The Game of Cyvasse

Hands of gold, Heads of gold

The Dancing Griffin

"We cannot put a corpse on the throne” the hard and dark voice of the past declared as Jon’s eyes followed the raven plummeting from the maester’s tower like a black stone, down the verdant green slope, then spreading its wing's above the glistening stream and barely avoiding their golden pavilions, ascending to the clouds. Such a careless bird would doom the Hayfords in a true siege, the raven would barely flinch at a nocked arrow.

Lady Hayford's wails echoed from the guest tower, her castellan had yielded the castle and sworn fealty in the name of the toothless babe. Jon had no choice but to take charge of the Hand's duties in the main hall, a cramped and dim space compared to his spacious chambers in the Hand's tower when he had served Aerys.

"With your leave, m'lord. We give her goat's milk, for she spurns the wet nurse, but that doesn't agree with her either", the maid lamented to Jon, who had no words to offer. Children had always been alien and baffling to him, even as a young lord he found it strange to think of having his own. Marriage was even more peculiar, and women more elusive and foreign. He was fortunate that his Lord father passed when he did, yet he yearned for the old man, as stern and ambitious as he was, he was always a father.

A raven with a letter flew over the banner with the Staunton chessboard, where it left its wings. The Dark wings, the dark words, save that this scroll told Lord Mooton, in Maidenpool, where they were, and what provisions he had to send. The true dark tidings, of the boy's hard ailment, Jon kept as close as his eyes. Now that the boy was slumbering and helpless, he was once more a scared seven-year-old, whom Illyrio had presented to Jon, so many years ago.

Lord Staunton was the first to rally to their cause, two days later followed by a joint host from House Stokeworth and Byrch, Ser Balman Byrch led the forces of his wife Felyse Stokeworth and brother Sylman. Kin and kith, bound by ambition, Byrch was keen to see his wife rise from an heiress to a lady, already anticipating the news of how Cersei had hurled his mother-in-law Lady Tanda from the walls of the Red Keep, onto the spiked moat.

Soon after, Aegon's camp was bedecked with more banners, Buckwell golden antlers, Chelstead mace and dagger, Rollingford roundels, Cressey helmets and coins and Mallery stars. The camp resembled more and more a westerosi camp, vibrant of colors and lively with constant shouts, whistles and humming.

Lord Renfred Rykker, a familiar face from Jon's old memories, was the last to arrive to the Hayford, flanked by two twin sons, of fourteen years, who were as identical as the two griffins embroidered on Jon's coat. Another who had profited from Robert's rebellion and seized the place of his cousin, banished to the Night's Watch.

He acted as if he did not know Jon, at least not personally, "I expected the king to be here, I wish to kneel before him, in my own person". The words were rigid, of the lordly posture, as they acquire from years of sitting in noble chairs. I have only had a few years of lordship.

"The king has been waiting for you for eight moons, and you were not there", Jon retorted with biting words, but not voice.

"Now I am here and I offer my pledge. When do you march on King's Landing?", Rykker brushed off Jon's rebuke in a lordly fashion. They always act as if they did nothing wrong.

"Soon. In Rosby they spurned our ravens, I sent horsemen to confirm their allegiance and fetch grain for King's Landing". The tidings of their triumph over the Lannisters flew faster than the lash of a storm on the crags of Cape of Wrath. By Jon's command, from Maidenpool they sent missives, by ravens and riders, to all Crownlands houses, north of Blackwater rush.

"A prudent move, my spies from the capital report that there is a dire hunger in the city, the Tyrells have shut the Rose road. Yet, there is something more urgent to tell you, a wine seller from Pentos brought curious news to Duskendale. Stannis Baratheon was sighted in Pentos", Rykker said with knowing eyes. The news was more important than all the blades he brought.