Chapter 26: Jon Connington

Jon looked around the hall, it was filled with people. Guests from all over the elite of Volantis had come. Those who still had the blood of Old Valyria in their veins, and were part of the ruling elite of the city. They had come to this place today to witness the formal entry of the King into Volantis and to gain something or the other from him. Jon had been worried about the formal entry, but he had received reassurances from their host that they would not use the King's actual name, but rather a pseudonym.

Jon glanced away from the hall to his right, where their host was talking animatedly with the King. The King had one hand on his cup, and another on his chin. Jon smirked. That was a clear sign that the King was growing bored. And truth be told, Jon couldn't blame him. These feasts were usually incredibly boring.

And yet, they were important as well. The King needed to be recognised within Volantis, by the old families. As that would give him access to capital, to resources and to other things. Things that would help when the war to reclaim Westeros began. Jon wasn't sure how long the King wished to stay within Volantis-presumably until his brother came-but whilst he was here, Jon knew that the King wanted to make the most out of it.

Their host, Aemon Maegyr, was a distant cousin of the King's, a daughter of Duncan the Small had married Maegyr's father many years ago, and as such, Maegyr had remained in close connection with the King's family. It had been Maegyr and his family who had looked after the Targaryen palace within the city, during the years after the war. And it was Maegyr who had ensured that the King had remained safe when things had gotten troublesome some time ago.

Jon had no doubt that Maegyr wanted the King to marry his daughter, Talisa, she was a tall woman, with silvery hair, and purple eyes. A beauty, but Jon knew the King would not marry her. Not until he was safe on the throne anyway.

"If you keep staring at our host, I might think you are in love with him, Lord Hand." A deep voice said.

Jon blinked and turned, and for a moment it was as if he was seeing a ghost. A tall man, with silvery hair and muscular build, and laughing purple eyes stood before him. For a moment, Jon thought that his silver prince was before him, then he blinked and it was not the silver prince, it was another Valyrian.

"Ser Aurane, a pleasure." Jon said, nodding to the seat to his left that had been vacated by Duck some time ago.

Aurane Waters, the Bastard of the Driftmark, brother to the Lord of the Driftmark, and a man that Jon had known since he had been a child, and someone who had been a playmate of the King's when they had been younger.

Waters sat down, and took a cup from a passing servant. "Quite the turn out." Waters said before drinking deeply from the cup.

"When did you arrive?" Jon asked. Even though he'd seen Waters when he'd been a child, running around in nothing but his pants, he did not trust the man. At least not completely, there was something about him that just ran the wrong way.

"Earlier today. The harbour is very busy." Waters said, putting down his cup. "I come with word from Driftmark."

Jon leaned forward, Waters might not be reliable, but his brother, Lord Monford, most definitely was. "And?"

"There are currently ninety ships, the majority of them war galleys, that are ready for service. Lord Monford has ordered another thirty to be built." Waters said.

Jon nodded, that was a fair amount of ships for a fleet. "How many ships are in the Usurper's fleet?"

"Roughly ninety, but they are no longer in King's Landing." Waters said.

Jon raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Stannis Baratheon has taken them to Dragonstone." Waters said. "Nobody knows why, but supposedly he received an order from his brother to do that. Shortly after Jon Arryn died."

Jon frowned. That was odd, did Baratheon think something would happen, or was he simply an idiot. "I see, and how has King's Landing responded to the building that Lord Monford has done?" He did not think that the Baratheons or the Lannisters would like it if it had not been sanctioned.

"They haven't. Our friend has kept his promise." Waters said.

Jon nodded, to hide, his surprise, knowing the Spider, he would've thought something like that would've been slipped out by now. "How long can they be kept in the dark?" Jon asked.

Waters shrugged nonchalantly. "As long as my brother desires."

Jon snorted, that was helpful. "Very well, did you bring what was asked for?" Waters hadn't been sent here just for this update, he was here to be useful.

"I did." Waters said. "The things are on the ship. Including the horn."

"Good." Jon nodded.

Waters glanced passed Jon to where Maegyr and the King were talking. As he did so, he asked. "You know Greyjoy has been prowling the waters again."

Jon frowned. Greyjoy, a dangerous man, someone who should've been killed as a child. "Has he?"

"Yes. And the word out is that he's on the hunt for slaves." Waters said.

Jon took a breath, the King's brother was to be travelling from Westeros soon, if he got caught by Greyjoy, that would not end well. "Where does he usually sail?" He asked.

"Around these shores, though increasingly he is getting closer to Westeros." Waters said. "I know Lord Monford is concerned."

Jon considered this, he knew the King would not appreciate it, if his brother was captured. But at the same time, he didn't want to alert the usurper to the presence of the Velaryon fleet. "How many ships are in Greyjoy's crew?" He asked.

"One ship, his own." Waters said.

"Just one ship?" Jon asked surprised.

"Yes, he takes people by surprise that way." Waters said.

"Then get four ships and destroy him." Jon commanded.

Waters bowed his head. "Yes, Lord Hand."