The Eyrie's towering white spires bathed in the dawn light.
Within the Gates of the Moon, Nestor Royce, the High Steward of the Vale—a huge, broad-chested bald man—
stood around a carved oak table with several vassal knights loyal to House Arryn.
A parchment letter sealed with the sigil of an eagle and crescent moon lay spread across the table.
"Lord Jon Arryn has replied to our letter," Nestor Royce's voice echoed through the somewhat empty hall. "He has sent separate letters to the Tully Warden at Riverrun and to Balon Dating of House Deddings."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the gathered vassal knights.
"Lord Jon Arryn has proposed to the Tully Warden and Balon Dating that that Black Lion fellow—Suleiman Foulkeep, yes, that young man who has recently risen to fame—lead an army into the Mountains of the Moon."
"We will organize an army as well. He will enter the Mountains of the Moon from the Riverlands, while we enter from the Vale."
"We will completely solve the Wildling problem of the Mountain Clans, which has endured for thousands of years. We will wipe out those Mountain Clans and force them to bend the knee."
An elderly knight frowned slightly. "Completely solve it? Those Wildlings have occupied the mountains for thousands of years. In all those millennia, no king or Warden of the Vale has ever managed to destroy them."
"That is their home, their nest. They know every mountain stream and every stretch of dense forest like the backs of their hands. I fear—"
Nestor Royce's voice revealed neither agreement nor disagreement. He served the Vale and House Arryn, faithfully carrying out their commands.
"The letter states that if Suleiman succeeds, Lord Jon Arryn will personally knight him and grant him part of the land in the