After seeing the five girls sitting by the long table, William silently gave Erren a big thumbs-up in his mind.
The most eye-catching, of course, were the two enchanting and identical girls sitting opposite. No need to ask—just by their long, pale yellow hair, it was clear they were the famous Fowler twins, Jeyne and Jennelyn. Next to them, a woman in a purple robe radiated elegance; her bright eyes shimmered, her skin was whiter than snow, and her long black braids hung in front, tied with red cords intertwined with golden threads that sparkled in the candlelight.
"Fair-skinned, beautiful, graceful, black braids, black eyes, high cheekbones, full lips, and attached to the Fowler twins—no doubt, this is the second daughter of House Sand, Nymeria Sand," William nodded to himself.
The two girls on the same side of the long table were also stunning. In short, this table offered a feast for the eyes, instantly washing away the fatigue of their long journey.
Compared to other places, Dornish women were cheerful and open. Seeing two unfamiliar men take a seat didn't make them shy; they just looked at them with curiosity. It was Erren who became a little bashful, and William, frustrated by his timid nature, had to take on the task of breaking the awkwardness. Clearing his throat, he said, "Good evening, ladies. I am William Whent, and this is Erren Florent. Please forgive our intrusion; may we have the honor of making your acquaintance?"
The other four girls all looked toward Nymeria.
Nymeria, sitting directly across from William, glanced at the two unexpected guests. Noticing the large bat emblem on William's chest, she smiled slightly, but her gaze was not warm. "Magic Knight!"
The girls giggled. The twins, sitting beside Nymeria, looked at William with interest; their fiery gaze made him slightly uncomfortable.
"Seems we're not exactly welcome—strange," William shrugged nonchalantly. "Indeed, I didn't expect my reputation to have reached Dorne, I am truly honored."
Nymeria's gaze grew colder. Fearing she might say something even sharper, William quickly turned to greet the twins. "You two are so beautiful and identical, you must be Jeyne and Jennelyn Fowler. Thank the Seven—not only did they grant the world such beauty, but they doubled the blessing."
The twins giggled, their bodies moving in perfect sync. One said, "Thank you very much for your compliment, Ser William. I am Jeyne." The other quickly added, "I'm Jennelyn."
Erren cleverly greeted the girl beside her and learned their names: Valena and Teola Toland, daughters of the Lady of Ghost Hill.
After the introductions, William looked at Nymeria with a bit of pride—now you can't chase us away.
Indeed, Nymeria could only nod gracefully. "Good evening, gentlemen. I am Nymeria Sand. My father is Prince Oberyn."
Unlike William, who had long known this, Erren was slightly surprised. When greeting, Erren politely said "Lady Nymeria," while William addressed her as "Lady Nym," which caught the attention of the other girls: Are you familiar with her?
Soon, the servers began bringing the dishes, and the group started chatting while eating. Surrounded by such beauty, William couldn't help but get carried away. Having lived two lives, he had a repertoire of jokes, dropping them according to the topic. The girls, unaccustomed to such humor, were delighted, laughing uncontrollably. After a few rounds of wine, not only did the twins start calling him William more intimately, but even Nymeria's expression softened slightly when looking at him.
However, William gradually noticed a small issue: the twins' attitude toward Nymeria wasn't particularly close. Of course, they were still respectful, seemingly treating her much as they treated him. Could it be that Nymeria hadn't yet bonded with the twins? The twins spent the evening listening to his jokes; would Nymeria think he was in the way?
"No wonder there's an empty seat at this table—there's a bodyguard… Oh no, will she think I'm trying to court the twins? I hope she doesn't resent me."
Looking toward the raised platform, William asked, "Lady Nym, could you introduce the distinguished guests on the stage? As a junior, I ought to pay my respects."
Nymeria naturally did not refuse and carefully introduced each one.
In the center was Franklin Fowler, Lord of Skyreach and guardian of the Prince's Pass. "The Old Hawk—just as formidable as his reputation."
Beside him was her father, Prince Oberyn. "As expected, my instincts were correct."
Then Nymella Toland, Lady of Ghost Hill. "This is the mother of the Toland sisters, quite beautiful, though widowed."
There was also Harmen Uller, Lord of Hellholt Gate, and Mors Dayne, Lord of High Hermitage, among others.
"Thank you very much, Lady Nym," William said sincerely, hoping she could hear his thoughts: The twins are yours! He then smiled at the girls. "Ladies, I'll take my leave for now. See you shortly." Raising his glass, he left amid their pleasant "Please, help yourself" and "See you soon."
Nymeria watched his retreating back for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
The toasts went smoothly. The "Old Hawk," Franklin Fowler, sharp-eyed and the host, first thanked William for traveling such a distance to attend, then asked about Walter, whom he had met during the campaign against Greyjoy seven years prior. The other nobles offered only brief words of encouragement.
Although the Red Viper gave him a slightly strange look, he ultimately just nodded without saying much. As he approached, William sensed the magical energy emanating from her—it was faint and seemed different from his own, Margery's, and Malora's, as if it were merely a residual aura picked up from prolonged contact with magical items.
"Looks like the Red Viper really knows magic, though probably only in potion-making and the like," he thought.
On his way back to the long table, he deliberately veered to the side to watch the performers, hoping to give Nymeria a little more time. Suddenly, a voice came from behind him: "Ser William, you seem quite interested."
William turned around to see Nymeria, who had somehow moved closer. They exchanged a glance and, almost instinctively, stepped into a quiet corner.
To bridge the gap between them, William boldly made a suggestion: "Why don't you just call me William? I'll call you Nym. How about that?"
Nymeria let out a soft chuckle. Dornish women were open and spirited; such a small breach of etiquette didn't bother her. "Alright, William. How did you come to Skyreach? The road from Oldtown isn't easy."
"I was invited by Lord Franklin to attend the tournament. By the way, Nym, am I famous in Dorne?"
"Somewhat. Many nobles know of you. Lord Tyrell writes letters boasting of his brave second son, and he always mentions you, his trusty aide."
William smiled. "Then I should thank Lord Tyrell. But once this tournament is over, the people of Dorne will see that my undefeated record is well-deserved."
"Oh? The bards sing your tales, starting in Horn Hill—valiant Garland and the Magic Knight William, a fated meeting, a legendary battle," Nymeria said with a teasing smile. "And… you lost."
That was awkward. "A-ah, that was just an accident, purely accidental."
Nymeria covered her mouth and laughed softly. Unconsciously, they moved closer, and William caught the subtle, refreshing scent she wore, stirring his heart.
Nymeria glanced at him, her eyes shimmering.
After a pause, she suddenly asked, "How did that little rose of yours taste?"
William was taken aback. He understood she meant Margery, but taste? Seeing his astonishment, Nymeria seemed a bit surprised herself. "You fought two hundred Ironborn for her, and you never… touched her?"
William realized what she meant. Good heavens—could first-time acquaintances of opposite sexes really discuss this? He had heard Dornish customs were liberal, but this was extreme. Although his fight with the Ironborn had other motives, he answered earnestly, "As a knight, protecting the weak is my duty."
Nymeria, of course, scoffed at this and made a peculiar expression. "You're not still a virgin, are you?"
"Of course not," William said, trying to steady his heartbeat. "Why don't we talk about Jeyne and Jennelyn? You don't seem very close to them either."
"I was worried you'd try to seduce them," Nymeria finally giggled, linking her arm with his and pressing close. Leaning toward his ear, she whispered, "Little boy, let me teach you—then maybe you'll have a chance to compete with me for Jeyne and Jennelyn."
Her voice was low, yet full of temptation. William's heart raced uncontrollably.
"Eh, someone's at our table—I'll go see who it is." William bolted, leaving behind a trail of bell-like laughter.
William wasn't exaggerating. A silver-haired man stood by their long table, talking to the twins, who looked awkward. Nymeria quickened her pace, whispering, "Drive him off," then passed William and returned to her seat. Seeing William and Nymeria return together, the twins breathed a sigh of relief.
Though they didn't fully understand, it was clear the girls disliked this man. William shrugged and quickened his steps. Slapping the silver-haired man on the shoulder, he startled him into a sharp turn, defensive. Handsome, with a hooked nose, high cheekbones, thin lips, and a strong chin, the man's dark, violet eyes were aggressive, giving an uncomfortable impression.
"I am William Whent. May I ask who you are?" William smiled calmly and slid into the seat beside the twins, securing the spot.
"That's the Darkstar," Nymeria said, then looked at William with a smile and gracefully sat down.