It took a full moon's turn and a few days to arrive at Starfall. As they walked through the Dornish desert, they no longer wore their long coats. Under the Dornish sun, the heavy cloaks which were so helpful further north turned into torturous heat bringers. Instead, they bought light and airy silks in Skyreach. Still, they suffered, well Greg and Bob did. For Jon, it was a great way of training his ice control, keeping himself cool and comfortable. It was also in Skyreach that Jon lost his maidenhood to a Dornish bastard. She was beautiful and also a user of the spear, Alli Sand. He had been training when the girl, maybe a year older than him, came up to him and asked for a spar. The battle was fierce and after he won it, she offered him a 'price' for his win. It was good to lay with a woman. He didn't even notice how pent up he was until he released inside her. Moon tea was drunken and she became a sparring partner during the three days that they stayed in Skyreach. They slept together a few more times but eventually, they had to move on.
After that stay at Skyreach, his nightmares lessened and he grew more comfortable with what he had done. The trauma of being assaulted melted away as the newer, more pleasant interaction came to the front of his mind.
Starfall was beautiful, located on an island with the castle in the middle, surrounded by a bustling city. They had to take a boat to get there. Their horses didn't appreciate that. When they arrived at the gates, a guard asked them, "reason for you visit?"
"We are guests of Lord Dayne", Bob smiled, holding out the letter to the guard.
The guard, a man in his twenties with a buzz cut and tired eyes looked at the parchment, scanning over the words, "ah yes, I remember hearing about this! You must be Greg Hill and Jon Snow then? I'll send for someone to escort you to the Lord. Normally, he would come here himself but as he has written to you, he is not in the best condition", he looked uncomfortable, talking about his Lord's worsening health. They had heard rumors about it ever since they arrived in Dorne, apparently he was bed bound, nearing death, barely clinging on to the last bit of life inside him.
Soon, a maid came, wearing a silk dress, leading the three bastards through the bustling city streets. This city smelled much better than King's landing. The smell of the sea and Parfume radiating through even the less well off districts. Like in any bigger city, there were poorer citizens, though no one was out of a job, the dock workers always had need for a pair of extra hands.
The maid took her time getting them to the castle proper, showing them around a bit, "that smith is very well equipped to sharpen or repair your weapons, he is a good man, employing the less fortunate. Over there, that's my favorite tailor, her dresses are superb, though her men's collection isn't bad either"
"What about the brothels?" Asked Bob Stone. Jon couldn't help but roll his eyes. Bob sunk a considerable amount of money into the various brothels that they encountered along the way. Jon couldn't understand what made Whores so appealing, it wasn't true passion if the woman was paid for it. But to each his own, he guessed.
"Well, personally, I don't have any experience with Brothels but that one is pretty good, or so the other servants tell me. They have girls from just about everywhere, from All seven kingdoms to Pentos and even Asshai. I warn you though, you have to pay more to make them drink moon tea, so if you don't want anymore bastards running around, either cough up some more money or visit the brothels further on the outside. I am told they are of worse variety but considerably cheaper", she seemed to know a lot about the brothels for supposedly never having been in one.
Soon, they entered the castle proper. It was a big building with many winding towers, made of pale stone. It was pretty well insulated too. It wasn't exactly cool inside but it also wasn't as hot as in the city. The maid, who had introduced herself as Emma, led them to the maester's tower, where Lord Rick Dayne laid. He was deathly pale, his brow drenched in sweat and his golden curls were thinning out. He looked like death, "ah, you must be the three that have agreed to ride here to protect my son… I don't have much time left, so I'll keep this short to conserve my energy. You three will each be placed under one of my knights to receive training in everything a knight should be able to do. Each day, you and your assigned knights will take turns guarding my son, Edric. He is only eight, so you are not only to be his guards but also his friends. *wheeze* I find it very worrying that he has so few friends, this is why I asked for children instead of just having my knights guard him… *wheeze* you will be paid like any other squire would be. When you aren't in guard duty or getting instructed by your knights, you have full reign of the maester's tower and the rest of Starfall"
He took a few shaky breaths before announcing their assigned knights, "Jon Snow, you will be under our best spearman, Ser Arnold Jordayne, you, maid, bring the bastard to Ser Arnold"
The maid nodded and led Jon away from the maester's tower. They walked through the castle, out to the training yard, where a tall, thin man in armor was swinging a spear. He had hazel eyes and short, black hair with a typical Dornish complexion. Jon introduced himself and Ser Arnold nodded, "very well, if my Lord commands it… ready your weapon, let's see how good you northerners are with the best weapon this world has to offer"