He was raised by the last King of the First Men in the Vale. When the Andals came across the sea, he was the only one who spoke both languages. Set during the Andal invasion — the migration of the Andal people from Essos who conquered most of Westeros — The Andal Shore follows Edric Stone, 25, a Black man raised by Robar II, the last First Men king of the Vale, as a royal ward and the king's most trusted counselor. Edric speaks both the Old Tongue of the First Men and the early Andal language — making him the kingdom's only diplomatic bridge. When Andal warlord Corwyn the Conqueror arrives with a fleet of Andal warriors and the seven-pointed star brand on his forearm, the Vale faces absorption into the Andal world. Edric must negotiate between the old world his father-king is dying to protect and a new world that might be survivable with careful navigation. His relationship with Alara, an Andal woman who crossed with her family not for conquest but for settlement, becomes the series' human center: two people trying to build something in the gap between civilizations.
E1 — The Fleet
Andal ships on the horizon. Edric translating the smoke signals. King Robar asking what they say. Edric translating 'We have come to stay.'
E6 — The Parley
Edric and Alara negotiate the Vale's terms of incorporation. Their negotiation is conducted half in Old Tongue, half in Andal, and fully in mutual respect.
E10 — The New Vale
Series finale: The Vale passes into the Andal world. Edric's name in both languages on the treaty. Alara beside him. What survives is not what either expected.
