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Starfall, Maester's Tower.
Maester Oswell finished the gull egg omelet the servant had brought him and sat back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest.
He could feel his body growing weaker by the day. He could no longer even manage the climb up the ladder to the rookery to feed the ravens.
Perhaps it was time to write to the Citadel and ask them to send a replacement.
The Seven preserve me, at least I still have the strength to hold a quill.
"Maester Oswell, I've finished feeding the ravens." Kyler, the son of Karen the Fat Steward, climbed down from the rookery carrying an empty feed bucket.
"These letters arrived by raven today. There are two of them. Judging by the wax seal, one is from Lord Arthur. The other... I'm not sure. The seal is a cluster of grapes."
"A cluster of grapes?" Oswell struggled to open his eyes and glanced at the two scrolls Kyler had placed on the table.
"Help me up, Kyler. That is the sigil of House Redwyne of the Arbor."
"House Redwyne? No wonder I didn't recognize it. I think that's the first time I've ever seen a letter from them," Kyler muttered. "And good Maester, I'm Kyler, not my father Karen. I'm nowhere near as fat as he is."
Lately, Maester Oswell had been confusing people—mistaking him for his father or someone else entirely.
"Apologies, Kyler." Leaning on the boy for support, Oswell sat at the table. With a trembling hand, he used a small knife to break the seals and read the letters one by one.
"Maester, what do they say?" Kyler asked as he washed out the feed bucket. "Lord Arthur wrote before that Prince Oberyn knighted him. Next time I see him, can I call him Ser Arthur?"
"Maybe I can even ask him to knight me."
Kyler's face lit up with hope as he imagined the scene of Lord Arthur dubbing him a knight.
"Arthur writes that they have reached Sandstone. If all goes well, you can call him Ser Arthur to his face in three days," Oswell said, a smile appearing on his aged face as he finished Arthur's letter.
"As for knighting you... you'll need to be a bit quicker on your feet and more diligent in your duties first."
Oswell then turned his attention to the letter from the Arbor. As he read, the smile faded from his face, replaced by a frown.
The letter was from Paxter Redwyne, Lord of the Arbor. He was inviting Allyria to attend a feast on the Arbor.
More significantly, he expressed an intention for one of his twin sons to marry Allyria.
He also offered to take Edric Dayne as his squire.
Tucking both letters into his wide sleeves, Oswell spoke seriously. "Kyler, help me to see Lady Allyria. I must speak with her."
"Maester, you're weak and walking is difficult. Let me deliver the message for you," Kyler said, wiping his wet hands. It was strange; usually, the Maester just sent him to relay messages.
"This matter is of great importance. Allyria needs my counsel."
"Yes, Maester."
Even with Kyler's help, it took a full quarter of an hour for Maester Oswell to walk from the Maester's Tower to the small hall in the main keep.
"Maester Oswell, you came yourself?"
In the small hall, Allyria was practicing embroidery with the septa and her handmaidens, chatting and laughing. Seeing the Maester arrive, she quickly ordered a servant to bring a chair for him.
Oswell handed both letters to Allyria. Once she had read them, he spoke.
"Arthur and Prince Oberyn have reached Sandstone. We must begin preparing guest rooms and food immediately."
Allyria folded the letters with a complicated expression and turned to her handmaid. "Ellie, do as the Maester says. Tell the servants and the kitchen to prepare everything needed to receive guests."
As a highborn lady of House Dayne, Allyria understood her duty. She knew that eventually, she would be expected to marry, bear children for her husband, and manage his household.
But because Edric was so young and needed care, she had pushed those thoughts aside until now.
"Maester Oswell," Allyria said, "Arthur has been knighted by Prince Oberyn, fulfilling the condition you set. If he can draw Dawn, he will be the new Sword of the Morning. I intend to make him the Castellan of Starfall until Edric comes of age."
"Let us put their matters aside for a moment." Oswell looked at Allyria with affection and concern. He had watched this girl grow up. "More than Arthur or Edric, Allyria, you should consider your own future. It is time to choose a suitable husband."
Oswell had no worries about the future of Starfall.
With the character and leadership Arthur had shown, even if he failed to draw Dawn and become the Sword of the Morning, he would still govern Starfall well and ensure the safety of Edric and his descendants.
Now, Oswell's last wish in this life was to see Allyria find a good match and speak her vows before the Seven.
"Maester, are you suggesting I accept Lord Paxter's invitation to the Arbor?"
"Quite the opposite. I advise against it. House Redwyne, and indeed any nobility of the Reach, are a suboptimal choice at present," Oswell explained.
"Dorne and the Reach have feuded for a thousand years. Although Dorne joining the Seven Kingdoms improved things, it only drove the conflict into the shadows."
"Furthermore, Prince Oberyn crippled the heir to Highgarden, Willas Tyrell, in a joust. This has soured relations considerably. If you marry into the Reach and conflict flares up again, you will be caught in the middle."
Allyria nodded in agreement. "Maester, how should I reply to Lord Paxter then? Would a direct refusal be too offensive?"
Oswell thought for a moment. Lord Paxter's sudden invitation was abrupt; House Dayne and House Redwyne had little prior contact.
"Let us discuss this when Arthur returns."
Oswell pulled a list from his sleeve. "These are some suitable marriage candidates I have gathered from across the Seven Kingdoms recently. You may look them over."
Allyria glanced at the list. It contained only names, houses, and ages. She sighed, disinterested.
"Good Maester, I can't tell anything from this list. Do you have any better advice?"
Truth be told, she cared little for status. Looks, age, and compatibility of character were far more important—none of which could be gleaned from ink on parchment.
Oswell understood Allyria's thoughts perfectly.
"If Arthur draws Dawn, we can host a tourney at Starfall in honor of the new Sword of the Morning. We can invite young knights and nobles from all over the realm."
"The fame of the Sword of the Morning is a powerful draw for young, hot-blooded knights. You can find someone suitable there, observe them, and find reasons to keep them here to get to know them better."
Allyria's eyes lit up. "That is a wonderful idea."
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