Chapter 99: Acting on Impulse

The Dorne and Reach troops marched in an orderly fashion, passing through Vaith Castle, Hellholt, and Skyreach before officially entering The Prince’s Pass.

Although The Prince’s Pass is a canyon, the mountains on either side are far apart, creating an exceptionally wide expanse at the bottom. The space was sufficient not only for thousands but tens of thousands of people and horses to pass through simultaneously with ease. As the main overland trade route in Dorne, this river bend had been smoothed over time by countless caravans traveling north and south, making the route significantly more accessible. This well-maintained path facilitated the progress of Willas and the Red Viper’s group.

However, the trade route also attracted bandits. Some were local outlaws, while others were nobles and lords masquerading as brigands to rob caravans. Yet, the caravan traveling northward to The Reach had luck on its side. By merging with Willas and the Red Viper’s forces, they leveraged the intimidating presence of nearly 10,000 people, safely navigating the most perilous stretch of The Prince’s Pass and arriving within the territory of Nightsong in the Stormlands.

Despite prior communication from Willas to House Caron of Nightsong about their passage, the sight of an approaching entourage of nearly 10,000—bearing banners of Dorne—alarmed the castle’s lords. Believing it to be a Dorne invasion, they shut the gates and prepared to send urgent ravens to the Iron Throne. Only the timely arrival of Willas’s envoy prevented the situation from escalating further.

To avoid further misunderstandings, Willas promptly led his forces out of Nightsong’s territory that same night, officially entering The Reach. The group continued along the edge of the Red Mountains, advancing toward Highgarden, where a welcoming party awaited them.

A few days later, near the borders of House Peake’s lands in Starpike, they joined the reception party. After several more days of travel, the group arrived safely at Highgarden.

Upon their return, Lynd sought out Garth Tyrell, the steward of Highgarden, to resign his post as captain of the men-at-arms. He retired to a manor on the city’s outskirts, where he prepared to depart with his gathered men via The Roseroad for Tumbleton the following day. His journey to Dorne had been fruitful—not only had he secured the King of Wild Horses and his herd, but he had also acquired golden dragons and recruited skilled individuals such as Malora Hightower. Among his new recruits were knights who had struggled in Dorne and warriors from Essos seeking service under him. Though few in number, their exceptional skills made them ideal leaders for his cavalry patrols.

As Lynd packed, Willas arrived unexpectedly at the manor, accompanied by Arianne Martell and her companion.

“Is something the matter, Lord Willas?” Lynd asked, looking at the group.

“Arianne, you tell him yourself,” Willas replied, stepping aside to let the princess speak.

Princess Arianne, without preamble, said, “I heard you’re heading to Tumbleton tomorrow. I’d like to accompany you and take a look.”

Although Lynd had remained close to Willas throughout their journey from Dorne to Highgarden, he and Arianne had never spoken. Her companion, Tyene Sand—one of the Sand Snakes and the Red Viper’s bastard daughter—had chatted with him a few times but spent most of her time with Malora, eagerly learning about poisons.

Understanding Arianne’s true intent, Lynd replied bluntly, “Nymeria has no interest in Prince Lewyn’s legacy. If she did, she would’ve accompanied Prince Oberyn to Dorne months ago. There’s no need for you to seek her out.”

Arianne, petite and needing to tilt her head to meet Lynd’s gaze, retorted firmly, “I only want to meet my cousin. That’s all.”

Lynd glanced down at her and said, “And what good would that do? Would you have to tilt your head back like this to talk to her? She’s way taller than me.”

Arianne’s face darkened with anger. Without another word, she turned and strode out of the manor, Tyene and the others trailing after her.

Willas promptly instructed his guards to discreetly follow Arianne to ensure her safety. Remaining behind, he gestured for Lynd to join him on a walk. Together, they ventured to the farmland surrounding the manor, strolling along the narrow paths threading through the fields.

“You shouldn’t mock a lady’s height so cruelly,” Willas suddenly reprimanded Lynd.

Lynd turned his gaze to Willas. “It seems you have quite an affinity for Princess Arianne.”

“She is a very special woman,” Willas admitted, a fleeting smile crossing his face before giving way to a troubled expression. With a sigh, he added, “But unfortunately, I may not be able to marry her.”

Lynd’s brow furrowed. “Has something gone wrong?”

Willas gave a bitter smile. “I’ve been scolded—not just by my father and mother, but even my grandmother. They all said I was being too rash.” He paused, looking at Lynd thoughtfully. “What about you? Do you think I was rash in agreeing to Prince Doran’s proposal to form an alliance with House Martell?”

Ser Lynd considered the question carefully before responding. “I believe when your family called you rash, they weren’t referring to your decision to agree to the marriage proposal itself. Rather, they meant your decision to allow Prince Oberyn and Princess Arianne to return with you to Highgarden. By doing so, you’ve left your father with only two options: to agree to the alliance and unite The Reach and Dorne, or to refuse and risk further straining relations between the two regions.”

Willas remained silent for a moment before speaking calmly. “If I told you I considered those consequences beforehand, would you believe me?”

Lynd was momentarily stunned, thoughts racing. If he anticipated this outcome, then someone as wise as Willas wouldn’t have made such a decision lightly—unless… Realization dawned on him, and he looked at Willas in surprise. “Lord Willas, is it true that your trip to Dorne was not merely to secure an alliance but also to improve relations and negotiate peace?”

Willas did not directly answer the question. Instead, he gave a faint smile. “Ser Lynd, you should not limit yourself to being just a knight.” He then shifted the conversation, adding, “Did you know that the nobility of The Reach is the oldest in all of Westeros? The lineage of any major lord here stretches back thousands of years. Many of the Seven Kingdoms’ myths and legends originate from our ancestors. Even the civilization and religion that spread across the Seven Kingdoms began here in The Reach. Because of this, the Lord of The Reach should be the most respected and honorable lord in all the realm.”

As Willas spoke, Lynd could sense the anger simmering beneath his words.

“Yet, my father—Lord of Highgarden, Warden of the South, and Supreme Commander of The Reach—has been treated like a fool in King’s Landing for over a year. Who does Robert Baratheon think he is to humiliate our house this way? His house has existed for just over three hundred years. Compared to them, even House Frey of the Riverlands has more history. And still, he dares to treat my father as if he were nothing.”

Willas’s anger erupted without restraint, his eyes betraying his bitterness toward the current king on the Iron Throne.

Lynd had not expected Willas to be so enraged by the treatment of Lord Mace Tyrell in King’s Landing. But upon reflection, it wasn’t surprising. Willas’s devotion to his family was well known, and his sense of loyalty ran deep.

Glancing back at Willas’s personal guards trailing behind them, Lynd felt a surge of concern. If word of this outburst spread, it could irreparably damage relations between The Reach and the Iron Throne.

As if sensing Lynd’s thoughts, Willas regained his composure and said, “Don’t worry. These are men I trust, just like you, Ser Lynd.”

Lynd sighed, unsettled by the weight of that trust. “If you truly trust me, Lord Willas, can you tell me the real purpose behind all this? Is it war—or something else?”

“War?” Willas chuckled, shaking his head. “Why would you think I want war? In truth, there’s no grand mystery to this. I simply want the Iron Throne to feel uncomfortable. From now on, they’ll have to consider the stance of Highgarden carefully before making any decisions. No more treating us like clowns to be toyed with.”

The answer struck Lynd as impulsive and somewhat childish, yet there was sincerity in Willas’s tone. Despite the simplicity of the explanation, Lynd couldn’t help but feel it reflected Willas’s true intent.

He’s still just a boy of thirteen or fourteen, Lynd thought. Even someone as seemingly mature and wise as Willas can have moments of rashness and youthful defiance. Lynd himself, though barely fifteen or sixteen, often felt like an old man compared to those around him.

Yet, this time, Lynd couldn’t shake the feeling that Willas had gone too far. His anger over the slight to House Tyrell had pushed him into dangerous territory, one where control of the situation was rapidly slipping from his grasp.

Lynd asked very directly, “Lord Willas, have you considered that this matter will completely get out of control?”

“Of course I have. I have already made arrangements, but those arrangements may not necessarily work,” Willas nodded and looked at Lynd. “However, now that you, Bear Hunter Lynd, are here, you should be able to fill the loopholes in my plan so that my arrangements will ultimately produce results.”

“What do you want me to do?” Lynd asked suspiciously.

“Just follow your original plan and suppress the bandits in Tumbleton.” Willas’s expression grew serious. “This time when you return to Tumbleton, Highgarden will send an appointment to the Lord of Tumbleton, Lady Nymeria Footly, naming her Warden of the Mander River, expanding her powers, and providing support to expedite the construction of her castle and town.”

Lynd frowned. “Nymeria will never let outside forces enter Tumbleton, not even Highgarden.”

Willas sought to allay Lynd’s concerns. “Don’t worry. Highgarden will not interfere in the affairs of Tumbleton. The so-called support is merely financial, material, and administrative. It will all be converted into loans of golden dragons, which won’t require interest payments and will have no time limit. The Lady of Tumbleton can repay the principal whenever funds are available.”

“Are you sure?” Lynd looked at Willas incredulously and said in a low voice, “Are you just saying this, or has the Lord already made a decision?”

Willas smiled but did not directly answer. Instead, he continued, “In addition, you will be appointed as the leader of the anti-bandit force in The Reach. Although your immediate responsibility will be the area north of Bitterbridge, your official jurisdiction will cover the entire Reach. This will allow you to justify expanding your military forces. You’ll be authorized to recruit up to 10,000 men. The composition—infantry, cavalry, or otherwise—will be entirely up to you. However, Highgarden can only cover a portion of the military expenses; you’ll need to secure funding for the remainder. Additionally, you’ll be permitted to construct a fortress on the upper reaches of the Mander or on the southern bank of the Blackwater Rush. This fortress will be under the name of Tumbleton. Given your relationship with Lady Nymeria, I assume it won’t matter if the fortress is considered hers or yours.”

Lynd contemplated for a moment before asking, “Does the task of suppressing the bandits still need to be carried out?”

“Of course, it must be carried out,” Willas replied, “but the outcome is not critical. Once Tumbleton is fully established, it should be able to manage the surrounding bandits on its own.”

Willas observed Lynd’s furrowed brow and added, “You needn’t worry about the reward for the mission. You don’t have to achieve perfect results. If you build the fortress and garrison it for three years, you’ll be considered to have fulfilled the mission. That said, the reward may not be what you expect.”

“What has it become? Golden dragons?” Lynd asked, his concern evident.

“No, a territory,” Willas said, offering an unexpected answer. “Not a manor or a village, but a real territory.”

Lynd’s breathing quickened as he suppressed his excitement. His voice was tinged with doubt as he asked, “If I guess correctly, that territory must not be very desirable, right?”

Willas replied, “It is indeed not very desirable—some might even call it poor. It’s an enclave, located on the Sea of Dorne, opposite Wyl Castle.”

Lynd struggled to place the territory in his mind, then, recalling the map, exclaimed in surprise, “Isn’t that part of the Stormlands? How did it become Highgarden’s territory?”