When Lady Catelyn arrived, she also led the way." In the courtyard, Nestor formally introduced her, having someone bring the guide over.
Stone is the surname for Bastard children in The Vale of Arryn, just like Snow in the North and Flowers in Highgarden.
According to custom, the Seven Kingdoms each have specific surnames for children without fathers.
"My Lords, the mules know the way." A tall, sturdy girl of seventeen or eighteen stepped forward from the courtyard behind Baron Nestor.
She had short black hair, wore a riding leather jacket and a silver-plated light chainmail.
Her bow to Gendry and the others was more graceful than her master's.
Many knew she was the King's Bastard daughter, but the wind of the will had not yet reached The Eyrie, and Gendry felt he needed to increase his efforts.
"My Lord, I assure you, nothing will happen.
It is an honor to lead you up the mountain.
I have walked this path in the dark hundreds of times; Michel says my father must have been a Goat."
Her confident tone conveyed a sense of vitality.
Mya was constantly thinking of Michel, always dreaming of the Knight coming to marry her.
"Your father is the King, and even more so a Goat; a King indeed has less company than a Goat." Gendry looked at this girl, his blood sister, King Robert's eldest daughter.
King Robert once wanted to bring her to King's Landing, but fortunately, he didn't, otherwise, she would have gone and never returned.
Gendry felt a sense of kinship; perhaps this girl was also curious about him.
After some thought, he decided he would acknowledge her once he had settled The Eyrie.
Gendry left Jon, Dacey, Nestor's son, Ser Donnel Waynwood, Ser Boros, and others to guard The Gate of the Moon.
They and Nestor, six of them, would climb to the higher ground first.
"Let's go," Nestor said.
"Mya is a clever Child, and she has sworn to lead us safely to Lysa; I trust her.
She has never disappointed me."
So, the few of them followed Mya through the castle.
Six mules waited in the upper courtyard of The Gate of the Moon, ready to depart.
A guard in a sky-blue cloak pulled open a narrow back door.
Outside were dense fir and pine trees, the mountain wall like a black curtain, but there were indeed deeply carved stone steps on the rock, leading straight up to the sky.
"No torches, my Lady?" Anguy asked.
Mya made a face.
"You wouldn't see anything with a torch.
The weather is so good tonight, the moon and starlight are enough, and there's also the red comet.
Michel says I have owl's eyes." Mya mounted and urged her mule onto the first step.
Everyone's mounts followed automatically.
"Michel is this Child's lover," Ser Nestor added.
Nestor was also going all out tonight, like a stout, clumsy ox.
Mya explained, "Mychel Redfort, he is Ser Lyn Corbray's squire.
We will marry in a few years when he becomes a Knight."
"I wish you happiness." Gendry looked at Michel; her tone was so joyful and beautiful, carefree, and full of dreams.
This was also good; for him, it was merely a wave of the hand.
"Thank you, my Lord.
You are very handsome, and the tallest warrior I have ever seen.
Last time I guided Lady Catelyn, but she was somewhat tired." Mya looked at the tall young man she was talking to.
He smiled, yet everyone seemed to follow his lead, so his status must be noble.
The ascent was surprisingly easy, more so than Gendry had expected, mainly because the first stage was relatively smooth.
The forest was close to them, stretching over to cover the mountain path, forming a rustling green canopy that even obscured the moonlight, so they felt like they were moving through a dark passage.
But the mules' steps were steady and tireless, and Mya indeed seemed to have night vision.
The first stage was reached; Mya led them to The Eyrie, a sturdy stone castle wall topped with iron spikes, with two round, stout towers surrounding the main castle.
The castle gate slowly opened at Mya's call.
The burly guardian Knight called Mya's name and had some hot roasted meat ready.
They began to change mules, needing fresh, energetic ones.
Then, they mounted their new mules and set off again under the light of the red comet and the stars.
With each fortress they passed, the mountain path grew steeper.
The path was steeper, the stone steps were badly worn, and the ground was covered with small pebbles and rock fragments.
Sometimes, Mya had to dismount her mule to clear the way.
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