The Chamber of the Raised Table

[Horas]

It is said the Raised Table came to be because of a simple command the Blind Lord issued to a talented young sculptor: "Make me a map that I can touch."

The result was an enormous map, cut into a huge block of stone which serves as a table. Its obvious inspiration is Aegon's Painted Table, but where that map has its features painted upon it, the Raised Table is carved, topographic. A careful hand can run over the tall Mountains of the Moon, find the intricate wooden sculpture representing the Eyrie at the top. A man can run his hands down foothills, painstakingly recorded from extensive cartographic expeditions, through forests of miniscule horsehair brushes, across smooth glass which represents rivers and lakes. Each castle of Westeros is depicted in some way, and small blocks representing armies can be placed at will.

But when it came time to paint the table, Lord Royce commanded that it not be done; he had grown accustomed to the textures of the table, and did not want them masked with paint. As such the Raised Table appears somewhat eerie to the sighted: a colorless Westeros of stone and glass and wood.

[Horas]

The trip up the Giant's Lance to the Eyrie takes the better part of the day; it is a long, thin path of chill winds and nauseating heights. Finally, the little group makes it to the top. Hill is permitted to warm himself by a hearth for the moment, then thoroughly searched and disarmed.

A pair of guards escort Tomas up to Lord Royce, who stands in the middle of his map chamber, one hand splayed across the raised foothills of the Vale. The only other person in the room is a Volantene man in Royce livery with a sword on his hip.

"You may be addressing Lord Royce now," the servant announces.

[The Stranger]

"Milord Royce, pleasure to make your acquaintance. Lord Saxon Cave regrets he has never had an opportunity to meet you in person during any of your trips to the capital, but he encouraged me to pass along his admiration. I hope all is well with you and your people." The young knight Ser Tomas Hill said, the speech having something of the memorized too it, as the words seemed a bit too flowery for the speaker's preference, and he tugged at the hem of his cloak in irritating as he did so.

[Horas]

Bayard turns to face the speaker; perhaps a pointless gesture, but one that he found set people at ease. The Volantene servant began murmuring something in his language -- if Hill had any Valyrian, he could realize that his appearance is being described.

"Welcome to the Eyrie, Ser. Pass my own compliments back to your master." Bayard waited patiently, obviously intending Ser Tomas to continue.

[The Stranger]

"Lord Cave loves his pomp and circumstance, but even so, He ain't send me all the way here on account of courtesy," Ser Tomas said, clearing his throat uncomfortably. "What requires discussion is a sensitive matter, which could not be trusted to birds."

[Horas]

Bayard gestures, and the two guards by the door step out. The Volantene servant stays where he is.

"Would you like a drink, Ser?" Bayard asks. He seems to be content to let Tomas spit out whatever he had come to discuss once the knight was ready.

[The Stranger]

"That would hit the spot nicely," Ser Tomas agreed, "I've warning about the security of your home, Lord Royce. Words recently passed by Lord Cave's ears, and he thought you ought to know of them."