Saltpans, the Ashen Company's camp.
The tent flap lifted, and Henry walked in, clad in heavy knightly armor.
He had just come from the Blood Oath Band's cavalry camp, and morning dew still clung to his armor.
Seeing him enter, Luke hurried over.
"What happened? Why did you summon me so urgently?" Henry asked.
Luke wasted no time. "A letter from King's Landing. Lord Jon Connington sent it."
He paused. "King's Landing is in imminent danger. The Faith Militant in the Reach has rebelled. An army of two hundred and fifty thousand is advancing north along two routes. One hundred thousand elite Holy Sword Knights have already occupied Tumbleton, less than four days from King's Landing."
"Almost all the Stormlands have fallen. The Starry Warriors are burning and killing their way from west to east, while the Dornish army entered through Prince's Pass and captured Summerhall. The Commander of Cape Wrath was defeated and retreated to Storm's End with five thousand survivors."
Some of the color drained from Henry's face.
Luke continued, "The Westerlands, which we only just conquered, are becoming unstable too. Those minor western nobles who surrendered have heard of the Faith Militant's rebellion and are starting to stir again."
"Prince Oberyn is doing everything he can to suppress them, but he doesn't have many troops. There's no telling how long he can hold out."
"When Earl Caron learned that Nightsong had been burned down and his entire family killed, he wanted to take his troops back to the Stormlands for revenge. Prince Oberyn forcibly restrained him."
Henry said nothing.
He stood there, the dew on his armor glinting faintly in the tent's firelight.
Only after a long while did he speak, his voice a little hoarse. "How did it come to this?"
He raised his head and