Camp of the Gold Masks

[The Stranger]

"You must earn it."

[Fel]

"And how does one earn something like that?"

[The Stranger]

"You must embark on the three challenges," she replied.

[Fel]

Robert considered that for a moment. "And what are those three challenges?"

[The Stranger]

"Go into the forest for one month, with no tools, or even clothes, and come back alive and well. That is the first challenge. You would not last a single night, so it is silly to continue with the others." She says, standing, kicking over his water pail, and leaving.

[The Stranger]

The door opens again. And Andra enters. "Time for you to go Andal." She says, gesturing at the door.

[Fel]

Robert looked up at Andra, hairier and more disheveled looking than he had been when he was first captured. But the wounds from the beating had nearly completely subsided, and his arm was starting to feel strong again.

He stood and smiled, "thank you, my lady. Please forgive me if I overstayed my welcome, but I just couldn't leave this place, to be honest."

[The Stranger]

She snorts with what is either contempt or laughter, it is hard to say for certain. Then, in a moment of what seems like indecision, she removes a small gold broach from her fur and hands it to him.

"This is for you. If you come back for peace, you may wear it, and the men will know you have met me and not attack. But only you! No other Andals." she growls when she says this, turns and pushes him out the door, where the other knights have been assembled.

"Walk down..." she tells the, gesturing at the path that leads to their comrades below.

[Fel]

He looks down at the broach, a piece of jewellry like this would have been of little value back at court, but here in the wilderness, something struck him about it. "Thank you," he said, looking at her.

Then he turned, and lead his knights out of captivity and back towards the force they had left several months earlier.

[Fel]

///////

When Ser Robert reaches the camp, he holds up his hands. In one hand hangs the brooch Andra had given him. In the other, he holds the head of the Red Hand by its hair.

"I have slain the Red Hand, and eaten his heart. His strength is mine now," he shouted to the guards.

[The Stranger]

The guards all seem to find this fascinating, although it is apparent that they understand very little of it.

Eventually Gold Mask strides forward from his tent.

"What is the meaning of this Andal?" He asks, gazing the head carefully.

[Fel]

"The Red Hand has been defeated by my hand," he said in a booming voice, and raising the head higher.

[The Stranger]

"Congratulations, mount your trophy upon your banner proudly," Gold Mask says, "Why have you come?"

[Fel]

"I have proven my strength, now let me take the challenges of your clan."

[The Stranger]

"What challenges!" The Gold Mask asks, seeming more confused then angry, although it was always hard to tell with the damnable mask.