Her headache was getting worse and worse. Coraline blamed it on the insufferable noise in the tavern and ordered another beer. Her contact was too late. She impatiently started tapping her foot on the ground, nervously letting her gaze wander around.
"Ahh, here she is!" a rough man's voice sounded over the chatter of the crowd.
"I thought you'd never come" Cora muttered, massaging her temples with the tips of her fingers.
"Well I had some trouble finding you here in this dark corner" the man heavily sat down on the chair in front of her. His double chin vibrated as he laughed a deep, humorless laughter. "So you got yourself in trouble?" he asked and Cora nodded. "I need to get out of the city by night."
„Ahahah" he raised his finger pretending to scold her, "I'm sure I can help a damsel in distress."
Coraline was thankful for the few contacts she had made during her stay in Sunspear, yet she did't know if she could trust the Merchant. This was not Oldtown. There was no net of spies and thiefs that protected her, no secrets she could use to control the man.
"Meet my guide tomorrow at sundown" the fat man grinned, taking the last bit of coin Coraline had left.
Nymeria had felt confident and righteous earlier. But now, a little voice awakened inside, making her painfully clear how wrong she had actually been. Her father was incredibly angry at her, more than he'd ever been before.
He didn't even yell at her. His stares were enough for her to realize she had gone one step to far. Coraline the thief was gone, although the palace was full of guards. And Oberyn blamed Nymeria.
He didn't speak to Ellaria, he didn't speak to Doran, he simply roamed around in the palace glancing hatefully at everyone who dared talking to him. His behaviour was nothing like she was used of her father.
"Nym, you shouldn't worry too much" Adrianne's voice interrupted her thoughs. The Princess of Sunspear took her hand, but Nymeria sighed. Adrianne's lover, Ethan accompanied her, always staying in Arianne's shadow.
"He will not forgive me" Nymeria said, biting her lip as she tried to hold back her tears. She never cried.
"Eventually, Oberyn will understand you only wanted to protect him. This thief was only one of his lovers, and he may favored her, but in the end he will find somebody else. I can speak with Ellaria, if you wish. She always knows how to cheer him up" Adrianne offered.
Nymeria looked down at her slender hands.
"This time it is different. I can feel how much he misses her and resents me for driving her away. What if I was wrong? What if she really didn't steal the documents?"
Adrianne shrugged, but Ethan's low voice answered: "Then you only have one choice my lady Nymeria."
It was sundown, but it was still hot and Cora's headache had gone worse.
She stood in an little alcove, just next to the spice market. Thick layers of smells and noises made it impossible for Cora to clear her thoughts.
High above the merchants' tents towered the palace, and Cora couldn't help but feel a sharp pain in her chest as she thought of Oberyn. She had left him, left the palace behind, but still she was stuck in the city. A part of her wished she could simply walk back to the man who had offered her a new world.
A small brunette walked past her, brushing her arm, and for a second, Cora could see her familiar face.
"Adrielle?" she explaimed, instantly grabbing the girl's wrist.
"Coraline" Adrielle didn't sound as surprised.
"The Merchant sent me here to be your guide" the servant whispered and for a second, Cora was unable to move. "You work for him?"
"Obviously" Adrielle grinned and blinked.
Coraline scolded herself internally. Of course, the only reason she befriended the servant that fast was because were from the same world. Little, sweet Adrielle was a spy, a woman who worked for a criminal.
"Oberyn let the guards search through the whole palace to find you. They gave orders to roam the cities as well" Adrielle explained quickly, „The Viper is desperate to get you back."
Cora shrugged, determined to stay calm and unaffected. But her heart beat almost painfully hard in her chest.
"Now listen. Everyone thinks you're already gone. I don't get why you didn't leave this morning. The Viper, the Sandsnakes, they all assume you're on your way to Oldtown."
"Why are you telling me this?" Cora whispered and pushed Adrielle into the alcove.
"I paid the Merchant for a guide" she added, but Adrielle shrugged. „We are friends, after all. I need to warn you. Lady Nym left the city a few hours ago on a horse. Not long after, Ethan, Adrienne's lover followed through one of the secret passages out."
"I don't care what Nym does!" Cora exclaimed angrily, but Adrielle didn't even blink.
"We saw Nym and Ethan leave on the road towards Oldtown. I informed the Merchant as it is my job, and trust me Cora, you want to know what he told me."
Nymeria was thankful as the wind got a bit fresher. Unluckily, it would get cold in a few hours. The sun was sinking, blending in with the sand of Dorne. It was stupid to simply leave without knowing Cora's exact location. But her intuition told her it was Oldtown where Cora would head towards, and there was only one main road to the city.
Sunspear was gone out of her sight, when suddenly Nymeria's horse stopped. Within seconds, Nym was dragged from her horse and blindfolded. She grabbed for her knife, but something hard hid the woman's head and a few breaths later, Nymeria was unconscious.
I finally finished the Sunspear part and now I'm really excited for you guys to read it! :D I think it's great to see finally more of Dorne on the show. thank you so much for your reviews! xoxo & liebe Grüße