Chapter 3: The Necessity
The Alyrya's Disciples, the name of the organization, is mostly covered in mystery. I didn't manage to figure too much about it other than what was told by the common people of the Stepstones and what was mentioned in some of the books.
Several facts about it are clear. It's an organization founded by House Varezys, more precisely by the Varezys Princess, Alyrya, the consort to Haerys Varezys, first ruler of Stepstones. She played an essential role in creating this specialized group of spies and assassins which since then carried her name and served House Varezys ever since. Its main purpose is to counter any plots and spying aimed at Stepstones and Varezys family from the outside but also from the inside. Assassination of the army leader, supply disruption, killing of enemy spy or assassin. I suspect that if any of these events happens. It's most likely the work of The Alyrya's Disciples member.
Rumors go by that nothing will escape the attention of this organization and even faceless men of Braavos can't go unnoticed to Stepstones as even they are quickly eliminated before they can cause any trouble. I, of course, don't have any concrete proof but when I was allowed access to the Principality of Stepstones, I always had an unpleasant feeling, like someone is watching my every move all the time.
Maester Gerion in the book: Stepstones Principality, The Remnant of Old Valyria
XXX
He took his position on the right wing, having the mounted dragon wrath guard and cataphracts formed there under his command. Aerion was patiently waiting for the right moment to attack as he watched the enemy's ranks break in the center, against the spearwall of the Valyrian legionnaires. Some of the enemy soldiers found themselves attacked and cut down on the flanks by Valyrian armsmen, a heavy shock troops wielding the great swords. All this was happening while the Valyrian warbows were raining death on the back lines of the sallying Qohor armies.
Aerion didn't even realize the battle was about to happen until the last minutes when the outer scouts and some members of the Alyrya's Disciples reported the enemy's army approaching. So Aerion and other commanders were not losing any time and went to quickly organize their army into formations and marched off to meet the enemy. He didn't know but when he was away from the camp tragedy was about to happen.
When the armies clashed, Aerion began forming the cavalry forces under his command into diamond shape formation and waited to charge into the battle, when the time was right. In the distance he could see the city walls of Qohor, he was rather impressed by the fact their enemy had guts to actually sally out to meet them in the field.
He didn't have time to think about it for too long as the opportunity to attack came when enemy cavalry, probably mercenaries who could see the writing on the wall, decided to desert and fled the battlefield. The enemy cavalry on the other flank didn't follow this example but the Valyrian cavalry positioned on the left flank, under leadership of his cousin, Talaegar Rahareon charged into them and effectively disabled them. Aerion immediately took this chance, drawed Dragon's Fury and led his men around the ranks of fighting infantry, and began repeatedly charging into the backs of enemy troops and killing them systematically like the hammer and the anvil.
Aerion himself stopped his attacks when a dragon roars were heard from the camp, to him it sounds like Vassarion was enraged or even in pain. A foul feeling crept into the back of his mind that something is wrong and just to confirm as such a messenger from the camp arrived. "Prince Aerion, Prince Aerion! A Terrible thing has happened. Hurry and ride back to the camp to your parents' tent."
He didn't wait for further explanation. "Commander Daltheon! You have the command, finish this!"
The elderly Commander of Dragon Wrath Guard just nodded. "As you command, my Prince." He turned around and shouted. "Come on men, there are still enemies to kill, let's give those bastards a good hammering!" Aerion quickly turned his horse in the direction of the camp and rode as fast as he could.
XXX
His parents' tent was surrounded by Dragon Guard and several Blood Mages. Nearby standing Vassarion was clearly distressed. Guards let him in without protest. What he saw would stay with him for the rest of his life.
The inside of the tent was a bloody mess, the sight of struggle and chaos everywhere. Aerion was horrified when his gaze stopped at his dead father, there was a stab wound clearly visible on his chest and even more when he saw his mother on the bed bleeding from the same wound though still alive and patched with bandages although it seemed to be fruitless effort. Because of it he was very shocked that the blood mages around her didn't heal her already. As soon as they saw him they bowed and stepped aside.
He rushed toward his mother. He knelt at her bed and looked around the mages and immediately began shouting at them. "What the hell happened here!? And what are you waiting for? Why is nobody trying to use your damned magic on my father and mother here!?"
Aerion quickly gathered his wits and stretched his hand to the wound on his mother's chest, however before he could cast the needed spell his mother, still bleeding and breathing heavily, caught his hand by the arm and spoke with a wispy, weak voice. "No, Aerion it won't work… They would do something if it would."
Aerion blinked in confusion. "What do you mean, don't tell me that…" Sudden and cold realization went over him.
"Shadow magic was used, my Prince, our magic won't work, we are sorry." One of the mages muttered in a silent tone.
"Then you are of no further use here. Out!" All of you clear the tent!" It took Aerion all his strength of mind not to seem weak but he knew this were his mother's last moments he wanted it to be in peace. And on his order all left the tent.
His mother didn't have much time left. "Qohor must have hired shadow binders of Ashai. They used a shadow killer on me and your father. He managed to dispel it just when it stabbed him too. I was foolish, maybe if I had foreseen this it wouldn't have happened."
"Alyrya's Disciples should have known about it and warn you." Aerion clenched his hands into a fist in anger. "I'll have Anarys answer for this…."
Daena shook head disapprovingly. "Everyone can make a mistake and you will need him in future, I am sure. Good rulers must show clemency sometimes. I taught you that." She caught and more blood came pouring out. "I am afraid the god of death will take me soon and it will be your turn to rule." She reached for her sword Foebane which lay near and handed it to Aerion. "Fly to victory, burn those shadow-fucks."
He took it and took his mother's hand to his. "I am not sure if I am ready. This is not your time to…..Well die and I am not you." His voice was steady despite his feelings and him looking to the ground.
His mother tried to chuckle though only coughs came out. "I wouldn't expect you to be." She put her hand on his cheek and made him look into her eyes. "The ruler must be ruler on his own terms, he can't be his mother or father, he must only be himself. Do you understand?"
Aerion nodded. "I do, but I still don't want you to die."
"I am sorry my son, I love you….. Tell your sisters I love them too." Then Daena Varezys closed her eyes and few tears came from them as she whispered her last words and died as the Balerion came for her.
Aerion needed some time to take in what happened, he felt immense grief, sadness and pain at the loss of his parents, but then it was replaced by far stronger feelings… Rage and desire for vengeance and when he heard Vassarion's angered roars mixed with pain he knew what to do.
XXX
Aerion woke up from his nightmare. He was breathing heavily in an effort to try to calm down. He removed the sweat from his face and slowly got out of bed. He felt Vassarion's mind connection immediately. "Are you alright?"
Aerion signed. "Yes, it was just a nightmare, don't worry."
"It was still the same one, wasn't it?" Vassarion asked, though it was more the statement of fact than the question.
Aerion walked to the table in his room where glasses and one jug of Lyseni white wine were. Aerion poured himself the one glass and took a few sips from it. The wine had a pleasant calming effect. "Unfortunately, yes. I am beginning to think that it might be punishment from gods for what transpired back then in that damned city of Qohor."
He felt doubt from his dragon. "It wasn't the only city your army sacked, Aerion. Norvos for example you ordered to be sacked a year later for breaking the contract."
Aerion sat down on the chair. "That is the truth, yet the Qohor…..I lost control, Vassarion, it shouldn't have happened."
"We lost control, Aerion. I do not regret it though, burning that keep with those shadowbinders is not something I will ever regret and neither will you for that matter."
Aerion closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "Indeed."
It has been three years since the siege of Qohor. It was a simple contract to get the banished magister of Qohor back to his city and win the civil war for him. Yet leaders of his opposition hired the help of shadowbinders of Ashai, the fact no one predicted or found out. Even the Alyrya's disciples missed that information and it proved to be a fatal mistake. "I am still not sure if we burned all of those who casted the spell to kill my parents, maybe some escaped before we burned Qohor keep."
After the death of his mother Aerion bonded with Vassarion and retaliated by burning the main residence of ruling nobles of Qohor. The brutal sack of the city followed. Some called it "A Day of the Purple Dragon's Wrath". Aerion never forgot that day and ever since he wore a magically altered silver necklace which would be able to protect him from shadow magic.
Aerion finished his glass and looked from the window and saw the sun rising. He rose up from the chair and began to dress himself as he resigned on going back to sleeping.
"They couldn't survive my flames. If they do, we will find them and kill them eventually." Vassarion reassured his rider.
Aerion took two candles from one of his chests and headed to the doors from his chamber. "True. If any of those shadow binders survived. Nothing in this world, magic, armies, not even the gods themself will not be able to protect them..."
Vassarion stretched in the heat of the dragon lair and unlike his rider, he was prepared to go back to sleep. He abruptly stopped as soon as he caught a familiar scent approaching the Bloodstone.
XXX
The sounds of steps resonated through the otherwise very silent corridor of the final resting place of the House of Varezys ancestors. The House of Varezys royal crypt was located beneath the Blood Keep and only members of the Varazys family or the related families and certain servants had been allowed to visit it.
The royal crypt was filled with statues, placed before the tombs with the urns containing ashes of House Varezys deceased members. Burning the dead was afterall a custom preserved from the days of old Valyria.
Aerion was very conscientious of his own mortality everytime he was visiting the crypts. The simple reminder the Dragonlords aren't gods, as the gods do not die.
As he moved along his grandfather and grandmother statues, he arrived towards his mother's and father's tomb, their statues were placed next to each other on the pedestal and the urns with their ashes were also placed together in one dragonstone tomb.
"As you were together in life, you are together in death. As it should be. Yet you shouldn't be taken by Balerion so soon." Aerion whispered and took two candles and moved to the nearest torch to light them. "If only I was there with you, instead of the battlefield.''He places lighted candles on the pedestal. One beneath the statues of Daena and Gaemon.
Aerion was alerted when he heard the sounds of feet approaching towards him.e didn't have any idea who it could be in the early morning hours. "If you were there with them, you could also be dead by now and that is not something our parents nor me would wish… I had a feeling I would find you hear big brother." Aerion looked towards the voice and saw his little sister. Alyrya Velaryon, the rider of the blue she-dragon Elenixes, third child of Daena Varezys and Gaemon Varezys. She was in her traveling gear, wearing her Valyrian steel scale armor, her silver-blond hair arranged into a ponytail and at her side was her Valyrian steel scimitar, the Negotiator. As all Valyrians she possessed a great beauty and in this gear she embodied the great Valyrian dragon-lady of old. On her face was a light smile.
Aerion raised his eyebrows. "Alyrya? What a surprise. If I knew you were coming here I would make some welcome arrangements."
His sister chuckled as she stopped walking a meter from him. "I forgot you don't like surprises." She was hesitant for a moment then jumped and hugged him. "I missed you big brother."
Aerion accepted her hug. "Come now, it has been only a year, you couldn't miss me that much."
Alyrya let him go and step back a little. "Well, Corlys is trying to make my life interesting but what kind of sister would I be if I didn't miss my brother?"
Aerion smiled. "For what is worth, I am glad to see you again too, sister, how is Elenixes doing?"
Alyrya grinned. "Eager to see Vassarion, I left her with him in Dragon Lair. I am sure they are doing something important."
"I am sure they are." Aerion looked again at their parents' statues.
"Tell me Aerion why are you here in this early hour?" Alyrya asked with a concerned tone.
"I just couldn't sleep anymore, that's all." Aerion told her, hoping this will be a good enough answer for her to let it go. It wasn't.
"You are still having nightmares, aren't you?"
Aerion shrugged. "I am afraid that I will always have, don't get me wrong, in three years they did become less frequent. However I am not sure if they will ever go completely away."
"Maybe you should stop blaming yourself for what happened… Have you considered that option?"
Aerion shook his head. "I am not blaming myself, Alyrya."
Alyrya gave him a skeptical look. "Who are you trying to deceive, me? Or yourself?" Alyrya put her hand on his brother's shoulder. "I told you that many times as everyone around you. What happened was not your fault, You couldn't do anything about the shadow spell and you couldn't heal our mother because spells do not work if the shadow magic is involved. If mother would be able to, I am certain she would tell you the same thing."
Aerion gave her a sad look. "I know, but some things are not so simple to forget or to forgive. I just know, their deaths were something that could be prevented…."
"It's the past, brother. Dwelling on it does you no good." Alyrya looked at the statues again. Her gaze stopped at writing engraved onto the dragonstone in High Valyrian. "Nyke teptan jaelarys naejot se Valyrian." Last words spoken by their mother. "I am convinced that those words are about you, Aerion. Muña believed in you and certainly didn't want you to blame yourself for your death."
Arenion shrugged. "Maybe but I am sure you are not here to tell me just that. What brings you to the Stepstones?"
"Well, King Jaeherys entrusted Corlys with delivering a letter to the Stepstones, addressed to you. And where my husband goes, I go."
Aerion raised his eyebrow. "Yet I am not seeing him here."
Alyria grinned. "Dragon is faster than any ship and was eager to see you so I mounted Elenixes in the middle of the night and here I am. I would have taken Corlys with me on the dragon's back, but he was deep in sleep. Too exhausted from different kinds of riding if you know what I mean." His sister winked.
Aerion just rolled his eyes. "Sometimes you can be a very insufferable little sister, do you know that? Nevermind. I believe we have a lot to catch up on, so what if we talk about it over some good breakfast?
Alyrya nodded with a smile. "How can I possibly argue against that, brother? Lead the way."
With that the both siblings moved towards the exit from the crypts.
XXX
As the climate was rather mild and pleasant that morning both siblings decided to have breakfast on the terrace attached to Aerion's chambers. It was a rather spacious place. Chairs and tables were made of ebony like most of the furniture in Blood Keep, as for decoration there was almost nothing except dragon themed motifs in structure. On the right side was a peach-tree, the tree normally growing only in areas near or in the Golden Empire of Yi-ti.
Servants brought them everything they wanted as they were sitting at the table. "That will be all, go and take some time for breakfast too, we can pour tea ourselfs."
Servants bowed. "As you wish, your grace, Princess." They left and Aerion leaned back in his chair.
Alyrya took a sip of the tea. "Hmm, that's a new one and it's good, what kind of tea is this?"
"If you translate its name to High Valyrian or to common it would be called Imperial Sovereign. It's said that the only Yi-ti imperial family members and other nobility drink it.
Alyrya looked interested. "Really? And how did you manage to get your hands on it then?"
"By a simple trade." Aerion shrugged. "They started to sell it to me just recently as a favor, after I sold a magnificent Valyrian steel sword to their current ruler, so called God Emperor Bu Danh. He was so desperate to buy it that, for the gold he paid me, I could buy a small kingdom."
"A God Emperor?" Alyrya shook her head in disbelief. "Does he have some problem that he must compensate for by calling himself a god? I thought the current dynasty title was The Azure Emperors."
"True, his father still used that title. But it's of no consequence to me what he calls himself. As long as I received payment he can call himself emperor of the world for all I care. It will not make him so."
"Indeed, you may give a cat a dragon's name, it will not turn it into one." Alyrya put the drinking cup down and almost too eagerly took a lemon cake.
"No one is going to eat you that cake you know."
"Shut up…." Alyrya retorted with a full mouth.
Aerion just chuckled at that. "Never change, sister, never change. Anyway, how were you doing? In one of your letters you wrote to me that you and Corlys got yourself into some sort of disagreement with the Targaryens because of Elenixes but you didn't elaborate further. Will you tell me what it was about?"
His sister answered immediately. "Oh yes. As it turned out, they didn't like the fact that Corlys married a dragon rider and the possibility of his children being one too."
"I see… Hmm, I probably shouldn't tell you that I told you so but…. I told you so."
Alyrya narrowed her eyes. "And yet, when Corlys and I asked for your blessing you didn't try to stop us, did you?"¨
"Sister, tell me honestly, would you actually obey me if I was against that marriage? You would probably just run away with Corlys regardless of my wishes. Because what you and he have is a true and deep affection and I was not about to stand in the way of it." Aerion poured himself another cup of tea. "Mother and father maybe would but I am not them."
Alyrya smiled while one of her hands wandered on the area of her belly which Aerion noticed but didn't say anything. "I know and I thank you for it. Marriage with Corlys has been so far delightful if you don't count that Targaryen problem."
"And will you tell me how you solved that particular problem?" Aerion spoke with little sign of curiosity in his voice.
"Targaryens solved that for us to sort of speak." Aerion gave his sister a questioning look. "The Queen Alysanne herself visited the Driftmark with her she-dragon Silverwing. In the end we came into an agreement."
"Indeed? What does that agreement entail?"
"Well, in short, when Corlys and I will have a son he will marry Targaryen Princess probably Gael Targaryen who is now a three years old child. If I have a daughter she will marry Targaryen Prince. The Queen said there are currently two options, six years old Viserys or his two years old, younger brother Daemon." Alyrya paused as she finished one cup of tea and outright decided to pour herself another one. "Corlys and I agreed with it. We came to the conclusion it was the best solution, others might be more unpleasant or even violent."
"If they ever harm you, Corlys or Elenixes, I will make them regret it, dearly." Aerion said with determination which left no doubt he would actually do such a thing. "I agree with that solution however. The marriage of two future dragon riders is better than conflict over who has a right to ride a dragon."
Alyrya looked to the sea. "I just hope my child will not resent me for such a decision in future, especially, when I myself have the freedom to choose."
"Time will tell, Alyrya…. How long do you know you are pregnant?"
This question brought Aerion his sister's attention rather quickly as she reverted her gaze towards him again. "What? How did you even know? I was about to tell you but."
"Sister, calm down." Aerion raised his hand while a small smile appeared on his face. "I am not scolding you. It was a simple question."
"Oh, I am sorry….. Maester told Corlys and me that I am with child three weeks ago, which is partially the reason I am here. I have a favor to ask."
Aerion motioned her to continue. "What is it?"
"I don't trust the maesters, I would rather be in care of your Blood Mages, so will let me stay here for the period of my pregnancy?" Truth was, Alyrya was terrified of the prospect of her being in the hands of some maester with questionable loyalty.
Aerion nodded with a serious expression. "Of course, that is a wise notion. I would go even further and ask The Order of the Blood Dragon for two or three mages to go with you to Driftmark and serve you there. Just to be sure." Both Aerion and Alyrya knew that The Order of the Blood Dragon had only one loyalty, to house Varezys and the houses sworn to house Varezys. So the trained members of this organization, blood mages, priests and physicians could be trusted to serve loyally and without deceit.
Alyrya let out a sigh of relief. "I thank you in advance. I will have to make sure the maester won't do anything to hinder this notion. However, I am certain Corlys won't mind having someone better than maesters to look after my health."
"Let us hope it will be so." This time Aerion looked to the sea and in the distance he recognized three ships sailing from the north. He didn't see them accurately but he was able to distinct a light blue color on the sails, the colors of the House of Velaryon. "It would seem your husband is close. I am very curious about the letter you said he is carrying to me."
Alyrya frowned. "Yes, the letter. Care to tell me what it is about? Why would King Jaeherys Targaryen send you a letter?"
"I guess he is probably answering my letter that I sent him." Alyrya wanted to say something but Aerion stopped her before she could. "You see, I got an offer from Prince of Dorne, that if I join him in the war against Targaryens I would receive 100 000 golden dragons and some lands in the Stormlands as a payment. Naturally, I refused and instead warned King Jaeherys of the incoming invasion and asked him for negotiation. I even offered to lower the tolls for Westeros merchants if he agreed. And it seems, today is the day that I will learn whether he agreed or not."
"Negotiations? For what purpose?" Alyrya asked, clearly puzzled.
"I need to make a non-intervention pact with the Targaryens, so I won't have to be worried about the possibility of having a Targaryen army in the back, once I start my conquests in Essos."
Aerion spoke calmly, yet Alyrya noticed a certain feeling of urgency in his words. "So, you want to make our grandfather's dream a reality? It will not be easy, even if you managed to get Targaryens out of it. You know that, right?"
Aerion signed. "No great thing can be done easily, sister. And I am aware of the simple fact it will take a lot of time, gold and soldiers. And that before I am done, many of my enemies will die by dragon fire or by the sword." Aerion paused while drinking tea. "Such is the nature of conquests."
Alyrya nodded, she understood these things as well as her brother, maybe even more. "Still, I wonder…. You and our mother before you, always seemed rather content with staying on the Stepstones. And grandfather never realized the dream of New Valyria due to unfavorable circumstances, so why…." She didn't finish as Aerion interrupted her.
"Why am I about to try to do that now?" Alyrya nodded, unbothered. "Hmm, that empire was our grandfather's dream. He failed to realize it because he didn't want to risk the war on the two fronts. Mother's stance towards that dream was more on the pragmatic side, she believed we must wait for the right time and conditions before she can try to realize it. I finally got the opportunity to realize the dream of New Valyria so that's what I am going to attempt to do.
"You didn't answer my question though, why now?"
"For the simple reason, Alyrya. Firstly, The Prince of Dorne provided me with the opportunity to contact Jaehaerys Targaryen and by doing so, mitigate the chance of him supporting the free cities. And secondly, I have no choice….. It has been three years since I ascended Stepstones throne and I must admit I overlooked the problem of overpopulation on these islands, which I was reminded of recently. Anyway, I discussed this problem with Alearys two days ago. After some calculations and estimates it turned out that I have only six years, give or take, until this problem starts causing trouble."
At that moment Alyrya knew what was going on. "So… You must do it, otherwise everything will be fucked up in few years, how delightful prospect."
"Just so. What more can be said? To my grandfather the Empire of New Valyria was a desire, to me it's a necessity." Aerion looked again, the ships were much closer now.
"And what if negotiation with the Targaryens won't happen or ends in failure? What will you do then?" Alyrya spoke with genuine concern in her voice.
"I will have to go with my plans anyway, even with the risk the Targaryens get involved. With that being said, I would prefer, if I can come into some sort of agreement with King Jaeherys and not have to deal with him or his family at all afterwards. You see, my situation is quite dire and I need new lands for my people. Should Targaryens come with their armies and their dragons… I will have no choice but to use the Dragonbinder to turn their dragons against them."
Alyrya frowned. "I always thought you disliked the usage of that horn, that just the thought of enslaving a dragon with it and bending it to your will by its magic, disgusts you."
Aerion shrugged. "It does, however I am going to do whatever it takes to achieve my goals and if I have to take some more extreme actions to do it, so be it. I might even use it just to show Targaryens I am not someone to be trifled with."
"Let's hope it will not come to that. I think Targaryens can be reasoned with. Especially Queen Alysanne. She holds a great influence over her husband, you should use that to your advantage should they agree on negotiation." Alyrya paused and prepared to say something she knew her brother wouldn't like. "I would also advise you to offer a pact sealed with marriage."
Aerion shook his head disbelievingly "Really? Me? Marrying a Targaryen? That would be a tale for the ages." Aerion chuckled.
"You shouldn't dismiss it so lightly, brother. Let's just say you succeed and create a powerful empire in Essos. How will you ensure the peace between houses Varezys and Targaryen in the years to come if not by marriage? Plus Targaryens have dragon blood, the same as us. You won't lose anything by marrying the Targaryen Princess, you can only gain. "
Aerion wanted to say something to rebuke such claims first but then he thought about it. "Those are valid arguments, sister, I'll give you that, however So far I don't even know if there will be any negotiation to begin with. And I haven't created anything yet. I will cross that bridge when the situation and time are right for it."
Alyrya rolled her eyes. "You are the Prince of Stepstones, have it your way. I am just your younger sister who wants you to succeed in what you are set out to do."
Aerion gave her a light smile. "I know and I appreciate it, as siblings and the last members of the proud Varezys bloodline we should help each other, always."
"Are we really the last? Do you…Do you really believe Larissa is truly gone?" Alyrya asked with a sad quiet voice like she was afraid that saying it aloud will cause something bad.
It was a long pause, during which only noise present were the murmur of the sea and the cry of seagulls, before Aerion finally spoke. "I don't know…Nobody saw or heard about her for over two years. I held my hopes that one day she would be back or that one of our expeditions would find her in Sothoryos. But these days…I fear it's pointless, that is why I officially confirmed you as my heir, until I have a child."
"What? But what if Larissa returns?"
"If such an event should come to pass, her position as the heir will be reinstated according to our succession laws, however if not I want you to succeed me on the Stepstones throne or whatever throne I will have in the future."
Alyrya was a little bit confused but she got out of it quickly. "But my children with Corlys will be Velaryons…I mean what are we going to do about that? I don't want to be the cause of House Varezys ending."
Aerion smiled. "I can't see in the future but I am sure you will have many more children than the one you are now carrying. If the worst happens and I die and you become the ruling Princess of Stepstones, one of your children which you will see fit can take the name Varezys and will be next in line. I am certain that I can trust your judgment in such a matter."
It took some time but in the end Alyrya agreed. "We will have to talk with Corlys when he arrives here but I do not see a problem and he will be on board with this as long as he will have an heir to Driftmark. Given the succession laws in Westeros, where the male always inherits before the female, I can always choose a girl for the heir of Stepstones."
Aerion snorted. "I'll never understand those gender laws of Westeros. If the woman is good at something, they wouldn't let her do it because of what she has between her legs. The same as their laws, male always inherit even if there is an older sister. We can say what we want about the Dornish but at least their succession laws are correct."
In the Stepstones just like in the Old Valyria, the men and women had equal rights to hold power and were able to do what they chose and no one would stop them on the basis of their gender. The only restriction was the service in the army stopping women from serving in the frontline infantry. This was passed down to Stepstone armies from Old Valyrian army traditions. As a general rule, women can get into the army, serving in the ranks of archers, Cataphract ranks or even in The Dragon Wrath Guard though they must pass through the same trials and training as men. Serving in The Dragon Guard is the only case when women can fight in the frontline infantry.
"I don't like it any more than you do, Aerion. Yet the fact is that I married Westeros Lord and as such I must respect their laws. Even if I have a dragon." As soon as she said that, Elenixes and Vassarion flew over them in the sky, probably racing. Elenixes, the blue young she-dragon was faster than older Vassarion though even him could be considered to be fast.
"It seems our dragons are having a good time." Aerion said while looking at them as they circled above the keep. Alyrya nodded while doing the same. "Speaking of the dragons. Have Elenixes laid some eggs?"
Alyrya shook her head. "No, I think she is too young for that, besides there is no male-dragon on Driftmark with whom she could mate."
"I see, so I guess that you will want a dragon egg for your child from me?"
"If it's not too much of a bother, I would appreciate that. My child is going to marry into a Targaryen family someday, because of it."
Aerion thought about how Targaryen first reacted to the findings that the house Velaryon will become a dragon riding family and grinned a little. "We just can't stop playing with fire, can we? It was always House Varezys' flaw."
Alyrya gave him half amused and half questioning look. "I am afraid you will have to explain what you mean. What flaw?"
"Taking the risks in hopes to achieve something and hoping it will work out in the end, despite the danger involved." Aerion got off the chair and went towards the railing and leaned against it while looking to the sea. "Targaryens didn't like your marriage to Corlys for the very fact that the future Velaryons will ride dragons." Aerion paused while smirking a little. "I must admit sister, that undermining their power wasn't my intention at all, when I agreed to your marriage but it's rather pleasing to remind the Targaryens they are not the only house with the power to tame dragons."
"True but now, I would say they count on it, why else would they want a marriage with my children in the future other than to secure more dragons for their family?" Alyrya also got up off her chair and moved next to her brother. "Anyway, wasn't it Valarr Varezys who once said: "If you want to experience life to its fullest, you must live it dangerously?"
This drawed a chuckle from Aerion. "Valarr Varezys, the man who was mad enough to travel the ruins of Old Valyria, he certainly knew how to live dangerously. The same as Larissa with the difference he returned alive home…..Anyway, I think I should prepare to welcome your husband. I can't wait to learn whether King Jaeherys is a reasonable man or not." Aerion turned to the exit from the terrace.
"Many say, he is." Alyrya just called behind him.
Her brother stopped in his tracks for a moment and looked back. "Really? I would prefer to see it for myself, little sister. Because what is being said may or may not exactly reflect reality." Aerion smiled and left through the door.
So there you have it. The third chapter. I found some time after exams to write this. It was rather long so I divided what I wrote into two chapters. The fourth chapter will be uploaded after I finish the corrections.
In this chapter I wanted to flashout Aerion's character and motivations a little more. Because I believe it's important to flash out the main characters and their past. When it comes to Aerion's parents death it was rather gruesome wasn't it? Yet, nothing outside the canon as Renly Baratheon was killed with the same spell.
Just to clarify few things: the ages of the members of House Varezys: Aerion is nineteen, missing Larissa would be eighteen and Alyrya is seventeen. Varezys siblings were born shortly after each other. And when it comes to succession laws of Stepstones it's equal primogeniture because it's my theory that in the Old Valyria the both male and females were equal either because it was so advanced civilization or because dragons are good equalizers. And finally the Daena's Varezys last words: Nyke teptan jaelarys naejot se Valyrian. It should mean: I gave hope to the Valyrians.