[CENTER][sup][h1][img]https://i.ibb.co/fdBBsfJF/photo-1756916475115-3bf0209b728d-fm-jpg-q-60-w-3000-auto-format-fit-crop-ixlib-rb-4-1.jpg[/img]
[b][color=khaki]S U M M E R H A L L[/color][/b][/h1][/sup][/CENTER]

	A rider wearing the tabard of House Qorgyle arrived at Prince Martel’s tent with the sun still about ten degrees above the mountains to the west. He quickly dismounted his destrier, which was lathered from the ride—no, a race, but only against time.
	“My grace!” the rider yelled as he ran toward the Prince of Dorne. “He dropped to one knee, bowed his head, and looked up at the man.
	“Please rise,” Maron addressed the rider calmly. “What is it?”
“Ser Fowler reports contact with the enemy this day. A squadron of light cavalry screening our northern flank was set upon by a company of heavy cavalry from House Peake, sir. They were in the meadows near Ashford when the encounter began. We lost about a hundred in the fight and another hundred were wounded. Ser Willem of House Qorgyle was leading. He did not make it. It is most unfortunate. He was a good man. Well respected by the men in his command.”
	“Did he say how many of the enemy are in the area?” Prince Martell asked the messenger. “In what number?”
	“Ser Blackmont spotted a few thousand infantry supported by cavalry displaying the banners of House Peake north of Ashford as well as the brown banners of House Selmy.  This host appeared to be slightly larger than the Peake’s.”
	“Are there any indications they are heading towards Summerhall?”
	“Lord Fowler could only assume that was their intention, my grace.”
	“When should we expect Lord Fowler?”
	“By nightfall,” the messenger responded.
	“Take your leave and thank you very much. Tell Ser Fowler I wish to see him and Ser Blackmont when they arrive.” Prince Martell turned his back to the man, waving him off. He looked at Ser Trevas Yronwood and Ser Trystane Wyl, [i]The Blackadder[/i]. “I believe it would be wise if we adjusted our camp to the north near the entrance to the Boneway is located. It would put us in a better position to defend Summerhall in the event our enemy decides to make a play on that fortification.”
	“What about the Prince’s Pass? Should we send a blocking force back there in the event the enemy moves on Dorne?” Lord Yronwood asked the question, worried that Reach Lords would try to sneak in behind them.
	“The enemy is not interested in Dorne; they are interested in overthrowing King Daeron and placing that usurper on the Iron Throne.” Prince Martell thought on the question for a few seconds and then added this, “It might be prudent to send one of our light cavalry units back to Prince’s Pass just to keep an eye out for just such a move. They can lodge there. No More than a fortnight should do.
	“Aye, my grace. That would be prudent.” Lord Wyl looked at Lord Trevas, then back at the prince. “I’ll let the houses know we are moving north. No doubt Fowler will arrive before we do. I’ll stop him there, so he doesn’t have to make his host walk another six or seven miles.”
	Just after nightfall, the Martell host had repositioned a portion of its complement near the entrance to the Boneway closer to Summerhall. They positioned pickets of infantry performing sentry duty and vedettes or small groups of cavalry out in front of their planned positions, allowing a majority of the soldiers to get some rest. The pickets and sentries would keep their eye on approaches to the north.