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288 AC, early in the year.
Southwestern cape of Dorne, Starfall.
Starfall stood on an island west of the Red Mountains, where the Torrentine River emptied into the Summer Sea, embraced by mountains at its back and on both flanks.
In the Age of a Hundred Kings, the lords of Starfall had styled themselves "Kings of the Torrentine."
The Torrentine was one of Dorne's three great perennial rivers.
The Greenblood, the Scourge, and the Torrentine.
The Scourge was unfit for human habitation. The broad and gentle Greenblood was Dorne's mother river.
The Torrentine sprang from high mountain country, filled with rapids, waterfalls, and deep gorges.
Its drop was steep and its flow relatively modest.
Boats could not cross it; only bridges would do.
In harsh, dry Dorne, water meant everything.
Dornish kings were, in truth, kings of rivers and wells.
House Martell held the Greenblood. House Yronwood and House Fowler controlled the green hills and mountain rivers.
Arthur and his retinue disembarked from the swan ship and set foot on the island of Starfall.
House Dayne maintained larger docks along the Torrentine's estuary on the mainland; the island harbor was reserved for the family's private use.
"Beautiful castle," Arthur murmured, gazing at Starfall. The purple sword-and-star banners rippled above its walls.
A sword crossed with a falling star on a field of lavender.
The sea was azure, the island setting idyllic.
The more Arthur looked at Starfall, the more it felt like a mirror image of the Hightower.
Both houses dominated a southwestern sea approach, both castles stood on islands, both families carried an aura of ancient mystery.
Yet Starfall's hinterland could never match its old rival's wealth. The mountains were rugged and sparsely populated.
But the ferocity of Starfall's soldiers far outstripped Oldtown's city watch or common sellswords. It was that martial edge that had allowed the Daynes to thrash the Hightowers more than once.
Mountain folk forged in endless border skirmishes produced superb fighting men.
Arthur Whent's company unfurled like a river of gold, silver, and steel.
The massive Rolly and Lothor Brune served as Arthur's standard-bearers.
Southern winds snapped at the tall golden banners above them, each embroidered with the black bat of House Whent.
"Lord of Starfall, Lord Alan Dayne, and his sister Lady Allyria Dayne!"
Lord Alan Dayne's men emerged from the castle bearing the sword-and-star banners.
At their head walked Lord Alan and his eleven-year-old sister, Allyria Dayne.
Lord Alan wore lavender silk, with platinum hair and deep blue eyes that verged on purple. He was tall but appeared somewhat frail and slender.
The Daynes truly resembled Targaryens in looks.
Starfall's guards wore silver plate beneath lavender surcoats, their greaves and gauntlets inlaid with the gleaming sword-and-star sigil.
"Arthur Whent, blood of Ser Oswell. Well done, lad. You shone brightly on Dragonstone," Lord Alan said as he dismounted, his voice like tempered steel. "Welcome to Starfall."
A smile touched the lord's face.
Dornishmen respected warriors above all, especially House Dayne.
Arthur was a friend of the Daynes, and his prowess had earned Starfall's admiration.
Though Starfall had lost both the Sword of the Morning and Dorne's greatest beauty, Ashara, the birth of heir Edric had lifted some of the gloom.
"I'm sorry to impose, Lord Alan," Arthur said with a grin.
"I've brought gifts as well."
Though this was a journey of exploration, proper courtesy demanded presents.
Whitewalls wine, Reach cider, Arbor vintages—Arthur had brought them all.
"You're too kind," Lord Alan replied, clearly warming to the well-mannered young man.
"Your eyes…" Lord Alan studied him closely and lowered his voice. "Ser Lucas told me about the color, but I didn't quite believe it."
Arthur's irises were exceptionally rare.
"I don't know why they are this way either," Arthur said simply.
The rest of Arthur's party dismounted. Stable hands from the castle came forward to tend the horses.
"My sister, Allyria Dayne. My son Edric is still inside with his mother and the servants," Lord Alan introduced his youngest sister.
"Arthur Whent."
"Allyria Dayne."
Arthur now knew Allyria as well.
Like Ashara, the girl had black hair, pale skin, a tall graceful figure, and deep violet eyes that were both beautiful and cool.
Whatever else one said, House Dayne produced exceptional beauty—handsome men and lovely women alike.
Once the formal greetings were complete, Lord Alan led Arthur into Starfall.
"Was the journey smooth?" he asked.
"Quite smooth," Arthur smiled. "Bitterbridge, Longtable, Highgarden, then Oldtown."
"Come, I'll take you to the Hall of the Sword. Allyria, help Ser Lucas settle Arthur's retinue."
"I understand," Allyria nodded.
Arthur naturally accepted the invitation. Lord Alan clearly had things to discuss in private.
Starfall's Hall of the Sword served the same purpose as the throne room in the Red Keep—it had once been the seat of the Kings of the Torrentine.
Arthur followed Lord Alan with long strides through the great oak-and-steel doors.
"The Hall of the Sword takes its name from these murals and the Sword Throne," Lord Alan explained.
The Sword Throne was an oak seat shaped like a blade, set upon a dais and carved with House Dayne's sigil—impressive and regal.
The stone wall behind it was covered in magnificent murals depicting the ancient history and glorious deeds of House Dayne.
Some showed the founding of Starfall.
Legend said the first Dayne had followed a falling star to a small island at the mouth of the Torrentine. There he found a magical meteorite. He built a castle—the Starfall of today—and founded his kingdom.
Others depicted the marriage of the Sword of the Morning and Queen Nymeria.
After the deaths of her first husband, Prince Mors Martell, and her second, Lord Uller of Hellholt, Nymeria had chosen Ser Davos Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, as her third husband.
Still others showed Starfall burned by dragonfire.
During the First Dornish War, after Ser Joffrey Dayne attacked Oldtown, Queen Visenya and her dragon Vhagar had reduced the castle to ash.
Yet today House Dayne shared blood ties with both House Martell and House Targaryen.
"You may speak freely here," Lord Alan said. "The walls of Starfall have no hidden passages, and there are no spiders or fleas like at Sunspear's docks. House Dayne is your friend, Arthur. You have not disappointed your gifts. Ser Lucas cannot stop singing your praises."
Lord Alan was himself an excellent Dornish swordsman.
But beneath the legend of the Sword of the Morning he remained modest—a reflection of his character.
Arthur looked at him. "The word 'friend' is already priceless. I hold the Sword of the Morning and Starfall in the highest respect. Lord Alan, Ser Lucas's teachings have benefited me greatly."
Lord Alan was silent for a moment, then exhaled in relief. "I feared you might want more. Young men love blood and fire and talk endlessly of revenge. But war broke my heart long ago, and I have no desire to speak of it. You are still young; you do not yet understand the cruelty of vengeance and war."
Lord Alan admired and liked Arthur's talent.
House Whent and House Dayne had both been loyal royalists.
The royalist remnants of the Riverlands and Crownlands were broken men; it would have been easy for them to tempt Arthur toward revenge.
But Lord Alan now wanted only to stay out of the storm.
The dead were dead, the losers had no path back, and it was better to live quietly.
House Dayne had not suffered the same humiliations and blood debts as House Martell.
"I thank you for the warning, Lord Alan. I will choose my path with care," Arthur nodded.
He understood Lord Alan's mindset. House Dayne was a house of knights that prized honor and grace.
And Lord Alan looked weary.
He wanted only to raise his son Edric and avoid further entanglement.
"That is good, Arthur. Keep a cool head. Truthfully, Dorne has few men left, and the defeat at the Trident has made us even more cautious," Lord Alan said with quiet resignation.
Lord Alan's friendship was already a treasure—the goodwill of the King of the Torrentine.
As for grand alliances and future plans, those would come only when Arthur had proven himself worthy of the risk.