Durran issued the call to his Wardens the day after the main Council of the Stormlands meeting, upon receipt of another letter from Lord Alliser Tully, one far more dire in its content. The Lord of Riverrun spoke of war, a bloody fight to come with the Pigeon King and his army bolstered by cravens and traitors to the Trident.

This time it would be the King who awaited his bannermen. Ser Beric Toyne, Lord Gormon Massey, Lord Boremund Trant, and Ser Jon Dondarrion would very shortly be arriving. A map of the Trident, a map of the Dusklands, and a map of the Stormlands all stood ready, rolled up and tied closed with soft fabric so as not to damage the aging parchment. Also on the table was the message bearing the seal of House Tully, which read:

King Durran XXX Durrandon, King of the Stormlands

The Trident Lords have broken for me at last, the Blackwoods, and the Pipers have sworn fealty, Fairmarket and Wendish Town have also. The west bank is completely under my control. The Vance lords have agreed to an alliance, and protection under the Tully banner. Lord Butterwell is on his way to Riverrun and he will swear fealty before the week is out. Even Bracken marches towards Riverrun with words of breaking from Mallister. Our alliance is at last taking from from the ether. However I have dire news Arryn marches on Seagard and the hour draws near for my neutrality to end, the falcon will bring me into this war before too long. War is coming. I have called on King Tyrion V also, let the Heart of Westeros Triumvirate shake the foundations of this land.

Lord Alliser Tully, Lord of the Red Fork

Of equal importance was another message, one sealed by crimson wax and impressed with the image of a lion-- King Tyrion’s message. Margaery Lannister would be en route to the Stormlands even as this War Council was called, each day bringing closer the fruition of the grand alliance of Lannister, Tully, and Durrandon. King Tyrion’s message read:

King Durran XXX Durrandon,

My sister Margaery sails for Storm's End as I write this letter. I regret I cannot be there for the ceremony, but the state of the realm prevents me from leaving the West. Let this marriage be the first step in an alliance that will shake the very foundation of Westeros.

Faithfully,

Tyrion V of House Lannister. King of the Rock, Shield of Lannisport

The messages spoke of a grand alliance, but Tully would soon be set upon by two Kingdoms and both the Stormlands and the West were prevented from moving by the constant threat of the Reach. Additionally, the Storm King had Duskendale to contend with.

Events moved quickly now, and no doubt there would be yet more news to come from the Trident in the coming days. Even so, he resolved to act with what information he had, incomplete though it may be. As his Wardens filed into the room, he stood and began to unfurl the maps.