Disclaimer: All characters and situations are property of the respective owners of the amazing works of Harry Potter and A Song of Ice and Fire.
Daughter of Valyria
"On your feet." I hear but my body refuses to answer to that command.
I must do it.
I prepare my arms to use them as support, believing that with it I might be able to wield enough strength to get up, but again they contradict me. I fall on my face that is already full of dirt from the many times this has happened during the day.
"Get up." I whisper, ordering my body with tears forming in my eyes, disappointed for not being able to respond to my lord's expectations.
"Don't you think that is enough, father?" My lord intervenes in an attempt of contributing some clemency to me after seeing the lamentable state in which I find myself.
Making my frustration more excruciating.
A short silence takes place, the inability in which I find myself prevents me from looking up to see if there was any exchange beyond words.
"No." I finally heard a tone of voice that showed more than disagreement.
Awkwardness, as if being caught out of guard after being used to never be questioned.
"Or is it that you now want this slave to work less than his master?" the same voice continues, growing stronger as the distance between us decreases, something that was confirmed by the sound of footsteps.
"Malon has many more obligations than I do."
What indecency of mine, my lord should not excuse my lack of conviction, the tasks that are given to me answer only to what is expected of me, and if I am unable to complete them all, what good am I to you, my lord?
"Has your folly reached such a degree that now you dare to compare yourself to a servant?" asks Lord Maltanis with his ever-growing anger having more impact in his voice.
Following this word, silence reigns again, the only sound that governed the room were steps that moments later coming to an end; indicating that feet had reached their destination.
"He is doing his duty."
A heartbeat later I receive a strong blow to the abdomen, causing me to reflexively stoop.
As I begin to assimilate the pain I now feel, I receive another on my face, replacing the taste of earth in my mouth with one of blood. My strength is still insufficient to direct my hands to the new source of discomfort.
My fatigue and new pain making impossible for me to make any complaint about the harsh treatment.
Despite being somehow stunned; I manage to hear my master say with a roar that did nothing to hide his anger.
"Malon is mine!"
My attention is directed towards the sound of what I assume was my lord drawing his weapon, amid a wild gallop toward his father. "And as his lord, I have an obligation to protect him."
With my lack of strength giving way to my curiosity, I lead my eyes to where the exchange was taking place and I see my lord pushing back his father who surprisingly only had to dodge the assault of his son as an only reaction. Which, without a doubt, was a response to his lack of composure due to the bewilderment that he still could not seem to overcome; making my master's movements, which lacked the mastery necessary to match someone like his father, more effective in showing his fury. "That is my duty."
After a few seconds of what seemed like an easy victory for my great lord, the head of the house Maltanis regains his senses and through fluid and fast movements reminds us why he was the best duelist in the empire.
The scene changes, the ease with which he dodged the swing of the sword that my master directed towards him seemed to cool off the atmosphere, making the difference in expertise increasingly noticeable.
With another twist, Aelor Maltanis dances eluding a new awkward movement full of frustration coming from my master and says softly, but strong enough so we can both hear.
"I'm a Maltanis."
Guided by the force focused on his last move, my great master falls, unable to meet his target.
Taking two steps back and with a mocking smile, Lord Maltanis reveals. "Death is the only consequence of an act of insubordination towards me."
Finally drawing his weapon, he approaches his now unarmed son and arrogantly declares. "You still breathe because I decree it so."
With him being already on top of the body of my lord, who was rendered on the ground, he directs the edge of his sword towards his neck and warns.
"Do not forget it."
"You hold yourself in high regard, father." Bravely, with an agitated voice, my lord answers without taking his eyes off his rival in front of him. Moments later, with a defiant smile forming on his face he continues.
"Your cowardice is what keeps me alive."
Lord Maltanis do not seem to find appealing that idea and focuses a little more strength on his sword, an action that made my lord's neck give out a drop of blood.
"I see it in your eyes..." My master says, unconcerned by what his father was doing and intending to provide more proof of this he, with one swift movement, finds himself holding the sharp steel of his father's sword with both hands. "...the fear."
Still maintaining the same provocative smile my lord performs the unthinkable and uses his strength to pull his father's sword towards him.
Lord Maltanis reacts with a speed that only one would find in an act of instinct and pulls his sword away, overcoming his son's actions.
"Killing me would only bring that family you brag about so much to an end."
Using the strength that he now found at his disposal, he stands upholding the same sword that could have taken his life a few moments ago.
"Which would make you the worst disgrace of the lineage you revere."
Now facing each other, my lord still maintaining the same smile, while his father was frowning with eyes that showed conflict because of the act of courage that my master performed.
Anger and pride.
Lord Maltanis closes his eyes.
"Fear." He says, control returning to his voice, showing his innate confidence everyone knows him from.
"You're right."
Opening his eyes and directing a cold look towards my master, Lord Aelor in a solemn voice affirms. "But it is not out of concern of the judgment of my ancestors."
Coming even closer, using his free arm, my master's father directs a fist towards his chest, causing him to finally drop his sword.
"The only thing that conceives shame in me is you."
Now holding his weapon in both hands, Lord of house Maltanis prepares to swing it with his son as his target. Fearing the scene that was about to take place I instinctively close my eyes unable to face it.
The sound I expected never came, but there was still a contact one. A blow from the blunt side of the sword had struck my master's body with enough force to knock him back to the ground.
That is my conclusion after seeing my master on the ground without any cut.
"It is a punishment to Valyria that you are a Maltanis." Lord Maltanis declares spitting every word he pronounces.
Now, eyes full of coldness were directed towards my lord, the feeling emanating from them was so strong that it made me shiver.
"I'm terrified for how dreary the future of my house will be under the leadership of someone as weak as you."
Without saying more, Aelor Maltanis turns and departs, leaving only silence in the room as a repercussion.
After what seemed like an eternity, I gather enough strength to get up and slowly approach my master, who during the time that took me to make this movement did not show any sign of activity.
Having only his eyes open directed to the sky.
"My lord..." I finally manage to say having already reached my destination, his side.
Without turning to the call, my master responds with a whisper. "I'm fine, Malon."
Having the opportunity to study his condition better now in proximity I notice his current state.
"But my lord..."
Seeing a teardrop falling my master's eyes he declares in a voice filled with frustration. "It was my own will, responding to interests only mine."
Forcing a smile and directing his eyes towards me, he reassures me. "It is not your fault."
Knowing my lord's true intentions, but without the same strength and smoothness demonstrated by him, I cannot help but join the weep.
How pathetically useless you are, Malon.
Elaerys I
Almost two years ago my life changed completely.
Everything I knew vanished.
I lost what mistakenly thought was mine, my past did not matter.
The promise of a different future had only become another beautiful dream that the bitterness of my reality had forced out of my memories.
All of that was a consequence of the simple whim of someone who believed that the entire world belonged to him.
No, I did not lose it through oversight of mine, my existence was taken from me.
That day I went from being the daughter of a prominent merchant of Lys to being the prostitute of a noble from Valyria.
A dragonlord.
And now here I am.
The sunshine and heat of this morning combined with the fresh winds coming from the sea would raise anyone's mood, this might hold even for those who did not enjoy the hot weather since its blending would cool down any sign of discomfort, we all were enjoying it, even someone as broken as me.
Today would be the fifth day of the voyage and, if Lord Malon's estimations were correct, we would already be within Lord Naeliar's new lands. The farm that could be seen in the distance might be the one that would become the closest thing to a home that someone in our circumstances could call.
Our group is certainly large and holds people of different ages. The pack animals are only bound to move the provisions that would be determined to sustain us during the time it takes us to settle in these new lands.
So, we walked for days.
Turning my head to look at the faces of those around me, I cannot help but notice hope in their eyes.
The mood had been improving over the days because everyone seems to understand that the slow-paced journey suggests that Lord Malon does not appear to be one of the lords who treat their servants worse than beasts and cattle.
I wish I could share those feelings, but it is difficult to do so with my wounds still refusing to heal. The only thing worth something I have left is my daughter, and I would endure anything if that could ensure her well-being.
The slave status I was stigmatized with now did not allow me to crave for a lot, but I promised myself that I would not let my baby go through the same as me.
Even if I must give up what little dignity I have left for that.
Those thoughts bring me back to the dilemma that has taken hold of my mind.
Since the beginning of the trip, my baby has been in Lord Naeliar's company, something that has spread throughout our caravan the assumption that they were siblings.
What is Lord Malon up to?
I have been sold as a slave and as such my baby is one too. I have never heard of a nobleman who approves of having his family in such closeness to a servant.
Master Rogare had advised me that my attitude should be one of complete obedience as Lord Malon served a particularly important family. If the task was paramount, then why leave someone like me that responsibility?
Someone whom he had only known for a few days.
There are too many unanswered questions in my head; no, there were too many assumptions that could make sense of what was giving reason to all this, all propagated in my mind, all of them different, one worse than the other.
I am scared.
"Halt!" I hear a cry that takes me away from my previous thoughts.
Trying to see who the voice was coming from; I turn my head and see that it was one of the soldiers dressed in armour.
"Gather round!"
Responding to the orders given, after a few moments, we all find ourselves side by side, curiously waiting.
Lord Malon went ahead early in the morning to get a glimpse of the situation the new property currently is in. Now we see him riding towards us having been done with said task.
After a few moments, due to the proximity we now have between us we are now able to differentiate seriousness in his face, if that expression would reign the face of another person, we would assume that whatever this interruption deemed necessary would not be good.
However, with the time we have shared with the regent, everyone has assimilated that this is his usual expression.
Although I have firsthand knowledge that would prove everyone wrong.
Since I started being in Lord Naeliar's care I have been able to see another expression on his face. A big smile accompanied by eyes full of pure happiness, the kind that you only find in the innocence of a child who lives without any concern.
I wonder if that is how I look every time I take sight of my Haelena.
"We are about to reach our destination."
After seeing his moments of weakness, I cannot help but smile when I see Lord Malon with that sober expression.
They certainly seem like two completely different people.
"I have been able to see the manor, and something was very clear." Lord Malon continues as he dismounts his horse.
Being already on the ground, he walks towards us, rotating his head as he takes a brief look at each corner of the formation. To detail our numbers, no doubt.
"It will not be able to house all of us." He announces, having his gaze already in the middle of the crowd. "We will divide into groups, and some will have to camp outside."
The news surprises some, but none shows any discomfort, proof of their discipline.
"It will not be permanent. We have taken steps to solve the problem."
It is just after saying this that Lord Malon looks away and focuses on one of his servants. "You." he says, and it seems that no one needs anything more than the direction of his eyes to know who he was referring to.
"You will be in charge of all those who work as carpenters and masons."
With slow steps, Lord Malon prepares to approach the person to whom he was speaking.
"Your name?" He asks.
"Gerah, my lord." Answers a slave with grey hair, and a long beard of the same colour.
In Lys, it is exceedingly difficult to define someone as an old man if only one is guided by the hue of their hair. Gerah, in particular, seemed to be of considerable age, but the muscles that could still be seen in what was not covered by his rags invited me to think otherwise.
Nodding his head fleetingly, Lord Malon changes direction and approaches another servant.
"You."
Turning his head, as if looking for someone, the regent continues "And you."
Following the same process as before he announces. "You both will be in charge of farmers and fishermen."
Returning his gaze to the first slave referred to, Lord Malon orders "Names."
"Breza, my lord." Responds a servant who, from the distance, I could only characterize his black hair and rough voice, something that leads me to think that it is due to not having High Valyrian as a mother tongue.
"Skoro, my lord." Says the second, with a similar accent, but with grey hair, though not with the same hue in the shade that Gerah has.
He recognizes both names by nodding, after giving one last look to the group he says. "The blacksmiths will divide the work themselves and come to me if they need anything."
"Elaerys." Having already finished with his affairs, Lord Malon calls out as he walks towards his horse.
Having no expectations to be named on these matters, it takes me a few seconds to realize what he said.
Lord Malon certainly did not make it easy to know who he was calling for as he was still walking to his horse.
I was the only Elaerys in the group provided by the confused faces of everyone around me.
Stepping forward and getting myself ready to respond in the manner expected of me, Lord Malon turns and denies me the chance to do it by saying. "Come with me."
Following his order, I go over to the regent with quick steps. He sees me doing that and then takes the reins of his horse leading it towards where he came from originally.
After being able to reach him and being at his side, I venture a glance at him briefly and I notice that he still maintained the same seriousness as before.
Following the path, without realizing the passing of time, the silence continues.
It is not until I stumble that I notice that I have been looking at the young man next to me during all that time.
Knowing it was improper of me to do so, I change my gaze towards what lies ahead of me.
"Lord Malon." I say not being able to take the silence any further.
"You have many questions." He says, cutting off whatever I was going to voice.
However, this time he did so with a much more docile and softer voice than the one he had used before.
Certainly, I would like answers to all of them, but if I had to choose only some of them, I would preferably know those that would cause any misfortune to me or my baby.
"I know you are not a slave." He continues without looking away from the horizon.
I expected that was one of the reasons why there was a different treatment towards me, but that still does not explain why, since I did not have a glamorous past that deemed me worthy of it.
"At least you weren't one for long." He whispers, finally turning those beautiful grey eyes towards me.
Keeping the same expression he has displayed all this time on his face and with the same low tone, he prepares to explain. "Your eyes"
Looking at his own I can see a glimpse of sadness and compassion.
"I see hope and frustration in them."
Feeling a sting of vulnerability, I quickly look forward again.
The regent lord, after a brief period, continues. "Someone your age would have lost those emotions by now."
Does one leave them behind? Do you get used to being treated like an animal? Does the treatment a slave gets only need time to be accepted?
I refuse to give that satisfaction to the one who has stolen my freedom.
I feel that if I lose hope, I will become what that monster said I was.
I know who I am, I know what I am worth.
I would not let a worm define that.
The mere thought of said vermin was enough to bring out the worse feelings within me, but amid that reaction, I notice Lord Malon was now looking at me.
This, for some reason, made my rising mood deplete.
Realizing that we now were looking at each other Lord Malon quickly directs his gaze ahead.
"I have lived among nobles and slaves all my life." He says with a sad smile.
It is difficult to imagine the regent lord living among servants. His movements had too much grace in them, and his words were those belonging to someone who had been educated with the best available.
"And I have firsthand experiences of how the lords of Valyria behave."
Lys, the city of pleasure, was nothing more than an attraction and pastime for the nobles of the empire. I would be surprised if there was someone on the entire island who had not experienced any insult or abuse from one of them.
It is no surprise that, in most cases, it was their slaves who ended the lives of those who survived the "Doom of Valyria."
He closes his eyes for a moment and after opening them again he redirects them to mine.
It appears that I have an instinctive reaction every time he does that because I always feel the need to look at them.
This time he does not divert his eyes.
"Lord Rogare mentioned that you have been educated."
"I have lived among merchants." I answer, looking up at the sky, remembering my father's shop, full of books that I had mostly read. "I have been able to read as much as I could."
My parents worked hard so I could have a better future, but for them, this only meant that I had to marry the son of an important merchant.
It was fortunate that they took the interest I had in books as harmless, and I was allowed to familiarize myself with them without any reproach.
However, I did not want to be valued just for the number of children I could conceive.
In this world, there are only a few things a woman could aspire to, and I always believed that being an educated person could prevent someone like me, a commoner, from ending up in a pillow house.
How wrong I was.
"Your daughter." He utters, still unable to face me. "Is your former master his father?"
After hearing his question, my mind was spawned by thousands of thoughts, all the scenarios in which I had anticipated this very scene. The problem is that the situation appeared so abruptly that I did not know what to say, no, even if I were reigned by calmness, I would not know what to answer.
I assume that it might not even be wise to give any kind of reply to that question.
Unaware of how long the silence had lengthened, Lord Malon seems to have taken the lack of word as an implicit answer.
"You love her?"
Yes, it seems the verdict had already been taken.
"With all my soul." I respond instinctively.
Love seemed to be such an easy word to say until I met her.
Now understanding better what it meant, I cannot help but feel like a deluded child for thinking I knew what my parents felt for me. She gave meaning to my existence after I lost it all. She became the reason I am willing to face the days after emptiness painted every dream and made them nightmares I was afraid to see in my sleep.
I just needed to hear her giggle to realize nothing else mattered to me.
"What do you think would happen to her if they knew who her father was?"
What is he trying to tell me? My little girl has not hurt anyone, why should anything happen to her?
"Your daughter." I hear him say and his words now lacked that same touch of sentimentality behind them that characterized the previous ones.
Lord Malon takes a step forward and stands in front of me, forcing me to stop and face him.
Those grey eyes that seemed to take my breath away a few moments ago lost any sign of life when Malon says in a blazing voice of command, an order that did not lead to a contradiction.
"You are going to renounce to her."
"What?" It was my only answer, a whisper that was undoubtedly barely heard and considered by the speed with which it had left my lips one would think that it was said before the man in front of me finished saying the atrocity that took any sense from this conversation.
I felt blood rush to my head, my eyes burning in conflict eager to answer with tears amid my stubbornness for refusing to show any weakness.
I knew it, life has only been able to prove to me that all men have been forged in the same way, the name being the only thing that differentiated them from the other.
Including those who could show so much kindness and compassion in their eyes, a façade, a lie, nothing more.
How naïve I was.
"You will take care of her, you will see for her education, but she must not know of the bond you both share."
I heard words being spoken, but could not make sense of them, my mind was full of fury and frustration knowing that whatever he says to me it would not be influenced by what I wanted.
Why has my life ended like this? Is this the answer the gods have deemed to me for wanting to be something different? Something is not meant for me too long?
I had not enough will to continue keeping my emotions locked up, tears are the first to show the feelings I accumulated.
Lord Malon was not prepared for them.
My sadness seemed to have spread and his face that was expressionless up until now could not contain gestures of sadness and those cold eyes seem to have lasted no more than a few moments, for now, they were full of compassion.
It is the reaction I just witnessed that motivates me to utter a question I needed its answer. "Why are you doing this, lord Malon?"
"To protect my lord." He responds, again stoically, remembering the reason for his earlier resolution.
"I do not understand." I say breaking the connection between our eyes by looking down.
I was unable to see him like this, playing an act that portraits someone different from what he is.
All his lies.
I do not understand, Malon.
The silence that follows only guarantees that the Regent did not know how to explain what he just told me.
Either that or he was looking for the correct words that embraced the drama he was trying to stage, more lies.
"She is a daughter of Valyria."
He says as if that would explain everything or anything, but I still do not comprehend what he means by saying that.
Annoyed by the lack of clarity in his words, I look up with defiant eyes and only receive the serious face that characterizes him, but my attention goes towards the expressive display of those lively eyes of his, the only sincere part of the regent lord.
Understanding that I was not going to hear more words to give reason to what he said, I start to review everything I have seen and heard.
It did not take me long to put together something.
The compassion that I had seen within him before is something I could find in the eyes of the slaves when they saw me, that connection that everyone shared because we were under the same circumstances.
The sense of belonging we feel knowing that there was someone who comprehended the pain that tormented us.
Opening my eyes wider as an instinctive reaction to the realization that gave rise to my thoughts I quickly utter. "Is Lord Naeliar...?"
Without letting me finish my question, Malon turns around, leaving only his back for me to see.
"She will have a life worthy of someone of her lineage."
I am starting to develop a bit of resentment at the way he has interrupted me on several occasions already.
Still not turning, shifting his head enough to see me he continues. "Alongside my lord."
This is what he intended from the beginning.
Of course, Master Rogare must have told him about my circumstances, and everything was nothing more than a manipulation hidden behind his kindness.
Turning his body again and taking a step forward, keeping his eyes firmly towards mine.
"I need to trust you." The regent says in what could not be more than a whisper that the wind seemed to carry towards me.
Isn't this how my life was determined? By someone's else desire?
Haelena is nothing more than a piece of what he has planned for Lord Naeliar.
Her life has already been decided by someone she has not even met.
Nothing has changed, I am still a puppet who responds to what my puppeteer wants me to do.
I feel so powerless.
Feeling a bitter sensation in my throat and with heat in my words in a desire to challenge what life has brought upon me, I ask. "Is she going to be a prisoner?"
Lord Malon takes a step back after hearing what I said, the expression on his face seemed to show offence for the mere fact of suggesting that what I said was among his plans.
I do not believe anything anymore.
My baby is being used for his convenience, and I nor she could say something to change anything.
Could people still call this living?
"You love her."
She is my only source of strength, but as someone who thought that had nothing to lose and therefore could do everything for someone else, I forgot that at the same time she is my greatest weakness too.
I do not want to lose her.
I do not want to be alone.
I do not want to keep hearing this, and does it matter if I do?
I feel numb, all the anger and frustration were purged from my body, leaving me in the middle of nothingness.
Is this what Malon said slaves turned into?
"They share a fact that could end their lives."
It is with those words that the man in front of me gets my attention again.
Certainly, there is a possibility that someone will attack my baby just for who her father was.
At first, I did not predict that someone would find out about it, and I thought that she would be ignored like any other slave.
Now there are already two people who know.
"And we both want to protect them."
Am I not being guided by my selfishness? Am I not also deciding for her by denying her this alternative?
I am her mother. Is it within my rights to do so?
I must protect her.
Malon turns and walks a few steps away and again his back is the only thing visible to me.
After a few moments of silence, he turns his head to see me, but without moving the rest of his body, getting ready to say something.
"She will live happily for the rest of her days, far from the life that could have been hers."
Even with how heavy the atmosphere surrounding our conversation was, I cannot help but wonder how many times he has done this same action.
"Isn't that enough?"
It is?
I do not know, the only thing I know for certain is that when the book of the history of my life that I had longed for is finished, my baby will steal the spotlight by being the most beautiful chapter.
Haelena you are my present; you will be my future and you are the best thing that happened to me.
There is nothing I cannot do for you.
He is right, it is enough.
Malon II
Sitting and reviewing some papers on the table, I cannot help but stress that the last few days have been very productive.
The new state is slowly getting lively, and the fields were where all my attention was focused while the construction of the new living quarters to house all the servants, who are yet to be under a roof, is proceeding its course.
Lord Rogare seemed to have been true to his words and my lord's lands turned out to be as beautiful and fertile as he had promised, Malon could not help but be optimistic about the future of the new house my little lord would have to lead in the future.
There is still a lot of work to be done, plans that must be taken care of with great urgency and that is why I must be diligent to put an end to these that, although denote a degree of importance, follow a lower hierarchy than what is fundamental in these times.
Security.
It is what is going to take most of our resources, and all the same, it will require more time than any other area.
There is not much that can be done about it at the moment, as we lack the manpower and materials to do so, but we will be able to start with this project in about three weeks, as they were both already on their way.
Before leaving the city, I had found some gentlemen, accompanied by the pertinent recommendations from Lord Rogare, who could provide what was necessary to carry out my plans.
The thought of that name leads me to another line of ideas, and although my decision regarding whether I should trust Lotho does not give me a sense of certainty yet, I can say that at the very least It was roaming around the road of proving to be the correct one.
It was a very risky gamble.
The only reason I felt I could venture with that idea was that the Rogare family was indebted to my lord Galaenar in specific and not the Maltanis house.
Malon heard my great lord say that Lotho Rogare was a cunning and ambitious person, which made "a combination that should never be underestimated."
The merchants on Lys are all selfish, and Malon does not trust them.
Despite that, I cannot deny that he has enough decency to remember why his family has been a rising power in this city.
It is funny how my lord continues to make the Rogare house richer in death just as he did in life.
It is amid these thoughts that I see one of our spears, Vaogenka, enter the room.
I picked this quarter because it had enough space for me to deal with the mundane issues that could arise from the responsibilities that I now have.
"Master Malon, there is a rider who wishes to see you."
The door was always open, as I'm following a tradition of my late lord Maltanis that I always found useful for how sporadic the matters one normally must deal with are.
"Waiting for someone to answer the door takes longer than tearing it down" he used to say, and I never got to try it for myself, but considering the difference between our strengths, I could foresee that our circumstances would give different results.
After nodding at what the astaporian said he steps aside and lets the rider pass.
A dark-skinned young man with a stocky body, but not very tall, which explained why I had not seen him behind the giant Vaogenka is.
Said rider lowers his head taking a few steps forward and with a rough accent that characterizes the islands of the south says. "Master Malon, I bring a message from Master Rogare with me," following this he takes another step forward while holding a letter with both hands in my direction, his head still bowed.
"You have my gratitude." I say with a nod as I approach the young messenger to receive the letter.
Turning my head a little I direct my gaze towards the person who, although I could not see, I knew was close. "Moreo."
And as expected, he answers.
"Master?"
A small man with dark black hair and a smile that seems to never leave his face appears behind the young man who was still bowing his head.
"Take care of the courtesies." I say turning and taking quick steps towards the place where I was at the beginning.
Understanding the order, Moreo bows his head and responds. "Yes, master Malon."
Now sitting down once again, I see how the young rider is escorted out of the room.
The referred message was in my hands, still closed.
Curiosity is present within my mind for it was not long ago that we left Lys and the reason Lord Rogare sees the need to send a message so soon makes me think that something of importance has taken place these days.
"Vaogenka, tell Elaerys to come here urgently." I order without taking my eyes away from the message I had started to read.
Ending the last written word, I prepare myself to take another chance at reading everything again. I repeat that same process a few more times.
Feeling that I had had enough of it I dropped the paper on the table and leaned on the back of the chair in which I was.
Assimilating the information that I just received.
A dragon lord.
News about Aurion made port in every city west of Essos, a nobleman who now proclaims himself the new emperor of Valyria, motivated by the idea that he was the last remaining pureblood of the empire, is leading an army to take back the freehold and claim it as his.
If my lord Galaenar's father learnt that a Qohtigar claimed to have rights to the throne of Valyria he would rise from the dead only to take Aurion down with him.
There is no one between the living and the dead who deserves such a distinction more than my lord Gaelon.
The gods themselves have destined him to lead men.
I could not help but get into an unbridled laugh as I realized what circumstances had to come true for someone like Aurion to feel legitimized to proclaim something like that.
His family, like the Targaryens who left Valyria, have not set foot within the city for more than a decade. Although unlike them, of whom only a few knew the reason they did so, the Qohtigar had been forced to seek refuge outside, after not being able to make a show in the struggle for power in the empire, due to the decline of his family in its last generations.
It is in the middle of that scene full of hilarity that I notice the presence of Elaerys, who was standing at the door of the room looking shocked as if she were in the presence of someone who had lost his mind.
With blood flowing towards my face, I try to posture better on the chair in hopes of regaining my composure.
With a mischievous smile now adorning her beautiful face, the young woman tilts her head a little and utters with that musical accent that is common here on Lys.
"Master."
Is she making fun of me? Should I ignore that smile of hers? Yes, I have no other alternative but to do that to try to save dignity.
In an effort to change the climate as soon as possible I got up and took a few steps towards her, taking the paper that contained the message I had just read.
"Lord Rogare has shared interesting information."
Now being close enough I handed her the letter, which was quickly read in its entirety by her.
"Are you going to Lys, Master?"
Nodding, I received the paper that she was holding out for me.
"Gerah told me we need some things."
Walking back to the table, I continued. "So, it doesn't change my plans at all."
What was not among my plans was to do it so soon.
Although I think that seeing how things were going around here gives me more reasons to expedite matters. This idea was now warranted because I have someone to leave my lord with.
Yes, somehow, I know I can trust her.
The problem remained that in these times of chaos, piracy had found more freedom to accomplish its ends, and due to its coastal nature, my lord's lands would not enjoy peace for long.
Lord Rogare had assured me that he would do everything within his possibilities to help us until we can secure the surroundings. This included the provision of his men for our protection until we settle better ourselves.
These men should arrive in the next few days.
This time, without taking a seat but looking at the direction of the lyseni was, I announced with enough force for those who were on guard outside the room to hear.
"You will be in charge of everything here in my absence."
Lowering the intensity of my voice I continue. "Just trust those in this room."
Without taking my eyes off hers, I warn. "Nobody else."
A nod is the only response I get from her.
Granted, I do not need anything more.
With that concluded, I decided to sit down and start writing down a few things that I want to see addressed while I am away.
"Do you plan on going alone, Master?" I hear Elaerys say, with a hint of concern in her voice.
Looking away from what I was writing and directing my eyes towards her, the young woman being the focus of my attention again.
"Yes."
Things are about to change in Essos, we need more effective means to defend our coasts.
Lotho II
I already expected this meeting to turn this way the moment I had received the news.
I see anger on most faces, but all of that was a mere act for I know everyone here held eyes coated by fear and that it is what keeps this conversation still in the merest of civilized terms.
Of course, this was not the case with everyone.
"This is an insult." I hear Vivor Bazanne say, and I am quite surprised that he did not shout those words since the colour and the gesture giving life on his face are not signs of calmness.
"We must respond according to their claims." He continues, maintaining the same tone of severity in his words, but seeing how we all can see his veins in his forehead take fold looks like the price to keep his temper under control is quite heavy.
"And how do you plan to do it, Lord Bazanne?" I hear someone say, but I cannot recognize his voice.
Someone of little importance, no doubt.
"We do not have the men, nor the ships, to deal with Volantis."
The man referred to by the previous unknown turns his face towards him.
"Surrender?"
And as easy as that Lord Vivor's efforts to maintain serenity is in the past since he was now standing with a face full of indignation as if he had been insulted by the very idea.
"Is that what you suggest Lord Haen?!"
Looking at it from a purely economic point of view, surrendering would be cheaper.
It would be like living under the rule of a new Valyria.
The problem is many here are already getting used to the newfound freedom and the new sensations it bestows now that they can keep their wealth in full and make use of it as they please.
"Maybe we can come to an agreement." Another voice that I do not recognize.
I imagine that will become quite a common occurrence today.
"An agreement?!"
This conversation will be of no benefit if lord Bazanne continues to conduct it the way he is doing it.
"Tell me, lord Orthys, in that agreement of yours, what terms do you think can be negotiated?" Finally, I hear a new voice that I can recognize, Lorreo Tareon a lyseni of considerable age that apparently had enough and, like lord Vivor, stood and leased the limelight for a few moments.
"The services we would be willing to offer?"
I cannot help but smile at what those words implied in the city of pleasure.
"The price of our lives?"
A show of disagreement is now the only thing one could understand of everything that all the men in the room were shouting at the same time using different terms that served the same purpose.
Apparently, the idea of putting a price on one's own life, in the mind of someone who trades slaves, arises as an unthinkable thing to utter.
The irony.
"They seek to rule and enslave us just like Valyria did." lord Lorreo continues to lead the discussion moments in which the chaos seemed to dissipate.
Already with silence reigning over the atmosphere, lord Tareon returns the leading role to lord Bazanne who, once again in control of his anger, quickly goes to make use of what was yielded to him.
"Everyone here has read it."
An interesting read, no doubt. I cannot help but give them respect for how ambitious Volantis' tigers are.
"Isn't that clear?"
Didn't we do something similar?
I might wager saying that this was an occurrence everyone in the room at this time has taken part in, I can at least confirm most of us did.
We took what was available by force.
The only difference is that the risk of our actions was almost inconsequential.
"They proudly claim to be the first daughter of Valyria."
Ignoring how romantic that is, those words carry a meaning that could make them enemies of half of Essos.
And that, in my opinion, is stupid.
"Heirs to the empire."
Something that baby Maltanis would doubtless refute if he could, of course.
"Those tigers have always been arrogant."
As well as anyone who has tasted the unique delicacy that is power.
"This is no time to act cowardly."
With those last words, we also discharged the peace that had characterized the fleeting period that lord Tareon had achieved.
Calling people who held themselves in such high regard cowards was by no means a clever idea.
We must stop wasting time, the solution is in front of everyone, but they refuse to listen to what each one has just said.
Amid the chaos that still followed, I looked for lord Lorreo, hoping he would do something about it again.
The latter seems to notice my gaze focused on him and observes me for a few moments.
Understanding my intentions, he answers only by shaking his head as a gesture of denial.
Seeing that I will not be able to keep my profile low any longer, I get up and with a shout guided to the hall.
"My lords!"
My action ends up being more effective than I thought, and now, with someone new asking to speak, silence reigns in the room.
"Times like this demand composure," I say as I continue to be the focus of everyone's attention now.
At least we are proving to be more civilized than those who want to rule us.
"We cannot have these confrontations with each other."
It is in response to this that I see some of the lords present direct glances towards others present on the opposite side in which they were.
As if my words fell on deaf ears.
Raising my hand before any idea formed in anyone's mind I continue.
"Everyone has voiced their positions and I see reason in each of them."
Lys must maintain at least a little autonomy if the plans I have in place are to bear fruit in the decades to come.
Of those who could take control of this city, the tigers of Volantis were among the worst, almost as bad as the bravosi.
Taking steps towards the centre. "Volantis has no other interest than to take the place left by our former lords," I say as I direct my eyes towards lord Lorreo, who nods in recognition of what I say.
"And we don't have the means to deal with them." This time changing orientation of my eyes I focus on lord Haen, a slim, white-skinned young man, with black hair and turquoise eyes, who like the previous lyseni nods in response.
Following the trend I was performing; I took a new course.
Now as I find myself staring at lord Orthys. "The best we can do is reach an agreement."
He does not look back at me and does not give any gesture. I cannot help but smile at his lack of gratitude for the recognition I made.
Before order is lost again from what I just said, I turn to lord Bazanne raising my hand as a gesture for him to stop doing whatever he has in mind.
"Not with Volantis," I explain myself, managing to calm lord Vivor.
Returning to the centre of the room I turn to all.
"They call themselves heirs of Valyria."
Valyria has been destroyed, but it seems that there are some who do not want to accept that reality.
Like children unable to leave a mother's breasts.
It is better if we get used to the idea that we no longer need her.
"I wonder if the rest of our sisters have something to say about it," I finish by maintaining the same smile that I had presented to lord Orthys.
"Lord Rogare is right." I hear the voice of lord Lorreo pronounce.
"We need allies." Another voice, a new one, I turn intending to find his face in hopes of that being able to help me recall his name, but there is no point, I have never seen the man.
I just nod, and the stranger responds by doing the same.
During the next period, murmurs begin, making it a bit difficult for me to be able to differentiate everything that is said.
"I would not be surprised if Pentos did the same as Volantis." Someone is already appraising other conceivable enemies and that is certainly a very worthwhile assumption.
Another reason for how impertinent it is to settle this matter promptly.
"Braavos would never help us."
That could only happen on the condition that Lys would change everything, starting with its foundations.
There is no group of men more determined in the task to abolish slavery than the bravosi.
"Tyrosh?" I can distinguish what lord Tareon says. "Myr?"
"They are probably in the same situation we find ourselves in," adds lord Bazanne, who I can deduce, from his expression, seems to agree with what is being discussed now.
"We share most reasons to seek a coalition against Volantis."
This matter must be resolved with the utmost urgency and seeing that a consensus has been reached among all or at least the majority, I think it is time to make the measuring official and to end the meeting.
"Then, have we come to an agreement, my lords?"