhaps this is the true cost of war.
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