Like predicted, Cery had punished her for failing. It didn't matter she had seen Oberyn's chambers and gained his attention.

Cora removed the book to see if something was hidden in the back. Nothing. With skilled fingers, she searched through the Prince's belongings. Some books about human anatomy and the history of Oldtown were spread on the bed. Although they could be worth a nice amount of gold if sold to the novices of the Citadel, Cora decided to leave them.

She packed a brazen ring and bracelet, objects the Viper would certainly not miss. Cora spotted Oberyn's collection of daggers, all of them in various shape and length, obviously treated and put away with care. Cora made a mental note to take them on the next visit. It was important to know the surroundings before stealing more worthy things. And thanks to her own encounter with one of Oberyn's daggers, she knew better than to touch them with bare skin.

With surprise, Cora realized one of Oberyn's letters was actually an unfinished poem. How odd the man they called the Viper was an artist at heart.

Cora's stomach growled. She hadn't eaten since a day, a part of Cery's punishment. Instead of stealing food for herself, Cora had spent the morning observing the Prince's chambers. Cora wondered how the Prince could be so careful and accurate in some matters, but absolutely reckless in others. While making his way in the brothels of Oldtown, the Prince left no guard in his chambers. Not even a single servant.

Cora was attracted by the other jewellry, hidden in a box under his bed. A part of her was curious why he had women's ornaments in his chambers. The box had a second floor with vials in various shapes. Poison, Cora suspected. She thought about stealing it, as present for Foxtail, Cery's favorite poisoner.

Suddenly, steps approached, making the wooden floor croak. Quickly, Cora replaced the box and adjusted her dress. It was to late to flee anyways. Obviously, her observations had been wrong. Oberyn was not supposed to return for a few hours, or his visit in the brothel would be more than short. Maybe he did sent a guard, but Cora was skilled enough to take care of it.

-„Lady Coraline." Oberyn entered the room and spread his arms as if he wanted to embrace her. Cora spotted no signs of surprise in is eyes. „Did you find something you like?" he asked with a mocking smile.

A trap. Cora's cheeks burned. She could slap herself for not thinking of it. No guards, a long visit in the brothel, Oberyn's belongings openly spread in the room? Even a blind amateur would have realized it.

Cora set her eyes on the Prince and blinked. „I just found it, my prince."

-„Ahh, sweet Coraline, I hoped you learned your lesson. I don't like flattery and lies."

Again, Cora felt like a bloody beginner. How could a dornish noble be so... exhausting?

-„Good for me I don't lie." she replied and Oberyn approached. He cupped her face and kissed her, and Cora was immediately reminded of his hot skin and demanding touch.

His hands left her face, and one found his way between her legs. Cora played along and moaned softly, but Oberyn's hand travelled higher, under her dress, finding the –

-„Ahaa." Oberyn said with a grin and wiggled his finger like he scolded a child.

He removed the hiddenpackage with the bracelet and the ring. A sigh escaped Cora's lips.

Apparently, she made one mistake after the other with this Viper.
-„Why those trinkets?" he frowned with the jewels in his hands . Cora pressed her lips together.

Oberyn watched her with his black eyes, as if she was an interesting object he studied. „I admit I hoped you would come back here, yet I didn't believe you were truly a thief until now."

Cora smiled to herself. This meant he had not noticed the absent amulet she had taken the last night.

-„What did you think I am?" she teased, turning Oberyn's attention to something else than her thievery.

Oberyn shrugged. „A whore maybe? But now that you came back to steal, I believe you have even more interesting activities."
Cora tried not to be offended. On the other hand, his assumptions based on her quick approval of his „reward", so it wasn't completely out of place for him to think she belonged to the many pleasure houses of Oldtown.

-„My activities are my business." She answered smoothly.

-„Dear Coraline, I am a Prince of Dorne. Your activity will be my business If I command your punishment for stealing. Thieves lose a finger here, don't they?"

Cora shivered at the thought, but being caught was always the risk of her profession.

Her fist intend was to play weak and sorry, but her intuition told her otherwise. Oberyn was intelligent enough to see through her deceptions.

-„I don't want to lose my fingers, so what is your desire, my prince?" she asked. Oberyn stroke over his thin beard, pretending to think.

„I want answers to my questions. I love riddles, and you are quite the one. If you lie, I execute the King's justice on you." He threatened and Cora looked down to the floor, like if she was ashamed.

Three. Two. One. She counted in her mind.

Quicker than Oberyn expected, she slammed her foot against his knee, making Oberyn fall down. Cora ran to the door and was almost out of the chamber when a hand grabbed her ankle. Before she could react, Oberyn pulled at her, so that she fell down lengthwise.

She coursed internally. This Viper was obviously meant to be her downfall. She was Cery's third best thief in Oldtown, one of his most discreet and successful employee.

But Oberyn Martell was as quick as a snake. With a kick, she wriggled herself out of his grip. Before she could get on her feet again, a spear slammed in the floor just an inch away from her nose. The top was digged deeply into the wood, and Cora held her breath.

-„Will you behave now?" Oberyn asked playfully, his face not betraying any sings of anger.

He offered his hand to help, but Cora ignored it.

Her dark glance made him chuckle, and he gestured towards the bed. „Sit down, Coraline. Sit down and solve the riddle."

OoOoO

Oberyn was very satisfied with himself. His trap had worked wonderfully, as soon as he was gone from the chambers, a woman with black hair sneaked inside.

He couldn't tell why he believed she would return. Maybe because most of his women returned after a night with him. Or because his sunshaped amulet had been stolen, and some thieves liked to tap the full potential of a Prince's treasures. Her attempt at running away had been very amusing, but it revealed the skills of someone who had to escape on a daily basis.

Coraline sat on his bed, her hands folded together and her face calm and unreadable, while her blue eyes observed him silently.

She wore a very simple dress, light blue fabric wrapped around her body and fixed with two leather straps around her waist. Oberyn considered her as pretty. Maybe not the beauty men would start wars about, since she had thin lips and a strong jaw, but they gave her the appearance of someone fierce and determined. The black shining hair enhanced the vibrant bright blue color of her eyes.
Oberyn noticed two small scars, one right above her lower lip and and one under her eyebrow.

-„So, Coraline, tell me. Yesterday, when you saved me from the hidden snake – did you initially intended to rob me?" he asked, sounding friendly and polite.

-„Yes." She answered shortly and Oberyn rubbed his hands. Now she was finally telling the truth.

-„Why did you save me instead?" This as a more difficult question, he saw that as her eyes began to look around in the room instead at him.

-„I don't like killers." Was the answer, which gave nothing away for Oberyn except that she didn't intend to kill him.

-„Do you know many killers?" Again, her eyes met his and she smiled.

-„Yes."

-„Why do you think this merchant tried to kill me?"

Coraline shrugged. She seemed more interested suddenly, Oberyn noticed. „He wasn't a very good hired killer. In fact, he was an amateur." She explained.

-„Why do you think that?"

-„Because you live." Coraline answered very matter-of-factly. The Viper took a chair and sat down in front of her, so that his knees almost touched hers.

-„Maybe the person who hired him is not familiar with this field of activity. Or the person wished to threaten, but not kill you. But most likely..." she stopped, as if she had told him way too much. Her eyes began to roam the room again, but Oberyn was intrigued.

-„Tell me, Coraline. Please." Oberyn pleaded softly, anticipating her answer. The way she spoke about hired killers was unagitated but still with interest.

-„An uneffective attack can be used as a distraction, my prince. The person may strike again when you feel the safest."

Cora was telling her target the truth. Something she couldn't recall ever happening before. But Oberyn Martell, with his seductive smile and dramatic gestures, was stripping her of every defense she normally build against strangers.

To justify herself, Cora reminded herself that helping Oberyn find his killer was helping her to gain his trust. Trust was a mistake, and mistakes made the lives of thieves much easier.

-„How do you know all this?" he asked, and Cora resisted the urge to roll her eyes. They had already settled she was a criminal. „Because everyone who lives in the streets of Oldtown knows such things." She hissed, nerved by his constant smiling.

-„Did someone teach you?" now, Oberyn was asking dangerous questions. Cora would not live to see another day if Cery learned she was talking about him.

-„A shadow taught me." Her answer was indefinite, giving nothing away about her employer. Yet it was not a lie.

Cery was a shadow. Most thieves never saw him, although they spend their days working for the master. Cery provided shelter, food and company for talented thieves and in return, they would deliver their hauls to him. He sold stolen objects to rich buyers and distributed missions if customers asked for special objects. Cery's network led every thief working for him to prosperity and safety.

Oberyn watched her silently, his eyes betraying his curiosity. The he stood up and reached for the bracelet and ring Cora had attempted to steal.

He laid them into her hands, and Cora could only stare at him in confusion.

-„Take this. I heard your stomach growling earlier. This will buy you a meal."

-„I don't take donations." Cora growled. She may be a thief, but she had her pride anyways.

-„It's an offer. I obviously need someone to protect me, someone who knows the ways of criminals. I need a shadow to teach me." He grinned at his last words. „You can have fair payment, food, everything you need, Coraline."

Cora stared at him. She didn't know what shocked her more. The fact he was ready to trust her, or the possibility of not working for Cery. His offer was tempting, yet Cora doubted she could trust the Red Viper.


Thank you for the amazing response! I started writing this story now and it's divided in three parts - one in Oldtown, one in Sunspear (including Ellaria and the Sand Snakes) and the last one in King's Landing (events of Season 4)
I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Have a nice day, xoxo & Liebe Grüße