Alyssa IV
3rd Moon, 33AC
Dragonstone was not what one would call beautiful by ordinary standards. The dark grey-to-black color palette left a drab and dreary atmosphere hanging about the castle. Especially when the spring storms arrived and the island was almost constantly being battered by storms that would give everywhere but Storm's End a fright.
Alyssa would prefer a more colorful castle, perhaps like Maidenpool or Highgarden. Alyssa knew of course that Highgarden was a lofty example but she hoped that one day King Aegon's "Red Keep" could rival its majesty. She had flown over Highgarden with her husband the sennight after her wedding and had even gotten the chance to spend a night in its halls. The vibrant colors and stunning decorations were more than enough to leave a lasting impression. Oh, how she could not wait for the building of the Red Keep to be done so she could begin helping with the decorations.
She could already imagine it now, exactly how the walls and rooms would look. From the weirwood furniture, to the tapestries made by Dragonstone's native weavers, to the illustrious paintings imported from Tyrosh or the Reach, to the gold and splendor House Targaryen acquired from the Conquest, not to mention her plans for the godswood.
She spent what must have been moons scouring all the books she could find on flora. She was already making arrangements to import clippings from Highgarden, along with a weirwood sapling from Winterfell itself. Flowers from the Reach were also a must, even if she had to make a glass house to keep them all alive.
This "Red Keep" was to be the symbol of Targaryen power. A stunning red fortress atop Aegon's High Hill, viewable for miles by sea like the Hightower in Oldtown and domineering of the city below like Harrenhal. Unfortunately, she figured it would be up to her to ensure the castle did not adopt the same dreary look her family seemed to enjoy.
Castle Dragonstone was obviously dark and dreary, what with it being molded by the Valyrian stone singers. The very same as the ones who built the bedazzling cities of Old Valyria. Of course, Dragonstone was a military outpost so it lacked the distinctive beauty that the cities on the Valyrian Peninsula of old were known for but it still had a harsher beauty, much like the dragons housed within its Dragonpit.
Meanwhile, her native Castle Driftmark was similarly dreary for less worthy reasons. Her paternal castle was oldand unlike Dragonstone, clearly showing its age. The fortress was quickly thrown up by her ancestors when they arrived on the island and established themselves as lords.
It served them plenty well for the years when they were simply merchant lords, ferrying goods from the Free Cities to the towns in Blackwater Bay, now however? As the second house of the realm? After visiting so very many castles on her husband's progresses. She could not help but feel the castle was inadequate.
'Perhaps Father will build a new one, he always did like copying… err, taking inspiration from King Aegon,' Alyssa thought as she made another pass with her needle. She was currently embroidering a silver seahorse on a teal background.
Her father always was one for grand plans. It was his desire to be the second house in the realm after all. Honestly, her house was lucky King Aegon and Orys Baratheon had a falling out and Argella Durrandon bore him no daughters, for if she had. She very well may not have married her husband.
Alyssa shook away such horrifying thoughts however, especially those deep dark thoughts about how she might have married the other Targaryen Prince if Lord Orys bore a daughter. Yet those thoughts were meaningless, and Alyssa much preferred to think about castles.
Which brought her back around to Castle Driftmark. The interior of the castle was stunning, her house was wealthy and her father and ancestors were certainly not misers. Castle Driftmark was adorned with all manner of precious metals and gemstones. Silver chandeliers, gold-framed paintings, and statues carved in the likeness adorned the halls of Dragonstone, albeit with ruby, sapphire, and amethyst eyes and markings. Yet the actual castle left plenty to be desired.
The interior was plastered, much like the other castles in Westeros but the exterior was salt-stained and dark. It gave the exterior of the castle an almost dirty look and despite it being her childhood home, she was glad she would get a fresh start with the Red Keep.
Then came the least prominent and most forgotten Valyrian stronghold of Westeros. Claw Isle had the smallest castle out of the three Valyrian Islands on Westeros. It was also the most shoddy in its construction. Her father had told her that the Lords of Claw Isle tended to be misers and would rather hoard their treasures, which they apparently had plenty of, instead of spending it on improving their castle.
Alyssa supposed she could not blame them too much, House Celtigar was the least wealthy and least prestigious out of the three original Valyrian Houses in Westeros. The world they lived in was cutthroat and even a single trading ship going down could seriously harm the gold of a family depending on the cargo. She understood the desire to be conservative in the pursuit of victory, especially after she learned firsthand what acting impulsively got her.
"Mother?" Rhaena suddenly spoke and the abrupt end to the silence caused Alyssa to misplace her needle. 'Of course,' Alyssa thought, spying the blemish on her seahorse before raising her head.
"Yes, Rhaena?" Alyssa asked her firstborn. She was mildly upset about her spoiled embroidery but she would make another in the future.
"Why is Aunt Shiera not doing this with us?" Rhaena innocently asked, and Alyssa could just barely prevent a frown from slipping onto her face.
'Aunt,' Alyssa thought, despising the unearned honor. Why should her Targaryen daughter address a whore with that title? Regardless of who the wench was married to, House Qoherys was so far below her own house, let alone House Targaryen that they may as well be smallfolk.
"She is spending the day with her mother, Rhaena," Alyssa replied curtly. She had been doing that more often with her daughter. Rhaena clearly awakened some dragonblood from her bonding with Dreamfyre as her perfect quiet daughter had become remarkably inquisitive and troublemaking.
"Well, why aren't they both here then?" Rhaena continued to press, conveniently not working on her own embroidery of a familiar-looking pale blue dragon on a black background.
"I believe they are with the Shiera's sons right now," Alyssa continued to be curt, hoping that her wonderful, intelligent, ten-name-day-old daughter would catch the hint and switch the topic.
"Well… can I go see them?" Rhaena suddenly asked and Alyssa had no choice but to cough into her hand.
"And why would you want to do that? Don't you want to spend the day with your mother?" Alyssa said with an accusatorial tone. She had deliberately carved out some private time with her daughter, and now said daughter wanted to go spend time with her mother's mortal enemy.
"Because playing with cousin Daeron and baby Baelon is fun, and this is boring," Rhaena said after standing up and placing her needle and thread on a table, along with her unfinished embroidery.
"Rhaena, embroidery is a pastime fit for a princess, you must learn how to do it," Alyssa used the chance to lecture her daughter instead of giving her an answer she could not stomach to give.
"I don't care! I want to go play with Aegon and Viserys and cousin Daeron. Not sit here and stick myself in the thumb a hundred times!" Rhaena descended into a pout, an expression that became much, much, more common on her face after she bonded with her Dreamfyre.
Oh, how Alyssa wanted to reprimand her daughter. Give her a firm "no" and sit her back down to learn more ladylike activities, yet she could not. Rhaena may be her daughter but she was the daughter of her husband too, not to mention the granddaughter of King Aegon himself. Rhaena had thankfully not quite learned it yet but Alyssa feared the day when Rhaena would complain to King Aegon after being reprimanded. How was she to parent a child that held the King's ear?
"Very well, but you will give me a completed embroidery of Dreamfyre by the end of this sennight Rhaena, or I will tell your father you are slacking," Alyssa said through grit teeth. This was her one area of actual leverage. She could still convince Aenys to punish their daughter.
"Thank you, Mother!" Rhaena switched to a cheery expression instantly and practically skipped out of the hall. Alyssa could not help but wonder if her energetic daughter would rush straight to the nursery or find her brother first.
'Hopefully to Aegon,' Alyssa thought as she laid down her embroidery, threads, and needles and stood from her sitting position. She was proud to say that her two eldest got along great. They did practically everything together, and while they were not twins, they worked closely enough in sync for some to believe so.
Her perfect son would protect his big sister from the horrible influence she was walking into. Alyssa knew it, she herself would go but she could not bring herself to be in the presence of Shiera Qoherys, she stomached it for family meals but that was just about all she could manage.
She had hoped that with the banishment of the white-haired whore, Alyssa would never see the traitor or her dangerous husband ever again. Yet this world was far too cruel and unforgiving for such a blessing to make its way to her.
Instead, she was beggared with tales and fictions of Prince Maegor Targaryen's "Esssoi adventures." While the distance left more room for her children to take their rightful place, she still could not avoid hearing of the damnable other half of House Targaryen.
She knew in the back of her mind that she was likely to see them again. What with her husband's bleeding heart and blindness to the dangers his half-brother brought. But she thought she could persuade him to at least keep him and his family banished. In Essos they were a distant concern, no real threat to their children, especially without dragons. Yet her efforts and whispers had not been enough, and worse yet. It had earned her the displeasure of her husband and King Aegon.
Aenys was oblivious for so long, blissfully ignorant of the quiet battle waged between herself and Queen Visenya all those years ago. Yet it seemed he finally caught onto her true thoughts of his half-brother, or at least what he thought her thoughts were.
Truthfully, she did not really care for Maegor Targaryen's children. At least for now, they were of no threat to her or her children. Daeron was a year younger than her own little boy Viserys, who was just barely beginning to speak in sentences. Then Baelon was even younger, not even a year old when the brat arrived on Dragonstone. Then Maegor's third child had not even left the womb yet.
'To think he and King Aegon would think of me so negatively,' Alyssa thought with a frown as she continued to pack her belongings. The night her husband sent the letter to Pentos, he brought her into a private room and with the most determination and strength she had ever seen from her husband, lectured her.
"Alyssa," Aenys said after pulling her into a quiet room. Alyssa was shocked at his forcefulness but she would not say she was upset about it. If she was correct in assuming he pulled her aside for some fun, that is.
"Yes, Husband?" Alyssa responded with just a drop of lust in her tone. Testing the waters so to speak, she could play any role her husband wanted. Yet it seemed she read her husband wrong that day.
"I need you to listen to me, and not talk back," Aenys said with clearly feigned confidence. But she listened all the same. Her husband may be rather meek compared to most but he was still her husband, and it was her duty to obey.
"Of course," Alyssa dropped the lusty tone, a little disappointed.
"I have just invited Shiera Qoherys and her two sons to stay here on Dragonstone for the duration of my brother's war with Braavos," Aenys said through grit teeth like he was trying to calm himself down.
"Wha?" Alyssa began before Aenys continued and uncharacteristically spoke over her.
"They are my guests here, mine and my father's . I do not want to hear anything about you slandering or gossiping about them. Do you understand?" Aenys said with a stern look, one that was not faked.
"What?" Alyssa asked again, dumbfounded.
"I will not stand for any slanderous remarks sent their way by you Alyssa. I know you spread plenty about Shiera in the past and I will tolerate no more. Should you disobey me, I will have you sent to Driftmark for the duration of their stay," Aenys threatened her and Alyssa could only continue to stay dumbfounded, even if she simply nodded her head.
Alyssa huffed while remembering that lecture. King Aegon gave her a similar one a sennight after her husband. 'Do they think so little of me?' Alyssa thought with a frown as he passed a group of guards.
Sure she would happily gossip and spread some half-truths about Shiera under normal circumstances but she did not need to. Frankly, all of her work was already done, Shiera's unofficial title was an open secret around the court. Not to mention, what on earth would she gain from slandering two babes?
She already decided she did not need to slander Shiera any longer, at least not while she was here, even if the dastardly witch was working hard to repair her image with the court. She was making regular appearances with her sons during petitions now. Along with attending balls and banquets. She even worked up a small group of ladies in waiting, even if they were mostly Dragonstone locals or from Pentos.
Ultimately Shiera's stay was temporary, so she could stomach it. So long as she did not get too comfortable on Dragonstone that is.
…
The walk from her room to the nursery was not a long one. Alyssa had been almost ready for bed when she realized she had not bid her wonderful little Viserys goodnight. So she quickly threw on her nightgown and made her way toward the nursery. Perhaps her husband would be a little upset at a delay in their nightly fun but she would make it up to him in the morning.
The guards flanking her left and right, led by her sworn shield and uncle, Corlys Velaryon moved swiftly in the dark halls of Dragonstone. Barely illuminated by the torches that adorned the halls.
'I have heard that oil lamps are better… perhaps I should ask Aenys about it,' Alyssa thought with a smile. Her husband thankfully shared her like of decor. Oil lamps would be more expensive but it was not like House Targaryen was hurting for gold exactly, not to mention that a brighter castle would be good for everyone involved.
Alyssa smiled to herself as she thought up the costs and potential sources for oil. Ib and Lorath were obvious choices, what with Braavos effectively taken out of the market. Then again, perhaps her father would like to muscle into that market. Some more diversified sources of income certainly couldn't hurt, in Alyssa's opinion at least.
In no time at all, Alyssa was standing outside of the nursery, waiting for her uncle to say the password so she could see her darling second son. Her husband's spare and the future hand of the King for her son Aegon.
"Seven and ninety dragons," her uncle said, and was met with an affirmative from the guard inside before the door was opened and Alyssa slipped inside the dark nursery.
Yet she was not blessed with solitude, her old adversary was also in the room. The clearly pregnant white-haired bitch was sat comfortably on Alyssa's preferred rocking chair. With what must have been her son Baelon cradled in her arms.
"Good evening, Lady Alyssa," Shiera said quietly. 'Is her brat asleep?' Alyssa thought before she steadied herself. She was being watched after all. She would be the picture of grace.
"Good evening, Lady Shiera. How are you feeling?" Alyssa offered easily as she moved toward the cradle of her son Viserys. She smiled easily as she stared down at her silver-haired bundle of joy, almost able to tune out what the white-haired bitch had to say.
"Oh I am alright, simply bidding goodnight to my sons, that's all," Shiera said tiredly, it was big news on the island when it broke that Shiera was with child. 'Even more attention on her, of course,' Alyssa thought with a frown as she leaned down to place a chaste kiss on her son's head.
"What a coincidence, I was just here to do the same," Alyssa said quickly, moving to leave the room before she stopped at the entrance.
Why was she fleeing? Why was it her that had to tread lightly around this guest of theirs? She had deliberately been avoiding the nursery for the last few moons. Trying to avoid speaking with Shiera when possible.
'I've been cowering,' Alyssa realized. She had been so hellbent on avoiding Shiera Qoherys that she had been neglecting time with her youngest.
A resolute look of determination appeared on Alyssa's face then. She turned right back around and took a seat across from Shiera. This was a game now, the first to leave lost, and Alyssa intended to win.
"Oh?" Shiera asked, seemingly intrigued at her gesture.
"I must apologize, Shiera. I have been awfully rude to you thus far," Alyssa said the words easily, even if she hated them internally. She had to play glib here, what with Ser Addison Hill and her uncle Ser Corlys listening.
"How thoughtful of you. But you need not apologize. The water is well under the bridge now, Lady Alyssa," Shiera replied with the same fake tone she offered. 'She clearly learned quite a bit from the Queen,' Alyssa thought. The Shiera she knew from when the girl was just three and ten was nothing like the one before her.
"Are you in the mood to talk? I know you must be exhausted with your current condition," Alyssa said with a coy smile.
"Of course," Shiera took the bait readily, before turning to Ser Addison Hill.
"Forgive me for asking, but might you all wait outside?" Shiera asked and Alyssa was stunned.
"My lady, I am afraid I am under orders to guard you," Ser Addison Hill said and her uncle Corlys gave her a look.
"Would you not be protecting me outside of this door? There is but one entrance and it is just myself and Lady Alyssa. I merely wish to have a private chat with my goodsister," Shiera said with a shocking amount of charm. An amount Alyssa did not know her old brazen adversary could muster.
Ser Addison gave her uncle a look before turning back to Shiera. "I am afraid I must insist, my lady. I am under direct orders," Ser Addison said again and Shiera looked at her then, giving an unimpressed look.
'A challenge,' Alyssa thought through narrowed eyes.
"I agree with Lady Shiera. We are but two ladies who wish to have a private talk. Surely you can afford us a few minutes," Alyssa turned up her own charm. Just to be met with the same suspicious expression her uncle had been giving her for a while now.
"I must insist as well, my lady," he said simply.
"Ugh," Alyssa began, dreading the humiliation she would have to endure. "I speak true, uncle, I will behave myself. I merely wish to discuss some things privately with my goodsister," Alyssa said barely avoiding gritting her teeth.
"Your secrets are safe with us, we shall not speak of this to anyone," Ser Addison said again before Alyssa grabbed her uncle's wrist.
"Please, Uncle? I promise to be good," Alyssa turned up the charm as much as she could. She was being truthful too, she had less than zero desire to enter a screaming match with Shiera anyway.
Her beloved uncle, Ser Corlys Velaryon heaved a heavy sigh before turning to Ser Addison. "I heard a commotion outside, let us make sure the hallway is secure," he said in a wonderfully faked tone of surprise and Ser Addison gave him a look that screamed "Are you sure" before her uncle led him and all the guards from the room.
"You have half an hour," he whispered to her and Shiera before they left the room. The new clocks brought from Pentos made timing things like this much easier.
Alyssa turned to Shiera then, and her fake smile turned to a scowl. Meanwhile, Shiera's own smile turned to a look of indifference.
"I must ask, why the challenge?" Alyssa spoke casually, the bitch in front of her did not deserve the courtesy befitting a lady.
"Shhh, we must whisper. They are still listening," Shiera said while pointing to the closed wooden door and Alyssa narrowed her eyes.
"And I must apologize for I must answer your question with another, what challenge?" Shiera whispered with a coy smile hidden in the dark nursery. 'This bitch,' Alyssa thought, already wracking her tired mind to keep up with her old friend, who she was just now remembering was a damn fine speaker.
"You can cut the act, we both hate each other, it is no secret," Alyssa offered a whisper of her own. If Shiera wanted to talk privately she would not mince words. When they were alone, dancing around the subject simply wasted their little time.
"Hate? I would argue that is too strong a word. I would say the only people in this world whom I hate are the Faceless Men, and as many frustrations I have with you, I loath them far more," Shiera said easily, retaining her coy smile. Like a cat that had its prey within its grasp.
Before Alyssa could continue, Shiera spoke further. "Besides, you are the one who asked to chat, I merely gave you the polite reply," Shiera said with a light shrug of her shoulders and Alyssa narrowed her eyes once more.
"Yet you are the one who spends all damn day in here, keeping me from my son," Alyssa accused. Shiera must know, that as much as she hated to admit it, her former friend was smart.
"You are always welcome to join me, King Aegon does frequently, and your husband too. It seems you are the one keeping yourself from Prince Viserys," Shiera offered a retort and Alyssa stemmed the growing rage within her. She would not fall for Shiera's schemes.
"Says the one intruding on our home," Alyssa offered her own remark, aiming to cut deep. Alyssa knew from her husband that Shiera was still dealing with being entirely at their mercy.
"Your home? This was once my home too, you know, and may very well be again," Shiera said with a small glance around the dark room. Likely admiring the statues that adorned the walls.
"Oh? Confident are you?" Alyssa said with a cocksure smile of her own. If Shiera genuinely believed her family would return to this island with no struggle she was wrong. Alyssa did not care if she had to get this island gifted to her son or her daughter, it would not be Maegor's again.
"Aye, I am. My husband still wishes to return here and from the looks of it, yours wants him to come home too," Shiera continued and Alyssa silently stared at her.
"So that is why you are playing nice with the court, despite what they say about you," Alyssa connected the dots. Shiera was preparing for when Alyssa's foolish husband welcomed the biggest threat to their children back with open arms.
"That is some of it yes, although I must say that getting to properly know my goodfamily is nice. Your daughter Princess Rhaena is a sweetheart and Prince Aegon's enthusiasm is infectious," Shiera whispered wistfully. Continuing to rock back and forth in her chair.
"Is that what you are doing now? Getting to know your goodfamily?" Alyssa offered with a little bit of a snicker. 'Is that seriously why she wants to speak with me?' Alyssa could almost break out into a laugh at the notion. Surely Shiera was not so daft.
"No, unfortunately, I already know you quite well. But I am trying to reach an accord with you, even if you seem resolutely determined to hate me until the day you die," Shiera said and Alyssa was stunned.
"Reach an accord with me?" Alyssa asked, dumbfounded.
"Indeed, as much as we may loath each other. You are the one person in the world who I can actually relate to," Shiera said with a sincerity that confused Alyssa.
"Relate to? Oh please Shiera. We are nothing alike," Alyssa offered her gut reaction. She was nothing like the freak in front of her, nothing at all.
"Aren't we?" Shiera simply asked, the sly cunt knowing Alyssa would think about it.
'We are not,' Alyssa thought instantly. All one needed to do was look at their paternal houses and families. Alyssa was a proud member of House Velaryon, centuries-old and one of the wealthiest in the realm.
Shiera meanwhile was descended from some lowborn Valyrian who followed Lord Aenar across the sea. Even if she had some Celtigar blood too. Alyssa was better. Not to mention that Shiera's family was truly pathetic.
Alyssa almost didn't have to do anything to destroy Shiera's reputation. Not only did the bitch's own actions get her in hot water but her family was a mess. A spendthrift mother, a destitute and dying father, and her brother was Gargon "The Guest."
Shiera's brother was quickly earning a reputation in court. His frequent escapades into the brothels of Harrenton spread far and wide and the scandal that he spawned on his wedding night was so bad it was talked about in King's Landing.
The manwhore visited a brothel on his wedding night, afterthe bedding. House Lychester was positively apoplectic upon learning of the act and Lord Daeron Qoherys had to spend even more of his dwindling funds to placate them. Now his escapades drew the attention of the whole Riverlands, each one another stain on House Qoherys's honor.
Alyssa was also the typical Valyrian beauty. Silver hair, purple eyes, and unblemished pale skin. Meanwhile, Shiera was an albino, with white hair, red eyes, and skin the color of milk. A freak that wasted her perfect figure.
Alyssa tried to deny the hint of jealousy in her mind when she first laid eyes on Shiera Qoherys again. Despite being a mother twice over, Shiera had a nigh-perfect body. A large bosom, thin waist, wide hips, and long, alluring legs. Meanwhile, Alyssa was still plenty able to turn heads but she was still working to lose the weight gained during her latest pregnancy. She was nowhere near what could be called fat but she certainly weighed more than Shiera, despite being shorter.
Yet Alyssa ran out of differences there, and so her mind had to turn to the dreaded similarities. First off, they were both Valyrians, even if Shiera's looks did her true blood a disservice. They were both from a dwindling people, bereft of their homeland.
Next, they were both mothers. Alyssa thrice over and Shiera soon to be thrice over. Motherhood united nearly all women in the world. So Alyssa could begrudgingly admit they were alike in that way.
Yet it went beyond that. They were both mothers to Targaryens. Their children were so far above their station that it beggared belief. She had already bemoaned her troubles in parenting Rhaena. Knowing that Shiera would one day have her own struggles brought a smile to Alyssa's face.
The last key similarity was they were both married to a Targaryen as well. They were blessed with the opportunity to be a part of, even if only nominally, the greatest and most powerful family in the world. They both bedded princes and they both bore them sons and heirs.
So Alyssa cursed Shiera, for making her think that while they were not perfectly alike, there was enough there, enough unique similarities there that Alyssa could not refute Shiera's sentiment.
Shiera gave Alyssa a look that screamed "I thought so," and the cocksure smile nearly sent Alyssa over the edge. 'This bitch, what does she want?' Alyssa thought with a frown.
"So what do you want in this accord? I think we both know we can never be friends again," Alyssa spoke the obvious aloud. The chances of her even being friends with Shiera again were precisely zero, no matter how much her husband willed it to be.
"Oh absolutely not," Shiera said with a smirk and almost a chuckle and Alyssa felt insulted, despite sharing the same sentiment.
"I merely think it is prudent to come to a sort of understanding, neither of us like each other, neither of us will ever like each other. But we need not pass down our hate to our children," Shiera's previously cocksure tone turned to one of complete seriousness in an instant, it was almost uncanny.
"So that is what this is about?" Alyssa queried.
"Indeed it is, we are both mothers to Targaryens. We need not let our feud divide them, especially because they are likely to marry one day," Shiera offered diplomatically and Alyssa recoiled.
"Marry one day?" Alyssa said with a face of pure disgust.
"Ah, it seems we are more alike than you thought," Shiera said with a light chuckle that bordered on a full laugh before beginning again. "I dislike the notion as well, but it is not up to us now is it?" Shiera said with a cocky smirk and Alyssa quickly grew enraged, raising her voice from a whisper to normal speaking.
"That will never happen! Nor will the need arise! I will give my husband as many daughters as he needs!" Alyssa said with venom dripping from her tone.
"It is not I, but your husband you should be angry with, Lady Alyssa. For I share your same sentiment. If I had my way, each of my sons would marry a daughter, as a Targaryen should. But we do not get to have our way, Lady Alyssa," Shiera said with another coy smile as the door to the nursery opened again and the Kingsguard entered once more, spurred on from her momentary outburst.
"We shall see about that!" Alyssa whispered harshly before making for the exit. She had a visit with her husband that she needed to attend to. She had succeeded in providing her husband a daughter once already, she would do so again.
Maegor XXI
4th Moon, 33AC
"Are you sure about this?" I heard Rego say from behind me and I merely nodded as I looked over my masterpiece. A real, honest-to-goodness body double.
"Indeed I am, if he is in this armor the Faceless Man will be none the wiser," I said as I attached the shoulder plate to my willing sacrifice. The armor was a little too big for him so I had to be meticulous with my help, thankfully, my quite experienced squire Dick Bean was also helping me.
"I get that, but are you fine with using a body double? He will almost certainly be poisoned," Rego continued and I could hear my willing participant's breath hitch a bit. I gave him a firm pat on the shoulder to try and calm him down. If his death was to be an agonizing one, I promised to mercy kill him already.
"Why do you ask? It is not like he is a slave, aren't you Donero?" I said and spoke to my completely still body double.
"No, m'prince, I'm a free man," he said quickly and curtly. I could not exactly blame him, he was in all likelihood about to die after all.
"Still, this seems a bit out of character for you. Shouldn't you go out and challenge this faceless fucker yourself?" Rego asked and I could only smirk at my friend.
"Ah I would love to give the dickhead outside the same treatment I gave his brother," I said while making a crushing motion with my hands. It had long since become public knowledge that I not only killed a Faceless Man but did so bare-handed too. If the city was not so damn paranoid I think the singers would be making a mint.
"But?" Rego said, doing a once-over of my nearly complete plan.
"But I imagine he will be using poison, and will attempt to act more discreetly than his brother from the previous attempt. I am guessing a small poison dart. Which this plating, mail, and cloth will hopefully stop," I began before tacking on the last part.
"The first used poison too right? Why fear poison this time?" Rego asked as me and Dick moved onto the shins, we were almost done.
"I mean, we suspect, he did. Given that I did not die, he might not have. Or maybe I burned it all away. Regardless, I would rather not test that again even if we have two dozen antidotes on hand," I said as I pulled tightly on the straps that held the shins in place. My body double was of similar height to me but he was probably twice as skinny as myself.
"Very well, as long as your conscience is clear. I wouldn't want your head to not be in the game. We have a hell of a lot of gold to make," Rego dismissed after a shrug and I merely smiled at him.
'Greedy asshole,' I thought with a smile. Rego Draz was undeniably greedy. He loved gold and little else, but it also made his allegiance remarkably easy to earn. All I had to do was clue him into my money-making schemes and ventures and I would get access to the greatest known economist, besides myself of course.
"You done over there, Dick?" I asked my squire, who was diligently working to keep up with my pace.
"Yes, my prince. I am just finishing up with the padding," he said as he also pulled tightly on the buckle inside of the plate.
This suit of armor I had prepared was really a marvel. The goal of course was to make sure my body double survived. Mostly because finding another human who was even close to my size was a challenge in and of itself, but also because I would rather not waste the life of such a dedicated man.
"What about you, Donero? Are you ready to make the world a better place?" I asked my lowborn volunteer.
"I don't much care about the world, m'prince. I just want my family to be safe," Donero said in his usual quiet voice, I could hear the distinct echo that came from the inside of my helm.
"Right, of course. Then let us finish our deal so I fulfill my side of it, yes?" I said with more than a little excitement in my tone. The prospect of finally ridding the world of these freakish monsters was making me giddy. Mostly because it meant that I was one step closer to seeing my family again, including my pregnant wife.
"Yes, m'prince," he mumbled inside of his too-large helm again and I patted him on the back.
"Alright, Dick. You know your part in the plan right?" I had to double-check with my squire. He would help sell the farce.
"Yes, my prince. I am to converse with Donero here and lead him to Terrax," Dick said, clearly nervous. Not that I could blame him, he would be in grave danger, but it would all be worth it when the last true threat to my life died like the dog he was.
"Right, Donero," I said as I pulled my surprisingly light body double to his feet. 'Damn I think the armor weighs more than he does,' I thought with a frown. If I were a bit more patient perhaps I would wait to fatten my body double up a bit more to make it more convincing but if the Faceless Man inside the city heard that my mother attacked Lorath he could flee into the wilderness, and we couldn't have that.
"Yes, m'prince," Donero said with his body now shaking more.
"Hey hey, stop shaking," I said as I steadied my impromptu friend. "You are going to be a hero, and you might not even die. There is a possibility of course but remember our deal?" I gave him the best little pep talk I could, given the crowds outside of Illyrio's Manse would be expecting me very soon.
"Yes, m'prince. If I live, I get my family a nice big farm out in Andalos. If I die, my family gets my weight in gold," he said with a little more confidence. All things considered, I thought it was a pretty good deal. Given he was a borderline gutter rat before I found him.
"Your weight in gold, and the weight of that armor too, now then. Get out there and drag the rat into the sunlight," I said as I patted him on the shoulders again.
As the door opened I quickly slipped from view but I could hear the cheer rise up from the crowd outside. I had made it known that I was healed and many gathered to see me, exactly how I wanted it.
This whole plan revolved around predicting the movement and actions of a faceless monster. So to draw him out, I spent the last moon preparing my trap.
First had come reports of my being back to full health. I had spread them far and wide amongst the city. Every slum, every mansion, every market, every dock. All of them had people saying the words they all wanted to hear. Prince Maegor was back to full strength and would be flying to fight the Braavosi soon.
Then came setting the trap itself. I had decided to play into the symbolic meaning of my seaside manse. I sent Terrax there ahead of time and I declared publicly that I would walk there to prove the Faceless Men were of no threat to me. It was arrogance to the extreme but it would also hopefully either draw the Faceless Man into trying to prove me wrong or anger him into making a foolish mistake.
Next, I acquired a body double. Which might have been the hardest part if not for Illyrio and Rego. My freakish size and body did me a few favors when looking for a proper body double. Thankfully they did not need to look like me or I would have been well and truly fucked. No, my armor obscured basically all of my distinguishing features so I just needed someone about my height.
Tasking Rego Draz and Illyrio with finding someone was the right play. They scoured the city and found a twenty-year-old man. With aging, ailing parents. Along with three younger sisters. A perfect target to be bribed.
Our deal was simple. He would put his life on the line and in return I would lift him and his family out of poverty. He agreed readily and I spent the last sennight preparing him for the role.
The real hardest part was organizing the death of the Faceless Man. There were easily five thousand people outside, crowding the edges of the clear street my body double was walking down toward my seaside manse, or what was left of it anyway. With a lot more in the surrounding streets.
Thankfully, I was rich and there were many soldiers and guardsmen who wanted gold. So I dispersed around five hundred men. From my own Black Company soldiers, to Rego's guards, to Illyrio's guards, to Pentoshi militiamen. I picked from many sources and told them what to look for. Then I promised them the Faceless Man's weight in gold should they bring him to me, alive would be nice but so long as he was dead I did not really care.
Every house had at least two men on every level. Every window overlooking the pathway was either covered by a guard or sealed shut. Finally, there were dozens of small alleyways and paths between the buildings being watched. If the Faceless Man was inside the crowd, he would not escape, and if I had to kill five thousand people to kill the last Faceless Man, I would do so with a clear conscience. It was for my family after all, and I would do anything to keep them safe.
So I looked on from the small, shaded window that Illyrio provided me and I watched as my slow, shambling body double-made his way down the wide, paved streets of Pentos. Each step he took, wobbly but explainable given that I was apparently on bed rest for several moons, was met with applause from the crowds. Which were reaching in and trying to touch the armor.
'I'll have to make Dick clean it if this works,' I thought with a frown as hundreds of unwashed hands grabbed and wiped on my stunning black armor set.
I watched intently, waiting for the smallest sign of commotion. Any inkling of the Faceless Man being discovered. Before it happened, in an instant, the crowd screamed and my body double recoiled in pain. But he did not double over, instead, he pulled a man from the crowd.
"What?!" I yelled, hastily rushing out the door. I did not need to fear for my life given I was wearing a spare suit of armor but I had to close in and figure out what happened. The guards on duty quickly tried to disperse the crowd as Donero grappled with someone on the ground.
The crowd seemed shocked to see me before it went eerily quiet. Soon enough the only sound that could be heard was the commotion on the ground as two dozen guards closed in and seized the attacker.
"Donero! What happened?" I asked, trying to pull him to his feet but it did not work.
"M'prince. You said that whoever captured him got his weight in gold. Do I get his weight and mine?" he asked and I realized he was practically whispering. I looked at his wrists and found there was a puncture hole.
"Indeed, your family will receive the gold and the farm. I thank you for your service," I said as I took his hand in my own. He died for me, I would happily keep my word.
"Thank you, m'prince," Doreno said as he lay on his back, his breath was haggard and I could almost hear him choking. Not wanting him to suffer any longer. I drew a small blade from my boot and drove it into the base of his skull, up through the neck, and right into the brain.
'Now then,' I thought with a frown on my face as my eyes rose to meet the false eyes of my would-be attacker.
"How does it feel to get captured by a simple beggar?" I asked the creature held down by close to half a dozen men.
"I feel nothing, you may kill me but more of my brothers shall come. You will never be safe, for our god has marked you for death. Chosen to give you the gift. You may not refuse," the creature said through muffled words as his face was firmly pressed against the pavement.
"That is where you are wrong, cretin. You are the last of your kind," I said kneeling down to look him in the eye.
"Your brother in Lorath? My mother killed him two sennights ago. He burnt to death on a fishing trawler. Your previous two companions were killed by my mother too. One got lucky, another got tortured to death, and she peeled all the skin from his flesh. You are the last," I spoke with almost glee in my tone. I could not help but take joy in watching this disgusting monster's life and world collapse before him.
He seemed to struggle harder after I told him that, but the guards did a wonderful job and kept him still. I moved my hand to my hilt and drew Dark Sister, the shining Valyrian Steel blade glimmered in the afternoon sun. Before I lowered it in a single swift motion and penetrated his throat. I would let him drown in his own blood. I was of the opinion that a quick death would be too good for him.
…
Terrax touching down inside of the Black Company camp was met with a chorus of cheers resounding all across the camp. My army, which was on paper led by me, would finally follow me into battle.
'I suppose many have waited a while for this,' I thought as I climbed down the ropes hanging off Terrax's body. I could not quite tell where my excitement for battle began and his ended. We were excited for different reasons, of course, I wanted to see my family again and he wanted to taste blood in his mouth and eat Braavosi but the feeling of excitement was the same.
The main recruiting drive for my army came from soldiers who wanted to serve under me. To fight beneath a dragon and earn glory and riches for themselves. I had so far failed to live up to that promise. Yet now it was time to fulfill it. A potential sack and looting of Braavos would make each and every soldier in my army richer than their wildest dreams, along with bathing them in so much glory they could coast off the achievement for the rest of their days.
The wealthiest and most powerful Free City. With enough gold and resources to make the Lannisters blush. With a population three times that of Oldtown. Defeated and humbled for around a year. Each and every soldier in this army could claim some of the loot and share in the glory, which is everything that they signed up for.
"I suppose it is time we finish this," I said as I walked up to meet with my lieutenants and tired-looking mother.
"Indeed it is, we are ready to march at your command," Aeron said with a light bow and I could not help but raise an eyebrow.
'Don't tell me, Mother got you too…' I thought with a momentary frown. First Shiera, and now possibly Aeron. I would be having a proper conversation with her and my wife after this war. I had been letting my mother act with impunity for the last few years and all it had netted me was a wife with a disgustingly pathetic view of herself. It was a problem for the future, however, as we had a war to win.
"At my command, hmm?" I said, pondering what to do. Do I march my men through the night and get to Braavos sooner, end the war sooner? Or do I rest my army and march them in the morning? The sun was already setting, and there could be small forces of Braavosi in the hills leading to the lagoon fortress they had to have erected in the last few moons.
"Tell the soldiers we march at dawn," I told Aeron, who nodded and then passed the command along. The men gathering around me quickly dispersed back toward their tents.
"So they are all gone then?" I heard Jasper ask then and I simply nodded. With the Faceless Men out of the way, Braavos was all but defenseless.
"Yes they are, now let us focus on the war at hand," I said as I moved toward the command tent. I am sure they had one hell of a debriefing for me.
My lieutenants and mother walked with me. My mother looked exhausted, which was a new look for her. It honestly made me a little worried, I did not know if I had ever seen my mother actually tired.
As we all made our way to the tent, I pulled my mother aside and whispered to her. "Do I need to be concerned?" I asked, knowing that she would not find my concern amusing.
"Not at all, this is merely the backlash for using the glass candle in the way that I did. After Braavos is defeated I would like to rest for a while, however," my mother said with a small smile and I shared her sentiments. I wanted nothing more than to hold my wife in my arms, take my sons into the sky atop my dragon, and be there with my wife when she welcomed our third child into the world.
The last was unlikely to happen, however, much to my disappointment. The business with the Faceless Men did not take as long as I imagined it would but it still took too long. Now we had at least three sennights of marching, and that was assuming good weather. By the time Braavos fell or surrendered, the army marched back to Pentos, and my full dominance of the city was secured. My son or daughter could very well be half a year old.
"Got it, so no more wars," I said with a small smile as we neared the tent.
"I did not say that. You should never take the threat of war off the table. Regardless of how tired of it you may be," my mother gave me her lecturing gaze.
"Right, right, I doubt I could even take it off the table even if I tried. Unfortunately, it seems to follow me," I said with a frown. Honestly, this whole mess should never have happened. If the Dothraki were a non-issue. I would have contented myself with a nice little mansion in Pentos. If the Braavosi did not attack me, I would have contented myself with being a wealthy magister. Yet now I was going to be the leader of a de facto empire. All because I could not escape the war.
"Is it unfortunate that your enemies seek out their own destruction?" my mother said with a small smile on her face. She was clearly proud of her destruction of the Faceless Men, as she should be. That feat will long outlive either of us in the legends. Two dragonlords destroyed the entire order of Faceless Men. The songs and stories practically wrote themselves.
"You dabbling in philosophy now?" I asked with a small smirk and she returned one along with a shrug before I led my mother inside the command tent, after ensuring that she found her seat. I took my own and began the last war planning session until we reached the Braavosi lagoon.
A neat and orderly stack of papers was placed in front of me and I could only marvel at the fruits of my efforts, along with those of the ones who implemented my plans. I would need to applaud Aeron and my lieutenants later, the army was clearly running well. A clean camp, command held, and morale was high too.
"Right, number of soldiers seems right. Pentos will supply us by sea once we reach the Lagoon. Do we have enough supplies to get us there" I asked Aeron.
"Yes, we may have to ration some supplies but we should have enough," Aeron said with a curt nod and I returned one of my own. Rationing supplies was never popular but neither was starving to death. So I would accompany the soldiers on their march to Braavos for morale and then use either my or my mother's dragon to ensure that supplies got through by sea.
"That is fine, let the commanders know. I have already prepared some supply ships and making regular shipments should be trivially easy now that the winter is gone," I said as I scanned another document. The handwriting was neat enough but it reminded me of my pet project.
I had been searching for an artisan with the skills required to make a printing press for a while now but I had yet to find one. I might just need to guide one along in the process as best I could.
I knew the basics of a number of inventions and how most of them worked. I simply lacked the skills or memory of how to make them. Thankfully, the people of this world were plenty smart when they had the right incentives. Which was reassuring for my long-term plans.
"And the coastal fortifications?" I asked nobody in particular and was met by the voice of my mother.
"I destroyed them a sennight ago. Nothing but rubble and grass stands between us and the Braavosi Lagoon. We can march right along the coast," my mother said calmly and clearly. She was excellent in her ability to hide her tiredness.
"Excellent, supplies checked, equipment checked, fortifications wiped out, it sounds like we are good. Any questions before we begin our march?" I asked the table and was met with a few shakes of their head before Aeron spoke up.
"What will we do if the city surrenders?" Aeron asked quickly, which was a good question. We had been operating under the notion that Braavos would fight to the end, but if they surrendered?
"We loot the Iron Bank for everything it is worth. We scour the rubble of the House of Black and White for whatever payment Braavos made to the Faceless Men and we force them to sign a harsh treaty. Those will be our terms for surrender," I said and was met with a chorus of agreement. Honestly, the Iron Bank was the main prize, everything else was trivial in comparison.
"Then shall we turn in for the night? We have a long march ahead of us," Ser Gawen said and his input was also met with an overwhelming amount of nods.
"Very well then, tomorrow the war with Braavos finally resumes," I said with a smile.