Chapter 13: Blind Sided

Alaerya lay in their marital bed pale and frail, she had been in a dream state for a week now. The children and the wards had all been informed and were distraught. Her students all also felt great sorrow for they loved her kindness and patience, and missed her due to being busier of late. Aeyrelis had crashed into the dragon dome to the amusement of the dragons and raged his way into their bedroom where she was laid surrounded by the best healers of the city. Also present was the High Governor, First Dreamwalker and her Aunt. All looked on with worry in their eyes.

Aeyrelis took his wife's hand and she felt cold and limp, his eyes looked over her form and inside his heart broke a little. He removed the sheet to view her wound and it was an ugly gash down the side of her leg, a web of blackened darkness from the poison was spreading out slowly. He angrily replaced the sheet and strode to the other side of the room, tears of worry, sadness and anger stinging his eyes. Alaerya's Aunt, Vhaerya approached him and placed her hand on his shoulder. She had known him since he was a baby, fresh in the world. He had spent much of his life in her company with Alaerya and was like another mother figure.

"There will be time for revenge Aeyrelis, and it will be swift"

He turned to look at her not hiding his tears, "Have you seen who did this?"

She sadly shook her head, "Unfortunately we are not all seeing my dear. If we were many of the things which shape us would not come to pass"

He nodded mutely, knowing she was right but angered by it all the same.

The High Governor Rhaellis approached him, "Son this is a direct and unprovoked attack on your House and the Houses of your allies. You need to act and it needs to be severe"

Aeyrelis smiles, he knew how Rhaellis felt about his wife he had always had a soft spot for her. He was their private teacher many years ago and was responsible for the strengths they possess today.

"Call in our allies" he gave the order to the closest servant, they didn't reply just scurried away to enact his wishes.

He took in a deep breath and looked to the healers tending to his wife, "Is she going to make it?"

They looked at him sadly and shook their heads, "The only thing that can save her now is her inner strength. The dose of the poison they used is not survivable, it's lucky she got her magic in place in time. If not the spear would've killed her instantly and the poison would've ensured her death if by chance she survived"

The healer looked down at her patient, "I've done all I can to slow the poison and so did she with her freezing magic. Hopefully that's enough for her to pull through but from what I've seen she will probably never wake and will slip away in her sleep. It's best to tell the children as soon as possible"

He shook his head in disbelief, "No" he said resolutely, "Not until all hope is gone. I know she will fight to live"

The healer bowed in acknowledgment, "I will remain in one of the rooms close by and continue to do all I can for her"

"Thank you, and please not a word of her condition to anyone. I don't want any panic"

"You have my word"

He turned away and sat by her side taking her hand, he kissed her forehead and stroked her hair. He couldn't believe she was laying here dying at the peak of their power and influence with so much in their future. He looked closely at her face and remembered all the moments they had together.

"Please Alaerya," he whispered in his ear, "Dont leave us now, we have so much to do together"

VFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFV

Alaerya remained stable and the healer was surprised, "I had given her up for dead but it seems she is holding on"

She spoke quietly to her Aunt, a woman the Healer knew was powerful in flame magic

"Is there anything the temple of flames can do?" She asked the priestess

Vhaerya smiled tightly with worry, "I have begun organising members of the temple to perform some rites on behalf of Alaerya. And considering who she is they have jumped at the chance"

"Such a powerful young woman," said the Healer as she stroked her forehead feeling for fever. "I'm in shock she hasn't left us yet. This poison stills the heart never to beat again. It's called the Kiss of Death"

Vhaerya made a note of its name in her mind and decided to look into this poison later. There were some families in Valyria who dabbled in these areas she might be able to procure some spies to do some digging for her.

VFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFV

The Masters of the allied families all arrived looking sombre, an attack on the highest family was a worry. If they could be attacked they could all be at risk and that's not acceptable.

Aeyrelis stood stone faced looking out at the domes of the other families, one of these domes held the traitors of his family. That fact made him burn inside. He turned to face his allies and knew immediately these men weren't responsible.

"Thank you for coming," he said quietly as he turned from the window in his office to face these men. "I'm sure you've been informed of the attack on my wife while she was on dragon back."

They all acknowledged they were aware

"It's obviously someone not in this room, we crafted our alliance contract in such a way that if anyone performed treason or planned treason they would die a most painful death. The fact you're all standing here shows me I was right to trust you and has made me feel more secure in our arrangements"

"What is your plan Aeyrelis?" said Aery, the father of Aeyrelions betrothed.

"Well my friend, first priority I need to make sure my wife survives. And when she does we will find who did this to her, and I have been given full impunity to enact whatever revenge I desire on the perpetrator. And with that I will wipe out them and their entire family. I will show no mercy to whoever tries to destabilise what we are doing together and puts my families lives in danger"

VFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFV

Alaerya floated in and out of dreams, seeing memories of her childhood running with Rhylla and Aeyrelis in the halls of her home. Being corned by Auraelia and taunted, slashing her face with fire in fury. Falling in love with Aeyrelis and the passion between them. She sees her attacker raise their arm and magically aim a spear for her head, it whizzes past her dream self and she sees the shield displace the spear. As it flies past her dream self she sees the tip coated in poison. Then she feels the flames licking her skin as she stands naked in a flame looking out through a veil of energy at the Council of Flames around her. Her mother is there tears streaming down her face and her Aunt is there stone faced. She can see the anguish in her eyes though, she smiles. She will be back soon, she's sure of it. Then she sees the islands, the buildings, homes and industry have completely transformed from what she had seen last time she was there. She felt pulled towards the volcano and found herself in the cave that resembled the inside of a dragon egg. The walls flowed white hot and she saw the energy streaming towards her and filling her body and radiating out. Her eyes glowed with golden light and she felt renewed by the volcanos energy, she felt the magic was young, unpredictable and fiesty. Now she knew what her Aunt meant when she mentioned needing someone with strong fire magic to help control its nature. She felt the anger boiling in the volcano at her being injured, the ground grumbled in fury and she she placed her hands on the cave floor to assure the island she would be safe.

The volcano disappeared and she was in a swirl of pastel magic clouds, she smiled she knew where she was. She walked through them and found him standing waiting for her. Tears on his face he smiled, the first time she had seen him do that.

"You have us worried my Lady you should not have survived your attack. Lucky you had some warning in place around you"

She looked serious, "I will wipe those people from living memory"

"I'm assured you will and your husband will agree with you. He's already planning the same thing"

She felt warm inside at the thought of her husband.

"He's hurting without you, you need to come back soon"

"I don't know how to come back. I've never been killed before nor have I been poisoned."

"You can return your recovery will be slow but you have a choice to make"

She looked at him squarely, "What choice is that?"

"A choice to live or a choice to continue on the dream road to the next life waiting for you"

He swept his hand across to the space across from them to a shining cloud of light.

"If you choose to walk through that doorway of light you'll leave this life and go into another. Have you achieved all you wanted to in this life Lady Valreon?"

She looked at the cloud of light that would end her life in Valyria, end her relationship with all she loved and would take her away from her children. She would never see her husband or her islands ever again.

She turned her back on the clouds, "I am absolutely not done with my current life. Tell me how to get back into my body"

He smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder, she saw her body sick and frail laying in bed in her room. Her husband by her side holding her hand and crying. He was alone.

"He sent everyone away," said First Dreamwalker, "you've been stable but unresponsive for weeks now. He's losing hope you're going to return"

She looked at him sadly, she hates seeing her husband suffering, she looked back to her former teacher.

"I'm ready to come back"

"Have you seen everything you need to find who attacked you?"

"I couldn't see them clearly"

"You need to try again and see more child, otherwise their treachery might be lost to you forever. You can't accuse every family who isn't part of your alliance it would cause war. You don't have time to wage a war with everyone in Valyria"

She sighed and knew he was right. She sent her mind back to the Temple of Dreamwalkers and focused her mind on the day she was attacked. Alaerya tried to focus on the sensation of her heart beating but couldn't feel it, and remembered her physical body was close to death. The scene of her attack begins. She watches it all unfold in front of her and slows down the scene as is plays out. She approaches her attacker, apprehensive at seeing who wanted her dead and children without a mother. She sees them raise their arm and throw malice in their green eyes...green eyes? She remembered being warned about green eyes turning on her, inside she gets annoyed with herself for not taking that seriously. She edges closer to the assailant in her dream and instantly recognition flows through her. Anger rising in her she goes a step further and sees into the mind of this traitor. And what she sees infuriates and saddens her because what she has to do next will not be easy. She returns to her body, thin and looking empty in her bed. She can see the form of her husband sleeping next to her his arms holding her tight. Not knowing exactly what she's doing she dissolves into particles of light and decides to refill her body with the particles of her spirit.

VFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFV

Aeyrelis cried himself to sleep, he didn't give a fuck what anyone thought of his grief. His wife had been unresponsive for almost a month now and had started showing signs of slipping away. The healer had been watching daily and told him wherever she was her spirit had been out of her body too long and was starting to shut down. He had been crippled by these words and the reaction of his children was worse. All ten of them were hysterical, their families were distraught and Aeyrelis felt empty and lost every single day. He was no closer to finding her attacker either and he felt it made them look weak without Alaerya's power and vulnerable to further attacks. He was a swirling vortex of emotions mostly anger and fury. So he locked himself in the room with his dying wife talking to her every day and stroking her hair. He slept by her and sat with her every day, he delegated his work to his eldest son and gave him instructions how to keep their business interests running. He needed to learn at some point anyway and he needed to step up when the family needed him. Aeyrelis was proud because Aeyrelion has taken it and succeeded in keeping everything running smoothly. All euphoria at what he had seen on the islands had left him and he was just a shell of himself.

One afternoon the healer looked grim, "Sir I am very sorry," she was checking Alaerya's pulse, "I don't think she will hold on much longer. Her heart is failing her, she might slip away tonight"

He barely heard those words come out of her mouth, his wife, his strong, fighter, magical wife was leaving him. He stared into nothing as the healer looked at him as if unsure if he heard her

"Thank you please leave us" he whispered barely inaudible.

She bowed and left the room looking at him with pity before closing the door.

As the sun slipped from the sky and moonlight streamed into their chambers he lay down next to her. He closed his eyes and committed to his memory what she felt like I his arms. The feeling of her warmth alongside his, the feeling and scent of her hair next to his. The love he felt beaming from his heart for her, and in that moment he accepted that she was leaving him. Even though he felt broken he knew he could continue what they started without her, and he vowed to never love another. Tears fell down his face and dropped onto the back of her head, light sobs started as he grasped the reality it was over. He gripped her hands in his and the sobs got stronger, he had never let this much emotion out ever. And as he gripped her hands tighter in his and pulled her closer towards him he felt the ever so slight movement of her hand. He stopped and looked at her doubtful what he had felt was real, his tears dropping down onto her face shining in the moonlight. He felt it again, sure he wasn't imagining things he squeezed her hand, "Alaerya please don't make a fool out of me and give me false hope. If you're there squeeze my hand now."

She squeezed his hand, he turned her over to face him and cupped her face in his hands. Tears streaming down his face he croaked, "Come back to me my Love I can't do this without you. I thought I could but I really can't"

He held his hands in hers looking at her but there was no more movement, she felt limp.

He thought she was dead, he frantically searched for a pulse but couldn't find one and he pulled her into an embrace and his body shuddered with uncontrollable sobs. His beloved wife was gone.

VFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFV

Being back in her body she realised how long she had been gone and had felt the slow pace of all her vital organs. She knew she had just returned in time otherwise she might not have been able to come back. Her heart was weakened but not beyond use, she focused her fire magic and slowly surely the magic built back up her heart. Slowly beating and returning blood flow to a normal pace, she felt energy warming flowing through her body and everything in her firing back up. She realised her recovery would be slow but she was just happy she made it back in time. And happy that she knew what to do when she was at some of her strength. She heard him before she felt him, sobbing uncontrollably and begging her not to leave him. It broke her heart to feel his pain and that she was unable to reassure him. Her body was simply not in her control at the moment, she needed to recuperate and send more magic into where it was needed most. The poison in her system slowed her progress but she eventually conjured flame energy to burn it away. The ugly black web of poison became hot and burned away from her skin, leaving her body.

Now she just needed time for the poison that coursed through her body to leave naturally. She knew the amount that made it into her system wasn't enough to kill her just incapacitate her for a while. After a few hours of pulling in the magic from around her she started to feel her limbs, the return of feeling was like being on fire. Real, burning painful fire as her body felt again and awoke but she was still too weak to muster a movement. She had felt her husband cry himself to sleep holding her hours ago which gave her uninterrupted time to keep feeding her body with magic.

Sun begun to creep into the room as the moon slipped away into the horizon, sun crept through the city of Valyria and dragons began to stir taking their riders about their business. The city continued as it always did.

Aeyrelis woke and the reality of losing Alaerya came crashing into his awareness as he took in the sights of their room. She remained in his arms where he had held her through the night and the sunlight touched her as it crept across the room. He watched her for a time and stroked her face, she felt warm, much warmer than she had in weeks.

'Must be the sun' he thought, 'she was gone too long and couldn't come back'

He stroked her soft skin down her arm and grabbed her hand in his thinking about all the arrangements that had to be made. The children would have to be notified and the other families also, he would have to call for the priests of the Long Sleep. The temple which prepared the dead, he decided to take his wife to the islands and bury her in the gardens of their palace so he could leave Valyria soon and be close to her.

He took a deep breath and made to get up from the bed, as he moved he felt her hand holding onto his. He looked back at her sadly, and looked straight at her eyes open watching him. His heart leapt in his chest, how could this be? He pulled her to him and looked deep in her eyes, it wasn't a trick or a dream. He kissed her lips passionately and she weakly kissed him back, he hugged her close and she weakly grabbed him in return. He had never felt so relieved in all his life and called loudly over and over for the healer to come quickly

VFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFV

The healer stirred in her generous chambers given to her by Master Valreon, she was given the best rooms of the floor of their chambers after their suites. She was close enough to her patient in case she needed to send for the Priests of the Long Sleep. She arose and began to dress not looking forward to seeing her patient today. It was hard to tell Master Valreon about his wife especially considering she was a well liked and powerful woman. And her mentor had confided in her this woman had mastered great magic and in disguise had mastered the healing arts herself. Another reason the healer felt obliged to prolong her life as long as possible and give her best chance of survival even though the chances were basically non existent. There was a noise outside of her room and she stiffened in sad anticipation, her door opened and a servant entered

"Master has summoned you urgently it's an emergency"

She turned and grabbed her medicine kit and hurried from the room ready to begin proceedings with the body she was expecting to greet her.

She rushed into the room and stopped in her tracks at the sight before her, she almost felt her knees buckle in disbelief. Her patient, the Lady Alaerya Valreon, most accomplished wielder of Valyrian magic was sitting up in her bed. She looked weak but she was there, breathing. Alive.

VFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFV

"My Lady," breathes the Healer, "I didn't think..."

"What you did gave me enough time to get back to my body. I'm grateful to you"

It was difficult for her to speak too much but she managed to express her gratitude nonetheless.

"Don't speak anymore my Lady, I forbid it. We need to get your strength up"

She turned back and told her sternly, "And no magic for at least a month, your physical body won't handle anymore acts of power. I need you to trust me"

She rifled through her herbs and found strengthening potions and heart strengthening potions. She mixed them together and thrust them at her, "Drink it all do not leave one drop"

Alaerya smiled as she complied, enjoying the brusque nature of this woman who was clearly talented to keep her alive. After the potion which she consumed without complaint she was given a warm mug of healing tea.

"Sip this and I'll return shortly. This is going to be a regular treatment until you can walk and talk without being exhausted"

"How long?" She whispered weakly

"Well I've never brought anyone back to life before so I don't know. Until I see for that you're well enough I suppose"

And she left the room.

As she left the room she saw Aeyrelis, "Nothing stressful or strenuous. Her heart has only just started functioning again I won't have it shocked. She might not recover a second time. Nothing stressful" she emphasised again.

He beamed at her, "I won't risk losing her a second time we will be your best patients"

She smiled briefly and bustled off to replenish her medicines and prepare for Alaerya's lengthy recovery.

VFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFV

Aeyrelis enters the room and struggles to contain the happiness he feels at his wife's recovery. He had just accepted the reality of her demise but she had returned just before the door closed forever. He wanted to hold her and never let her go but he knew he needed to be gentle with her.

He lay in bed next to her and smiled at her, "I thought I'd lost you"

"I know" she whispered, "I did squeeze your hand you know"

He looked at her seriously, "I thought that was you saying goodbye"

His eyes filled with tears, "Dont ever leave me again"

They lay next to each other and didn't speak for the rest of the day, the Healer returned numerous times to administer various strengthening potions and examine her wound.

She exclaimed the first time she saw it, "My oh my never have I in all my years..."

She looked in shock at Alaerya, Aeyrelis raced to her side and looked in astonishment. There was only a gash where the spear has struck her the poison was completely gone.

"My Lady," said the Healer quietly, "when you are well enough I think the Head Healer is going to want a word with you"

Alaerya smiled remembering the kind old man and nodded in response not talking as she had been instructed not to speak often.

The children were particularly emotional, they were only allowed to visit in groups of two not to be overwhelming. And her children were permitted first visits, there was many tears and hugging. She also received packages of well wishers from her staff and teachers who had continued the curriculum in her absence. Even the highest members of the temples came fo pay respects with gifts showing their respect of her. She had beaten the Kiss of Death, many were simply in awe of her.

VFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFV

It had been a week since she had woken and Alaerya had gingerly begun walking. First time she left her bed she collapsed and couldn't get back up until her healer and Aeyrelis entered and rushed to her aid. Her legs simply crumpled beneath her from lack of use, she was annoyed at the weakness of her body. And after a thorough scolding from the Healer and amused looks of Aeyrelis they organised a schedule of activity for her to return her strength.

"I've never known such a good patient who has such impatience to rush back to her duties..." the Healer chastised her

Alaerya laughed but was getting frustrated she had never been this inactive in her life.

She drank some more potions obediently and settled back in bed to be fed lunch by Aeyrelis.

"You must be really enjoying being the centre of attention" teased Aeyrelis

She rolled her eyes, "Get me out of here please"

Her voice was still weak but she could manage to speak a little more.

"You'll be back to all your duties in no time..."

"How is Vaella she must be worried. I can feel her restlessness"

Aeyrelis gave her another mouthful of healing soup and smiled slightly.

"Vaella would've gone to war for you the moment you were struck. She flew around the city screeching for days after you were attacked. Dragons and their riders were too afraid to leave their homes, she was breathing fire all over the city. The Governors were quite alarmed" he chuckled.

"And then," he continued, "she flew around the top of our house and looking in at you from the window whimpering for another week. She was inconsolable and she's very very angry. No one except myself has been able to go near her, I think she's angry with herself she didn't chase your attacker."

He gave her another mouthful of soup.

She sent out energy to her dragon letting her know she was ok, she felt relief in return.

Alaerya finished her lunch and sat quietly enjoying Aeyrelis company. He started to talk about his trip to the islands, but a knock came on the door.

He went to see who it was, and moments later her mother entered the room a look of worry and relief all over her face. She ran to her daughters bedside and fiercely embraced her.

"My child I almost lost you, I'm sorry for everything I've done. When I was told you were dying I realised how foolish I am and have been. You deserve to be treated differently by me and I apologise for being any other way"

"Thank you mother I accept your apology" she said quietly

"I would've come earlier but your dragon made it difficult for many people to get close to your dome"

Alaerya laughed a little and ended up getting too stimulated and began coughing uncontrollably

Her mother looked around and reached for her daughters healing tea and held to her lips so she could drink

"I remember helping nurse you back to health when you could barely walk. You were so sick we thought you were dying, I didn't know it was the flame magic in our family causing you to be so unwell. The magic was so strong your little body couldn't process or handle it." She smiled at her daughter, "I didn't sleep for weeks, I looked over you constantly, ignored the Healers telling me to sleep. Seems stubbornness runs in our family"

Alaerya smiled silently not wanting to start coughing again.

"It's my stubbornness to always be the strongest in our family that closed me off to you. I didn't know how to share the spotlight, and I made decisions which drove us apart when I should've been embracing what we had. We could've been so much stronger" she sighed, "so when you came to show me those orbs I couldn't accept you had seen something I hadn't. I closed my mind to anything you had to share and I'm a fool for it"

She looked at her daughter, "Now I nearly lost you again and I refuse to fall back into those habits again. I know what you've seen is true, there have been others with increasing frequency. What do you need me to do?"

Her mother looked at her pleadingly, she had always wanted and yearned for her mother to be close to her.

"I want you to trust me, and I need you to follow what I decide. No questions asked" she said quietly but with strength.

Her mother swallowed and took her daughters hand, "Whatever you ask I will do"

VFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFV

Aeyrelis had a busy day, he had gone over all Aeyrelions achievements since he had been dedicating time to Alaerya's recovery.

"Son, you have exceeded my expectations. And you managed to increase shipments that were already in place as I had mentioned I wanted to. I'm proud of you"

He proudly put his hand on his sons shoulder, "You're going to make a fine leader of our House"

Aeyrelion's chest puffed with satisfaction.

"Thanks father, I enjoyed learning what I will be in charge of one day. But can I ask you something? It's been bothering me since you gave me these instructions..."

"What's on your mind son?"

Aeyrelion looked trouble, "Why are you sending all our materials and moving things from our house. And to an undisclosed location that only the crew are trusted to know? No one from the crew would tell me, not even when I reminded them I would be their Lord one day and demanded transparency"

Aeyrelis chuckled, "They really are loyal I didn't expect it to be to that level I must be honest."

"Father you didn't answer..."

Aeyrelis interrupted, "Now your mother is awake and recovering we will tell you. All of you what is happening but not until we have dealt with the traitors."

Aeyrelions face flushed with anger, "Are we closer to knowing who they are?"

Aeyrelis shared the anger on his face, "Your mother told me she knows but we can't make a move until she's recovered. The attack was on her and our House, we both have to deal with it together."

Aeyrelion nodded in understanding, "I look forward to it and hearing what you have to say"

"In good time son, I hope you understand. Now I need to go speak with your mother. I will see you all at dinner, I'll fill everyone on with how your mother is"

Aeyrelion smiled, he enjoyed his fathers presence with them all in the dining hall. It brought life to their evenings and everyone relaxed.

Aeyrelis summoned his orb and left the office to visit his wife.

VFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFV

Alaerya had slowly begun waking more and more every day, everyone except her closest staff had been forbidden to see her until she was fully mobile. It took focus and patience, she forbid anyone seeing her vulnerable. Aeyrelis entered and smiled, her progress gave him such joy. She saw him across the room with an orb in his hand and felt excitement. She had wanted to see these orbs for the longest time but had been told to wait until she regained some strength.

Her assistant left the room at their request and she sat with him.

"Before you show me I want you to tell me everything that happened there"

He knew she'd want a full account of the journey so he took her through their arrival and the wonders of the Port. How well organised and well built it was. The way the islands look, how they've truly transformed into a real Valyrian outpost.

"How is Jaehserys handling everything?"

"I'm impressed with his effort and skill. We will need to reward his work"

"We are in agreement then, we can give him one of the larger houses and organise his family to join him on the next shipment. He will be pleasantly surprised. Do we know anything about his family?"

Aeyrelis shook his head, "Nothing, we should look into who they are before we do anything else. We have worked hard to get this going we only want the people who will continue building us up. The last thing we need is dissent"

Alaerya frowned at the reminder she had an unpleasant decision ahead of her and pressed on with the discussion of the islands.

"Tell me how he organised them"

Aeyrelis explained the different islands and their capabilities, Alaerya listened and called the orb to her hand.

"I have to say my Love I never realised the full extent of what you wanted to do there" finished Aeyrelis

He looked at her smiling

"What do you mean?"

"There is a large Valyrian House on each islands and there are four in total. You mean to make the children rulers of their own islands dont you and form a ruling council from our children and the allies."

"At some point we will need to step away my Love and let them build their own legacy. Hopefully our allies join us to provide pure blood lines to continue matching with our grand children. And retain the power we have within our families. That is my plan, if they refuse to come we will need another avenue. But I haven't gotten that far yet"

He crosses the space between them and kisses her forehead, "How did you get so good at this?"

"The urge to survive has changed me, and it's made me more strategic"

She smiled looking into the orb and it's contents were revealed. She marveled at the scenery Aeyrelis had recorded and seen, he was right the whole landscape had transformed. And she had to admit it looked more extravagant and beautiful than Valyria.

Once the orb faded and returned to Aeyrelis hand he looked at her with a shadow on his face.

"Now we have seen our future tell me who tried to take you away from it"

She instantly felt sick and troubled. This would cause problems.

She looked at him with sadness in her eyes, "It was Rhylla and Auraelia. We need to summon House Ballaer House Varghnan"

He wasn't surprised, he had suspected these women but didn't think they were stupid enough to strike out of jealousy. He's thankful they did though because if they'd been smarter they could've actually achieved their objective. His wife had been preoccupied lately and lax with her security magic, thank the Gods he thought that she got that shield up in time.

He turned and stormed from the room calling his allies to join him in rounding up the traitors.