Late 111 AC, Kings Landing
Corlys Velaryon POV
His eyes trailed across the missive with scrutinising eyes. Finally, after the fifth time reading, he folded up the letter in his hands and turned his gaze towards the man who brought it to him. "Well done." He said as he placed a sack of coin, filled with over fifty gold dragons, in the man's rising hands.
He did not let go however. "You are to return to Claw Isle and keep me informed. Do so and should you excel like you did today, you shall be rewarded even better."
The man nodded sharply, the glint of greed apparent "Yes, me Lord." The Celtigar guard said in a way that Corlys disliked though he did not show it. He dismissed the man and left the docks, making his way back to High Tide, deep in thought.
When he returned, Rhaenys was waiting on him with an expectant look on her imperious face. He smiled as he spoke. "Your cousin seems to be an unhappy man." An amused expression made across his face as he arrived by her and handed her the letter the guard had pinched from the solar of Lord Celtigar.
Rhaenys met his gaze for a few moments before she furrowed her brows and read the letter. "I understand what you mean." Rhaenys said with a wry note to her voice as she passed by the final parts of the letter.
She looked up "He won't punish them too harshly."
Corlys made a noise from the back of his throat "No, I don't think he will." Corlys agreed with his wife's assessment. "Truthfully, I doubt he will punish them at all."
"There are good reasons why he should not." Rhaenys said and Corlys scoffed as he walked towards the pitcher of wine at the far side of the grand hall. He poured himself and Rhaenys a glass of wine.
After he walked back and extended a glass to her, he spoke "And he'll do it for none of those reasons." Corlys said with a scowl on his face.
The Celtigars were a string that bound Aegon and his family with that of the Celtigars. Keeping them close and under watch was the best course of action until more opportunities made itself apparent for Viserys.
He doubted Viserys would see that and instead would dither on what to do with the Celtigars and eventually do nothing in a bid to try and make it all go away on its own. Out of sight…out of mind.
Which, truthfully, was mayhaps for the better, as much as he loathed to admit it.
As enraged as he was to learn that the Celtigars were passing through the Stepstones without much danger to their ships, Corlys knew that Aegon was the one who had brokered the agreement with the Dornish and Viserys should know it.
The Celtigars, as shocking as the news of these matches were, were not the scheming sort nor were they the ones affecting the game.
Punishing them for taking advantage of incredibly favourable circumstances that fell into their lap, one that they were not at fault for, is a shortsighted one.
Yes, they skirted the lines of faithfulness to Viserys as their King, and to the realm as a whole, but ultimately, there were far greater offenders of such a thing, and the union of the Celtigar daughters to the sons of Aegon who likely will – as much as he was loathe to ever admit with his mouth – remembered forever in history with his discovery of lands West beyond Westeros, was a matter that had to be weighted when deciding on how to treat the Celtigars.
No, no, there was only one Viserys can direct his anger, even if it was to be in private. Aegon, the very boy who seems to have tilted the entire game on its side with his achievement in the West.
That boy…no…man…
"I cannot believe the Celtigars of all Houses…" Corlys muttered darkly.
Yes, he and Rhaenys had enough time to assess that the Celtigars were carefully chosen. Their blood, their unimportance and their willingness all had factored in their choosing. It did little to assuage the grievance he had with them…and with Aegon.
It was fortunate that neither Lord Celtigar or his heir Bartimos were ones to play the game else they might have cause to be concerned that their House may well attempt rise to compete with his.
Rhaenys gave him an amused look before she grew serious and drew the conversation back. "Lord Strong is a clever man and he has appeared nothing but leal." Rhaenys said as she took the glass.
Corlys grunted and made an expression that showed that he did not immediately disagree with that assessment.
"We'll see. Hightower too had that appearance." Corlys said with a disgruntled note in his voice as he met his wife's gaze.
Rhaeny's beautiful eyes darkened slightly. "Only to some though even my cousin seems to have wizened up to that man." Rhaenys said with some measure of satisfaction and Corlys chuckled at her comments and tone about Ser Otto who finally gone too far in trying to derail the betrothal between Baelon and Rhaenyra.
The man thought he finally had the right justification to force Viserys' mind to change on both the succession and the betrothal when the full scale of Daemon's drive of making the Triarchy negotiate became known.
The man waited all that time, kept his forked tongue restrained for years even long after Alicent's sons were born, only letting loose when he finally found Viserys in another moment of weakness, full of anger and disgust, only to fail and subsequently find himself cast out from Viserys' confidence.
How he wished he could have seen that bastard's face in that moment.
It would have been a truly beautiful moment…
He wondered if Daemon would see fit to act against the Hightower now that he's lost a significant proportion of Viserys' protection. The Seven knows that there was no doubt in Daemon's mind that Otto was responsible for the attack on his son…
As he dismissed those thoughts, he saw Rhaenys eye him in a queer way.
"You seem to have moved on from your…mood." Rhaenys commented and Corlys shot a glare at his wife which was only met with an unimpressed look.
He sighed as they moved towards their driftwood chairs.
Just this morning, he'd overheard Laenor arguing with Daeron, his brother Vaemond's son, about how Corlys' Voyages compared to that of the discovery of lands out in the West.
It did not please him.
"I was never in a mood." Corlys said in a tone that was not convincing and the amusement on his wife's face at his words made clear of that.
"What do you think your cousin will do about Aegon?" Corlys asked as he sat down, changing the subject. Rhaenys gave off a faint smile that indicated that she knew what he was doing before she frowned and thought on it.
"I am unsure." She admitted after a few moments after she sat down. "I'm not sure there is much to do about this." She said as she leaned back in her seat.
"It is new territory." Corlys agreed as he contemplated it further.
They'd known for several moons now about the discovery out West. When he heard about it, he'd been dumbfounded and refused to believe it for quite some time until he had to acknowledge it. Aegon had done the impossible. Something that not even Old Valyria had accomplished.
Perhaps there may have been another Jaenara Baelaerys, who, instead of flying over Sothoryos had gone as far East only to return from the West.
But if there was, they knew not the tale.
"Yes." Rhaenys said with a nod as she turned the glass with her fingers, the foot of the glass making a faint scraping noise against the hardwood arm of the chair.
"I am sure however, that cousin Viserys will be troubled to learn that the lands out in the West were as fertile and plentiful as that of the Reach, and twice if not thrice the size." Rhaenys commented and Corlys expression soured at that.
A land so large that took to crops like water to a sponge, all without any people…
Truly, Aegon had found a goldmine of a land.
"I would not think he'd be troubled because of the discovery." Corlys said as he redirected his attentions to his wife.
Rhaenys raised an eyebrow. "Why would he not be troubled? It means that Aegon and his family are fully out of reach. Before, with cousin Aegon and aunt Gael in the Summer Isles, the possibility still existed that they could return and their children tied by blood. They only ruled a portion of a land not their own. Now…"
Corlys grumbled as he understood the reason for why Viserys may be troubled.
"Dragons." he stated knowingly.
Lord Celtigar had let it slip that all of Aegon's six children had hatched their eggs, meaning there were eight dragonriders not attached to the royal family in Kings Landing. Eleven if one was to include Rhaenys and their children.
All whilst there was only two Dragonriders amongst the Targaryens of Kings Landing…Daemon with Caraxes and Rhaenyra with Silverwing.
Rhaenys inclined her head. "Aye, the dragons." She paused for a moment as she frowned "And mayhaps more than that too." At his inquisitive look she said with a strange note to her voice. "He may declare Elamaerys a Kingdom."
'Ah…yes.' "Baelon's younger sons were always in competition with one another." Corlys said with amusement. First it had been who could be the most troublesome, then who could become a knight sooner, then who was more displeased with their match…why not make a competition of the matter of Kingship?
"Yes…Viserys would indeed be greatly more troubled about Elamaerys than he is or has been about the Stepstones." Corlys added knowingly.
Viserys was not stupid despite being blind more than a King ought to be and nor were the likes of Lord Strong incompetent either.
There is great potential of…damage to Viserys' authority with this. Daemon – and Corlys himself too – had already done substantial damage to Viserys' authority with their war in the Stepstones with the express blessing of Viserys.
To have another brother, one who has proven himself to be a capable warrior with his heroics in the Basilisk Isles and as one who has done the impossible with his discovery in the West thus enshrining his name in history for all ages, declare himself King would surely make the tongues of Lords all over the realm waggle loosely about Viserys.
To be overshined by both brothers…
Rhaenys raised her eyebrow. "Setting aside sibling rivalry" Rhaenys said with a wry note to her voice before she frowned "Aegon does not seem the type, nor is aunt Gael to be the type to push for it, to place upon himself a crown."
"Hmm." Corlys said with a sceptical note in his voice.
"Men change. It's been years since we've seen them both, Rhaenys. Aegon has since built up a trading empire, won a war, and found a route West. Your waif of an aunt has since become a mother six times over. She already changed by the time they left." Corlys pointed out. His wife knew it too else she would not have so made the remark about the declaration of a Kingdom.
He could see Rhaenys concede the point. He continued as he eyed her critically.
"The dragons and their…multitude will be a problem. For Viserys."
There were more bonded dragons amongst Aegon and Gael's brood including themselves than there had been during the most fruitful years of Jaehaerys' reign.
Never before has there been such a circumstance, where the reigning Targaryen King had less power than a branch of the family. Even he was ready to fight for Rhaenys' and Laenor's claim to the throne, the balance of power had been even between House Velaryon and House Targaryen.
And with the board that was set between the Hightowers and Daemon…
Rhaenys nodded "I know cousin Viserys isn't one to scheme in such a way, I think it will factor in his thinking." She paused for a moment before she spoke again.
"If it doesn't, it will surely factor into the thinking of the Hightowers."
Corlys scoffed before he took a sip of his wine. No doubt it would. For all of their scheming to get Alicent into Viserys' bed and thus seat one of theirs onto the throne, they could never have expected their situation to be so precarious.
Otto Hightower ousted from Kings Landing with Viserys steadfastly committing to the match made by Jaehaerys, Rhaenyra embodying the memory of 'The Good Queen Alysanne' with her bonding with Silverwing – if Daemon's half-Royce boy bonds with Vermithor, he'd know that the Gods were stringing them all on some great roaring jape – and none of the eggs lain in the beds of the Alicent brood hatching…
Of course, the last point, about eggs not hatching, was no great matter, for it was known that the hatching of eggs were nought but a matter of chance, but nonetheless, it was no good omen for the Hightowers and they knew it.
"Do you think they'll turn desperate?" Corlys asked with a frown. He was not sure if they were responsible for the attack on Baelon. He had to admit, it was bold even for them to assassinate a member of House Targaryen, especially in such a sloppy manner. But the fact the matter was that he saw enough reasons for them to do so.
Just as he saw enough reasons for others to seek to get to Daemon through Baelon.
After all, Daemon had made plenty enough enemies over the years.
The Triarchy of course for example, particularly the Tyroshi, were certainly a steadfast enemy of Daemon's, considering the burning of merchant ships and the agreement he'd forced out of them.
Nonetheless, despite all of the enemies Daemon had, and despite the…sloppiness, he was leaning towards thinking that the Hightowers had some involvement in it.
"No." Rhaenys said after a moment's of silence. "They have no cause to be desperate and with Daemon back and intent on staying with his son in the Vale…They will be patient." 'And wasn't that a surprise' Corlys thought to himself. He'd heard Daemon curse his wife more times than he wished and now he was willingly staying in her presence. Truly, they lived in a new era of wonder.
Rhaenys continued "Aegon the Younger is still but a boy of four namedays and the marriage between Baelon and Rhaenyra is still three years away."
Corlys chuckled somewhat dryly "You have to give it to the old bastard. Even though he is dead, he continues to destroy his family with his foolishness." There was a note of bitter satisfaction in his tone of voice.
He felt Rhaenys' disapproving look but he didn't care as he drank of his wine.
The betrothal between Baelon and Rhaenyra had made sense at the time with how Aemma had looked…unlikely of bearing a living son.
At the time, he'd angrily wondered if Jaehaerys had made the match because of guilt, knowing that his robbery of Rhaenys' birthright was wrong, and sought to prevent the same happening in the next generation.
It seems, once again, the old bastard was wrong in his thinking.
By making the match himself, it all but confirmed that Viserys would never break it. Corlys knew very well how much Viserys idolised the old man, especially after the old bastard had taken upon himself to personally teach Viserys for several years on the matters of ruling, before and after the Great Council.
Mayhaps the old bastard had taught Viserys far too well, Corlys mused with dark amusement as he thought on Viserys' decision to keep Rhaenyra as his heir despite the existence of Aegon the Younger, a decision that was certain to cause trouble in the future.
"My family." Rhaenys corrected with a stern note in her voice. "Our family. Your speaking far too freely – and joyfully – about my House. Do not forget our children are half of my House, Corlys."
"I have not, lady wife." Corlys said with a sharp note to his voice as he met his wife's gaze. "Have I ever?" he returned to her with meaning laced in his voice.
Had he not fought for her rights? Had he not raged and cursed of the slights and robbery that was committed against her and their son?
"No, you have not." Rhaenys said after a moment's silence and she reached out with her hand, placing it atop his which was atop the armrest.
Corlys sighed and the indignation left him. "I apologise, Rhaenys. I was careless with my words." Rhaenys offered him a soft smile and he returned it in kind.
"I understand." Rhaenys said to him and he nodded slightly to his wife.
"As hard as it is, I must accept that there is no chance of our children matching with Baelon and Rhaenyra." Corlys said broodily.
Otto Hightower had tried several times to convince Viserys to marry Rhaenyra to Aegon the Younger and when that hadn't worked, tried to match his son with her, all to avoid Daemon's son from becoming King.
Corlys too had tried to convince both Viserys and Daemon of the merits of the matches of his children with theirs but neither entertained it once.
"Or with cousin Aegon and Aunt Gael's children." Rhaenys said pointedly and Corlys lightly glared at his wife before he sighed and tiredly waved his free hand.
"Yes, yes, I won't be considering matching Laena with their heir." Corlys said foully as he sunk into his chair. Though Lord Celtigar had admitted that whilst the Celtigar daughters were to be matched with Aegon's sons, there was an agreement with two of the daughters with two of Aegon's sons.
One of Bartimos' daughters and the daughter of Aethan.
And from what he could infer, the heir, Castorys, was unlikely to be matched with either of the girls. From the sounds of it, Aegon planned to marry one of his daughters to the heir but it was not formalised. He'd brought it up to Rhaenys but she'd immediately disregarded the entire idea.
She could not accept the idea of sending Laena away to a place that may well be as far as Yi-Ti, something that admittedly Corlys had his own reservations on.
And then there was the problem of Vhagar.
There was a great sense of irony that the greatest dragon alive was a problem. Namely how in the Seven-hells the dragon could be taken to Elamaerys, as he knew that Laena would never want to be separated from her dragon.
Corlys had seen the barges on Dragonstone, the ones that could carry Liāzmariña and Mīsaragorn, and knew that one made for Vhagar would have to be thrice if not four times as large. Aegon's shipwrights may have a knack for shipbuilding, but he doubted even they could accomplish such a feat.
"No…Laena will remain close." Corlys added as he glanced at his wife.
"Are you still considering Daeron for Laena?" Rhaenys asked with a scrutinising look. Corlys made a dissatisfied noise at the back of his throat before he answered.
"I am." He reluctantly admitted. After an accident had happened with the former Sealord's son, Laena had been free to be betrothed to someone more worthy of her.
Once it was clear that Castorys was not an option, he considered his nephew as an option and he'd posed it to Rhaenys.
She'd not been opposed to it but neither had she been in favour of it and he knew that the main reason she did not resist the idea further was because it meant Laena would remain close by. Yet her fears remained, namely the supposed threat he posed to Laenor. Admittedly there was much of Vaemond in him but Daeron was a good boy. Still, Rhaenys worried that ambition would win over blood.
He'd been wroth at even the thought of it. Vaemond was many things, yes, unjustly arrogant and quick to offence but he was no usurper. Not only that, Daeron and Leanor had grown up together. He could not see Daeron turning against Laenor nor could he see Laena ever allowing anyone to harm her brother, not even a husband.
Rhaenys had conceded the points but he knew that she held the irrational fear.
"Though I do have plans in mind for my nephews." Corlys admitted to her and after seeing her inquisitive look he expanded. He smiled wryly as he spoke.
"I am considering sending one, or both, to Corinth in the hopes they can go to this Elamaerys." Corlys told her and she eyed him critically.
"To re-establish ties." Rhaenys said and Corlys nodded.
"Whilst our children may not be tied to that of Aegon's, one or more of our grandchildren may well be." Corlys commented with a sharp glint in his eyes.
Rhaenys frowned lightly. "And about the throne?"
Corlys expression tightened slightly and so did his grip on his glass. "I will not allow ourselves to be slighted once more." He said firmly though he lost the firmness as he met his wife's gaze and he sighed. "If Viserys wishes to approach us with a marriage, I, we, will of course consider it." He was doubtful that Viserys himself would approach them however.
As it was, it would be Daemon or it would be the Hightowers.
"However, it cannot be said that the advantages of Elamaerys are not appealing." Corlys expanded to his wife and she eyed him dubiously.
"More so than having our blood on the throne?" she asked ludicrously.
"Of course not." Corlys said before adding "However, think of the advantages of establishing such close ties with Aegon's line." Corlys said as he leaned forward, his eyes gleaming a little.
"Yes, it will be decades, if not centuries before Elamaerys can even compare to the lands of Westeros or the Free Cities, but one day, they will be comparable." Corlys said with a slow growing smirk on his face. "If this Elamaerys is as large as half as Westeros, and empty, Aegon will need Lords, regardless if he intends to fold Elamaerys into the Seven Kingdoms or intends to make it his own Kingdom."
Rhaenys was understanding now from the way her expression was changing.
Corlys continued. "It is all but certain that Aegon will likely bestow lands and titles to all his sons – as any father would given the choice – so if we are to involve ourselves with Elamaerys, now, when it is just beginning, through alliance made in blood and through blood, we can ensure that our House, and our descendants, have favourable positions here in Westeros, and in Elamaerys."
"Our nephews then are to be the vanguards of your plot?" Rhaenys said after a few moments of silence. Corlys chuckled lowly.
"Aye, in a sense." Corlys said with a contemplative note in his voice. "I want them to confirm with their own eyes the scales with what we're dealing with." He glanced back at Rhaenys "Whether or not it is worth being patient about."
Rhaenys said nothing for a moment as she scrutinised him. "And if it is worth it? Will you take them at their words or will you wish to confirm it for yourself too?"
Corlys made a noncommittal noise before he spoke up. "I may wish to travel there myself." Corlys said with a calm tone and Rhaenys snorted before she shook her head.
"You almost convinced me." Rhaenys said drily she leaned back in her chair. "I can now see through you as clearly as one can see through Braavoosi glass Corlys." Corlys could hear the wry amusement in her tone of voice.
"You just want to sail the Sunset Sea."
Corlys drank of his glass of wine before he answered and when he turned to face his wife, he did so with half a grin. "Can you blame me?"
Rhaenys said nothing but the expression on her face told him what she thought.
He chuckled slightly before it petered off and his half-grin fell off, a dour mood descending down upon him. "You listen but you do not understand, do not see, Rhaenys…" Corlys said with a sigh as he looked up to the ceiling.
"I can see it. A new age. A grand age of exploration." He said with a rumble in his voice, his mind thinking of all the sea routes that lay beyond Elamaerys, beyond the Sunset Sea.
He could see the determined faces of coin chasing captains, glory-seeking heirs and Lords, all of whom would wish to immortalise their names in the pages of history books by finding new lands, new peoples, new wealth, and most interesting of all, finding a route that circumnavigated the world!
He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes as he continued to speak. "As we speak, I am certain that the Braavosi, the Triarchy, mayhaps even the Pentoshi, are attempting to build ships like that of Aegon's. He's opened a new world to the Known World, Rhaenys, and the sharks' noses are smelling the blood in the water."
Just as Corlys and his brother Vaemond were attempting as well.
For the Free Cities and their ilk, he was sure that there were at least a few that were entertaining the idea of seeking a route West, mostly for curiosity if nought else, though he was also sure the majority of nobles and wealthy merchants cared not.
That would easily change if there was truly word about lands and peoples of unimaginable wealth and splendour West of Westeros.
He turned fully to Rhaenys, a wry look on his face as he spoke. "And as loathed as I am to admit it, I am too old for this new age." Corlys frowned as he looked past Rhaenys, his voice quietening as he spoke. "Eight and fifty I am, older than when my father had been when he died." Corlys shook his head as he returned his to Rhaenys.
He saw a glimpse of worry in her eyes and he smiled at her.
"Do not fret, wife. I have no intentions of leading this new age of exploration. Now that I have accepted it is to happen in the lifetimes of that our of children and that of theirs – I have yet to be certain if I am to curse or thank Aegon for having made the discovery whilst I still live – I merely wish to see the lands that will start this new age." Corlys told his wife and it was truthful too.
Rhaenys was quiet for a long few moments before she spoke. "Would Vaemond even agree?" and Corlys smiled at her question. It meant that she was silently accepting of his wishes to travel to Elamaerys.
"I know my brother. He would give his approval. Besides, it is also a way for one, or both of them, to secure a place and lordship in Elamaerys." Corlys pointed out.
Vaemond could be prickly about such things, especially his family, especially his sons who were his main source of pride. Corlys knew that Vaemond's demeanour largely stemmed from a place of inadequacy compared to Corlys and his feats, but he knew how to talk to his brother.
"It would be much smoother if we agree to a match between Daeron and Laena." Corlys commented and Rhaenys sighed. Long ago, he'd agreed that Rhaenys would have a say in the marriage of their children. One of many concessions she'd gotten out of him, he thought mirthfully.
Rhaenys went quiet for some time and he frowned at the way she remained silent.
"You're not thinking that we seek betrothals with the Great Houses?" Corlys asked, a hint of disapproving accusation in his tone.
Rhaenys looked at him sharply. "I am not. I still agree we should keep both of our children close now that the throne is out of sight." Corlys lost the frowning expression and inclined his head to his wife.
With no opportunity to tie their blood to the throne, presently, they decided that their children would remain close to Driftmark…in both presence and in marriage.
Though such thinking was predominantly centred on Laena.
The last thing either of them wanted was empowering the likes of Hightowers with their daughter. He could imagine the Lannister Lord mossy green eyes gleaming when he wrote the offer for the hand of his Laena.
No, the game now was focused on ensuring that his House kept their influence within the realm and at large so that the next generation had a better chance at seating their blood on the throne.
"If not Daeron then who?" Corlys asked a little exasperated. "Daemion?" he asked with exasperated amusement before he asked with jest "Or Leanor?"
Corlys was taken aback by the strange look on Rhaenys' expression.
"You're not serious?" Corlys said with some disbelief in his voice.
"It might be best." Rhaenys said in a short and almost clipped tone.
"The Faith would not allow it." Corlys said a shake of the head. "The Doctrine of Exceptionalism only applies to your maiden House, Rhaenys."
"We may be able to smooth that problem out. I am still a Princess of House Targaryen and both of our children are dragonriders." Rhaenys said with a glint in her eyes. "The Hightowers may not be desperate but they know they are in a difficult situation."
"I will not beg the Hightowers for their favour!" Corlys said sharply and Rhaenys gave him an unimpressed look.
"Who says that we would beg? No, if nothing else, the Hightowers will fall over themselves to aid us with the Faith."
"They'd ask too much of us." Corlys said with a sharp shake of the head before he turned his gaze at her and with some heat said "We'd be beholden to them."
"Between us, we can manage it." Rhaenys returned with equal vigour to him "We both know that the Hightowers cannot be express with their demands lest there be accusations of treason, and we can use that."
Corlys only stared at his wife for a long few moments before a complex expression came across his face. "Why are you even considering this? You know what the Hightowers cost us…you." Corlys voice was quieter than normal but he couldn't keep the undertone of anger out of his voice.
He had a long time to consider how Viserys such a disparity of support from the Lords of the realm against Rhaenys' and Laenor's claim.
Under the laws of the realm, the daughter of the firstborn came before the uncle and the cousins. It should not have been such a large difference for it set a precedent that uncles and cousins can use to depose rightful female heirs.
Yes, Daemon, Aegon and the tacit support of the old bastard were crucial in securing Viserys' heirship to the throne but he later learned of how the Hightowers had thrown their considerable influence behind Viserys.
And Otto Hightower was likely at the very centre of it. He could still remember seeing that snake coiling around Viserys back then, years before the Great Council.
"Both of our children have options, Rhaenys, without us having to deal with those overreaching Andals." Corlys said with some exasperation in his voice.
The Seven knew that the Lannisters were more than receptive for one of their daughters marrying to House Velaryon and then there was his most favoured choice…Jeyne Arryn.
Seven and ten namedays, the same age as Laenor, the girl was and had been the Lady of the Eyrie since she was three namedays old. Twice her inheritance was contested by usurping cousins, and twice had she overcome them.
And still, there were signs that branches of her family name were still eying her inheritance still. He'd offered a match with his son Laenor, with their children splitting the inheritance of the Eyrie and Driftmark. Even if she had not agreed, she also had not refused, a good sign if nothing else.
She must know with Laenor and the backing of House Velaryon would be the absolute best match she could make. And it would be a good match for Laenor too.
Yes, she was not Valyrian but she did possess a Kingdom. It was good enough.
"Laenor loves Laena more than anything else" Rhaenys began, drawing him back from his thoughts and he saw her heavy and guarded look "And mayhaps this way, we can be sure Laenor gives an heir from his body."
It took a moment for Corlys to understand and when he did, he couldn't help but look upon his wife confused. "I do not understand. Why would he not give us an heir with another?"
Rhaenys sighed and she looked pained for a moment. "Husband…you must be able to see it. Corlys…he does not keep company of women…they do not interest him."
Corlys rises from his seat with thunderous anger "Myson!" he began, his voice thunderous before he realised he was shouting and he quieted down he continued to speak. "is not a Seven-damned sword swallower!" he all but hissed out before he looked away in disgust and made to walk away from Rhaenys.
"Corlys!" Rhaenys shouted after him but he did not stop. By the time he reached quarter of the way away from the doors to the grand hall, he felt a soft grip on his arm. "Corlys, please…"
Corlys turned around sharply, a sharp anger gleaming in his eyes, an anger that grew sharper and hotter still when he met the gaze of his wife but as moments passed, and the look in his wife registered in his mind, the anger within him lessened.
"I know you know as well as I do." Rhaenys was quiet and gentle in tone and Corlys drew in a breath sharply, a strangled and pained look marring his face.
He had seen the touches…the closeness with a couple of the other squires.
The way he looked at…
"He will do his duty." Corlys managed to say as he wrenched his mind away.
"With Laena, he would." Rhaenys said quietly with a faint nod. "He loves her."
"As a sister." Corlys said with a sigh.
Rhaenys gave a wry smile as she spoke "The only woman he'll ever have affections for. He'll feel duty-bound to her in ways he will not to any other." Rhaenys' expression grew somewhat bitter as she spoke next.
"And, had things been different, Laenor would have married Laena anyway and there would have been no protestations."
Corlys remained quiet for a few moments before he spoke up with heaviness.
"We may curse ourselves with no grandchildren."
Rhaenys smiled faintly as she took his hand and he felt her grip as she spoke.
"Not after we play this carefully. He would not deny her. We would have need to speak with them about this and Laenor's…nature and extract promises."
Corlys sighed once more as he closed his eyes.
Moments passed before he felt her hand on his cheek and he reopened it and was greeted with beautiful violet eyes. He steeled his heart. "No." Corlys said.
After Rhaenys' hand fell from his cheek, he moved quickly to explain. "We won't present them with this until we have a firmer understanding of how…far the Hightowers are willing to go."
Rhaenys' eyes lit up with understanding. "They'll go far. They know they will need support when they press the claim of their Aegon." Rhaenys rolled her eyes.
Corlys chuckled slightly. Yes…Alicent had shown her hand by named the boy as so. From what he heard, she'd even said she named him to honour the Conqueror.
Yes…when, not if.
He grew serious for a moment. "You've not changed your mind…have you?"
Rhaenys was surprised by the question. "I have not." She said firmly before she added. "And, if we were to involve ourselves in…the future, you bent your knee to Rhaenyra." Rhaenys said, reminding him of the day Viserys made the Lords of the realm bent the knee to his daughter and swearing oaths to her right to the throne.
For now, they would remain neutral but they expected Daemon, Baelon and Rhaenyra to approach them for a match to Rhaenyra's heir with their grandchild.
"We simply use the Hightowers for their worth." Rhaenys said with a vindictive gleam in her eyes. Corlys smiled at his wife before he lost it slightly.
"If it doesn't work? If the Hightowers do not come through?" They only needed the Hightowers to get the Faith to 'allow it'. Once it was given, it could not be taken back. The Hightowers were not so foolish to fail to understand that.
They may wish for a show of commitment and Corlys was concerned that it may be too much. They may even ask for the hand of his future grandchild or grandchildren, therefore locking them lockstep with the Green party.
"Then I give my full blessings for you to pursue a match with Jeyne Arryn and our nephew Daeron." Rhaenys said with some tiredness. "We protect House Velaryon the best in this other way. Should Laenor be…unable" Corlys twisted his expression but said nothing and soon enough Rhaenys continued "We have Laena's children as our heirs."
Corlys remained quiet for a few moments before he gave a final nod. "Agreed." He said as he took her hand and kissed the back of it, his eyes fixed onto hers.
"You're a devious woman." Corlys said with a mutter before he smirked faintly "You would have been a fine Queen." Rhaenys laughed at that before she smiled somewhat wanly and Corlys brushed the side of her face gently the back of his hand.
"You are a Queen…my Queen." Corlys added and the smile he earned was all the more worth him saying what he thought of her.
-Break-
Late 111 AC, Lys
Johanna Swann POV
Johanna was deep in thought, gazing out beyond the balcony to the skies as blue and as faultless as the finest of azure gems, when the doors to her solar opened.
She turned her head, as a woman was escorted in by one of her personal guards, her eyes carefully watching the woman step into her solar, her back straight, her steps measured, bearings of pride and nobility in her demeanour.
Johanna kept the smirk from on her face. Even when she and her children were the cusp of losing everything, she kept her nose up high.
Johanna noticed the look the woman gave towards the balcony and one of the corners up-ticked slightly as she stood up. "Lady Rogare." Johanna said respectfully as she glided over to the woman, a 'friendly' smile on her face.
"Lady Swann." The woman returned with a smile as friendly as Johanna's own.
Lady Loryssa Rogare was her elder by three and ten years, though one would not know it. Like the Rogares, her maiden House, House Lohar, she possessed the beauty of Old Valyria. Silver-gold of hair, pale skin and cerulean eyes, a waist size that would have many disbelieving she was a mother of five, and she bore such full lips that men would leave a mountain of men dead for the chance to kiss them.
And now, with her husband along with her father dead and her husband's uncle and sons closing the trap around her, she was now but a few steps away of having to contend with a mountain of men.
Johanna gestured the woman to take a seat on the soft-cushioned lounger. Something flickered in the woman's eyes before she quickly masked it and sat down. "I was pleased to discover you were willing to see me so quickly."
'If you were coming to me now, after everything…well. If I wish to capitalise on your circumstances after everything now is the time. After all, you're no good to me dead. Neither are your children.' Johanna thought to herself.
Johanna sat opposite of Lady Rogare with crossed legs and she leant back as she spoke, the very picture of being at ease and unconcerned. "I was surprised to read your letter even more so when you requested a meeting with me." Johanna smiled somewhat thinly. "You can understand my curiosity, can you not? After all, though we have known one another for many years, you have not been so receptive to me." Johanna said with a light frown on her face and she enjoyed the flinch Lady Rogare could not control.
"I may have been…discourteous to you in the past, Lady Swann." Lady Rogare said carefully. She continued "I was rather expected to behave in a certain way that I now see was…unbecoming of me. I hope that we can put all of that to the past?"
Inwardly, Johanna smiled.
Lady Rogare had always been a haughty one, always having considered Johanna as lesser. It was not something she felt slighted by, and it was truly preferable than the treatment she'd gotten from those who were entertained by the idea of 'one such as her being amongst', but nonetheless, basking momentarily in the change in circumstances was her due.
With her and several of her followers now owning three-fifths of all pillow houses in Lys, having gotten rid of most of the Lorys family and others like them, though with far greater discretion and subtly, Johanna and her people was amongst the most powerful in Lys with ties all across Lys that owed her…and owned by her.
Only a few from the wine producing families, the tapestries making families, the merchant class, and the banking families were the ones who compete with her in terms of wealth. And none of them could compete when it came to the number of men, the true number, under her command.
The success she'd gained in past three years has greatly accelerated her plans. Three-fifths of the pillow houses was only a part of her empire. Orchards, farms and fruit fields across all of the Lysene islands were slowly falling into her hands.
Warehouses and shops and she even had a hand into the textile industry. By now, it would not surprise if there were tens of thousands of people working for her and her people. And all of them, those who knew, were loyal to her dream for Lys.
The war in the Stepstones, the way she'd been able to brush aside her immediate rivals once she was done with the Lorys family, the fall and rise of new families within the upper echelons of the Lysene nobility and magisters, all of it, all of it, had seen and helped her rise and rise to the point the idea of her becoming a Triarchy magister was not outrageous.
Such rise was the very reason Lady Rogare was all but on her knees to beg for aid.
"We can." Johanna said with a widening beautifying smile as she snapped her fingers. Soon one of her maids came by with two glasses of rose wine.
"Of course" Johanna said after she drank of her wine – Lady Rogare had not yet drank of her wine, cautious as she was – "As much I am happy to hear you say such a thing, I am sure that is not all that you have come to me for."
Lady Rogare nodded regally. "As you know, my husband passed away recently."
"A terrible affair." Johanna interjected quickly with a commiserating tone of voice "Your love for one another was an inspiration, my Lady."
Lady Rogare slipped once more though she did well to hide the pain.
There was some truth in Johanna's words, namely that regarding the love between her husband and her. A love match for all intents and purposes.
"Yes" Lady Rogare said with an uneven voice before she cleared her voice and smiled saddened and Johanna did not have to wonder where she was drawing such an expression from, even if she was using it to her advantage. "I miss him dearly."
"I imagine so. And I hear your father just passed a few days ago too." Johanna said as she leaned forward and placed her warm hand onto Lady Rogare's thigh and, as she met the woman's gaze, she said. "Two tragedies in such a small amount of time…you must be terribly upset."
Another flicker of emotion.
"Yes it has been a difficult time."
"Well" Johanna said with a brightening smile as she took off her hand from Lady Rogare's thigh, her eyes growing colder. "I am sure you will overcome your present hardships." Her smile grew serpentine as she continued to speak.
"Your husband's family have stepped in, have they not? To aid you in your times of trouble?" Johanna's eyes flickered to the glass Lady Rogare held in both of her hands. The surface was shaking, a symbol of how tightly she was holding the glass.
There was not a single soul in Lys that didn't know what was happening with the Rogares. Her asking that question was petty, true enough, but she enjoyed it still.
"My family" Lady Rogare said with a tight voice "Are not as supportive as perhaps family should be. As you well know, Lady Swan" She breathed out heavily before she closed her eyes and Johanna saw her shake a little.
A pittance of pity grew in her stomach.
Lady Rogare was an awful woman.
There was no denying that.
The reports of her spies in the Rogare household made that all too clear. Having mistresses of her husband killed and their babies sold into slavery were the least of the sorts of things she's done.
Her husband, Rogerrio Rogare, the man who all but built a banking empire on the back of the war in the Stepstones and the alliance between the three Free Cities, was several scores worse and his death was no loss.
However, she saw, in this moment, she did not see such an awful woman…no…she saw a desperate woman, a woman who feared for the lives of her two sons and her three daughters.
Though she had lost control over the Rogare Bank her husband and his father had built into the powerful institution that it was now to her husband's uncle, Droddo Rogare, she had fought for the rights of her children when she could have chosen to bed Droddo and retake her position at the expense of her children…and likely at the expense of her children's lives.
She lost, of course, which was she was here, why her children were here too in the other room, waiting with bated breath if this last throw of the dice would see them live…or die.
"I am in need of aid of another's." Lady Rogare said after she reopened her eyes and she placed the glass onto the table before she turned fully to Johanna and Johanna gestured to the guard to remain where he was.
Lady Rogare bowed her head, her voice wavering as she spoke "I am pleading that you aid me. I – my sons – will be in your debt. House Rogare, the Rogare Bank will be in your debt."
For a moment Johanna only looked at the bowing woman who must have swallowed all of her pride in order to do this, to bow like this to a woman she once only saw as nothing more than a plain foreign whore worming into Lys' gardens.
"I can understand the nature of…unhelpful family." Johanna said as she leaned back in her chair, her expression blank as she spoke further. Lady Rogare moved her head up as she looked onto Johanna. "Mine own uncle was a bastard of a man too." She paused for a moment and drank of her glass of rose wine.
Once she was sated, she met the woman's gaze again. "You say you and your sons would be in my debt. Droddo Rogare is head of House Rogare. Head of the Rogare Bank. Most of the Lysene nobility have acknowledged him as such."
Lady Rogare broke "He is not Head of House Rogare! My son Lysandro is! He is nothing but a usurper! That snake has no right to call himself Head of anything after he killed…" Lady Rogare stopped and she drew in a long breath and she got herself under control as she continued to speak. "He is only supported by those who owe the Bank money. Not because they believe him the rightful successor."
"Does it matter?" Johanna asked and Lady Rogare's expression twisted before she lost some of the fight in her and closed her eyes.
"Not right now." Lady Rogare said after she once more drew in a deep breathe. She reopened her eyes, a fiery determination, almost manic and furious in some ways, gleaming in her eyes. "But it will. I nor my sons will forget."
"If you live that long." Johanna said simple brutality. Lady Rogare flinched and she slumped into herself. There had been a small war happening in Lys between Lady Rogare's father and Droddo Rogare.
Guards and slave soldiers and mercenaries had fought in the streets and Lady Rogare's forces and that of her father's were steadily losing over the past few weeks. Her brothers and cousins were butchered for the 'defiance' over those weeks and when her father died, it all but signalled a final defeat.
The only reason why Lady Rogare and her children were not dead was because her father had been clever enough to hide them and because, secretly, Johanna had been helping them.
Lady Rogare coming to her for aid was not an accident.
"You're not just asking for my aid…you're asking for me to fight this war for you." Johanna said calmly as she unhooked one of her legs from the other and leaned forward. "I will lose dozens, if not hundreds of men. I will lose coin and shops in the fighting. I may even expose myself to mine own rivals. All. For. Your. Sake. All for a debt you may never even honour." Johanna said coldly.
Lady Rogare shook her head rapidly "No, I swear to you, neither I or my sons will go back on our words."
"I need more than that."
"I-I can give you twenty percent of the Rogare Bank." Lady Rogare said quickly before she added. "I will even make you a keyholder!"
"A good start but not enough." Johanna said with less cold in her tone of voice before she straightened up "I want half. Half of the Rogare bank and half of the keyholder seats."
Lady Rogare was aghast at that. "I can't give you half of the Bank. House Rogare only owns sixty percent and I cannot give you half of the keyholder seats. Two-thirds of the seats are held by others."
"Then you may go." Johanna said firmly and Lady Rogare fully lost her composure as her eyes widened and Johanna signalled her guard to take the living dead woman away.
"Wait! Wait, wait, WAIT!" Lady Rogare all but shouted panicked. "Fine." She said as she swallowed dryly. "I can give you have half of the Rogare share of the bank Bank…but half the keyholder seats…" Lady Rogare swallowed.
"I won't be able to remove themselves myself however. I do not have the men or the influence I once had. They also own a substantial amount of the Bank…I can help you cheat them out of their shares but..."
"Do not worry about that. When I mean half of the Bank, I mean half of the Bank. They will be dealt with. After all, those men threw in their lot with the usurping uncle who killed his own nephew and sought to kill the little children of his nephew." Johanna said with a thin smile.
Such would be the narrative that would be spun all across Lys.
Freemen, freewomen, slaves and nobles alike would tut and disapprove of such kins of men who aided such a kinslaying man.
Lady Rogare nodded, relief seeping in her expression but Johanna was not done.
"Your sons will need to agree to this personally and in writing." The two boys, Lysandro and Drazenko, were two and ten and one and ten respectively.
Old enough and aware enough to know their situation. She wanted to ensure they knew exactly who was responsible for saving the lives of their family.
"Of course, they will." Lady Rogare said determined.
"Good. Though I do not intent to interfere with the running of the Bank, unless necessary, I do of course find it necessary to have a say on who is employed at the Bank." This startled the Lady Rogare.
"Why?"
"Surely you don't think I will allow those whose loyalties cannot be counted upon to work for me…for us?" Johanna posed with a raised eyebrow and Lady Rogare went quiet for a moment before she nodded slowly.
"I can agree to that" she said before she added quickly "but I want my sons to be involved."
"Acceptable." Johanna. It wasn't a problem anyway. By the turn of the moon, both of her sons will slowly conditioned to see Johanna favourably and generous.
With what she had planned for Lys, she needed some of the old nobility to remain and side with her willingly.
"You will not spare any of Droddo and his family, will you?" Lady Rogare asked with a cold vindictive voice. Johanna smiled amused.
"Of course not. Be assured that your sons shall be the last male Rogares alive in a moon's time." Johanna said with a thin smile. 'Less than a quarter of a moon if everything goes to plan'.
It wasn't long after that she had the guards bring in the two sons. She was kinder to the two boys though she left no false impression on them. She was blunt to them, of how their mother and her had reach an agreement for the sake for their lives and their father's legacy. Lysandro hadn't been happy when she told them of what the agreement was but it was clear to see that the boy was greatly frightened.
After all, he was well aware of what has been happening and how close they were to death.
The boys swear an oath and signed their names to the contract, signing off an agreement that Johanna and her heir were to hold fifty percent of the Bank and half of the keyholder seats in perpetuity.
After that, she had her guards take them to a heavily guarded compound nearby and issued the orders to commence the attacks.
By the time it was evening, half a dozen Rogare buildings were attacked and their men butchered. She could even see a building burning in the distance from her ten-storey balcony. "Beautiful, isn't?"
Johanna turned around and saw Ritte coming to her with a pair of glasses with red wine. "Yes…yes it is." Johanna said with a smile before she sighed as she took the glass and returned her attentions to the sight of the burning building.
She drank of her wine, taking in more than half of it, before she simply watched. Long moments passed before she spoke. "It won't be long now."
Ritte hummed agreeably. "The warehouses. The shops. The pillow houses. And soon the Bank. We will control a large portion of Lys now." Johanna could feel Ritte's gaze on her back. "We will need to move onto the merchants soon."
"Not yet." Johanna denied. "This acquisition of ours will have many concerned." Johanna said as she glanced at Ritte. "If members of the merchant families start to die now, we will risk exposure."
Whilst they wrestled control of the pillow houses, Johanna and her people worked in the background to quietly kill off certain heads of families in other industries and slowly fostered division within the families to the point that kinslaying was far higher than usual.
When the right moment of opportunity came, she then had other freedmen buy portions of the family holdings with coin she gave them. And when some families continued to fight, these freedmen would use the opportunity to further destroy as they destroyed themselves.
By now, she'd elevated twelve such freedmen into wealthy – and fairly powerful – positions. She had eyes to elevate another two dozen such people…her people.
The Rogares had been dealt with in a similar way. Droddo Rogare was a typical fool of a man. Just like his brother, he was a cruel man but he was not even a tenth as competent as Rogerrio. And he was…envious. It had not been hard to plant the seeds for Droddo to act against his brother.
And now she had the Rogares under her thumb and forever in her debt.
"We need control amongst the captains. You know well that we don't have near enough people there." Ritte said. Johanna silently sighed. Yes…that was true.
A significant portion of the magisters in the conclave were from the merchant families. Wealthy and popular. And, of course, the ones who were most responsible for providing the ships to the Lysense fleet. Seven of the eleven Lysene magisters in the Triarchy conclave were of these Lysene merchant families.
And unfortunately, she and her people had too few people there. Plenty of spies yes, since they owned scores upon scores of domestic slaves, but of any real influence? No.
Nor was there an obvious route to get influence there either.
It was why the heads and members of these families would have to be removed and then pressure the remaining members into either falling into line or be removed as well. Ritte was feeling that they were in a good enough position to start the final stage of taking control of Lys.
Johanna felt it was too soon. She wanted to consolidate what she had and wait for the opportunity Prince Aegon had promised would come.
"No." Johanna said with a shake of the head. "We wait." Johanna said before she glanced at Ritte. "And I don't think we have to wait for more than a few years at the most considering what's out west."
Prince Aegon's discovery and sailing had grabbed the attention of many…including that of the Triarchy. There was going to be trouble to be certain.
In the last few years, she knew that there had been changes to the plans, more than the changes she told him she wanted to make for Lys. Was this the reason why?
Was the moment that would spark the opening she'd need to take Lys come from this?
Ritte frowned before she eyed Johanna critically. "You still think he is coming through after it is known to all he's gone west with the rest of his family?"
"His men are still around in Lys. They're also in Corinth." 'And I have faith in him. He didn't abandon me then…he won't abandon me now.'
She knew that it was somewhat childish of her. After everything she's done. All of the killing. After all that she accomplished. To have such faith in Prince Aegon that he would still support her after she changed his plans that of her own. To have such loyalty to him and expect that he was still loyal to her and her dream.
"If we strike now, and if we succeed, we will have the undivided anger of the rest of the Triarchy on us…and there is Volantis."
"The moment will come." Johanna continued as she met Ritte's eyes. "We just have to be patient and Lys will fall into our hands with little bloodshed." She said as she turned her gaze towards the horizon, towards the burning building.
'Free and ours, Lys shall be.
…Just as I dreamed.'
-Break-
Early 112 AC
Gael POV
Gael stood on the foredeck of the ship with Rhaena, Breannei, Vaera and Valeana who were chatting amongst themselves. She smiled slightly. They'd gotten used to the long sea journey far easier than she did.
Her eyes turned away and she gazed at the horizon wondering how much longer it will take. It's been almost two moons since they departed from the Targaryen Islands, and she had been missing setting foot on solid land the day they left.
They only spent three days there, their dragons stretching their wings and their people their legs, but it had been much needed.
They had not encountered a storm on their journey, fortunately, but several times they were subject to dangerous seas that rocked and heaved their ships.
It was frightening, truly, and more so when there was little one could do in such a situation. You were at the complete mercy of the Gods.
She shook her head and she turned her attentions to the side of the ship, towards the two ships that towed two of the barges that held within Shrykos and Tyraxes whilst the two ships on the other side of their ship towed the barges of Liāzmariña and Gaelithox.
The dragons were quiet today. She could feel little of Liāzmariña.
Likely sleeping, she mused. The others were likely sleeping as well. Half the time, they were scrambling to be let out and fly and the rest of the time, they were keen to just sleep days and days on end, only waking to feed.
The same happened during the stretch from the Stepstones to the Summer Isles with Liāzmariña and Mīsaragorn, where Aegon said that it felt like Mīsaragorn had fallen into a deep sleep. Aegon said it reminded him of something that bears did occasionally in Westeros. Hibernation, if she remembered the term rightly.
In any case, it was fortuitous.
Liāzmariña, Tyraxes, Gaelithox and Shrykos had only flown thrice over the past four moons – Stormfyre, Tyria and Leysia were onboard their ship and flew regularly since they were as small as a pony – and those flights had been short too.
Shrykos, the moodiest dragon she'd ever heard of living, as expected, was the most difficult to control and Valarr had to physically be there with the dragon once.
Polaerys and Aegon managed to help Valarr develop a closer bond with his dragon and since then, controlling Shrykos had been easier. Just about.
The day continued like any other day, having fallen into a disquieting routine. They woke and they ate. Aegon and the boys – which included Vamarr, Aethan's son – trained with the men and squires during the morn – Solony watched – whilst she and Daemera spent it with the girls, teaching them embroidery, their letters and numbers.
Noon was more freeing for the children where they could do as they wished – to a limit – which was not much admittedly. Their sons often simply spent it training or talking amongst themselves or otherwise simply spent the time with Aegon, who had taken to writing journal after journal to pass the time when he wasn't coordinating the fleet and talking with the captains, whilst their daughters were more…troublesome to say the least.
Someone had to watch them at all times.
Evening was the only time she could say was a time for her and Aegon. Though, on rare occasions, such as this eve, Aegon would sit down their children and tell tales for the children, and it was a time that the children adored the most.
She listened just as the children listened whilst Aegon, with an ominous tone of voice, spoke about a terrible God who sent ugly beaked and winged half-women, whose cries were foul and shrill and could hurt the ears deaf, to snatch away good people from the earth.
She recognised a little of the descriptions he was using in this tale of his though she could never be sure. Aegon often mixed tales he remembered from a distant time and a distant place with that of tales here.
The children were excitable, even her eldest sons, when Aegon began to talk about a group of heroes that assembled when villagers, elders and mothers and fathers alike, plead with them to aid them and recover the good people they lost and so Aegon spoke animatedly of the trials and tribulations the heroes went through, talking sombrely when a few of the heroes died heroically and animatedly when the heroes had achieved something remarkable.
She noted that the group the heroes encountered and enlisted in their quest against the terrible God and his terrible winged beast-women, were familiar. Men who were taken from their families by bird-shaped mask wearing slavers but who carried out 'justice' against their enslavers. It reminded her an awful lot of the Unsullied.
The tale ended, as always, in triumph for the heroes and their band of warriors and it was at that point that they sent away their children and that of the others away to go to sleep.
When they were alone, and getting ready to sleep, she asked him.
"Yes…they were the Unsullied."
"And the winged women? The Harpy god the Ghiscari worship?" Gael wondered and Aegon hummed in confirmation. Gael frowned a little at that. She knew that his plans in Slaver's Bay was likely not far on his mind but she didn't like that he was using it…whatever this was, in this way.
Aegon saw her expression and he looked a little sheepish as he explained. "I'm running out of stories to tell. You remember just the other day, do you not? Rhaena asked when I was going to tell a new story." Aegon said somewhat exasperated and Gael's lips twitched. Yes…she remembered that. Rhaena had cajoled Solonys, Breannei and Vaera into 'asking' for a new story.
Rhaena disturbingly knew how to skirt the line of impropriety even at this age. And Aegon was far too soft on her even if he knew better.
"I see." Gael said, accepting the reasons as explained and they both undressed themselves and got into the bed. She turned to him, a curious look on her expression. "Was it true?" she asked him and Aegon looked surprised for a moment before he smiled at her a little.
"You're going to have to give me a little more than that, Gael."
Gael rolled her eyes playfully. "About the Unsullied and their Goddess."
Aegon's eyes widened in understanding and he nodded slightly. "Yes. They worship a Goddess."
"I would have thought they worshipped Gods of Ghis." Gael pondered.
"The slavers don't see them as people and so they do not see the need to have them believing in their Gods. Tools do not need Gods." Aegon said and Gael's expression pinched before she nodded in understanding.
Aegon warmly smiled at her before he leaned back at the back of the bed, his smile slowly losing its strength. "I find it incredibly fascinating." Aegon told her.
Gael looked at Aegon inquisitively and Aegon expanded. "The history of their worship of this Goddess." Aegon said before he turned to her. "Uthrik found out for me as much as he could." Aegon said with a little smile before he shook his head. "None of the Unsullied know when it began. None of the Unsullied know why it began. No one will ever know it, I think." Aegon went quiet for a moment.
"In any case" Aegon continued after a little while. "The Unsullied are taught about the Goddess from an early age by word of mouth by the other Unsullied, the trainers. They learn the laws and that this Goddess is for them and them alone."
Aegon went quiet again.
This time it was Gael who broke the silence. "It must bring them comfort." 'Comfort that there is someone, a Goddess, who cares for them when none others do.'
Aegon smiled at her and it was a tired, weary smile. "I think it does so too. Goes to show…doesn't it? That even those who are believed to be stripped of their humanity…destroyed and reforged into tools, can still find rebellion, can still have an odd kind of hope and ownership, in such small, seemingly insignificant ways."
There was an odd kind of melancholy in Aegon's voice as he spoke, one that seemed to match the odd distant look in his eyes, and she wondered if he felt a kind of pitying respect for the Unsullied.
She placed her hand on his cheek, drawing him out of his thoughts and he smiled at her and she pulled at his face and drew him closer, laying his head to rest on her chest and she felt his arm wrap around her, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.
And soon enough…they both succumbed to the call of sleep.
The days continued on. They woke. They ate. They did things together and the days melted into one another until, finally, two words she'd been waiting for had been said and for a brief moment, there were no sweeter such words.
"Land ahoy!"