Bound for Three Towers

Although the remaining forces House Hightower could still muster were working hard under Baelor and Guncer's command to suppress the news,

inevitably, a few clues still slipped through the layers of concealment.

Realizing that something was increasingly wrong, Darean had no intention of sitting around waiting for disaster.

Quite apart from anything else, although the thousand men under his command were elite troops, they still were not enough.

Given how difficult armies were to manage in this era, having a few more men would not hurt.

So Darean told Marwyn and the Steward what he had in mind.

He planned to visit Three Towers first.

Viscount Brandon Cuy of Sunflower Hall disliked him as a neighbor.

But if he successfully persuaded Three Towers to join them, a mere Viscount like Brandon Cuy would have no say in the matter.

Even though Darean himself was only a knight.

"Judging by the map, it will take roughly two days to reach Three Towers from here. When are you leaving, and how many men will you take?"

Gerold Hightower stood before the unfolded map, his thick, dark brows knitted as he questioned Darean.

Over the past few days, Darean had spoken to Gerold Hightower several times, telling him, with some reservations, that trouble might arise in Oldtown.

After all, guarding New Land Town had posed little difficulty before, so naturally, the more secretive they were, the better.

But now Darean knew he had no choice but to mobilize his troops, and that meant he could not bypass this influential figure in House Hightower's army.

The man had come to New Land Town for his sake, after all. He had kept him in the dark long enough.

Gerold Hightower himself, however, was not overly shocked.

After a brief moment of distraction, he quickly regained his composure.

When Darean summoned him to the meeting and announced his decision, Gerold did not object.

"Earl Tommen Costayne of Three Towers is a loyal vassal of House Hightower."

"I know the man. He's somewhat stubborn, but not unreasonable."

"I think two hundred men will be enough. Tommen Costayne is bound to know what forces you have here."

Darean nodded.

"I will. Stay here and guard New Land Town. Don't stop construction, and if any fresh news comes from Oldtown, send someone north to notify me immediately."

The matter was settled, but it did not put anyone at ease.

The eyes they had sent out around Oldtown had yet to report back.

That was bad news.

There was no telling what had happened to them.

Naturally, Margaery Tyrell noticed the tense atmosphere among the New Land Town leadership.

Darean had been avoiding her before.

But this troop mobilization caused too much commotion to conceal.

And so, before Darean could rest up in preparation to head north for support early the next morning, Margaery stormed in, without the slightest trace of ladylike decorum.

"Darean, what exactly are you doing? I saw your troops assembling!"

No longer bothering to beat around the bush, Margaery questioned him outright.

Darean was going over the next day's marching arrangements with Clyson, and the sudden interruption left him deeply annoyed.

"What are you talking about, Lady Margaery? I don't understand what you mean."

Darean answered expressionlessly.

"Still pretending! You've been fobbing me off ever since I arrived. Don't think I can't see it!"

"Remember, Darean, you're a Hightower. We Tyrells are your liege lords. Think carefully about the consequences before you do anything!"

He knew that Little Rose had probably misunderstood, thinking he was mobilizing his troops to do something against Highgarden.

He did not want to waste words with her, and at this critical moment, he had no men to spare to escort her back to Highgarden.

So Darean ordered:

"Clyson, escort Lady Margaery Tyrell back to her room. Have someone keep watch over her for the time being."

Margaery froze for a moment. She had never imagined Darean would actually dare to place her under house arrest.

As fear set in, she instantly conjured up an elaborate conspiracy carefully prepared by House Hightower.

Their target was House Tyrell!

They were truly a pack of madmen. The other houses of the South would never allow the Hightowers to swallow up the Tyrells, much less the Iron Throne!

Ignoring whatever Margaery was shouting, Darean waved for Clyson to take her away.

Gerold would handle this matter.

Early the next morning, Darean arrived on the road outside New Land Town's northern gate, which was still under construction.

Two hundred men stood in neat formation before Darean, having requisitioned every warhorse in the territory.

He gave no further rallying speech. The matter itself did not warrant one.

Mounting his horse, he merely said calmly to the standard-bearer:

"Let's move out."

The two hundred men began moving slowly, then gradually picked up speed. Their destination was Three Towers, a hundred li away.

They wasted no time along the way and kept their rest stops as short as possible.

Fortunately, this was a standing army House Hightower had spent a great deal of money building. Their loyalty and endurance were beyond question.

If they had been a group of farmers dragged from their fields and dressed in armor, then even setting aside whether they could ride, such an intense march would have stripped away more than half their cohesion even if they could.

"Lord Darean, Three Towers is just ahead."

At noon on the second day of the march, the advance cavalry had already reached the castle and made contact with Earl Tommen Costayne of Three Towers.

Since a raven had been sent ahead to announce his arrival, Three Towers was not entirely unprepared.

House Costayne's banners, bearing alternating silver chalices and black roses, fluttered above the castle.

The aging Earl Tommen Costayne sat astride a blue horse, waiting at the gate with his children to welcome Darean.

Truthfully, this reception went beyond what was appropriate.

Only his father would have received such a welcome.

But when he glanced back at the torrent of steel armor gleaming in the sunlight, it suddenly seemed perfectly reasonable.

At any time and in any place, those with power commanded the respect and fear of others.

In doing this, Earl Tommen Costayne was really showing respect more for House Hightower's elite troops than for Darean Hightower himself.

Horns sounded as Darean, surrounded by his guards, approached the towering gates of Three Towers.

"My respects, Ser Darean."

Before Darean could speak, Earl Tommen greeted him first.

Wearing an appropriate smile, Darean patiently played out this noble game with him, one that had been repeated countless times.

When the two were walking side by side and Earl Tommen proposed observing Guest Right and holding a feast for Darean, he heard the young Hightower say quietly:

"Earl, we can exchange pleasantries later. I've come on urgent business. It wasn't something I could put in a letter. Please prepare a room where we won't be disturbed."

A look of astonishment visibly appeared on the old Earl's face.

Hearing the seriousness in Darean's words, he nodded.

Turning back, he gave his attendants a few instructions. Then Tommen Costayne looked at Darean.

"Come with me."