Chapter 4; To return, triumphant

Characters of the chapter

Aelius Tassus, Magister of the Tevinter Imperium, member of the Red Council of Venatori Loyalists, commander of the auxiliary legion of Bellidarius (Astapor) alongside Carro mo Havet

Cato Argos, Magister of the Tevinter Imperium, by the authority of the Archon and the Imperial senate supreme overseer of all affairs and militaries of the Imperium in the continent of Essos, member of the Red Council of Venatori Loyalists

Flavius, Commander in the 5th expeditionary legion of Tevinter

Julius Argentus, Magister of the Tevinter Imperium, commander of the 1st expeditionary legion of Tevinter

Maximianus Sarovian, Magister of the Tevinter Imperium, member of the Red Council of Venatori Loyalists, commander of the auxiliary legion of Meereen alongside Morzol zo Raqun

Selia, slave to Tiraen Tasvius

Tiraen Tasvius, Magister of the Tevinter Imperium, ambassador to Meereen, commander of the 5th expeditionary legion of Tevinter, formerly apprentice to Magister Cato Argos.

Tiraen was on the deck of her ship once again, the vessel on the final approach to Meereen's harbor.

It had been a long journey back form Valyria, time she had spent cooped up in her cabin with the orb. She had allowed no one else near it. The Valyrian weapons she had entrusted in the care of Flavius and the other surviving soldiers. But the orb was a different case. It was her prize, and it was her responsibility to see to it that nothing happened to it until it had been safely delivered to the hands of her fellow Tevinters.

But that was only one reason to remain with the artefact. To be close to the power that emanated from it, feel it wash over her and through her, at long last unimpeded by the protective amulets they had had to wear in Valyria… it felt glorious. She simply could not get enough of it. It had been tuned to her own magic, and so taking it to her hands she could feel its responsiveness to her mind's directions. How very much like a goddess did that make her feel. The hardest of spells were a whimsical wish away. On her journey, surrounded by allies, there was no need to exercise that vast power, but just knowing the potential was there was a delight.

So enraptured had she been by the experience that she had barely remembered to sleep or eat. All the harder it had been because of the sheer excitement when she had pictured what the Venatori would be able to do with so much power at their fingertips. They could do anything. With this much magical energy at their command the world itself could be re-fashioned to their liking. All their dreams were now within their reach.

Knowing there would be dire need for what she had found, she had returned to Meereen as fast as possible, only stopping in a small seaside town to stock up on provisions and send word ahead that she was on her way back.

Now, at the journeys end, at long last she had emerged from her self-imposed isolation. The orb was with her, wrapped inside a bundle of cloth. The artefact's energies she had turned inwards, using its power to conceal its power. Any mage could still sense its presence from considerable distances away, but with the concealment it was no longer a magical sun noticeable for miles and miles around. Not that there were likely to be many mages on this continent that were hostile to the purposes of the Venatori, but you never knew. As powerful as the orb was, hiding it until it was the right time still made sense. Less chance for any outside party to interfere before it was used and greater results when it was unleashed for the first time.

On the pier of the harbor she spied a number of people already waiting for her: Soldiers and slaves from her household. The towering shape of Pet was among them. But the one that really caught her attention was Julius. With the sight of him a warm smile spread on her face. As soon as the ship was docked she ran to the pier and into his arms. Briefly she even forgot she was carrying the orb, driving the air form his lungs when the she wrapped her arms around him and the thing slammed to his back.

"Julius. Oh, Julius." She mumbled, burying her face to his shoulder. In Valyria she had to remain focused on her mission, but she had not forgotten him, thinking of him at many of the quieter times during her journey. Being here now reminded her of how good it felt to be in his presence. Of how much she cared for him.

"I missed you too, Tiraen…" He replied. The strain in his voice finally made her realize what she had done.

"Sorry! Didn't meant to hurt you. I wasn't thinking." She said apologetically, releasing her grip.

"It's okay." He said. Then his eyes turned to the bundle of cloth in her hands. Even as it was subdued he could sense the power within. "What is that?"

"This? This is the *vital discovery* I wrote about. The source of our victory against the horse-savages and far more than that." She said.

"But what is it?" He asked.

"Not here. Too many eyes and ears. We will bring it to my home, and you can see it there. We need to call Cato over without delay as well. Is he still in the city?"

"He is." Julius said. "…As in fact are the other local members of the Red Council." He added, lowering his voice.

"The Red Council?" She repeated quietly. In the absence of the direct leadership of the Elder One the Council led the Loyalist Venatori. Commanders of armies and other mighty individuals, every one. Cato was the leader of the members stationed here. She had no place among them as of yet, though she hoped to earn one in time.

"Yes. They came here to oversee the upcoming battle with the Dothraki. And to hear the results of your expedition. I can say the letter you sent has them rather intrigued." He said.

"They will not be disappointed. Well, if they're here then we should call them together immediately. They need to me made aware of what we possess as soon as possible." She said.

She turned to her soldiers now disembarking from the ship. "Commander Flavius, please report yourself and your men to the barracks. Feel free to rest and enjoy yourselves until new orders come in. You deserve it."

"Thank you, My Lady. What is to be done with the other Valyrian weaponry?" Flavius asked, glancing at a sack carried by one of the soldiers.

"Send them to my home as well. Discreetly. No need for our enemies know of them just yet. And that's valuable material you're carrying. There are those who would kill for that much Valyrian steel. Which is also why you should have these counted before having them delivered. I'll have it done on my end when the package arrives, make sure everything matches with the count we made on the ship."

"Understood." Flavius said.

"Oh, one last thing. The Lannister blade. I'll take that one now." She said just as Flavius was about to walk past. Flavius nodded, the sword was passed to her and the members of her team went on their way.

"I seem to remember you had a lot more with you when you left for Valyria." Julius commented as he watched the others leave.

"The mission… was a very tough one. Many died. I almost did several times. The amulets helped a great deal, but there were complications. That is a part of the world no one should go to without a damn good reason." She admitted.

"Was it worth it then?" He asked.

"Easily. What I found there… that's worth any price. You'll see." She said.

"Hmmm… I hope you're right." He said. "So, other than being mortally dangerous, what's Valyria like these days? You and your team might be the only ones who are able to answer that." He asked then.

"It's a dead land, Julius. Grey and silent. The veil no longer exists there, so the whole region is overrun by spirits and possessed things, but devoid of all other life. Just being there starts to sap a person of the will to live. It's all rather strange as well. There were visions, that told of the last says of the Valyrians. Many strange revelations and happenings." She told him.

"Does one of those strange happenings explain how you came by that sword? You called it a Lannister Blade?" He said, pointing at the weapon in her hands.

"Indeed." She said with a nod. "Turns out that while we are the first known case of people going into Valyria and coming back alive, there are others who have gone there and have managed to survive there for a time. I found a journal with the sword that detailed what had happened. This sword was apparently the property of House Lannister, brought to Valyria by one of their kings back in the day when their house still had them. The owner of the journal came along later to retrieve the sword. Managed to locate it but never made it back out of Valyria. Ah, that reminds me…"

"Pet!" She called out, motioning for her creation to step forward.

"This is for you." She said and tossed the sword to him hilt first. Pet caught it mid-air. "It is my wish that you use this weapon in battle from now on. Replace one of your swords with it. You can choose which one." She told him.

If Pet was grateful for the favor which she had shown him, he gave no outward signs of it. He merely gave a bow of his head in acknowledgement of the given command and stood there, a mass of muscle encased in armor.

"A most delightful turn of events wouldn't you say? The weapon of an ancient Westerosi King, now to be used in the service of the Tevinter Imperium. Perhaps soon to aid us in defeating opposition in those lands once and for all." She said to Julius with a smirk.

"Yes. A delicious bit of irony to be sure." He said, the same smirk on his lips as well.

They started to make their way toward her home, the two of them walking together, Pet and the other members of her household following just behind. The Meereenese and the Tevinter commoners moved aside to let them pass as they walked by. Many pairs of eyes noted their passage, but soon all averted their gaze and returned to their business. Respect for the Imperium's ruling elite was as intrinsic part of life as it was back in Tevinter. Many eyes noted the thing bundled in cloth she carried. But as they could not sense the magic, to them the sight meant nothing.

"How have things been while I have been away? Has my staff treated you well?" She asked as they walked.

"Oh, indeed. I was initially worried to notice your household lacked a formal steward. But there is that one slave of yours… Selia? She doesn't just work like the rest, but she also runs the household with expertise and efficiency. Better than most actual stewards I know of. Routine chores of the house are done as if on their own. If something more was needed I needed merely to inform her and it was attended to in short order. Can't think of a single thing to complain about while I was there." He said.

"As it should be. I'm glad. And you're quite right, Selia has always been diligent, even before she had such a prominent role. One of the best purchases my father ever made. I suspect that's a means of survival for her. A quietly efficient slave can more easily remain invisible, out of trouble with her betters. What attention she does receive is often beneficial." She said.

"Cunning of her." He commented.

"Works at least in my case, because I'm content to leave my property be so long as they do their work." She concurred.

"And our legions? How are matters with them? And what of the strategic situation?" She asked then.

"Our spies report that the Dothraki Horde has left Vaes Dothrak, heading straight for us. Meereen, is believed to be their target, much like in the last invasion the Dothraki launched against us. Our legions have deployed forward, to defend the main mountain pass leading to the city in the hopes of depriving the enemy of their numerical advantage. We are to join them as soon as we are done here. Cato has said that we are to ride the next morning after your return." He said.

"So soon? Pity. I had hoped to spend a while recuperating before setting off again. But duty calls once again. Such is the lot of patriots." She said.

"Has there been much fighting as of yet?" She asked next.

"Small skirmishes with enemy raiders sent ahead to probe our defenses. Nothing too bad for the moment, though our allied forces have had some difficulty holding some of the smaller mountain passes close to the main pass. And it's only a matter of time before the main hammer blow lands on us. I must confess I am worried. With our forces this outnumbered this could get really ugly."

"The thing I brought should help with that situation. In the meantime there are perhaps people who we can approach for help. I have heard there are a few villages of goat herders in that region. No great warriors among them, but they do know their country. I'll see what I can do with that." She mused.

After many streets and crossroads her home was finally before them. As they approached, the front door opened and Selia stepped through. The elf hurried to her owner and bowed deeply before her.

"Mistress. Welcome home. Your room has been prepared for you. The work on your supper shall begin at once, unless you've other commands?" Said Selia.

"Supper is fine, though I will be taking it later than usual. There is business to attend to first. And… tell the kitchen to make enough for two." Tiraen said.

"Two?" Julius asked.

"Yes. I would like you to join me this evening. In fact I'd like you to stay for the night. Seeing as you've already been staying at my home while I was away you might as well stay for one more night, right?" She said, giving him a warm smile.

"If… if that's your wish." Julius said, a bit hesitant. Endearingly so, Tiraen thought.

"That it is. It really is." She said. Then she turned back to Selia.

"Go find Magister Argos. Tell him I'm back and that I'd like to see him and the other loyalist leaders as soon as possible. Tell him it is an urgent matter. After you return have a bath drawn for me. I wish to clean myself before eating. The meeting may take a few hours, so keep the water hot." Tiraen told her.

"By your command, Mistress." Selia said, bowed again and left.

They did not have to wait long. An hour later the dozen or so local Venatori leaders were gathered around the dining room table. The orb had been placed at the center of the table, the cloth it had been wrapped in removed. The look the others had when she revealed it to them was a sight she would savor for as long as she lived.

She told the Red Council everything that had transpired during her missions to Qarth and Valyria, reporting every incident of note to them. The early battle with the Stone Men, how she had found the dead Lannister and how her group had fallen under demonic attack a short time after, how her team had been attacked by elves just as they were on the cusp of accomplishing their mission. She told them of each of the visions that had been visited upon her while in Valyria, revealing what she had learned of the final days of the Valyrian nation. She gave special attention to detailing what had brought the Doom to Valyria in the first place, the decisions and motivations of Valyrian mages that had led to it.

"So you truly believe these elven insurgents somehow managed to come to Valyria using the Eluvian mirrors?" One of the members of the Council, a man by the name of Aelius, asked.

"That is my current conclusion of the matter. The Valyrian mages I witnessed in the visions made reference to an elven mirror network. I am confident they meant the Eluvians with that. Which to me tells that there must have been one in or close to Valyria. One that the Valyrians could find and make use of, to then find the orb somewhere within the network. And I cannot fathom another way a group of renegade elves could find their way to Valyria. Not with Thedas so far away." Tiraen said.

"This cannot be the case." Commented another Magister by the name of Maximianus. "Mere elves could not possibly figure out how to use the mirrors like this, not in this age. Not when even our exalted ancestors have never been able to achieve that. In the modern day only the Elder one had the power and the knowledge to unlock that functionality. To suggest that Rattus could achieve such is simply absurd. I cannot for the life of me accept an explanation so ridiculous."

"I know. Those were my thoughts as well. I can only report what I have seen. I cannot fathom how elves were able to accomplish such a feat, but it seems that they have. The encounter and the visions I witnessed do not seem to allow for another conclusion." Tiraen responded.

"Visions from the Fade are known to be deceptive. They could simply be a falsehood, a lie." Maximianus suggested.

Cato shook his head at that. "That is not my experience of how memories preserved in the Fade work. They lack intent other than a desire to be known. The biases of the original individuals are preserved in such memories, but outright deception is simply not a possibility. If Tiraen has reported it correctly these are indeed reflections of true events. "

"There is a possibility that the Eluvian the Valyrians had was left active. Then the elves would have had to merely find it to make use of it." Tiraen said.

"That still leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Like how the elves were able to locate and activate the counterpart to this Eluvian. Or how they knew to follow the path to its end. You claim they came to Valyria with the express intent of claiming the orb for themselves, so they must have had some foreknowledge of what lay on the other side. That would mean they knew more than even we did at the time." Aelius said.

"And what of this Dread Wolf character you said the elves spoke of? What do we know of him?" He asked then.

"I do not know who this person might be. Obviously the Dread Wolf is a title or alias of some sort. But the first I've heard of it. I have no idea what it means." Tiraen said.

"I do, as it happens. The term is a reference to Fen'Harel, one of the gods of the elven pantheon." Cato said.

"So now you're saying our forces were attacked by the agents of an elven god of some kind? Seriously?" Maximianus said.

Tiraen laughed at that. "I'm sure no one was trying to suggest that. More likely the individual in question merely hijacked the title to be more imposing and prey on the superstitions of more gullible elves. Certainly the elves I fought seemed fanatical enough to have been so fooled."

"That indeed seems the more likely explanation. Still, a rather odd choice if that's the case. According to elven lore Fen'Harel is a trickster and a traitor to the rest of the pantheon. There would be better elven gods to impersonate if one sought followers. And this still does not tell us who we are dealing with." Cato said.

"Hmm. Perhaps there would be merit in dispatching another expedition to Valyria, to seek out this Eluvian. If we use it to backtrack the route of these elves we might get some much needed answers. Perhaps we might even uncover the identity of this mysterious individual?" Maximianus suggested.

"With all due respect My Lord Magister, I would think this very unwise. From personal experience I can tell you that Valyria is excessively dangerous. I was lucky to survive that place. And it was also fortunate the orb's power emanations allowed me to locate it immediately upon setting foot in that place. The Eluvian would not be as easy to find. We'd need a far larger force, thousands of people, combing a hostile terrain for many months. Years even. Even then we might not find what we seek. And if we wanted them to have a chance of surviving we would need all of those thousands to have my amulets, when making even a dozen of those was a considerable effort. It would not be practical for us to try this."

"Agreed. Our time and effort are best spent elsewhere, particularly as pressing issues remain unresolved." Cato said. "Perhaps when our main goals on this continent have been achieved we can give this project another look. But until then it is simply not worth the trouble. Even so I will advise our assets here and at home to keep their eyes and ears open in case of further activity by this Fen'Harel character."

Aelius and Maximianus nodded, satisfied with the decision that had been reached.

"The value of this orb cannot be overstated. From the Breach War we know the potential of these things. Even muted as it is at the moment, we can all sense the power residing within. With that power at our command we have the means to destroy the Dothraki and sweep aside all foreign opposition. At long last we may have a weapon strong enough to defeat even the Dragon of Queen Daenerys."

"But dare we make use of this power? As Magister Tasvius here has detailed, it brought the Doom upon the Valyrians. Before we try to make use of the artefact I think it important to be certain it won't be our undoing as well." Aelius said.

"Even if there is risk I believe it is one we must take. This situation with the Dothraki necessitates it. This nonsense with the Dothraki must be ended once and for all, so we can focus our attention westwards, to new conquests instead of merely holding our ground. The orb might be the only tool that will allow us to land a decisive blow in a timely fashion. We must deal with the horse-savages quickly, before our enemies have time to resolve their conflicts and entrench themselves." Maximianus declared.

"It is good of you to give voice to that concern. In doing so you are already wiser than most of the Valyrian mages were." Tiraen said. "But allow me to offer some reassurance: The Doom happened because the Valyrians tried to carelessly unlock the power it held. They did not realize there was a possibility of a violent release of energy until it was too late. We are wiser in this, having already seen what can occur with the first orb. This one was already unlocked by the Valyrians and is now ready for use. Just like the first orb was ready for our Master's use after it's unlocking. What you worry about will not happen unless we choose to provoke it deliberately. Doubt any of us intend that."

"There is, however, a danger that might actually come into play. The moment we first make use of this artefact -which I presume to be soon- word of it will reach every corner of the world. No way we will be able to hide power of this magnitude. When our enemies learn of what we possess they'll set to work immediately to take it from us. And these elves I fought might make another attempt to claim it for themselves. The orb will need to be protected. We cannot permit anyone else to gain control of the orb, or we have no way to know what they might do with it." She added.

"That is a very good point. The Orb shall be brought to Bellidarius. We will arrange the largest of the local pyramids to prepared as the site to house it. There it shall be kept safe when it is not needed for use. We will place the strongest possible defenses around it, those of magical nature and otherwise."

Tiraen nodded. Barring Tevinter itself there was no safer place for the orb to be stored in.

Bellidarius, the city the locals called Astapor, was the heart of the imperial dominion over Essos, the very first city that had fallen under their sway. After the sack Queen Daenerys had visited upon it, the city had been left in a state of chaos. The ruling council the Dragon Queen had installed had been overthrown in short order, a series of rival factions vying for control the city, their clashes further massacring the already thinned population. Death had walked among the survivors due to a virulent epidemic breaking out. The failure to break the Dragon Queen's rule in Meereen had not helped matters in the slightest, instead ensuring no clear leadership remained. When she had departed for Westeros, Astapor had been left to rot, choking in the pus from its festering wounds. Such chaos had been fertile soil for Tevinter to install their rule. Astapor had offered no resistance, instead opening its gates and welcoming the Imperials as saviors. Tevinter crackdown on the lawlessness in the city had been a welcome restoration of order, an end to the madness that had tortured the ancient city for far too long.

In other cities that had fallen under the Imperium's influence there existed Imperial Enclaves, districts where primarily Tevinters lived. But in Astapor the population had been so severely diminished the influx of Tevinter immigration had seen the locals reduced to a minority in their own city. Thus Astapor had undergone a transformation to a true Imperial city, now renamed after the Tevinter General that had claimed the city. From that bastion Imperial rule had then spread all over the continent.

If the artefact could not be kept safe there, then nowhere would be safe enough.

"The Imperium thanks you for the precious gift you've brought us. Rest assured your service shall not be forgotten. The Red Council shall take custody of the orb from now on, so we can begin devising a way to best use it against the Dothraki." Cato said, snapping her back to awareness from her musings.

Briefly she was surprised. They wanted her to relinquish control of it? Such a wellspring of power? "…Yes. Yes, of course." She said then, masking a slight pang of disappointment. Beside her Julius raised an eyebrow at her but said nothing.

"Tiraen, what has become of the other weapons you say you discovered in Valyria?" Cato asked.

"I have kept a few pieces for study. There is some kind of magic upon the weapons I have not encountered before. I wish to see if I can't replicate it. Valyrian steel is known to be of high quality. It would be very useful to us if we were able to start producing it ourselves, particularly if it were to be possible to make enchanted weapons out of it. The remaining weapons I'll have turned over to our craftsmen for restoration. Spear tips will need new hafts made for them, and the swords require replacement leather for the handles. Once that is done I intend to have those weapons distributed to the most able fighters in my legion." She said.

"Understood. May those weapons serve them well." Cato said.

"Moving on, the excursion in to Qarth has brought us a number of new trade agreements. Furthermore the Warlocks have contacted us, telling us they have accepted our proposal for closer cooperation. They report to have begun the work of influencing the city's rulers to suspend trade with the Twin Kingdoms and provide material support to our invasion forces when the time comes. In response to our gift to them they have sent a number of interesting magical items to us. Tiraen, it appears you have left a good impression on them, since they have asked you to liaise in all future dealings with them." He said.

"Then it is my pleasure to do exactly that." Tiraen said with a bow of her head.

"Our next strategic move will be against the Dothraki savages, to remove their threat once and for all. The first and fifth Expeditionary Legions stand ready to oppose the enemy, assisted by auxiliary units from this very city. We too must rally with our army posthaste, to bring the orb and our own powers into the fight to come. I expect each of us to be ready to ride at dawn tomorrow. Come the day of battle we shall destroy the horde they throw at us. Then, Elder One willing, the path will be open for us to drive to Vaes Dothrak and put an end to their filthy kind." He continued on.

"In the meantime our spies report that in Westeros the Twin Kingdoms have successfully concluded their war with Orlais and are now moving to begin fighting the Qunari invasion in earnest." He said, catching her attention. This was new to her. There had been no talk of any Qunari activities in Westeros before she had left on her mission. Truly things had continued to develop in her absence.

"Furthermore, it appears that Inquisition has begun providing aid to the Twin Kingdoms in the form of troops and supplies. They may also be providing information and intelligence gathering to the Twin Kingdoms, though this has not been verified as of yet." Cato continued.

Concerned looks were exchanged amongst those gathered. It appeared that the Inquisition was once again poised to be a foil to their efforts.

"This is indeed an unfortunate complication my friends, though not an unexpected given the tendencies of our adversary. I share your concern about these news. In the short term, however, this development may in fact be to our advantage. An alliance with the Inquisition will make the Twin Kingdoms appear much more formidable to the Qunari . Which means the Oxmen will put greater effort to dealing with this resistance. Troops and dreadnoughts will almost certainly be diverted from the Narrow Sea to take part in the fighting in Westeros. The reduced Qunari presence should give us breathing room to deal with Braavos and the Merchant Marines, which will be our immediate next targets after the Dothraki are dealt with.

That at least Tiraen was glad to hear. Of the Free Cities of Essos, the so called Daughters of Valyria, only the bastard daughter of Braavos held its head high in defiance now. All others had submitted before the Imperium's strength, some willingly, some through force. And what a foe Braavos had been. On land their strength was meager, but at sea they were a formidable opponent. This had further been bolstered by the coalition they had formed with several Merchant Princes from Antiva. The Merchant Marines were a joint naval force formed to protect their trade vessels and enforce the will of this mercantile alliance wherever it operated. This coalition of wealthy businessmen now commanded a fleet of ships large enough to give pause to any regional power. And while formally independent from the rule of any crown, the Merchant Marines were more than willing to stand in opposition to Tevinter and her objectives on this continent.

To defeat either the Qunari in Essos or the Merchant Marines on their own would have been challenging enough for the Imperium. Trying to defeat both of them at once had proven to be an insurmountable obstacle. Fortunately those two factions were just as eager to engage each other as they were to attack Tevinter forces, otherwise her people would have been easily overrun at sea. Instead a three way war had raged in the Narrow sea for several year, none of the participating factions able to claim a decisive advantage over the others. The raiders of the Felicisima Armada had added a fourth faction to the mess by hitting trade ships and transports of all three factions, none of them having enough strength to spare to eradicate the pests.

Braavos and the Merchant Marines had been a persistent thorn in the Imperium's side long enough. But with the Qunari distracted in Westeros and the artifact… there might at last be a chance to deal with that problem. She hoped that would be the case. Like was the case with the other enemies of the Imperium, she had been dreaming of the destruction of Braavos for quite some time now. Every time she pictured that city in flames, its people high and low alike humbled before Tevinter's War Machine… it brought a smile to her lips.

And the gold from the vaults of the Iron Bank would be a fine plunder to have when that day came. That institution was not traditionally picky in the things it financed so long as those ventures were deemed likely to be successful. In the past loans had even been granted to support the slave trade, an area of commerce the Braavosi typically opposed. But with the Imperium the Iron Bank had rejected all proposals for loans the Imperium had made, no doubt sensing danger in the Imperium's rapid ascent to dominance in Essos. They knew that whatever power they granted to Tevinter now might be turned on them in the long run. Instead they had become increasingly openhanded in supporting factions they knew were actively resisting the Imperium or might do so in the future, though that list had shrunk considerably with the Imperium's reign. Only the fact they were a business and were interested in having their money back kept them in check. Should the Imperium press them heavily even that deterrent might cease to function. So capturing their wealth would not only provide the means to finance many future endeavors, but would also wound those who would loan that wealth to oppose the Imperium. The likes of the Twin Kingdoms, that had turned to the Iron Bank to sustain the functions of their government and their myriad wars, as the still lingering heavy debts attested.

"But if the attention of the Qunari is in Westeros, should we not attack them instead of our other enemies? We might make great gains if we make a push now." Aelius asked as she was thinking of these things.

"And lure the hornheads back here to retake their holdings? No. Better to leave Qunari until later, after we have cleared other resistance from Essos. Once Braavos falls we will have an advantage over the Oxmen, and with the orb they will be swept aside like all the others. For now I'm perfectly happy to let them and the Westerosi butcher each other. Saves us the trouble." Maximianus said.

"Agreed." Cato said, then stood up. "My brothers and sisters, we have been granted an opportunity to inflict great devastation to our enemies. It will not do for us to squander that opportunity. We must act with speed, but also with care and precision. That is all for today's meeting. Tomorrow our path leads us to war with the Dothraki. Hold to your purpose, attend to your duties with diligence, and we will be triumphant. The Elder One will reign!"

"The Elder One will reign!" Echoed everyone at the table, including those who had only observed until now.

With the meeting now concluded, people began to trickle out of her home. Cato collected the orb and departed with it. She watched it get taken away, feeling a pang of resentment that she quickly suppressed. Instead she turned her attention to the supper she was to have with Julius, seeking to console herself with the prospect of that.

Her kitchen was well practiced in serving her, so their food was ready and being served on time, without stinting on quality. Knowing this was her first proper meal in a long time, they had put in their very best effort. It was a delight to enjoy good food after such a long time spent on the road or at sea. All the more so because of whom she was enjoying it with. Indeed she found her eyes drawn to him constantly while they were eating. And they talked. Small talk, of matters of little import. With someone else such talk might have felt tedious to her. But with him there was no such thing as tedious. It was enough to hear his voice, to listen to his words, even the unimportant ones.

"I must say I'm surprised. That you gave the orb away. You could have insisted to keep it. To have it used on your permission only. That would have been well within your rights, given that the orb would never have been found without your efforts." Julius said to her then.

She paused in her eating. "It was the right thing to do. The orb will be better used by the Council. There are more of them and they have greater experience than me. And the orb will yield greater results when several mages pool their strength to use it."

"That may well be. But had it remained in your control it could have propelled you far in the halls of power. Very little would have been closed to you with that much power at your fingertips. It astonishes me that you were willing to walk away from it. You have a stronger will than I do, that's for certain."

She gave a nod of appreciation for the compliment.

"By pride and selfishness, by the egotistical pursuit of our own advancement and glory at the expense of the greater good has our nation been brought to the brink of ruination. As we have turned inwards, to our petty goals of self-betterment, our country has fallen sick from neglect. To cure her, to save her, we must reignite in our hearts the love for the common project that is the Tevinter Imperium. The dream crafted by us all, for us all. And like with all love, for it to be true it must be unconditional. For that love we must be willing to sacrifice all we have. Our treasures, our freedoms, indeed our very lives. And our pride we must sacrifice most of all. Selfish greed can no longer be our guiding star. We must relinquish living for ourselves. We must live only for each other and our nation. We should seek no advancement that is not for the greater good and glory of our beloved Imperium. By those means and only them can she be spared from the flame." She then quoted.

"…And you surprise me yet again. You do remember whose words those are?" Julius asked.

"I remember. She may have betrayed the cause in the end, and I am still confused as to why she did it. Doubt I'll ever understand what drove her to that. But when she said these things she spoke wisdom. Her betrayal does not detract from that. Those were words to live by and I have continued to, even if she no longer does it." She said.

Julius nodded in contemplation. "…You are right. There is still wisdom in those words. And in what you chose to do with the orb."

Then he gave a conspiratorial smile. "Even so, can you imagine what you could have done with that power? Can you imagine the power you could have wielded?"

Tiraen suppressed a laugh. "I can imagine it. And I would be lying if I said I was not tempted to claim the orb in my own name. But I chose otherwise and would thank you for not putting evil thoughts in my head."

Then there was a mischievous glint in her eye. "Well not that one. There are perhaps other evil thoughts I would not mind having."

Julius's eyes widened slightly as he took her meaning. "I… I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

"I think you do. I think we both do. There have been things we have wanted to say and do, yet we have not. It has been that way for years. Maybe it is time we stopped being afraid of those things." She said, looking deep into his eyes.

"Tiraen… I… I…" He stammered, his voice stuck in his throat. He was trembling slightly, trying to keep himself from blushing. Tiraen could not say she was feeling any differently. This outburst, this sudden boost of confidence had come almost from nowhere. Almost. This had been her motive in asking Julius to be here now. Yet she had not admitted that even to herself. And being this direct was certainly not something she had planned on. Some part of her had simply decided to do so on her behalf.

There was an uneasy silence between them, both of them uncertain how to continue. It was she that finally broke it.

"I… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have… I never meant to make you uncomfortable. Forgive me." She said, bowing her head.

"Don't be sorry. You did nothing wrong." He said.

She was glad she was not upset. But now the confidence of a few moments ago had disappeared. "I only hoped… please, let's just pretend I didn't say anything. Alright?"

"…Alright." He said finally.

They finished off what food they had left, now in silence. It was getting late, so she bid him goodnight, then asked Selia to prepare her laboratory. There was still work that needed doing today, and she felt she desperately needed to focus on something else. The first thing she took care of was to draft a series of orders to have Flavius and the others who had followed her to Valyria promoted up a rank, with the appropriate increase in their pay. Such was what they had deserved. Even those who had not made it back alive would be promoted posthumously. Once those orders were written up she set them aside to be sent with a courier to her legion come the morning. Then it was off to her laboratory to take a closer look at the Valyrian weapons.

An hour or so after the supper she regarded one of the spear tips recovered from Valyria, candlelight gleaming off it as she turned it over in her hands. She put it on the table in front of her, then placed her hand in the air just above it. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Her fingers moved over the metal, as if caressing the surface of some invisible object. She could feel the magic embedded within the steel, an odd sensation, unlike any other magic she had encountered before. Then she closed her hand into a fist, as if taking a hold of something.

This was a technique for studying new kind of magic she had been taught to use a long time ago. All enchanted items could be divided into two rough groups. The first were items that tapped into the fade, improving a mage's innate abilities by expanding their reserves of mana or by amplifying the potency of whatever spells they cast. Things like mage's staffs, which were of no use to any non-mage that tried to use them. The other group were in fact spells given permanence through lyrium, arcane patterns and other methods. By that same theory a mage could examine how an artefact generated a spell and learn to replicate the effects. A method rarely needed, since it was not often that lyrium crafters came up with magic that mages of the world did not already know of. This time though…

By *grasping* the magic she could begin to sustain the spell with her mana, allowing the spell to be maintained outside the original object. In effect she would be tricking herself into casting the spell. He subconsciousness would retain a memory of how the spell felt, and with a little practice she would be able to call it up at will. With some fortune that would be all that would be required to start creating Valyrian steel again. If not, then the ability to cast the spell would still aid in the research.

As she moved her closed hand back she could feel the Valyrian magic resisting, trying to slip away like a block of wet soap. She persevered even so, and for the briefest moments she thought she had it. But then, just as quickly the spell became unstable and disappeared. She opened her hand and stared at her palm in confusion. That was not supposed to happen. She searched her mind, trying to call the magic back and… nothing. Even stranger. For some reason her attempt had failed altogether. She reached for the spear tip to try again, then stopped, spitting out a curse. The metal that had been shiny and pristine only moments ago was now marred with myriad spots of rust. Clearly her attempt had disrupted whatever had preserved the steel through the ages. Better not try that again…

She moved on to less invasive methods, yet they yielded no further clues as to what had gone wrong or what she needed to do. After another hour of failed attempts, she conceded defeat, sighing in frustration. This Valyrian magic was bloody confusing. It was magic, like any other. And yet it was not. A different magical tradition, one that was almost completely incompatible with the tradition she knew. Trying to wield it was like trying to read a book written in a language she did not understand. Everything was right there in front of her, yet she could not make sense of it.

Like it was taunting her…

It was getting very late. Maybe she should let this go for now and get some sleep? No doubt she was expected on her feet early for the departure tomorrow and an exhausted mind was no good for solving puzzles. Yet she knew it would be futile. She would not be getting any sleep today. She had made sure of that.

Should she keep on working then, hope to find the answer to this riddle despite herself? Yet ultimately she felt too distracted for work as well. He mind kept on returning to Julius and the words that had been said. She found herself feeling ashamed that she had backed down. Her words had been hastily spoken, but they had come from the heart. They reflected the truth she felt.

And she was reminded of what Cato had said of another topic in an earlier conversation. Of how too many tarried on important matters, only to later realized they had missed their one chance.

She was living in a dangerous time of the world. Full of risks and potential for death. She had survived Valyria, but it could have easily ended otherwise. Now they were headed to war. As much as she hated the idea of it, one or both of them might not be coming back from it. If these really were their last days on this earth, was this really how she wished to leave matters with Julius?

"No. I will leave no regrets." She resolved, slamming her hands on the table and striding to the door with brisk steps. As she threw the door open she discovered Selia leaning against the wall just next to it, likely waiting for her owner to finish so she could clean the laboratory after her. The elf had been nodding off, but the sudden motion startled her awake:

"Mistress? Wha-"

"Quiet! Clean up the laboratory and stay out of my way! And don't you dare bother me again before morning!" Tiraen snapped at her, walking onwards without even slowing down, leaving her very confused slave behind.

Tiraen did not stop until she reached Julius's room. There, her heart pounding, she knocked on the door. When there was no immediate response she knocked again, a bit more urgently. The door opened, revealing a very surprised looking Julius. He was still fully dressed, it was obvious he had not been sleeping either.

"Tiraen? What are you doing h-?" He began to say. He was cut off when she darted forward and planted her mouth on his, wrapping her arms around him. He was caught completely off guard, but soon enough he was responding to her kiss, his hands feeling her, exploring her. Completely lost in a rush of emotion and instinct they moved back, falling on his bed, starting to tug at each other's clothes…

So this chapter kept growing larger and larger until I ended up with this monster. Might have split it, but I couldn't find a cutoff point that felt natural. My apologies if anyone finds this of inconvenient size.