Uplands

[The Smith]

Bowing to Lilith, Ser Jast says, "We have not had the pleasure but Piers has mentioned you from time to time. I hope he has mentioned me to you."

Pausing to see Lilith's reaction he then continued, "Piers has resurfaced in King's Landing and worries that Allard will strike at you to get at him. These men," He gestures at his twenty knights. "Are to protect you on the way to Oldtown. We need to move fast, so just You Petra and Xavier. He can vouch for me if you do not trust me."

Pausing and making a sour face, "Piers wrote that I should tell you that we are the Ugly twenty, it was the best he could round up in such a short time."

[Percy Rivers]

Aeron looked around quickly, "not me?"

[The Smith]

Jast looked at Aeron, "Who are you?"

[Lilith Royce]

Lilith introduced them, "Ser Viktor, this is Aeron, a senior healer in my band."

She then turned to Aeron, "I hoped that you and Georg would be able to help the band move north now that the thunderstorms have passed." She patted him on the shoulder.

"Haley, darling, thank you, thank you, thank you for your hospitality. It was lovely seeing you! Ser Viktor's note from Piers says that I need to move quickly so I must leave you now." Lilith hugged Haley and went to fetch Petra. She and William did make a nice pair.

[Lilith Royce]

Petra objected to being dragged away, but when her mother explained to her that Ser Beetle had called for them and they needed to go quickly, she quieted.

Lilith and Petra hurried over to the camp and Xavier and dressed in warm, practical riding gear, bringing only minimal changes of clothing and their finest weapons. Lilith had a prickling feeling at the back of her neck that this trip would not be easy.

[The Smith]

Ser Jast asks "When you are ready we will escort you. Stay in the middle we will protect you." He mounts his horse and looks to the north thinking deeply.

[Lilith Royce]

Years of hard travel had accustomed Lilith to speed. She and Petra were mounted and ready to leave in less that a quarter of an hour. She said goodbye only to a few key members of the band, Aeron, Georg Reeves, Fang of King's Landing, and saddled for the journey.

The horses' breath could be seen in the damp air. The ugly 20 surrounded them and they began their journey north. Elation at the idea of seeing Piers again mixed with fear of this need for breakneck speed and the need to travel without her companions in the band. Petra, bless her heart, was taking all of this like a trooper.

[The Smith]

Ser Jast rides into the front position, when they are well away from Uplands. "Hubert, don't you have that letter we recovered from Piers' courier."

Ser Hubert Waters smiles at Petra and sticks out the tip of his tongue at her as he hands Lilith a letter from Piers.

Lilith, my love;

I have rescued Elena and I am on my way to King's Landing. She is scarred deeply and I am truly worried about her fate. I plan on staying with her a little bit, I am the only friendly face she knows now.

I just wanted you to know that I am well. I heard about my funeral. Not the turn out I would have expected. I wish I could have been there. I would livened it up, told a few jokes. Maybe even de-pants the king.

When I heard you were headed South I became concerned. That is why I am sending this letter. To warn and explain why I am not there myself.

Beware of the Goldhands. Ser Vikter Jast is making a bid for power, and they are loyal to him. He played me for a fool, and almost had me killed in Lannisport. I do not know his ultimate goal, but we are definitely enemies now.

Fill, my squire who bears this note, is an expert with a sword and dagger. Keep him close, he has been with me for years. Also listen to Xavier. Be careful love. Protect Petra and give her my love.

Come to King's Landing and use those magic hands to heal Elena's soul.

Love
Piers Bettley

Waters laughs as she finishes reading. He snickers, "We are headed south as soon as we are out of sight of that keep. A cold room in Oldtown awaits you."

Ser Hill's hands move towards his sword. But freezes when he sees the six knights holding bows out. Xavier looks to Lilith and raises his eyebrows.

[Lilith Royce]

Without hesitation, Lilith throws a knife in the eye of Jast's horse. As she hoped, it reared, giving her a barrier from three of the archers, she rode down a fourth.

[The Smith]

Xavier pulls his sword and charges and swings at Ser Waters' face. Waters avoids but falls from his horse.

[Lilith Royce]

Petra follows her mother and smashes another archer with her saddle bag.

Lilith grinned, "I guess those rocks are useful after all."

[The Smith]

Xavier throws his sword at another archer, it bounces off the man's armor but causes him to drop his bow. He kicks his horse and follows after the two women keeping his body between them and the last archer.

Ser Jast is already on his feet, with his own horse dead, and Ser Waters just standing. Vikter mounts Waters' horse and rides away from the keep out of sight.

[Lilith Royce]

On the fly, Lilith looses an arrow and hits the archer in the arm. The three then ride as fast as possible away from the scene.

After a half hour's hard ride with no sign of any one following, they allow their horses to slow.

"Nicely done, my beloved daughter, and thank you Xavier, my dear good brother."

[The Smith]

"Lilith... it was an honor." Pausing he groaned and kept his legs straight so he did not sit in the saddle. "Could you use those healing hands of yours to remove an arrow from... me?"

[Lilith Royce]

"Fuck," said Lilith, shocking both her daughter and her good brother who didn't think she knew such language.

"Petra, get me water from the stream and if you can, start a fire, we need to tend Xavier's wound."

She supported Xavier as he half fell off his horse and tried to make him as comfortable as possible propped up against a tree. The arrow had penetrated his leather armor and an inch of flesh and muscle just below his ribcage. Not fatal if she could stop the bleeding, but that was a significant if.

She snapped off the the arrow point, washed around the wound and yanked.