Arthur reined in his horse and looked up.
Although he had passed Skyreach a few times before, gazing from afar at this precipitous fortress built upon the rocky slopes of the mountains, guarding the Prince's Pass, still filled him with awe.
The castle seemed carved directly from the mountain rock. Its towering walls blended seamlessly with the steep cliffs, while watchtowers and keeps grew from the stone like natural formations, overlooking the Prince's Pass below.
In terms of sheer defensibility, Arthur guessed that perhaps only the Eyrie of House Arryn, perched atop the Mountains of the Moon, could surpass Skyreach.
Below the slopes of Skyreach lay several villages, along with inns and waystations for travelers. To the north lay the Prince's Pass, the most convenient route between Dorne and the Reach.
Compared to the treacherous Boneway Arthur had taken to King's Landing, the Prince's Pass was a veritable highway.
"Arthur."
Just as he was admiring the scenery around Skyreach, Lady Nymeria's voice came from the carriage.
Arthur withdrew his gaze and rode up to the carriage window where the curtain was pulled back. "What is it?"
Lady Nymeria's face, slightly fuller due to her pregnancy, appeared in the window. Her eyes held a hint of pleading.
"If Jeyne and Jennelyn give you a hard time later, go easy on them."
Arthur had never expected to find himself in the middle of a "Shura Field"—a lover's quarrel involving multiple partners. With such a rare opportunity, he wasn't going to let Lady Nymeria off the hook easily.
"We are all lovers here. Why should I go easy on them?" Arthur lowered his voice, teasing her. "I remember someone saying that if I took other lovers, she would challenge them to a duel with daggers. Have you forgotten?"
Nymeria crooked her finger. When Arthur leaned in, puzzled, she kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"They say the birthing bed is a woman's battlefield."
Her voice was as light as a feather. "Arthur, for the sake of our unborn child."
Arthur had intended to extract some benefits—at least to uphold the Dornish tradition of gender equality. It wouldn't do for Nymeria to set fires while he was forbidden from even lighting a lamp.
But hearing Nymeria say that, he felt completely checkmated.
No matter the era, childbirth brought immense pain to the mother. especially given the medical conditions of this quasi-medieval age, saying the birthing bed was a woman's battlefield was no empty phrase.
Arthur sighed and pinched her round cheek helplessly. "Since you put it that way, of course I choose to forgive."
Just then, the sound of hooves came from the direction of Skyreach.
A squad of knights bearing the blue hooded falcon banner approached rapidly.
They didn't stop until they were intercepted by the cavalry scouts sent out by Ser Barton, just a short distance from the Mountain Corps' formation.
Ser Mason, the master-at-arms of Skyreach, and the standard-bearer were led by Ser Barton around the disciplined ranks of the Mountain Corps to the center of the column.
"Ser Arthur." Mason dismounted and bowed, his voice a little dry. "On my lord's orders, I come to welcome you."
To be honest, passing by a military formation composed mostly of wildling faces but equipped with excellent full armor had sent a chill down his spine.
"No need for formalities, Ser Mason." Ser Mason had been present when Arthur tamed Violet, so they were acquainted and needed no introductions.
Ser Mason led his horse and walked beside Arthur. "Ser... My Lord, you have brought quite a few followers on this visit. I fear..."
Ser Barton laughed heartily. "Rest assured, Mason. We will find a place to camp ourselves. You don't need to worry about preparing food for over a thousand of us."
"Though if you did prepare something, this old friend certainly wouldn't refuse."
Ser Mason smiled bitterly and stammered, "That's not... what I meant. Your numbers are... vast, and everyone is fully... armed. It might disturb the local populace."
Arthur said, "Ser Mason, please rest assured. The Mountain Corps are professional soldiers who have undergone long-term training. Their discipline is strict. Without my order, they will not disturb the people."
"It is as my Lord says." Ser Barton patted Mason on the shoulder. "You don't know, but in the Torrentine valley, the people wish the Mountain Corps would camp nearby for protection."
"I hope so." A flash of helplessness crossed Ser Mason's face. Knowing he couldn't stop a thousand soldiers, he said no more.
Objects appear closer than they are in the mountains. Arthur hadn't expected the short visual distance to translate into a half-hour journey to reach the foot of the mountain.
After instructing Ser Barton and Bear Dee to settle the Mountain Corps, Arthur, Lady Nymeria, and a few attendants followed Ser Mason up the long, winding stone steps toward Skyreach.
On the climb, Penrose, Jynessa, and his foster son Edwin Rogers chattered about the surrounding scenery behind him, keeping boredom at bay.
Despite being five months pregnant, Lady Nymeria moved with agility and refused his help.
He hadn't wanted to bring her to Skyreach, but he couldn't withstand her pleading from morning till night. Fearing she would become depressed if left behind in Starfall, he had reluctantly agreed.
When Arthur's party reached the gate, he noticed that besides the blue hooded falcon banner of House Fowler, a banner depicting a crowned skull also flew from the battlements.
"Is someone from House Manwoody visiting Skyreach?" Nymeria asked.
House Manwoody's seat was Kingsgrave in the Prince's Pass, north of Skyreach. Their sigil and the name of their castle both stemmed from the founder of their house killing an ancient King of the Reach at that location.
"Lord Dagos Manwoody and his sons arrived recently at my lord's invitation," Ser Mason explained.
Nymeria seemed to sense something and pressed, "For what purpose?"
Just then, the gate chains rattled and the gate opened with a creak.
Arthur saw the Old Falcon, Lord Franklyn Fowler. His expression was serious.
"Old Falcon, are you not welcoming me?" Arthur asked, seeing Franklyn's long face. "I brought you gifts."
Franklyn shot a wary glance at Nymeria but said nothing more. After servants presented bread and salt, he introduced Lord Dagos Manwoody and his two sons standing beside him.
He also introduced his twin daughters, Nymeria's lovers Jeyne and Jennelyn.
Both Jeyne and Jennelyn had light blonde hair and looked almost identical. At least, Arthur couldn't tell who was the elder and who was the younger.
To catch Nymeria's eye, they were naturally beautiful, with sweet faces and eyes as sharp and spirited as their father Franklyn's. Their figures were similar to Nymeria's—tall and slender.
Lord Dagos and his sons had the typical look of Stony Dornishmen: brown hair, tall stature, and faces slightly roughened by the Dornish sun.