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Sky is the third waycastle defending the Eyrie, seat of House Arryn, and is the last line of the castle's defense following the Gates of the Moon and the waycastles Stone and Snow.[1]
Layout
Sky is a high, crescent-shaped wall of unmortared stone raised against the side of the Giant's Lance,[1] above the tree line.[2] Inside the walls are a series of earthen ramps and a great tumble of boulders and stones of all sizes, ready to be thrown down against attackers or even cause a minor avalanche. There is a cavern containing a long natural hall, barracks, stables for mules, and supplies.[1][3] The waycastle can handle at least twenty mules.[3]
The path to Sky from Snow is treacherous. It is open to the wind and the steps are cracked and broken from the constant freezing.[1] It is wide enough for two to ride abreast closer to Sky, but narrows to single file closer to Sky.[2]
The Eyrie, located six hundred feet above Sky, can be reached by handholds carved in the natural rocky chimney which leads from the waycastle to the Eyrie's undercellar, or by taking wicker baskets and stout oaken supply buckets pulled by chain winches.[3][2]
History
Queen Sharra Arryn tripled the size of the garrisons in Stone, Snow, and Sky in preparation for the imminent march of the Targaryen forces against the Vale of Arryn during Aegon's Conquest. Queen Visenya Targaryen evaded them, however, by flying Vhagar to the Eyrie's inner courtyard.[4]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Catelyn Stark stops at Sky while traveling to the Eyrie. She is delighted to see the waycastle after traversing a high saddle between two spires of rock. Catelyn decides to take one of the baskets up to the Eyrie instead of climbing the chimney.[1]
A Feast for Crows
Lord Horton Redfort, Lady Anya Waynwood, and Lord Benedar Belmore choose to be drawn up to the Eyrie by the winch for Lord Petyr Baelish's meeting with the Lords Declarant, while Lord Yohn Royce, Lord Gilwood Hunter, Ser Symond Templeton, Ser Lyn Corbray, and Lord Nestor Royce climb the chimney instead.[3]
While descending the Giant's Lance to the Gates of the Moon, Sansa Stark and Lord Robert Arryn travel to Sky from the Eyrie via the wooden baskets.[2]
Quotes
The waycastle called Sky was no more than a high, crescent-shaped wall of unmortared stone raised against the side of the mountain, but even the topless towers of Valyria could not have looked more beautiful to Catelyn Stark. Here at last the snow crown began; Sky's weathered stones were rimed with frost, and long spears of ice hung from the slopes above.[1]
—thoughts of Catelyn Stark
Calling this a castle is like calling a puddle on a privy floor a lake, Alayne thought, when the bucket was opened so they might emerge within the waycastle.[2]
—thoughts of "Alayne Stone"
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 34, Catelyn VI.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 41, Alayne II.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 23, Alayne I.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Aegon's Conquest.