Fifth Month of 284 A.C. Somewhere in the Westerlands

Lucion Lannister

He had been back in the Westerlands for nearly five moons now, and still he missed the hot humid air and sand of Dorne. He had been in Dorne since the age of eight, and had come to view it as his home, perhaps even more of a home then Casterly Rock, though he would never dream of saying such a thing out loud especially not in front of his father. In Dorne he had been useful, helping Prince Oberyn gather information that had kept Dorne at peace and had prevented many bad things from happening, in Dorne he had had friends a plenty and had managed to create a small group of friends, some of whom he still kept in contact with, Gerold Dayne being one of them. Dorne was also where Nymeria was, and though they were both still quite young he did miss her very much, and they wrote frequently, he exchanged infrequent letters with his old master, Prince Oberyn, and he got very little information out of him. Still that had always been the way with Oberyn, quiet until needed to be with those he did not openly know or trust.

As for his family, well he loved them and he cared for them, that much he knew, that much was normal. But there were things about them that he had noticed as the second son that he did not particularly like. He had been in attendance when Cersei had wed King Robert, and the looks that she had shared with their brother Jaime had been anything but sisterly, there was some sort of hunger there that he had never truly understood, but one he had seen reflected in his own face when he had bedded that Lyseni girl. Cersei was cruel and vindictive that much he remembered from his own childhood, Jaime, well Jaime was the Kingslayer and an airhead with nothing more than his sword as his claim to fame. Of course that he was a member of the Kingsguard, did not seem to faze Lucion's father who it seemed was determined to have Jaime back as heir to the Rock if what uncle Tygett said was true. Some part of Lucion knew he should be insulted by that, but in all honestly he preferred it for he did not want the trouble, living in the shadows was better. As for his mother and youngest brother, he liked them the best, his mother was kind and caring, but frail and Tyrion, Tyrion was entertaining and smart and curious.

"Enough day dreaming lad," his uncle Tygett's voice brought him away from his thoughts. His uncle was a gruff man, angry and short tempered. "Have you filled up my wineskin for today's ride?"

"Yes nuncle." Lucion replied and dutifully handed his uncle the wineskin. "Filled to the brim as you like it. Where are we riding to, today nuncle?"

Tygett Lannister looked at his nephew from atop his horse and pondered what answer to give him and eventually decided that the boy the truth. "We are riding out towards the ruins of Tarbeck Hall. The smallfolk who live near that area have been complaining of bandits roaming the area and stealing their crops and livestock. But we have reason to believe that it is a trap meant to lure us into a false sense of security. This is why you shall be riding close by me and until we know more of the situation you are not to leave my sight."

Lucion sighed then and said resignedly. "Yes nuncle." Then he thought about what his uncle had said and asked. "Why do you think that the reports that the smallfolk have brought before my father, might be false?"

His uncle was silent a moment and then replied. "Because King Robert has raised taxes on some of the goods that these smallfolk produce and need to survive the winter that is here. And as your father is the king's goodfather and we are his kin, they might try and take us hostage to force the issue. That is why there are more than twenty men in this company we are riding in at the moment. Always remember to be suspicious of those you know not nephew, it will keep you alive in battle."

Lucion nodded seeing the wisdom in his uncle's words, before asking. "What will you do if the smallfolk we meet try and force our hand?"

"We shall serve them fire and steel and remind them who it is who keeps them safe at night and during the winter. There is no room for disobedience amongst your father's people none at all. That much Tywin has made clear over the years." Tygett says, the last words said with an ounce of bitterness that peaks Lucion's curiosity though he knows better than to ask.

They ride in silence for most of the remainder of the journey, before Ser Tygett speaks once more. "We are getting nearer to the village now. Keep one hand on your sword and keep both eyes close to the road. If you see anything suspicious let me know and we shall ride out." Lucion nods and they ride on in silence, eventually they reach the village and his uncle calls out. "Who holds court here in this village?"

A tall and balding man steps forward from the cover of a hut, and says boldly. "I do. My name is Theo Longtail. I would know who you and your men are."

"I am Ser Tygett Lannister, brother to Lord Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West. These men are my company who have come to aid you and your people in defence against the bandits that plague your village." His uncle responded.

"Very well then, dismount and my boys can find suitable places for your men and your horses." Theo says.

They dismount and Lucion follows his uncle into the hut that the man had come from, once they are seated, his uncle asks the man. "Now you have said that bandits haunt this village, but on the way here we saw no sign of banditry for miles around. How certain are you that it is bandits causing you trouble and not just stray animals?"

Theo Longtail seems gravely offended at his uncle's question and responds. "Very certain Ser. I saw mine own daughter carried away by one of the bandits, like she was nothing more than a rag doll. They come in force and often overwhelm us, as we do not have the means of defending ourselves against such attacks."

Lucion looks at his uncle and sees that Ser Tygett is looking thoughtful. "Hmm, and when was the last time these bandits attacked?"

Theo is silent a moment before he responds. "Two days ago Ser. And the chief bandit, who wears a skull mask, said that they would return at evenfall today to take more."

His uncle is silent a moment and then asks. "Very well, now what defences does this village have?"

And as it goes his uncle spends most of the day looking the defences the village has, they are to be brutally honest quite minimal, a ditch on one side that has been filled with snow, and that's it. The rest of their defences are simply pitchforks that the villagers have, stuff that will do no good against armoured men and steel, if that is what the bandits truly are. Once this is all done, Lucion and his uncle retire for the evening waiting for signs of these bandits. "SO Lucion, what do you think?" His uncle asks him once they are back within their camp. "Do you believe that the bandits are real, or will Theo Longtail and his cronies descend upon us in the night?"

Lucion ponders this for a long time and eventually says. "I am not sure nuncle. I believe that Theo does sincerely believe that there are bandits. But then there is no proof for this and as such it could all very well be a trap."

His uncle nods and says. "Very good, you are learning. Keep that up and soon enough you shall be able to lead parties out on your own. There is more to this man's story than he is willing to tell us. We must learn more about it and him before we act."

Lucion is about to ask a question when Ser Denys Westerling, a member of their party enters the tent and says. "Riders my lord. Bandits, by the looks of them led by a giant of a man."