Willliam Darry
Dragon Stone
Two weeks after the exposure of the Wildfyre plot
When Ser William Darry heard the news of Aery's death and the fall of the capital he was devastated. The young prince, his sister and mother had done nothing to deserve the deaths they suffered. And that beast of a usurper was little more than a spiteful hypocrite. Few men who proclaimed such devotion to a 'stolen' bride had such a queer way of displaying it. Reports had him celebrating his 'victory' with a new whore every other day. It was even said his brother both tried to downplay and curtail his excess with his ungodly inventions.
He snorted, thinking of the 'diaphrams' and treated animal intestine 'condoms' of which the man made a version for female harlots to use. When he though of the label each container held 'for the prevention of the transmission of pox' and the graphic pictorial description of use said ire increased. And the storm lords decried the Targaryens for heresy and sexual deviancy, the nerve! His masters had unlocked the secret of the devices and their true purpose was to prevent the drunken lecher from making more bastards. "Prince" Stannis ought to geld him or better yet apply his perverse 'wrong brother' claptrap to his own family. The bastard had increased his broher's popularity among the commons and nobles by focusing on the crimes of Aerys to point that many even blamed him for those of the Baratheon's and his dogs.
Yes, Aerys had been stockpiling that green fire in the capitol and yes he was paranoid, but he would never have burned his grandchildren alive. He had said they smelled 'dornish' but William was certain he intended to send them out of the city via the secret tunnels while he lured the usurper and his armies together in one place and put paid to them all. Of course many subjects would have died horribly, but with the death of Robert, Stark, Tywin and their chief supporters the war would have been over. Rheagar would be avenged and the Targaryens could rebuild. His maester and remaining friends in the capital agreed there was no where near enough wildfire to burn the entire capital or even most of it. The sound of small feet disrupted further ruminations, that and the pair of small arms wrapping themselves around his calf.
"My my, King Viserys what's the matter?" His normally gruff voice became soft with concern for the eight year old silver haired boy.
"I had a nightmare, lord Darry. It was horrible!" The lord took him by the hand as they walked to the room with the painted table and sat together.
"You know when I have bad dreams or hard choices to make I find it helps to talk about them with people I trust. I hope you find me among said group." The little boy waited a moment and decided.
"I was grown up and had my own dragon. It was big and black, my sister had one too and there was another man with us. He looked a little like my brother Rheagar and his dragon was green. We were flying over Westeros and we saw the usuper's army bellow.
Then we roared and swooped down to attack. They fired a bunch of ballistae and arrows but nothing could hurt us, cause we were too strong and fast. All of us were wearing red and black; our silver hair had so many bells in them we played songs as we went. Our armies cheered as we passed them."
"so what was scary about that? Targaryens are supposed to ride dragons and burn their enemies." The boy became cross and for a second he worried he would have another tantrum. It was something he would work on with the queen. Viserys might soon have to appear before bankers of the free cities. If Robert Baratheon could play at being a changed man such poor behavior would doom their cause.
"I was getting to it ! We had burned half the enemy and some of their cities and our men were surrounding the capital. Then three dragons flew at us. One of them was a man with black hair and one was a woman that looked like him but her eyes were purple. The one in front was.."
"The usurper?" It made sense. Stannis was painting this as a continuation of the Greens and Blacks conflict. Thus two groups of dragons fighting made sense to a small boy.
"No. It was his brother. He was older so his hair was all white, like ours. We fought, but he…he ate us up. Our army was scattered." The boy looked terrified.
"Please. I don't want to die like my aunt and her children!" Lord Darry made his choice then. He would do whatever it took to make sure Robert, Tywin or any of his dogs never got that chance.
Rhaella waddled in a minute later to collect her son. He was truly wished she would let the nurses handle things and allow her to heal, but she insisted on following the regimen of light activity and 'special' exercise. William sighed as he remembered that Stannis was many things, but he was neither a coward or liar. Yet and still he would fight and if need be die to protect his charges and their rights.
"Lord Darry, I appreciate your taking time to attend to the king. Viserys! I am sure your lord hand has pressing duties. We shouldn't keep him from them." He bowed as the queen disentangled the boy from his right leg and latched him onto herself.
Darry truly admired the Queen's strength of character and determination. Many would have surrendered to death with the wounds had seen on her body. Hell some warriors had died from hurts less severe.
"To attend to the king and his family is my primary duty." Courtly manners and holding hands were just about the only service Darry could perform for his charge. Money was running out and men were defecting or considering treason.
"Be that as it may I tire and so does our King." The boy took the hint and they walked away slowly. Before she exited the corner Queen Rhealla turned and smiled at her hand.
"And I believe there is a courtier who wishes to speak with you. Her message should bring us joy." Then she was gone and Darry was left with his thoughts.
2 hours later
The limited bay of Dragon Stone
Even though the number of petitioners was relatively small it never did to display desperation. So William made her await his pleasure. If it this was just another trader or pirate captain trying to gauge them she would be lucky to leave with fewer than ten lashes.
What he saw instead was a relatively young looking woman in non descript jupon and hose. On her face was a three quarters mask in the shape of a ram. The only hint of her sex were the swell of hip and accent of breast. Darry was somehow certain she had means of disguising those as well, knowing who she likely represented. Since the man had reportedly been force to slim down, had the figure before him not been above five and a half feet and possessed such a small jaw William would swear he was looking at a younger Varys.
The plain white letter with the spider seal embedded in black wax did not make his second guess the author. He knew better than to demand her to unmask, but simply started talking.
"How do I address you?" She bowed and spoke in a casual and artificially affected low born accent.
"I am Bellweather." As in one the goat who lead a flock. Flocks of sheep or birds was the obvious parallel. Without further preamble he broke the seal.
Good day lord hand
Time is of the essence so I will make this brief. In the ship my associate Bellweather arrived in you will find five thousand two hundred and one gold dragons. There will be a manifest with the exact description of convertible goods amounting to another three thousand gold dragons.
Another shipment of similar or greater amount will arrive each week if you are interested. In addition I have arranged an informal meeting for yourself with associates of the Iron Bank and sundry other Essosi financial institutions and commercial interests.
Frankly speaking, the Targaryen cause is doomed unless you take drastic action. Some of the methods I describe may not be pleasant but would you rather take your chances in exile or relying on the mercy of Robert Baratheon? Again, no matter what his brother may promise or any medical advice he may provide ultimately the decision will rest with the Elder Baratheon. And I do not need to remind you that no matter what his current display of character reformation may indicate his hypocritical hatred of all things Targaryen has not diminished in the slightest.
With my assistance, funds and a bit of providence Viserys may yet sit the Iron Throne instead of 'laying in state in the Red Keep'. As an extra proof of my bona fides I can provide proof your brother and other loyalists are alive and receiving shelter. Lords Jon Connington and Orton Merryweather are also among those I can contract or retrieve for your cause.
Should you wish to continue our relationship feel free to alert my associate. Though I advise you not to wait too long as she is my associate, not my employee.
Yours eternaly
There was no name or signature on the end, however there were detailed notes and a cyhper key on the accompanying pages. Darry looked over the rest of the note before sharing it with the Queen.
40 minutes later
"So he proposes we unleash mercenaries on our own people? Could we not do something else with the funds?"
"Vary says they are ours to do with as we wish, but I thought it over and we currently don't have the man power to be more than a nuisance. Say what you will about Stannis' supposed mental state, he know show to build a fleet and he will have a bigger fleet than us in six months. He can directly challenge us even faster with a combination of sell sails and scrapings of their individual kingdoms."
"So either we use the cheapest scum and bleed our own people or throw ourselves at Stannis' feet?" The distaste in her mouth was almost as thick as the bile in his own throat.
"If It were Stannis making the decisions I might consider it. Vary's associate and our Maester grudgingly confirmed his medical advice is sound and should increase the chances of a healthy delivery."
"Yes a healthy delivery so Tywin's animals can break his skull and treat me like Aerys did?" The rage in her voice flared and played out across her features in a way that was unlike her. Lord Darry moved to place a comforting hand on her, but she brushed it away.
"It will look like we took the Usurpers good will and tossed it in his face in spite. Just another set of selfish dragons willing to spill other's blood for a crown we don't deserve to hold onto." She looked around her and a hand rubbed he belly as the life within it stirred.
"Do it! We will show the Usurper the price of waking the dragon. If we do have to negotiate we will do so from a position of strength. The monster I married taught me that much at least."
"Your grace I will take care matters personally." His hand found hers as they were folded over her belly.
"I am the queen.."
"As you said if you must negotiate later it wouldn't do to have you associated with this in any way. Trust me. Though I reviewed his plans, with a few minor tweaks I believe we can still win this for your highness."
