Aurane
When High Tide had been built, the solar had been positioned perfectly to allow their lord grandfather to look out the window and see Spicetown in all its glory and splendor nearby. Every day as he worked in the solar seeing to Driftmark's matters, their lord grandfather could look out and see the sight Aurane saw now.
The massive harbor and port, full of merchants and wares from all over the world. The port sat on the edge of a modest but thriving city protected behind a strong and proud single line of walls that guarded against the sea as much as the land.
White cobblestone streets weaved and turned through the grid system the city had been planned with. Large neighborhoods of cozy homes and rows upon rows of shops and markets with many a warehouse and factory, producing items of both beauty and function, jewelry, glass, armor, weapons, and much more. Great aqueducts, wells, and sewers, supplied ample amounts of fresh water to the denizens while keeping the city clean and well sanitized, with a pleasant sea smell on the breeze.
Great domes and arches dotted the cityscape along with carefully planted and tended trees and parks. The University of Spicetown stood proud in the distance, as did the magnificent Sept of the Waves, just some of many proud and famed landmarks that had been and were being built. Concrete was very useful for construction after all, and its discovery by the university had seen a marked increase in building projects.
It might have been Corlys who had brought the wealth needed to build Spicetown, but in truth Spicetown had been their grandfather's work. His work for the past two and half decades had been dedicated to making Driftmark the best it could be, and it was truly a shame to Aurane that his grandfather would not live to see the plans he had made for Spicetown and Driftmark fully come to fruition.
Driftmark. Spicetown. House Velaryon. They all had much more to grow and prosper, but his grandfather would see none of it. No longer would he watch from this solar with a proud eye upon his city, no longer would he stand upon the piers to greet them as they returned tired after another long voyage. Daemon Velaryon was dead, and the world was a worse place for it.
Aurane turned around to see his brothers in the solar. Corlys seated in the seat, looking every inch a lord, yet it looked wrong to Aurane to see him in that seat and he could tell Corlys himself was uneasy being the Lord of the Tides, despite preparing for the role for over two decades. Sometimes no amount of preparation could truly ready you for such a position of responsibility.
Rhaekar was standing across from him, giving a report on Driftmark and its prosperity in the past two years they had been gone. He spoke with a monotonous tone, as if he saw what he was reporting was but a nuisance. But then Rhaekar had always taken his duty to their house seriously, so perhaps it was more correct to say he disliked reporting to Corlys over their grandfather now.
"I see. Everything has been well then. Every year our profits rise and Spicetown expands ever further. Perhaps not too long from now, we will need a new set of walls for the city, perhaps a double-set like I proposed all those years ago?" Corlys said with a subdued smile.
Aurane couldn't help but smile as well. When Spicetown's first set of walls had been built, Corlys had dreamed up some impregnable set of double walls, like what Winterfell had. Their grandfather had slapped some sense into him, told him it was unnecessary, and said that if he really wanted to do that, he could do it when he was lord and Spicetown finished growing.
"I suppose, the expense would be significant though, so I can't really see the point, especially so long as our fleet keeps all our enemies at bay," Rhaekar said matter-of-factly.
There was that glint in Corlys's eyes again, "You can never be too careful. But yes you are right, there would be no point in building such an extravagant set of walls at this time."
And so on and so forth it went. Corlys trying to coax Rhaekar out of his shell and Rhaekar answering as simply as he could to shut down the conversation. Finally, Corlys lost all his patience. "Damn it Rhaekar, I'm trying to have a proper conversation with you. Can you not even give me that? Are we not family? Have we not just suffered a mutual loss? Why do you treat me so coldly?"
Rhaekar's careful mask of dutiful obedience came shattering down, "Funny, where was this familial affection for so many years? Where was it when our grandfather asked you to stay on Driftmark and you cast him aside for your adventures? Leaving me alone here to do our duty to our house, to wed and have children, to care for our grandfather as he aged into senility!
Who do you think has been the one running Driftmark as our grandfather grew old and you and Aurane were off gallivanting to faraway lands trying to get yourselves killed? You think our grandfather was pleased when he heard of the harebrained plan you came up with to steal from the Azure Emperor of Yi Ti?
Where was all this care and affection for your family when our grandfather laid dying, calling for you? Even at the end, after all you had done, even after the way you treated him, you were still his favorite grandson, his perfect golden heir, and I who had stayed by his side loyally all those years was forgotten. Never mind that I had only ever done as he asked or wished, or that it was I who learned at his feet how to manage Driftmark.
Did you know that by the end, he could not even distinguish the two of us? In his delusions and incoherence, he called me by your name and spoke to me as if I were you, and I hadn't even the heart to correct him."
Corlys glared back at Rhaekar, "That wasn't fair. Everything I did, I did for Driftmark, for our house. Grandfather disagreed with my methods at times, but I never showed him any disrespect. If anyone has been disrespectful here Rhaekar, it's you."
Aurane knew what Corlys was demanding, an apology from Rhaekar for daring to insinuate that Corlys had mistreated or not done their grandfather right. But Rhaekar had his own pride, and he had never taken well to being in Corlys's shadow.
"I beg your pardon my lord," Rhaekar gritted out. "I have finished my reports. May I have your leave to see to my other duties?" he asked patronizingly.
Corlys kept his stern glance on their brother before giving his leave. After he had left, Aurane pulled out a bottle of brandy, one of many new alcoholic spirits Driftmark had developed and poured a glass for himself and his brother.
"It is a shame that we haven't the land to produce this in bulk, it's barely profitable for us at the moment to produce more of these drinks," Aurane said, trying to steer the conversation away from the rather obvious and awkward topic that had just left.
"We can try marketing them as a luxury good, though the Hook will soon have all of its land planting tea instead, and Driftmark's spare fields are already tending to our mulberry orchards. There's no way in the Seven Hells I'm giving the recipes to the Redwynes, so I suppose all these drinks will have to remain rare and uncommon, at least for now," Corlys said.
"For now," Aurane nodded. If their long-term plans succeeded, Driftmark might one day have the land to grow the crops they needed to produce more of the spirits, but until then, other avenues had to be explored.
"Perhaps an arrangement with the Tyrells? They might jump at the opportunity to undercut the Redwyne's primary export. We could source the goods needed to make the spirits from them, and have the actual distilleries all here on Driftmark, or on the Hook. We would not have control of the entire chain of production like the Redwynes do at the Arbor, but I daresay we'll make a tidy profit if we market them correctly. It's another opportunity to weaken the Redwynes as well."
Corlys stroked his chin, "Those crops could come up the Roseroad, with King's Landing as port to bring them here. There might be some expenses to cover with the transport and preservation, but that does sound promising. A fine idea Aurane, we will have to add it to our to-do list. It gets ever longer. So many possible ways of making money, yet so little land and time to explore each avenue. Truly what a jape the Seven made at our expense."
Their conversation lapsed then as Corlys stared at the door that Rhaekar had just stormed out through. "Where did I go so wrong with him?"
Aurane sighed, he hadn't wanted to have his conversation right now, not when their grief for their grandfather was still so raw.
"You cast a shadow over all of us Corlys. You always have. But it became even worse as the years passed, as our grandfather heaped more and more praise on you. You were so good at almost everything you turned your attention to, it's easy to see how it would leave Rhaekar feeling inadequate, like nothing he ever did was going to matter. And that made him resentful."
Corlys leaned back into his chair, his face filled with understanding, "Yes, yes I know that. But it's never been so glaringly obvious how much Rhaekar resents me."
"He is grieving. We all are. And I cannot truly blame him for lashing out if it is true grandfather called for you and mistook him for you before he died. That would hurt almost any man I think."
They remained like that for a while, sipping their brandy in silence before Corlys drew out Poison, the Valyrian steel blade they had taken from Vunatis's corpse, and set it gently on the table, taking care not to scratch the wood.
"I wanted to present this to our grandfather, I wanted him to name it for our house, for him to know that our family had avenged his namesake's loss of Seafoam with a new Valyrian blade. The prestige this blade brings our house, it's sheer pricelessness and value, they're all immeasurable. But if I'm being honest, I'd trade it all away now if it meant having one more moment to speak to him. Just one last time, to say goodbye."
Aurane smiled sadly, "The world is cruel. It could never be that kind."
He made to leave then when Corlys called out to him, "What about you? How did you cope with being in my shadow?"
Aurane turned back to his brother and saw him sitting there, genuinely curious and trying to figure out how to fix his relationship with Rhaekar, and he answered at last.
"I decided that being the shadow of someone like you was not necessarily a bad thing. I grew to accept it. Rhaekar has not, cannot, I think."
Their lord grandfather had died in the third month of 86 AC, barely a week before they had returned to Driftmark. More than anything, that they had missed his passing so closely hurt the most. His body had lied in state in High Tide for that whole week and upon their return, the invitations had been sent out for his funeral.
The funeral traditions for the Velaryons, an ancient seafaring house, was similar to that of the Tullys and other houses in the Riverlands. They would place the deceased upon an old ship with holes in it's hull, and send it out to sea to sink, returning the Velaryons home to the sea to sink.
For a man like Lord Daemon Velaryon, many had come for his funeral. Almost every member of House Velaryon was present, save for those scattered across the world unable to attend. Many of the people on Driftmark had gathered nearby to see off their lord as well, common people from Spicetown and Hull. Representatives came from all their vassals in the Hook and Kingswood, Bar Emmon, Sunglass, Wendwater, and Bywater chief among them. From all over the Crownlands and the rest of Westeros, many had come as well. Celtigars, Darklyns, Mootons, and others, and even some from across the Narrow Sea with trade connections to the Velaryons, seeking to ingratiate themselves with the new Lord Velaryon. The most notable guests of all however, had been the Targaryens.
The reminder of their kinship with the Royal House had never been so clear then when five dragons had come out of the sky and landed, scaring off all the crowds who had gathered. Balerion, Vhagar, Vermithor, Silverwing, and Caraxes landed and all Driftmark took note of their presence.
It was expected that they would come, after all, their grandfather had been the uncle of the King and Queen. Aurane however hadn't really prepared himself for having to attend and greet Prince Aemon, Prince Baelon, Princess Alyssa, and the King and Queen. Luckily Corlys had handled all of that, and soon they were ready to start.
They had eulogies and speeches. Corlys, Rhaekar, and Aurane, as the closest living kin, had all spoken. To the surprise of many, King Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne gave a speech honoring their uncle and stated their firm support for House Velaryon and their appreciation of its loyalty and service. It was a nice gesture, but one that felt hollow to Aurane seeing how Jaehaerys and Alysanne had barely visited his grandfather in twenty years, nor had House Velaryon been represented at court or honored in any way since Daemon had resigned as Hand.
Finally, the septon gave the last rites and led them all in prayer for the soul of Daemon Velaryon, and it was time at last to say goodbye. Aurane, Corlys, Rhaekar, and some of the other men from their house and some of their men worked together and set the boat afloat on the water, watching as it went out to sea.
After the funeral, Corlys hosted their guests in High Tide, but it was clear to all that it was a solemn occasion. No fancy or joyful feast or celebration. On the morrow, most of their guests would set out to return home. Aurane was present when Corlys had a private conversation with the King and Queen at High Tide.
"You have my deepest condolences Lord Velaryon for your loss. It is one that we share, though it has been many years since, I will never forget the services of my uncle, my first Hand," the king said.
"Thank you Your Grace. It is still sore, but at least my grandfather lived a long ripe life. Not many can say the same in this hard world," Corlys answered.
"If it is any consolation Lord Corlys, our uncle was exceedingly proud of you. When he still wrote to us, he would speak endlessly of you, praising your talents. On the occasions we visited Driftmark, he somehow found the opportunity to turn every conversation to you even as he spoke excitedly of how he was working to better Driftmark. He found joy in you and new purpose after the losses the Shivers brought to us all," Queen Alysanne said.
Corlys bowed his head in humility, accepting the compliment. Yet with the recent reminder of how their grandfather's favoritism had soured Corlys's relationship with Rhaekar, Aurane could tell the queen's words did not please him as much as they used to.
That it came from a woman who was all but a stranger to them, from a woman who claimed to be their grandfather's beloved niece, yet barely seemed to care for him, made it even worse. Aurane had not forgotten, nor had Corlys or Rhaekar, that no raven of condolences had ever come from King's Landing when the Shivers had taken their father and half their house and people away from them. Oh sure the Lord Hand at the time had written the official condolences of the Iron Throne and the King and Queen, but what about the condolences of their kin? Of Jaehaerys and Alysanne Targaryen as individual people?
The king and queen had lost their firstborn daughter, but what about what they had lost? Had their loss not meant as much, or even more? Were they not kin? Why had the Velaryons given their condolences and received none in return? For over two decades they had languished, ignored by their 'kin'. No representation at court, royal visits that could be counted on one hand. The two houses were closer to strangers at this point, and now the Targaryens wanted to play up their ties of kinship when they had become rich and powerful?
But Aurane kept his tongue, for to speak such thoughts aloud would be exceedingly unwise. By now Corlys had recovered from his slight hesitation earlier and had slipped easily into the confident charming persona he normally wore, joking around easily, though respectfully with the royals, building a rapport with them and answering all of their many questions about Driftmark's development and his voyages.
"Yes, I've been hearing reports of this 'Pirate King'. Lord Manfryd had had half convinced me to send the royal fleet to deal with him when news came to court that the Sea Snake had already dealt with him, and if rumors told true, slew him in personal combat with a Valyrian steel blade as prize," Jaehaerys said.
Aurane scoffed slightly at the mentioned of the grape that had sat comfortably on the rightful Velaryon position of Master of Ships for over two decades by now.
"The rumors were… highly exaggerated Your Grace. I am unfortunately nowhere near skilled enough to put down one such as Scorpion Syrio by myself. My expertise lies in other fields. But with the support of my crew and a clever plan imparted by the Crone, I was able to defeat this pirate yes. And we did indeed retrieve a Valyrian steel sword," Corlys drew out Poison from its temporary scabbard, making the Kingsguard beside the king, Ryam Redwyne if Aurane remembered correctly, move to draw his own sword.
The king stayed his guard's hand, "Peace, Lord Corlys would be a fool to try and harm me with so many witnesses and he is kin besides. May I?" he gestured to the sword, asking permission to hold the blade.
Corlys surrendered the blade to the king who admired it and tested its balance, swinging it around slightly with the practiced ease of a warrior. Much like Corlys, King Jaehaerys did not have legendary prowess with a blade, but he had the skill and training to make him deadly enough on a battlefield, not that many would ever face the king's blade instead of his dragon.
"It's as light as I expected, and its length and handle are similar to Blackfyre. I suppose it is fitting that House Velaryon should have a Valyrian blade again after so long. I daresay my uncle would have been overjoyed with it."
"Not just him alone Jaehaerys, our mother would have as well," Queen Alysanne said to her husband before turning to Corlys. "Though she married first a Targaryen, and later a Baratheon, our mother was always a Velaryon at heart. It would have done her proud indeed to see how far her house has come, to the point that it has risen to become the richest in the realm and have a Valyrian blade once more."
"You flatter our house Your Grace. We make no claims to being the richest, I daresay the Lannisters and Hightowers would dispute that. It does us well though to hear that a daughter of Driftmark would still have held her home so dear after so many years," Corlys said.
"I think you underestimate yourselves Lord Velaryon. Aye the Hightowers are older, but they do not have nearly as trade with the east as you do. And the Lannisters cannot use all their gold, lest they devalue gold itself. So in practice, it is likely House Velaryon is or will soon be the richest house in the realm. You can take pride in that at least," the queen smiled to Corlys's nod, once more graciously accepting the compliment.
"As for our mother, well, she was a true Velaryon to the end let's just say. Might I ask your plans for the sword? As sharp as it is now, it's hilt and handle are rather plain. I somehow doubt whatever name, if any, it had before was fitting for it either."
Corlys answered the queen's inquiry gracefully, making it seem like he was excited to answer and Aurane really couldn't tell if he actually was, "The pirate who possessed it before named it 'Poison'. So that definitely has to change. As for the sword itself, the blade is fine, though I think I will have its hilt and handle refitted to be more clearly a blade of our house, to show how it is a Velaryon sword."
"That would be wise yes, although…"
Corlys quirked his head in curiosity and the queen continued, "I beg your pardon Lord Corlys, it is not my place, but if you wish for a suggestion for a name, my mother once thought of the name 'Riptide' should her family ever obtain another Valyrian sword."
Corlys grinned, "What a coincidence, our grandfather said the same to me once. It seems the siblings either thought alike or had conversed on the topic. Your suggestion will be taken heavily into consideration Your Grace, I will be sure to let you know my decision on it once the time has come."
Aurane didn't really recall their grandfather ever having said that. Either Corlys was telling a white lie to curry favor or it was yet more proof of just how much Corlys had been favored over him and Rhaekar. He didn't know which was worse.
King Jaehaerys spoke again then, "You might be able to do that in person. We are well aware that House Velaryon has gone long without representation in court and for a family that has served so long and so admirably at our side, that simply won't do. You may find a raven offering you a post at court in a few months' time Lord Corlys, unofficially for now at least, but I thought to let you know first."
Corlys bowed again with a pleased smirk, "You honor me Your Grace. I will be sure to check my letters carefully then."
A few months later, and the brothers had fallen into a rhythm of sorts. Rhaekar handled the day-to-day running, managing the castles and Spicetown and Hull, ensuring everything went smoothly. Aurane saw to the fleet and their merchants and often tagged along with Corlys wherever he went. Corlys for his own part oversaw everything and personally saw to various projects and checked in to ensure the running of their bank and other production operations were going well.
Case in point, today for example. They had taken a trip away from Driftmark itself to see to their lands and vassals on Massey's Hook. They had already visited the glassworks factory, the new silkworm hives (the worms were thriving, and with how gross they were, Aurane wasn't sure he wanted them to) and also delighted their nephew Vaemond when their fleet unloaded twenty elephants into a new zoo for exotic animals in Spicetown. At this point Driftmark probably had a large enough menagerie to rival the Sealord of Braavos's collection. They probably treated them better too with Corlys's love for the animals and insistence they were given exquisite care.
"They're growing well," Aurane observed as he saw the plantation. It was small scale for now, as the Velaryons had yet to grow more of them, but the tea seeds they had stolen from Yi Ti thrived in the low hills of Massey's Hook, and perhaps in a few years they could have entire acres of it, ready to make House Velaryon even more of a fortune than they already had.
"They better be, with how we actually stuck our own necks out for them. Hopefully in a few years we can start exporting it. We already got the nobility of Westeros addicted to it by importing it from Yi Ti, soon we'll sate their demands with Westerosi-grown tea and make bank," Corlys said with a diabolical exaggerated tone.
Aurane could not help but laugh, Corlys had a gift for making people laugh. People that weren't Rhaekar at least.
As he looked around the hills of Massey's Hook, Aurane's thoughts drifted to how it was their family had gotten the land. After all, it was Massey's Hook, not Velaryon's Hook. Years ago, before the Conquest, the families of the northern Stormlands had been closer to Dragonstone and its vassals than to Storm's End. The cousin of the Conqueror, Aethan Velaryon, had wed Lady Alarra Massey, one of many signs of Dragonstone's influence in the region.
When the conquest began, Massey and several other houses in the region declared immediately for the Targaryens and were made part of the Crownlands. When the war had ended, House Velaryon had been given the overlordship of Bywater in the Kingswood, as well as the lands of Wendwater, the island of Sweetport Sound and its Sunglass rulers and Sharp Point, ruled by Bar Emmon.
Stonedance, ruled by House Massey, would ordinarily be considered too powerful to be sworn to a house of equal standing were it not for the circumstances. Lord Triston Massey's only child and heir had died during the Conquest and unlikely to have more children, Triston willed Stonedance to his sister's son, Aurane's own grandfather, Daemon Velaryon.
So it was that by the time Daemon inherited the rule of Driftmark, he also inherited Stonedance and with it, dominion of Massey's Hook. The official titles of their house were changed to reflect this. Corlys was styled as Lord of the Tides, Master of Driftmark, and Warden of Stonedance.
House Velaryon wasn't the only one rewarded in this way. Aegon I had given his master-of-arms and bastard half-brother, Quenton Qoherys and Orys Baratheon, fiefs of their own. Harrenhal to Qoherys and Storm's End to Baratheon. Despite having troubles like Orys Baratheon losing his hand or Gargon the Guest almost single-handledly driving the Qoherys's into extinction and ill repute, both houses had since thrived and still ruled their fiefs.
As for the other house sworn the Targaryens before the Conquest, House Celtigar had been given dominion of Cracklaw Point, like they had long desired. It had taken a more than healthy dose of dragonfire to make houses like Boggs, Brune, Cave, Crabb, Hardy, Pyne, and Staunton swear to Claw Isle and pay them taxes. The Celtigars had rebuilt the ruined castle of the Whispers and styled themselves as 'Lords of the Claw' but even now their rule over their vassals was far from secure. Probably why the Velaryons were still considered more powerful than them despite them technically having more land sworn to them.
Still though, despite the rivalry that sometimes existed between their houses, Aurane wished the Celtigars no ill. They were kin after all, for his mother Primrose Celtigar had been wed to his father Lord Corwyn Velaryon to continue and build anew their old alliance. Through the Celtigars and his mother's sisters' marriages, Aurane could actually claim kinship with the Graftons and Peakes. The ties to Grafton had come in handy when forging an informal trade bloc and alliance with Gulltown, and who knew? Maybe Aunt Prunella might be useful for the Velaryons to arrange trade deals with the Peakes and other houses in the Reach.
As for the Celtigars themselves, Corlys was thinking of reaching out to them and giving them rice from Yi Ti to grow. The wetlands of Crackclaw Point were quite well suited to grow them. Aurane couldn't say he fully approved, but the Celtigars could be made stronger allies through this and the rice would help feed Spicetown. It wasn't like the Velaryons had the land to grow it.
Finally, after a long day inspecting the tea plantation and speaking with the entrusted growers, they made their way to Stonedance where they were staying for the night. Though House Massey was long extinct, its legacy had yet to die down and Aurane had a feeling, by the strange looks Corlys and he sometimes got as they passed through with their guards, the seahorse banner flying proudly, that the Hook was still unused to being ruled by the Velaryons. Still they were loyal enough, and with a good castellan, the management of Stonedance was no issue for the Velaryons.
It was later that night in Stonedance when Aurane was summoned to the solar of Stonedance where Corlys was waiting. Usually the office of Stonedance's castellan, the loyal man had vacated the office for his lord in the meantime. Corlys was seated in the castellan's seat looking carefully at a letter beneath the candlelight.
"I believe it was you Corlys, who taught me not to read in candlelight unless necessary, to avoid worsening my eyesight," Aurane jibed as he entered. The solar reminded him of the ones on Driftmark, in both the old castle and the new. Then again he supposed, solars everywhere seemed to be quite similar.
Corlys looked up unamused, "And this is necessary." He gestured to the chair in front of him, "Take a seat."
Aurane did so, and Corlys began to speak again, "This just came from Driftmark, with our brother's seal. It was passed on from King's Landing. The castellan informed me as soon as it arrived."
Now that was curious. What could be in the letter? Aurane could barely restrain his curiosity, "And? What's in the letter?"
Corlys frowned, "King Jaehaerys's raven finally came. Lord Manfryd Redwyne has resigned his post as Master of Ships, citing old age and long years of service, and returned to the Arbor. The king has named me as his replacement."
"Well that's good then isn't it? Finally, after over two decades, our house has representation at court and the traditional position has been restored to our family. Why are you upset?"
"I'm not… well I'm not exactly upset. Just a bit annoyed. I had hoped to have a little longer on Driftmark to see to its affairs, I certainly didn't expect Lord Manfryd to resign so early. Never mind though. I am penning a reply to the King that I accept, and in a moon's time, I will be going to King's Landing. You will be coming with me."
"Me? You want to bring me along to court?"
Corlys nodded, "Despite our…disagreements, I can trust Rhaekar to handle Driftmark. Court is a viper pit though, I need someone I can trust implicitly there, and you are the only one who fits the bill."
Aurane smirked. Corlys had such trust in him! "Well, I'm honored brother."
It was Corlys's turn to smirk devilishly now, "Don't be. You'll be my errand boy. You'll be going back and forth constantly between King's Landing and Driftmark for me, making sure Rhaekar is carrying out my orders exactly as I want them to, and handling any other tasks inappropriate for me to do."
"So… same as normal then?"
Corlys laughed, "If you want to put it that way I suppose."
Aurane leaned back into his seat. King's Landing. He had only ever been to the capital once before, many years ago, on a brief voyage with one of their uncles in his youth. It would be a little dangerous he supposed, court was a backstabbing cesspit of intrigue at the best of times. But Aurane had faced danger before, his brother had gotten him into fights with pirates and insane plans to steal from Yi Tish emperors, how bad could court be?