The Ironborn smiled happily as he saw his men, the battles had been excellent.
A couple of dead, but the thrill of taking lives, dishonoring the nobles.
It reminded him of Pike's rebellion.
The man smiled wistfully, while looking around.
The fortress was on fire.
His men came out with gold and jewels in their hands.
Others preferred meat, and carried women, nobles, and commoners, hanging from their shoulders.
Wives of Salt.
Rewards of war.
"The price of iron" he whispered happily.
He looked closely at what were formerly called the shield islands.
Euron snorted.
"What a shield, those weaklings didn't even last an attack" he muttered, looking at the burning fortress.
"The Hewetts turned out to be nobodies, the old man was arrested while he was enjoying his bastard " Euron laughed.
Humfrey Hewett's bastard, Falia Flores was taken as a reward, by him.
She was a reasonably attractive woman for her seventeen years.
Euron left her in her bed, perhaps he would make her a wife of salt, or he'd just kill her.
He didn't really care.
The first attack on the Dominion was made.
Now all that was left was to enjoy its rewards, and then another house would fall, and another, and another.
' I think it would be best to attack one of the dominion forces... Yes, why not, I'm prepared... The Tarlys will fall ' he thought.
"And then the entire domain will pay the iron price" he finished with a smile.
XXXXXXXXX
Ned Stark cursed Euron.
Everything was falling apart now.
Two fronts, plus the war against the Lannisters.
Euron attacking the domain.
Tywin's dogs dominating Dorne.
And the attacks against the Riverlands by the Lannisters.
"The division of powers must be made" He heard Robb say.
He looked at his children.
Rickon listened to what was being said, somewhat distracted. He had left the Mormonts as escorts and guards of Storm Bastion.
Bran had returned with the sole purpose of reporting directly to his father on the situation in the Storm lands, he had gained a level on the trip, he was level 25 with 7 skill points.
Robb had spoken to his wife and Margaery, and they seemed to get along relatively well, unlike his wives, Catelyn and Ashara. But Ned believed they would make a good shared marriage.
"It seems you won't be returning to the storm," he said to Bran.
He looked at him.
"I could ask for men there," he said.
Ned looked at him but didn't decide any of that.
"Right now, I must go to Dorne, my marriage to Ashara gives me political power, protecting the Dayne from their enemies" he informed.
"In that case, even though my engagement to Lady Margaery is only verbal, it still gives me certain rights over the domain," Robb said.
Ned nodded.
"Not rights, but certain priorities," he said.
Bran nodded.
"It's better that I go with Robb, my proximity to the storm lands could give me an advantage with the nobles, the fact that I killed Melisandre who burned several of the domain's soldiers alive could help me too" Bran said.
Ned thought about it for a few moments before nodding.
"And what about the nobles who don't support Gendry?" Robb asked.
Bran smiled wryly.
"Arya is clearing up the storm as we speak," he said.
The others let out a sigh of frustration.
Ned shook his head.
"I'll leave Aegon in charge of the army and the defenses of the Riverlands," Ned said.
Robb nodded.
"It's time for me to gain prestige," he said.
Bran nodded.
"Then I will go with Robb, to the Dominion and Rickon will go with you to Dorne" the boy finished.
"It's for the best," Ned said.
Their children disappeared.
Ashara came to him.
"Should I go with you?" she asked.
"No, our wedding is done, the Daynes must know that, I prefer you here, I don't trust all our men, Cat is smart, but I think you can help her in the negotiations," he said.
Ashara nodded.
"Sounds good to me," she said.
Ned said nothing for a few moments.
"Aegon must be prepared, Sansa, she will be a queen, as a Saint she will do well, and she is a better politician than me" he informed.
"Sansa is safe, both Catelyn and I will make sure she knows what to do," she told him.
Ned nodded.
"I haven't been to Dorne for a long time... Do you think they remember me?" He asked with some amusement.
Ashara raised an eyebrow.
"They will remember you"
XXXXXXXXX
Jon watched the waves of the sea patiently as he headed to his final destination.
His enemies.
Those who attacked.
Those who paid others to do their dirty work.
Bravos.
"Once I'm done, I'll return to Valyria" he whispered.
Or so he hoped.
He was worried about things in Meeren.
His latest information was that Robb left for Westeros with Jorah.
Something strange.
Jorah would not leave Daenerys' side, unless she ordered it.
Which meant that things in Meeren should be over or relatively good.
But something about that made him uncomfortable.
The death of Oberyn Martell was a hard blow.
Jon heard of the rebellion in Dorne, but nothing more.
He planned to eliminate the Dornish traitors when he was done in Bravos and had enough men.
But something told him that his family would take care of it.
He bit his lip at the lack of information.
His father had left the team.
Arya didn't say anything to him.
' Next time I level up, I'll put Robb on the team... That way he'll tell me things himself ' the boy thought.
Robb was more understanding than his father.
At least that's what he hoped.
Their stay in Valyria made them see the changes between the two, but they remained close.
"Your Majesty, we are two hours from our objective," said a soldier.
"Very well, prepare the messenger"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Rhaenys placed a rose on the grave.
At her side was her aunt and sister-wife.
She placed a hand on her shoulder.
On the other side, her cousins the sand snakes, Obara and Nymeria Sand who placed the two white roses on the grave.
Oberyn's fall left them with a bad taste.
Even though her father's death was terrible, the way he died was even more so, not a legendary battle against the mountain.
Not even against a warrior.
Against a vile mercenary who was paid by an empire that had nothing to do with him.
A noble sacrifice, saving his daughters from a flying knife coming at her.
But still, unfair.
He could not avenge Elia, eliminate the mountain, or Tywin.
But they would do it for him.
"I'll make them pay...I promise" she muttered.
The snakes said nothing.
They would say goodbye to their father in their own way.
Obara with her spear at the Martell enemies.
Nymeria with her charm, tricking enemies until they paid for what they did.
Rhaenys believed that her cousins would ensure that Oberyn had the peace he deserved.
"I must save Dorne" she muttered.
"The Starks will help, they are probably doing so now," said Daenerys.
XXXXXXXXX
Tyrion Lannister walked through the markets with his escort, the death of Oberyn Martell was a hard blow, but he did not go to say goodbye.
Not because he had anything against it.
Out of respect.
He was a Lannister, and Oberyn would certainly have preferred to see him far from his grave.
Tyrion thought back to the days before.
The defeat of Yiti's mercenaries was cheered by the city.
Oberyn was honored beyond any he could be given in Westeros.
But Tyrion knew he didn't care.
Oberyn was passion with feet.
He wanted revenge.
Justice.
Not honors.
He shook his head and looked at the people in the market.
"Look at this glass cup" the Dwarf heard.
He turned to see the citizens.
He looked curiously at a girl, about seventeen to twenty years old.
The woman looked similar to him for some reason.
Blonde, short, with gray eyes.
Tyrion noted that these were strange traits for Meeren.
' Why does she look so familiar? ' he wondered.
He looked at the blonde with the man, and felt a sick feeling in his stomach.
"She looks like Tysha" He muttered confused.
He stayed for a few moments, until the young woman left the premises with her partner and he followed them from a distance.
They came to a house with brown doors.
A woman was waiting for them there.
About forty, slender with dark hair with some gray.
Tyrion felt like he was going to suffocate at the sight of her.
"Tysha?"
XXXXXXXXX
Jon listened attentively to his men.
It was located a few kilometers away from Bravos, in the open sea.
He sent a letter to the iron bank.
An ultimatum
As he had done in Qarth.
Or what Robb did in Pentos.
War policy.
' Personally, I would just incinerate them, but that's war ' he thought.
He knew they weren't going to give up.
They were unable to accept that they lost.
Jon didn't care.
Once the Iron Bank was destroyed, once he finished off Bravos, he would also obtain the resources from their vaults.
Gold and treasures that had been accumulated over thousands of years.
Debts of thousands of lords.
Even though this war would be for an attack against them.
Their rewards would be something that would help sustain any army in the wars to come.
A soldier entered the room.
Jon watched him approach.
"There is no response from the bank, but warships are approaching," he said.
Jon nodded without surprise.
"Bravos closes its doors, Valyria opens them" Jon reported.
The others saw it.
He got up from his seat.
"With your navy ready. Valyria takes that as a response from Bravos… Prepare yourselves"
XXXXXXXXXXXX
A couple of days had passed since Oberyn's death.
Her cousins remained, along with her squadron of Dornishmen, as Rhaenys' soldiers, or protectors.
Daenerys accepted that.
Rhaenys spent a lot of time with Nymeria, she felt comfortable with the girl, while Obara never stopped training.
"Your majesty" She heard.
She turned around and saw a soldier.
"A lord from Yiti has come," he said.
Rhaenys arrived at the meeting room and saw Daenerys talking to a Yitian-looking man.
"Oh Rhaenys, meet Xuan Xing," the queen of Meeren told her.
The man stood up and bowed in greeting.
"Lord Xing, I came on behalf of Xian Lee, the political rival of the current Emperor of Yiti," He said.
"Oh," She murmured confused.
"Our people have been killing each other for long enough," said the man.
"It wasn't Meeren or Valyria that attacked," she said.
The old man nodded.
"The emperor is an old man with nothing to lose, he doesn't care about his people as long as he makes money," he told her.
"And Xian Lee does?" she asked.
The old man nodded.
"He doesn't want war, he doesn't want slavery. Xian Lee is a good man, and he loves his people" He told her.
"Are you here to negotiate on his behalf?" she asked.
The man nodded.
"Our men return home defeated, the emperor humiliated, the people in fear," he said.
"All the perfect ingredients for a rebellion," Rhaenys said.
"Rebellion is a very strong word," the man said.
"What would you call it?" she asked.
"Change of leadership," he told her.
Daenerys laughed at what he said.
"The problem is that if we intervene, it will give Xian Lee a bad name, we can't win his crown," He told her.
Rhaenys looked confused.
"And what do you want for negotiate for?" she asked.
Daenerys smiled.
"There are several ways to help, military, political...and let's not forget the most popular economic one," she said.
Rhaenys raised an eyebrow.
"As the queen said, the future emperor wants to ask for a loan," he said.
"We are not a bank," she said.
Daenerys nodded.
"Yes, but giving them some capital could help Meeren, and once the new emperor is crowned, the laws of Valyria would be followed by the new government of Yiti," He said.
"Not counting that we will refund everything requested within a period of five years with an extra 5%" the man concluded.
[T/N: Fuck Patreon, truly. You have probably read it in my note, but I got hacked or something, and my account was deactivated without warning.
I did not receive a warning or anything; there was over 300 chapters.
So here's the new deal, as I have probably said, I will be in mass releasing a fuck ton of chapters.
But, I will only be posting chapters here from now on.
If you wish to donate still, my Ko-fi is still up, and it's still the cheapest, with prices ranging from $1 to whatever you want. But don't feel obligated, as everything will end up here eventually.
ko-fi.com/puddinglord]