"There are stone steps carved into the mountain, and we'll ride mules up," Brynden Tully said. After serving as the Knight of the Bloody Gate for over a decade, The Vale of Arryn felt like a second home to him. "The stone steps are too steep and narrow for horses, but mules can just about manage. There are three castles along the way: Stonywatch, Snowgate, and Skywatch. Mules can go as high as Skywatch."
"And after that?" Anguy looked at the towering mountains.
"Such high mountains," the bastard Jon Snow said. This was a wonderful place; his father Eddard had lived here as a youth with King Robert.
Ser Brynden said, "After that, the mountain path is too treacherous, even mules cannot ascend. So, from there we either walk up the mountain or take a basket? The Eyrie is on the mountain peak directly above Skywatch. Its cellars have six large winches with iron chains, responsible for pulling up supplies. Normally, we can also arrange for people to go up with bread, beer, and apples."
"We can certainly go up, but so many soldiers cannot climb those towering steps," Ser Barristan said softly, frowning. Climbing the steps would be suicide; the solution would be a siege, to trap The Eyrie's supplies.
"You can't catch the eagle without entering The Eyrie," Gendry said. He wouldn't wait idly at The Gate of the Moon. While The Eyrie was still unaware, he would strike by surprise, continuing his decapitation strategy.
The former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Barristan the Bold, Anguy, Bronze Yohn Royce, Blackfish Brynden Tully, Jon Snow, She-Bear Dacey Mormont, plus Ser Donnel and himself—a dream team of just eight people—would be enough to subdue The Eyrie, provided they could ascend the perilous peak. The remaining cavalry were under the command of Ser Boros, waiting in the dark for their moment to strike. Dacey Mormont stood not far behind him, looking at him with admiration.
Gendry stared at the gates of The Gate of the Moon. Lord Nestor Royce was the first opponent they encountered. He was Bronze Yohn's cousin, born from a cadet branch of House Royce, but still a formidable figure in his own right.
"How is Nestor's martial skill?"
"He was quite skilled in his youth, but now? I fear he'd be clumsy. After all, if a man sits as a steward for too long, his sword skills grow rusty," the Blackfish said bluntly.
The taxi soldiers of The Gate of the Moon numbered less than three hundred, insufficient to counter the cavalry Gendry commanded, but direct action was a last resort; disturbing the grass would only alert the snake.
Gendry had already anticipated that Nestor was a knight, but also a knight enamored with wealth. Years as the guardian of The Gate of the Moon and the Grand Steward of The Vale of Arryn had made him accustomed to luxury, likely diminishing his courage to draw a sword.
Soon after, the drawbridge of The Gate of the Moon clattered down, then they heard the oiled iron chains slide, and the portcullis rose. Soldiers came out with torches to light their way. Ser Brynden and Ser Donnel led a few people across the moat.
The soldiers found it strange. The group led by Ser Brynden consisted of men and women, old and young, and was very peculiar. However, the cavalry moved quickly, so they couldn't get a full view of the small team.
Baron Nestor, the Grand Steward of The Vale of Arryn and the guardian of The Gate of the Moon, was receiving them in the courtyard, surrounded by knights. These were knights of House Arryn, wearing sky-blue cloaks and crescent falcon breastplates. Nestor and his son, followed by over a dozen knights, plus dozens of personal guards.
"Ser Brynden," Grand Steward Nestor bowed. He was a large man with a thick chest, and his movements seemed rather clumsy. Nestor was bald, and his beard was streaked with white. He had a birthmark on his face and rarely participated in Tourneys. Behind Nestor was his son, Elbert Royce, broad-shouldered and well-featured, with a clean-shaven chin but thick black sideburns on his cheeks, like a fence on his face—in short, he was a younger version of his father.
"Lord Nestor," the Blackfish said, dismounting. "We've traveled a long way and are exhausted. If it's convenient for you, we'd like to stay here for the night."
"Lord Brynden, why be so formal with me?" Nestor said gruffly. "But Lady Lysa just sent word from The Eyrie, hoping to see you immediately. Those who came with you will stay here tonight, and we'll send them up the mountain first thing tomorrow morning."
"This is madness!" Brynden said. "She wasn't so eager when I left."
"I'm sorry, that is the Lady's wish. Who are they?" Nestor asked. Apart from the Blackfish and Ser Donnel, the others were not wearing the armor of The Bloody Gate soldiers, and their faces were covered by helmets and masks, making them very strange.
"Cousin, Lord Yohn, what are you doing here?" Nestor suddenly noticed the hidden sigil on Bronze Yohn's armor, exclusive to House Royce. His face immediately turned ashen. Shouldn't Yohn still be in Riverrun?
"Cousin," Bronze Yohn pulled off his mask, revealing a face that startled Nestor. Yohn was very tall. Although his face had many wrinkles and his hair was gray, his large hands made him look very strong. He had gray eyes and very thick eyebrows.
"Guards!" Nestor suddenly understood. This was not a dream. Yohn and the others had somehow crossed the Trident River and met up with Ser Brynden, who was supposedly heading north, only to return and easily take The Eyrie.
These people gathered together could not possibly be coming to The Eyrie for a feast. The Blackfish was not here to borrow troops at all, but to deliver a special gift to Lady Lysa.
At present, none of them had partaken of bread and salt, so there was no talk of guest right. Moreover, even if these people were merely guests, Lady Lysa would not welcome them.
"Ser Brynden, what is the meaning of this? Lord Yohn has been declared a traitor of The Vale of Arryn by Lady Lysa, and he is not welcome here," Nestor said, shocked.
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