81 Guests
The wind brushed his hair as he stood on the 50 meters high castle wall, admiring the city that was spread around the Great Barrow hill on which the castle was situated his heart felt tranquil.
Brendan was waiting for his guests, the closest thing he could call a childhood friend with the exception of Seaworth brothers.
His eyes looked to the wide road leading directly to the drawbridge, the sporadic, unevenly placed blockades made sure that charging at the castle, rolling up a ram or any other siege equipment uphill would be a suicide.
Curiosity got the better of him and he leaned down from the top of the wall giving some nearby guards a heart attack.
From this hight the steep darkness of the chasm separating the castle from the road made his head spin for a moment.
Brendan couldn't enjoy his alone time any longe as from the far end of the road few people riding horses emerged starting their trip up the hill from between the buildings.
Because of the considerable distance the empty field from the wall to the entrance of the castle road where the first buildings stood, he could not identify the riders.
Looking to his left and right he felt happy and calm seeing the reaction of the castle garrison manning the walls.
The guards were tense or more like vigilant.
Each of them had a shield to their side, sword and dagger on their hip and a bow ready in their arms, the buckets filled with arrows stood every few meters between the guards. They didn't relax, but didn't panic as well.
Observing the approaching riders that grew in numbers every second, the men keenly looked for any discrepancies from the usual routine.
Only after seeing the House Dustin guards escorting the entourage that was slowly approaching did they relax a bit, enough to just stay alerted.
Brendan looked back outside the wall with a smirk on his face, he was elated and surprised at how good his men were trained, they were the guardians of the city from external threat, the first line of defense.
Most of them were the alumni from the military academy, the funniest part was the rivalry between them and the Legions.
One force guarded the people and every Dustin establishment from the simple pleasures house, market or restaurant to the castles, keeps and towns outside the land like a shield.
The other, like a sword, spear and arrow hunted the enemies of the house on every battlefield possible.
Brendan was always impartial to both of them, at least on the surface as he alone thought of himself as a Legionnaire.
The pranks and jokes reminded him of the competition between Army, Marines and Navy etc. in his previous life in the freedom bringing country.
Throwing out from his head unnecessary distractions he looked back at the banners accompanying the guests.
First and foremost his men from the outside wall garrison were escorting the guests from both sides.
Leading at the front was a roaring, black bear on a green field. House Mormont.
He didn't knew who will come, the only thing that he asked for when he send the falcons was the second generation from each alliance house.
They will be the ones leading their families in the future.
Next, behind them the chains on a red field. House Umber.
Brendan's family kept close ties with them, as one of the oldest and most ferocious houses in the North his plans couldn't move forward without them.
He didn't trust OldJon Umber, the man was too loyal to the Starks, at least he was like that the last time he saw him 5 years ago, but SmallJon even being the brute he was had an open and smart mind.
Just behind the island of red a black background with white sun in the middle, the Karstarks.
Brendan felt more respect for this house than the Starks, maybe with the exception of Ned, but even the man was blinded like a fool by his honor.
On the other hand Lord Rickard, the head of House Karstark was a true Northman and the flexibility of his thoughts did not blind him like the other fools.
Next a small group of the new member of their flock.
Orange background with black moose head, House Hornwood.
Even if they are only small Lords not worth mentioning in other eyes, they were as loyal as righteous as can be.
Maybe that's the reason for their words "Righteous in Wrath".
Since the day the Dustin's obviously took their side against the Bolton's, the small lands between the Manderly and Bolton castles flourished.
Brendan thoughts about their fate in the future, he didn't have a reason to doubt them and to bring such a House to extinction like Ramsey Snow did was a great shame.
Next two small forces traveling next to each other.
A bow and arrow drawn and white Ironwood with a sword pointing down on a black field.
House Glenmore and Forrester.
Both joined the alliance of Houses in the second batch after the Dustin's helped them in their land disputes with Bolton's dogs the Whitehill's.
The Starks as always too afraid to stir the pot.
What surprised the young Lord were the other banners visible a bit further.
Seeing the white onion on black field he could only smile at his Master of Ships choice.
Since Matthias was already here it can only be Maric.
Last, but not least his mother's long years of lobbying payed off.
House Royce, Waynwood and Blackwood came as well.
With only this settings everyone could see the power of the alliance formed by them.
The rest of the members like Glover's and Ryswell's didn't come as the meeting was an unofficial event.
Brendan wanted to get down the wall to welcome them, just after turning around to walk down the stairs he froze while questioning himself.
'Impossible' he though and yet when he turned he confirmed the sight in front of his eyes was not a mirage.
Other banners were approaching from the harbor direction.
'Why? How?' Brendan felt two different emotions, happiness and surprise at the same time.
From the other end of the harbor road a spear impaling a sun flutter in the wind and next to them a golden rose on green field.
"Surprised?" his mother's voice reached his ear.
Looking to the side he saw her approaching with the little white lemur in her arms enjoying some snacks.
Her faithful guards trailing behind her.
He heard Loki growling a bit at the small creature while Red and Laika just ignored it altogether.
"You could've told me mother." he looked in the distance. "The Vale Houses and Blackwood's and Tyrell's I can understand, but Martell's visiting the North? That's not wise mother." Brendan wasn't the schemings type, he could do some of it, but it wasn't his strongest suit.
That was probably the reason he felt good around the people they surrounded themselves with.
"There is no reason not to Brendan," she said as she hugged the boy's back and the white thing jumped on his shoulders. "After this year we can walk in the light freely and no one can do anything about it." Lady Barbrey's smile reminded him of Cersei.
"We still are not strong enough... but what's done is done. I will just bring the 1st back sooner just in case." even with his teenage body he looked different then the rest when he was thinking.
Barbrey looked at her son, pride flashed through her eyes.
"There's no need son," she gently patted his head, "let Dale bring them back after the fleet rests for some time." She enjoyed the moment of peace with her child.
"What about Ironborn? Lord Harlaw send a word?" every time Brendan though about it he felt uneasy.
"Still no word. I wouldn't worry much, they have their hands full now with the preparation." The way Lady Barbrey brushed it off made the young Lord look at her.
"This is what I do mother, I worry. Not without a reason I might add. Lord Harlaw was supposed to send his family here before the rebellion, yet we haven't heard from him for a long time." their eyes met.
"I will send Whisperers to check up on him."
"Please do mother. I really don't like it... Since we are talking about things we don't like. When are you going to Kings Landing?" a small smile crept to his lips seeing how his mother frowned.
Brendan knew his parent hated the shit and piss smelling capital.
"Since Lady Anya and Lord Yohn Royce came, it will be soon." She hesitated a bit. "Are you sure that Littlefinger will act?" her eyes landed on her son's straight back.
"He will. That opportunistic and scheming worm won't be able to hold back, you said it yourself after Lady Waynwood and Lord Royce proposed to Lord Arryn to take him to Kings Landing earlier as per our suggestion he almost came at the spot."
"That he did, he still thinks no one knows he embezzled the gold from the trade, that costed us quite a bit I might add. The man is greedy that's unquestionable, but sleeping with his Lord's wife? I can't believe it... and you said yourself in your dreams you don't know whose child it is..." for Lady Barbrey the revelation of this plot was too much.
She wasn't the nicest person, but what her son told her about the man was inconceivable.
"Does it matter whose child it is? As long as they see him entering or leaving Lady Arryn night chamber the Vale will be ours."
The guests were almost at the gates and it was time to go and welcome them.
"And mother," Brendan stopped and turned around. "make sure no one knows you're there." He said and looked in her eyes.
"Our and the Vale truster people have everything ready, don't worry I know what I'm doing." She smiled at her son.
When she saw her boy nod and leave with his wolves, little lemur, and his guards her smile vanished and again she looked at the banners that came closer.
"I hope you know what you're doing child..." she looked one last time and walked away.
