Early 160 AC, Sandstone
Aegon
By killing Ser Vorian Dayne in single combat, Aegon had, on paper, conquered most of Western Dorne. In reality, the matter was quite different. Sandstone had fallen quickly enough after Ulrick Qorgyle had been produced in front of its gates. Aegon had thought that it had fallen too quickly but looking too deeply into the nature of its surrender did not hold his interest at the moment.
Aegon had been forced to leave a sixth of his army to garrison Starfall, High Hermitage and Skyreach. They were not castles he'd trust to hold their allegiance and these Dornish were even more untrustworthy than the sort he dealt with in Essos. The peasant levy garrisoning High Hermitage had also been absorbed into his own force. He couldn't trust them back in their own lands nor could he let them return to their homes. Aegon had his men burn down their villages after all.
This left with him another headache. The men he had taken from High hermitage had been smallfolk from the lands surrounding the Prince's Pass. Even the smallfolk from all the way near Kingsgrave were sequestered in High Hermitage. It certainly explained why all the villages they burned down were empty. What happened to the lord and lady of Kingsgrave however, Aegon still had no idea. The castle was empty and while Skyreach still had its lord in the empty castle after the Lannister had taken it, Kingsgrave as suspiciously empty save for the token force meant to fool them. This worried Aegon.
Even now, sitting in the Lord's Solar in Sandstone, Aegon was indecisive. It was very bad to do so in a war, he knew. Yet, his worries plagued him all the same. His instincts told him to fortify his position. What he had effectively occupied made up almost half the landed gentry in Dorne. After the Greenblood, the Torrentine supported the highest population in Dorne. Most of the landed knights of Dorne came from here, after all.
Aegon knew he should trust his cousin to pass through the Boneway. He had the larger army of the two. Still, Aegon could not help but worry. All of his experience told him that he had done his part in the war. He should ensure now that those he had conquered did not rise up against him before the war was finished. He knew he should wait for news of Daeron's inevitable victory to reach him. His work was done.
Aegon was jerked out of his musings when the door to the solar opened and Quentyn Ball walked in carrying a bottle of Qorgyle's finest Dornish red. A servant followed him carrying a few goblets on a golden platter. Ser Jon Harte and Lord Loreon Lannister followed behind.
Aegon watched in silence as Quentyn put the bottle of wine on the table in front of Aegon. The servant then set the platter on the table as well and started pouring the wine into the golden goblets. Aegon waited until her work was done and took a goblet in his hands. He sipped at the wine a little. It was very strong in its flavour and rather bitter too. Aegon found that he liked its taste as it went down his throat.
Jon and Lannister were still standing at his attention and Aegon liked them for that. Lannister knew his place at least, unlike the ponce Tyrell. That was why Aegon had left him back at High Hermitage. He could not bear his presence for too long, he had found.
"Sit," Aegon said, motioning towards the seats on the opposite side of the table.
They took their seats and Aegon took another sip of his wine, enjoying its taste. Jon and Lannister took a goblet of wine from the platter. There was a fourth on the platter which the servant haad filled too. Aegon had no doubt that Quentyn was the reason that the fourth goblet was on the platter in the first place. Sure enough, the lad tried to reach for it from his place standing beside Aegon. Aegon swatted his hand away and his squire slunk back, scowling. Lannister let out a quiet chuckle.
Aegon let it die out and still spoke nothing, opting the study the goblet in his hand. It was wrought in gold. The engravings upon the surface of the goblet showed a sun surrounded by scorpions on either side. The Qorgyles were very loyal to the Martells, it seemed to have these around so casually.
As the silence continued, Aegon could almost feel it grow heavy. Quentyn began to fidget in his position unused to this silence. Aegon cast a look at Jon and Lannister.
Jon was as placid as ever, his face the surface of a still lake, betraying nothing. As he should be. Aegon knew Jon very well and Jon knew him even better in turn. He was used to the way Aegon conducted his meetings. Lannister not so much. He hid it well but the tightening of his grip around the goblet in his hands told Aegon enough about it irritation at being silent, like an errant child before his lord father.
This silence was time enough and Aegon finally spoke.
"Tell me news of the war," he said simply.
Lannister spoke first.
"We received a rider from Lord Lyonel," Lannister began. "He asks for more men to control the region."
"No," Aegon replied.
"We split the army to ensure that Lord Tyrell had more men than he actually required. This is no time to try and bolster his own numbers and improve his situation. His men and his lords are still needed with the army. We are yet to take Hellholt and crossing the Red Desert is very perilous," Jon replied in Aegon's stead, explaining his mind to Lannister.
"Indeed," Aegon continued. "In the reply you send to him, if you deign to even send one at all, remind him of how his own ancestor lost an army of nigh on forty thousand in the Red Sands near to a century ago."
"Of course, your grace," Lannister said.
"Any news from the Western Front?" Aegon asked, drumming his fingers against the hard wood of the table in front of him.
"The last news, as your grace knows, was of Lord Alyn breaking Planky Town and sailing up the Greenblood, putting settlements to the torch. If all goes well, mercenaries from Essos should have landed and started taking the keeps of the landed knights surrounding the Greenblood," Lannister said.
"They are no mere mercenaries, my lord of Lannister," Aegon said. "They are mine own Company. They'll do what has been asked of them."
Lannister nodded in response and Aegon got the distinct impression that he didn't really care what would happen to those men one way or the other. He was about to say something regarding that matter but stopped himself. Aegon had no need to play around at being friends with the Lannister. Why should he care if Lannister disrespected his men? They were too far away to care either. So he kept mum and let the silence stretch on once more, opting to sip at his wine once more.
Once he had drained his goblet, Aegon motioned for Quentyn to fill it once more. He then spoke again.
"Any news of Lys or Braavos?" Aegon asked.
Unsurprisingly, Ser Jon answered and Lannister looked rather disinterested instead opting to observe the engravings upon his own goblet. Aegon wondered if he would come to the same conclusion about Qorgyle's loyalties. The man had given up his castle with minimal fuss and he had been very accomodating to Aegon since his arrival. He had even given up his own solar and bedchambers eagerly for Aegon. Perhaps, a bit too eagerly. Aegon dismissed those thoughts for another time and turned his attention to Jon who had begun speaking.
"I received word from Ser Denys Bracken, my prince. They have indeed landed, as Lord Lannister predicted," Jon said. He was about to say more when he was interrupted by Lannister.
"And a messenger reached you through the war?" Lannister asked.
"We in the Company know how to send messengers through the theatre of war, my lord. It becomes a necessity," Jon explained. Aegon felt his irritation spike at this interruption and it must have shown on his face. Lannister was about to ask another question but stopped after catching a look from Aegon.
"Go on, Jon," Aegon said.
"By the time the Company left Essos, the war between Lys and Tyrosh had gone into a stalemate. As you well know, my prince, the Lyseni are loath to give up an advantage and they've fortified themselves after gaining just a little land. The Tyroshi are just as reticent to attack without any backup," Jon said.
"What of Braavos?" Aegon asked, feeling the stirring of hatred deep in his gut.
"Their civil war hasn't been resolved yet, but the Braavosi fleet with all of its sailors is in one piece and on the seas, my prince. Their High Admiral withdrew from the city and claimed to pledge allegiance to the Sealord, whomever that ends up being," Jon said.
"Did neither Pentos or Myr make any moves towards Braavos?" Aegon asked.
"Pentos did, my prince. They managed to reclaim the Andal coastline but their attempts at reaching further north are being rebuffed by the Braavosi navy. And with winter about to set in, going that far north doesn't seem to be in their agenda," Jon concluded.
"Gods dammit!" Aegon whispered to himself. He had been counting on the civil war in Braavos to push them towards defeat but this was too little of a loss to soothe his anger. His grip on the goblet in his hand tightened and he could feel it give under the pressure, bending inwards.
Aegon stood up suddenly and set the goblet down on the table, trying to control his anger. At his sudden motion, Quentyn, who had been dozing off in his position behind Aegon suddenly jerked awake as if he was slapped.
"Se- My lo-, ah, your grace! What need have you of me?" he asked, trying to pretend that he hadn't been sleeping.
Aegon chuckled, his anger forgotten.
"Go on. Run along to the yard and find Ser Petyr Shawney. He'll have some work for you. Maybe he'll have you spar someone," Aegon said.
Excitement writ itself quickly upon Quentyn's face and Aegon smiled as he practically ran out of the room. Aegon turned to face Jon and Lannister again.
"How goes the preparations for our movement to Hellholt, my lord?" Aegon asked.
"We are as ready as we can ever be, your grace," Lannister responded carefully. "Barring any unforeseen circumstances preventing, the King should have crossed the Boneway by now. It has been near to a moon's turn since our own victory at High Hermitage. We are sure to receive any news of the King once we take Hellholt either way."
Aegon nodded and turned to face Jon.
"Has this messenger for Ser Denys any news of the King, Jon?" Aegon asked.
"No, my prince. He was sent from the Company to us as soon as they landed. If anything of note has happened after he left, he has no knowledge of it," Jon said.
Aegon hummed in reply and walked over to the window, looking outside while stroking his beard. He looked down and he could see the yard. He made out the form of Quentyn who had just entered the yard. Aegon could just barely make out that Quentyn had a padded gambeson in Qorgyle colours on and he was lugging around a wooden mace that must have weighed at least half of his own weight.
Aegon amusement rose as the figure of what was unmistakeably Ser Petyr sent Quentyn away pointing to the armoury, no doubt admonishing the boy at his choice of weapon. To Aegon's further amusement, Quentyn instead stood his ground refusing to go back. He then tried to swing the mace around, perhaps to convince Ser Petyr that he could handle it. He failed miserably not even managing to lift it to his waist. Aegon chuckled at the sight. If Quentyn wanted to wield a mace, Aegon would have to ensure he had the muscle to do so first. It was his duty, after all.
"By your leave, your grace, I shall go and ensure that the last of the preparations are finished," Lannister said, from behind Aegon.
Aegon waved his hand absently and the shuffling of clothes told him that Lannister had bowed and the sound of the door opening and closing told Aegon of his departure. Still facing the window, he spoke.
"Tell me, Jon. What does he think of me? And what does his army think of me?" Aegon asked.
"He doesn't really like you, my prince. Or rather, he loves you not. But I am sure he also does not hate you," Jon said. "If you need him for any plot though, I doubt he'd be receptive."
"No. I have no need for him. What plots could I hatch? I have everything I need. Plotting with him won't bring my brother back," Aegon said.
"Perhaps he could support you if you take the notion of a war against the Braavosi to you cousin," Jon replied.
"True. True. But our present war has not yet ended. By the time we will have put down the inevitable Dornish rebellion, any goodwill I have with the Lannister would have evaporated. If I had some way of getting him in my debt, I could be assured of his co-operation," Aegon said.
"Of course, my prince. The Lannisters always pay their debts," Jon said.
Whatever Aegon might have said in reply was cut short when someone knocked on the door. A servant then poked her head in and looked at Aegon. He waved for her to come in.
"The Lord Qorgyle is here to see you, m'lord," she said.
"Of course. It does not behove us to let him wait out sided his own solar. Let him in," Aegon ordered.
The servant bowed and went. Lord Doran Qorgyle walked in. He was a portly man and very jovial with who were essentially his enemies. Now that he had seen the goblets, Aegon was looking at the lord intently, hoping to find some hidden treachery within his eyes. He found none. If the man was at least disgruntled at being forced to wait for permission outside his own solar, he didn't show it, or he hid it very well.
"Your grace!" the Qorgyle began. "I have news!"
"News of what?" Aegon asked, rather blunt, hoping to provoke the man.
Qorgyle continued, taking no slight at Aegon's tone.
"The King, of course," he replied grandly. "Old Qoren Martell has bent the knee!"
Suspicion and relief warred for dominance in Aegon's heart. He wanted to belive this man, but he could not. Not without proof.
"And how have you come by this news, my lord?" Jon asked.
"Why, a rider arrived just now and with him was a letter from the King signed in both his name and that of Qoren Martell. All of the Dornish lords are to present themselves at Sunspear to pay homage to the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms," Qorgyle said.
Throughout all this, the smile never left Qorgyle's face and Aegon could almost believe that Qorgyle had wanted Daeron to win.
"There is also a missive concerning you personally, your grace," Qorgyle continued. He reached into within his voluminous robes and withdrew a sealed scroll and handed it over to Aegon.
Aegon observed the seal. It was from Daeron's signet ring. If this had fallen into the hands of the Dornish, then all was lost anyway. And it could not be a forgery. Daeron used his signet only for his most private communications. The seal was true. Or at least, it was a very good imitation of the truth. He was breaking the seal on the scroll when Qorgyle spoke up.
"By your leave, your grace, I shall have to attend to the preparations to leave for Sunspear," Qorgyle said.
Aegon waved his hand in assent and Qorgyle bowed and left. Aegon opened up the letter and skimmed through it. It was certainly in Daeron's hand and that brought relief to him. He turned to Jon.
"Did he appear irritated when I sent him away with just a gesture?" Aegon asked.
"No, my prince. He bowed and left, smiling all through it," Jon replied.
"One could almost believe him to be a simpering fool of a lord," Aegon said.
Jon said nothing but merely nodded his head. Aegon read through the letter once more and nodded. He knew what to do.
"Jon, tell Lord Lannister to ready the men. We leave with Qorgyle. He is to take Hellholt's surrender and join us in Sunspear. Send a missive to Lord Tyrell as well. He should have gotten the King's proclamation. He is to join us here with the highborn prisoners. They'll have pay homage to the King," Aegon said, stroking his beard.
"Yes, my prince," Jon said. He bowed and left the room.
Aegon looked at Jon's retreating form and wondered out loud.
"How many men must Daeron have lost to have taken Sunspear so quickly?"