Allyria

Allyria Nymeros Martell woke up early in the morning to the ringing of bells. Opening her eyes and looking around, it took a few seconds for the princess to remember that she wasn't in her own chambers back in Sunspear, but in the cabin of the Divider, a longship captained by the ironborn pirate Albion Greyjoy. She heard the ringing of bells again, accompanied with some unintelligible yells. She dressed up with haste and made her way out to the deck.

"My princess," Ser Mateo Toland greeted her at the door with a respectful bow. The Toland knight was one of the seven royal guards to accompany Allyria on this mission. He was a thin and tall man, who had just recently had his thirtieth nameday. He had sharp green eyes, curly dark brown hair and a thin mustache, and his choice of weapon was a spear. "Did you break your fast yet? Captain Albion has informed me that there are fruits and wine in the cabin, as well as…"

"What is going on?" Allyria cut the knight off with an impatient tone, gazing at the pirate fleet around them and seeing the crews of every ship getting into work as their captains roared commands at them. "Are the Stormlanders here?"

"Yes, my princess, King Vyros's scouts have spotted the approaching fleet and given us a signal to prepare for the battle," Mateo explained calmly. "It'll be at least an hour before they are here though, and the Divider will keep a good distance from the fighting. In case the fighting turns against King Vyros's fleet, Captain Albion has promised to deliver you safely back to Sunspear."

"With a Stormlander fleet at our heels," Allyria remarked with a subtle gulp.

"These pirates all seem quite confident that they can defeat the Stormlanders, if that is of any consolation, my princess," Mateo said. "And if by chance the Stormlanders are victorious, the battle is sure to greatly reduce their numbers. Perhaps even enough to deter them from attempting to enter Greenblood."

"I hope so," Allyria responded with a sigh.

A little over an hour went by, before the Stormlander war galleys appeared from the north. Allyria watched by the railing of the Divider as the pirate fleet of Vyros Nahyr ambushed them, ramming them from the side and proceeding to board them. They were several hundred yards away from it all, but the water carried to them the sounds of hulls crashing, steel clashing with steel, and the screams of agony as the killing began. She had spectated jousting and tourney melees in the past, but this was something completely different. Men were dying on those ships, dozens, no, hundreds of them.

"Wouldn't mind getting in on that action," Samwell Dayne said with a wistful tone, leaning on the railing.

"Our duties are with the princess, Ser Samwell," Ser Boran Sargen sternly reminded the younger knight, who merely rolled his eyes at the remark.

"I for one am glad to remain on the sidelines for once," Albion Greyjoy claimed with a thin smile on his pale face. "The thrill of battle is enticing, but too much of it will make a man lose his mind."

"Or his life," Ser Boran added dryly. "I've lost many comrades on the field of battle, many of whom were just as eager as Ser Samwell here to charge into their demise."

"They died for a good cause, Ser Boran," Allyria joined the conversation, her tone a conciliatory one.

"You're right, of course, my princess," the older knight conceded with a respectful nod. "To die fighting for a noble cause is honorable. However, to die in pursuit of personal glory… It is merely tragic." Ser Boran gave a meaningful glare at Samwell as he spoke those last words.

"I guarantee you, good sers, most of the men dying to Stormlander blades on those ships right now aren't doing it for personal glory, or a noble cause for that matter," Albion said calmly. "They fight and die for simple and honest loyalty to their captains and brothers in arms. And well, perhaps as well for some hope of seeing a meager share of whatever rewards and plunder their captains lead them to."

"And what makes these men so loyal?" Allyria asked.

"For most of them their crews are the closest thing they have to a family," the Greyjoy captain answered, a piercing gaze in his blue eyes. "To fight and die for your family, for those you care about… it might be the purest thing in the world."

The fighting went on for another hour, before the remaining couple dozen Stormlander ships retreated to north. Soon after that Vyros Nahyr's fleet headed east to the Stepstones. According to legends Westeros and Essos had once been connected by a land-bridge, and the rugged isles known as the Stepstones were what remained of that land-bridge after the children of the forest had used their magic to raise the sea and shatter it. It had happened thousands of years ago, Allyria remembered Maester Olivar telling her.

Two days after leaving the Dornish shores behind the fleet arrived at a town, which the pirates called Torturer's Deep. It was a peculiar settlement, built into a narrow and shadowy cove with wooden platforms constructed along the cliffsides and connected with rope bridges. At the very end of the cove stood an old stone fort, which apparently acted as King Vyros's royal seat.

A feast to celebrate the victory over the Stormlanders was held in the fort that evening. The main hall of the fort was small and drab in comparison to that of Sunspear, but nonetheless Allyria couldn't claim the pirates of Stepstones to be sparing when it came to their festivities. The tables were filled with food and wine, musicians played strange and fast-paced songs throughout the evening, and beautiful Lyseni dancers danced to them. Allyria noticed Samwell eyeing those dancers lustfully a few times, which made her feel a bit jealous. Does he ever look at me like that when I don't notice?

"Princess Allyria," King Vyros spoke to her as they were starting the third course. "Last time we had a conversation, I answered to your questions."

Allyria looked at the pirate king curiously. "And now you have some for me, I take it?"

"Just one," Vyros responded with a reassuring smile. He gulped down his wine before continuing. "I was curious, now that we have defeated the Stormlander fleet, do you think your mother, Princess Nymeria, might be willing to form a more permanent alliance with me?"

Allyria took a sip of the wine, considering for a moment what her mother would answer to such a proposal. "My mother's primary concern is the safety of Dorne and her people."

"Of course," Vyros replied softly. "However, as a Rhoynar migrant she of all people knows the threat that the Freehold of Valyria poses to all of us who have a wish to remain free."

"And you believe that together we could resist that threat?" Allyria asked calmly.

"I believe that sooner or later it will be the only choice we have."

"I see," Allyria said, feeling slightly unnerved by the mere thought of dragons threatening Dorne. She had never seen one, and after hearing the stories about them she never wished to see one. "I cannot speak for my mother, but I do believe she shares your interest in resisting the Valyrians."

The pirate king grinned and slapped his hands together. "That is all I can ask of her."

As the evening went on Allyria found herself socializing with Sam, Fenris Snow, Faye Morrigen, Tyra Iheira and Arthur Jast at the lower tables. She asked Fenris questions about the North, Faye about Stormlands, Tyra about Tyrosh and Arthur about Westerlands. Fenris told her a story about how he came face to face with a bear in the Wolfswood when he was thirteen. "Thank the gods the bastard wasn't angry or hungry and left me be," he concluded with a thin smirk. Arthur then told about a great tourney in Lannisport he had attended as a twelve-year-old boy, describing with wonder in his eyes the glorious sight of a field filled with colorful pavilions and banners of noble houses, as well as knights in shining armors facing off in the tilts.

Late in the evening Faye excitedly told Allyria and Tyra about a talking pet raven she had had as a child in Crow's Nest. They all laughed with tears in their eyes as the Stormlander girl explained how she had taught the bird to say 'stinky' whenever someone entered the room. Tyra then told about how she had once bedded a Lyseni pirate who had a pet parrot, which kept babbling on about raising the sails while they had sex.

Allyria was noticeably drunk when at last the feast was over and Samwell escorted her to the chambers reserved for her in the fort.

"Oh Sam," she purred with a seductive tone as they arrived at her chambers' door. She bit her lip and put her right hand on the handsome knight's chest. Samwell looked surprised by the princess's advancements, reacting with a tense chuckle. Gently he removed Allyria's hand from his chest and kissed her on the forehead.

"Sleep well now, princess," he said politely, before taking his leave.

Allyria woke up feeling dizzy next morning. Her memories from the night were blurry at best, but she did feel a sting of regret as she remembered Samwell rejecting her. By gods, what a fool I am.

After lunch that day the Outcast Company prepared to set sail again, to take Princess Allyria and her guards to the Skulls to meet the Crimson Prince. King Vyros came to the harbor of Torturer's Deep to bid them farewell.

"Good luck, Princess Allyria," the pirate king said with a charming tone, taking Allyria's hand and kissing it softly. "Please, come see me again once you've concluded the negotiations with the Crimson Prince."

"I will," Allyria promised with a thin smile. "You have done a great service to the Principality of Dorne by fending off the Stormlander fleet from our shores. I shall do my best to repay that favor to you."

The atmosphere aboard the Divider was tense as they left Torturer's Deep behind. The crew was clearly nervous to leave the waters controlled by King Vyros, and Allyria noticed Samwell avoiding her as much as he could. I am here to serve my mother and the Principality, Allyria reminded herself while sulking in her cabin. Everything else is secondary.

By the noon of the second day since leaving Torturer's Deep they reached the Skulls, which were the Stepstone isles located closest to the Heel of Essos. Unlike the rest of the Stepstones they were thickly forested, making them the perfect place for a rebel faction to hide in. And indeed, it didn't take long for them to come across a patrolling ship flying the blood red banner of the Crimson Prince. The ship was captained by a tall and lanky young Rhoynar man with dark olive skin and long black hair. He was clad in a leather vest that left his chest bare, and Allyria noticed several old scars running across it.

"Arano," the young captain introduced himself, a mistrustful look in his green eyes as he looked at Albion and Allyria. The Princess then introduced herself in Rhoynish and told Arano that they had been sent by King Vyros to meet the Crimson Prince.

"We were told Vyros would send an envoy, but I wasn't expecting a princess," Arano spoke with a respectful bow to Allyria.

For about an hour the Divider followed Captain Arano's ship to the north, finally arriving at the mouth of a small river on the eastern coast of the largest of the Skulls. They rowed upriver for a couple hundred yards, until arriving at a small camp where half-a-dozen ships were anchored. Hakon Sparr and few others remained to guard the ship, but the rest of them were led by foot upriver deeper into the forested island. Finally they reached a waterfall deep in the forest, and Arano led them through it into a large cavern illuminated by torches. There were small ponds of water here and there, and dripstones hung from the ceiling of the cavern like massive spears.

"This is your hideout?" Allyria asked with an admiring tone as she eyed the dozens of people inside busy with their chores. Most of them looked Rhoynar, but among them were also ebony-skinned Summer Islanders and fair-skinned men whom Allyria assumed originated from the northern parts of Essos. There were hardly any children among them, and for every woman Allyria spotted there were four or five men.

"One of them," Arano responded with a smirk. "Come, let me take you and Captain Greyjoy to the Prince."

Arano then led the two of them deeper into the cavern, where they found a large tent guarded by two Rhoynar warriors clad in scaled armors and wielding halberds. Arano explained to them that with him were the envoys sent by King Vyros, to which one of the guards nodded and entered the tent.

"The Crimson Prince will meet you now," he said as he came back out from the tent, holding the door flap open for them. With a respectful nod Allyria walked in, Arano and Albion coming in her coattails.

A comfortable armchair was situated in the middle of the room, and on it sat the man Allyria deduced to be the Crimson Prince. He was a muscled and olive-skinned man on his mid-thirties, with a close-cropped black full beard, medium length hair, determined golden eyes and a scar running across his forehead. He was clad in relatively simple grey-and-black cotton and leather clothes, but over his shoulders was donned a bright crimson cape. By his side stood a blue-eyed warrior woman on her mid-twenties, clad in steel and bronze and carrying a curved sword on her hip.

"Crimson Prince," Allyria greeted the man with a deep bow. "I am Princess Allyria Nymeros Martell, the fourthborn daughter of Princess Nymeria of Dorne. With me is Captain Albion Greyjoy of the Outcast Company. We come here as envoys of Vyros Nahyr, the King of Stepstones."

"I have great respect for Princess Nymeria," the Crimson Prince spoke up with his deep voice after having eyed them for a moment. "She led a great number of our people to safety after the Second Spice War was lost. May I ask, Princess Allyria, what exactly is your mother's affiliation with King Vyros?"

"King Vyros' fleet fended off the Stormlander fleet attempting to invade Dorne," Allyria explained calmly. "In return I agreed to act as an envoy in His Grace's negotiations with you."

"Negotiations?" The Crimson Prince asked nonchalantly, to which Allyria nodded.

"He wants to form an alliance with you."

The prince let out a small chuckle and turned his gaze down for a moment. "I have my doubts about that," he said with a sigh. Allyria raised an eyebrow, measuring the prince with her eyes for a moment as she considered what to say next.

"What exactly makes you doubtful, my prince?" she asked.

"I suspect my ambitions differ wildly from those of Vyros Nahyr," the Crimson Prince answered. "You see, unlike him I am not interested in carving some petty kingdom for myself here in the Stepstones and hoping to be ignored by Valyria. No, I wish to wage war against the tyrants who murdered and enslaved our people, burned our lands and destroyed our cities. I wish to free as many as I can from the shackles of the dragonlords, and I do not intend to stop before I am dead or there are no more slaves left to be freed."

Allyria gulped subtly at the fury and intensity in the Crimson Prince's eyes as he spoke. For a moment she was stunned, unsure how to react. "Your… your goal is noble," she finally managed to utter. "However, if the Freehold of Valyria is to be your enemy, you will surely need as many allies as you can get. Perhaps my mother and Vyros could be such allies, they have no love for the Valyrians."

The Crimson Prince narrowed his eyes and stroked his beard. "Maybe," he conceded quietly. "However, first Vyros must prove that he is committed to our cause."

"And… how should he prove it?" Allyria asked carefully.

The Crimson Prince stood up from his seat and walked at a table by one of the tent's walls. Allyria and Albion followed him there, and the prince rolled open a map of the Stepstones and the Heel of Essos. He then put his finger on a symbol depicting a fort on the coast of Essos, slightly to the north from the Skulls.

"Maroon Fort," he said calmly. "One the most important shipyards of Tyrosh," he continued, nodding at the Free City of Tyrosh on the map, located to the north of both the Skulls and the Maroon Fort. "Thousands of slaves work there."

"You plan to free those slaves," Allyria deduced, and the Crimson Prince nodded tensely.

"The fort is heavily guarded by a professional sellsword company, so even if the slaves rise up in our support taking it over won't be easy," he explained sternly. "However, a couple crews from Vyros's fleet could certainly be helpful, as well as prove him to be a worthy ally."

Allyria then explained the Crimson Prince's proposal to Albion in common tongue. The Greyjoy captain looked a bit suspect of the plan, but after a moment of consideration he nodded. "I shall sail back to Torturer's Deep and inform King Vyros of this proposal," he said calmly. "I am sure he will see the benefit in aiding the Crimson Prince's cause. You can expect me to return within a fortnight, hopefully with a few more ships."

"While we wait for King Vyros's response you are welcome to remain here, princess," the Crimson Prince said with a smile after Allyria had translated Albion's answer to him. "Amongst my people."

Allyria nodded. "Our people," she confirmed, shaking the prince's hand.