Chapter 83: Witness of the Seven

The cramped tent grew even tighter as more and more Dornish knights in armor entered, filling the space to its limit. As dusk approached, the light grew dim, so Princess Arianne ordered her guards to light candles.

The scent of desert lizard oil soon filled the air, and over a hundred knights now crowded the tent.

Princess Arianne's gaze swept over them, recalling their family names, allegiances, and individual traits—skills every leader needed.

To her left stood a tall man with a pronounced hooked nose, streaks of silver in his dark hair, and pale violet eyes. She recognized him immediately as Gerold "Darkstar" Dayne, the eldest son of High Hermitage. The Daynes of High Hermitage, being the most powerful branch of House Dayne, clearly had their eyes set on claiming Starfall, especially now that the main family line was dwindling.

Thus, Gerold's forces formed the largest contingent here—three thousand men, nearly the entire fighting force of High Hermitage.

However, Gerold's reputation was less than stellar, and Arianne disliked the way he looked at her. Still, she wouldn't distance herself because of that. In fact, she considered him a prime candidate to inherit Starfall—certainly more fitting than this unknown Natalie Dayne.

Meeting his heated gaze, she returned a seductive smile.

As expected, Gerold's breath quickened, and he straightened, looking more alert.

"Ser Gerold, you bear the name Dayne . Reachmen now stand on Dayne lands. Tell me, what should we do?"

"Drive them into the sea!" Gerold slammed a fist to his chest, shouting with fervor.

"Excellent! That is the true spirit of House Dayne!" Arianne said meaningfully.

She then turned to the next knight, a young man with the sigil of a black vulture clutching a pink infant on his armor—the crest of House Blackmont. She knew this young knight to be Perros Blackmont, the heir to House Blackmont and former squire to her uncle, who had also knighted him.

Seeing Arianne's attention, Perros quickly bowed.

Arianne nodded, thinking, "A trustworthy knight."

"Ser Perros, what is your opinion?" she asked.

"House Blackmont will always follow the path of the Sunspear!" His face flushed slightly, and he seemed unable to hold her gaze.

"Very well! House Blackmont has always been a reliable pillar of support!" she commended him before moving on.

Next to the Blackmont contingent stood five knights with golden skull crests on their armor. Arianne didn't recognize any of them by name but knew from their sigils that they were from House Manwoody of Kingsgrave.

Guarding the northern gate to Dorne, Kingsgrave held a critical position, and the Martells had long cultivated a close relationship with House Manwoody. Yet, their direct family members had conspicuously avoided this gathering, a fact that subtly soured Arianne's mood.

Still, she said, "House Manwoody has always led the charge against the Reach. If I remember correctly, the golden crown on your crest commemorates the time your ancestor killed a king of the Reach."

"Indeed, Your Grace," one of the Manwoody knights stepped forward. "Our grudge against the Reach runs deep, and we will never bow to them!"

Arianne nodded approvingly and looked to her right, where a cluster of knights bore the red-and-yellow flames of House Uller from Hellholt.

Lord Harmen Uller's illegitimate daughter had once been her uncle's lover and had borne him four daughters—known as the "Sand Snakes," and Arianne's childhood playmates. So, her gaze softened upon seeing House Uller's knights.

House Uller had responded enthusiastically to her call, sending two thousand soldiers led by Lord Harmen's brother, Ser Ulwyck Uller.

Before Arianne could speak, Ser Ulwyck stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Grace, the blades of House Uller are ever at your command!"

"And the loyalty of House Uller is always beyond question!" Arianne replied warmly.

Her gaze continued, pausing on each family that had come to their aid, expressing her appreciation to each one.

House Qorgyle of Sandstone, House Fowler of Skyreach, House Yronwood…

But when her eyes landed on the knight by the tent's entrance—a blonde-haired, blue-eyed man—Arianne's pupils narrowed.

On his armor was the sigil of a black portcullis on sand—the sigil of House Yronwood.

Yronwood, one of Dorne's oldest and most powerful houses, was known by many titles: Lords of Yronwood, Bloodroyals, Wardens of the Boneway, and Lords of Greenhill.

However, their most notable title was once "High Kings of Dorne."

Before the Martells united Dorne, House Yronwood had been their greatest rival. Though they had since submitted to the Sunspear, the rivalry lingered beneath the surface.

Arianne's uncle had once been suspected of poisoning a Yronwood lord. To appease House Yronwood, Prince Doran had sent his son Quentyn to them, not as a mere fosterling but as a hostage.

With such a strained history, Arianne hadn't expected any support from House Yronwood, considering they were also distant from Starfall and had plenty of reasons to decline.

But here they were—though they had only sent one knight and a small contingent of thirty men. It seemed more like an observation party than actual support.

Still, she greeted him as she had the others. "I am grateful that House Yronwood traveled so far to stand with us."

The blonde-haired knight bowed, saying, "Your Grace, thanks are unnecessary. It is our duty."

Arianne's expression turned thoughtful. "How fares my brother?"

"Prince Quentyn is well, my lady," the knight replied. "Lord Yronwood intends to wed him to Lady Gwyneth."

"Is that so? Please extend my thanks to House Yronwood for their care of my brother," Arianne said, swallowing her complicated feelings. "May I ask if House Yronwood still stands with the Martells?"

"Of course. House Yronwood remains loyal to Sunspear."

"Good!" Arianne clapped her hands.

At her signal, a camel was led into the tent.

Drawing her sword, Arianne approached the animal. Under the confused gazes of the knights, she plunged her blade into the camel's chest, deep into its vitals.

Blood spurted from the wound, dousing Arianne in crimson. She stood unmoved, waiting for the beast's death throes to subside before pulling out her sword and stepping back, her gaze unwavering.

Daemon Sand was the first to respond, drawing his sword and stabbing the fallen camel. One by one, the knights followed, understanding the ritual.

Once every blade bore blood, Arianne's expression relaxed into satisfaction.

She raised her blood-streaked sword high and proclaimed, her voice as unyielding as iron:

"Until every invader is driven from our land, anyone who dares sow dissent or speak of retreat shall meet the same fate as this camel! May the Seven bear witness!"

In unison, the knights raised their blood-stained swords, shouting:

"The Seven bear witness!"

(End of Chapter)