Funding for this chapter provided by: Casterly Rock Casino. Want to make out with Tywin's Gold? Try your luck at games of chance! Just remember, he always pays his debts...
Chapter 31: Stations of the Cannon
"We call it dragon powder," Maester Marwyn explained as he carefully poured what looked like clumps of dark sand out of an earthen vessel into the metal tube. "The court of the Azure Emperor in Yi-Ti uses it for what they call 'fireworks.' Displays of light and color in the sky."
Stannis eyed the vessel, frowning slightly as his new Maester hurried away from his display. They were set up in the old Dragon Pit, away from prying eyes. Only the newly arrived Marwyn and the doddering old Cressen were in the pit with Stannis. Marwyn had also brought a great bronze tube, something like a bell, and had loaded it with this powder.
"That may be useful for sending signals for troops, but it sounds more like a children's plaything. Why do you show me this?"
"Watch, my lord," Marwyn said, then with a bit of flint and steel, struck a spark onto a line of the powder he'd poured out. It snapped and caught, burning with a bright red glow as it raced towards the large container. There was a roar and a flash of light, and the far wall of the Dragon Pit exploded in a shower of rubble.
"The goddesses have seen fit to grant foolish children fickle spells. This, Your Grace, is the work of Men, and Men alone," Marwyn said, turning and bowing slightly to Stannis.
Waving a hand in the air to clear away the dust and the smell of rotten eggs, Stannis stepped forward to inspect the wreckage, even as his guards ran forward, Davos Seaworth at their head.
"Your Grace! Are you well?" the newly appointed Hand of the King panted, the heavy silver chain of office jangling about his neck as he ran up.
"I am well, Davos. Come, have a look at this. What do you make of it?" Stannis gestured to the rubble and smoke.
"I do not know, Your Grace. What could cause such destruction to stone?" Davos asked, coughing slightly and studying the shattered wall.
"Something marvelous, Davos." Stannis turned to Marwyn and nodded. "You will do well for my Grand Master, Marwyn. Tell me, this 'dragon powder,' how hard is it to make?"
"It is very dangerous to make, but the materials are not hard to come by. Saltpetre, charcoal, and sulfur. The true danger comes in its final form: as you can see, it is explosive in the extreme," Marwyn explained.
"A terrible weapon indeed. But it is more stable than wildfyre?" Stannis demanded.
Marwyn nodded and held up the half empty clay pot. "Oh yes, Your Grace. Simple exposure to air or shaking is not enough to ignite dragonpowder. But a single spark can have ruinous consequences."
"This device you have made with it, what do you call it?" Stannis asked, going over and inspecting the large bronze tube. Foul smoke still wafted from the thing.
"I call them-" You know what. Doesn't matter. They're cannons. You know they're cannons, I know they're cannons. It's silly enough with the 'dragon powder' as is. "-cannons, Your Grace. I had this one cast from bronze. It is patterned after the devices the Yitish use to launch their fireworks. I have experimented with other materials, but they either burst or do not not hold the needed shape."
"How many of them could you have made, and when would they be ready? Already my troops are moving against Tywin," Stannis asked, still looking at the destroyed wall.
"To make the molds will be a matter of days, Your Grace. The actual casting will take a week or so, but acquiring the bronze will be difficult. I have employed bellfounders in the past, but I have some men who are familiar with the process. I could have the first cannon built in a month, and more to follow after that. Will that suffice, my king?"
Stannis nodded, his jaw working slightly as he mulled it over. "And the Dragon Powder?"
"That is far simpler. With the help of a few maesters, I can easily train workmen to make the stuff. Outside of the city would be best, as it is quite destructive. But we can begin making pounds of Dragon Powder almost immediately Your Grace. We already have a few hundred pounds ready for use."
"And this one cannon," Stannis agreed.
"Pardon, Your Grace, but I have two others built already. They are large and heavy as this, but could be moved by large horses or oxen in a wagon. They take some time to set up properly, but no longer than most siege engines."
"Then I want these weapons to accompany my men as they march forth. What is the range of these weapons?" Stannis asked, nudging the cannon with his boot toe.
"Half a mile or more, Your Grace. Though the accuracy is not all I would desire. At least it is simple enough to make the stone balls they fire."
Stannis grunted. "Get them set up outside the city, and begin training siege engineers in their employ. They shall have a few days to familiarize themselves. Then get to work on building more of these devices. The goddesses may have magic, but a Man has his own reason and strength. Let us see how they like their monster of incest when he faces such devices."
Stannis left the Dragon Pit as Marwyn eagerly began to order men to haul the cannon out, Davos following him closely.
"Your Grace, is it so wise to speak so openly against the Goddesses? Fortune doesn't favor fools," Davos whispered as they moved out into the grey light of the overcast day.
"Quoting the Book of Fair Fortune to me, are you? You know my opinions of the Seven, Davos," Stannis growled as he beat roughly at his doublet to get the dust off of it.
"It was Eris who saved you as much as my onions, my King," Davos argued. "The kings who lose the favor of the Seven do not rule long. Aerys was bad enough, but remember the tale of Maegor."
"Then I shall ensure that no Envy Cultists visit me in the night," Stannis said, turning to regard Davos steadily. "I do not fear the assassins of fickle deities. I fear the steel of Tywin Lannister, the hosts of Northmen that we have word Catelyn Stark is rallying even now, and what that damned indecisive fool Edmure Tully will do now that Hoster is on his deathbed."
"And what of the favor of the Septs? Courting the Maesters is important, the Citadel is known for its scholarly wisdom. But they do not have the love of the people as the Septs do," Davos replied. "Not to mention the need for aid from the spells of the septas, and to have them crown you."
"I have reached a decision: if the Septs will not crown me in the light of the Seven, then I shall have Marwyn crown me in the light of reason," Stannis said, continuing to walk down the path to where horses waited to take him back to the Red Keep. When Davos opened his mouth again, Stannis held up a hand. "I have made my decision, Davos. You have advised me, but in this matter, my mind is made up. Humanity has suffered under the yoke of capricious gods, old, new, and bloody red, for too long. The masses may adore the Joyful One, but I find her to be nothing but a fool who has brought yet another curse upon this land. And it is my duty to save the realm from it."
Three days later, and the nobles of Kings Landing were assembled in the Red Keep for the coronation of Stannis Baratheon, First of his Name. There were mutters in the crowd that it was heresy to have a Maester crown the king, and the Arch Septons of the Seven Orders were notably absent from the ceremony. Still, it had been over a month since the Lannisters and their Stark allies had been driven from King's Landing, and Stannis thought his crowning was well past due.
"-and so, in accordance with the laws of the Seven Kingdoms, I crown this Man King," Marwyn decreed, placing the heavy golden crown that Robert had once worn atop his brother's head. There was a scattering of polite applause, and no one spoke against the ceremony, Stannis having made it clear what would happen to any who dared do so.
However, as Stannis stood, there was a gasp, and the crowd suddenly parted, revealing a figure in violet robes and a painted mask that was slowly making their way forward, bearing a staff with a winged heart affixed to the top: one of the Magi, the Cult of Madoka.
Stannis stood atop the dias, glaring down at the figure, then around at the room. Marwyn knelt, and after a moment, so did Davos. After that, the crowd hastily knelt as well, leaving the lone cultist standing alone.
Stannis said nothing, but Davos spoke. "This man is your king, by right and by law. Will you not kneel?"
"The goddesses make kings, Onion Knight," the figure answered in a low, melodic voice that could have come from either a man or a woman. They lifted a gloved hand, pointing a finger at Stannis. "Will you kneel before the goddesses, Stannis Baratheon?"
"They have not seen fit to crown me. Why should I pay homage to those that do not recognize my right?" Stannis demanded in turn.
"So be it. You claim your crown without the goddesses. Let us see if you can win it without them." With that, the Magi turned and strode away, their footfalls echoing slightly in the hushed great hall.
When Stannis rode forth to war four days later, he did so without a single septa or septon in his van. Instead, he rode with dozens of maesters, all with healing links in their chains, as well as many with knowledge of warfare and statecraft. Before he left though, Stannis assembled his soldiers overlooking an old, run down hillfort that had once guarded the road into King's Landing.
"They say that the goddesses have blessed my foes with strange powers, and that the Seven have abandoned me," Stannis said to his men, raising one mailed fist high in the air. There was nervous shuffling, and many men looked grim or frightened. Some clutched religions icons, from the owl of Athena, to the waterwheel of Aqua, while others muttered prayers.
"I say I do not need the goddesses: For I have the Citadel," Stannis declared. "Behold, the works of Men, not Goddesses." With that, he dropped his arm. A second later, there was a rippling series of explosions and a blaze of flame from the odd devices that had been assembled beside the road. The soldiers jumped and cursed, but then let out cries of amazement as the Hill Fort seemed to shattered in a storm of stone and flame.
"Reload!" the siege captain roared, and the crews hastily rearmed their devices, careful to do as they had been instructed by Marwyn, swabbing the barrels with a wet sponge, then pouring in a measure of dragon powder, and lastly a shaped stone. It took nearly three minutes, but then they fired again, using slow matches. The three cannons thundered again, and the Hill Fort was further reduced. A few noted that both times, one shot had gone wide, and another had fallen short, but each time one had struck home. The old fortification collapsed at the latest hammer blow, falling in on itself and tumbling down the slope.
"That is what shall befall my enemies," Stannis declared. "I shall have a dozen such devices ere long, and more to follow. Let the goddesses rage against me. I shall answer them with steel and fire, and craft a kingdom for Men, not Goddesses."
"For King Stannis!" a few carefully seeded men cheered, and the cry was taken up in a ragged fashion. Some appeared heartened by the display, but others even more troubled as their king trod closer to heresy.
Stannis ground his teeth, and looked forward. Let the fools fear. When he crushed Tywin Lannister, their doubts would end.
The Indefatigable bore down on the merchant ship, which had heaved to and given up on escape only minutes before. It was well known that Captain Greyjoy punished those who attempted to escape her clutches or resisted her, but was merciful to captains and crew who surrendered.
The ship's master wrung his hands, staring up at the much larger warship as it hove to, sending across two boats loaded with Ironborn sailors. Grapples were hurled up, and the pirates swarmed aboard his ship, glowering at his crew. The few guards he'd hired shied away, unwilling to face the superior numbers of the raiders. It angered the captain slightly, but he was mostly frustrated at his own impotence. Even if his guards fought like lions, they were outnumbered, and the Indefatigable was the faster ship, and better armed.
"Satella take these accursed Ironborn," the man muttered as he glared at the sailors.
"Huh? No, I told her not to take the Ironborn. That's my job!" one of the sailors said happily. The captain blinked, and realized it was a woman, though she had on an eye patch, a drawn on beard, and was wearing men's clothes.
"What do you mean, that's your job?" another of the sailors, this one a callow youth, asked. "Are you a priestess of the Drowned Goddess, Nyarko-san?"
"Oh Theon-kun, you're so funny! Come on, let's get some booty!" the girl declared, and grabbed Theon's rear to make a point.
"There will be no seizing of goods aboards this vessel."
The merchant captain whirled, his blood running cold as Claire Greyjoy, the Scourge of the Narrow Sea herself, clambered aboard.
"You there. Are you the master of this ship?" Claire demanded, striding over.
"I am Ship's Master Trenton of the Golden Maid out of Lannisport, aye. We did not resist, Greyjoy. You'll not harm me or my crew?"
"Not unless you make a fool of yourself. You are loyal to House Lannister, Captain Trenton?" Claire demanded.
"I would consider myself loyal to Casterly Rock, yes," Trenton said slowly.
"Good. Then I have a charge for you, Captain Trenton. You are to deliver Rain Lannister and her attendants to Lannisport with all due haste," Claire decreed, then turned to look as a fair haired woman in a somewhat stained red dress was helped aboard the ship by two men in Lannister guard uniforms. Trenton blinked in shock, then looked to Claire.
"What is this? Some sort of trap?" he asked suspiciously.
"Only if you do not deliver the lady back home safely," Claire replied. She leaned in close, baring her teeth. "And if harm does come to Rain under your charge, captain... nothing will save you. I'll offer whatever I have to the Drowned Goddess and ensure that if you ever set sail on salt water again, you'll be hunted down. Then I shall have her turn you into a fish, which I shall then have my cook prepare for my own supper. Are we clear?"
It wasn't clear at all to poor Trenton, but he nodded. "Er, yes. I, ah, I can see the Lady to Lannisport easily enough. It's no more than a day's sailing up the coast."
"Good. Do so, and you will be rewarded. Fail, and I have made the consequences clear," Claire said stiffly, leaning away from the sweating merchantman.
"Claire, you are not bullying the poor man, are you?" Rain asked, stepping over. She gave Trenton a dazzling smile. "I thank you for bearing me back home, my good man. Fulfil this charge, and my father and uncle will be pleased to see you. And you know how my family feels about debts."
"Er, yes, my lady," Trenton said, bobbing a quick bow. "I, ah, I shall have my things removed from my cabin, and, ah, see you are put up in all comfort. We are not a pleasure craft, but-"
"Do not fret, captain. Tell me though, do you have clothes or cloth? I am in a dreadful state, and would have a presentable dress made for my arrival in Lannisport. Dear uncle Tywin does insist one always look the part of a Lannister…"
"We, er…" Trenton trailed off, wondering if this was some scheme, but then shrugged. "We have several bolts of fine cloth from Lys. I have no tailors aboard, but the materials are yours, my lady."
"Thank you, captain." Rain turned to Claire, who stiffened again, flushing slightly.
"It was my pleasure to have you aboard the Indefatigable, Lady Rain. Should you require my ship or my services again, I shall be at your disposal," Claire said formally, fixing her eyes at some point in the middle distance and coming to attention.
Rain hesitated, then curtsied. "Thank you, Captain Claire, for rescuing me and those beholden to me. Know that a Lannister always pays her debts: should you have need of me or Casterly Rock, call upon us. I... I hope we can meet again in friendship. I know that Uncle Tywin will never suffer Stannis on the Iron Throne. Perhaps...we could both work to restore the rightful ruler?"
That brought a smile to Claire's lips, and she looked at Rain. "I would like that. And, perhaps something more. But that is talk for another time. My crew and I must return to the Iron Isles before my father does something foolish." Claire bowed again, the hurried away, followed by her crew.
That left a very confused Captain Trenton with Rain Lannister, several dozen Lannisters and what appeared to be Northmen, and a deep sense of relief as the Indefatigable hoisted its sails and departed.
"Well, Night's Fortune rob me blind," Trenton breathed. "I can't believe it. We ran into the most notorious pirate in these waters, and she didn't even take a thing."
"Privateer," Rain corrected.
"I...beg pardon, my Lady?" Trenton said, turning to her in bafflement.
"Captain Greyjoy doesn't like being called a pirate. She much prefers to be called a privateer," Rain said. Then she smiled. "Shall we be off, captain? We'll keep out of your crew's way and let you be about your business."
"Yes, of course, my Lady," Trenton agreed, and went about getting his ship squared away to make all haste for Lannisport. He'd call Claire Greyjoy whatever she bloody well wanted so long as she didn't trouble him or his crew ever again.
It was about the second hour after midnight when the Golden Maid drew close to Lannisport Harbor. Two war galleys were patrolling the waters and came out to meet them. Their captains were at first incredulous that they were survivors from King's Landing, but one dutifully escorted the Golden Maid to the docks, where a group of guards hurried up to the boat that took Rain and her siblings to the pier.
"Eris's tits, that's Ser Kevan's children!" the serjeant cried on seeing Rain and Willem's faces in the torchlight. "Er, beg pardon, m'lady."
"I'll take the coarse language, serjeant, if you see us to Casterly Rock as soon as possible. Send a runner: My father and Lord Twyin will want to know," Rain instructed. Two soldiers immediately ran off, and Rain let out a sigh of relief as she was helped ashore along with her brother and cousin.
"Are the banners mobilising?" Rain asked as horses were commandeered and fetched for her party.
"Aye, m'lady. We received word a fortnight ago of Stannis's treachery. Beg pardon, your ladyship, but... the Queen, Prince Kazuma, Ser Jaime, are they…?"
"I do not know. Perhaps they escaped as well," Rain said, and that produced plenty of mutters.
Once the horses were brought, Rain trotted off. She couldn't gallop through the streets of Lannisport in the dead of night, that was a good way to end up with a broken neck. But with the squad of soldiers running beside her bearing torches, she made her way through the city. There were signs of activity: a city as large as Lannisport never truly slept, and this was a city that was rousing itself for war. This late at night, things were quiet, but there were too many soldiers about, and inns were full to bursting from what Rain could see.
Outside the city, there were more signs of activity. Encampments of soldiers that her uncle and father had mustered had sprung up, and though they were mostly sleeping, a group of knights composed of some of her distant cousins and various minor nobles met Rain at the outskirts, providing her with fresh and better horses.
"Cousin, the Queen, Prince Kazuma, are they...?" Ser Daven Lannister demanded, his face eager despite his unkempt appearance as he'd obviously just been awoken.
"They took another ship with the Hand. I fear they were destroyed, or caught by the Dragonstone Fleet," Rain said quietly, leaning over in her saddle to whisper to Daven.
His expression fell, and Daven ran his fingers through his long beard nervously. "I see. Well. It is good you, Willem, and Tyrek escaped at least. Come. We shall escort you to the castle. Word has been sent: your father and Lord Tywin will wish to meet with you all immediately."
Suppressing a sigh, Rain nodded and urged her mount into a trot again as her escort fell in around her. She'd been off the Indefatigable for less than a full day, and already she missed that ship. The bars of her life were closing in about her, and soon she would be nothing but an extra daughter of House Lannister, to be married off as Uncle Tywin saw fit.
Claire had never treated her as a lesser. And she'd been rich. Rain was too important to be married off to some no account poor patrician, but she did fear she'd end up stuck in a gilded cage. What was the point of being rich if you couldn't DO anything? Still, it would be good to see her father and mother and be home again. And, perhaps, if she could manifest her new abilities, her uncle might see her as more than a potential marriage alliance.
As it happened, Lord Tywin did not wait for Rain to arrive at Casterly Rock, instead meeting her along with her father and a group of his lords and knights at the first guard tower.
"Niece. My children and grandchildren?" Tywin asked, not bothering with further pretences.
"I do not know. More I would not say in public," Rain replied..
For the first time since she'd ever known him, Rain saw real emotion on the face of Lord Twyin Lannister. He bowed his head, grief making a mask of his face in the instant before the shadows hid it. He took in a deep, shuddering breath, and rubbed a hand over his face. Then it was over, and the Lion of Lannister looked up again. "Very well. Come."
Rain's own father was far more emotive. There were tears in his eyes as he leapt from his saddle and ran to her. She let him pull her into his arms, and put her head on his shoulder, letting a few tears fall as she embraced him.
"Thank the Seven you're alive," Kevan Lannister whispered, his blonde beard rubbing roughly against Rain's cheeks, wet with tears. Then he pulled away from her, kissed her on her forehead, and hugged Willem just as fiercely. He even spared a hug for Tyrek, who was crying, but trying to be brave. He and her brother were only twelve, a full five years younger than Rain. But she was a woman grown, and she had to hide her tears, much as her father was doing, though the other lords and knights were kind enough to avert their eyes.
They rode up the long riding road to Casterly Rock, past the various guard houses and gates, until they reached the final gate into the belly of the castle. Rain smiled, feeling a sense of relief as she returned to her childhood home. But she couldn't help but feel a slight sense of foreboding as the gates closed behind them, as if she were trapped somehow.
After a cursory offer of refreshment and rest from her uncle, and a tearful reunion with her mother, Rain followed Lord Tywin and her father to the private study. The door was closed, and Lord Twyin spun in her, his green eyes boring into her. "Well?"
"As I said, I do not know for certain. It was dark, and all was confusion and chaos, and I was hidden in the hold of the Indefatigable while Captain Greyjoy repelled the boarders. But even there I felt the shockwave and heard the blast from...whatever it was. I fear my cousins are dead, along with Eddard Stark and his three eldest children."
Once more, the mask fell, and Tywin Lannister sat down in a chair, hard. Kevan put a hand on his brother's shoulder, and in a rare moment of weakness, Tywin leaned on him, looking far older than his fifty seven years.
"So. All three of my children. My grandchildren. All dead," Tywin said, his voice hollow and pained.
Rain fought back tears and nodded, her throat too raw to speak.
Tywin closed his eyes and bowed his head, tears flowing down his face and staining his doublet. For exactly one minute, the Lord of Casterly Rock wept. Then he shook himself, dried his tears, and nodded. He gestured to a chair, and Rain sank into it.
"Tell me everything. We have heard rumors and had a few ravens, but I would know the truth."
So Rain told her tale, from when Robert died at his own victory feast, to the sudden assault by Stannis and Petyr Baelish's men. She spoke of their desperate flight, of Claire Greyjoy saving her and her brother and cousin, fighting for her life against seemingly impossible odds. She recalled seeing Claire fight alongside Jaime, shoving him to safety when he was wounded, and fighting off four Gold Cloaks with her cutlass and crossbow.
"She is...father, I think she is like me," Rain confided.
Kevan started, looking to his brother guiltily.
"What do you mean, like you?" Twyin demanded suspiciously.
Wordlessly, Rain held out her hands, cupped together in a bowl. She closed her eyes, then whispered, "Kindle."
Within her fingers, a flame sparked to life, burning nothing but empty air and the power that Rain fed it. She let it burn for a few moments, then drew her fingers closed, extinguishing the fire. She opened her eyes, and again, saw real emotion on Twyin's face: complete shock and disbelief.
"When I reached my majority, my father and mother told me that they had been visited by the Goddesses Eris and Aqua. They said they foretold my birth, and blessed me with power. I...I did not awaken to it in time to save my cousins. I am...I am so sorry. But when my life was threatened directly, I...I was able to cast a spell."
"Pyromancy," Tywin managed. He looked Kevan. "This is true?"
"It is. I am sorry, Tywin. The goddesses swore us to secrecy. And until now, there was never any sign," Kevan said, looking abashed.
Tywin nodded slowly, then turned back to Rain, regarding her. "Continue."
As she spoke, Twyin stood, going to the window and looking out into the dark night. Rain told of her time with Claire, and of the..affection...they had shared. She left out some more personal parts. She was a woman grown, and some of what had passed between her and Claire was too private to share even with her uncle and father, though she might speak with her mother of it later. It was not forbidden to take another woman as a lover, and such unions had happened before so-
"You say Claire Greyjoy is fond of you?" Twyin demanded suddenly, turning around. He pierced Rain with his eyes once more, as if he could see into her soul. She had always felt nervous around her uncle, and now she began to sweat. "Tell me the truth, niece. Did you lie with her?"
"I...we did not share a bed," Rain stammered. "But, um...we did...we were very affectionate. In private."
"We will need allies," Tywin said without further preamble, striding over to his desk and pointing to a map there. Rain stood and came over along with her father, looking down at the Seven Kingdoms laid out before them.
"It is my belief that Stannis has that fool Mace Tyrell hostage. If Baelish has sided with Stannis, then I will wager that Lysa Arryn has as well, and that means at least some of the Vale Lords will. With Eddard Stark dead, most of them will follow along or sit out this war. I have sent envoys to Edmure Tully, but he is an unblooded boy. He is brother to Catelyn Stark, aye, but also to Lysa Arryn. For now, I hope he shall merely remain neutral. As for the Dornishmen...who can say. Oberyn would like to see me dead, but Doran is likely to simply remain neutral. Or declare for that damned Targaryen girl."
"We...who do we support?" Rain asked nervously.
Tywin looked up at her, a storm in his face. "For now, what I support is Stannis Baratheon's head on a pike. A Lannister always pays their debts. And I owe him a great one in blood and steel."
"I agree, and I would help pay it. I can do more than make simple flames, uncle," Rain said, straightening her back.
"Perhaps…" Tywin tapped the map, considering. "The Starks I can count on. Catelyn will be enraged, as will the North. Eddard was beloved by his bannermen, and this is a grievous insult. But the North is far from here. But the Greyjoys...Balon will rise again with his son returned to him."
"Claire doesn't wish him to, nor does Theon," Rain said hastily. "She would go to support Iris Targaryen for the throne."
"I have no love for Targaryens. And from what I have heard, Iris is as mad as her father," Tywin snorted. "Nor will I fight to return a Baratheon to the throne. Robert was a failure of a king."
"Would you seize the throne yourself?" Rain asked, feeling a pang of fear.
"My legacy is already ash," Tywin said bitterly. "It matters not who I fight for now. Let the Goddesses choose who would rule. I only know so long as I breathe, it shall not be Stannis. Go. Get some rest, Rain. I will decide how to use you later."
Rain nodded, and turned to go, only to pause when her uncle called to her once more. She turned, and found him looking far more tender than he normally did. "Thank you, Rain. I am glad you are safe. Your father is my heir now. You did well, returning to us. It seems you are a Lioness in truth."
Rain felt a swell of pride, and bowed her head to hide her own tears. "Thank you, uncle."
But Twyin had already put her out of his mind, looking down at the map and talking quietly with her father. She sighed, and headed for her rooms. Tonight, she would rest.
And tomorrow, she would Roar.