Really great tags here from @allyriadayne
Love the point about how Allyria being betrothed to one man and her nephew also squiring for that same man reeks of desperation because it's so true and it reminds me of another high status house that's fallen on hard times - the Westerlings.
The Westerlings are (like the Daynes) a first men house that fell on hard times after centuries of being high enough on the ladder of nobility to regularly marry off their daughters to kings (and presumably have equally prestigious positions for their sons - Harold Westerling was LC of the Kingsguard under Viserys I). But they've had this slow financial decline that's also led to a loss of status. By the time the books come around and Jeyne Westerling marries Robb both her brothers join up with Robb.
Rollam is Robb's squire, and Raynald joins Robb's retinue. Now of course this could be because Sybell was playing the long game and using her sons to pretend the Westerlings were all in for Robb's cause but I think that even if this is the case it's telling that both her sons were even *around* (or able to be recalled easily) to join up with Robb. Imo I think it points to the fact that either they hadn't been given positions as squires OR they'd been allowed to squire for local families/relatives who were similarly low in status and therefore were fairly easy to get back without having to care much about giving offence.
And if u connect this back to the Daynes it's wild!!! The Daynes are an OLD house with a Stark-level mythos around them!!! They used to be KINGS!!! And now they've possibly been reduced to using the same strategies as social climbing, arriviste, new money Sybell Spicer? In the span of ONE generation!?!? WHAT IS GOING ON GEORGE!!!
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