It was well-known in Dorne that Prince Marence was a man given to caution in war ... and of late, his caution has been a byword for inaction and even for cowardice, though none would dare say it to his face ... except his brother, Prince Rhodry, that is. But with events as they are, many had expected it when the prince called them to the throne room beneath the golden dome of the Tower of the Sun. They waited there patiently—overlong, some may have thought, but they were patient none the less—as Prince Marence Nymeros Martell, Lord of Sunspear and Prince of Dorne, prepared to give the commands that might finally set the thousands of spears loose on the enemy.
After all, was the Planky Town not now well-defended with more than a thousand foreign swords, raised by Mavros Uller with the connivance of certain Pentoshi magisters? Let Oakenfist try and take it! Why keep three thousand spears idling in and about the shadow city, when the Young Dragon marched down the Scourge towards Godsgrace, the key to the heart of Dorne?
But they waited. And they waited. Little knowing that just outside the shut doors, in a corridor, Prince Marence had doubts—doubts!—about any decision at all. Only a pair of palace guards, and a lady of the court, where there to witness it…
... except his brother, Prince Rhodry, that is. The wild princeling, a man half-mad they say, and his brother traded harsh words. Marence fled ... into the court room, mounted the dais, and gave the command:
Prince Rhodry, Lord Davit Gargalen, and Ser Perrin Blackmont would lead the spears to war. Not to reinforce Planky Town, no. Nor to assault Salt Shore, where Oakenfist and his fleet loomed. But directly against the Young Dragon, to join the Dornish forces already gathering to save Godsgrace. The chamber erupted in jubilation, though there were undercurrents of fear. But largely? Jubilation.
Some hailed Prince Marence, praising him. It fell on deaf ears. He left, almost as soon as the words were said, and it was Prince Rhodry who mounted the dais, who stood beside the ruling prince’s throne, and took matters in hand.