Something the Hollow Hill always seemed to be lacking in was news from the surrounding seven kingdoms. Every bannerman's holdfast, city and settlement in the land had a maester, and maesters would receive ravens from everywhere else. They would let their lords know of messages and information, and smallfolk would learn of these from word of mouth.
Lacking both a maester to learn news from, and being too isolated from other settlements to hear rumour from word of mouth, news was a rare and precious commodity. The only time they received it was from hostages taken in ambushes who were forced to tell them the locations of enemies and what was going on in the wider world.
Something the peasant children of the Hollow Hill had taken to doing was shooting down ravens—which were conspicuously larger than the average carrion crow—with slings. They rarely landed a hit as the birds were clever and often flew above the canopy, but those who flew too low occasionally fell prey to the urchins.
One such bird was knocked out of the sky by Nora, a peasant girl, who immediately brought it to Ser Alyn, without opening the message tied to the raven's talon—she could not read. Ser Alyn untied the letter. It was intended for Pycelle. Alyn had no idea who that was. He unfolded it, and glancing at the script, he immediately wished he had paid more attention to Maester Luwin's teachings and less time sparring with Jory Cassel back in Winterfell. He read slowly, in stops and starts, but in the end was able to decipher the message.
Grand Maester Pycelle,
Renly Baratheon is amassing a host at in the south and has won the support of House Tyrell and its bannermen. He is to marry Margaery Tyrell and has crowned himself Lord of the Seven kingdoms at Highgarden. I have not the knowledge of the size of the hosts of the other four kings in this war but it is said that of Renly's is far larger than that of any of them. Renly moves through the Reach, gaining more allies by the day. As of the time of writing this letter he has made no plans to strike northwards and most likely intends the Lannisters and Starks to wear themselves down. I will write again when I learn more.
Your loyal confidant at Horn Hill,
Edric Flowers
This was no mere grain tally from one maester to another, thought Alyn. This was something important. He descended into the Hollow Hill's entrance and darted along the first tunnel until he reached the firepit chamber. As the new leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners the red priest had taken up Lord Beric's old quarters. Ser Alyn quickly mounted the ligneous spiral staircase. If the chamber had a door he would have knocked on it, but it didn't. Thoros had erected a brazier in the centre of the room and was staring intently into the flames. He looked up irritably as Alyn entered, regarding the knight's tense expression.
"What's all this?"
"A peasant girl knocked a raven out of the sky. It bore a message. I've already read it. It's intelligence about Lord Renly."
"Let me see."
Thoros took the piece of paper and held it up to the light from his brazier, scanning the writing quickly, then again more slowly.
"Grand Maester Pycelle now serves King Joffrey", said Thoros thoughtfully. "This is from one of his spies, someone close to Renly. Unless this Edric Flowers has sent another raven with the same message, Joffrey and his small council will be doing without valuable information of Lord Renly's actions in the south.
"Renly is popular with the smallfolk. They say he is just like King Robert when he was young, and if his army is as popular as this Edric says it is than he could prove a valuable ally. We originally swore to fight the Lannisters in the name of King Robert, and if Renly is so similar to Robert maybe fighting for him wouldn't be all that different."
Alyn broke in: "Lord Renly is far to the south. The Reach is miles away. You can't really intend that the entire Brotherhood march there, and it's equally unlikely that Renly comes to the riverlands. He has a war to fight. Stannis, Tywin and Robb Stark stand in his way. It could take years for Renly to hew his way into the north."
"True", conceded Thoros. "But we could send him a delegation. According to the letter he has already won the support and admiration of nearly all the houses in the Reach. How much more gratified would he be to learn that there are forces outside of the south which support him too. It might encourage him to march north, ending the war early. To be honest, out of each of the five kings I have the most faith in Renly, if only from rumours. He seems more honourable than Tywin, more experienced than Robb Stark or Joffrey, more charismatic than Stannis, and more honest than Balon Greyjoy. The Reach is the home of chivalry and gallantry. Things the Seven Kingdoms are in dire need of right now. Renly could rid the riverlands of Lannister and Stark hosts who scrounge off the smallfolk. Imagine a just king like in the old days. Renly could be that king."
Ser Alyn said: "I hope you're not overdrawing this king in the south. He might not turn out to be all that you hope him to be. You said yourself you only know him from smallfolk rumours."
"Perhaps", said Thoros. But all the more reason to send a delegate. Most of our knights are from the riverlands, some, like you, are from the north, and less than a handful hail from the west. None are from the Reach. Our best bet is to send someone from the southern westerlands. They would at least be familiar with most of the territory on their way south."
"Who did you have in mind?"
After the raiders had been pushed out of the riverlands, life thankfully got much quieter for the denizens of the Hollow Hill. This solace was well earned for the fellowship. When the knights did ride out they targeted Stark and Lannister foraging parties. Tywin had retreated back to Harrenhal, along with his host, so the Brotherhood didn't need to travel far to find their quarry.
One cold morning, after a harassment of Lannister men who had strayed too far east, Tytos and Garrett returned to the Hollow Hill in high spirits. They had left without eating, and the smell of roast venison enticed them into the firepit chamber. They drew some weak beer from a barrel a peasant had brought with him upon defecting to the Brotherhood and helped themselves to a large slice each of venison.
While they ate, Ser Alyn entered the chamber and let them know that Thoros wished to speak to them both.
"What about?" asked Garrett.
"You've been assigned a mission—far afield."
"Where?"
"I'll let Thoros inform you. I would volunteer myself, but I have no experience of the south."
Alyn left it at that.
Garrett and Tytos' interests were piqued. They swiftly climbed the spiral stair. As was often the case, they found Thoros gazing fervently into the flames of his brazier. He didn't seem to notice the knight and his squire.
Tytos broke the silence. "Lord?" Thoros was not a lord, but the title seemed appropriate considering he lead the Knights of the Hollow Hill. Those close to him addressed him with "Thoros."
The red priest looked up, startled. A little abashed, he explained: "I have been trying to summon visions in the fire. All priests of R'hllor are taught to do it at the red temple. I am afraid I am not very good at it, never was. But this morning I did catch sight of something strange, just for a second."
Interested, Garret asked: "What did you see?"
"I can't be sure, but it looked like the interior of a tent. There was a woman, a regal man who looked much like King Robert, and a third. A heavy-set knight with a feminine face. I'm sure this scene has something to do with the task I am giving the two of you."
"Task, lord?" said Tytos.
"You are to travel west, along the Gold Road, then south to your old home, Silverhill. Continue in that direct to the Reach and deliver this letter into King Renly's hands." Thoros passed Tytos a folded message. It bore the seal of the lord of light, a fiery heart.
"I intend to side with the King in Highgarden for the good of the realm's smallfolk. I have taken stock of each of the lords fighting in this war who call themselves king and have decided that only Renly deserves that title. I want to let him know that when he has dealt with Joffrey and Stannis and decides to move northwards we will be there to fight for him. The Forgotten Fellowship grows stronger by the day. People join us all the time. By the time he gets to the riverlands we may be a formidable force. We have already dispatched Tywin's raiders. Surely we have gained an impressive reputation by now."
Garrett was buoyed by news he would see home again. He had not considered that his life in the Hollow Hill would change any time soon, but this news that he could visit Silverhill on the way to the Reach gladdened him.
He spoke up: "But lord, why are you sending us?"
"You two are as capable soldiers as any others. You have traveled the Gold Road and followed the stream of the Silverwater before, and the two of you have lived closer to the Reach than any of the other knights who dwell in these caverns. You are the likeliest candidates.
The brothers looked at one another. "We accept."
"I knew you would", said Thoros. "An adventure far afield is just what you need after spending most of your time cooped up in these caves."
Tytos and Garrett thanked him and turned to leave and go pack.
"There is something else", said Thoros. "In the scene I described there was a large shadow on the canvas of the tent, but it wasn't being cast by any of the people I described. I don't know what this means but it left me with a sense of foreboding, like waking up from a bad dream. I think the regal man I mentioned must be King Renly. I think the dream I had forewarns some danger for him. Once you have gained his trust you are to keep him safe, you understand."
The two nodded. Their thoughts were not occupied with notions of meeting Renly. That still seemed far away. They thought instead of the long road which stretched out ahead of them, the adventures they might have along the way, and seeing Silverhill again.
The knights of the Hollow Hill had not struck out far from home since the battle at Harrenhal, and intended to remain close to their home for the foreseeable future. Thus, the Polmonts were able to borrow saddlebags and provisions with little difficulty. According to intelligence from Brotherhood scouts, Tywin Lannister had joined his brother at Harrenhal and Robb Stark was somewhere in the west. Garrett hoped they would not come across the Young Wolf's forces on their way in that direction, but it would be unlikely that they would get harassed as long as they posed as ordinary, albeit armed, travellers.
Since they would be passing by Hornvale, the seat of House Brax, it crossed Garrett's mind that perhaps Jon Brax, who still resided at the Hollow Hill and was now squiring under Ser Alyn, might want to accompany them and perhaps see his home again. He was unsure if Thoros would allow it but felt it would do no harm to ask.
The question made Jon Brax's face turn to a gloomy expression.
"The war is still raging around us", said Jon. "I can't be certain that my father won't pack me off to war all over again. I don't know if I could fight in a pitched battle after seeing what happened to my brothers. Harassing foraging parties is different."
Garrett said: "But don't you want to see your father again?"
"A part of me desperately wants to see him, to go home to Hornvale and live like I used to. But so much has changed. I would much prefer to stay here for the time being. I could change my mind later. Besides, even if I do go home it is unlikely that my father would be there. He is probably still part of Tywin's host."
Their conversation ended there. Tytos and Garrett woke up early the next morning and said farewell to their other friends in the Fellowship. They mounted their horses and struck out south at a brisk trot. Garrett kept the letter in the breast pocket of his gambeson and frequently felt for it just to make sure it was there. If for whatever reason he lost it, he and his brother could probably relay the gist of Thoros' message through word of mouth, but delivering the actual letter would be better. Thoros had a way with words and he might have included something in the letter he hadn't told to Garrett and Tytos.
Being alone but for the two of them on the open road was both exhilarating and a little worrying. If they were stopped by either Lannister or Stark forces, as could possibly happen, they had decided to profess to be peasants driven out of their homes by Starks if they met Lannisters, or Lannisters, if they met Starks. This would have passed for a good cover story if there were a little more dishevelled. Both wore light gambesons, leather boots instead of a peasant's clogs, they were both mounted, both armed, and neither showed the signs of malnourishment of the poor smallfolk you might find on the road. Nonetheless, pretending to be peasants was their best bet at remaining unmolested.
If they asserted to other travellers that they were soldiers they would either be assaulted, being on the wrong side, or questioned about where they were going, if they pretended to be on the same side as their addresser.
Finally, professing to be nobility was just as off-limits. They would be asked why they were alone, where their sigil was, and why they weren't with the host of their liege lord. Besides, the clothes they were wearing weren't fine enough to convince others of their nobility. No, posing as unusually kempt and well provisioned peasants seemed like the most fitting roles to play.
It was undeniably autumn now and it was getting colder. Trees were becoming bare and foliage littered the floors of the forests that the brothers passed through. Garrett, being a summer child, had never seen the like. Tytos was born in the the previous winter, but remembered little of it, so the changing weather astonished him almost as much.
They had been prepared to encounter other travellers, but so far their route through the forests southwards had been very quiet, but for the odd deer or other foraging animal. They had not yet run out of provisions, so there was no need to start hunting as of yet. Nonetheless, they had enough gold to pay for some beds and a meal in the odd inn they expected to pass on the Gold Road.
Late one evening, just as they were thinking about creating a fire and setting down for the night, all of a sudden they came upon the Gold Road. They knew they would either reach the Blackwater Rush or the Gold Road as they travelled as the river and the road ran parallel to each other and overlapped each other at one point.
Their journey southwards was now over for the time being. Now they would continue westwards until they reach the rocky peaks of the westerlands, then follow the Silverwater down to their old home and resume the journey south to the Reach.
The Gold Road was one of the most important roads in the Seven Kingdoms, alongside the Kingsroad, which connected King's Landing to the riverlands and the north, and the Roseroad, which connected King's Landing to Westeros' breadbasket, the Reach. Since King Joffrey and Tywin Lannister were allies, not to mention grandfather and grandson, in the War of the Five Kings, the road had seen quite a bit of military traffic. That could have been a problem for Tytos and Garrett, but there was nothing for it. Hewing their way through untamed forests while mounted would take too long. If they wanted to make it to the Reach before any major developments in the war took place, especially those concerning Renly, then they would have to take the Gold Road, at least until they arrived at the westerlands.
Tytos reflected aloud for the first time that, due to how hard it was to come by news at the Hollow Hill, they did not know precisely where Renly and his host was situated. The letter Ser Alyn had found had said that he was moving through the Reach gathering allies, but the host itself could hardly be expected to follow him wherever he went. His army would be located in one place. The two of them assumed, perhaps naively, that they would speak with some fellow travellers at some point and learn from them all they needed to know about Renly's whereabouts. Three days after crossing the bridge at the Blackwater Rush, fortune smiled on the knight and his squire.
Travelling the Gold Road, almost halfway between the Blackwater Rush crossing and Deep Den they noticed a small horse mounted party advancing on them from the north. Even from this distance they could see the banner displaying the Stark sigil, a running grey dire wolf on white. Drawing their swords without learning whether the group was hostile to them would be unwise, but the brothers were wary.
Tytos murmured to his brother as the riders approached: "If these men turn out to be friends I think we should ask to ride with them—it seems they're going south. We're lucky we have travelled this far unmolested by highwaymen. Journeying as a group would be much safer."
"But they're Starks", said Garrett. "They terrorise smallfolk just as much as Lannisters. If they find out we're outlaws they could kill us."
"If we keep our mouths shut they could never guess", said Tytos. "We are just the sons of a formerly prosperous peasant family moving to the south. Farming is easier there. I expect there are lots of riverland smallfolk moving that way."
The Stark party were quite close now. They began to slow as they approached where the Polmonts were halted.
"I'll do the talking", hissed Tytos.
From up close the two of them could see that the group was nearly all male, wearing boiled leather and chainmail vests. Their mounts were caparisoned in grey. There was only one woman. She wore a fur-lined coat, was middle-aged but still quite beautiful. Her hair was a dark auburn.
"Greetings sers", said Tytos. "Greetings lady. We are farmers from the riverlands migrating south. Unfortunately, he war has driven us from our homes and we are seeking a better life in the south."
The woman spoke: "I am Catelyn Stark, daughter of Hoster Tully, lord of Riverrun. Tell me, which of my father's bannermen is your liege lord?"
The brothers were astonished to have encountered such an important lady, the mother of the Young Wolf. Even the uninformed dwellers of the Hollow Hill knew who she was. No doubt her question was posed to trip up liars, but Tytos knew the Tully bannermen well enough.
"House Darry, my lady. In the east riverlands, near the Crossroads Inn."
"And what is House Darry's blazon?" said Lady Catelyn.
This stumped Tytos. He floundered for a second or two until Garett said: "A ploughman. Black on a brown field."
"I see you are learned," said Lady Catelyn. "But I know you are lying. The Lannisters have had Castle Darry under their thumb for months now. It has been left lordless and lawless. If you were really Darry peasants you would have migrated south half a year ago. Now explain yourselves or be cut down."
Neither Tytos nor Garrett had expected to be found out so swiftly. Perhaps they had been naive. They had to be careful here. Lying a second time would get them killed. Tytos, being the elder, did the talking as he said he would.
"My name is Tytos, formerly of House Polmont of the westerlands, and this is my brother Garrett. We are members of the Brotherhood Without Banners and bear a message to Renly Baratheon, the King in the South."
One of Catelyn's guards, no doubt the most senior among them, spoke up: "My lady, if your son were here he would have the two of them executed. These two are outlaws, traitors to the realm and the King in the North's rule.
Catelyn ignored him and directed a question at Tytos. "Why did the two of you turn your back on your liege lord?"
"Both of us were assigned to the raiding parties sent to torment the people of the riverlands, me to Gregor Clegane and my brother to Amory Lorch. Both of us upheld chivalric virtues and the faith of the seven and felt we could not continue serving under monsters such as Tywin Lannister's attack dogs. We defected to the Brotherhood Without Banners who exist to defend the smallfolk from villains such as them.
"I know that both of us could be considered traitors for what we have done, but please try to understand that we only did it because our own integrity demanded it of us. The Brotherhood were the only just cause left to ally ourselves with in the riverlands."
Lady Catelyn pondered for a moment. "I consider the cause of my son to be just too, but it is inevitable that even the most righteous power in the land would mistreat the weak in some way. An army does need to feed itself, which means it must sometimes take much from the smallfolk. Besides, this is not the first war I have lived through. I know the ways of a conflicted world. We will leave you now."
Catelyn spurred her mare into motion. "Farewell." The group began to move off.
"Wait!" exclaimed Garrett. "My lady!"
Catelyn reined in her horse and turned to face him. "What is it?"
"If it's not too much to ask", began Garrett, "could we ride with you? We have many miles to travel until we arrive at the Reach. I see you and your men are also riding south."
Lady Stark seemed reticent to reveal her destination to a stranger. Tytos decided to be completely honest with her in order to gain her trust: "We bear a message to King Renly from the leader of the Brotherhood. We have heard he is the most powerful of the five kings and our leader seems to believe he deserves the iron throne. We wish to ally ourselves with him."
Lady Catelyn's eyes widened. "Well, well", she said. "It seems the north isn't the only power that wishes to associate itself with Renly. In truth, I am leading this delegation to the Reach personally to convince him to join with us. To be honest, I have always been sympathetic to Lord Beric's cause. He was one of my late husband's most trusted knights. His Brotherhood, the King in the North, and the King in the South could make quite a powerful alliance."
Tytos said, "I am afraid that Lord Beric is no longer the leader of the Brotherhood. He was killed in battle by Gregor Clegane. The red priest Thoros of Myr leads us now. He is the one who sent us south."
"I am sorry to hear that", said Catelyn. "Dondarrion was a good man. Nonetheless, the two of you may accompany us south to the river Mander. It is safer to travel in a group."
That took Garrett by surprise. "So you aren't going to follow the Gold Road, my lady? We had planned to travel west and then south into the Reach towards Renly's host. Our old home lies in that direction."
"You must be uninformed. Renly's host is situated at Bitterbridge. If you travelled in the direction you just described you would needlessly wander a great many miles before reaching your destination. If you were to travel south with us in a straight line you would reach the host in a matter of days."
"In that case we be delighted to join you", said Tytos. "I'm sure it is to our mutual advantage."
"Indeed", said Catelyn. "Both of us want the same thing: for Renly to take his host northwards. With our combined petitions we are sure to convince him."
Garrett caught a few of Lady Catelyn's bodyguards scowling at the newcomers, but they knew better than to contradict their lady.
The stark group spurred their horses on and the Polmonts followed with Garrett feeling a whole lot safer.