Second Month of 279 A.L. Highgarden

Lord Randyll Tarly

Randyll Tarly had always found Highgarden with its smell of roses and tales of knightly valor very suffocating. Having grown up at Horn Hill where the atmosphere was decidedly more somber, he had never been able to truly appreciate the need for such finery and beauty that the Tyrells often bathed themselves in and he had often been in contempt of it. Of course he was loyal to the Tyrells, who were his liege lords and as such deserved his respect for that fact if nothing more. Lady Olenna Tyrell the woman who had single handily ruled the Reach whilst Luthor Tyrell had wined and dined himself to death, was a woman Randyll respected, she was smart and cunning and knew how to get people to do things her way. Her son on the other hand was a different matter. Randyll had always thought Mace Tyrell to be a bumbling idiot, someone who moved from one bad mistake to the next, the fallout from his decisions only lessened by the hard work of his mother and sister Janna. The Tyrell sisters were both smart and had made good matches, as for Mace's wife and children, well Randyll had little thought on them except to think that they were good people and that the future of the Reach would be in good hands.

As for his own family well Randyll was happy with his wife, Melessa who was a sweet and caring lady, though she was a Florent and Randyll did so loath that family. Melessa had born him two daughters so far, Talla and Alysanne and they were both beautiful girls who would one day be the heart throbs of many young men Randyll knew and he dreaded that day. His lack of a male heir did concern him somewhat and he knew that he needed to have one soon enough so as to make sure that his grasping cousins did not try and overextend their reach if he should die. Thankfully Melessa was with child once more and this time they were both certain that it would be a boy, and the Tarly line would be secure.

Of course right now he could not afford to worry about all of that, there had been problems developing between the Reach and the Stormlands for sometime and it seemed that it had finally reached boiling point. Mace and Olenna Tyrell had summoned him to Highgarden to discuss the matter and he was very interested to hear what they proposed to do about the matter. It was Mace who spoke first his voice echoing in the room. "The Stormlords have gone too far this time. They claimed that the raiding parties were not their own and as such I was willing to let it slide, but this, this time they have gone far past too far and into the dangerously unacceptable and I shall not let this go."

"Yes, yes. We understand you are angry Mace, but how will Lord Tarly know what to do unless you tell him who and what has been attacked." Lady Olenna snapped.

Mace coloured then and said. "Right you are mother, right you are." He paused and looked at the letter before them all and said. "Lord Ashford has written to me saying that forces under the command of Lord Connington and Lord Dondarrion have been seen riding through his lands pillaging and burning as they go."

Randyll's ears perked up at that. "Did you say Connington my lord?" Mace nods and then Randyll continues. "Is this Jon Connington the man who is one of Prince Rhaegar's closest friends? Why would he be going about raiding in lands belonging to an ally of his prince?"

Lady Olenna speaks then. "Mace misread the letter once more. It does not say Connington it says Lord Dondarrion only, I think my son is letting his personal grievances influence what he says. Lord Dondarrion is the one who has been raiding through Ashford lands and has been causing quite a bit of trouble for Lord Ashford. Such a shame really, for Ashford was finally stopping his nonsense about the matter with his brother."

"Does Lord Ashford say why Lord Dondarrion is raiding through his lands? Has he per chance caused some offense to Dondarrion? I would not put it past him after all. The man is not the nicest nor the sharpest person around." Randyll replies.

Lady Olenna laughs and then says. "Oh Ashford gives some reason. It is very vague though my lord. I doubt you would want to hear it." Randyll is silent a moment and then Lady Olenna speaks again this time her voice cold as ice. "He says that all he was doing was asking for Lord Dondarrion's daughter's hand in marriage for his son. That Dondarrion refused was more on Dondarrion than on Ashford and yet Dondarrion seems to believe that some sort of injustice has been done and wishes to make a point by raiding the lands." Olenna lets him digest this for a moment and then she says. "What Ashford has conveniently forgotten to mention is that he offered his bastard son Andrew as a husband for Dondarrion's daughter. I can see why Dondarrion would be offended."

"But offended enough to begin raiding into my lands? No, I say the man has gone too far and needs to be taught a sharp lesson." Mace interrupted, his face turning red.

"And how do you propose to do that my lord?" Randyll asks genuinely intrigued.

Mace looks at him then and says. "By giving him fire and steel. Lord Ashford is a good friend of mine and whatever his faults Dondarrion has over stepped here. It is time he was reminded why in ages past the Stormlords used to quake at the thought of the Reach. Lord Randyll I want you to lead a host of around 2,000 men and march them towards the Cockleswent and I want you to fight and burn down Dondarrion's host. Capture Lord Dondarrion if you can and bring him here. I shall take him to King's Landing to for the King's justice as well."

Randyll nods and then asks. "And where will these 2,000 men come from my lord? I can bring some of my own garrison along for the battle but the rest will need to remain at Horn Hill."

Mace nods and then says. "Aye that is what we thought. So that is why men from Cider Hall, Bitterbridge and from Highgarden itself shall be joining you on the way there. Lord Ashford himself has written to say that he will muster whatever men he can and try and meet you as well. If he does not though, we are to assume the worst and I give you express permission to use whatever means you think necessary to beat Dondarrion."

Randyll nods and then asks. "And what if the Baratheons or the throne get involved? Then what shall I do my lord?" Though he suspects what the answer will be he asks anyway just to be sure.

Mace Tyrell is silent for a moment and then he says. "You need not worry about the Baratheons getting involved after all Robert Baratheon is at the Vale and his brothers are just boys. As for the throne, Prince Rhaegar and Tywin Lannister are the powers there they will not interfere if they know what is good for them."

Randyll nods and then asks. "So I have your permission to use extreme force if I think it necessary?"

Lord Mace nods and says. "Within reason aye. I do want you to bring Dondarrion back alive after all. But if the man does not surrender immediately, destroy his forces and take whatever plunder you can from his lands. I want him to remember why the Reach is feared."

Randyll nods and says. "It shall be done my lord."