"Today, I couldn't stop thinking about Joy… Is she good? Is she well fed? Does she miss me?"
"I'm sure she misses you, Gerion. But imagine how she will react when she will see you home, Brightroar in hand!"
"Or when Tywin will inform her of my death at sea…"
"I can't believe I hear you say that. You of all people were the one without doubts and now?"
"Because, Emmon, back then we weren't so close to the Smoking Sea… Many things are said about this place!"
Aerea, the priestess of R'hllor agreed:
"Indeed. It is said that ships which enter the Smoking Sea and approaches Valyria are swallowed by the Doom, never to be found again. And whoever tries to reach the cursed city by land, would be devoured on the Demon Road."
Tyrion asked:
"The Demon Road?"
"Yes. A Valyrian road that unites Volantis with Mantarys and a few other ruined cities: Bhorash, Oros, Valad Hyum… All of them cursed places."
"Why is that?"
"Bhorash was a city built by slavers from Meereen more than one thousand years ago on the northern coast of the Slaver's Bay. It flourished until it was crushed by the Valyrians. It was said that after the Valyrian army destroyed the royal palace and its dragons burn the king's sons alive, he put a curse, out of hatred and anger. It is said that anyone who dares to enter Bhorash again will die in horrid pain."
"That's nice… And the others? Oros and Valad Hyum?"
Emmon Frey coughed:
"Well, Oros was a city of great opulence and glory, second only to Valyria itself. It was ruled by a group of twelve nobles from Valyria, six men and six women. Before the Smoking Sea was created, it was linked by roads to Tyria."
"Yes, Ser Emmon. And now, it is said that it's still populated… Maybe we will visit the city?"
"Priestess, with all due respect, are you out of your mind? It's not like we are going to Valyria to, I don't know, take a stroll through the ruins! We are on a mission, well, at least they are!"
He pointed to the two Lannisters. Aerea smiled at Ser Emmon:
"You are too! You are important to them and you saved your family in Lys. You still have your part to play in this endeavor."
"Now I'm some kind of a mummer? To play parts?"
Gerion laughed:
"Why, Emmon, you would be exceptional as an actor. Imagine yourself travelling all across the world spilling out of your mouth those words you speak to my sister: Oh, my little flower, Oh, my little petunia, Oh, my summer rain. I am sure that any housewife from the Lonely Light to Qarth would just wet themselves with pleasure seeing you on the stage!"
"Gerion, I'm sure you're aware that we are in the presence of a Lady!"
"I don't mind, my lords. I travelled a lot with seamen and soldiers. I am accustomed with rougher words."
"Oh, then why don't you sing us something, Emmon? He is very talented."
"Especially when he's singing obscene songs!"
Tyrion's remark made everyone on the ship laugh. Those who were from the Lion's initial crew remembered the night the Lysene pirates attack when Emmon's drunken songs revitalized the entire ship.
"Is that so? Then sing, Lord Emmon. Something… obscene!"
Emmon Frey frowned. He had no problem doing this with men but in the presence of a lady, he felt a little strange. But then again, the crew needed their morale to be lifted before entering the Smoking Sea. It was all or nothing.
"Fine, fine! I will sing to you the Ballad of Lady Manderly!"
He coughed before singing:
One night in White Harbor, a wedding took place
The bride was so beautiful with a dress made of lace
She loved her new husband with a fire-filled heart,
But the only think he wanted was to ravish her cunt!
The merman lord just wanted to bed his new wife
The only thing he wished was to fuck her for life
But the young lady was shy and religious and kind
She had no evil thoughts, no perversions in mind
The merman lord couldn't wait to take her to bed
And with his huge trident would mess up her head
Will make her wish just to be fucked in the ass
Oh, how many things would he do to the lass
The wedding was over and the bedding took place
Lord Manderly just looked at his fair wife's little face
He put her in bed and then blocked the door's lock
For it was time for his wife to meet his huge cock.
"Don't be afraid, my sweet, it's your responsibility
I swear I will help you to fulfill it with dignity!"
"But, my lordly husband, I am so innocent and pure
By the Seven, I can't even think of something so impure!"
"But you are now my wife, in body and in spirit,
You will enjoy my trident, you need not to fear it!
You are like a treasure, I can't contain my greed
I'll take you, bend you over and fill you with my seed!
Then you'll pray to the Seven, like the drowned men pray for air
That my seed will quicken and you'll deliver me an heir!"
With this, the merman lord entered his bride,
His cock was inside her, he was so full of pride,
Her moans were so loud and so full of glee
That they were heard in Essos, across the narrow sea.
The part of the crew that understood the Common tongue were laughing, hearing the song. The Ballad of Lady Manderly was a well-known song throughout the Seven Kingdoms, inspired by a lord named Gormont Manderly, a world-renowned lecher, who married a young Bracken lady brought to him from the Riverlands by his bastard brother, Rickard Snow. Lady Bracken was a pious and gentle young woman, trained by her septa to be chaste and obedient. However, Gormont Manderly, a man whose appetites were said to rival those of Aegon the Unworthy, wished to transform his wife into a debauched creature not unlike him. He managed to do so as in a few months after their wedding, it was rumored in White Harbor that Lord and Lady Manderly are sharing their matrimonial bed with some of the most famous courtesans in both Westeros and Essos, such as Madeline Cunt-of-Iron, the most resilient whore south of the Wall, Peggy Sixblesses, a whore from King's Landing who once finished six men at the same time or the man-whore Aegar of the Rhoyne, a descendant of a Targaryen bastard. Lady Aerea laughed too, finding the song quite witty and peculiar, despite its clearly bawdy words.
A few hours later, the night came and everyone was asleep except the night crew and Tyrion, who spent his hours reading. This time, he read Commentaries on Daeron the Good's Reign, by Maester Volon. Daeron was, of course, the only trueborn son of Aegon the Unworthy and, surprisingly, the son he hated the most. Tyrion sympathized with Daeron, as he was hated himself by his own father, Lord Tywin. But unlike King Daeron the Second, who had his powerful half-siblings Brynden and Shiera at his side, Tyrion didn't have anyone. Jaime was good to him but he didn't spend much time at the Rock due to his status as a Kingsguard, Tygett was more than often absent due to his hatred of Tywin and Gerion was too self-absorbed and too focused on his whoring and pleasures in his youth. Of course, he couldn't count Kevan as his uncle was in the shadow of Tywin since the day he was born. Genna was the next best thing to a mother he and his siblings had. She was always there for him, never once accusing him of his mother's death like Tywin did. Suddenly, the door of his cabin opened and Lady Aerea entered:
"Lord Tyrion, may I come in?"
"Sure… I can't sleep so I could use the company!"
She smiled and joined him, sitting on a chair near his bed. Her smile was beautiful and she was very kind. Tyrion enjoyed the priestess of R'hllor's presence on the ship.
"So, my lord, what are you reading?"
"Um, just the Commentaries on Daeron the Good's Reign."
"Daeron the Good… Wasn't he the son of Aegon the Unworthy?"
"Yes, he was."
"And, as I recall, he warred with his bastard brother Daemon, who plunged Westeros in war and rebellion."
"Indeed, my lady. You know your history very well. Daeron the Good and his evil half-brother, Daemon Blackfyre."
She continued to smile but Tyrion couldn't help but notice her eyes. They were suddenly sad, and several tears were formed in them.
"What happened, Aerea? Did I say something wrong?"
"No, no, of course not. It's just… this story always makes me emotional, that's all."
"How so?"
"Well… Daeron and Daenerys, the children of Aegon, had many other bastard siblings. But none of them were so important as the four which were to be remembered by history as the Great Bastards…"
"Daemon Waters, Aegor Rivers, Brynden Rivers and Shiera Seastar."
"Exactly."
"Excuse me, Aerea, but as I recall, Brynden's mother, Melissa Blackwood, had two other daughters with King Aegon, other two Great Bastards…"
"Mya and Gwenys. But they joined your Faith at a young age and disappeared from the history…"
Again, a certain sadness was in Aerea's eyes and voice:
"You called Daemon Blackfyre evil. I don't think he was evil. I think he was just… misguided. Of course, a traitor for the realm of Westeros but nevertheless… misguided."
"Yes, he was convinced to rebel by Aegor, the one they called…"
"The Bittersteel!"
Again, Aerea's eyes were glowing, this time not because of tears but because of rage. Tyrion immediately thought that it was a connection between Aerea and those historical figures. Maybe she was a descendant of one of the Blackfyres. She was quite the Blackfyre apologist. However, Tyrion's theory was pretty shaky as the mention of Aegor Bittersteel brought anger to the priestess.
"Yes… Bittersteel!"
"Bittersteel was a fool, a man driven only by fury and hatred towards his half-brother, Brynden."
"And by his love for Shiera."
"Hmm… do you think he ever loved her? Maybe he wanted to own her, like she was one of his prized warhorses. Aegor was possessive and extremely stubborn. He lacked Brynden's… humanity!"
Tyrion didn't know what to think. Clearly, Aerea knows a lot about these people from Westeros's past but when she spoke about the one people called Bloodraven, she spoke with… he didn't know what it was… passion? Respect? Desire?
"Humanity? I thought Brynden Rivers was a hated man in Westeros. An efficient and powerful administrator, true, but hated as a kinslayer and sorcerer."
"Of course he was hated. He killed his brother, Daemon, and his nephews, Aegon and Aemon, but… he did what needed to be done. He brought peace to Westeros. Sure, a tenuous peace but… Agh… I think I should go. Good night, Lord Tyrion."
"My lady, wait…"
"Yes?"
"About tomorrow… we will enter the Smoking Sea… Any advice?"
"Mmm… let's see… Trust in the Lord of Light, Lord Tyrion. You may not know, but the stars shine upon you even as we speak."
He smiled and, after she left, he thought at what she said… Then he realized…
"So the stars are really shining upon me…"