Horn Hill

[Sam]

Horn Hill is named for the rolling hills that encompass the lands of House Tarly. The imposing keep sits on the northeastern edge of the Far Reach, only a few leagues from the border with the Mander, the Stormlands, and Dorne. Over the last few decades the various Lords of Horn Hill have expanded and fortified their fortress, creating fortifications that stretch all the way to the Mander River, guarding all passage south into the Far Reach.

[Sam]

Ser Aaron Royce rides to Horn Hill from the south, seeking admittance to House Tarly's holdings.

[The Smith]

Ser Royce is admitted.

[Sam]

Ser Aaron Royce, Lady Eleanor Tarly, their baby daughter Joanna and their entourage come to Horn Hill from the capital, having waited till Joanna was old enough to travel, and move to take up residence in the formidable castle.

[Tallahar]

/////////////////////////////////////

A small party of Knights arrive at the Gates for Oldtown. They ask to speak with the Lord and Lady of Horn Hill are there.

[Sam]

They are admitted by wary-looking guards, and the Mander knights are met with cold stares by the castle's chivalric populace. Their leader is informed that Lady Tarly is abed, though they can meet with her husband, the Lord Protector of Horn Hill, in the late Lord Tarly's soldier. The leader of the Mander party is led upstairs where he is asked to turn over his weapons before entering the solar.

[Tallahar]

Edmure shows the guards that he is not wearing any weapons then accepts the offer to speak with Lord Royce.

[Sam]

Ser Aaron is sitting behind the desk, reading a book written about Fossoway's Folly. Heartsbane in its sheathe hangs on the wall, in the position where it was customarily kept by the Lord of Horn Hill when the blade was not in use.

Aaron looked up as the Manderman entered. "How can I help you, Lord Dawnrose?" he asked amiably.

[Tallahar]

"I've come to ask about the safety of Horn Hill." He takes a seat, "As you know the Ironborn still hold the Shield Islands. This is a great worry to myself but I was thinking it must also trouble Horn Hill. Think of the attacks that the Ironborn can make onto Tarly lands by simply sailing up the Mander or another attack on the Arbor or Oldtown."

[Sam]

Aaron chuckled, and shook his head. "The banks of the Mander are four days' march north and west from Horn Hill. The Ironborn do not have the backbone for such a land assault, no matter how many men they try to bring up the river."

"The Arbor and Oldtown are not my jurisdiction but I am sure Lords Redwyne and Tully are handling the situation. For now the Iron Fleet is gone from the Reach, and if they come back I suppose we'll simply have to fight them."

[Tallahar]

"I did not mean Horn Hill it's self but it's Lands. Raiders coming off the ships burning and destroying Horn Hill's people. That would mean more Knights and other riders to protect villages which mean more money something the whole realm has little of due to the Winter and the War."

[Sam]

"The Ironborn have held the Shields for nigh on thirty years, and my lady wife has not indicated that they have ever posed much of a problem for the people of the Reach, excepting the past five years," he said.

"Do you mean to mount an expedition to dislodge them from the Shield Islands?" Aaron asked, as an afterthought.

[Tallahar]

"No the queen has said she does agree with my that returning the Shields would be a good thing but she wishes a talk between myself and Lord Ragnor I'd hoped that I could of had your support for this."

[Sam]

"What would my support matter for, this seems entirely unrelated to me," Aaron replied, slightly perplexed.

[Tallahar]

"Your Lord Protector of Horn Hill and son to Brynden Royce. I thought the cause of the Far Reach would matter and you would also want the Ironborn forced out of the Shields."