The Three Sisters were three islands in Biter Bay between the Vale and White Harbor. Lying south of White Harbor, the archipelago consisted of three main islands-Sweet Sister, Long Sister, and Little Sister-and numerous smaller ones.
Now the islands lay shrouded in thick mist. Even with a high-powered telescope, Danyla could not make out what was happening on them.
Although the Three Sisters were nominally part of the Vale and owed allegiance to House Arryn, the islanders led by House Sunderland were notoriously fickle and loyal only to themselves. The Eyrie had no real authority over them.
To the brothers of the Faith of the Seven, these impious islanders were as greedy and wicked as beasts.
Life here had therefore been difficult throughout the years of winter in Westeros. Danyla had also punished them severely on several occasions for raiding at sea. Two earls of House Sunderland had already been executed.
The people of the Three Sisters had always prized freedom and independence, refusing to submit to either the North or the Vale. Their rulers were both pirate chiefs and the islands' de facto kings. Only overwhelming force could make them submit and keep them afraid.
In the past, raiders from the Three Sisters had taken advantage of the decline of House Stark, their former overlords, to seize the Wolf's Den and plunder the North.
Then, two thousand years ago, the Three Sisters had lost their independence altogether. House Stark had ravaged the islands with fire and sword, slaughtering every adult male in what became known as the Rape of the Three Sisters.
Unable to fight the northmen alone, the islanders had bent the knee to Mathos Arryn II, King of the Vale, begging for aid in driving out their enemies.
For the next thousand years, the islands had become