[b] Outside of Gulltown [/b]  

Tyrion nodded, a small grin touching his features and demonstrating his pleasure at the news. Already the ordeal seemed off to a much better start than it had seemed. He said, "Good, very good. We should send ravens to House Belmore and Tollet and have their representatives, and men of course, meet us here at the Gates of the Moon. We shall spend a few nights there, to celebrate your cousins' promotion. Send another raven to the Moon Brothers and have them contact the Stone Crows, Black Ears, and Burned Men. They were among my staunchest supporters in the old war and I have no doubt they will remember me. Their support along with the others may be enough to tip the scales and end this affair bloodlessly." The party of Reachmen and Valemen, a large and heavily armed procession advanced from the town and made their way to the Gates of the Moon. The [i]Clever Lion[/i] had ferried over two hundred noblemen and retainers and the force that rode out from Gulltown had another hundred, both accompanying hedge knights and free riders as well as delegates from House Grafton and Arryn of Gulltown.

[b] Gates of the Moon [/b] 

A few days later, after making good time, the royal procession finally arrived at the Gates of the Moon and were quickly conducted into the castle. The garrison had called for a feast to celebrate Ser Harrold's ascension to Lordship, Ser Mychel's new position, and the arrival of the Hand in the Vale. Several lords great and small from nearby holdfasts and castles had arrived, along with the court at the Eyrie and the entire castle was abuzz with activity, preparing for the celebrations. 

Tyrion, who was little loved by the Lords of the Vale, was given a stateroom appropriate to his rank that was far away from the native lords while Ser Lancelot and the other Lannister retainers were quartered nearby. The men of the West and the Vale were both proud and a harmless rivalry soon grew between the Lion's Pride and the Winged Knights. It was a common sight to see Westerlanders and Valemen competing against each other in duels or archery and lance challenges. Singers, players, and performers soon filtered into the castle and turned the fortress festive. The delegates that Mychel had suggested soon arrived, even the lords Waynwood and Royce who had come down from the Eyrie. Tyrion gave Mychel the task of wining and dining the lords and gaining whatever support he could for the summit with the hill men. 

Another concern for Mychel soon popped up. That of marriage. The heir to the Vale was destined to get numerous offers of marriage and many of the visiting lords and nobles had brought numerous potential brides to the castle. Mychel was of age, so his father's blessing was a boon but ultimately not needed, and so the lords tried to appeal both to the son and to the father. And even if they didn't snare the Black Falcon there were still scores of other young would-be lords and knights for their daughters. Rumors of Mychel's... preferences of course made their rounds among the noblemen but most of the lords saw it of little import. He was still the heir to the Vale. So what if he preferred pork to fish? All he needed to do was wed and bed and make an heir, beyond that, it was his own affair so long as it was discreet. 

The dinner on the day after their arrival saw the feasting of a large complement of nobles. Tyrion had been seated near Mychel and the hall rang with the clatter of dishes and the laughter and song of the Valemen and their guests. Tyrion leaned next to Mychel, "We have a few days yet to  make some friends and gain support for the summit. Perhaps even your cousin can be persuaded to throw his support behind it. That would guarantee your father's as well. You have a silver tongue and I have little doubt you can convince many of these lords to throw in with us. But perhaps you would consider another avenue of alliance building? Perhaps its' time for you to marry Mychel. Or at least form a betrothal. There is a veritable buffet of choices before us." Doubtless Tyrion knew about Mychel's leanings but he showed no concern about it. He pointed out a tall, statuesque youth with long golden hair and eyes as blue as the sky, "One of the Arryns of Gulltown, her father is incredibly rich. She has the Arryn name, the blood, the look. It would give you much legitimacy to have an heir who resembled your grandfather and not your own father. But besides beauty and riches, they offer little else. It would favor them more than you to rejoin the Arryn houses. Of course, you could always pursue one of your cousin's brood." Tyrion said so with a knowing smile. 

"It could finally ease the rivalry between you two, knit your house stronger together. And it would give the Young Falcon a vested interest in supporting you instead of opposing you. But perhaps he would not be amenable to such an arrangement, perhaps neither would you be. Indeed, there is no pressing need for a marriage, it is simply a suggestion. I know the Starks and the Tullys would be delighted to marry off a daughter to you as well. Any choice you make, I could help grease the wheels with your father. And indeed, when you do choose, I believe it better that you do so rather than Lord Robin. Ultimately however, we need Valemen support, I leave that task in your capable hands." Tyrion clanked his cup against Mychel's and set about trying to flatter and appease the Lords of the Vale, endeavoring to win some strength to the negotiations and trusting Mychel to do the same. The alliances made here could ensure the summit's success. 

[b] The Golden Tooth [/b] 

After a week, Lord Lorimer and his retinue arrived at the Golden Tooth, their ancestral seat and until recently a possession of House Lannister. The former Lord of the Castle, Ser Martyn Lannister of the Gold Knights, the Westerlander answer to the Green Hand and the Winged Knights, sat ahorse in his golden armor atop his golden barded warhose and a squad of other Gold Knights. Each had gilded steel plate and an ornate helm that displayed the grandeur of the West. Ser Martyn inclined his head to Lord Lorimer, "My lord, the Golden Tooth is yours." Ser Martyn was polite, but there seemed to be a certain coolness to his demeanor. He was likely not pleased with having his command being transferred and being made a subordinate to a vassal. 

Ser Martyn accompanied Lorimer through the open gates and into the castle, giving the two Lorimer siblings a tour of the grounds and the fortifications. The Golden Tooth was one of the strongest fortresses in the West and a principal mustering point for Gold Knights. They were well situated to deal with any potential rebels and outlaws. Martyn showed Lorimer the master chambers and then escorted him to the war room, where Tarbeck Hall and Castamere were both marked along with points denoting possible outlaw holdings. 

"Tarbeck Hall and Castamere have both been abandoned for decades, but it may be that these 'Reynes' and their rebels have taken the old castles for their own. They would be strong symbols for anyone attempting to usurp our hold on the West. And we have received reports of outlaw knights and sparrows throughout the region, even whispers of the Freeman Brotherhood though I believe they still remain mostly in the Riverlands. We have sighted a major bandit camp, including men you were chasing back in King's Landing, now rests close to the old Clegane lands. This we know for sure. But there could be anywhere up to a hundred or even more at the camp, and who knows how many rebels if there are any in Tarbeck Hall and Castamere. Orders, my lord?" The last he said with the trademark Lannister smirk, as if it were beneath him to listen to a vassal house. 

[b] King's Landing [/b] 

A week after the beginning of the Stepstone Invasion.

Willas, working in his chambers as the Master of Coin, soon received a surprise visitor. The Mistress of Whispers herself appeared in the room, no doubt through one of the secret entrances the Red Keep was infamously known for. She did not deign to greet Willas and disregarded his guards, who were doubtless shaken by the Mistress' sudden appearance as well as her bloody reputation. Arya stood before Willas and said, "We have a problem, Willas, both the throne and the Tyrells. These so called Gardeners are a threat. Taxes, monster attacks, wars, and alliances with foreigners have made us enemies and the Gardeners have taken advantage of it. We believe that the Gardener pretenders are members of House Oldflowers, a cadet branch of the old family. And we cannot know for certain who among your vassals if any might support them. I believe it is in both our interests to either make them submit or stamp them out. They desire the position your family inhabits, and they desire to question the throne's authority. Help us put them to heel Willas. Help my men assault one of their hideouts. Help my people identify their supporters and agents both here at court and in the Reach. We topple the rebels, make them bend the knee, marry off one of their children to one of your House and ensure nobody raises a hand against you again. What say you?" 

Meanwhile, Alerie was approached by Julianna, the future queen of Westeros. Julianna paid a call to Alerie's quarters, with Baella and her handmaiden Lysara in attendance, and Julianna smiled at Alerie saying, "Hello my lady, I've come to invite you to join me on my pleasure barge. We plan to have a day cruise along the coast and the Blackwater. Wine, music, perhaps a bit of dancing. My brother Tom will be there as well. I have it on good authority that you and I may be sisters someday and in any event it's best we get to know one another yes?" 

[b] Vulture's Roost [/b] 

Andrew and Uther knelt on a rise overlooking the Vulture's Roost, the survivors of the company arrayed behind them quietly, weapons at the ready. The water mage was still too weak to fight, barely even strong enough to march after her display of power earlier and they'd be storming the castle with only the Alchemist's tricks and Marcher bowmen to help them. And perhaps some intelligence from Uther. Andrew huddled with Uther as the sun fell down. Darkness would fall soon and Andrew didn't want to give the castle another day to recover from the men they had lost. Ser Selmy turned to Uther and said, "What can you tell us about the layout? Any weaknesses we can take advantage of? Any advice you can give us? You seem familiar with this place, your insight could help us win the day. We can't turn this into a siege. We need to take the castle quick and fast, under cover of night. Grapple over the walls and take them in their sleep. Thoughts?" 

[b] The Spine [/b] 

The royalists had sounded the attack. Thousands of men marched on the spine, the sun rising over the mountains as they climbed. Gendry was midranks, directing the army from the center. The paths were too narrow for cavalry and only wide enough for one platoon to march up at a time. The castle at the summit had been overwhelmed within a few hours, griffin riders firing arrows and spears on the garrison while trebuchets and spitfires hammered the fortification. Ultimately, Roland Caron had lead the vanguard over the walls on ladders while Gendry had smashed through the gates with rams, and the survivors of the garrison had turned tail and run up the mountain while the royalists regrouped in their new forward base. 

Garlan Tyrell had been given command of the vanguard with the heavy infantry composed of armored soldiers and knights from the Reach and the Stormlands and given the task to take the first waycastle on the cliffside path. Arrows and scorpion bolts flew at the men, who only had wooden shields to shelter behind as they marched to the castle. Losses had been light so far, but the castle was still far away and they would only lose more men as they advanced. Dickon Tarly and his famed huntsmen were with Garlan's heavy infantry, firing back at the castle archers and providing covering fire, and Ned Dayne marched with Dawn at Garlan's side. A few alchemists were with the vanguard as well, ready to launch alchemical weapons at the fortifications once they were in range. Red Ronald's griffins were harassing the castle as well, trying to divert as much fire as possible, grabbing men in griffin claw and stabbing them through with lances before flying off. Garlan had a ram along with grapnels and ladders for his men, but arrows still fell in great number and the famed commander needed to come up with a plan to quickly take the castle or risk losing too many men. 

Meanwhile, Mirren was stalking through the tunnels nearby the Spine, accompanied by Dornish rogues from various houses. Mirren had finally extracted a layout of some of the tunnels near the spine from the prisoners and they made quick time through the dark passages. The tunnels were expansive and seemed to pepper both the foothills near the Spine and the whole of the mountain itself. Eventually Mirren and her Dornishmen made their way from the cave she had stumbled upon the other day to some subterranean fortification beneath the mountain. She had a hundred men with her, enough to turn the tide of battle in the right situation. The passages went all the way to the summit but Mirren needed to choose where she could make a sneak attack. But before she did any of that, she needed to take out the underground base. It was a cavern formed into a supply and scouting base for the Vultures, perhaps three hundred men in the base. The royalists had overwhelmed the castle at the foot of the mountains but the other waycastles would have constant resupply from the underground base as well as an escape route should the battle turn. Without taking this base, the assault could fail entirely.  

A squad numbering over a dozen guarded the hidden door watchful for any signs of intrusion, a horn attached to one of their belts in case of attack. Every one of the underground garrison was armed with sword, dagger, or axe and it would be extremely difficult to eliminate them all in such tight quarters. 

[b] Gray Ice [/b] 

There was a roar of victory as Jaime's party overtook the Silver Serpent, the captain's hand being hoisted in Jame's hand as the pirates knelt in supplication before the Kingslayer. Thanks to the efforts of the royalists, the Gray Ice had been cleared of pirates, the raiders either put to the sword or corralled into the middle of the ship under guard. After a pitched fight, the Grey Septon's body breathed it's last sigh and crumpled to the deck, the killing blow dealt by Black Visenya. 

Of the hundreds of pirates who attacked their ship, only a few score remained alive, while over a dozen royalist sailors and men-at-arms had perished in the fighting. All of the prisoners were escorted to the Grey Ice with Aemon declaring, "We're scuttling the ship! All hands to the Silver Serpent. Take what spoils in weapons, equipment, and gold you may." 

Black Visenya gestured to the prisoners gathered on the Gray Ice as the sailors set about setting tinder on the ship, "What shall we do with these raiders kinsman?" Viserys called out, "Cut their throats brother! No word of this can reach the islands." Jaime Tarth shook his head, "Pray, we should spare these men. We have defeated them and they have surrendered. We can take them to your uncle and have them imprisoned for their crimes." 

Aemon mulled it over for a few moments, "There is risk in keeping them alive, and there is little honor in not doing so. The fact of the matter is that we cannot leave them. But taking them with us presents inherent dangers. With the men we have lost, we can ill afford to guard or feed them and we cannot make land on Torturer's Deep without delaying the mission. And they are still criminals besides." Aemon turned to the pirates and recited the words solemnly, "I find you all guilty of the crime of piracy and assault on agents of the crown. In the names of Jon, of House Stark, Second of His Name and Daenerys, of House Targaryen, First of Her Name, King and Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord and Lady of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protectors of the Realm, I sentence you all to die. Visenya." Visenya had the Dragon's Teeth nock their bows, draw, and death came quickly, the bodies thrown into the sea afterwards. The company had their pick of the pirate loot before rejoining the crew on the Silver Serpent. A raven was sent to the Iron Throne and to the Velaryons informing them of the development. 

A few days later, decision made, the company sailed into the Stepstones on the Silver Serpent. The islands were aflame. The port of Bloodstone was far from the battles, but the ashes fell on the port like snow and flames burned far away in the distance, the work of Aegon's children. The royalists were now incognito, with the look of rogues and sellswords, not knights and lordlings anymore. 

Aemon assembled the company on the deck and said, "Welcome to Devil's Rest, a hive of scum and villainy. We will rest here for a few days and try to gather what information we can. I want men combing the markets and the inns, finding what rumors and information we may. Let no-one know our true purpose, I would rather not get into a fight here. I also want a few to come with me and visit the local lord, he may know some of what we need to know. Visenya, assign one of your men to watch the ship. Who will come with me? Who will go with Viserys to comb the town?"