Confused word arrives from the Dornish Marches, as several ravens arrive through the morning and afternoon: Broken men from the war in Dorne have made some small incursions into the Dornish Marches. A whole army of demon Dornishmen, under the command of the vengeful spirit of the Hell-knight, bringing the seven hells to the villages and holdfasts. Men flying the banner of the Fowlers, or the Manwoodys, or perhaps the Sun of the Rhoynar without the spear. They number a fifty, three hundred, four thousand. They’ve sacked holdfasts, or perhaps castles. They’re near to Blackhaven, or to Nightsong, or somewhere in between.
In the end the messages seem to coalesce into a coherent report: Lord Manwoody has attacked the Marches from his place of hiding in the red mountains, with more than a thousand Dornishmen. He has avoided the castles of the lords of the Marches, and seems intent on looting and spreading terror more than anything else. After initial dismay, some of the lords have called their banners to them to push back the raiders.
It’s said that Prince Viserys roused the small council when the news arrived, and that a brief meeting was held before ravens were sent winging back to the great lords of the region, and to Sunspear as well where the king still fights his war. The latest news makes it plain that His Grace, King Daeron, has determined to win back Salt Shore from the rebel Caston Vaith and that Oakenfist has set sail with the same purpose.