On the southern grassland at the foot of the Red Mountains
The crow-trees were still in full bloom on the branches. From the words of the shepherds grazing sheep in the meadows, Jon Snow could clearly hear that these soulful trees would watch over them and haunt their dreams. On the branches hung bones wrapped in braids and on long leather straps were hung feathered horns, and distorted sacrifices. Jon Snow had heard of wildlings beyond the Wall, and though he had never met one, he knew legends of them from his uncle Benjen. As he gazed at the sturdy trunks of the trees, he could feel the flame of the soul in the eye sockets of the skulls hung on the trees.
- "Silence!" commanded Casta, holding up his hand.
As if anyone had spoken a word since the horses had approached the royal forest. Casta beckoned, and the warriors striding beside him clutched their shields.
- Come forward and show us respect!
Ser Jaime stepped up next to Casta.
- How reliable are these Martells? I fought with them and against them. I know some of their leaders, but I don't know this Prince Oberyn. How obedient is he? You don't think he was touched by Stannis' long fingers?
Casta made his horse dance.
- Oberyn's brother has a blood pact with my grandfather, King Rickard Stark! The Starks gave him a wife to marry. Doran Martell owes us and the Lord of Winterfell a rent! We protect them from their enemies, not they protect us, Ser Jaime.
Nothing could be read from the knight's face.
- Do you wish, my lord, that I speak to them as the rightful representative of Tywin Lannister and bearer of the Lion's Seal?
Perhaps they will hold fewer things behind the cloak of mist if they know that I speak as a representative of the supreme power.
Casta shook his head.
- I am Eddard's son. They'll know who they're talking to.
- As you wish, my lord.
Ser Jaime took a step back, Jon Snow saw Casta's face grow grim. The horsemen stood where the trees thinned and a grassy mound rose like a grave mound, with a tall, cracked boulder in the middle. This, then, must be the place where Doran Martell's delegation would receive the Stark leader. The Dornish, especially those who seemed to be leaders among them, seemed to glitter with the red sun crest upon them. The Starks raised the red-painted head of a huge buffalo on the tip of a wolf-skinned spear before the dark-haired man with the sun-disc who appeared to be the leader. Three of the more ornately dressed horsemen surrounding the leader had already set off before the Lannister army emerged from the forest. Several of Casta's knights went for their bows, but Jon Snow waved them off. On the Martell's side, Jon saw the rattling bowstring, the quiver with the pointed arrows of the swords of the Dornish clans. The quivers were painted in bright colours, bearing the crests of many different clans. At first glance, the Martells were not many, but who knows how many thousands or hundreds more were hiding on the frontier. The Duke of Martell spoke in an intelligible Valyrian as he stopped before Casta, striking his chest with his right hand.
- 'I am Prince Oberyn Martell, of the clan of Mors Martell, first archer and leader of the army of Doran Nymeros Martell. Successor to Prince Qoren Martell and brother to the Lord of the Sun's Dart. Lord of armies and Grand Lord of the allied tribes, greets you, bright-faced Stark leader!
Casta, who now wore Robert's emblem, the three-horned stag crest on a gold chain around his neck, did not interrupt Oberyn.
- The Stark leader also greets Prince Oberyn and Doran Martell, the southern prince. To their horses and families, I wish the blessing of Lord Tywin, son of House Lannister!
- 'Thanks and gratitude,' said Oberyn, folding his hands over his silver-glittering robes.
He bowed humbly and looked Jon Snow in the eye. He had an open, slightly round face, fair skin and dark eyes. Jon Snow saw nothing false in him.
- 'Doran Martell expresses through me his sincere pleasure in entertaining the sons of the great Eddard.
But before Casta could speak, Jon Snow beat him to the punch.
- We, sons of Eddard have a sincere friendship for the House of Martell and the Prince.
Oberyn's face showed no emotion as he looked at him again.
- We have heard of your father's great deeds, Jon Snow.
The Dornish headquarters was a huge camp. It stretched between two rivers, beneath the barren mountains of the Red Mountains. They were in no danger of unexpected attack, for they had set up sentry fires across the grassy hills of the camp, empty tents and stone pillars in the shade of the tall trees on the hilltops. The Lord of the Sun's Dart sat on a throne covered in wolfskin and bearskin as Casta, Jon Snow, Ser Jaime and a few bodyguards entered the huge tent that served as the chieftain's palace. The Dornish guards raised their wolf spears when they saw Tywin's mark and the Baratheon crest hanging around Casta's neck. Doran also rose from his throne and bowed three times as Casta and Ser Jaime restated the purpose of their coming.
- I ask the blessing of the God of the Seven upon your lord Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, benefactor of the Seven Kingdoms, son of the Lion!
Doran Martell greeted Casta with the deep bow that only a King of the Starks deserves. Oberyn also bowed to his brother, then settled on a lower dais. Doran's tiny eyes darted back and forth as he rose to his feet. His brow gleamed with the amber-eyed, sun-disc ornamented headband. Without a word, the Stark brothers stood to receive the Prince Martell's compliments.
- 'The Dothraki Khal Drogo, lord of the Khalasar tribes, has now betrayed the Lion's son,' said Casta, instead of further courtesy. - What do you say to that, Lord of the Sun's Dart? Will you keep the blood-bond that binds you and your house to the supreme power?
Doran sat back on his throne, and Jon Snow saw the Prince's gaze dart back and forth between the Dornish guards and the Starks.
- Khal Drogo has burned and looted my quarters. As well as the lodges of the Stone and Sand tribes, and some of the Salt lodges along the Whip and Greenblood Rivers. As far as my arm could reach, I fought the infidels. But my reserves are finite. Winter is coming. I've been sheltering here for two years, and the forest of the gods never ends beyond the Wall behind us. Evil spirits haunt, dwell in that forest, spirits that once nestled in one of the Seven Hells. What does the Stark leader want from me?
The mighty buffalo head was hung on the wall of the tent, exactly where the Lord of the Sun's Dart now sat.
- "The Stark leader," Casta continued, in a higher tone, "representing the will of Tywin Lannister, wishes you, Doran Martell, to join his battalion with all your men of war. This battalion is here to end the vile rebellion of traitors and those who oppose the King's will in one sweeping attack.
Little time passed, but Doran still did not reply. Casta took an unexpected step towards the throne and his boots thudded loudly on the hard floor.
- What do you say to that, Doran Martell?
Out of the corner of his eye, Jon Snow watched the troops of leather-armoured guards around the throne and the fingers on their weapons belts, ready to draw their swords. Casta stepped back, as if he had started out only to walk around under the canvas of the spacious tent. Jon Snow watched the hands of the bodyguards. They no longer held their hands at their gun belts, but they didn't let them hang loosely either, next to their bodies. Casta stood from one foot to the other, as he always did when perplexed, so he pondered. Doran watched them from the throne with a wavering face, as if nothing had happened.
- "Perhaps I have not been clear enough, Lord Doran," he continued
'I represent the will of Tywin Lannister. King Robert knows that Khal Drogo and the Khalasar would not be so brave if the hands of Stannis Baratheon did not support them with gifts and false promises. The hordes of Dothraki must be defeated here, on the very edge of Dorne! Together, we will push on to the lodgings of the treacherous tribes, and burn every tent if the tribes do not hand over their leaders to us. We will pay in blood for disloyalty, and give our friends rich gifts. What is your word, Lord Doran?
Doran looked up from his high throne with an unreadable expression. Then he said only this.
- Your request is not a request, Lord Casta, but an order. You carry the will of the head of House Lannister. What can I do but bow to the power that the God of the Seven has ordained?
- 'That's right,' said Casta, pursing his lips tightly together, 'I am here on behalf of the Supreme Lord. And there is nothing you can do except to declare your obedience.
Jon Snow had his eyes on the grey-haired man under the buffalo head, but Doran Martell's face seemed lost in the shadows.