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Night had fallen by the time you entered port and much to ser Duncan’s and your brothers frustration it had taken till the hour of the ghost by your reckoning to arrange landing, their were more ships than docks it appeared and you had counted at least fifty at anchor in the waters around you of the evening though who they belonged to escaped you, cogs stood alongside shallow galleys and towering Carracks and it seemed to you as half the world may as well have been crammed into Dragonstone though you thought that foolish. Dragonstone was equal parts roguish and ominous, the shanty town around the docks was lit with torches and a few rotting lamp posts, the crowds of people even at this hour made you wary, Crab isle had Crabtown and a few scarce hamlets but Dragonstone was another thing entirely, you spotted what you reckoned to be Tyroshi sailors with their colored beards and hair, a few swaggering Braavosi and even a small group of summer islanders who’s ebony skin was darker than your own, few gave you more than a passing glance as you made landfall, ser Lyonal expected a herald or one of your Fathers men but not a soul around bore any heraldry nor did one make itself apparent, eventually it resolved that you would head to the castle unguided, your column tight packed.
The road to Dragonstone’s castle was a winding one but short though you found yourself wishing for a horse quickly enough as it steepened to such a degree that steps had been set to ease the path at points for anyone who walked, the few torches your column had showed a darkly ominous display of tall pines and black rocks nestled between the crags and rocky hills of the Dragonmont, even the light of the approaching castle did not ease the childish foreboding that some ancient dragon could emerge and devour you, the castles monstrous crenulations and imposing gargoyles would be almost horrifying if you were inclined to dream and childish fantasy. Still it was a relief when you spied the torches of the gatehouse, the suspicious mood of your company lifting a touch and the pace slowed.
You found yourself beside your brother, he had not endured the trek to the gatehouse as well as you and the exertion was clear on him, he held himself upright though so as to not show weakness & you thought that only appropriate for his position.
he gave you a tight smile <span class="mu-i">''Alyn, enjoying the march.''</span> he jested, it took a moment for to realize that in the half light of the torches he was studying you.
you offered a small nod in return as ser Duncan hailed the guardsmen <span class="mu-i">''Admiring the sights brother.''</span>
he breathed a hitched sigh and grimaced <span class="mu-i">''It's certainly not crab isle, I've never seen so many ships in port before, hard to believe the King's landing could hold ten times it's number''</span>
you only nodded, it had occurred to you that the cities of the mainland dwarfed Dragonstone's own docks, frankly their scope was a struggle to see.
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