The next few links were similarly as easy to him as he just soared through the tests and what he needed to. He was there for a year and a little; when he turned seven and ten years old he was almost ready to be a full-fledged maester. Yet, fate had other plans for him; as he was going to the lecture hall he spotted something that was a very interesting sight to him.
It was a pair from Dorne. A male and a woman who almost looked as a man; it was odd to see Dornish outside of their kingdom, but even more to see them in the citadel. He wasn't sure that Sunspear had a maester, but he assumed they had, but still not many calls were made for Maesters in Dorne. He smiled as he made his way to them; as he drew closer he noticed that one of them bore the sigil of House Martell on his clothes. He knew who the man was all too well his paintings did him great justice. He slowly smiled a bit wider stopping next to them.
The man looked at the lad with raised eyebrows as he spoke slowly "Is there something wrong with you boy?" he asked sounding on edge, but also relaxed at the same time, by some miracle.
John smiled as he shook his head the chain around his neck jingling softly "Not at all. I only came to pay my respects to a prince of Dorne, and the Red Viper no less. I must say I am an admirer of yours. The skill in arms and skill with poisons is well known to me."
The Dornish prince smiled "Flattery will get you nowhere. Still, I admire your boldness. Quite impressive."
The girl looked to him as she leaned on something "He doesn't look like much at all."
John smirked as he looked at her "You know I may not look like much, but I am capable of out shooting you. That bow you are leaning on is nice, but it isn't only for leaning."
She laughed as she bent and strung her bow "You're right, but you wouldn't be able to use a Goldwood bow." She said as she pulled an arrow from her quiver and let it fly striking an apple from a tree.
This caused him to laugh as he held his hand out for the bow "Well, let's see about that." He said. The girl wasn't about to let the challenge go, she handed him her bow and a single arrow. John took it notched the arrow and waited a moment. After a long breath, he lifted the bow and aimed. No sooner had he done so then the bells began to ring and a small flock of pigeons and gulls took flight. It was at that point John let his arrow fly, it took one of the sea birds full in the chest and it fell to the earth. He looked to the girl smiling softly "Weirwoods have a higher pull back and are much better as recurves. Sorry you have only this Goldwood." He said as he tossed the bow back to the obvious daughter of the Red Viper. He then turned to her father "It has been an honor to meet one of the very few men who is my superior in poisons." He then extended his hand to the Viper "maybe if I am lucky I can try to be the next Maester of Sunspear."
The Red Viper looked at the hand then at John's chain "you have many links. I see half a dozen lead links, Valyrian steel, pale steel, iron, silver and Red Gold. I am very impressed. You also out shot my daughter with her own bow. There are few who can do that, tell me your name."
He smiled slyly "My name is John Storm, or John snow depending whom you ask and if they come from the north or the south."
This caused the prince to raise his brows in interest "You are both? How so?"
This question was typical and it only served to make John sigh "I am a bastard of both House Swann of the Stormlands and my mother who has died was an Umber of the North. Thus, I am either, it is up to you really."
The prince laughed again louder this time as he clapped the youth on his shoulder "I am very impressed! So, tell me is this what you want to do with your life? Do you want to waste your life here? I see a very great talent inside you if you want to get it, to bring it to life. You can come with me if you prefer. I just need an answer right now."
John didn't even hesitate "I would love to join you. Just give me a moment to collect my things. Meet here in half an hour?"
Oberyn nodded his head lightly "yes indeed. I shall be right here." With that John turned and ran as fast as he could towards his room. He was not taking most things; he didn't have much that was his to take. He only owned three things apart from his clothes, his chain, his sword, and his bow. With these items in hand and his clothes in a bundle he rushed away back to the meeting place to find the viper waiting. When the prince saw John, he smiled "Ah look at you, carrying weapons. Why don't you tell me where you got those, while on our way to Dorne?" so the two set off back for Dorne. As they traveled on ship they started to get to know one another. John told his whole tale while Oberyn told and taught him about his house and Dorne in general. They also shared among their lives and some secrets a bed in Oberyn's cabin. Having sex with a man was a new experience for John and while he found it pleasurable he preferred the company of women.