Chapter 208 - Chapter 7 Recovering the Past

Queen Visenya, On Route to Lys...278 AC...

The day was good, the sea was calm as the ship cruised with the wind to its next destination. Lys was still a day or so away and the crew was eagerly awaiting their arrival as the chance to visit the famous pillow houses and pleasure gardens was the sort of thing you dreamed about your entire life and thanks to all of the treasure they had gained from their battle with the pirates they had the coin to pay for the best experience of their lives.

Haeron meanwhile was seeing to training of Jaime and also giving Davos some lessons in wielding his new sword. While able to wield a sword Davos was not a swordsman so Haeron was giving him a few lessons.

"Your feet need to be planted when you swing or stab, strong foundation...equals stronger hits." Haeron explained as he showed Davos and reminded Jaime who both were looking intently at him. They watched him make his moves and then copied him as best they could, Jaime having more practice was finding this easier which pleased Haeron as he was developing his skills a good rate, Davos was more uncertain but was quickly finding his feet and showing that he would be a competent swordsman if not a great one.

"Good, well done. We'll make a swordsman out of you both yet." Haeron said before they broke for the day. Davos was a hard-working man but even he was not used to actual fighting and it was a different kind of exercise for him that he found tiring but it was helpful given the danger of this voyage it would be good if he could defend himself.

If someone got passed the prince's cannons as he called them Davos thought with a bit of fear at the new weapon. He had never even heard whisper of such creations anywhere on his travels and yet he had seen for himself how powerful and effective they were, a small fleet had been easily over powered and cut down with them. No one had been left alive apart from their own crew who knew what had happened and he knew he was not the only person who was scared by these weapons. Many among the crew were now they had seen how effective they were and were worried at the new creation.

But the Prince had assured them that they would only use these weapons when absolutely needed, that he would bring no harm to them provided they spoke to no-one about what they had seen at least for now. He had even promised them a longer stay in Lys as a reward for keeping to their deal.

Davos himself was loyal to his wife and had no intention of visiting the whores of Lys in whatever place they worked, he was not a prude and knew many of the women in such places had no other choice if they wanted to survive and he did not begrudge them that. But he understood the desires of those who had not been as lucky to find a woman that they loved as much as he loved his wife so he would say nothing.

- x -

The Next Day...

The dawn brought the Queen Visenya within sight of their destination, the blue and green water around them was clear as the rising sun revealed the city that the Valyrians had thought of as a paradise. As they passed the high walls of the outer defences, they could see why as even the waterfront was decorated with palm trees and beautiful white buildings as far as the eye could see.

The ship docked and they sorted out things with the local port officials and then with local merchants to resupply the ship. Davos was having a hard time keeping the men aboard Haeron noticed with a smile as they were all eager to seek out the famous pillow houses and pleasure gardens. Many of them with their coin purses in hand already and Haeron just hoped they didn't get mugged or worse.

After making sure all was well Haeron took Jaime and Alicys into the city to explore and at the same time look for anyone in Lys that might be interested in joining their merchant alliance. But also he was doing his best to educate Jaime and Alicys as well now about the city.

"Wealth is king here in Lys." Haeron explained as they moved through the waterfront which was full of temples and shrines. "Birth is not as great a consideration as how much money you have here. The city might be defended by an army of sellswords but trade is a more honoured profession in Lys." Haeron told them as they moved through the city. The two younger people were all amazed at the beautiful design of the city, staring at it with awe but Haeron then added as they passed a market where slaves were being sold. "But even the most beautiful places have a darkness to them somewhere. The business of slavery is very strong in Lys among other things and punishments extremely harsh."

Both of them looked horrified at the sight but then as they came across an impressive looking building of white marble and golden leaf patterns along the pillars that lined the entrance.

"The Temple of Trade, where merchants come to settle business and those who do not pay their debts are punished. Lysaro Rogare was scourged to death by those who he owed money to when he couldn't pay and those who had been enemies of his father who had declared him a 'First Magister for Life'. His family's bank collapsed due to his own theft from it and his siblings were chased from the city." Haeron said, his own thoughts on such foolishness and how it had brought his family, one of the longest ruling Valyrian families in the city down by his father's arrogant ambition and his own greed.

As they walked through the city they also noticed something else, for once the Prince did not stand out here. Valyrians were rare in Westeros, other than a few in Kings Landing and more on Dragonstone it was rare to see anyone with the silver blond hair, pale skin and lilac eyes other than the Targaryens themselves.

But in Lys the blood of the Valyrians ran strong, not only did the rich have the same features as the prince and his family but so did the smallfolk, seeing so many Valyrians made Jaime and Alicys feel somewhat subconscious as they stood out here. In fact people were staring at them with curiosity and the males whether they were old or young stared hungrily at Alicys who felt not only uncomfortable but slightly scared too. Jaime took her hand without even thinking about it and held it tight, she looked at him with some surprise but he to make her feel better and let her know he was there. His smile as he looked into her eyes made her smile slightly too as she felt the security he was trying to convey, her smile bringing a slight blush to his cheeks.

Haeron saw them and seeing the connection they had made him smile, remembering how his son James, Albus and Hugo too had been with their loves and eventual partners. Lily and Rose had been the same he thought with a paternal feeling of comfort. Jaime and Alicys didn't seem to know it yet but he could see it.

Seeing one of the slavers coming over and giving the young but shapely Alicys a greedy look Haeron fixed him with a glare that scared the slaver into turning and swiftly walking away in the opposite direction.

Unknown to them however someone from was watching them from nearby before sneaking off.

Casterly Rock, Westerlands, Westeros...

Casterly Rock was a busy place at any time of the day, even without the lord in residence but Tywin would be here on a return visit soon to attend to some business that had arisen in his absence, leaving his dependable brother Kevan to handle things in his stead at Kings Landing.

Genna Lannister and her younger brother Gerion were the ones who were taking care of the castle until he arrived and would continue once he had returned to Kings Landing. They stared out across the sea as they had when they were children and the endless expanse of water in front of them was both calming and gave one the feeling of being so insignificant against something so enormous.

"Tyrion is already learning his numbers, multiplication so the maesters tell me." Gerion told Genna with pride at his nephew's achievement. Genna blinked in surprise for a moment before smiling gently.

"He is Tywin's son. I remember the maesters saying the same thing about him when he was young. Tyrion might not have a normal body but he is his son in mind at least." Genna said although knew saying that to Tywin was likely to receive a harsh rebuttal as Tyrion was the child he hated due to Joanna's unfortunate death while bringing him into the world. Genna and Gerion had been forced to take a parental role in his young life ever since he was born as Tywin just couldn't let that anger and hatred go even if he wasn't aware he was doing it and wrapped up his reasons for hating Tyrion in other things.

"I just hope Jaime is doing well." Genna said with concern for her other nephew. He was such a sweet boy and had made them promise to take care of Tyrion while he was away, a truly loving brother which made Genna and Gerion smile warmly, he was Joanna's son through and through, his love for his family was unwavering and as solid as the land on which this castle was built.

It was a shame that he had not had his mother to soften Tywin they thought with sadness at their goodsister's absence which was still felt in their home.

The awkward silence lasted a long time before finally Gerion who was the most good natured of his family decided to change the subject.

"I think I managed to find a lead on a possible location for Brightroar." Gerion told his older sister brightly and with eagerness as he had always dreamed of being the one to bring it back to Casterly Rock and holding it aloft. The image of it filling his mind and Genna rolled her eyes as she had heard many such 'leads' come to him in the past only to turn out to be complete falsehoods whispered by gossiping washerwomen and drunken sailors.

She understood his desire to retrieve their family's ancestral sword, she did completely but it was likely the sword if it still existed to her mind was either at the bottom of the ocean or inside the poisonous air of Valyria.

She didn't know which was worse and both were out of their reach so she did hope either by some miracle it did turn up somewhere more safe or likely Gerion's obsession would one day get him killed she thought with a cold dread at the idea of losing her youngest brother.

- x -

But elsewhere in the castle of House Lannister something was happening away from the prying eyes of the septas and other maids that were supposed to keep an eye on their lord's daughter.

Cersei had been punished for her seduction of Jaime by being forced to pray to the Seven for forgiveness and fasting along with her arse being firmly smacked every day for a month not to mention not being allowed whenever she wasn't fasting to each only the barest and most basic food! No wine for her she thought with anger, just water, bread with nothing on it and fruit and vegetables with no seasoning or decoration.

Not to mention they had tried to keep her from any male company except for her own uncles and father she thought with misery. No one had complimented her on her beauty and it stung her pride to be so neglected! She missed Jaime too, he always told her she was the most beautiful woman in the entire world every time that they were together she thought with an ache at his absence, He must be missing her too she thought with certainty, they were half of each other she convinced herself and no one would ever replace her in his mind she thought with complete confidence. As much as she wanted to wed Prince Haeron she hated him from keeping Jaime from her and now she had the added jealousy that he had taken her twin brother on some tour of the Free Cities.

She hated that he was seeing such foreign and exotic locations and seeing all that there was to see in the wider world while she was forced to stay here in Casterly Rock under isolation! She fumed as she managed to finally get rid of the septa that followed her everywhere by entering the Sept of Casterly Rock and closing the door, supposedly so she could pray to the gods for forgiveness in private.

She smirked at how stupid the septas were, fooling them was easy she thought with satisfaction.

Cersei peered around the statue of the Warrior and saw the castle's stable boy Michel, crouching down to wait for her. He was a low born peasant but he was good to look at she thought with a smirk. His muscles were greater than Jaime's as he spent his time working and doing hard labour and his cock was large enough to suit her needs she thought with satisfaction not to mention he was simple minded...so he did exactly what she told him.

Tempting him by dropping her dress, showing her mature figure he smiled with excitement as she stalked towards him like a lioness stalking her prey.

- x -

Unaware of what was happening in the sept Genna and Gerion stood to greet Tywin as he arrived, he rode in accompanied by his guards as usual. Tygett their other brother should really have been here too but he had gone off to travel, presumably so he did not have to be around Tywin who he had always been in the shadow of.

Tywin dismounted his horse without a word and walked into the keep, many would have seen this as rude and a slight against them but Genna and Gerion knew what Tywin was like and they were regretfully used to it.

He went straight to his solar and sighed with relief when he managed to sit in his chair. Genna and Gerion waited patiently for him to speak to them and they had to wait for a good while as he read through documents that had been piled on his desk before he finally asked them a question.

"Has my daughter repented and learned to obey and not damage the reputation of House Lannister?" He asked them coldly, his unemotional voice was difficult to hear when he was discussing his own daughter but that was Tywin.

He was a lord first...and a father never.

Genna was the one that dared to answer him and for her own sake did not exaggerate or miss anything.

"She seems to be behaving but there is no repentance. She doesn't think she did anything wrong therefore has nothing to feel sorry about." Genna said calmly, worried that Cersei was beyond reason even given her young age. She might learn humility but somehow she doubted it.

Tywin did not look pleased at that, Cersei being his only daughter was a useful political tool for him and with Rhaegar now to wed it was their best chance to secure a royal link. It was he felt good that Jaime was far from her influence and some of the letters that had arrived either from him or concerning him were encouraging he felt, they showed he was maturing perhaps into an heir he could be proud of.

One who was a good friend of the future king.

"Where is Cersei now?" Tywin asked, wanting to see for himself what she had learned or rather not learned if his sister was to be believed. Gerion worried for his niece but told Tywin the truth with the hope she would behave for once.

"In the sept."

Tywin without another word got up and walked out of the room with Genna and Gerion at his heels, sharing a worried glance as they did, knowing this wouldn't end well.

They walked through the corridors and without knocking Tywin threw open the doors of the sept and strode inside.

What greeted him and his siblings shocked them all.

On the altar of the Mother laying on his back was the naked stable boy and riding him with passion and an orgasmic look of enjoyment on her face was Cersei, as naked as the day she was born and with the stable boy's cock inside her.

The two were so caught up in what they were doing that they didn't even notice they had an audience until they finally reached their peak and collapsed. Their bodies covered with sweat and breathless before they finally realised that someone was looking at them.

Genna and Gerion were both too shocked to move but Tywin wasn't, without wasting another moment he walked over and with as hard a punch as he could muster hit the stable boy in the face and grabbed Cersei by her long golden hair, dragging her off the altar and into her room as she screamed in pain. But Tywin was beyond any reason, his cold and harsh fury would not be held in check this time as he considered just what he had done to ever be cursed with a daughter like Cersei.

His mind raced, knowing that he had to keep this quiet to prevent any scandal but the fact Cersei had given up her maiden head was what angered him the most. She was ruined now, her value as a wife reduced to almost nothing he thought with anger and her screams of pain did little to move him.

How had Joanna's daughter become little more than a whore or worse than that he thought with fury? To trade her virtue so easily and be so brazen with it?

- x -

An Hour Later...

"Father! He forced his way into the sept and made me!" Cersei now dressed screamed to Tywin who was staring at her dispassionately as one of the maesters in the castle examined Cersei. She could not believe this was happening! She thought in distress, how had her father come to the sept at the precise wrong moment and seen her with the peasant? He should be in Kings Landing attending to the King she thought.

"Well maester?" Tywin asked, ignoring her excuses which he didn't believe for a moment. The young man was terrified, not at what he had found but how Lord Lannister would react when he told him as clearly this must have been going on for some time.

"She is with child." He managed to stay after the burning green eyes of Lord Tywin burned into him. "It is very early and she is just starting to show."

"Moontea, a whole pot. Now." Tywin commanded coldly as he glared at Cersei for being so foolish that she would get herself pregnant by a peasant boy. The maester fell over his own feet as he rushed out of the room to get the moontea, leaving Tywin alone with Cersei. Cersei with all of her self-assurance was quaking in terror of Tywin as she knew full well how bad this was.

She had lost her maidenhead, become pregnant with a bastard...this would not end well for her. At best she could hope for a knight from some low born house which angered her as she was the Lioness of Casterly Rock, making her glare at Tywin with defiance, she deserved better.

The hard slap she received for that almost broke her jaw and she was knocked to the ground, she was stunned and tears of pain ran down her face but when the maester finally returned with the moontea she drank the whole pot knowing full well it would kill the child that would ruin her.

What she had not expected was for Tywin to draw his sword and kill the maester right in front of her, killing any witness to her pregnancy, as the blood stained the floor she shuddered as she was dragged up by Tywin and pulled by the arm to the yard where she heard screams of pain echoing around even before she got there.

The reason was painfully clear the moment they stepped out into the yard.

Michel was tied by ropes to five horses, one around each of his limbs and another around his groin. Gregor Clegane, as tall as a fully grown man despite being only thirteen years of age stood with a sinister grin that sent a chill through the bodies of much older men than him.

Now Lord Tywin was there the horses were slapped on the back once to make them move, the horses began to move away from each other and the ropes once slack now tightened. Michel screamed out in pain as the ropes pulled on his body but the handlers urged them on, the ropes now taut and Michel's screams grew louder as the horses slowly pulled him apart. Cersei didn't care about the stable boy but she had never seen such a thing before and was completely in shock.

The cock came off first, torn clean off by the horse but the other horses were not far behind as Michel was literally torn apart in a horrible display of blood.

But Tywin who was now at his coldest was not done yet, he turned to Gregor Clegane and told him.

"Take your men to the boy's home. Kill them all...show no mercy." He said without any emotion. Gregor Clegane sneered broadly in joy of what he was being asked to do and said in a deep voice.

"Yes my lord."

Tywin then turned to Cersei who felt a shiver of terror move through her as she considered just what she was in for.

- x -

The Following Morning...

Cersei strained to break the cage that she was trapped in as it was lowered into the water, she banged her fists against the metal but it refused to budge against her strength, she took a deep gasp of air as it hit the cold water of the ocean and glared once at her father as he stood on shore watching.

She had never felt as cold in her entire life as the water enveloped her, her lungs already straining from the effort to keep her breath while under the water which was stinging her eyes. It seemed to go on forever before Tywin allowed the men to hoist her up. She gasped for air the moment as the cage swung in the air but the ordeal was not over as soon the cage was lowered back into the water again.

This cycle repeated again and again, they held her under until she was almost drowned and then brought her up to get some breath before doing the exact same thing all over again. It went on for most of the day and even when finally Tywin was satisfied the punishment did not stop until the sun was nearly at the horizon.

As Cersei was dragged forward by two men, too exhausted to stand another man took out a 'Scold's Bridle' and strapped it to her face. The metal device keeping her from speaking as she looked up with anger.

The humiliation after spending most of the day nearly drowning and then having this device strapped to her face was enough to drive Cersei into a rage but she was too tired to do anything more than glare at Tywin who was completely unaffected by her burning hatred. He would not be intimidated by his own exceptionally foolish and stupid daughter he thought to himself sternly.

He would have had her whipped as well but he could not risk leaving scars behind as her beauty was now her only selling point, hiding her lack of virginity could only be done for so long before it came up. He would need to find a lower marriage for her now he thought with anger perhaps one of the knightly houses that served them would do.

But this also left Tywin with another problem, he had only three children and of them just Jaime seemed to be worthwhile, Cersei was near useless to him now and Tyrion was a dwarf. Neither would be easy to wed off and to trust only in one child was dangerous as who knows what might befall him especially in foreign ports?

He needed more children he thought and knew what he would need to do for this to be so, it filled him with disgust as the only woman he had ever wanted in his marriage bed was Joanna and now she was dead he had decided to never take another. He had been offered many over the years but always turned them down, now he would need to see just what his options were he thought bitterly as more children would be needed to ensure the survival of his own bloodline and to give him more pieces to move on the board.

Cersei meanwhile now confined to her rooms struggled to remove the bridle but it was locked firmly on her face, her infuriated muffled scream filled the room and vowed that she would have her revenge for this and make sure that her father would regret his treatment of her, that she thought with venom was a promise.

Lys, Essos...

Exploring Lys was fascinating Alicys thought as she and Jaime walked through the streets, his presence was reassuring in such a strange place.

They were not far from the Temple of Trade where Prince Haeron was in discussions with some of the city's many merchants. It had not taken long to find many people here that would be willing to join them, as the prince had explained to them wealth ruled this city. So anything that made you wealthier would of course interest people. Not to mention since the Prince was Valyrian like them he was more accepted among them and made them more likely to listen to what he had to say.

The red and white wines the city was famous for, its coconuts, fine tapestries, poisons, perfumes and more would soon be flowing along the trade network, sold with the aid of the others in the network and making them all a lot of money.

Meanwhile she and Jaime were enjoying the warm climate and cool breeze of the city, walking among the palm trees and tasting the various fruits of the city. Many of the men from the ship were in the pillow houses or the wines of the city or both, the music of minstrels performing filled the air and seemed to make the entire place come alive.

It was almost easy to forget the darkness of the city and its role in the slave trade in the brightness of the day, until it literally ran into them!

A young girl no older than Alicys herself ran straight into her, knocking both of them to the ground. Shocked Jaime quickly picked Alicys up who was momentarily stunned, the other girl was too but as Jaime and Alicys recovered their wits and helped the girl to her feet they realised she wasn't a native of the city.

Neither of them had seen anyone exactly like her before, she was much darker than them her skin a warm light brown with a gently rounded face, dark hair that seemed to naturally curl and eyes than looked like molten gold.

The girl once recovered began speaking to the rapidly in a language that neither of them seemed to understand but then seeing their confused faces realised that they couldn't understand it. She looked pained and thought hard for a moment before speaking in another language and thankfully it was one that Alicys seemed to understand. Jaime was left feeling useless as he listened to her haltingly speak with the frightened girl, he looked at her questioningly and Alicys nodded slowly before saying.

"Her name is Kelis and she is trying to find a man named 'Jonos'. He will help her escape...from the...pillow house." Alicys translated as best she could. There was more but she did not know this dialect of Valyrian very well.

"HEY!" A voice called out in Valyrian and the three turned to see men in light leather armour running towards them with what looked like whips in their hands. Kelis immediately looked terrified and Jaime drew his sword, raising it to a ready position and held it threateningly at them. The men who were much older than Jaime just looked at him and started laughing at him but Jaime just glared and held his ground. They said something in their language that he didn't understand and then one of them came at him.

Jaime's body moved before his mind even registered it, he had been practising for a long time with the Prince by now who made him run through his movements daily. Doing it again and again till in his words the body remembered, that training now came into its own as Jaime easily parried the clumsy strike with the club that the idiot sent at him and stabbed him straight in the throat.

That stopped the men's laughing at him as their friend fell to his knees with blood pouring from his throat. Jaime was unsettled by the scene but kept up his guard, Alicys and Kelis both looked on in scene in horror not having seen something like that before.

Jaime was deeply unsettled by the sight of a man drowning in his own blood but he could not risk feeling too sorry about it as he stood in front of Alicys and Kelis, the man he noticed now looked enraged and brandished swords or clubs of their own but they never got the chance to use them.

Two of them were stabbed in the back and cried out in pain as two sword blades went straight through them before being wrenched back out and were kicked over, revealing Prince Haeron standing there with Crimson Heart and Blackfyre both dripping with blood and glaring at the remaining men with cold eyes.

Seeing the intimidating prince they quickly turned tail and ran, Haeron and the others watched them go before Haeron looked to Jaime and Alicys before sighing and asking.

"I expect I am not going to like the answer to this but what exactly have you gotten into?"

Jaime and Alicys just stayed quiet and then looked to Kelis who was intimidated by the large unknown man that looked like most other people in this city. He wiped his two impressive swords clean before returning them to their scabbards and asked her.

"Are you Naathi?" He asked her in the first language she had spoken and her eyes widened as she recognised her own native tongue.

"YES! My lord! I am. My name is Kelis, the slavers took me to sell me here. But I ran away." She said with relief that he knew where she came from and eagerly explained her situation.

"What language is that your grace?" Alicys asked as she didn't know it. Haeron answered your question quickly.

"Naathi. I learned the language although not fluently. She was kidnapped from her home and brought here to serve in the Pillow Houses. She's escaped and is looking for help." Haeron said with a frown, the Naathi were a people that he knew only a little about. They were secretive after slavers kept raiding their island home and bringing people here and to other places like it but they had once been the greatest producers of silk in the world...still were if you could get hold of it but the island killed any outsider who stayed there too long due to some mysterious illness that killed anyone who did.

"She said someone named 'Jonos' would help her." Jaime said wanting to speak and add something and Haeron asked him intently.

"You have already gotten us into trouble with possibly some powerful people here. Are you sure this is a battle you are willing to fight?" Haeron asked him knowing that they could sail away right now and not have any more trouble but that would mean leaving the girl behind to be enslaved again.

He felt his own conscience nagging at him and he knew whatever Jaime said they were going to help the girl but he wanted to see what Jaime decided, to see just what sort of person he was becoming and just what he was picking up from all of this.

As Haeron and the two girls looked on Jaime was torn, he knew that staying here and helping Kelis would put them all in danger...Cersei's voice rang in his head telling him.

'Leave the little bitch and get back here.'

But he just couldn't do that...Jaime knew it wasn't the smart thing to do but it was the right thing to do.

It was the him thing to do...not his sister...not his father...him.

Jaime visibly stood taller and said clearly and defiantly.

"Let's find Jonos." He said and immediately Alicys and Kelis smiled widely as they saw him while Haeron nodded in acceptance, glad that at last Jaime was standing up for what he believed in and was deeply relieved to hear it.

"Very well." Haeron said before turning to Kelis and asked her in Naathi.

"Do you know where to find Jonos?"

- x -

Elsewhere in Lys...A Short Time Later...

In one of the poorer areas of the city was where they find Jonos, a large man with pale skin and curly dark brown hair in robes and a seven pointed pendant which surprised Haeron and Jaime as they had not expected to see a septon here, this far from Westeros. There were septs in places like Braavos but Lys hadn't been one as far as he knew.

Septon Jonos was handing out soup to the poor and slaves of Lys, his face beaming with a wide smile and a jolly look in his eyes and when he saw Kelis approach he beckoned her to come to him, she ran to him and when he looked at them questioningly she seemed to make him smile by explaining just who they were.

"Welcome to my little venture to aid the needy in Lys your grace, my lord and my lady. Allow me to introduce myself, Septon Jonos at your service and from what this young one tells me you helped her escape. So you are friends of mine." Jonos said with a warm smile which made both Jaime and Alicys like and trust him straight away while Haeron kept his guard up.

Kelis began to ask Jonos something in Valyrian before he frowned and told her something that seemed to upset her. Alicys frowned before saying in the common tongue.

"We could take her home."

Jonos blinked in surprise as did Haeron and Jonos asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"That is a long way from here young lady. Are you sure you or your prince is willing to make such a journey?" He asked looking to Haeron who was deep in thought.

Jonos was right, Naath was a long way from here but Kelis represented a great opportunity to develop trade with her people and that would be very lucrative but as Jonos had said it was a long journey, taking them far from Westeros and into waters they did not fully know. But as much as that weighed on him Haeron could not help but feel a surge of excitement at the idea of heading further out into the world.

He frowned before telling them.

"I may allow it but think before you say anything in future. I will not be so forgiving." Haeron warned her and she gulped in fear at his intense gaze.

Jonos smiled as he saw that the three of them were good people and although he might stretch the laws of his faith occasionally he still abided by them...so he would do his best to aid them.

"Then I will inform you of the situation Lys and what would need to be done." Jonos said with a smile, unaware that they were being watched by a cloaked figure who scurried off to find their master.

Highgarden, the Reach...

A grand tourney was being held by Mace Tyrell, the new Lord of Highgarden and the Reach, Warden of the South in honour of his father who had just died after riding off a cliff following a hawk and not looking where he was going but it was also to celebrate the birth of his first son Willas Tyrell.

Rhaegar as a prince of House Targaryen was attending and competing in the illustrious event, accompanied by his new sworn shield Ser Arthur Dayne, his good friend Jon Connington along with Rhaegar's squires Myles Mooton and Richard Lonmouth.

The lists were in full swing and Rhaegar was now donned in his armour and mounted on a horse, Myles came up to him with a new lance as he stood ready to face his next and final opponent, Ser Bryan Caron, the current heir to Nightsong and House Caron.

The men both prepared themselves for the joust, getting into position and steeling themselves for the moment that they clashed.

In the stands all of the people watched as they lined up and then with Lord Tyrell's gesture the two of them rode towards towards each other, everyone holding their breath as they waited for the inevitable contact.

Ser Arthur watched with worry for the prince he was guarding alongside the two squires while Jon Connington was terrified that Rhaegar was about to be killed, his heart raging in his chest and wanting to drag the most beautiful man that he had ever seen to safety with every fibre of his being but he was powerless as the moment to clash came.

Rhaegar though was the best at this, his skill with sword and lance matched only by his elder brother, Ser Arthur and Ser Barristan perhaps, the moment the lances were within range of each other Rhaegar struck the man on his shield and sent him flying, giving him victory in the first tilt. Ser Caron landed with a heavy crash and his moans of pain were drowned out by the crowd cheering loudly for the prince.

Rhaegar rode back to his small group and gracefully dismounted his horse, removing his helm so they could see his handsome face. Jon Connington had to fight hard not to rush forward and confess his feelings to the prince but knew he would never be able to reciprocate, a fact that stabbed at his heart every single moment but he had to endure it. He and the others turned to see Rhaegar go up to Lord Tyrell.

"Your grace, I name you the champion of the joust." Mace Tyrell announced to the crowd before he offered Rhaegar the crown of golden roses that the area was famous for and Rhaegar took it before making an announcement of his own.

"Thank you Lord Tyrell. I am honoured to be invited to such a prestigious tourney and more so to be declared the winner. In thanks to House Tyrell for staging this event I name his fair sister Janna Tyrell as the Queen of Love and Beauty." Rhaegar said politely, placing the crown of roses on her head.

The lady was gracious in her acceptance and smiled warmly at the prince who did not even seem to notice.

- x -

Later that night a feast was held to celebrate the tourney, the hall of Highgarden was loud as people chatted and ate. At the head table Lord Tyrell could be heard loudly boasting of his achievements to anyone who would listen while his mother just shook her head in exasperation at the boy's foolishness. Janna and Mina Tyrell both had been conveniently placed on either side of the prince as he sat at the head table but despite their attempts at flirtation or endearment he politely dismissed them.

Rhaegar was used to this especially since his elder brother had been forced into exile, many expected for Aerys to name him the new crown prince but Rhaegar knew better. His father would never declare someone his heir because that would give them incentive to kill him. It would also acknowledge his own mortality which Aerys could never do Rhaegar thought to himself with dismay at the ego and arrogance of the man that had sired him and his siblings. He had been admittedly calmer since Haeron was gone, his mother had long ago told him that Aerys had always seemed afraid of his elder brother perhaps as he served as a reminder to the reality of man's limited time in this world but also perhaps because his elder brother was everything Aerys himself could never be...strong...fearless...intelligent...wise. Rhaegar himself might have been envious of that but it was far from the case as he would be free to pursue his own interests while the burden of ruling Westeros would belong to Haeron who in Rhaegar's mind was far more suited to the position.

Jealousy poisoned the soul he thought as he ate more of his venison.

On another table nearby he completely missed the glances that Jon Connington was sending his way, he was blind to the man's feelings not that it would have mattered as Rhaegar did not like men that way. But Jon Connington was consumed with thoughts of his own at that moment, thinking how gracious and noble Rhaegar was, how intelligent and gallant.

That he would make a king worthy of being remembered forever, alongside Jaehaerys the Wise or Aegon the Conqueror himself but with time Jon was certain that Rhaegar would surpass even them. If only he was the eldest he thought to himself.

Manse, Lys...

Septon Jonos had led them now accompanied by Davos who they had met on the way to a manse that was well fortified and elaborate with many Valyrian statues like those found on Dragonstone on its walls and spread out throughout its gardens. Haeron saw them and knew as they had been part of the original design that the owner of this manse must be descended from the dragon lords and indeed he was right as a man of Valyrian descent appeared to greet them.

"Jonos. I see you have brought visitors." The man said, dressed in elegant robes with a golden chain decorated with many different coloured precious stones. Haeron might have made an introduction but then they were rudely interrupted.

A group of masked men appeared from the hedges around them and charged with daggers and short swords drawn. Haeron, Jaime and Davos all did not hesitate and drew their own swords as did the guards that were around them, the assassins did not stop and charged towards them.

The assassins were bold and pressed their attack with conviction but Haeron with Blackfyre in hand cut one down with ease given his sword's longer grip. Haeron moved to take the offensive and Jaime to his credit did the same, using his longsword to take down the assassins with quick if not as precise movements.

Davos being less confident with with a blade than them stayed with the guards who surrounded Alicys, Kelis and the well dressed man to establish a defensive wall around them, one that the assassins failed to penetrate while Jaime and Haeron did their best to deal with them.

But a war cry broke through the sounds of their swords striking each other, a tall muscular man who was familiar to Haeron came running out with a large war hammer in hand. He swung it hard into one of the assassins and sent them flying with a massive dent in their chest, he might have been a lumbering beast with such a large weapon but the man was experienced and in good shape and swung the hammer with precision and speed.

His presence combined with the quick reactions from the defenders sent the assassins into retreat especially as more guards arrived, drawn by the sounds of the attack. Seeing them go allowed Haeron to turn to the sudden new arrival and nodded graciously at him.

"Thank you Lord Baratheon, your intervention was most welcome." Haeron said and seeing the crown prince before him Steffon was caught off guard at his presence but it was a good surprise and he bowed slightly.

"Your grace, it is a surprise to see you in Lys. But it is a pleasure to meet you again." Steffon said before realising he would have to admit to him what his reason for being in the city was. Seeing the younger man with him provided a welcome distraction. "Is that Tywin's boy I see over there?"

"Yes my lord." Jaime said as the large and intimidating figure of Steffon Baratheon loomed over him. The large and muscular man gave Jaime a pat on the back which nearly knocked Jaime over before adding.

"You were shorter than my knee when I saw you last. So you are squiring for the prince now?" Steffon asked before they were interrupted by the robed man that apparently owned the manse.

"Perhaps we should all go inside." The robed man said with urgency and Davos who was deeply unsettled by the attack agreed.

"That would be advisable your grace."

Haeron nodded and they all went inside, seeing Alicys ahead of him made Jaime smile but what Alicys did next wiped it from his face. She ran over to him and kissed him on the cheek!

Jaime was completely stunned and she ran off while Kelis, Haeron and Steffon all smirked, knowing the boy was in deep with this one.

- x -

Now inside the manse and with the guard tripled in response the attack it was finally time that they properly met their host.

"Greeting Prince Targaryen, I am First Magister of Lys...Yorch Maar. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance even if it is under such bad circumstances." The tall man with Valyrian features said with a strained calm, like he was in a bad situation but was trying not to appear desperate for their help. "I am sure you must of noticed that being in my position creates enemies, enemies that are growing bolder to attack me in my own home."

"Actually Magister Maar, it wasn't just you they were after." His chief guard said as he came in and handed him a copy of a likeness the dead assassins had been carrying on their person. Looking at it they then handed it over to Haeron who took it with curiosity before realising it was a likeness of himself alongside one of First Magister Maar.

"So someone wants us both dead. I take it you know just who this opponent is?" Haeron asked calmly, holding his fury at this in check until he knew just why it was happening. Maar to his credit answered honestly, legimency making sure Haeron knew that he was speaking the truth and not holding anything back.

"House Gizori. A house formed by the marriage of a Rogare curse that name and another family centuries ago. They have risen to success over the centuries and have now taken control of the pillow houses and pleasure gardens by force. All of the wealth of such establishments now flows into their coffers and they have began a renewed forced breeding effort to make more attractive courtesans to sell the services of. Once the girls were in control of their own services but not with the Gizori in power." Maar said with a worry as that brought a lot of wealth to his enemies and many ears around the city, weakening his position.

"They seek to overthrow me and then replace the other magisters so they can rule the city as their own. I am as you can see lacking allies as many will not get involved in such a fight. They are too intimidated to stand against Grizori." Maar told them.

"No one will stand against them?" Steffon asked with a raised eyebrow, thinking that such a thing was cowardly as it would let them walk all over you forever if you let them win here.

"No one." Maar told him with a tired sigh, he had tried to rally them but many were either too scared or he suspected being paid off by the Grizori family. Lady Cassana then appeared and the men stood up straight but she dismissed them with a nod and a wave of her hand. Haeron bowed slightly to her and gave her a kiss on the hand which she took with good grace before asking the question that he had been about too.

"But why do they want to attack the Prince? Are they being paid?" She asked wondering if the same Mad King that had sent them on this ridiculous quest to find a Valyrian bride for Prince Rhaegar had paid the Grizori to try and kill him. Maar thought for a moment before he did remember something that might explain their hatred of him.

"It could be they want vengeance due to their ancestor being passed over for the throne of Westeros. A century or more ago one of them married Aerion Brightflame." Maar said with a worried expression which made Haeron suppress his need to sigh in exasperation, the mad and violent fool that had broken the fingers of a puppeteer on a whim, gotten himself exiled from Westeros and finally drank wildfire because he thought it would make him a dragon. Now here he was facing the man's descendants who looked to be as aggressive if not as mad as he had had been.

"So what do we do?" Alicys asked with a worried look on her face as she waited for someone to give her an answer but no one did.

"Kill them." Steffon said plainly but Maar just shook his head.

"They have the services of the Lost Legion, a sellsword company that is descended from Valyria, three hundred strong. They are too many for even warriors of your skills." Maar said with distress as he had tried to find a sellsword company of his own but none would take his contract, probably being paid off by Grizori he thought with bitterness.

That was troubling, they all thought to themselves. If the Grizori won then they might become a real problem later with control of Lys even if they fled the city, but they were too many to fight with who they had.

Leave and they would later likely come after them again with even greater power or fight and likely lose.

They all pondered the problem, wondering just who they might reach out too for help but none of them could come up with an answer.

Davos who was again confronted with these vicious and horrible games of power which he personally despised wanted to leave but sure they would be unlikely to allowed to go, he wondered briefly on what to do himself before he came up with an idea...one so daring and yet dangerous in its own way that it might just be enough to get them out of this situation, it meant relying on an old friend and perhaps a untrustworthy man but he might just be the solution they needed.

"Your grace." Davos said, getting the attention of all of the nobles around him which made him somewhat nervous but he kept his composure and kept on talking. "You know I was a smuggler once, before you employed me. I moved the goods stolen by others and one of them was in this city. A pirate lord who has many men at his command who might just be willing to help us." Davos said carefully.

Jaime, Alicys, Lord Steffon, Lady Cassana, Septon Jonos, Kelis and Magister Maar all looked at him in surprise but Haeron just raised an eyebrow before saying the name that was on the tip of Davos's tongue.

"Salladhor Saan."

Davos blinked in surprise that the prince knew and had to ask a question.

"You know about that?"

Haeron raised an eyebrow before telling him honestly.

"Of course I knew, I would never have hired you without knowing who you were and what your past was. To gain the measure of a man his past is something that matters, I knew when I learned yours that you were a man that I could trust. A man of integrity." Haeron said calmly to Davos who was stunned at the prince knowing his background but giving him a chance anyway.

"Saan is a pirate lord, not a noble." Maar said with a dismissive voice but Davos interjected.

"But he has men that can fight and ships too. And given he isn't a noble he might well not be in the employ of the Grizori." Davos stated and Haeron nodded before asking.

"Can he be trusted?"

Davos nodded before adding. "He will keep to the terms of a contract once it is made. But he is a man who values coin, so he will need an incentive."

"What kind of incentive would he need to help us?" Maar asked not sure if he wanted to risk an alliance with a pirate but given the situation he worried they might not have a choice.

"Coin could work but your enemies can provide that." Davos thought knowing Saan loved gold but not how to make sure he would stay true to them rather than betray him.

Haeron thought pondered on a possible other use for a man like Saan, a pirate lord with many ships from what he had heard and that might be something that they could use. Pirates had sometimes been known by another name on his previous world he remembered, privateers when they were employed by nations to raid others.

Perhaps a privateer would be useful to them he thought and then told Davos.

"Set up a meeting, I have a proposal that will I hope appeal to Saan more than a single payment of gold." Haeron said and Davos bowed to the prince before going to set it up while they all wondered just what the prince had planned.

- x -

Valyrian, Lys Docks...

A galleas that served as the flagship of Salladhor Saan's thirty ships was the place that Saan agreed to meet with them, his family had a long history of piracy stretching back all the way to the founding of the Iron Throne. They grew up on the water and knew the sea extremely well.

Salladhor Saan stood on deck with his men around him, dressed in his fine clothes and grinned as he saw the Dragon Prince approach, the tall and muscular figure of Haeron Targaryen was intimidating and Saan would have been impressed if he wasn't used to stuck up nobles. He just wanted to know what he would get out of helping him now, feeling smug that the so called royal was coming to him on his knees for help.

"Salladhor Saan, greetings." Haeron said as he came up to the dock, standing just before the boarding ramp and asking. "Permission to come aboard?"

"Permission granted." Saan said with a smug grin as the prince and his old friend Davos boarded, Saan and Davos shared a nod due to their old partnership before Saan got down to business.

"I know you need men, I can find many but what is in it for me? I do not come cheap." He said with a confident smirk, Davos looked almost pained as if he expected the prince to be insulted by this but Haeron to their surprise kept his composure and spoke plainly with the man.

"I offer you a position in the new merchant guild or alliance I have set up. You can sell the goods your ships steal through the alliance and your ships can help move cargo when not harassing and stealing from our rivals. All the enemy can offer you is a one off payment of gold, what I offer is the means to make a great deal more and have access to information that could greatly expand your reach. Is that worth your time?" Haeron asked calmly.

Saan had not been expecting that and blinked in surprise, that would mean a great deal to him. Selling his goods through the alliance to avoid trouble with the law and contacts in many other ports, he could make a great deal of gold from that he realised and smiled as he would agree to that but decided to push for a little extra.

"I want the Grizori manse too." He asked, wanting the large place as his own and Davos raised an eyebrow before Haeron nodded in agreement.

"Deal." He said extending his hand and Saan took it, shaking hands to establish their alliance. "So, you ready to fuck the Grizori up?" Haeron asked and his use of bad language shocked many even Saan as they had thought him too proper for that but clearly they had underestimated the prince.

He was the sort of man that was not afraid to get his hands dirty.

- x -

Grizori Bank, that Night...

The darkness of night allowed Haeron and a force of men led by him and Lord Steffon to approach the Grizori bank, one of their main sources of power in the city. Jaime accompanied them and was very much looking forward to the fight.

While the bank was well guarded it was not by the sellswords but by the Grizori's own men, they were strong but fewer in number than the sellswords who guarded the Grizori's manse and pillow houses.

Haeron had his ship's crew in the taverns around those places stirring up as much trouble as possible to distract the sellswords and Grizori, making them think that those places were under threat when in reality this was their real target.

Steffon meanwhile was having the most fun that he had in years, he had led such a boring existence for years now that when Aerys had sent him to find a bride for Prince Rhaegar he had jumped it so he and Cassana could travel at least. Even if they had been met with rejection everywhere they had gone they had at least seen Volantis, Lys and a few other places not to mention found a fool named Patches for Stannis who he dearly hoped would finally be able to bring a laugh or indeed any emotion from his second son. He and Cassana had intended to sail back to Storm's End earlier that day but to help the prince was worth delaying their return home by a few days after all he thought with mirth, what difference could a few days really mean?

Sneaking close to the bank they moved quickly to the guards on the wall and took them down with a swift pair of arrows before using grapples to surmount the walls, arriving on the top they began to spread out, hitting the guards with arrows to take them down as quickly and as quietly as possible until they had enough inside the walls to overwhelm the survivors. One man turned the wrong corner and nearly ran into them but Lord Steffon grabbed him and with a single effortless gesture broke his neck.

Jaime himself had to impale one in the neck before Haeron cut down another two and secured the gates, opening them so their other men could enter the bank's reinforced grounds.

Haeron now that this was done they could move onto the next stage of the plan and with a single powerful blow of his war hammer Steffon broke open the door of the bank, allowing them in. Haeron was the first in and with Crimson Heart in hand he cut down the guards inside with ruthless jabs and slashes as Jaime came in behind him and took out another guard with a stab to the gut.

The bank was taken quickly now, a good deal of the Grizori wealth was held here and it took fifty men till dawn to remove it all onto carts to be moved to First Magister Maar's manse for safekeeping, there was a lot of it and it would no doubt be extremely useful to them but what they had found in the bowels of the bank which had once been the Rogare Bank in the days of the Dance of the Dragon meant more personally to Haeron.

He remembered the history of House Targaryen well, during the Dance of the Dragons Rhaenyra Targaryen had tried to send her youngest son Viserys to Braavos for safety as the war took increasingly brutal turns but his ship had been intercepted and Viserys held prisoner in Lys which at the time was part of the Triarchy. Held prisoner for some time before eventually being passed into the custody of House Rogare and forced to marry a girl seven years his senior Larra Rogare before finally being able to return home to Westeros during the reign of his elder brother Aegon the 3rd. That was recorded fact but what hadn't been recorded was that clearly the ship had been carrying more than Viserys who clearly had not known about the vault Haeron had just found or he would surely have brought those things back to Westeros with him.

Haeron looked through the vault that looked like it hadn't been touched since that time so many years ago and carefully examined the contents. Among the books preserved in a chest was what looked like a full copy of Unnatural History by Septon Barth, Haeron was astonished as he had not thought any copies had survived the idiotic book burnings of Baelor the Befuddled's reign and he was deeply interested in see just what it might say. But as he carefully picked up the other books and examined them he saw to his amazement that some of them were personal journals of different members of the Blacks from that time. Daemon Targaryen, Jacaerys Velaryon Rhaenyra's eldest son and more crucially Rhaenyra Targaryen herself.

The words of the people themselves, never having been heard before was a potent draw for him Haeron thought to himself. This was history that was hotly debated and often from unreliable sources who were openly bias in one way or another, true these journals might be too but this would hopefully shed light on the thoughts of those that had actually been there. But other texts were equally as interesting, seeing that the vault contained intact copies of Signs and Portents by Daenys Targaryen herself and Ruined Cities Stolen Gods by Vaggoro. But scrolls also were inside the large chest including a copy of Engines of War and the complete set of Fires of the Freehold by Galendro many of which were missing and thought lost forever.

Putting the books aside for a moment Haeron looked what else was in the vault, in a small chest there were a number of pieces of jewellery which had likely belonged to Rhaenyra but one of them was a necklace made of the same smoky metal as one of the swords at his side, Valyrian steel. A small ruby sat inside a set of interlocking circles which he brushed his finger along with interest as this had once been around his own ancestor's neck.

A few other things were there that he did not know at first but the final discovery was particularly important, a dragon egg likely the one that had been given to Viserys but he had never been given the opportunity to hatch. Haeron carefully wiped the dust off of it and saw the dark red coloured egg with light blue and white streaks along its scaly surface. Smiling to himself at find another dragon egg which he might give to one of his younger siblings when he got the chance he carefully packed his new discoveries away until he could take them to his special trunk on the ship where they would be secure.

As they walked back to the manse though Haeron noticed Steffon was avoiding looking him in the eye and knowing that there was something on his mind he decided to confront him about whatever it was so at least it would be out in the open.

"Lord Steffon, is there something you would like to say to me?" Haeron asked carefully, testing the waters. Lord Steffon looked instantly unsettled and was about to deny it before he saw the look in Haeron's eyes, an intense look that burned into you and he just couldn't put it off any longer or bring himself to lie...so he told him.

"Your royal father sent me and my wife to Essos your grace to find a bride of Valyrian blood for your brother Rhaegar and perhaps for your other younger siblings. We have been unsuccessful in this task but that was the reason we are here." Steffon told him.

Haeron did not show any sign of surprise even if inside he was at first quite shocked that Aerys would be looking for someone to marry Rhaegar too. He had been long afraid that one of them would overthrow him and kept them as politically isolated as possible so why the change now? He wondered, pondering on it as they rode before finally realising the reason.

"He wants to create a stronger claim for Rhaegar to challenge me." Haeron said with a cold calm that Steffon and indeed Jaime who was listening nearby found unnerving.

Sighing he saw Jaime's expression and expanded on his statement so the boy would understand.

"The reason for this is two fold. One is to stop Rhaegar from gaining a more powerful alliance through marriage which would let Rhaegar overthrow him. Second is to make sure that Rhaegar has a wife and heirs that would make his claim stronger while mine as I am unwed gets weaker. So we would fight each other rather than take the throne from him. I am guessing that someone else in his court came up with this plan as he is far too short-sighted to think of it himself." Haeron said with a bitter scoff.

"But you and Prince Rhaegar would never fight for the throne. Prince Rhaegar doesn't want it." Jaime said with a confused look on his face but Steffon answered him this time.

"Aerys cannot understand that. In his mind everyone wants the throne...everyone is out to get him. Humility is something he cannot understand in anyone even himself. Why do you think he insists he is the only dragon? To his mind everyone wants the throne and would do anything to get it and is as untrustworthy as he is." Steffon said with distaste at his cousin. The coin had certainly landed on madness in the case of Aerys he thought with sadness and just hoped that Rhaella and the rest of her children were well and would avoid the fate of madness themselves.

They stayed quiet as they rode forward, not sure what to say.

Perfumed Garden, Grizori Holding...The Next Day...

Maekar Grizori stood in his solar, his fist gripping the parchment on which the message had been sent to him so tightly that his already pale skin was now whiter than freshly fallen snow.

"How did this happen?" He demanded of his younger brother and follower Quetyl who stood there looking incredibly scared of him. Maekar stood at least a foot taller than him with a cold cruel look in his eyes, his face sharp and angular and his pale blue eyes like ice chips. "You swore to me that those men were capable."

"They were Maekar they were!" Quetyl said with a desperate cry, not wanting his cruel older brother's temper directed at him. But that was a hopeless dream as Maekar grabbed Quetyl by the throat and squeezed hard enough to choke him.

"That gold was going to be what paid for us taking over Lys! How long before our puppets find out we can't pay them?! How quickly will they turn on us?!" Maekar said with a snarl as his hand tightened its grip around his windpipe.

"We...still...have...the...whores!" Quetyl said with a broken voice as he struggled for breath which made Maeker loosen his grip enough for him to speak more clearly. "We can move them here and use all of the blackmail material we have to keep going!"

Maekar looked at him with disgust before dropping him to the floor and kicking him hard in the stomach as he gasped for breath.

"And that Targaryen fucker is still alive! His ancestor stole the throne from ours! This is our chance for vengeance and to gain a dragon! We may never get that opportunity again! Don't fuck it up! To make sure of that I will face the fucker myself!" Maekar said with a sneer at his younger brother who blanched at the idea of facing a warrior like that.

- x -

Maar Manse, Lys...Later that Day...

"The gold is considerable, Maar is already managing to get some of the other nobles of Lys back on his side and we will make good use of a portion of it back in the Stormlands. As I am sure you will in expanding your trade network." Lady Cassana said as they looked at the amount of gold they had actually managed to take from the Grizori Bank. Her razor sharp mind making easy sense of the figures in a way that most of them could not.

"I am certain that it will make a good return on the invest." Maar said now having signed up to join the trade guild himself was hoping it would serve as a good source of revenue for him.

"But we must not get too carried away with our own success." Haeron said sharply to get them back on topic. Saan nodded in agreement as did Davos and Jaime who were uncomfortable in such a important and high stakes meeting but it was thrilling in a way too, to have a seat at such an important event.

"Maekar Grizori has moved all of the courtesans in the city along with all of the blackmail material and remaining funds to the Perfumed Garden. Its the largest and most impressive pleasure house and garden in the city not to mention it is now reinforced with all his sellswords." Saan told them with a sigh as he knew assaulting this place was inevitable, there was no way to infiltrate the place quietly. "Every possible entry point is covered and customers unless they are known are being turned away. A frontal attack is the only way we are getting in there." Saan said knowing this was going to be very messy and very bloody.

"So we will fight." Jaime said with eagerness which was equalled by Steffon who was eager for another fight. Cassana, Haeron and the others were less thrilled as they knew this battle was likely to be very costly in terms of people's lives whatever they did.

Haeron looked down at the map of the city around the Perfumed Garden and seeing the way the buildings were clustered around the narrow streets gave him some ideas in how they might even the odds in their favour.

"Saan, Davos...get as many planks of wood together as you can and nails with carpenters. Also ensure every man that can use a bow has one and all the arrows we can manage along with spears." Haeron said which confused them as they had no idea just what he would need all of that for but he was about to show the so-called Lost Legion how battles were really fought.

Streets outside the Perfume Garden, Lys...The Following Day...

The light of dawn crept over the horizon and filled the city, the people awoke and nervously looked out of their windows, all fully aware of the tension in the city and knowing that something was going to happen.

The men of First Magister Maar and Salladhor Saan marched up the street led by Haeron himself with Jaime at his side. Both in armour and ready for a fight. They moved up the street towards the Perfumed Garden and saw the Lost Legion coming out to meet them, the street was wider, used as the main alley for carts and people together but was lined with buildings two or three stories tall.

Haeron was calm while Jaime was nervous, he had been in fights before but this was his first battle as small as it was. Three hundred against three hundred but most of their men were sailors not trained sellswords, the only reason he had any confidence in their ability to not only survive but win this was the prince and his plan which he honestly was not sure would work.

As if sensing his fear Haeron turned to him, the sight of him in his red dragon styled black and red armour immediately made Jaime think of the great warriors House Targaryen had produced like Ser Aemon the Dragonknight, Daemon Targaryen the Rogue Prince and even the fearsome and terrifying Maegor. But Haeron was nothing like the latter two he thought to himself, he had the mind of Jaehaerys the Conciliator and the arm of the Dragonknight. He would make a good king Jaime thought but what made that thought more certain was that the prince seeing his fear took a moment to reassure him.

"Breathe Jaime. Let your training speak for you, you will be fine." Haeron told him with a hand on his shoulder. Jaime honestly was so reassured by the certainty in his eyes and felt so much better it made him wonder if he had an older brother would he be like Haeron Jaime thought to himself. He vowed to certainly be as good a brother as he could be to Tyrion.

Seeing the Lost Legion begin to charge at them but Haeron and his men held their ground before he called out to them.

"SHIELDS!"

The men immediately gathered the rough wooden shields they were carrying and locked them together in front of the formation and above, their ranks stretching to the sides of the street to prevent being flanked while the shields formed a strong wall in front and on top of them.

As the sellswords made contact they were impaled on fishing spears that the sailors were using as weapons or crashed against the shield wall they had created, pushing Haeron and his men back a step but they held their ground. Jaime was helping maintain the wall and was finding it somewhat harsh to be this jammed against other men in such a confined space with wood above and in front of them but did as he had been told. The noise was something he had not expected as yells screams, cries the banging of metal on wood and more filled his ears and it was almost deafening.

Jaime had never imagined it would be like this he thought to himself with fear, battles had seemed so orderly and straightforward in his lessons with the maester or when he had heard other men speak of them but this was far from orderly, it was chaos!

But while the shield wall held the Lost Legion were not so stupid as to keep charging it and stood some way off from it, meaning if Haeron and his men wanted to continue the fight they would need to advance out of their protective zone and risk getting flanked.

But Haeron was already one step of them having anticipated this and began to ring a bell he was carrying, the loud clanging was hard on the ears but it triggered the next part of his plan.

On the roofs of the buildings around them and from the higher windows men began appearing, all armed with either bows or crossbows who then began firing on the Lost Legion. The sellswords were all wearing armour but it was little use under the sudden barrage, causing them to scream in pain as they were hit. Panic began to spread as many were now injured and their organisation began to break down, Haeron watched carefully as this happened and the archers picked off more and more of the sellswords, killing or wounding them waiting for the moment to go on the offensive.

When it finally came he rang the bell again and the shields were dropped while the men prepared whatever weapon they had and the archers stopped firing as they charged at the wounded and disorganised sellswords that were still alive.

Now with a clear numerical advantage they attacked the scattered and in some cases wounded sellswords. Jaime was now finding exactly as Haeron had told him he was finding his instincts took over and he felt his fear diminish easily parrying blows from the sellswords that crossed his path before cutting them down.

Haeron had Crimson Heart out and was proving why he was considered a master swordsman, carving a path through the sellswords with ruthless efficiency. He led men into the Perfumed Garden as the fighting moved inside, the corridors which usually had nothing but courtesans and their clients now had men fighting with swords and axes and with daggers and spears.

Haeron saw a Valyrian man in leather armour come at him but his sword arm was clumsy an easily parried before being struck down. Haeron then arrived in the pleasure garden and found a man waiting for him with a sword in hand. He was Valyrian much like Haeron himself with extremely cold and light pale blue eyes, he was glaring at Haeron as he approached.

"Maekar Grizori, I presume." Haeron said with a cold finality as only one of them would be leaving this garden alive. Maekar snarled at him and said.

"Yes, and that sword and your dragon will be mine before this day ends." Maekar said with anger as he charged, his sword slamming down hard against Haeron before they began to parry each other's blows.

Maekar was a competent swordsman, keeping pace with Haeron for some time but as Haeron began to slowly get the upper hand with his sword damaging Maekar's with each hit, notches forming in it but then Maekar seeing that he was going to lose if this fight continued and feeling some growing panic at the idea of dying ducked and rolled past Haeron, the prince turned ready for an attack which came but not how he expected.

Part of the garden had sand instead of earth so some unique planets could grow there and Maekar grabbed a handful of this sand and threw it in Haeron's face.

The grains went straight through the gap on his helm and into his eyes, Haeron cried out in pain and discomfort as they filled his eyes. But a fortunate swing of his own sword knocked the sword out of Maekar's hand.

The man did not have a second weapon so Maekar went to try and wrestle the sword from Haeron's own grip but Haeron instinctively punched him through his hazy vision and the two men began wrestling with each other, Haeron temporary blinded by the sand knew he was in trouble and concentrated his magic.

Something he had learned while channelling his magic actively he could sometimes feel magic in others around him, everyone had a slight bit inside them not enough to do anything but the slight fragment that might one day allow a descendant to be properly magical. He could feel magic and more to the point he could use it to sense where someone was if they were close enough.

Maekar broke free of his grapple and went for the nearest sword on the ground but Haeron hit him with a Full Body Bind.

"Petrificus Totalus." He said out-loud to focus, hoping his aim was right and the sound of Maekar's body hitting the floor was a relief to hear as he got to his feet and drew Blackfyre, planting it straight in Maekar's now vulnerable back.

Not very honourable perhaps but if his opponent was going to cheat why shouldn't he? He thought as he used some water from the fountain nearby to cheer his eyes and finally was able to see properly again. He saw Crimson Heart on the ground and picked up his sword and returned it to its scabbard. Looking down at Maekar's body he hoped it would be the end of Aerion the Monstrous' legacy for good but as he looked down at his body he saw a large pouch at his waist which had a familiar shape to it. Picking it up he could feel it was not a pouch of gold or the like and was surprisingly light, opening it he could see it was exactly what he thought it was.

A dragon egg, just like the other one except this one was coloured gold and silver with fire coloured veins running along its scaly surface. It was beautiful and now he had a dragon and two eggs in his possession, Haeron smiled as he felt it before putting it back in its pouch which he tied to his waist just in time for Jaime to join him.

"You killed Maekar Grizori." Jaime said with a amazed smile and Haeron nodded and told him.

"I did, now the work to clean up Lys begins. Putting things back where they need to be and then we need to move on. This will be a lot of work." Haeron warned him but Jaime didn't seem to realise just how much work that would take and waved it off.

Haeron decided to keep Jaime as close to him as possible so he could see the reality and know how things worked.

- x -

Perfumed Garden, Lys...Three Days Later...

"I expect that the liberty of women in these establishments is respected, they must not be forced into something they are unwilling to do. Pay must be given for their services." Haeron warned the madams and other people who ran the pillow houses and pleasure gardens. Jaime at his side was literally forcing himself to stay awake as he listened to the boring meeting, he was now starting to get how much work actually went into making things run smoothly but that didn't mean he found it interesting Jaime thought with a growing sense of boredom. Alicys at his side was able to handle it better having sat in on many of her own father's meetings with other merchants but even she was starting to nod off. She would prod him occasionally if she saw him falling asleep and he would do likewise but thankfully it was finally coming to an end.

"Your terms are understood Prince Haeron. And we thank you for returning control of our businesses to us. We will not let them be taken again so easily." One of the madam's told Haeron with a seductive smile on her face, no doubt trying to entice him but Haeron remained stern and merely nodded.

"I hope it will not be challenged again. I wish you all good fortune." Haeron said before getting up and leaving the room with Jaime and Alicys at his heels, both had seen many of the women and some of the men flirting with him but he had steadily avoided them all.

"Your grace, if I might ask...why do you ignore the offers those back there were giving you?" Alicys asked with confusion as many of the men she had met would jump at such beautiful women being thrown their way. Jaime nodded in agreement, wanting to know the answer himself.

Haeron turned to them and seeing no reason to keep it private admitted the reason to them.

"Carelessness during sex is easy, fathering bastards is easy and that can easily come back to bite you as it did my family once before. I am not averse to sex but I will only be doing it with my wife besides, staying true to your partner is the only way to maintain a level of real trust." He said with a calm reasoning as they left the pillow house and returned to the ship at the docks.

Seeing the ship getting ready to leave was something of a relief, they had been here too long and it would be good to go somewhere else Haeron thought with a small smile.

Davos was shaking hands with Salladhor Saan who left with a nod to Haeron as they passed which was returned, they looked over to see Steffon Baratheon and his wife Cassana boarding a ship that would return them to Westeros nearby. It was a shame their business had distracted the lord and lady for several days but what could delaying their return home for a week or so really change? They waved from their ship which Haeron and Jaime returned before they and Alicys boarded the Queen Visenya followed by Davos who was somewhat eager to get underway himself.

However while Kelis was there as she would join them until they were able to at least arrange transport for her back to Naath or they went there themselves, Septon Jonos was standing on the deck helping the men. His presence confused the three of them and Jaime asked him.

"Septon Jonos, I thought you would be staying in the city to help the poor here?"

The man just laughed in his jolly way and told him.

"And miss the chance to see more of this incredible world we live in? Not a chance young ser. I am more than willing to pull my weight on this ship and see to the well-being of the crew. I am sure they might like having someone to talk too." Jonos said with his loud booming baritone.

Haeron wasn't sure having a septon along was the best idea given how they often tended to stir up trouble but Jonos was a different kind of man, much more easy going and if he could help the crew then it would be good to have him around.

"Welcome aboard Septon Jonos." Haeron said before he turned to Davos and told him. "Cast us off captain, its time we headed off to Volantis."

Davos nodded and started giving orders to the crew, some of whom were sad to leave but the idea of new adventures awaiting them made many of them smile with anticipation, and got to work so they could see just what was out there.

Haeron watched from the deck as they left the city and wondered himself just what was to come but there was also the matter of just what he had acquired in this city and what it meant for the future.

He went to his cabin and entered his special trunk, seeing two suits of the Lost Legion armour on display. Greek like helmets with small holes for eyes and a gap for the mouth, a metal chest plate with pauldrons and a leather long sleeved shirt underneath. A skirt of red cloth with leather breeches and metal greaves over the shins on the lower half. The suits also had a large amount of weaponry attached, apart from the twin scabbards on the back they had three daggers sheathed at their waists. One suit that he had taken from a captain of the company had a golden finish to the helmet to denote rank.

The suits were functional and allowed a good degree of protection and movement, with some improvements they would be a good basis for some of his future plans Haeron thought before turning to the two dragon eggs that were nearby inside an unbreakable glass case.

But then he saw something that made his day so much better.

Kara was flying around the room, the little dragon, now the size of a large hound was flying joyously around the room and shrieking in delight which made Haeron smile too. His young dragon was growing up he thought with joy.

The Red Keep, Kings Landing, Westeros...

The sounds of people screaming as they burned to death had been echoing around the Red Keep for so long now that the people had grown worryingly used to it but still in desperation of the great boon Aerys had promised for a real dragon egg many turned up with so-called eggs in hopes of fooling the king but it was never a good enough fake to achieve this. The smell of burned flesh was now so strong that many had taken to wearing cloth masks to cover their mouths and noses which were dipped in flavoured water or perfume to block on the smell.

But fortunately, today would bring an end to the burnings...at least for the moment.

Lord Waymar Royce, the elderly father of Ser Yohn Royce and the current lord of Runestone had made an unexpected trip to Kings Landing. He stood before his king and explained the most unexpected find he and his family had made during recent repair and construction work at Runestone.

"It seems the dragon egg was placed within the cavity in the wall and bricked up by your grace's ancestor Prince Daemon Targaryen." Lord Waymar explained calmly as he presented the green coloured egg with silver flecks covering it. "He placed it there should he ever have need of it and thought no one would look there given his public distaste of the Vale and Runestone."

Aerys took the egg and looked it, almost expecting it to be yet another fake but when he touched it his eyes widened with surprise and then excitement as he realised that after so many disappointments, he had at last found a real dragon egg.

"It is real." Aerys said with excitement and then said without even looking away from the egg asked without even a care for what was said. "What boon would you ask of me?"

Lord Waymar Royce was somewhat nervous as he knew what he wanted was worth a lot and the eyes of Tywin Lannister were upon him with suspicion but he pressed onwards.

"I would ask for Old Anchor and its lands to be placed in House Royce's keeping, House Melcolm has no male heir and a sickly girl that is unlikely to live long. So I would like for House Royce to be given ownership of these lands and I assure you we will ensure the care of Lady Melcolm for the rest of her life." Lord Waymar said with some fear given it was a big request and it would increase his family's holdings by quite a bit not the least of which was giving them a port of their own with a good parcel of land.

Lord Tywin instinctively was going to censure Aerys to refuse but before he could Aerys without even pausing in his admiration of the dragon egg agreed.

"Let it be so. Old Anchor is yours." Aerys said and left the throne room without looking back, leaving Lord Waymar smiling broadly and eager to return to the Vale so he could share this great news with his sons and the rest of his family.

Aerys was so excited that his mood for the rest of the day was joyous and not a sick joy either but genuine excitement which was unnerving to those who only expected the other kind of joy from him, he even was kind to Rhaella that night and didn't beat her before having sex with her.

The fact he had a dragon egg worried some as the idea of Aerys with a dragon to burn the entire kingdom with was the worst possible thought ever.

Should he ever learn how to hatch it.