Wolf in the Sun 2

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“I must say when Maester Cordin sent me a raven informing me that a young child, not to mention a bastard at that, was showing more intelligence than other children, and even some adults, I was sceptical,” Maester Caleotte commented as I closed my book and slid from the bench in his private study where I and several other children in Sunspear my age had recently finished a lesson. “Yet, to see you now, and having taught you for several moons, I see that if anything, Cordin was underselling the talent you possess.” He shook his head and chuckled as he picked up the book I’d just closed; one detailing the history of the Rhoynish before they’d fled to Westeros. “Even Sarella, for all her thirst for knowledge, is left in your shadow and she is reading at a level many summers beyond her age.”

“I enjoy reading,” I replied as he carried the book over to his bookshelf. While his back was turned, I stood and let my eyes once more drift to a collection of three books that were on the highest shelf. While there were other books on the shelf, what had caught my eye from the moment I’d started my lessons here was that the words on the spines of all three books were in Valyrian. I suspected that those books, apart from being worth more than everything else in the room put together, would contain things useful to either my magic – since fire magic was something associated with Valyrians – or hints about where in the ruins of the Valyrian empire I might find something worth looting; possibly even both. Though the chances of me being able to mount an expedition to Valyria any time in the next two decades were slim. “Not only is it relaxing but it helps to focus my thoughts.”

I actually did find reading relaxing, but after spending the first month in Sunspear proving that I knew all the words, banners and lords of every major and minor house – active or extinct – in Westeros, I would be happy to never have to look at those books again. Thankfully, Caleotte had seemed satisfied with my ability by then and moved me on to more advanced subjects. Or at least, in most cases, more advanced for Westeros.

It was frightfully boring to be going over mathematics that wasn’t very far beyond primary school level when it was meant for teenagers. Plus, I’d begun very basic lessons in subjects like geography and biology. Though at least with the latter, I was learning about the local fauna and flora which were entirely new, so it wasn’t all bad. And now, after nearly two moons, Caleotte had finally let me resume my lessons in High Valyrian; or at least in how to understand the spoken facet of the language.

Caleotte chuckled once more as he turned back to face me. The rest of the class had left about five minutes ago but he had asked me to stay behind for a moment. “Indeed. That is something many people, from the simplest of peasants to the lords and even a few Maesters, forget.” He commented as he walked toward me. “I know you are young, but have you considered a career as a Maester? With your mind, I think you’d have little problem completing a chain before you have reached Prince Oberyn’s age.”

I repressed a sigh at the question. Cordin had been subtly – for an adult talking to a child – hinting at that idea to me and my mother for a few years. My goodaunt had also suggested it, though with less subtlety and clearer indications that she felt I was a threat to the inheritance if she didn’t have a child. Thankfully, that threat would be lessened now as just after we’d left Starfall Joenne had given birth to a young boy they’d named Edric.

Of course, if the babe died young, then that concern Joenne had about me would return, at least until mother and Oberyn had a child of their own. Then things could get messy as while mother was now the second in line to inherit Starfall, any child she’d have with Oberyn would be a Martell. All I could hope was that scenario didn’t come into play as it would be more hassle than it was worth.

“I don’t know,” I replied slowly, “I mean, Prince Oberyn makes travelling and adventuring sound so much fun, though I do enjoy learning,” I said making sure to keep things vague for now. After all, I wasn't even sure of my plans for the future, beyond having to prep for the war kicked off by Ned’s death and the return of the Others.

So far, nothing else seemed to have changed. Joffrey had still been born and, according to what I’d caught being discussed by my new father, he had the same colouring as his mother. That heavily hinted that the boy was still a bastard of incest; not that I had any proof of that yet.

Caleotte smiled and, much to my annoyance, ruffled my hair.” Of course, of course. You’re still young so there’s no rush, but you can at least consider it.” He offered before moving his hand to my back and guiding me towards the door of his study. “Now go. I’m sure your mother has things for you to do before you all depart for the Water Gardens.” As he opened the door, he gave me a gentle push out of the study. “I’ll also send a message to Maester Riler. I don’t think you’ll get anything out of another month of studying house words and banners.”

That made me sigh in relief. “Thank you Maester Caleotte,” I said as I turned and smiled at him, “and good day.”

He nodded in response before closing his door. I turned and took a few steps down the corridor, heading in the general direction of the main yard when I saw someone leaning against a wall a few metres in front of me. Sarella Sand was leaning out one of the window arches that gave a view of the Winding Walls and the Shadow City with her nose in a book. Her skin was a far darker tone than that of her half-sister, reminding me of Milk chocolate, and while not much physically older than me, her eyes were always alert and focused on everything going on. Plus, the mind behind them was, as Maester Caleotte had just commented on, far sharper than any other at her age. Well, barring myself, though she would most likely surpass me as we got older and my advantage in foreknowledge vanished.

“Is there something I can help you with dear cousin?” I asked her, making her lift her head from a small book she’d been holding. Though given that I’d caught her eyes glancing my way as I’d exited the Maester’s study, I suspected she’d only been reading it as a cover to wait for me to leave.

Her cheek twitched at me calling her cousin, but that was the only reaction to me speaking before she slowly looked up from her book. “Yes, you.” She said as she absently closed her book and pushed off the arch to face me.

“Oh, and what have I done to draw your interest?” I asked with a slight smirk. I had a suspicion that she was curious about why I so easily absorbed and remembered our lessons, as I’d come along and disrupted the order in the class by leaving everyone behind; including her and she’d been leaps and bounds ahead of the others.

Her eyes narrowed in a way that reminded me of her father and she took a step forward. One small, mocha finger came forward and pushed against my chest. “You’re too smart,” she said as she invaded my personal space. “How do you know so much?”

This was probably an attempt to assert dominance in the social hierarchy, but I was having none of it. Letting my smirk grow into a smile, I reached up and took her finger into my hand, then guided it away from my chest. “I’m good at remembering things,” I explained with a shrug as if what I could do was just a quirk, “what I see stays in my mind easily.”

She shook her head as she pulled her finger from my hand and jabbed it against my chest once more. “No, there’s more to it than that.” She countered as her eyes stayed locked on me. “I can see it in your eyes. You’re holding back. It’s as if you know more than you should.” She continued as I wondered if my cover of hiding my intelligence wasn’t as good as I thought it was. “You know the answers before Maester Caleotte teaches us like it was something you'd learned before.” Her eyes narrowed even further. “And I’ve seen you looking at the books on the top shelf. The ones on dragons, Valyria and magic.” The need to read those books grew dramatically at her reveal. “Oh, you didn’t know what they were?” She asked with a smirk coming to her lips as she correctly read my reaction.

“No. While I can speak a little, I haven’t had any lessons on reading High Valyrian,” I replied as I ran through possibilities on not just what those books might contain, but how to spin this situation with Sarella. Initially, I’d wanted to just give her a challenge to push herself to see if she was as intelligent as everyone said, but now… “Can you read them?”

Her smirk grew. “Maybe. Why, what’s it to you?” She asked slowly, her finger still on my chest though without the same force behind it.

“What are the titles?” I asked back, avoiding her question for now.

She chuckled and shook her head. “No. If you want to know that, then tell me why you keep looking at them.”

Even at such a tender age, this girl knew how to barter for information. Honestly, I should have expected this from one of Oberyn's daughters. The only problem was that I wasn’t entirely sure as to what she wanted in return; though, from the way she brought up those Valyrian books, I’d wager she wanted to read them as well but hadn’t come up with a way to gain access.

“Likely for the same reason you do, curiosity,” I offered. Her pupils widened for a moment, but that was enough to confirm my theory. “At a guess, you haven’t come up with a plan to get them, so mayhaps we might come to a mutually beneficial arrangement.” I offered, intentionally using long words with the hope that she wouldn’t understand them, allowing me to regain some control over the conversation.

“Why?” she asked slowly; though whether that was because she was unsure of what I’d said, or because she didn’t want to confirm my thoughts, I couldn’t say.

“We share a common goal,” I explained. Sarella, while not as close to Arianne as Nymeria and Tyene, was much easier to read than those two. The girl clearly had a weakness for knowledge, and forbidden knowledge – such as the Valyrian books – would be extremely tempting. “We both want to read the books, but you don’t have a plan and I can’t yet read Valyrian.”

Sarella was the only snake who spent as much time as I did reading, though she probably read more since I’d not seen her in the yard with her sisters nor heard her name come up when mother, Ellaria or Lady Mellario spoke about their daily activities when the other girls were mentioned. Unless I missed my guess, this girl was desperate to learn all she could, and that was something easy to exploit and could, with the right training and direction, be very helpful for me in the future. With all the training I did in the yard, plus whatever else would be added to my time as I matured, I suspected I wouldn’t be able to research things as much as I’d like. Sarella though could be used to handle that issue for me. Plus, with her being a girl in Westeros, then there would come a time when she’d be denied knowledge simply because of her gender. A mistake to be sure, but one that I could also turn to my advantage.

She stepped even closer, almost resting her palm against my chest. “You have a plan?” She whispered aggressively as if she suddenly felt threatened that I already had a plan to get the books.

I stepped back just enough to restore distance between us – who knew when someone would come around the corner and spot us, and while the whispers of children weren't something to be concerned with, better not to risk it – and gave her a cheerful smile. “Mayhaps, but I think we should take this talk somewhere else,” I continued as I took hold of her free hand and began to walk. I ignored the sharp intake of breath from her, preferring to casually see if the young boy who was further down the corridor behind Sarella was still watching us. “You never know who’s watching,” I added as I pulled her beside me, gesturing with my eyes towards the serving boy.

It took Sarella a moment to process what I said, or I assumed so as after a few steps the resistance to me holding her hand eased and she took a few quick steps to come up beside me. While she didn’t seem overly happy with my actions, she didn’t pull away either.

I waited until we were not only past the serving boy but around a corner and heading down a flight of stairs with no one else around to let go of her hand. “We can talk more about our plans to get those books at the Water Gardens,” I whispered, using the sound of our steps to mask some of my voice. “Preferably when we’re alone.”

“OK, but you’d better have a plan,” she whispered back as we continued to descend.

“I’ve got part of a plan,” I explained honestly. “There’s no way I can get the books alone, but until now I’ve not had anyone I’d consider willing or able to help to bother with fleshing it out.”

Even over the echoes of our footsteps on the stone steps, I heard Sarella humming as she pondered my words. “Ok, but what if we get caught?”

I shrugged. “Best if we’re not, though that’ll make planning things take longer. Still, if we are caught, I’ll take the blame,” I offered, using this as another small way to gain her trust and support. “This time,” I tacked on quickly to hint that even if we were caught it wouldn’t stop me from trying. That earned a faint chuckle from her, suggesting she was fine with trying several times at least.

We continued down the stairs in silence from then on and soon came to a landing with a corridor heading in the direction of one of the smaller courtyards inside Sunspear. From that courtyard, it would only take us about five minutes to reach our quarters – Sarella’s room was opposite mine, with our closest to the minder Oberyn had assigned to look after his children – where we’d likely find her sisters waiting or servants collecting our belongings for the short journey to the Water Gardens.

Just before we reached the courtyard, Sarella took my hand and pulled me into a small alcove. “Very well,” she began, her face hidden in shadow as the sun shone on mine, forcing me to raise a hand to block it out and see her. “But Maester Caleotte knows I want those books.”

I shrugged even as I began to step out of the alcove. “Then we have to be careful you’re not the one stealing them.”

Not letting her get the last word in, I stepped into the courtyard and heard her follow a few steps behind me.

“Sarella! There you are!”

I turned to my left at the voice and saw a young woman walking toward us. Lyselle was one of the women that the Martells employed to help with fostering and following her were Jayne Ladybright and my second cousin, Jynessa Blackmont.

“Sorry Lyselle, we were talking about my book,” Sarella responded in a voice far sweeter than what she’d used with me. “Cregan likes reading too.” She added and I turned back for a moment to see she was holding up her book – The flowers of Dorne, was the title – to show the nursemaid.

“Ah, well at least it seems you two are finally speaking,” Lyselle responded, making me turn back to her to catch her smiling down at us. At a guess, I’d place Lyselle in her mid to late twenties and from the sighting of her I’d caught around Sunspear, she may or may not have been involved with one of the guards who was normally stationed outside the Great Hall in the Tower of the Sun. “Still, Lady Ellaria is waiting for you in your room, Sarella. Apparently, someone hadn’t finished packing before going to their lessons.”

“Sorry,” Sarella said meekly in that same weaker sounding voice. It seemed that she knew the basics of how to pretend to be less than she was with at least this nursemaid; a skill that I felt I could use if she grew to be a trusted ally.

“Hmm. Cregan, your mother is in the Godswood with Lady Mellario. Mayhaps you should go see her and check what you need to do before you leave,” Lyselle said as she turned her attention to me.

“Sure, but I’m already packed,” I answered before turning to face Sarella. “I enjoyed our talk today. I hope we get a chance to talk again later,” I said, giving her a wink as I spoke.

She smiled, her cheeks growing a shade darker as she did. “Yes, I do think I’d like that.”

With a smile, I turned back to Lyselle and the other children. “My ladies,” I said with an extravagant bow. Lyselle rolled her eyes even as a small smile came to her face while Jayne and Jynessa giggled before the latter leaned over and whispered something to the former.

I quickly head off on a route that would take me to the Godswood. While it was an impressive garden, the main tree wasn’t a weirwood, there wasn’t even an old stump like in Starfall. Instead, the dominant tree was an imposing oak.

While I doubted there was anything my mother wished to speak with me about, I still planned to check in with her. And while there was no weirwood tree in the Godswood, I’d have to be careful. While nothing said the three-eyed crow could see into Sunspear without a weirwood, nothing said he couldn’t either.

Well, nothing outside of the show, but there was little from that which applied in this version of Westeros. Because of that, I only just avoided cursing myself again for not reading all the books before I died.

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I walked slowly towards the Lord’s solar in Water Gardens, knowing full well who and what awaited me inside. Behind me walked a guard who while not being forceful, was there to ensure I didn’t try to run, though that would be stupid. After all, where was I going to run? I was still a few months from turning six and the only place I could go, if I somehow was able to escape the Gardens, was Sunspear; which would just make things worse.

The two guards outside the solar saw me and my escort approach and after nodding – presumably to my escort – the one on the left opened the door and slipped inside.

“The prince will see you now,” the guard said a moment later after stepping back out.

Taking a deep breath and replaying the incident that led me to being summoned here over in my head one last time, I steeled myself for this talk then stepped inside. There I found Prince Doran and Prince Oberyn waiting for me. Doran was sitting comfortably– though given his issues with gout, he may well have still been in the wheelchair he’d started using in the last month or so – while Oberyn was behind him, leaning almost lazily against a bookshelf. Their expressions were neutral, though I swore that as my eyes turned to my father, I saw his lips twitch upwards while his eyes shone with amusement.

“Please, take a seat,” Doran said in a tone that made it clear it was not a request. I climbed into the chair and stared at them; though that was made harder as the chair’s cushion wasn’t high enough to make it easy for me to see any of Doran bar his head.

Silence fell over the room and while I wanted to explain things, I knew that any outburst would make it seem like I was guilty, and I wasn’t. Well, save that one of the others involved in the incident that resulted in me being here was Prince Quentyn Martell.

“You understand why you’re here?” Doran asked slowly and I nodded. “Then explain to me why the scuffle in the hall this morning resulted in you punching my son. He has already told me, rather emotionally” Oberyn snorted quietly there, “about what he says happened. As have several of my nieces and the other children that were present. However, I wish to understand all sides of the story before passing judgement on your actions.”

“Yes, my Prince,” I started, lowering my head just enough to show respect for him. “This morning, after my training session with my uncle Benjen in the yard, I headed to the Great Hall – as I always do after a training session – for lunch. Several times while walking there another boy, who I’d rather not name, had been saying things about my father. I’d been ignoring it, so this morning, he decided to take things further.” I paused as I replayed the moments once more in my mind. While I doubted Callor Vaith – the boy in question – or any of the others present at the start would tell the truth, I knew that no matter how this played out, I would be punished. Being honest was my only recourse to counter how bad said punishment would be. “As I entered a corridor near the Great Hall, he came up behind me and pushed me. I managed to keep my balance; however, this wasn’t enough for him, so he kicked me from behind and I fell into a wall.”

I paused and massaged my face for emphasis. While the fall hadn’t done any real damage – neither Maester Caleotte nor my Interface noted anything wrong (though if the Interface could even note such things wasn’t clear) – it had left me with a small cut over my right temple. “The cut was nothing, but I thought I’d almost lost my eye. I, I was angry,” I continued, taking slow, deep breaths to manage my temper. “I kicked out and heard him scream as my foot landed. Then, before he or anyone else could react, I turned and punched him.”

“Ah, so that’s how young Callor lost his tooth,” Oberyn remarked with the beginnings of a smirk creeping onto his face. “He was most reluctant to explain how that happened.”

I tried to keep a smirk off my face at hearing that. While the swing had been blind, since I knew how to fight, my punch had landed cleanly and knocked Callor on his arse. However, that was when things escalated rather quickly.

“If he did indeed start the fight, then his reluctance to tell us how that happened does make sense,” Doran partially agreed. “Continue.”

“As Callor fell, someone else came at me. I stopped a foot from kicking my face, then someone grabbed my arm.” That was the moment where things had gone wrong. “I, uh, pushed them with my shoulder then swung my arms. I think I hit them in the stomach and face. That’s, eh, when I realised that I’d hit Prince Quentyn. I, uh, didn’t mean to but…”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“But you hit a Prince of Dorne and my son,” Doran interrupted, his face tensing as he spoke. “That is a matter that cannot be ignored, even if it was, as you claim, an accident.”

“I understand, my Prince.” Yeah, there was no way I was getting out of being punished. Dorne might be more relaxed about bastards and their status than the other Kingdoms of Westeros, but Quentyn was still a trueborn son of a lord – well, Prince in this case. Even if I’d been a trueborn Dayne or Stark, in Dorne his son would always be higher than me on the social ladder; unless I found a way to circumvent said ladder.

“Now, your father here,” Doran glanced at Oberyn who smirked, “feels that what happened was a case of boys will be boys. Something the guards who accompanied my son also seemed to suggest, though far less enthusiastically.” He paused and took a slow, deep breath. “However, as the Prince of Dorne, even an accidental striking of one of my family, never mind my son, must be punished.” He paused and leaned back in his chair. His cheeks tensed from the movement, and I saw Oberyn slide forward fractionally before stopping. “For a minimum of two moons, you are banned from the yard. During that time, and until I deem otherwise, all martial training is restricted.” I nodded reluctantly at that. I wasn’t happy about it but complaining would only see the punishment lengthened. “Also, while in the Water Gardens, you will serve your father as his page and while in Sunspear you will serve as one of mine. This will continue until you are old enough to squire with a lord of my choice.”

I opened my mouth to argue against becoming a squire, only to stop and sigh. “Y-yes, my Prince.” I instead replied, batting down my issues with becoming a squire, and thus being placed on a path to be knighted in the faith of the Seven. I had fuck-all interest in the Faith but arguing with Prince Doran so soon after accidentally hitting his son wasn’t a safe thing to do.

“Something about this punishment disagrees with you?” Doran asked, having caught my hesitant response.

“I’m unsure if you are aware brother, but Cregan here doesn’t worship the Seven,” Oberyn offered with a rueful smile as his brother looked around at him. “Like his birth father, he follows the Old Gods.”

“Hmm,” Doran murmured as he rubbed his chin and returned his attention to me. “Be that as it may, the training to become a knight would, I feel, help focus your energy as you grow up.”

“Um,” I began, wanting to argue against being a knight, only to stop. While I had an issue with how certain people - such as The Mountain - could be considered knights, in general, the concept of them was good and I was far too young to protest on those grounds. Ignoring the fact that I had followed the Old Gods, the training I’d get as a squire would be invaluable for the battles to come. “Yes, my prince.”

“While I can understand your reluctance at being trained as a knight due to your beliefs, such training will serve you well in your life, and hopefully, instil some discipline,” Doran commented, probably taking my lack of enthusiasm as a sign of what Oberyn had just mentioned about my religious views. “However, this doesn’t excuse you from the need to apologise to my son. I do understand that boys will be boys, as my brother believes, but appearances must be maintained.”

“Of course, my prince.” I accepted his judgement with a lowering of my head.

“Good. Now Oberyn, mayhaps you might take Cregan here to his mother. I’m sure Lady Ashara is concerned that my punishment would be far graver.”

Oberyn chuckled and pushed himself off the bookshelf. “Certainly, dear brother. Come along Cregan.” He added as he stepped around the large desk of the solar and moved towards the door.

I stood and followed him from the solar. The guard that had escorted me here was still present and made a move to follow us only for Oberyn to wave him off. We walked in silence for a few minutes before Oberyn spoke.

“Cregan, I want you to know that, when the time comes for you to finish your time as a squire, if you still wish to not be proclaimed a knight of the Seven, I will accept your choice. However, I agree with my brother that the training will be good for you, I mean, look at me,” he said, a smile coming to his face as he spread his arms wide.

“Yes, father,” I replied, which made his smile grow. He and Doran were right about training to become a knight, and for a moment I’d allowed my dislike of the Seven, and certain individuals who were proclaimed as knights, to colour me against the idea of, at the very least, training to become one myself.

"Now come, your mother has been worried about what punishment my brother would assign you; though I suspect her admonishment for you fighting, and the punishment for that, will put my brother to shame.”

“Um,” I mumbled, making him laugh quietly before placing a hand on my shoulder.

“You made a mistake, now bear the punishment for it. Though you acted in self-defence, as you should when attacked or slighted – something the guard confirmed I should say – you still hurt others of a higher station than you. Yet, once your mother’s punishment is over and we can return you to the yard, mayhaps we will have to alter your training. Taking down three boys, even one unintentionally, while ambushed is impressive. More so, as I do not believe you have begun any training to brawl.” He ruffled my hair, then chuckled at my pathetic growl. “That kind of drive needs to be channelled.”

As he stepped into the corridor containing the rooms belonging to the ruling family, I wondered if perhaps my response to the attack had revealed more about me than I’d wanted. In that fight, while this body was still very young, my instincts for combat had kicked in with how I’d fought back. Thank the Gods that I wasn’t fully matured. Otherwise, Quentyn might have ended up with far more damage than just a bruised jaw.

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“Is that all you can do?” Oberyn shouted out as I stumbled over the ‘finish line’. It’d been a little over four moons since my accidental striking of Prince Quentyn and about two moons since I’d been allowed back into the yard.

Over the last four moons, Quentyn and I had grown even further apart, though given we’d never become close in the moons before the incident, it hadn’t been a major issue for me. Oh, most of the children our age had all flocked to Quentyn, but that was to be expected. Only Sarella and her friends, Jayne and Jynessa spoke with me socially, while the rest of the Sand Snakes and Arianne – and their circle of friends – still interacted with me when our paths crossed. While I wasn’t certain, it appeared that there was a rift developing between Arianne and Quentyn; though that might just be due to their age and gender differences and the fact Arianne was the heir and Quentyn the spare.

“I know he’s young, but I expected more from a wolf,” Nymeria commented loudly from where she was resting with her father, Tyene, Daemon, Arianne and a few others. Benjen and Obara weren’t present as the pair had left to go riding not long after sunrise; an occurrence that was becoming more and more common.

“Aye, I guess the stories about the wolfsblood are only that,” Daemon added, drawing a chuckle from the others.

I glared over at them before pushing myself up from my knees and looking back at the course I’d just completed. In one area of the yard, Oberyn had set up what I’d call an obstacle course though he’d said it was based on training exercises he’d come across in Essos. While he’d added that the idea for this was to hopefully bleed off my excess energy – ‘if I had enough left to fight in the corridors, I could do more exercise in the yard’ was how he put it – I wasn’t complaining as running through it felt familiar. Though this training course wasn’t one designed for children, reminding me instead more of the ones I’d seen while watching Kung Fu movies. Thankfully, however, Oberyn had altered this one to be more achievable for a child of six. Didn’t mean it was easy though.

Apart from the running poles, spinning wooden arms and other objects that I had to run through, and dodge around there were always several unexpected elements in the course that Oberyn altered each week. He’d explained that this was to improve my reflexes, and I couldn’t deny that it seemed to be working. I felt my body was growing more responsive; something that apparently the interface agreed with as my Agility was at ten (with it having increased from nine when I’d started this course and with eleven being my maximum possible rating while six years old). While there was a chance that others would accept the displayed ratings for Strength and Agility as fact, I wasn’t one of those. Instead, I preferred to keep pushing myself each day to be better.

“How the fuck would you react if you saw a fucking snake in front of your face?” I shot back, pointing at between the two poles I'd fallen between, only to discover as I'd looked up that there was a fucking snake just rising in front of my face. That had stopped me dead as I watched the snake closely until I was able to identify it. I’d have to thank Maester Caleotte for teaching me about the various snakes that were native to Dorne as otherwise, I’d have likely freaked the fuck out about what was a, relatively speaking, harmless milk snake.

“Life is full of unexpected surprises,” Oberyn replied as he pushed himself off the wall he’d been leaning against and walked closer. “How we adapt to them, how we use those surprises to shape our choices and adapt helps define the kind of person we want to be.” As he walked closer, he stopped next to the running poles I’d pointed at and reached down. “Besides, this snake is both harmless and defanged.” He added as he picked up the small snake with the ease of someone used to handling the animals.

“I realised that eventually,” I muttered as my breathing returned to normal, “doesn’t mean it wasn’t a fucking shock.” As was the fact that, during my time studying the snake before I realised it was harmless, I swore I’d sensed something from it. A brief moment passed in which I swore I was looking at myself through an infrared sensor. The colouring was in shades of blue and green, but everything else about it reminded me of an IR scan. Now that I’d finished the course, I wondered if I’d somehow caught a glimpse of how a snake saw as, unlike direwolves, their vision would be very different from human sight.

Oberyn chuckled even as he turned and placed the snake in a small cage Dameon had brought over behind him. “Ah, but as I said, how we react to such surprises defines who we are, and you behaved well when your moment came. Well done.”

I smiled at his praise, though anything I wanted to say was cut off as Arianne and the snakes came over to speak with me.

Yet, even as I spoke with them, taking their congratulations or good-natured ribbing about my reaction to seeing a snake, my mind began to wonder just what surprises Oberyn would add to this training course in the future.

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It was near the end of 288AC that I found myself back at the Water Gardens, sitting on the edge of one of the more isolated pools there. As I wanted the area was generally empty and since it was still early in the morning, it should stay that way for at least the next hour or so.

Since unlocking magic, while I’d managed to get Fire Magic up to level 8 (of who knew how many) I’d been trying and failing to unlock the other three elemental forms (Water, Air and Earth) without any success. For Earth Magic I tried meditating on a pot of dirt, sitting on the beach and meditating in the desert – though not too far from the walls of Sunspear as I was too young to wander off on my own. For Air Magic I’d tried meditating at the highest room of the Tower of the Sun – that I was allowed into – without any success while for Water Magic I’d tried and failed to unlock it while concentrating on a glass of water while sitting in the tide and soaking in a bath.

The idea of submerging myself in a larger body of water was about the last easy option I had for unlocking it. After this, if it still wouldn’t unlock, I’d possibly have to go swimming in a river or the sea to have any chance of getting this branch of magic to work.

Now, while there may be books in Sunspear that detailed how to use water magic, I’d never come across any. That made perfect sense as such materials would be some of House Martell’s most guarded treasures; so much so, that the Maesters might not even know they existed. As for asking the Maesters for help, that had been a dead end.

While Maester Riler had a Valyrian steel link on his chain – signifying some knowledge of higher mysteries – he was even more opposed to talking about magic than Maester Caleotte. Riler wouldn’t stop going on and on about the dark and demonic problems with magic to make him any use.

I’d seen a few street performers in the Shadow City from Essos who could do very limited things with fire and water magic – namely making fire rise slightly from a pyre or generating small waves in a bowl of water – but I was averse to asking them about their magic. Both because I’d have to do so in front of others, which was a risk that might lead to problems in future, and that, in the case of the firemage, he was a follower of R’hllor. What I’d sensed in my magic dream coming from Volantis had led me to being very cautious about any interactions I had with followers of the Red God and had me giving the Red Priest who ran a small temple to the god in the Shadow City a very wide berth whenever I entered the city with my mother or others.

My Fire Magic, while having grown stronger, was still very limited. I could make the flames in a torch dance, and even draw them towards my palm, but I couldn’t yet bring them under control. Nor generate flames from nothing. While it was getting easier to do the things I could with magic, I felt incredibly drained afterwards; including coming close to fainting the first time I’d managed to summon a torch’s flame to my palm.

While that was still something very hard to accomplish, seeing a small rope of fire stretching from my palm to the torch, and watching the end slowly grow larger and brighter as it floated above my hand, was an amazing sight. One day I hoped I’d get the chance to throw the words the Maesters had given about magic and how it was gone back in their faces. Though I suspected Maester Riler might not live to see that as he was well past sixty.

I looked down at the gentle waves created in the pool by a passing breeze and ruminated on the non-elemental magic forms I knew of but hadn’t unlocked. Shadow Magic, Glamours and Necromancy were all listed alongside the elemental magics, Internal Magic and Prophetic Dreams. While the latter would likely never be unlocked, the three former magics had the potential to be; even if, in the case of Necromancy, I hoped it never was, disturbing the bodies of the dead in such a way struck me as perverse, that branch of magic also worried me deeply as it was most likely a branch of that magic that the Others used to raise their army of zombies

Shadow Magic was the magic used by Melisandre for her shadow assassins and based on the warnings about what most magic in Planetos required and what I saw in the second season, a sacrifice of blood or lifeforce would likely be required to use it in any way. Glamours felt much simpler and safer to use, and I had a suspicion that was how the Faceless Men worked their tricks, or at least it was a branch of magic starting from Glamours.

The strangest one was Internal Magic. That was one I’d discovered by considering using magic to boost myself internally and honestly, I was glad it was still locked. The chances that I misunderstood magic, or my own growing body were great, so having it locked away made sure I wasn't tempted to experiment with it.

Still, as another wave blew across the pool, I put those thoughts aside for another day. Today it was my chance, I hoped, to finally unlock water magic. I took one last look around, making sure there was no one around, then after taking a deep breath, I slid into the pool. I felt the water surge past me, and I sank until I reached the bottom of the pool, which for safety, wasn’t deep enough that I couldn’t breathe properly if I stood up.

As I settled at the bottom, I relaxed, remembering my breathing exercises from my old life, and slowly allowed some air to slip from my mouth.

I cleared my mind of anything but thoughts of the water in the pool.

It moved around me, brushing up against my skin as it rippled from my immersion.

A little more air slipped from my mouth.

My thoughts concentrated on the water, trying to pull it towards me.

I felt a ripple wash over the surface of the water as another breeze kissed the surface of the pool.

Calmness returned to the water, though I felt something begin to caress my mind.

No tidal forces were working on the pool, nor was there a hint of another breeze, yet slowly it felt as though the water was shifting around.

More air slipped from my lungs.

As the water felt as though it started to shift, I began to feel it push against my skin.

The water slid, shifted, and flowed around me, almost as if it wanted me to join with it.

It seemed as if it was trying to merge with me, to carry me in its current. To flow and guide me to where it wanted me to travel.

Air slipped from my lungs.

As I allowed my mind to be carried away, I felt something growing in the depths.

The gentle rocking of the waves grew stronger and more frequent.

I felt as though I was being pulled deeper as the water grew more aggressive, as this force of nature began to increase in power.

More air slipped past my lips.

I was pulled upwards, towards the crest of growing waves, then deep down into ever sinking undercurrents.

The waves had long since grown larger than the depth of the pool, yet I somehow knew that they could grow larger still. Reaching sizes large enough to, in my mind’s eye, submerge hundreds of kilometres of land beneath their surging might.

My chest grew tighter as yet more air slipped from my lungs.

The waves grew ever more powerful, becoming more violent and showing incredible destruction as they crushed ships beneath themselves.

My vision grew foggy as I was pulled high above the water, to the top of a wave from which I swore I could see the smoky ruins of Valyria.

Suddenly the wave came crashing down on the coast. A city there was swept away by the surge, and I felt my eyes being forced open.

I spluttered as water entered my mouth and quickly stood.

I coughed as air flooded into my lungs and kept coughing even as I reached blindly for and found the side of the pool.

As I pulled myself towards the edge, the coughing began to die down and, once I’d regained control of my breathing, I saw the flashing blue light of the Interface in the lower right of my vision.

Hopeful about what it would mean – as I’d never had such a waking dream when concentrating on an element before – I mentally opened the Interface.

Water Magic Unlocked!

You have discovered a method to unlock access to your ability to control and manipulate water.

With training, this could evolve into more advanced forms of elemental magic, however, that is for another day.

...

“Yes!” I exclaimed quietly, only to slump back into the water exhausted, and inadvertently swallow some. While I was excited that I’d finally unlocked Water Magic, and with this, seen a way to unlock the other base elemental powers, I was physically and emotionally drained.

A new, short bout of coughing was brought on by the swallowed water, and I clung to the edge of the pool until it subsided. I leaned forward, keeping my head away from the water and spat out what I hoped was the last water that I’d accidentally inhaled.

Once the coughing had finally subsided, I pulled myself from the pool, though I turned and let my legs sink back into the water. I’d managed to finally unlock another of the elemental magics. While I doubted it would be easy to level up – not that Fire Magic was easy to improve – I still felt better having it unlocked and available.

Now all I had to do was repeat this process with Earth Magic and Air Magic and the set of four would be unlocked and trainable.

… …