Two days later…
"Gentlemen." Aegon said with a nod to the men who walked into the room that passed for a council chamber.
"My Prince" "my Princess"
Aegon looked at each of the men for a moment before he spoke.
"You all know that the work truly begins now." Aegon said to the men. Some nodded, some were more serious-faced. Aegon walked around the table and gestured to the map that cartographer made.
"The land we have found, with work, will be a perfect new home for our people but the work to get there will be equal to it." Aegon said back in his chair as he peered down at his council members before his eyes settled on Baerros.
"Baerros." Aegon began and the man straightened up a little. "You will be sailing to Yi-Ti and Leng within the moon with a trade fleet of five and twenty carracks." The number of ships surprised Baerros and some of the councilmembers.
"Gems, perfumes, purpleheart, ivory, anything, anything you can get your hands on that you or the Far Easterners in Corinth think would be valued by the Yi-Tish and Lengese shall be traded for silver and gold." Aegon told Baerros.
"Your one and only objective is to make those ships overflowing with coin. You will do this twice, mayhaps thrice." If the timescale he was working proved to be too tight, the additional coin from the journey might prove useful.
He was tempted to request Baerros purchase as many books from Yi-Ti as possible, he may yet do on the second trip, but for now, gold and coin were master.
Baerros nodded and a devious smile came across his face "And if the opportunity worms along, I'll be sure to seize it." Baerros said and Aegon smiled thinly as he inclined his head to the man.
Silk would be an important trade, at least at the beginning.
An easy cash cow that was easily securable that he doubted the means of theft would be replicated any time soon by Western Essos or Westeros, especially if his burgeoning intelligence division improved and remained effective long after his death.
And, should the man manage it, Aegon would richly reward the man. He knew the kind of man Baerros was. A man not driven by coin, not entirely, but mostly driven by the need to win and win well at the expense of others.
If the man had been born in his time, the man would have probably been an equity fund manager. Or a corporate lawyer.
"That coin will be necessary to bolster our departure." Aegon said to the councilmembers "My lady wife has accounted for the coin we possess once the appropriate share had been apportioned to the men." Aegon said with a nod to Maerro and Galnaerys "And we have a great surplus of coin that we can use to increase the citizenry of our future land." Aegon said, still evading using terms like kingdom and the like.
His talks with his wife yesterday had been long and very fruitful, and some of the ideas she was coming up with were fairly good, including the proposal to increase their citizenry beyond what they had been purchasing over the years.
Having seen the scale of the land, even if he suspected, it was clear that they needed many, many people for their state to 'catch up' so to speak with the rest of the powers of Westeros and Essos and Aegon much preferred the citizenry to be those born of the generation that owed everything to Aegon and his family.
Not that Gael had seen it that way.
Gael's mind was not as cynical, thinking more of the need of people they would have to tend to the farms and to fill the lands, which was needed, but ultimately, Aegon thought it best that they bind allegiances as tightly as they could manage.
The relationships they'd developed with the slave masters of Lys was good – the Stepstones affecting Lys as much as it was, was fortunately a boon – allowing them to have a pick of the slaves that meet the criteria they set out and the captains knew what to look out for, as terrible as it sounded, in prospective new citizens.
"And it is why we will be purchasing ten thousand Valyrians in the next moon and another twenty thousand in four purchases spanning over the next year." Gael said to the council, much to the surprise of all with the exception of himself and Edwyn.
"How much will all of that cost us, my Princess?" Baerros asked.
"All in all, it will cost us sixty and one hundred thousand gold coins." Gael said to the councilmembers and several balked at the cost. Gael smiled reassuringly at the balking men.
"The gold we took from the pirates was four times that amount and we have over two hundred thousand coins in gold and thrice that in silver coins left from the Basilisk Isle plunder. We won't even be touching our reserves quite yet"
'Plunder?' Aegon looked askance at his wife. He could see some wry amusement from the way the bottom corner of her mouth was slightly raised but not more than that. Aegon suppressed the smile and looked to the councilmembers.
"The ten thousand shall be adults, equal number of men and women, old enough to work where we need them to work but young enough to take wife or husband from amongst our people. The twenty thousand after that shall be largely children."
Integrating such a large number in one go would be a challenge, but Corinth was a well oiled machine at this point, and Aegon had little doubt the institutions they created would be able to integrate them.
And, since the adults would majorly in the age range of seven and ten and five and twenty, he expected little trouble from their integration into society, especially since they'd eased them into society by preparing them for their work whilst also taking on lessons and training which they would have a choice in deciding.
"We'd need to expand the town to fit them, my Prince. We've already taken in some three thousand freedmen and women." Sorros pointed out.
"And that brings me to the next point." Aegon said with nod "Prior to their arrival, we will send out three thousand of our people to the islands on the eight galleons, nine if there is time, and over the next year, we will do so again though in larger numbers."
"So that's why I'm leaving with only carracks." Baerros shrewdly asked.
Aegon smiled thinly "Aye. At present, only the galleons are sturdy enough, large enough, to brave the seas even if storms were to hit." That wasn't quite true but it was close enough that none questioned it, not even Banneth. Banneth was a shipbuilder, not a sailor.
Aegon gestured to the Targaryen Islands before he glanced at Sorros, the Chief Builder and Master of Masonry.
"We will need a hundred of your finest men to go with them. Half of them will be on the Targaryen Islands and build a settlement there to function as a resting place and a place to store emergency goods and foodstuffs."
Sorros eyed the islands and Aegon could visibly see the gears turning. "I will get you their names, my Prince." Sorros paused momentarily. "And the other half?"
"The other half will help build settlements and anything else the men will need" Aegon turned his gaze to Bodrin, the Master of Agriculture "The most important task will fall on your shoulders Bodrin." Aegon said with intensity in his eyes.
Bodrin raised up a little and looked to Aegon somewhat concerned.
"I need you to pick an assortment of farmers that can deal with the hardship of getting acres upon acres of land turned into farmland." Aegon said with utmost seriousness. All of this would not work if there were not fields upon fields of farmland ready when the majority of his people set foot on the new lands.
Bodrin looked concerned "I've heard the descriptions of the land, my Prince, and whilst they seem to be as fertile as the lands of Corinth, they are but wild and it will take great effort to turn tens of thousands of acres of land into productive land enough to feed our people."
"I know, Bodrin" Aegon assured the man "and it is half the reason why we are buying the freedoms of so many abled bodied men in the numbers that we are."
"And the reward the men will receive for their work will make it worth it." Gael added to the conversation and when she had the attention of the men she said "Each man sent out on this mission will receive two hundred acres of farmland to be owned by the man and his heir in perpetuity. In time that may grow."
Bodrin was shocked by the offer and to be honest, Aegon wasn't surprised.
Commonfolk in Westeros did not own farmland. They were free labourers who got assigned a portion of the land and kept a percentage of their crop yields which they sold and consumed.
The larger percentage would be taken by the Lord of the land who would, with collaboration with the Lord Paramount, sell on the crop, like to the North, the Stormlands or elsewhere.
Commonfolk very rarely owned any farmland, at best owning their own homes in towns and villages, and even those who did own their land, never owned significant acreage.
In Corinth, it was somewhat the same, though different, as Aegon paid the farmers for their work and allowed them to keep a percentage of their yield to feed themselves or to sell it on at the same price Aegon sold the produce to Corinth.
The farmers would also get a percentage of the profits of the sales of their produce, ensuring that they kept delivering high yields.
The entire town, in truth, was a closed system, of a sort since they did sell to the Summer Islander villages, but eventually that would change as not long after they settle these new lands.
Granting lands to farmers would be the start of that.
"Many will jump at that opportunity, my Prince. I can also foresee many being unhappy at not being offered the chance." Bodrin said humbly.
Not surprising. Being owners of prime farmland is a good way to ensure the prosperity of your House.
"The opportunity will come again several times, Bodrin. You may assure the farmers of that." And it was true too. The men who took up farming were the reason why they were as successful as they were.
Of the more than ten thousand people who had left with him from Dragonstone, two thousand had picked up the plough and within a year and a half managed to turn these long abandoned land into good productive land.
And as they freed more people and some of those people took up the plough as well, more and more land become farmland until six years later, where they turned sixty thousand acres into productive farmland that fed Corinth and the nearby villages.
"They'll be glad to hear it." Bodrin said relieved though still somewhat concerned "We will need more hands to clear the land."
Aegon nodded and turned to Galaenys "The men-at-arms we send to protect the farmers and builders will need to help with that."
Ser Galaenys nodded somewhat contemplatively "I'll make a list."
"Do so but keep in mind that it is unlikely to yield any true action outside of beast slaying and that they will be expected to help." Aegon warned Ser Galaenys.
"I understand, my Prince. I will pick the most dutiful." Ser Galaenys said with a bowed head. Aegon nodded shortly before he eyed Maerro.
"With the arrival of our new citizens, we'll have farmers we can move into full-time men-at-arms. Sound out those who would be interested." Aegon told Maerro.
With fighting men departing to the new lands, they'd need train more.
They had about fourteen garrisons, about fifteen including the seven hundred Summer Islanders, seven thousand five hundred soldiers including knights.
Aegon wanted to send a full garrison, leaving them with only seven thousand men.
A good number for their size especially given that their population was around fifty five thousand or so, but with the plans Aegon had for Slaver's Bay, even should the plans with the Omboru warriors and Prince Jalla pan out, it was not much at all.
And, until he was comfortable in knowing that the newly arrived were integrated into society, he was not keen on having them armed and trained, not in such large numbers.
"Once the opportunities for farmers and farmhands becomes known, they will be reluctant." Gael pointed out and Aegon turned to her and nodded slightly.
He expected the farmhands to be the most interested. Almost all of the farmhands were former slaves who had come in the last few years, those who preferred the simple life of farming than any of the other trades in town which was competitive and low paying, at least when you were starting at the bottom, whilst being a farmhand paid well from the onset.
"Yes. Which is also why the promise of owning farmland will be extended to any who pick up a sword, spear or bow." Aegon said to the council.
"Many may choose to take that option instead of residing in our future city, my Prince." Sorros said somewhat concerned as he raised an eyebrow.
"A people of farmers?" Maerro muttered with somewhat of a disturbed look and Aegon was sure he heard several phrases that rang of dismay under his breath.
"Nothing wrong with farming." Bodrin muttered.
"No, there's nothing wrong with farming." Aegon agreed with a look at Bodrin before he continued "But it is not going to be all there is." Aegon turned to look to Sorros "Not all are suited for a life of hard labour like farming. I doubt too many will take up the choice. Besides, the opportunities in the future capital will be plentiful for our people, especially as craftsmen, shipbuilders, learned men and more shall have the promise ownership of their homes built from good stone."
And, given what Aegon and Edwyn had cooked up over the years, new industries were set to come into fruition in the coming decades, industries that would employ tens of thousands of people.
Plus, Aegon mused, with how isolated this land was from the rest of the Known World, their people would undoubtedly be a seafaring people. The sea-trading industry would be a major employer.
"Sorros…" Aegon began as he looked upon the Master Builder.
"Yes, my Prince?" Sorros asked curiously.
"The plans for the city…have you still kept it safely?"
Sorros' eyes widened slightly before a look of interest came across his face. "Yes, I have, my Prince." Sorros paused for a moment as he met Aegon's eyes "You wish me to revisit it?" Sorros' voice contained unbridled want.
"I do." Aegon said with a thin smile, hidden though it may be behind his beard.
The city was a city build on the influences of Roman, Grecian and Renaissance that he remembered from his old life, with major influences from the architectural school of thought that Sorros and his fellow builders had come to know.
"Though we do not know the kinds of stones the new lands possess, outside of the found sources of diabase and limestone" limestone was almost a given because of the warmer waters and the shallow waters though the diabase was a surprise. It quite likely that the land has or had active volcanos. Aegon wasn't too sure how to feel to settle a land that might have active volcanoes…
"I expect there to be at least granite to be found on this land…somewhere. Nevertheless, I want you to consider any and all types of rocks for use of construction in our new land." Aegon told Sorros before adding "They'll be expected to help survey the land for sites of quarries." The quarries would be a major influencer as to where they'd found their capital on the mainland.
"Are we not using our wetstone to build, my Prince?" Baerros asked in surprise.
"It is to be supplementary to construction, not a whole replacement." Aegon's eyes shone somewhat intensely "Our capital shall be the Queen of cities, Baerros, and we shall build it with the finest stone that we can get our hands on."
Sorros looked extremely pleased with that statement. No doubt, there was some fear within him that Aegon would prefer concrete than stone.
No…
Concrete would not be used, if he could help it, within the city, and would mainly be reserved to build buildings further at the frontiers of the new lands.
Speaking of building…
"Banneth" Aegon's voice was sharp when he called out the name of the Master of Ships. "How many galleons can we make with our current stores?"
Banneth frowned heavily and was quiet for a few moments before he spoke "We can get five galleons made, my Prince, mayhaps six though I cannot say for certain." Banneth responded before he met Aegon's gaze.
"We will need more hardwood and copper beyond that. Mayhaps more steel and whale oil too."
Aegon hummed silently. "We can get more hardwood from the forests of Walano and from Omboru. Copper may be more difficult." Aegon said with a glance to the rest of the people on the council.
Before they left, they purchased an obscene amount of copper from House Royce.
The Summer Isles were poor generally speaking in metals and he made sure he thought ahead with the purchase of copper and production of steel ingots.
"New Ghis is rich in copper, my Prince, as well as iron ore." Baerros interjected and Aegon eyed the man calmly even as there were some discontented looks.
Whilst they did trade with Slaver's Bay, they tried not to trade with those they did not absolutely have to. New Ghis was one of them.
"Prince Daemon has the Stepstones all but under his control, my Prince." Ser Galaenys commented "We should be able to pass through freely now."
"Possession of the islands does not mean my brother has control over the islands." Aegon said to Ser Galaenys with a look before he looked down at the maps "No more than we have control over the Basilisk Isles."
The Stepstones could only truly be secured by overwhelming numbers or through diplomacy…or both. Fortresses needed to be built and garrisoned, ports and shipyards were needed to maintain a permanent presence on most islands, and a watchful eye needed to be set upon the islands.
Truthfully, if Viserys had anything like Jaehaerys or their father Baelon, he'd have figured out a way to keep Daemon preoccupied in the Stepstones whilst fully backing Daemon with the full weight of the Iron Throne.
Working with Daemon to grant lordships to second sons of wealthy and powerful Houses, who would pay with coin and pride to secure the legacy of their sons.
Of course, Daemon was not an easy man to work with. Aegon knew his brother.
But…Daemon also wished for legacy…to be more than a second son. And having a son in Baelon could have been an avenue to exploit too. 'Do you really want your Bronze Bitch be the only one to gift your son land and lordship?'
Daemon probably would sneer and jeer and say that he'd gifted his son the greatest gift any man could gift…his blood…but…deep down, Aegon thought that Daemon would work twice as hard to get the Stepstones to be truly his…and that of his son.
"We could secure a pass in the Stepstones, my Prince, independent of working with Prince Daemon." Maerro suggested as gestured towards the pass between the arm of Dorne and the Stepstones.
"By now, the tale of our destruction of the Basilisk Isles should known by all in the region. They would not dare provoke us lest we visit the same fate to them."
Murmur of agreement came from Galaenys whilst others looked to Aegon for whether or not he wanted to take that option.
"No." Aegon said firmly "Whilst my brother has wrestled the islands from the pirates, Dorne and the Triarchy are stepping up their campaign against Daemon. It will only be a matter of time before the conflict turns hot again. The chances of escalation are too high. It will only take one foolish Triarchy or corsair captain to get ourself involved." Aegon finished coldly as he eyed his commanders.
Aegon would never suffer a slight or attack against his family or his people and he'd be forced into a situation where he'd delay moving and that was unacceptable.
Aegon looked away from his commanders and turned back to the map. "We have far more important matters to deal with." Aegon said with a tone of finality and he looked to Baerros with a look of consideration.
"New Ghis is not the only source of copper nearby. Meereen mines copper in nearby hills, I believe." Aegon commented with a look of displeasure on his face.
He had no desire to truly put more coin in the hands of the Meereenese but in the face of need…
Baerros sighed as he nodded.
"Aye but their prices are exorbitant." Baerros said to Aegon with a look of displeasure "One would think because they use slaves prices wouldn't be so high."
"Why is their copper expensive?" Gael asked with a frown "Bronze is not a highly sought after good, for arms or for much else."
"Their copper mines, whilst having deep veins, are not rich mines." Baerros explained before he looked to Aegon "Their copper ore are very poor per tonne of rock which is the part of the reason why it is expensive. The other part is that the mines there are poisonous." Baerros said with a shrug.
"Old slaves and troublesome slaves are sent to those mines to die more than anything else and they have had little reason to change that for they or their trade partners use copper sparingly either as bronze decoration or ornamental purposes."
"If we placed a large order of their copper, you don't think we could source it cheaply from them?" Aegon questioned intently.
Baerros' expression twisted slightly "I…I doubt it." Baerros said honestly.
"Whilst we do trade with Slaver's Bay, we do so because we need their coin to help pay to free slaves and the Great Masters know it too." Baerros said meaningfully and Aegon understood it before he'd asked.
The incentive of increasing their mining was not truly there.
Sure, the gold and silver would be useful but it was incomparable to the slaves they made money of, and the coin would come from a man who they did not trust and very likely quite disliked. It wouldn't surprise him if they hemmed and hawed, only to quote a ridiculous price per kilogram ore.
"New Ghis would have that problem too, would it not?" Edwyn asked with a frown. Baerros shook his head.
"No, because their copper stores are full. Too full. The problem they have is that no one is interested in coming to New Ghis to buy copper and they don't truly use it either." Baerros explained with a wry smile.
"The Free Cities don't use it or bronze, whilst in Westeros the Dornish, the Westerlands or the Vale can supply however much is needed. And in the East…they'd probably crack open a hill and find the richest vein of the ore should they ever have need of it." Baerros finished.
Aegon thought on it for a few moments before he glanced at Banneth. "Can you still build two galleon a moon and a half at full production or can you improve on it?"
"At present, we can probably build two a moon and a half but that is only because we have had the copper ore smelted and beaten into shape whilst also having stores of hardwood cut and sized." Banneth answered. "We could possibly keep that rate up if we get the sheets and cut wood in our shipyard ready instead of the men having to prepare everything and build the ships."
"We will build a few more smelting furnaces by the shipyard and assign some of the blacksmith apprentices." Aegon said to Banneth. Beating the copper sheets into shape was unfortunately necessary. As much as he would like to cast the inch or so thick sheets into shape, it was not truly productive at all given the contour of the hull. Aegon took to look at Gael and Edwyn with an inquisitive look.
"We can assign the work of woodcutting and copper work to the newly arrived men. Most of them are still weak from malnutrition but they should be fit soon." Aegon more stated than suggested and Gael nodded.
"I was having trouble where to place them so this is convenient." Gael looked to Banneth "Although I would suggest you look into some of the men. Many of them are decades long sailors. They may be of help." Gael told the man.
Banneth bowed his head "I will do as you bid, my Princess."
Aegon glanced at Edwyn and the man nodding, having taking note of what has been decided and he turned back to Baerros "Prepare a trade mission to New Ghis. Select your most persuasive merchants. I want to trade goods for the copper and limit the spend of our coin."
Baerros stroked his beard "It will be difficult. New Ghis is not a wealthy place, at least in comparison to the Free Cities and Slaver's Bay. They will want coin."
"Everyone wants coin, Baerros. The trick is make them want something else more." Aegon said to Baerros "I'm sure you'll succeed in making it so."
Baerros looked somewhat amused and put-off at Aegon's words but nonetheless he nodded his acceptance of the mission. Good. Aegon turned to Banneth.
"New Ghis is three, or two if the winds are favourable, moons away, there and back. At this point in time, you are fully to focus on the production of galleons."
Aegon nodded to Edwyn "Give him the list of material and men you need to maintain the two galleons per moon and a half production. I will also want you to look into what can be done to increase production to three or four galleons a moon."
"As you command, my Prince."
"The last point I will share is that we will be opening our gates to our neighbours in seven days." Aegon looked to Maerro and Galaenys "Have a garrison of the men-at-arms report to Ser Cedrick. I will task Ser Cedrick to have his men and the garrison remain vigilant on the people who enter and leave our town."
After the affirmative nods, Aegon looked away and looked around the table. "That concludes our meeting for today unless someone wishes to raise a point?" Aegon posed to the councilmembers and when he received negatives from his councillors, he dismissed them, leaving him, Gael and Edwyn behind.
"I think we may need a scribe next time." Aegon said dryly to Edwyn and an amused smile was plastered on Gael's face.
"It would make my life a lot easier." Edwyn said with humour in his voice before a look of seriousness took hold "It may be time to set in motion the administrative functions." Edywn half-asked, half-stated.
At present, the way Corinth was ruled was through the council, each councilmember was in charge of critical industries or functions within their society and those who worked in senior position below the councillors were either appointed or approved by him and Gael.
In all honesty, they leaned heavily on the guild system whereby the councillors, outside of Maerro and Galaenys, organised themselves as guildmasters, directing work and training, which also included apprenticeships amongst the younger members of society who wished to take on a trade.
They'd also recommended salaries to Gael, who ran the financial and budgetary portions of their society, and set quotas based on Aegon's determination of the needs of the town.
There were other guilds too, the alchemist guild, the scholarly guild, the guild of pottery and porcelain, and many other such guilds, but they were more under Aegon's, Gael's and Edwyn's overview.
At present it worked, but it was not a framework that was enshrined in law nor would it work in the long term as their population grew and the positions grew in power.
Long ago, Aegon had worked Edwyn to develop and adopt a framework of administration, law and government of whatever new lands they'd call home, whether it may be East or West, and at present, Edwyn was suggesting that they install a more cohesive administration of the differing sectors within Corinth ahead of time.
Aegon looked to Gael, a silent question on his face. She knew of this though she wasn't entirely on board with the type of rulership he was dead-set on implementing.
It was only the argument of what has happened in the past in their family and what was happening now that stymied her disagreements.
"I agree with Edwyn. It would make things smoother, especially when the people are familiar with the system when we've full settled the lands. And if you're wondering if the councillors will oppose for fear of the loss of power, they will not" Gael said after a few moments "especially if they understand why it is being implemented."
"Besides" Aegon began before he continued after meeting Gael's eyes "it's not as if they have much room to create instability amongst their subordinates" the loyalty of Corinth was with Aegon and his family, first and foremost.
Gael nodded before she frowned slightly "Though I expect they may be less happy about the way we will be appointing holdings."
It was a concern Aegon had as well, which was why he had no intentions of letting it be known to the public until after the Slaver's Bay campaign was complete.
There will be no feudal lords in the new lands and he'd make it enshrined within law that it is forbidden for nobility to have personal armies and fiefdoms within their new lands.
"The land will remain undeveloped for decades to come and I'm not certain if we can develop the rest of the continent even if a century passes." Edwyn commented before adding as he shook his head "Their opposition can be argued away with the question why they'd even want such useless land since the majority of our people will be either in the capital or in the countryside, farming and keeping livestock."
"They may feel cheated." Gael pointed out.
"Cheated over what?" Aegon asked rhetorically.
"That they haven't been given enough, when they are to be elevated into nobility with substantial personal land that is to do with whatever they wish? They will raised up and given honours for their service to our House. The things they will not be permitted to do or have, are nothing to feel cheated about for we never made promises nor have we done anything to deprive them of what they already had."
"No." Aegon said firmly "They cannot have any reason at all."
He will not allow the nobility to have any influence or power over the state.
It will be hard enough to ensure his descendants make sure to uphold the rulership he sought to implement, the last thing he needed is to have the nobility have power to influence the fate of his new home.
Gael was sceptical and likely thought that it wouldn't be the end of it from the way she looked at him, and Aegon disdained the idea that it might not be as he remembered the comments she made about a few of the men who'd been on the Lady Dawn and Discovery, but on this, he would not yield a single inch.
Aegon turned to Edwyn, returning back to the subject at hand "Do you have a list of those who may be well suited to integrate into the administration?"
"I do." Edwyn confirmed.
"Good. Gael and I will look them over." Aegon stated before he rose up and extended out his hand to Gael who took it as she rose. "That'll be all for today, Edwyn." Edwyn bowed to them before he left, leaving behind Aegon and Gael.
-Break-
109 AC – Corinth
Captain Bryce Arenter POV
"My Prince. My Princess." Bryce bowed from the hip after he stood still once he'd been escorted into the solar of the keep of the royal family.
"Please sit." Prince Aegon said as he nodded to the chair at the end of the desk and Bryce did as he was bid. He took a hidden glance at his surroundings, noting the books on the shelves and the various kinds of naval instruments and several other instruments he could not quite figure out what they were.
Beyond all of that however, there was little within the solar, a solar that was as grey as the rest of the keep and the town of Corinth.
When they arrived in these lands, there had been nothing for leagues, only sparse villages. A tough time, to be sure, Bryce mused to himself.
They came nought but with their ships, their food and supplies, and their skills.
Now, six years later, Corinth was a fully fledged town on the cusp of turning into a city, built with their hands and their skills and their sheer will, with every family prosperous and flourishing beyond their wildest dreams.
Every man and woman aided in the production and laying of the wetstone, each hand having had a hand in the building of the home of their neighbours, and he remembered the feeling of pride when he had when the Prince had worked alongside him to lay the wetstone for one of the homes.
That the Prince himself, member of the last dragonlord family, was working alongside the commoners, had stirred the people of Dragonstone on, the feeling of having made the right choice in choosing the Prince growing even more resolute.
Bryce was not sure if the Prince knew how deep the loyalties of the people ran, back then or now, as they worked hard to build a home on these lands until the time came to leave for the Promised Lands.
They all saw, back on Dragonstone, how hard the Prince had worked for the betterment of their lives and when they arrived on the Summer Isles, they had seen that the Prince was working with his own hands alongside them to build a safe place for their people.
To Bryce, and like a thousand or so others, who had come from the mainland on Westeros, it was a strange and unheard-of sight, for a Prince, let alone a noble, to care and labour as much as the Prince had done for the commonfolk, something that only increased drastically when they arrived in the Summer Isles and founded Corinth.
And now, now that the new lands the Prince had promised had been found, that loyalty was beyond anything Bryce could describe.
It was infectious, the loyalty and cheer and the excitement that seemed to fill the air of Corinth, so much so that it was confusing the Seven Hells of the former slaves of the Basilisk Isles, and Bryce was much the same in this rapture.
For how could Bryce not feel this loyalty? His life was far better than he could have dreamed when he chose to leave for Dragonstone and now…
Now, his name would forever be enshrined in the annals of history, 'Captain Bryce, the man who led the men to the promised lands of the West', and the opportunity came only because of the faith the Prince had in him, a commoner who the Prince saw something in, just as the Prince saw in others of their people.
And this…this was above all what the people of Corinth, former slave and of Dragonstone alike, cherished from the Prince and Princess and Bryce knew that the coming years would see the people of Corinth work hard to repay that faith.
Though, Bryce mused as he sat down in the chair, there was a part of him that was regretful, regretful that all that they built in Corinth, all that Corinth meant, would be left behind when the last ships departed for their new homeland.
"I'm sure you have seen the increased work in the shipyard, Captain Bryce?" Prince Aegon asked Bryce, drawing him back. He nodded affirmatively.
"Yes, my Prince. I have seen the building of the new galleons" Bryce answered. He'd also seen the carracks being loaded and prepared for departure to the Far East and elsewhere.
Five and twenty would depart for the Far East led by Sallan Baerros whilst smaller fleets of five or ten ships would depart for places like Qarth, Farros, Volantis and the sunset sea cities of Westeros to trade goods for coin or other goods, resuming trade with the wider world.
They managed to produce a stockpile of goods since the doors had been shut and the ships were made to remain so Bryce expected good amount of coin to be produced in the coming moons.
He also knew of other fleets that were sailing to Omboru and Jhala which also included the dragon-barges, fleets that would bring in hardwoods needed for the production of the galleons. The forests of Walano did have them but it seems like they weren't going to rely on those hardwoods alone.
The Prince nodded and, as he spoke next, his piercing gaze was levelled upon Bryce. "Yes and I'm sure you know what that means."
"Aye, my Prince." Bryce straightened up a lot "You wish to send more ships West."
He suspected that was the reason he was here…and why none of the crews of Lady Dawn or Discovery were being assigned to any of these trade missions.
"That is correct." Aegon said with a nod and a faint smile. "We will be sending all of our galleons and the ninth one nearing completion to our new lands though they will first go to the Targaryen Islands to further develop the islands as a waypoint."
Byrce nodded "That is good, my Prince. If we have a safe port like the Targaryen Islands which should only be two moons travel now that we have charted the sea, it would settle my and many other captains' nerves."
One long journey between Corinth and the new lands was dangerous. They were fortunate they were well provisioned during the search.
Having the Targaryen Islands developed as a in-between Corinth and the new land was the best choice. They'd already started previously but now, now it was time to make it fully developed port.
"We agree." The Princess said with a smile. "Which is why once the fleet arrives at the Targaryen Islands, it will be to drop off a select number of our people to build up the port in the isles before returning to Corinth and picking up the first settlers of our new lands. By that point, we expect another couple of galleons built." The Princess paused for a moment as she exchanged looks with Prince Aegon before she continued.
"All in all, between the Targaryen Islands and our new lands, within six moons we expect there to be three thousand of our people to be there. Within one year, we want that number to climb to eight thousand and within a year and a half, we expect that number to be fifteen thousand." She finished.
Bryce's eyebrows climbed high "That…is ambitious." Bryce said carefully.
"We are aware." Prince Aegon said with a smile in his eyes as he looked at Bryce "But it is achievable." The Prince paused for a moment as the smile in his face faded away and the Prince asked Bryce "Can our carracks make the journey?"
Bryce was startled by the sudden and unrelated question and he paused for a moment, a frown adorned on his face as he considered it. He'd thought about it before…
"In the spring…yes but I fear come summer and autumn, I believe even our galleons would be hard pressed to weather the storms." Bryce said honestly.
It wasn't impossible to get there with the compasses and with the locations of the stars. It was just the nature of the ocean that was truly perilous and he did not know how much more perilous it could get with the seasons.
Bryce would not dare do it even for all the gold of the world.
"Are your Graces thinking of using the carracks as well?" Bryce asked hesitantly.
"We are not, you may be rest assured." The Prince said to Bryce before he added "I raised the point merely because I was curious to see your thoughts on the matter. I had not thought it wise for I considered mayhaps three in five would be lost or wrecked should fate not favour the ships." The Prince paused for a moment before he continued.
"As you can see from our timescale, we are talking about years before we all move to our new lands and we will continue to trade during that time."
Bryce understood and he grimaced. Not all captains were tight lipped even if their loyalty to the Prince and Princess and to Corinth was not in doubt.
"So the knowledge that we can be assured that our new lands are safe from others, at least for a while, does much to relief us of our worries in this regard." The Princess told Bryce.
And Bryce also considered that the only ones who could possibly get there were himself, his second in command, and Locke and his second in command along with eventually the other captains and their second in commands.
People whom Bryce expected would be handpicked.
"As to the ambitious timescale…our farmers will be able to turn them into farmland in the time that we have." Prince Aegon said firmly "And everything after that, we will able to manage." The Prince smiled slightly.
"Just as we did when we arrived here."
Bryce nodded firmly "I will do all that I can to help, my Prince. Even if my old bones may not be as much use as the youngsters."
"All you need to do is command, Admiral Bryce Arenter." Aegon said to Bryce and Bryce's eyes widened. He looked to the Princess who smiled at him.
Admiral…? Him…?
"Your leadership was praised by all of those on both ships, Admiral Bryce. You helped handle the mutiny situation admirably and you managed to keep the ships together despite there having many chances of either ship losing sight of another." The Prince leaned forward slightly.
"You are the right man for this task and I have full faith that you shall execute it as ably as you managed to find the lands of my dreams." The Prince said with intensity in his voice and, as he leaned back in his chair, he had one more thing to say.
"Do you accept the post, Bryce Arenter?"
The look on Bryce's face as he got to terms with the promotion must have been enough for both the Prince and Princess smiled at Bryce.
-Break-
109 AC – Corinth (Three weeks since Aegon's return)
Edwyn POV
Edwyn sat staring at the black glass candle before him, as if it was a particular passage within a text that he was trying to decipher.
Twisted like rope and with edges that were almost as sharp as steel, the black glass candle was sitting with an unnatural light around the edges of the candle, like the light that may be seen around the edges of the moon during a solar eclipse.
"I must look like a madman." Edwyn muttered to himself as he eyed the glass candle with some wariness, waiting for something to happen.
Prince Aegon had pulled him away from the legal document the Prince had asked him to poke holes into for this, claiming that he finally managed to get the things to do more than just light up like the sun in his hands.
The Prince had been huddled over the problem of these glass candles for a while now, whenever he had some spare time which hadn't much all things considered, and had done something to the glass candles which he had called 'disparate communicators' and thought that he finally solved the riddle.
And here he was, almost an ho-
Edwyn reared back before he knew it when the glass candle began to light up with an unnatural white light, whiter than even the whitest porcelain plate, though what baffled him the most was what he saw, or rather heard, next.
"Edwyn?"
The call of his name startled him and broke him out of his stupor.
Edwyn looked around and saw no one else in his office and the door was as shut as it had been since he'd arrived. "Edwyn? Do you hear me?"
Edwyn gazed back to the glass candle he was hesitant as he spoke "Is that you, my Prince?" his voice was wary though there was some awe in there too.
Laughter rang from the other side, a sound he so rarely heard "Yes, yes it is! Finally! I got it to work as I wish!" the jubilance in the Prince's voice was clear.
And it was well earned too, Edwyn marvelled.
Glass candles had not worked since the time of Old Valyria.
"Hold on, let me try something." The Prince said and the glass candle grew dim once more. Edwyn was sat still as he stared at the glass candle, his mind drifting away in thought.
This success…
The applications of the glass candle…
Edwyn had known that the Prince had long valued the glass candles as an absolute must relic to obtain and understand and Edwyn had understood. It was a way to no longer need ravens to communicate vast distances and such application would wield great boon.
Information could be traded with nary but a glass candle, armies and fleets could be directed and mustered with but an order hundreds of leagues away. It was a revolutionary means of communication.
The glass candle lit up once more, breaking Edwyn out of his thoughts.
"Aegon?" Princess Gael's voice was hesitant, likely as hesitant as his had been.
"It's Edwyn, my Princess." Edwyn said respectfully.
"Ed-" "I'm here, Gael."
Edwyn's eyes widened at the voice of Prince Aegon and his mouth slightly went ajar. "So it really works?" Gael asked Aegon.
"Yes, it really works. The glass candles are all paired and can be used simultaneously." Aegon said with glee in his voice.
"I did not think that was even possible." Edwyn said hazily as he stared at the white candle that he was now noticing resembled a little like the hottest parts of Mīsaragorn's flames.
"I wasn't sure either." Prince Aegon admitted "Since the green candle seems to be the controlling type, I reasoned that there might be no reason for the glass candle not to be able to connect to the others."
Edwyn shook his head. The Prince's intuitions were strange but they seemed to be more right than they were wrong. "I take it we will hand one of the candles to Admiral Bryce?" Edwyn asked.
"We will." Prince Aegon confirmed. "Whilst we may not be able to affect what happens there, we will at least know and mayhaps we may be able to act in time."
Edwyn nodded though he quickly realised that the Prince wouldn't see his understanding. "I understand." Edwyn voiced out.
"Now that you have tested the candles, do you need me for anything more, Aegon?" Gael asked.
"No, Gael. That was it. Thank you, my love." Prince Aegon said and Edwyn felt somewhat uncomfortable as he heard the uncharacteristic warmness in the Prince's voice. It felt like he was intruding in a way he ought not to.
"The connection to Gael's glass candle has been cut, Edwyn." Prince Aegon said.
"I see." Edwyn said before he frowned as he thought "You consciously control the connection?"
"I do." Prince Aegon confirmed and Edwyn was somewhat disappointed. It meant that it will always need someone versed in magic to control the glass candles. And even knowledge of magic may not be enough given that the candles seemed to only work in the hands of those with dragonlord blood.
"It's not unlike controlling flames, to tell the truth, but instead, you control the links between the glass candles and I am unfamiliar with this kind of magic."
Edwyn had no frame of reference what that meant, links and streams and threads of magic. He had never truly had a frame of reference and he doubted he'd understand even if he devoted decades to the higher mysteries.
"Not any longer, it seems, my Prince." Edwyn said with a small smile.
"No, I suppose not." Prince Aegon said before he added "Come to my solar, Edwyn, we may as well discuss what we have to discuss in person."
Before Edwyn could response, the glass candle went dim and Edwyn sighed before a wry smile grew on his face. "It seems like I won't be working on the legal documents today" he said as he stood up, his head shaking.
He carefully placed the glass candle in the protected box and made his way towards the Prince's solar which was a floor up from his office.
He was let into the Prince's solar by the guards and saw the Prince huddled over a journal as he sat on the central table, his quill in hand dancing across the pages.
"There are other applications for the glass candles though I am no closer to figuring out those…yet." The Prince said, still writing in his journal.
"Seeing across vast distances and visions and dreams?" Edwyn asked as he placed the box onto the table. The Prince looked up and looked to Edwyn before he inclined his head.
"Yes." The Prince paused for a moment before he frowned "Though I am leery of it." The Prince placed the quill down and looked towards the map that was hung over by his desk. "I am still not certain if no one else can hear what we say on other glass candles scattered in the Known World."
Edwyn nodded. He knew of this concern of Aegon's. "Even if they can hear, if we are careful…" Information without context is of little use after all.
"Aye" the Prince said as he turned back to Edwyn. "We have time to teach Admiral Arenter coded language."
Edwyn nodded before he frowned. "And you think that this possibility of others" the Prince grimaced the way Edwyn stressed 'others' "can…do something?"
Aegon hummed before he leaned back in his chair, his hand drifting to his beard.
He seemed to gaze at Edwyn for a long few moments before he nodded slightly. "Aye. I am not sure what the nature of visions and dreams are. Why they exist. Greensight and Dragon Dreams are both ways of sight that should be completely unconnected yet both are capable of seeing the future" the Prince frowned heavily.
"Even if Greensight is more flexible." There was a dark shadow that hung over the face of the Prince though it seemed to disappear almost as soon as it arrived.
Prince Aegon looked to Edwyn once more "There is a chance that Greensight and Dragon Dreams are truly not simply magical" the Prince said this carefully.
Edwyn frowned. "I am uncertain what you mean, my Prince…you mean to say that it may be…" Edwyn hesitated for a second before he continued "divine?"
The Prince seemed to struggle for a moment with something before he answered.
"…Yes."
Edwyn looked upon the Prince and saw that the Prince was entirely serious. Edwyn took a seat opposite the Prince as he contemplated this.
"You think the Gods truly sent you the…Dragon Dreams?"
Edwyn wasn't sure what to think of this.
"Mayhaps." The way the Prince said it was doubtful "Or mayhaps they allowed me to see the promised lands, nevertheless, I believe the…Gods…have an influence on the what and why of dreams and visions." The Prince gestured the green glass candle.
"And I know that there are more…Gods…or things that masquerade as Gods out there." The Prince said with a solemn note in his voice, this time a lot more stronger and more convinced of what he was saying.
"You believe that you may be affected by…" Edwyn trailed off as he stared at the green glass candle.
"By something if I try and figure out how to obtain visions and dreams? Yes." The Prince said to Edwyn. Edwyn studied the glass candle intently.
There was some measure of sense in what the Prince was saying. Greensight was heavily linked to the Old Gods, a talent that was said to both occur in the Children of the Forest and the First Men.
Dragon Dreams…much less was known and all that was known was that it was what led Daenys the Dreamer to guide her family to make the choice to escape the Doom some three and ten years because it happened.
"Is it truly different than communicating through the glass candles? Inciting visions from the glass candles?" Edwyn wondered.
The Prince seemed to hesitate for a moment before he answered. "Yes. There is a physical and mental component in using the glass candles to communicate which is straight forward. It is akin to staring at your hand and flexing your fingers with that purpose in mind, instead of your fingers moving as you desire without you noticing. With inducing dreams? I have come to the conclusion that I must let go of control, just as you would be without control in your dreams, and let the visions and dreams happen." The Prince said as his face grew into grimness.
Edwyn was beginning to understand the dangers of what the Prince was saying. To give yourself over to the magic of the glass candles when you're not sure what is out there, whether it is these…things or Gods or whatever the Prince thinks exists, is not at all a good idea.
"The answer is simple then my Prince." Edwyn pointed out with some amount of horror as he glanced at the glass candle.
"Not so." Prince Aegon said as he shook his head "I have reached an impasse with fused stone and I have made no progress in the creation of Valyrian Steel" the Prince said solemnly.
"You don't have to rediscover those lost arts, my Prince." Edwyn said earnestly. He knew why the Prince was so keen on rediscovering both Valyrian arts.
To create indestructible walls for their homes and cities in their new homeland, to arm their soldiers and their people with Valyrian Steel in defence against any who threatened them. It was an obsession of the Prince, and all of the magic the Prince had learnt was solely towards rediscovering these two lost arts.
"I must." The Prince said with a shake of the head before he met Edwyn's eyes again. "Our people will never more secured with these two arts rediscovered and" the Prince's gaze turned distant as he seemed to look past Edwyn. "One day, the Living may come to depend on us for the weapons and the forts we may build."
'The Living? What did he mean with that?'
Before Edwyn could ask, the Prince continued "It is either this or Shade of the Evening, and though the volunteer has confirmed that the elixir is safe for consumption and recited what he claims were visions" the Prince grimaced "I do not like the way the volunteer craved for more of the tonic."
The volunteer the Prince was speaking of was one of the men who consumed a quarter of a glass of the elixir. Edwyn had not been there though he'd heard that the man had been delirious, his eyes going unseeing and his tongue tied.
Though, once the effects of the elixir had lessened, the man had said that he'd seen things, things that included a dragon of the colour of steel and eyes of red and blue flying over a brown and red ocean, and things like red and green fires that burned an oak table at either side, and some other things that Edwyn had not yet discovered.
"Shade of the Evening may yet be safer, my Prince. The effects seem temporary at least." Edwyn said though he was not happy to say it. He'd rather the Prince used neither.
"I wouldn't call the effects of severe addiction temporary." The Prince said dryly before he shook his head "Imagine how bad that elixir is after two consumptions."
Edwyn grimaced.
The Prince looked at him and sighed "I think for now I will set this aside. There is plenty of other things that must be done anyway." Edwyn readily agreed with that.
The Prince seemed to ponder something and it was moments later that the Prince spoke. "Edwyn…do you remember the dragon-armour we shelved for some time?"
Edwyn was surprised by the question.
"I do." Edwyn said with a nod.
Back on Dragonstone, amongst the many ideas they'd explored to see if they could work, the dragon-armour was amongst the most ambitious ideas.
Edwyn studied the Prince for a moment and asked "You wish to create it now?"
"I do." Prince Aegon confirmed, his eyes were hard and unyielding as he spoke.
"We've proven that it can be done, our forging and casting techniques have improved immensely and our blacksmiths are as skilled as any now" the Prince paused for a moment. "Safe for mayhaps the Qohori." The Prince conceded.
"We don't have nearly as much hide as we need." Edwyn thought as his mind calculated what they would need. The answer was many, many hides.
"And we'd deplete all of our steel ingots."
"The steel we took from the Basilisk Isles can be reforged either for use for the dragon-armour or for weapons. We also have the option of New Ghis whom we know, now at least, have ample steel to sell." The Prince pointed out.
"And as for hide" the Prince continued "There are plenty of animals on these Isles that we can hunt or trade to get hide."
"It would take moons upon moons and it would take many of our blacksmiths away from their other duties." Edwyn said to the Prince.
"I'm aware. It is why I want the armour complete no more than in a year and half."
Edwyn sighed and the Prince seemed amused by his reaction. "You were disappointed when I shelved the idea for a later time. You are unhappy now that I am going ahead with this." The Prince said with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm not unhappy." Edwyn stressed out as he looked at the Prince flatly. Why would he be unhappy about creating something that no one has done before?
"I'm just dreading all of the issues I have to solve." Gods, there will be many, Edwyn thought drearily. From the shape of the scales, to the way the steel scales are connected to the hide and so many other little things that was making his head dizzy.
"You won't be alone in this." Prince Aegon promised. Edwyn looked at the Prince curiously. "I will be working the steel as well and I will be inspecting the work very closely."
"You'll be working in the blacksmiths?" Edwyn asked surprised.
"Aye." The Prince said with an inclined head "Not only to encourage the men but also so that I may find some inspiration." The Prince said with a frown.
Ah…of course.
Well, Edwyn wished him luck with that. He did not know how the Prince managed to leap to the techniques and thoughts and theories that he did, only that it worked and if this was another of those ways his intuition was pushing him towards, well, who was Edwyn to judge or cast doubts upon?
He'd seen enough times the Prince's madness had a way of working.
Edwyn stood up "In that instance then, my Prince, I shall begin to add the dragon-armour to my list of tasks." The Prince chuckled quietly and after being dismissed by the Prince, Edwyn left to exactly as he told the Prince.
-Break-
109 AC, Corinth
Ser Uthrik POV
"Your Grace." Uthrik bowed before the Prince as the doors behind him closed shut.
"What do you ask me?" Uthrik said with a bowed head.
The Prince gestured him forward and Uthrik walked towards the Prince and the Prince waved at the seat, a faint smile on his face. "Please sit, Uthrik."
After Uthrik settled in his seat, he met the Prince's gaze. "I will asking much of you, Ser Uthrik, but I must still ask it of you." Prince Aegon told Ser Uthrik.
Uthrik shifted in his seat before he straightened up "My Prince, there's nothing you can ask me of that I will not do." Uthrik said with honesty.
Uthrik owed too much to the Prince and all that he had and all that was, was because of the Prince's kindness for him. And, Uthrik thought to himself, he thought he had a good measure of the Prince's character.
Working as Uthrik did in the shadows, he was subject to many of the schemes and the unsavoury parts of the Prince and yet, none of it was anything he believed to be wrong or evil. He'd seen too much of such things to know it on sight.
"You will no longer go to back to Westeros. I have need of you in the East."
Uthrik was surprised and he looked at the Prince with a curious look. The Prince's hand went down below the table and brought out a scroll and after the Prince rolled it out, Uthrik recognised the map.
Uthrik looked upon the map with a careful expression.
'Slaver's Bay…what could the Prince want in that gods' forsaken land?'
"I need you to go to Slaver's Bay." Prince Aegon said and Uthrik looked up from the map. The Prince continued "To every city. Elyria, Tolos, Meereen, Yunkai, Astapor. " he said as his mismatching eyes pierced at Uthrik's own.
"Each and every city in Slaver's Bay, and I want you learn everything you can about them, particularly the Wise Masters. The Good Masters. The Great Masters."
The way the Prince said the titles of these people was with condescension though Uthrik had little moment to think on it for the Prince continued, and Uthrik thought the Prince's expression had turned harder than marble itself as he spoke.
"I want to know where they live. Where they go. Whom they speak with and who they deal with. I want to know the names and locations of every noble family of these cities." Prince Aegon leaned forward. "I want to know everything."
"I…I might not be able to do that, my Prince." Uthrik said hesitantly before he glanced at the map. He knew that these kinds of places were difficult for outsiders to get into and he doubted that he, a foreign looking man, would be welcomed…or go unnoticed.
"Even with the men I assign to you…no, I can't imagine so." Prince Aegon agreed.
"But with the slaves you'll purchase from each city, you will have the help you need. One of the captains who regularly treats with the Lysene slavemasters will come with you to help you pick the best men suited to aid you in this mission" the Prince paused for a moment before he continued
"We'll also be increasing our trade with the slaver cities so you'll have some cover and escape routes should you need it. I also want you to use these ships to send the slaves you think are smart, resourceful and have drive to Corinth…to me." The Prince met Uthrik's eyes as he spoke once more.
"You will need a backstory for this. You will be masquerading as an outcast Pentoshi who is lying low from enemies he made in Braavos and in Pentosh. You'll be borrowing a name of one of the men who died amongst the enslaved. Of course, you are not to risk yourself, Ser Uthrik. Get the information but not at the risk of getting caught and at the cost of your life or that of your men."
Uthrik's eyes widened slightly as he was beginning to understand. "You…you want me to put myself in their society?"
"Yes. That and a number of other men who will fashion as your guards and confidants." The Prince told him.
"I am not sure if I can succeed, my Prince." Uthrik admitted as he averted his gaze from the Prince. This was different from the way he worked. Uthrik's talents lie as a man who no one noticed, not as one who become someone else.
"You underestimate yourself Uthrik." The Prince said firmly and Uthrik looked back up to meet the Prince's gaze. "You have a way and smarts about you that few others are able to even understand. There is no accident that everyone likes you, Uthrik, for you have made yourself likeable to all that come across your path."
Uthrik's eyes widened and the Prince offered him a reassuring smile. "Do not think much of it nor think that you did anything wrong. It is a skill like any other."
Uthrik resisted the urge to swallow. He did play up the likeability about himself but it was not done out of malice nor was it done with anything in mind. He simply thought it was a better way to be than any other way.
"My Prince…if I may so ask…"
"…why?"
Uthrik humbly nodded.
Prince Aegon looked up from the map and turned towards him, his mismatching eyes boring into Uthrik with sheer intensity. "I think you know why, Ser Uthrik."
The Prince's voice was quiet but resolute.
Uthrik tore away his gaze from the Prince and stared at the map.
He owed everything to the Prince and, as Uthrik thought of the stories he'd heard from the sailors who spoke of Slaver's Bay, this was a good better than any he could come to achieve in his life.
Uthrik looked up and saw the Prince staring at him and only had one thing to say…
"When do I depart, Your Grace?"