East then South
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(Circa 291AC)
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At the beginning of the fourth month of 291AC – and about half a month until my ninth nameday, – I found myself standing in front of my stepsister and the rest of the Starks near the entrance to the Great Keep of Winterfell as we awaited the arrival of Oberyn and the party that he was bringing to the marriage of Benjen and Obara.
The only three family members I knew wouldn’t be coming were Prince Doran, Arianne, and my mother. While I was disappointed to have read that in the raven she’d sent, it had been quickly countered by the fact I now had a baby sister: Aliandra Martell. As much as she’d annoyed me, I’d loved my sister in my former life – even if I no longer felt the emotional attachment to the memories, it was blatantly clear that I had – and was excited to have a younger sibling to teach and protect. I loved my family; however, I shared no blood connection to the Sand Snakes, which could possibly become a point of contention between us in the future.
My Wolf's Blood had flared several times already in irritation at the thought of the dangers Aliandra would face in the coming years. From suitors to even the thrice damned-Others. Each time, I’d taken a deep breath, focused myself, and pushed my fears and anger of the future down, even as the warning from Ned on the night of the reveal of Benjen and Obara’s wedding played in my head.
“While anger gives you strength, it blinds you of the danger that surrounds you.” Ned had begun, amidst the cheers of the feast. Clenching his fists, he looked me dead in the eye and said, “I have heard the rumours of what happened on that ship. Like your father before you, you allow your emotions to guide your actions in a time of need, granting you great feats of power. But that power can strip you of your senses, blind your sanity, like it did when Brandon rode to the Red Keep to demand the return of my sister and fight Prince Rhaegar”.
The cheers grew in a crescendo as we watched Benjen and Obara kiss once more. Ned spoke again, softer, in a meeker tone, “The only thing his blind rage granted him, in the end, was a rope around his neck, watching the screams of his dying father smothered by the smoke of a burning pyre and the laughter of a mad king.” The anger in his eyes lessened before they turned warm once again. “Don’t make the same mistakes your father made, lad or that will be all you will ever have if you live long enough to regret it.”
Clenching my hands once more to push down another bout of worry and anger about the future, I looked upon Ned, Catelyn and the rest of the household as they stood in formation, waiting for the arrival of the Martel bannermen. My time with the Starks had been enjoyable, and despite the lack of close bonds that were lost due to Robert’s Rebellion, they’d still treated me like one of their own, well, except Catelyn who’d grown colder toward me as time had passed.
A single blow of the trumpet from the main guardhouse brought me out of my thoughts. That blast announced approaching riders and that, provided there wasn’t a second blow, they appeared friendly. Of course, since there was never a guarantee that said riders were friendly, the Stark guards were out in force,
A moment after the trumpet, eight riders trotted into the courtyard. Four of the six wore a light chainmail shirt with a tabard over it emblazoned with the heraldry of House Stark, a mail coif and a nasal helm sitting over it, shining spaulders sitting upon their shoulders and an arming sword hanging from their hips. The other four wore burnished copper scale armour and open-face bronzed helms with a copper sun pierced by a red spear sitting over their heart, curved scimitars sitting on one side of the hip and small burnished bucklers shining on the other, amusingly they wore thick woollen cloaks against the Stark guards much lighter ones. They’d likely purchased those in White Harbour when the small Martell fleet had arrived about ten days prior. Even as they brought their horses to a stop, I saw one of the Martell guards shivering which almost made me laugh. In my year in Winterfell, it’d been quite nice and there’d only been snowfall on the mountain tops far to the north of the castle.
Behind the four riders emerged the main Martell party. Behind Oberyn I picked out Daemon Sand, Nymeria, Tyene and Sarella were riding with Oberyn along with banners for about a dozen houses from Dorne including House Fowler. I didn’t, however, spot the Lords or Ladies of those houses, though since I only knew a handful and the ladies would likely be in one of the carriages, that wasn’t a surprise. Unlike his guards and what looked like everyone else in the Dornish party, Oberyn wasn’t wearing a thick woollen cloak, instead choosing a thin flowing silk cloak emblazoned with the sigil of House Martell.
Behind me, I could feel Obara’s anticipation at seeing her father and sisters for the first time in over a year – and possibly for the last time as well – but she stayed still. I knew that Maester Luwin was giving her lessons with Benjen on taking up at least some noble traditions as Obara complained to me regularly about it, and it seemed they were starting to take effect.
Oberyn slid from his horse with serpentine grace before the stablemaster could come forward to take his mount’s reins and took a long look around the courtyard.
“All this for little old me?” he remarked even as he passed the reins to the stablemaster. The smile on his face made clear he was being jovial, as did the lack of tension in his eyes.
“Prince Oberyn, it is a pleasure to see you once again.” Ned stepped forward though he didn’t move off the landing outside the Great Keep’s entrance. “On behalf of my family and the North, I welcome you and your party to Winterfell.” Ned’s tone was, perhaps, a touch tense. That might just be because he was meeting with someone whose family had fought on the other side during the Rebellion, but a part of me wondered if it was also over concern regarding Alysanne’s parentage. “Bread and salt have been prepared for all of you within the hall.”
Oberyn stalked up the stairs, entirely unconcerned by the way some of the Stark guards watched him. “Lord Eddard,” he stopped about halfway up the steps and inclined his head, “on behalf of my family, and Dorne, I thank you for the welcome and graciously accept your offer of bread and salt.” He stood and clapped his hands together. “First though, where are my children?”
I took a step forward and then to the side to allow Obara to greet her father first. She didn’t rush down the steps, but the last one was missed as she leapt into her father’s arms. She might’ve been an adult and about to become a lady of a great house of Westeros, but it’d been over a year since she’d seen her father and missed him. As Oberyn held her tight and whispered something in her ear, I moved closer. “Father.”
Oberyn eased his grip on Obara but not enough that they broke the hug, and even though I was several steps higher than him, when he did, he looked down at me. He reached forward and, drawing a growl of annoyance from me, ruffled my hair.
“Been enjoying your time amongst the wolves?” His smile threatened to break his face as his eyes danced with mirth. Behind me, I heard someone giggle followed by an admonishment from Catelyn.
“Aye, father.” I kept my reply short as while it was understandable Oberyn was happy to see me and Obara, he was technically breaking the rules of etiquette when arriving in the keep of a lord of equal or greater standing. Though since House Martell and Stark would soon be joined together through marriage, it was likely a breach that most wouldn’t be disturbed by. Even Catelyn was likely fine with it, as her house placed great importance on family and given to all the stories around Oberyn, seeing him so caring for his children – even if they were baseborn – should assuage her.
Oberyn held my gaze as if searching for something that I wasn’t saying. After a gentle laugh and a pat on my shoulder, he looked back at Ned. “Forgive me for the discourtesy but it’s been nearly two years since I last saw my children.”
“There is nothing to forgive, Prince Oberyn.” Ned’s tone was soft and when I turned to look up at him and his family, I saw a small smile on his face. “I felt much the same when I returned after the Greyjoy Rebellion.” And probably Robert's Rebellion, but he was smart enough to not mention that. He turned slightly and with his right hand pointed to his family. “My wife, Lady Catelyn and the young one in her arms is our youngest girl, Arya.”
Oberyn slid from Obara’s side and moved closer, after kissing Catelyn’s hand, he gently touched Arya’s face. “She looks very much like a Stark, Lord Eddard, though I see your other daughter has taken after her mother’s beauty.”
Sansa, while not old enough to understand the compliment, still blushed as Oberyn knelt in front of her. “Hello,” she murmured shyly.
“Sansa, our eldest daughter.” Catelyn offered a tight smile as she watched Oberyn interact with her children. Sansa gave a very simple curtsey, which made Oberyn laugh.
“I suspect you’ll have many suitors for her hand if she gains her mother’s beauty.” His comment to Catelyn didn’t draw an expected blush, but the beginnings of a scowl. That Oberyn was flirting with her wasn’t a surprise, as he did it with everyone, but it seemed Catelyn had already made her mind up about him based on stories she’d heard. “And who are these strapping young lads?”
I didn’t catch much of Oberyn being introduced to Robb and Beron as a set of arms slid under mine and lifted me. As I was pulled into a backward hug, I felt a warm breath on my ear. “Hello, my little wolf.” That let me know it was Nymeria who’d, embarrassingly, scooped me up, and as she turned me, I saw Tyene, Obara and Sarella laughing at the action. A little further back Daemon’s lips twitched into a mocking smile for a moment while the various lords and ladies watched with various expressions of amusement.
“Nym,” I replied once she’d put me down and I could turn to look at her. Even with her cloak pulled tight around her frame, it was clear she’d matured well in our time apart. A fact I’d already picked up on when her chest had pushed into my back. The same could be said for Tyene and Sarella, but both were younger and neither had the almost royal grace that Nymeria possessed. Though given her mother was from the Old Blood of Volantis – a group that traced their ancestry back to the Valyrian Freehold – that wasn’t a surprise, though it did have me relieved once more that I hadn’t yet hit puberty. I was not looking forward to the endless teasing she, her sisters, and Arianne were going to send my way when my body started reacting to their presence. “Can’t say I’ve missed you that much.” Before she could respond to my jape, I slipped past her and hugged Tyene. “I did miss you though.”
Tyene laughed softly as we hugged and I knew Nym was pouting at me giving Tyene the attention. “Missed you too, my magic wolf.” Tyene’s words brushed against my ear in a whisper. Before she pulled back, her lips brushed against my cheek. “How are you surviving in this cold?”
“… the one trying to squeeze the life out of your nephew is Tyene. Over there is Sarella, whom I sure will bother your Maester no end. Which means you’ve now met four of my eight daughters..” I wasn’t able to reply as Oberyn’s voice caught my ear and I saw he was standing with Ned looking down at us. I felt a frown come to my face. “Ah yes,” Oberyn snapped his fingers as I looked at him, “Ellaria gave birth a few weeks before Aliandra was born. You have another sister, Dorea Sand.” As I processed having another step-sister – and wondering if something was going on with Oberyn only having daughters – he smiled warmly at Ned. “Both a blessing and a curse, are they not?”
Ned laughed as he looked at me. “Aye, they are. Cregan here has much of my brother in him, something my beloved wife doesn’t entirely enjoy.” Ned’s tone was much lighter than earlier, and he appeared comfortable around Oberyn. That made some sense as they’d fought together in the Greyjoy Rebellion so probably come to an understanding. As I considered that, Ned turned slightly and lifted one arm toward the Great Keep. “Mayhaps we continue discussing the joys of children inside? Most of your party appears uncomfortable with the Northern chill and the kitchen has been working tirelessly for two days in preparation for your arrival.”
Oberyn clapped his hands together. “Now that is a most excellent idea. And while we enjoy some Northern fare, I’ve brought several casks of Dornish wine for the wedding. I see no reason we cannot crack one early.”
Ned shook his head as he laughed. “I’m sure many of my fellow Northmen will thank you for that.”
With that, the two men head inside. Catelyn followed behind with her children. Alysanne was a part of the group as Sansa had, much to my amusement, started wanting to hang out with her older ‘sister’. Benjen waited at the entrance as I walked up with the Sand Snakes before offering his arm to Obara. Nymeria and Tyene both giggled about that, which only grew louder when Obara glared at them.
As I stepped into the Great Keep I heard Daemon came up beside me. We exchanged greetings and I promised to take him to the training yard tomorrow as we moved to our seats. Yet even as we talked and his face stayed friendly, there was something in his eyes that while not a concern, made me wonder if something had happened to sour him toward me.
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“To Benjen and Obara Stark!”
This shout, the thirtieth since the wedding feast had begun, rang around the hall and was picked up by almost everyone present. One of the few to not shout out in agreement was Roose Bolton, but he did raise his mug. Another was Barbery Dustin, though that was because she was deep in conversation with Jayne Ladybright, the head of her house and one of the few Lords and Ladies of Dorne to come with Oberyn. Most of the party had been siblings, children, or other family members of the houses. That might’ve been an insult to some, but to me, it made sense as Obara, while newly recognised by the crown, was a baseborn daughter of Oberyn.
I put my mug down on the table, though not before enjoying a sip of the Dornish red in it. I found myself enjoying it as it reminded me of home. At the head table, Benjen and Obara were the centres of attention, having taken the main seats from Ned and Catelyn, who sat to Benjen’s right while Oberyn sat to his daughter’s left. The newlyweds looked slightly inebriated, but not enough that they’d be unable to perform the bedding ceremony when the time came for that. Something that was made even clearer by the fact they couldn’t stop touching each other.
“I still can’t believe she’s getting married! And to a bloody Stark!” I looked at Tyene who was sitting to my left. Her eyes were slightly bloodshot, meaning she’d had a little too much to drink, but otherwise, she seemed happy. “I mean, I’m happy for her but I never…” she shook her head and took another sip from her glass.
“None of us did.” That came from Nym who was sitting across from Tyene with Sarella at her side. “Father said we’re free to be with who we wish, and marry if we wanted, but I never thought Obara would be the one to get married. And none of us foresaw it to be with a noble.”
“Didn’t think you ever thought of getting married?”
Nymeria shrugged at Tyene’s jest as she cut a slice off her roasted duck. “Don’t think I will. There's not many men I feel are worth the effort.” She gave me a wink as she stuffed the slice of meat into her mouth.
“I’m still surprised the king granted his blessing.”
“He probably did it at the suggestion of Jon Arryn.” Sarella looked at me, for once not having a book or parchment to read, as I responded to her off-hand remark. “Looking at it from Arryn’s perspective, he saw a way to mend the fences further between Dorne and the rest of the Seven Kingdoms while also creating a weak alliance between the two most isolated parts of Westeros.” I shrugged as Nym scowled at me bringing up Jon Arryn, and by extension Robert Baratheon. “I’m not saying it’ll work, but I can see the logic.”
Nym glared at me for a few more seconds before returning to killing her already-cooked duck.
“Why would that matter?” I turned to my right to face Alysanne. While we were all bastards, we were members of the Stark and Martell families and both Oberyn and Ned wanted us close. Hence why our table mixed in with the ones used by the highborn nobles. Though we were off to one side, which I suspected was Catelyn’s doing. In the weeks since the Dornish party had been here, Alysanne could mainly be found at the side of Tyene or Nymeria. Sarella was too bookish – my word, not Alysanne’s – for Alysanne to enjoy spending a lot of time around. Since Sansa had started following Alysanne around, that meant the redhead had spent time with more of Oberyn’s bastards and while I’d have thought Catelyn wouldn’t have been happy, she hadn’t raised a fuss, at least publicly. Some of that might be because Tyene spent time talking with Catelyn and Septa Mordane – who I fucking despised – but I couldn’t say for sure.
“That’s, mayhaps, something to talk about at another time.” Purposely skipping the topic to avoid bringing up Robert's Rebellion in this volatile environment. Alysanne gave me an odd look, probably because she was surprised that I’m choosing to not explain something for once. “We can talk about it later. For now, let’s enjoy the wedding.”
Alysanne nodded at that and returned to her plate. As I returned to mine, Nymeria smirked my way, amused about something, but staying silent. I let it slide as getting a straight answer from her was like trying to tie a knot with water – something I’d tried to do with my magic for kicks – and returned my attention to the chuck of roast boar smothered in dark gravy and savoury beef stew slow roasted with carrots, leeks and other assorted vegetables and herbs on my plate. The stew had quickly become a favourite of mine in Winterfell as it reminded me of my former childhood in Scotland.
“Ah, there you are.” A large hand clamped down on my shoulder and when I looked up I saw the massive frame of the Greatjon standing over me.
“Lord Umber.”
The giant man snorted and shook his head with a laugh. “Nae need to be so formal lad. This is a celebration and unlike those Southern pansies, we don’t stand on ceremony that much.” He looked around the table, his eyes lingering on Nym. “Though maybe when a man finds himself surrounded by such lovely lassies.” He gave them a nod before his grip gently pulled me back. “Anyway, Ned told me to fetch ye. Said you’ve got something for the happy couple.”
“Right.” I looked at my sisters and cousin. “If you’ll excuse me.”
I followed the large man down the aisles between tables. Everywhere people were talking loudly, eating and drinking in celebration though soon we slipped past one table and I found myself in a large space in front of the main table. On the way here I’d seen Septa Mordane and remembered the look on her face when Obara stated clearly that she’d be wed in the Godswood and not the Sept. That was one memory I’d savour for the rest of my days. That woman was a downright bitch to me once she learnt I followed the Old Gods and not the Seven; though she never acted that way in front of Ned or Benjen.
The Greatjon gave Ned a nod and flicked a finger toward me. “Got him.” That drew a laugh from Oberyn and a rueful roll of his eyes from Ned.
“Nuncles, sister, father.” I lowered my head as I greeted the various family members at the head table.
“Cregan,” Ned stole a glance at his brother and my sister as a small smile came to his lips. “Are you sure you still wish to go through with this?” I gave him a nod in confirmation. I’d spent a few weeks practising this with the bard, so there was no way I was going to not do this now. Plus, if I didn’t then he’d likely claim credit for what I’d planned.
Ned shook his head in mock annoyance and then stood. “Quiet! QUIET!” he had to bang his goblet on the table rather violently to get the attention of the hall, which made Catelyn grimace at the volume. I hid a chuckle behind my hands as quickly the noise level fell to a point where he could be heard without shouting. “Lords, ladies and everyone else, my nephew, Cregan, has a rather unusual gift to offer the new couple.” As I felt the eyes of almost everyone in the hall fall upon me, Ned glanced to one side and nodded.
A lute player, breaking off from the band that had been providing music for the hall, stepped into the area to join me. I glanced around and gulped at seeing the sheer number of eyeballs on me, but I’d chosen this so no backing down now. It’d taken some time for me to think of a suitable gift for Benjen and Obara, then longer to search my memory for something suitable for Westeros. However, I felt I’d settled on a suitable choice; though I knew I’d have to answer some questions about how a child of nine came up with this.
I gave the lute player a look and he began to play. Rather unexpectedly, the rest of his band soon joined, meaning he’d revealed my plans to them without my permission. Not a major thing, but still an irritation.
The melody that filled the room took me back to my childhood and listening to my mother sing a particular song to my sister and me. After taking a deep breath, I focused on the happy couple and began to sing.
“Oh, the summertime is coming, And the trees are sweetly blooming. And the wild mountain thyme, Grows around the blooming heather. Will ye go, lassie go?”
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As I emerged onto the deck of the Relia’s Joy after breaking my fast on a savoury clam and fish stew with a glass of dornish red I hummed an old tune to myself as the crew moved about their business. Daemon was shadow duelling on the fore deck with the crew giving him a wide berth while Oberyn was still below decks enjoying his morning meal. We’d left the North via White Harbour a few days ago in a small fleet of eight ships. My stepsisters and the lords and ladies that had accompanied Oberyn were on other ships as Oberyn had only wanted his squire and page (Daemon and me) with him, which was a bit odd.
As the waves gently caressed the hull of the ship, my mind turned back to Winterfell. We’d left two days after the wedding with Obara barely able to keep from crying as she said goodbye to her family. Tyene though did more than enough crying for her and Obara while Nymeria and Sarella were both misty-eyed. Oberyn had kept a smile on his face and a jest on his lips, but it was easy to see how conflicted he was: happy that Obara had married for love – and a noble of a Great House no less – but sad to be saying goodbye for what was likely to be such a long time. Oh, there’d been promises to visit but it was unlikely most of them could be kept. I knew I was coming back as I still had things to do, but for the rest of my family, the chances they’d come were slim. Well, until I came back as I was sure I would.
Much to my annoyance, Ned hadn’t allowed me to travel to the Wall, claiming I was too young. That meant when I returned, I’d have to head north of the Wall to complete the objective linked to that. Then there were my cousins. Beron had asked Oberyn to allow me to raven him. Oberyn had agreed with amusement while I chuckled at having the unexpected Stark boy develop a little bit of hero worship toward me. Sansa hadn’t really cared about me leaving, while Robb and I had shared a quick hug and words about staying in touch. Alysanne had been far less restrained, almost not wanting to release me from her hug and making me promise to send her a raven or letter about my time in Dorne. I’d agreed on the condition she kept up her training in the yard, be that under the tutelage of Obara or Rodrik Cassel.
The sound of Daemon’s sword clipping something, and then the ship’s first mate rather bluntly asking him to not chip the wood drew me back to the present. As I looked toward the front deck I frowned. It was early in the morning which meant the sun should’ve been off the port side, yet it was sitting almost directly ahead of us.
With that thought in mind, I moved to the top deck. It gave the clearest view of our surroundings. My eyes narrowed as I only saw one ship behind and to our right and I scanned the horizon yet the other six Martell ships were missing. Since there’s been no storm or attack during the night, that meant their separation from us was planned.
“We’re not heading to Sunspear.” Hearing the voice close behind, I spun, one hand drifting to my waist. Yet as a hand gripped my shoulder to stop my momentum, I realised I wasn’t armed, having left my dagger in my cabin. “Or at least not directly,” Oberyn finished as he looked down at me, a smile dancing on his face. “Nice reaction by the way.”
I pulled my hand away from my belt as he released me. Like Daemon, Oberyn was armed though his sword was still in its scabbard. As I wondered why we weren’t going directly to Sunspear, he moved over to a small table, sat done on the only chair at it and rested his feet on a stool.
“So where are we going?”
Instead of answering immediately, he glanced at another stool. I took the hint and sat down. The stool was far from comfortable and made me irritated that he had the only chair. I waited for his answer as he picked up a flagon from the middle of the table and poured himself a mug of strong dark ale.
“You tell me.”
As that familiar smirk of ‘I know something you don’t’ danced on his face, I fought down the urge to smack it off. Not because I didn’t want to, but because the few times I’d tried he’d countered me with embarrassing ease. I was at least a decade away from being able to land such a blow, so until then I just had to grin and bear them. With that urge buried, for now, I pondered what little I knew.
“Based on the sun’s location, we’re now heading east to Essos. Since we’re still north of the Vale, there’s only one option that makes any sense. Braavos.”
“Why not Lorath or Pentos?”
I shook my head at his question. “As I said, we’ve still north of the Vale. There’s no point separating from the rest of the ships before we’re closer to Pentos on the Westerosi coast. As for Lorath, I can’t think of why we’d head there for trade as anything they might have would be easier to get in Braavos.”
Oberyn took a large sip from his mug and when he lowered it the smile had spread to his eyes. “Well done.” His feet slid from the stool they’d been resting on and then he leaned forward. His weight was taken up by his elbows as they rested on the table. “Yes, we’re heading to Braavos. I have business for House Martell to handle,” that explained why the other lords and ladies weren’t with us, “and while there’s no need for you to come, I thought you’d enjoy the voyage. Plus, there may be a surprise or two waiting for you there.”
The sunlight caught his eyes as he spoke, giving them a strange, almost demonic, look. There was something he wasn’t telling me about, at least not directly. While not knowing was going to annoy me, I knew he wouldn’t reveal more even if I prodded him for days. Still, it’d give me something to think about while we sailed.
“Did I ever tell you about my time in Essos?” As I shook my head, he refilled his mug before turning over another, filling that and sliding it over to me. “Well, I had to travel due to some minor issues with another house in Dorne,” he waved his free hand dismissively. “This was before I married your mother or the usurper's war, mind you. Which was why I didn’t fight on the Trident.” I took a sip from my mug. The drink inside wasn’t up to the standard of a Dornish red, but it was tolerable. At least compared to the stuff the crew drank. One sip of that had me puking my guts out for an hour. “While there I fought many a battle, bedded many women, gained a daughter,” I assumed he meant Nymeria since her mother was Old Blood from Volantis, “and even founded a sellsword company.” Now that was interesting.
“Which one?”
Oberyn chuckled at the question that slipped out almost as soon as the thought came to me. He leaned back and took another long sip from his mug. “I could just tell you, but I think we’d both enjoy it more if I told the story of what drove me to create it.” I nodded in agreement. With little to do until we reached Braavos – bar subtly working on my wind and water magic – hearing a war story or two was a good way to pass the time.
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Braavos was an impressive city, easily rivalling Oldtown in size. Now, like most places, I’d seen it during my magical awakening, but seeing it up close – and sailing under the legs of the city’s titan – was something else entirely. I already had read about how the city was a collection of islands in the lagoon that were all joined together by bridges, but seeing it was something else - something more, especially the Titan, sailing under its legs felt like a god was peering down at me and then the Titan gave a mighty roar. The sound was as huge as he was, a terrible groaning and grinding, so loud it drowned out even the captain’s voice and the crash of the waves against those pine-clad ridges. A thousand seabirds took to the air at once, and Oberyn laughed as I flinched in surprise "that's how they warn the Arsenal of incoming ships".
The Titan was massive, easily over a hundred metres tall, with openings running up and down the legs. Those, from what Oberyn told me, were slits for archers to use if the city was ever attacked with larger gaps for other defensive measures. It didn’t take much to see just how hard, almost impossible, it would be to attack the city from the sea as the only way into the lagoon was through the Titan’s legs.
A little distance past the Titan rose another sea mont, a knob of rock that pushed up from the water like a spiked fist, its stony battlements bristling with scorpions, spitfires, and trebuchets. That, according to Oberyn, was the Arsenal. A shipyard so impressive that it was claimed that it could churn out a new ship every day. I’d have loved to see the Arsenal close-up, and how it managed to produce ships so quickly. However, outsiders were not allowed inside.
Since Oberyn had pointed the Arsenal out, I wondered if we were here to pick up ships for a Dornish fleet, but the man had stayed tight-lipped on our purpose. Something that had remained after we’d docked – at the docks for non-city traffic – and rode through the city, with an escort. It took some time to reach a large palace that had an island all to itself. The building, the Sealord’s Palace, was impressive, with multiple domes and towers of gleaming burnished metal. On the tallest tower, which looked to be ten metres higher than any other, was a golden lightning bolt that reminded me of Zeus’ bolt.
I looked down the corridor, taking in the various groups of important people waiting for their chance to speak to the Sealord; of which Oberyn, Daemon and I were included. Most appeared to be, based on their fashion sense, locals, though I did see three other groups from Westeros, which was again based on their clothing which bore sigils of houses I recognized. Yet despite all my curiosity about the various people that were waiting around, my mind was busy with one issue. Arianne Martell was serving as the cupbearer of the Sealord.
Seeing her greet us when we’d arrived had caught me completely off-guard. So much so that I’d barely been able to get out ‘it’s good to see you again’ before she left. As the cupbearer to the Sealord, she had many duties to attend to and couldn’t spend the day sitting around with us catching up. Which had meant she’d left us no more than five minutes ago, heading quickly into the room where the Sealord met with dignitaries.
“Why is Arianne here?”
My head snapped around at Daemon’s question. With Oberyn between us, I couldn’t make out Daemon’s face even as Oberyn chuckled softly. “I wasn’t aware the location and duties of my niece, and the future ruler of Dorne was a concern of yours.” Oberyn’s tone was light, yet even as he smirked, I saw something in his eye. If I understood the glint correctly, he wasn’t impressed with Daemon: either for the outburst, or the apparent invasion of House Martell’s business.
Daemon must’ve seen it too as he tensed even as he replied. “I was told that she was to foster somewhere important for several years, but no one mentioned it was to be in Braavos.” Daemon’s voice had an edge to it as if he was upset at being left out of the loop. I knew he was interested in Arianne, but I’d not seen any hint she was returning that interest, so his tone irritated me. Much as I suspected it did Oberyn.
“Again, I wonder why the location of my niece is a concern of yours.” Oberyn’s voice had shifted. Gone was any jovial nature, being replaced by a dangerous hint of what might come. “Unless, of course, there’s something regarding you and her that you wish to tell me about.”
Daemon glanced at me, and his eyes narrowed before he shook his head. “No, my Prince. I am simply… concerned for the future ruler of Dorne.” His shoulders slumped as he spoke, but I caught him sending me another withering glance as he spoke.
Silence reigned over the small seating area where we were waiting. Oberyn’s focus was on his squire, so I couldn’t make out his face, yet the way he was standing, as if a serpent about to strike, spoke volumes. Daemon held that gaze for a moment as my mind replayed how he’d behaved around and looked at my cousin and step-sisters over the years before he looked away; finding a spot on the floor more interesting than Oberyn.
I frowned at the man’s behaviour. I knew he had feelings for Arianne, and not just because she was going to rule Dorne. In the years since I’d last seen her, she’d matured into a very attractive young lady. The same was true for all my older step-sisters with Sarella well on her way to being a beauty as well. Yet whereas before I’d not had any issue with Daemon lusting after them, ever since Winterfell, I found it aggravating. And given the glances and looks he’d been sending my way, he was also growing to dislike my presence.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
“And what of you, Cregan?”
I blinked as I was caught off-guard for the second time in a minute. Gathering myself, I looked up at my stepfather and replied. “Like Daemon I am curious as to why Arianne is here. Especially after the Ironborn,” Oberyn’s brow creased at the reminder as I kept going, “yet I know that, if you or she want me to know, you’ll tell me, though likely by making me figure it out myself.”
Oberyn laughed and after messing up my hair – which would always annoy me – turned to Daemon. “That, my squire, is how you should handle such a situation.” Daemon tensed as if angered about being shown up by me, but in my opinion, he had it coming. It was odd he’d show such a lack of manners but since he made the mistake, he should be taught how to fix it.
Oberyn turned and looked over my shoulder. “Now, with that settled, it appears it’s our turn.” I turned around to see someone approaching. We’d been waiting for at least an hour and in that time this servant only approached a group to lead them to the Sealord.
… …
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… ...
“So why did you bring me here?”
I looked at Arianne as we both sat on the edge of one of the various pools in the Sealord’s gardens. It’d been two days since I’d arrived here with Oberyn, and in a sign that he wasn’t an uncaring man, he’d given Arianne a few days off to catch up with her uncle and cousin. What made it even easier to do that was that he’d set Oberyn, Daemon and myself up in one of the more opulent guest areas of the palace, which made sense given Obeyn's station and the deal's importance.
Over dinner on our first night here, the Sealord had commented on how Arianne seemed to prefer talking to me over Oberyn. That had resulted in her revealing to the Sealord, his first sword – who was Syrio fucking Forel! – and the other guests that I was the one who saved her from the Ironborn. The Sealord had been surprised by this as not only had news of the Greyjoy Rebellion reached Braavos but so had the legend of the Bloody Wolf who’d fought off an entire company of Ironborn to protect his princess. He’d remarked that he thought Daemon was the Bloody Wolf, which had drawn a laugh from Oberyn, a soft chuckle and an explanation that it was me not Daemon from Arianne and further worsened Daemon’s mood. And of course, that meant I had to once again tell the story of how I’d saved her, my mother, and my stepsisters from the Ironborn.
I looked around, making sure once more that we were alone. If I was a few years older, then I suspected being here alone with Arianne would lead to some comments and rumours, but thankfully I doubted that would happen from this. Being as sure as I could that we were alone – there was no way to be one hundred per cent sure that someone wasn’t watching us from the bushes that separated this pond from the rest of the garden – I smiled at Arianne.
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes.” I blinked, somewhat taken aback at how quickly the reply came, and how sure Arianne sounded. Grinning, I flicked my feet, sending small amounts of water splashing around the pool.
My eyes closed as I reached out with my magic, feeling the water as it moved around my feet from the ripples I’d created. I hadn’t gotten that far in Water Magic or Wind Magic – with the latter being easier to improve as the former was penalised by Fire Compatibility – both had passed level 10. That would allow me to do what I wanted today – something I’d checked yesterday while alone in my quarters.
I felt the water move around me, tracing one ripple as it bounced off my right foot then gently stroked Arianne’s. It took a moment before my magic was able to weave itself through the water, but I soon felt my mind gain control of a small amount of the liquid. Enough to alter the flow of it around her feet.
She jerked back, breaking my concentration. “What was that!” I ignored her cry, as my hand closed, taking control once more of a small amount of water. “Cregan did you…” her words died off as, with my hand closed and then lifted upward. “By the Gods!”
Arianne’s exclamation suggested that I’d succeeded and, opening my eyes, I let a smile spread over my face. In front of me, I saw the water moving upwards as if in that small space, gravity had reversed itself and the water was now flowing up instead of down.
A twist of my wrist cut the funnel off from the pool, and the floating water condensed into an unstable blob no larger than a tennis ball. I pulled my hand inward, and the globule floated unsteadily toward me, bringing it to a stop over the spot Arianne had been sitting in. Said girl had slid back, her feet having left the water, though she was still sitting within easy reach.
Seeing a way to tease her, a smirk spread over my face as I pushed the globule of water toward her, and then, once it was over her legs, released my control.
She gasped in shock as the water splashed against her leg, soaking her dress. I barely avoided laughing at her reaction and then failed when her eyes – wide as saucers – bounced between the water on her leg to me. “You!” She slapped my arm though there was no venom in the move, which only made me laugh harder as I fell onto my side.
Once I’d gotten my laughter under control and righted myself, I saw her eyes were locked on the water, only to shift to me as she realised that I was sitting once again. Her mouth opened, as if to say something, only no sound came out, leaving her looking like a fish; albeit a very attractive one.
“That was…” the words slipped from her mouth tentatively in a voice barely loud enough to carry over the gentle noises of the garden.
“Magic?” I cut her off. “Aye.” To prove my point, I repeated my trick of creating a second, slightly smaller, globule of floating water, but this time I let it float between us for as long as I could. Her eyes followed the movement of the blob of water as if her mind was struggling to process what she was seeing. Once my MP was drained, l let it fall, splashing the ground between us.
She blinked once, twice, taking time to seemingly remember what she’d just seen. Then, once her eyes returned to me, a large smile spread across her face, threatening to split it in half. “Cregan!”
“Oof!”
Before I knew it, I was lying on my back with Arianne on top, hugging me intently. That was not the reaction I’d expected when I’d come up with this idea. At least, not one that’d happen this early in the day. When she lifted her face from my chest, her breath drifted over my face and her eyes found mine, which wasn’t hard as they were mere inches apart.
“Thank you.” Her voice was low and slightly husky, and I could feel her heart racing as her bosom pressed against my chest.
“For what?” I had an idea, but I wanted to hear her say it.
Surprising me, she leaned forward and kissed the tip of my nose. “For trusting me.” She replied as her lips pulled back, making the air from her lungs drift into my mouth.
“Ah. Well you see, that wasn’t why I showed this to you.” She pulled back, her arms letting me go and my head bounced off the hard ground. Thankfully it wasn’t a long fall.
“What?” Some of her joy had gone in an instant.
“Ow,” I muttered before pushing myself up onto my elbows and looking up at her as she sat there. “Well first off, I do trust you, but that wasn’t my intention for today.” As I spoke, I pushed myself upward until I was once more sitting with my feet in the water.
“Then what was?” She’d gone slightly defensive with her arms pulled closer to her body and the forward tilt in her stance gone.
“To see if I could help you unlock your magic, or at least start the process.” The longer she blinked at me, trying desperately to process what I’d said, the wider my smile became.
“Wh-what?” I couldn’t hold in a chuckle at the disbelief in her tone, which earned me a gentle slap once she realised why I was laughing. “I’m serious, what do you mean by unlock my magic?”
I rolled my eyes, not even trying to hide my mock irritation at her not seeing the link. “You are Arianne of House Nymeros Martell,” I stressed the full name of her house, “Princess of Dorne and descendant of Queen Nymeria of the Rhoynish.”
Her eyes lit up as if someone had lit a candle behind them. “Y, you mean I can do that?”
“Yes,” I replied while chuckling, “or at least, I think you have the potential to be able to.” My caution did nothing to dampen her enthusiasm as I continued. “Within you flows the blood of the Rhoynar. A people, who you’ll be well aware, were said to command the rivers to do their bidding. Seven hells, they fought the Valyrian Freehold for hundreds of years and only fell to a mass attack from a hundred or more dragons.” As she started to fidget, I leaned forward and placed a hand on her knee. “Now, it’s taken me years to figure out not just how to unlock water magic much less get to the point I could do what I did,” now, I could do a touch more, but no reason for her to know that. “That said, I think you should have a greater chance to learn water-based magic due to your family history.”
“Oof!” For the second time in minutes, the air was driven from my lungs as Arianne hugged me. Thankfully, this time I didn’t fall back and land with her on top of me. “A-air.” I manage to get out from beneath her vice-like grip.
“Oh.” Arianne pulled back and I gasped in fresh air even as her eyes, shining brighter than the sun, locked onto mine. “Ca-can you teach me?”
I smiled and brought my hands up to take hers. “I can at least set you on the path to unlocking your magic, I think.” My hands guided hers from my body as, while I enjoyed the contact, if anyone came along right now, they’d get entirely the wrong idea about what we’d been doing.
“How did you do it?”
I gestured at the pool. “I sat at the bottom of one of the pools in the Water Gar… Arianne!” I changed tack-mid sentence as Arianne, understanding where I was going, slipped from my grip and fell into the pool. Her clothing, while thicker than what she’d wear in Dorne, was instantly soaked through, and left very little to my imagination. “I-I didn’t mean…” My words trailed off as she stood, water cascading down her body, then flicked her hair to one side to try and get some of it out. “Just because that worked for me, doesn’t mean you have to try the same thing.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped, which made me chuckle before she smirked. “Oh! That was why you kept sitting in the pools in the Gardens?” I nodded, which made her start to laugh, nothing on par with how I’d laughed earlier, but enough to remove any bad mood that might’ve set in from realising she didn’t need to dive into the pool.
“Wait, you knew?” I asked once her short burst of laughter was over.
She nodded. “Yes!” Her voice struggled to keep down more laughter. “Ty, Nym and I all wondered what you were doing. So did others. We even had a betting pool about it.” That drew a chuckle from me.
“Anyone bet on magic?”
She shook her head as she joined me in laughing gently. “No, but Ty thought you were trying to turn into a merman.” I gawked at her, which turned her gentle laughter into loud chortles. One I soon joined in with as we both laughed at my stepsister’s expense even as I made plans to tease her about that once back in Sunspear.
“So why did you think I did that?” Once my laughing was under control. While this was a slight distraction from what I wanted to teach her, spending some time just being young with my cousin was enjoyable. At least for now. I all but knew that once my body hit puberty, dealing with her and my step-sisters would involve far less harmless fun and far more teasing about my reactions to their bodies.
“I thought you just liked the peace and quiet.” She replied with a wide smile that enhanced her beauty. “But…”
“I thought I heard some familiar laughter.”
My head spun so fast I swore I heard something jump out of position as the voice of Oberyn Martell drifted toward us from the path leading to this pool. A smile was dancing on his face and I knew a jape was just waiting to be fired, yet my attention was on Daemon. The squire’s eyes were wide as he looked at Arianne only to then narrow as he saw me. Something about that look angered me and I could feel my temper rising rapidly.
“Uncle!” Arianne’s pained shriek did little to calm my emotions, though the barked laugh that escaped Oberyn’s lips did ease it a bit. “Um, w-we were just…”
“Catching up,” I supplied as Arianne seemed to struggle with an answer. If it was just Oberyn, I might be willing to reveal the truth, but Daemon was becoming less and less trustworthy with the growing jealousy toward me, and lust toward Arianne and my stepsisters. “Though Arianne slipped as I told her about a story from Winterfell and fell into the pool.”
Oberyn walked closer, leaving Daemon behind thankfully. His smile grew and as he knelt near me, I suddenly felt like a rat cornered by a snake. “Of course. It’s been many a moon since you’ve last seen each other.” He glanced toward his niece. “Still, it is good that this isn’t Westeros. Rumours would spread if the Princess of Dorne was found soaked to the bone with the bastard who’d saved her life.”
I held his gaze and fought off an urge to gulp even as heat built up in my cheeks. I might be too young physically to react to her in certain ways, but I knew exactly what he was implying. Still, the teasing was better than him questioning us further as I could tell he didn’t entirely buy my reason. Perhaps he’d bring it up later, and if he did, so long as Daemon wasn’t present, I’d likely reveal the truth.
While he wasn’t someone I was considering to help learn magic, Oberyn should have just as much chance to unlock magic as Arianne or my stepsisters, with Nymeria being, in my opinion, the one with the most chance since she had Valyrian blood in her as well. Still, the idea of giving the Red Viper, even if he was my stepfather, access to magic was, in all honesty, a terrifying thought. After all, most poisons were just other liquids which should, in theory, be able to be controlled by water mages.
As for Daemon, who was still glaring at me even as Arianne spotted his reaction and turned her glare onto him, it was becoming clear he was a problem. The young man wanted Arianne, though since his eye had, as far as I knew, only turned toward her after the Greyjoy Rebellion, his interest was less in her for her title and simply for the beautiful young lady she was maturing into. Yet with Arianne not being interested in him, it seemed he determined – possibly correctly – that I was the reason for her lack of interest.
If this kept up, he was going to be a major fucking problem.
… …
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… …
A few days later after lunch, I found myself once more wandering the Sealord’s gardens. I’d spent the morning (and most of the previous day) watching as Arianne tried in vain to unlock her magic by duplicating what I’d done. While I’d laughed at her continual attempts to duplicate my method of unlocking water magic, I knew the images of her soaked to the bone in thin clothing – which she’d worn claiming it was easier to dry than what she’d worn the day before – would haunt my dreams in a few years.
The reason I’d been wandering the gardens was that since yesterday I’d had this nagging feeling at the back of my mind as I’d sat out here. Since Arianne was once more occupied with her duties as cupbearer for the Sealord – and Oberyn and Daemon had left the palace to examine one of the vessels being constructed for House Martell – I’d decided to investigate what was going on. For most of that time, I’d wandered, trying to get whatever was buzzing around my mind to guide me.
Now, however, I found myself standing at the Sealord’s menagerie. The place was impressive, probably a few football pitches in overall size, and was full of animals from all over Planetos. Most of the animals were closely related to those from Earth – such as the Aurochs and freaking velociraptor or the tattooed lizards, which were now extinct on Earth – or resembled what their mythological comparison looked like –with basilisks looking like the non-snake suggestion of their form. A few didn’t match anything I’d ever seen before with the firewyrm – which was housed in a special cage that prevented the flames the beast breathed from reaching an observer – being one that stood out.
Yet, I’d wandered past all those creatures until I found myself in a section of the menagerie that reminded me of a zoo’s reptile house. Specifically, the section housing snakes from all over Planetos. On the other side of the glass that I was looking through were perhaps a dozen baby snakes. Their marking varied, but all had bright colours that suggested they were either from a crossbreeding of two types of snakes or just a collection of younglings for closely related species that were being raised together for ease.
As I watched the young snakes slither around, my focus was drawn to one in particular. This little guy, and I wasn’t sure why I referred to it as a male, was mainly red with black stripes running down its body. It was hard to tell his age, but at a guess, I’d say he was no more than a month old and given his shorter length than the others, the youngest one in the tank.
“I did not expect to find someone down here at this time.”
I turned and when I saw that it was the Sealord, I dropped to a knee. “My Lord.” While Oberyn hadn’t knelt when he’d met the Sealord, I’d seen many other people of various standing do so, and the few times I’d been around him and not seated I’d done the same.
“Please rise.” I did as he asked and saw that just behind him, a hand on the hilt of his slim sword, stood Syrio Forel. While it was odd to see the Sealord moving around without a larger escort, I suspected the palace guard had secured the entrances to the menagerie but had missed me as I’d slipped inside without anyone noticing. “Now, if I may ask, what exactly is the son of Oberyn Martell doing in my menagerie?”
“Forgive me, my Lord, if I’m intruding, I just felt,” I paused to collect my thoughts on how to phrase things, “off, I guess. While walking I ended up here, watching these young snakes.”
The Sealord waved his hand. “There’s nothing to forgive. As my guest, you are free to come and go from the menagerie as you please. Well, bar the sections marked as off limits.” He added that with a chuckle and a glance to one such area nearby that I suspected was used by the handlers for getting to and feeding the snakes. “That said, it is amusing that the son of the so-called Red Viper would find himself at a display for newborn bloodflower vipers.”
I chuckled at that, and looked at the snakes, my eyes easily finding the one I’d been watching before. “Aye, my Lord. Though I didn’t know the breed’s name before stopping here.” As I watched, the young fellow slithered up a branch, likely heading for a patch of shade for an afternoon snooze. Yet as he moved, the nagging sensation in my mind grew stronger, almost as if there was something about the snake that called to me.
I moved closer to the glass, wanting a better look at the snake only for it to pause and stare back at me. In that moment I felt something shift inside me. My magic was calling out to the snake, and it was responding, which was downright odd. Oberyn had given me a lecture on the various types of snakes he knew of and the danger they posed with the bloodflower viper being considered an especially dangerous and venomous snake whose poison had many uses beyond the obvious. Yet nothing in that lecture had hinted there was any legend around the breed having a magical connection.
All that drifted from my mind as my world slowly became nothing but myself and the snake as we stared into each other’s souls. The nagging in my mind had grown into a strong, pounding beat that was overpowering everything. I thought I heard someone call out even as something appeared in my mind.
A vision of something large and long moving toward me. It radiated heat and I flicked out my tongue to smell it. The end of the giant strange thing separated into many smaller things. I had a sense they were like the tongues of my siblings, yet they weren’t. the whole thing smelt strange, yet, as I tasted what my tongue had sensed, it also felt familiar, important.
I moved forward, leaning into the gap between me and the object that was blocking the massive, strange creature I’d sensed watching me. I’d seen several of those odd, tall things moving around, but never given them any thought.
The long many-tipped thing came closer. Those below hissed in annoyance and fear and some scurried off to hide. Yet I felt no fear as I reached out toward the thing. An urge within had me rear back, expose my hunting weapons and then surge forward. They dug into the thing and I tasted the familiar scent of food. Yet I knew this wasn’t something to eat. No this was…
I blinked hard, trying to regain my bearings.
“Lad?” the voice calling out to me drew my attention and I saw Syrio was pulling me back. His face was a mixture of shock and concern. A strange sensation from my hand made me look down and I saw blood sliding from two small puncture wounds. Blinking some more, I looked back into the enclosure to see the snake was still watching me, a faint rim of scarlet red covering its lips.
“Quick! Get the anti-venom!” the call came for the Sealord and I saw one of the servants scurry away toward the private corridor next to the snake’s enclosure. Yet as I returned my attention to my hand, I somehow knew I was safe. Which was bloody odd. A young snake was known, according to Oberyn, to inject all its venom in a single shot as it lacked the control to limit how much to use for each target. By all rights I should be feeling the effects of that venom – breaking out into a cold sweat and feeling my extremities going numb – yet there was nothing. Or at least no hint of being in dire straits.
“I-I’m fine.” I got out after licking my lips and rediscovering my voice. “I-it didn’t poison me.”
Syrio looked at me as if I’d grown another head. “Boy, the snake bit you. You need anti-venom.”
“I know how dangerous that snake is,” I replied, finding my backbone. “Yet I don’t feel any of the effects that I would if I’d been poisoned.”
“That’s…”
“Regardless, as my guest, I insist you take the anti-venom.” The Sealord cut off Syrio, making both of us look at him. “I’ve sent a runner to collect your father, and Princess Arianne as well.” That made me cringe as I knew she’d be more upset with my actions than Oberyn. While he’d be angry, if he followed the script, he’d fob off the lecture on how stupid I’d been to my mother. And that was not something I enjoyed at all.
“Yes, my Lord.” My reply was almost robotic as I’d spotted a small blinking-blue notice from my strange Interface in the bottom right of my vision. As Syrio sat me on a nearby bench I opened it and struggled to hide my shock at what it stated.
Skinchanging Instinctual Bond Formed!
Bonded animal: ??? [bloodflower viper]
Level 1 bond
Bonds remaining: 0
...
Congratulations, you’ve formed an instinctual bond with your first animal.
While the bond is weak and new, meaning there is little you can learn from your new bond-mate, with time and training you’ll be able to meld your mind with his and gain bleed-over abilities based on the animal.
This is true of any animal you form a bond with however bleed-over abilities will only come from those you form an instinctual bond with.
…
Objective Achieved!
A Friend For Life
Completing this bond makes it easier to control the mind of an animal you don’t have any bond with.
…
Well, that was just fucking wonderful. I’d managed to bond with my first creature, yet it was one that I’d not be able to take as it belonged to a far more powerful person. And of course, it’d be a bloody fucking viper. Still, since that was the only notice from the Interface, I knew I wasn’t poisoned.
When I’d been six, I’d gotten a notice about having developed Redspots. A few days later, after not initially believing me when I said I was sick, Maester Caleotte had given me an ointment – that smelt shite – to treat the disease. From that, and a notice when I’d gotten drunk at my mother’s wedding, I knew I’d get some sort of warning if I’d been dangerously impaired. It was odd but very useful.
As for completing the objective, that felt like a weak reward, but given I’d taken Skingchanging as a magical ability, it was only natural I’d eventually form a true bond. Thus a small reward made sense. For the more impressive Objectives though, I suspected the rewards would be greater.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone willingly place their hand in a viper pit before; at least not without a large sum wagered on them surviving and them being twice your age.” Syrio’s jest made me refocus on him to see the First Sword of Braavos smirking as he checked the wound.
“Indeed.” The servant returned just as the Sealord agreed with his protector. “Now, once you’ve drunk the anti-venom, and the wound’s been cleaned and dressed, provided you are still not showing signs of poisoning, we’ll wait for your father to arrive.” He turned to Syrio. “Also, arrange for that snake to be disposed of.”
“No!” I called out. That had everyone looking at me incredulously; though the servant was more because my outburst had almost made him spill the anti-venom. “I mean, it didn’t do anything wrong. It just reacted as any snake would when threatened.”
The Sealord scratched his chin for a moment, while I tried not to vomit back up the anti-venom, before nodding. “Yes, that is true. Very well, since you don’t wish the beast killed for its actions, I shall allow it to live. Though if your father decides otherwise, then so be it.”
I nodded in thanks as my throat felt as if it was trying to swallow raw petrol. I didn’t expect Oberyn to want the snake killed, but I’d have to be ready to defend it if he did.
Though if it was killed, would I regain a skinchanging bond slot (which I never knew I had to begin with)?
… …
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As the wind blew through my hair – which forced me to retie it back once more – I smiled as the twin towers of Sunspear came into view. While I was glad to finally be home, I’d miss the ship I was currently standing on.
This vessel, which Oberyn hadn’t given a name claiming with a cheeky smile that would be handled once we were home, was different from anything I’d seen in Westeros. From what I’d learnt from Oberyn and the Sealord, this vessel had been made on a personal order from Doran as something separate from the small fleet being constructed for House Martell. That fleet of twenty ships, along with the two we’d travelled to Braavos on, was sailing along behind us, struggling to keep up.
Even without a name, I’d fallen in love with this ship mere days out of Braavos. Reminding me of a Middle Eastern sailing ship from Earth, she was nimble on the turn, fast with oars and insanely so when the winds caught her sails. Four times on the voyage south we’d had to trim sails and wait hours for the rest of the fleet to catch up to us. Oberyn and the ship’s captain, a jolly Essosi by the name of Dono Orlatis, kept commenting that at the rate I was learning how the ship worked and jested that I’d become its captain before we reached Sunspear.
The only downside of the ship, and it was a minor one, in my opinion, was her size. She was smaller than a cog needing only a crew of twenty compared to the fifty of the cogs. That also transferred into a smaller cargo hold and passenger number, though that’d worked out well for me as Daemon was left on our previous ship while it was just Oberyn and me on this one. Plus, since this was a new ship with a new crew that was still learning her, Oberyn had let me help out.
For the first time in years, I felt as if I was back where I belonged. Now, while I’d not deployed from any sailing ship while in the SBS, just being on the ocean and being part of a crew felt right. Gods, it even had me contemplating, knowing what was coming, becoming an adventurer, and sailing the oceans of Planetos.
“Looking forward to being home, I take it?”
I turned from where I was kneeling on the beak of the figurehead – a coiled snake ready to strike – to see Oberyn approaching, a flagon in one hand. “Aye, and while I’m enjoying the view I’m still hoping you won’t tell mother about what happened in the Sealord’s palace.”
Oberyn laughed, and mirroring me from earlier, had to pull his hair out of his face. He stepped closer, running his fingers along the railing of the foredeck. “I suspect that once she sees your new pet, she’ll want the full story behind it.” The smile on his face grew as my shoulders slumped at realising he was right.
The day before we’d left Braavos, in a surprising turn of events, the Sealord had gifted me the young snake that had bitten me. Oberyn had laughed hard at me gaining the snake as a pet while Arianne had been more restrained in her amusement. Still, it was a relief I’d gained the snake as it meant I didn’t lose an animal I was bonded with – though there was a nagging thought that he’d only done it because magic or the gods had wanted it – and I’d spent any time not helping the captain around the ship with the snake working on our bond. Hells, I’d even told Oberyn once we were underway and alone that I’d felt a connection to the snake – I needed to give him a name – which was why I’d put my hand in the enclosure. He’d asked subtly if it was related to my gifts, and after a nod of confirmation, he’d accepted things. I’d have told Arianne as well if she’d come back with us, maybe even revealed my hopes to skinchange into the snake, but she was staying in Braavos until she was sixteen. Thus, she’d be gone for another year.
When I’d be lying in bed each night, I’d given thought to why she’d been sent to Braavos and after discounting the wilder ideas – ranging from Doran planning to marry her to the Sealord to wanting her gone so Quentyn could inherit – I’d settled on the most plausible reason. From my memories, I knew the Targaryens had spent time in Braavos early on, if Doran and Oberyn learnt this, then I could see them arranging a marriage between Arianne and Viserys for when the boy returned to claim the Iron Throne. Therefore, Arianne was sent to Braavos to meet her betrothed only for him and Dany to have left the city before Arianne arrived. Now, I had no proof of this being the plan, but it was the only logical reason I could come up with as to why Arianne had been sent away from Sunspear. Particularly when one considered what’d happened with the Ironborn.
“Though if you are that worried about your mother, might I suggest shifting the conversation to your new sister.” Oberyn continued. “Or that the First Sword of Braavos has agreed to teach you while he’s in Sunspear.”
That Syrio Forel was travelling with us – he was with Daemon on another ship – was another little conundrum. One I hadn’t yet worked out as, with the fleet for Dorne travelling behind us, and Viserys and Daenyers long gone from Braavos, why would the Syrio Forel travel to Dorne? Yet that was a riddle I was willing to ignore because, as Oberyn had stated, the man was going to start training me in the Braavosi style of fighting while he spent several moons in Sunspear.
“Even if mother doesn’t like the snake, she can’t reject it. At least not while Syrio is here.” Oberyn nodded in agreement, though he didn’t say anything, choosing instead to enjoy the view.
Seeing the conversation was finished, I decided to do the same and returned to watching the towers of Sunspear grow larger as we approached. My mind drifted to my new sister, wondering if she took after my mother or Oberyn more, or if she had a good mix of their features.
… …