The Kingsroad was, as expected, quite busy. Knights and their retainers from as far south as Dorne were on their way to Seagard on the ancient road that Jaehaerys Targaryen had commissioned centuries ago. Domeric had rarely travelled it north of King’s Landing and yet his party of Stormlords had passed the capital some days ago.

Somewhere near a dozen lords and their sons, wives, landed knights and other retainers had come along with him, among them the Carons, Estermonts, Conningtons, and Tarths. They’d been moving at a quick pace from inn to inn, being hosted where they could and camping where they could not.

Domeric had made sure to bring along a wheelhouse finely decorated with a plush bed and curtains of fine satin for Ravella to use when she tired of riding. He, on the other hand, often slept in a large tent that had been brought along with the dwellings for everyone else. Despite their betrothal it would be inappropriate for them to share sleeping quarters, after all.

Arianne and her ‘handmaidens’ had their own tent to fit all three of them. The eldest Baratheon child had taken on two young girls as handmaidens as most noble ladies did, one a bastard cousin of theirs and another a lowborn girl from the town outside of Storm’s End. Though, in truth, they behaved and operated more as squires than true handmaidens, the term being used ironically by Arianne to mock the ways in which highborn women were meant to behave. They saw to the preparation of outfits and assisting with her hair, as most handmaidens did for their ladies, however Arianne also trained them at arms and riding. She was determined to not be the last female warrior to come from Storm’s End, and Domeric would not oppose her.

When they’d passed King’s Landing however Delena parted with his group for the Great Sept of Baelor and her final preparations before swearing herself over to the Seven. Their farewell had been a short one, as Domeric knew there was precious little time to get to Seagard, but Delena knew they each had their places to be.

It wouldn’t be long now, though, before they reached their destination. And every day resting on the road brought with it something new.