Mathis Rowan stayed at Eagle's Roost for a day. The next morning, he left with the lengthy bill Arthur had written and a long procession of seventy-seven released prisoners.
Watching Mathis's retreating figure, Arthur murmured, "Ser Bard, do you think one and a half million gold dragons is too little to ask of House Redwyne? Last night before I slept, I remembered several items I forgot to add."
Ser Bard didn't process the number immediately and replied instinctively, "You are still too merciful. Asking for so little... we should have bled those pirates from the Arbor dry, let them know the consequences of provoking Starfall."
"Yes, My Lord, too merciful indeed," Crow-Eater chimed in from the side. "And giving them back so many prisoners for free."
"You all think one and a half million gold dragons is too little? It seems I really am too kind," Arthur mused.
"Wait... Arthur, how much did you say?"
Ser Bard finally processed the number, practically spitting out each word. "One... million... five... hundred... thousand... gold dragons?!"
Crow-Eater heard the number clearly too. His legs went weak, and he plopped down onto the ground.
"What's all the fuss about? I didn't ask for a copper more than what's owed. There are records for everything," Arthur said as he walked toward the main keep.
Before leaving, he cast a disdainful glance at Crow-Eater sitting on the ground. "Look at you, utterly useless. If I had asked for ten million, would you have fainted right there?"
Ser Bard stared blankly at Arthur's retreating back. Did we really suffer that much loss? House Redwyne truly deserves to die.
Slap. Slap. Slap.
Sitting on the ground, Crow-Eater suddenly started slapping his own face, startling Ser Bard.
Bard took a step back. "What are you doing? Have you gone mad?"
"I'm not... not mad, Old Ba... ah! I'm regretting not following Lord Arthur sooner!" Crow-Eater, who had just been scorned by Arthur, sat on the ground with tears welling in his eyes.
"I finally understand why Stone Drum turned his coat so early, dragging the entire Stone Sheep tribe with him. Following Lord Arthur is where the money is!"
By this time, Arthur had returned to the reception hall. He took a copy of the bill from a drawer and looked it over.
The reason Arthur gave Mathis such an astronomical figure of 1.5 million gold dragons was partly to leave ample room for negotiation and concessions. No one reveals their true bottom line during the opening bid.
While financial compensation was open for discussion, Arthur would not budge an inch on punishing the murderers. House Redwyne would pay blood for blood.
However, in the days after Mathis left, the Reach army stationed at Ring fell silent. There was no movement, no reply.
Instead, a letter sealed with the royal sigil of the Iron Throne arrived in Arthur's hands.
The letter ordered the lords of the Reach and Dorne to cease all hostilities immediately and disband their levies within a week.
It also summoned the parties responsible for the conflict—Earl Paxter Redwyne of the Arbor and Ser Arthur Snow, Acting Castellan of Starfall—to King's Landing immediately to face inquiry and judgment.
"It seems the war ends here?" Ser Bard asked after seeing the letter. "Arthur, what should we do?"
"No." Arthur thought for a moment, a cold sneer curling his lips. "The war isn't over. It's just moving to a different place.
"What else can we do? We follow orders, disband the levies, and head to the new battlefield."
The authority of the Iron Throne was unquestionable. The prestige from quelling the Greyjoy Rebellion six years ago still lingered, and the throne was secure. Its commands carried immense weight.
Arthur didn't hesitate. Upon learning that the Reach army at Ring had disbanded most of its levies, he instructed Ser Bard to guard the prisoners strictly. Then, taking his two squires, he rushed to Starpost Keep.
Arthur went to Starpost Keep to ask Nymeria about Prince Doran's attitude, disband the levies across Starfall's territory, and gather the retinue and personnel needed for the trip to King's Landing.
Starpost Keep, Arthur's Bedchamber.
Nymeria said, "My uncle's intent is clear: since the Iron Throne has issued an order, Dorne will comply. He says he has arranged for Quentyn Martell to wait for you at the Boneway. My cousin will accompany you to King's Landing."
"Quentyn?" Arthur was surprised as he stamped his personal seal on a document. "Not Arianne?"
Prince Doran sending a family member to accompany him was a show of support.
Leaving via the Prince's Pass would lead into the Reach, but taking the Boneway to King's Landing meant traveling through the Stormlands, which was a suitable route.
But the choice of person... felt significant.
"I don't know why Uncle didn't send Arianne, the heir, but instead chose Quentyn to go with you." Nymeria's eyes flickered with indignation.
"Do you think he really intends to strip Arianne of her inheritance?"
"Not necessarily."
Arthur guessed it might be because Doran feared that if Arianne spent too much time with him, they might elope or do something rash, disrupting the secret marriage pact he had made with Viserys Targaryen.
Nymeria shook her head in disagreement. "But Uncle's actions have always been paving the way for Quentyn's succession. Marrying Arianne off to some old man, facilitating the marriage between Yronwood and Allyrion..."
She complained resentfully, "Arianne has done nothing wrong, yet she is to be stripped of her birthright just because she is a woman?"
Arthur didn't respond directly. He called for Maester Ywen, who was waiting outside, and handed him the stamped documents. Ywen bowed and hurried away with the papers.
Some of these documents were summons for the guards and personnel accompanying Arthur to King's Landing; others were orders sent to Starfall's vassals to disband their levies.
"I'm warning you." Seeing Arthur ignore her, Nymeria grabbed his collar, her eyes as dark as the Long Night flashing with anger. "Don't get pulled in by Quentyn, or you'll regret it."
Arthur took the opportunity to grab her wrist and gently pull her into his arms.
"Arianne is far away. Can't you care about me a little?" His voice dropped low, half-teasing, half-serious.
"Who knows? Maybe when I get to King's Landing, I'll end up like my father and grandfather—accused of some crime and beheaded."
Nymeria's body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed.
She looked up, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Then I'd be short one lover."
Arthur laughed and swept her up into his arms. "In that case... I'll just have to leave you with a child!"
His lips brushed her earlobe, his hot breath making the tips of her ears flush red.
"Nymeria, I want you to treat tonight as if it were our last."
By noon the next day, Arthur had gathered the retinue and guards accompanying him to King's Landing. They assembled at Starpost Keep, ready to depart.
Having spent all his energy playing a "high-stakes game" the night before, Arthur mounted Shadow, a horse he hadn't ridden in a long time, and set off for the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, the center of power—King's Landing!