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Jon Lynderly of Snakewood, son of Lord Justine Lynderly and Lady Keyya Locke (of Oldcastle).
And so it begins
It was an early morning when Jon Lyderly came into the world, just a few minutes short
of the heir to Sunkenwood. My first few years where peaceful, Father never payed me much attention
as I was of lower standing but thankfully I had mother. The day mother died and Kara was born changed
everything. With mother gone, a screeching baby in the castle and father turning more distant then
he ever was. The moment I was old enough I picked up a bow and started training.
As the years went by I picked up a sword and dagger to defend myself in closer combat. One day in the
training yard I heard screaming, rushing over I saw one of the garrison men sitting on the floor
clutching his arm which was bent in an unnatural direction. I followed the men as they helped him to
maester Alwins chambers. When he asked the men to leave I asked if I could stay and watch. He made me
promise to be completely quiet and not disturb him while he worked. I found the process fascinating
even though the mans occasional screams and whelps where hard to bare. After the maester was done
straightening the mans arm, splinting it and calling for a guard to escort him to his chambers.
maester Alwin asked If I would like to learn how to do that. I said I would.
I spent most of my time since that day between the maester and the training yard. While I spent time
with the maester watching him tend wounds and reading I also picked up hawking from him. That, combined
with my skills as an archer raised a strong desire to hunt. watching the men leave for the forest once
every few days and come back with various animals strapped to their horses. Seemed very exciting and
dangerous. I kept asking to be allowed to join until finally, after my 11th name day I was given permission
to join the hunt.
I had to wake up just after dawn to ready myself and saddle my horse. We left the castle not long after
day brake, breaking our fast on horseback. the sun was still low in the sky, just braking over the trees
as we left the castle and entered the forest. Raykard Sand, my archery teacher who was leading the hunting
party that morning rode alongside me and instructed me to follow the leader at all times. These forests
where filled with swamps and snakes, he said, if you are not careful you can end up in a lot of trouble.
I told him I already know most of the snakes in the forest by name and could even tell him which antidotes
the maester currently had. He grinned at me and rode up alongside the man at the head of the column.
I have never been this deep into the forest and off the road before, making sure to stay behind the person
in front of me. I completely lost my bearings at first, all the trees look the same, the bushes, the mud…
nothing ever changes. I realized that the man in front, rather then looking ahead or to the sides spent most
of his time looking at the ground. After a while I realized he was reading it, following the trail of a deer.
Once I asked I learned that we have been following the same set of tracks for hours now. I tried to look at
the ground and see the things he saw. I managed to spot a few deer tracks along the way but I could have
never followed the trail for so long.
Suddenly the man at the head of the party signaled a halt. No one made a sound and I did my best to follow
their lead. The men dismounted their horses and tethered them to a nearby branch, Raykard beckoned me to him
once I had tethered my own horse. He pointed into the bushes to our left. He started walking and as he did
motioned to follow and drew his bow. I did the same. After going in a rather large circle I finally spotted
the three deer in a clearing through the bushes, realizing the wind at my face which was probably the reason
for the long round about.
He stopped then, passing his gaze over my bow and onto my eyes, then looking at the deer. At that moment I
realized the entire party was looking at me, completely silent, some with very serious expressions and others
looking amused. I remembered Raykard telling me that the fastest way to kill an animal was hit the heart or
through the eye. I didn't think I could hit the eye and wasn't quite sure where the heart was. I remembered
one of the conversations the men had around the fire one night, one of them said that the best way to make
sure it does not get away is to shoot it in the neck, he said to aim right at the center. I held my bow up
and found my target, made sure my footing was steady and the animal still, I released my arrow, hit a little
lower then I aimed.
The deers head shot up and it leaped in my direction. I froze, looking at what seemed to be terror in its eyes.
Raykard straightened up and started yelling while waving his arms in the air, the deer reversed direction instantly and I
got splashed across the face with its blood. I was entranced with the gushing red fluid pulsing out of its neck in
violent bursts. It bolted and I lost sight of it in the woods. Raykard put his arm on my shoulder, I realized I
was shaking. He beckoned to follow him, I was dazed, only vaguely aware of the grizzly trail we where following.
Covering the grass and mud and trees. It felt queer under my boots. Now I understand what they meant when they
said it does not stand a chance of getting away.
After what seemed like eternity we found it in the thicket, it was staggering between two trees. It took two
more arrows to bring it down. I stood there staring at the corpse and felt a hearty tap on my shoulder for
a job well done. The men prepared the deer for the trip back to the castle, it was very big and took two men
to hoist it up on a horse, I realized then that some of the men must have gone back to get the horses after my
shot landed. I took my time finding a clear pool of water to wash the blood off my face.
The picture was taken from here
