On a hill on the eastern slopes of the Mountains of the Moon.
Yohn Royce reined in his warhorse and narrowed his eyes at the distance.
On the battlements of the Bloody Gate, the Lannisters' Roaring Lion Banner was being taken down, replaced by a Black Banner with a Red Dragon.
The banner unfurled in the morning wind, snapping loudly.
The Targaryen army had officially entered the Vale.
He glanced back. Behind him, House Royce's eight thousand troops stood arrayed between the ravines.
These were all the troops Runestone could muster, and the entire force Tywin had given him to carry out the mission of luring in the enemy.
Bronze Yohn turned his gaze back and spoke.
"Lord Tywin's orders are to lure the Targaryens to the site of the decisive battle in the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon. Ridges and ravines crisscross the area. A great army has gathered there, and large numbers of Scorpions have been set up to guard against dragon attacks from the sky."
He paused, then changed his tone. "But this is still the Vale. The nobles of the Vale are no pushovers. If the Targaryens want to run rampant here, they'll have to ask whether we'll allow it first."
He pointed to a ravine below. "I've decided to lay an ambush here first. Teach them a lesson. Let them know the Vale isn't a place they can enter whenever they please."
He turned, sweeping his gaze over the vassal knights behind him. "I need someone to take two thousand cavalry and lure in the Targaryen army."
"Draw them into this ravine. I'll be waiting here to support you and spring the ambush. Once it succeeds, we can withdraw to the battlefield at our leisure."
No one answered immediately.
The knights exchanged glances.