Nicolas

Nicolas was enjoying the ride despite his uneasiness. It was not hard to understand why Lord Benedict wanted him to travel with Berowne. The young lord's protection was paramount. However, it made him nervous to think of the nobility he would be surrounded with. What kind reception will a bastard receive at Highgarden?

Kableta was suddenly riding back toward them. She had been scouting on the road ahead. The party stopped their mounts and waited for her to approach.

"There is something lying in the road ahead, my lord," she said to Berowne. "Something black and large."

"A log?" suggested Berowne. "I'm sure Nicolas can move it."

"I am not certain. Once it is in sight, I will ride closer. Everyone stay behind," Kableta said.

The object was soon visible on the road ahead. It was black and fluttered erratically, but there was no wind.

Kableta moved her sand stallion forward as she neared the object the blackness suddenly dispersed and took wing. The crows flew off to the east of the road leaving behind the large roan colored horse they were feasting on.

The horse appeared to be freshly dead. An arrow had caught it in the throat. There was a worn path to the west that seem to circle behind a large hill and then plunge into a small wood. In the sky above the hill, crows were circling.

"Kabby, please see what these crows are so intent upon," ordered Maester Rudolphus. Kableta dismounted, drew her bow and started quietly down the path.

Nicolas was not happy to see any of this. If truth be told, he was hoping for an uneventful journey. He watched Kabby moving into the trees. Suddenly, she was coming back the towards them followed by two grey wolves.

"Kableta! Behind you!" Nicolas shouted.

Kableta turned and aimed at the nearest wolf, while Nicolas rode to her assistance. She fired at the wolf and caught it in the throat. Another wolf approached, bold despite the horses. Berowne rode up to that one slashing down with his sword and drawing a line across the wolfs back. Red began to bloom in the grey fur.

A wolf leaped at Kableta and snapped nearly knocking her on her feet. Nicolas aimed with his bow and missed the wolf by inches. Another wolf boldly charged Ser Daemon's horse, snapping at his leg. Kableta took aim at the wolf and skewered it from the side. The remaining wolves became skittish and scampered off.

"You should have left one for me, Kabby," Said Berowne, cheerfully. "After all, I am a storied wolf slayer."

Kableta smiled and raised her eyebrow. "I'll remember this in the future, my lord."

Nicolas was still uncertain about Berowne's triumph over the wolves that had been stealing livestock. Kabby was the natural choice to take care of this problem, but Berowne had insisted that he have the honor of defending the Cockshaw property. Berowne was a horrible shot, so it did not make sense to anyone how he could have killed two wolves. Either he had help or the Warrior was guiding his hand that day.

The party went to investigate what the wolves were so fiercely guarding and found a grisly seen. Five mens bodies were strewn over a campsite. Their faces had been mauled off by the wolves and their eyes plucked out by crows. Ser Daemon and Rudolphus studied the bodies. "Nicolas, come look at this," said Ser Daemon.

Nicolas bent over the body of one of the men. "This man was not killed by a wolf, but a blade across the throat. See, here?" Nicolas agreed. So much for a pleasant outing. I need an ale.

"This is indeed the work of men, my lord," said Rudolphus.

"Perhaps the Fox Knight! What's this?" Berowne bent over one of the dead men and freed a sword in a scabbard from underneath one of the victims. He slid the sword free and it was stained and crusted with blood.

"Interesting," said Rudolphus. "My lord this is a complicated scene. These men have done some bloody work recently it seems, but I believe they were killed in their sleep here before they could defend themselves." Great, thought Nicolas. I do not want trouble like this. Maybe I should have stayed back at Tri-Feather Hall.

"What sigil is that on the hilt?" asked Nicolas.

"Hmm, cheap metal." Rudolphus studied the hilt, carefully. "It's a stag, but not crowned as a Baratheon stag would be."

"Let us take this sword, so we can question people about its owner," said Berowne. He tossed a vermillion scarf about his neck with a flourish and remounted. He tossed the sword to Nicolas, who stowed it among his other gear.

Gods, I need an ale already, thought Nicolas. There will be trouble on this road. That is certain. I just hope I don't meet with my half brother, though I am sure he would know me not...