Chapter 162

The night was deep.

A vast pavilion of heavy canvas stood brightly lit by many candles. Domeric sat in the high seat; Lord Wendel and Jon occupied chairs to either side. Varys the Master of Whisperers was reporting the latest developments in the War of the Five Kings, far distant from these mountains.

A little more than a month earlier the battle at the Golden Tooth had formally begun that war. Jaime Lannister had led a great host eastward from the mountain pass along the river road and met the Riverlands army that held the mouth of the valley. The riverlords’ force shattered at the first clash. Lord Vance of Wayfarer’s Rest fell in the fighting; Lord Piper of Pinkmaiden escaped by the skin of his teeth back to Riverrun.