Chapter Thirty Two: Vindication... please?

Sixth Day of the Sixth Month, 114 AC.

"I can scarcely imagine it," I noted merrily.

"Oh they were enormous lad!" Corlys said enthusiastically as he took another swig of his wine.

I wondered how on earth a man on his third bottle seemed so utterly unfazed by it. Frankly, I was surprised enough that I was not being distracted by his looks, if age did not start catching up with him I would start needing an intermediary.

"The tides were so large that at times it seemed to drown the sky!" He was pretty caught up in his narrative but frankly I was not about to stop him.

We were seated in the main study of Arral's chambers.

Which was to say an especially nerdy hellscape, but oddly enough the Seasnake looked as comfortable surrounded by the random assortment of relics and (probably cursed) books as he did in court. Lazily sitting on a chair with a leg pulled up to support his goblet of wine as if he were sitting on the bow of his ship, overlooking the sea.

"Marvelous!" Arral said as he looked up from the notes he had been busily scribbling down. It seemed that the old archmaester was something of a fan of Corlys's journeys, even if he claimed to the man's face that at least half of it was exaggeration that no maester would take seriously.

I chuckled and shook my head in pity for a certain 'neutral' writer in another world and time.

Rather than take umbrage, the old seahorse had taken Arral's words as a challenge.

One thing led to another and so he ended up sitting there while regaling Arral (and me by happy coincidence) with his journeys so that they may be more 'properly' recorded.

I was very happy to speak more on the subject with the only (sane) man I knew off to have gone to Not!EastAsia in Westeros. Well, the only one who was not some poor, underpaid sailor at any rate. I would have wagered three Cole-deaths and an Otto that Arral had probably been east a few times but Corlys was both well-known and his stories did not drive their listeners mad.

"I am rather surprised that you made it through such storms unscathed," I noted. By his account, he had been able to navigate the storms the plagued the southeastern Summer Sea a great many times without issue (well, minus his fleet getting curb stomped by that one last storm).

"It was that or the pirates," Corlys shrugged. "I am no coward lad, but it takes a unique breed of fool to chance pirates by coming so near to those wretched isles."

I nodded, from the way he said pirates I would not be surprised if he had a hobby of designing ships large enough to carry dragons so as to lay waste to the Basilisk Isles. I had plans of my own towards that end but I had no head for numbers and Arral's fear of boats lead to a hole in the maester's mind.

I sipped my drink, should probably not mention that little part of the dreams.

"Most traders would disagree!" Arral noted as he wrapped his fingers around his goatee in thought. "Pirates or no, most would rather pay them off or hire escorts!"

"Most did not have Alyn!" Corlys laughed.

…Alright. "Who is Alyn?"

"Was," Corlys sighed sadly. "My steersman. As common a man as you will meet, but in his hands a ship could dance, he got us through any storm you could imagine."

Is Alyn a common name? I had to keep my smile from becoming predatory. Because if not… well.

"I take it he passed?" I said sympathetically.

There was a glimmer in those dark eyes, "Aye. Believe me, when you reach my age you will find most that you knew in your youth will be dead and buried. Alyn though, he died because some fool decided that a rumor was enough to kill him."

"My sympathies," I said quickly and the sentiment was genuine.

While someone sufficiently prepared and wary would be able to forsee betrayal, there was always the chance of being done in by some unforeseen event.

"Don't be," Corlys shook his head. "It always weighed on me that I did not write of him more, it was fresh when I first set my adventures to paper. It is only as an old man that I recognize it for the lesson as it was. Always hold tightly to those that you Gaemon, hatred is more bearable than mourning."

Taking another drink, he dismissed his melancholy.

"But enough of what cannot be changed, I believe I was in the middle of recounting the storm during my third trip?" He asked as he poured himself another goblet.

"Yes!" Arral said testily as he tapped his quill. "Fifth day of the sixth week!"

"Ah, yes," Corlys smiled as he started again.

We sat there for a few more hours before Corlys made his excuses.

As he left, Arral looked over to me.

"Interesting man! Entirely too narrative! But interesting!" Arral noted.

"Indeed," I laughed. "I thought that you would find him interesting."

"Well of course he is of interest to me!" Arral looked indignant. "It is painfully difficult to secure new reliable information from the merchants of Yi Ti, their accounts are often too politically tainted! Contrasting them with the views of a man who would not know the emperor from the local viceroy? That, that is useful!"

I chuckled, only Arral was capable of being so condescending without showing a hint of disdain.

"I agree, it is rather difficult to discern where propaganda ends and fact begins," I sighed. A lesson that I was having violently beaten into my head.

"I wonder if he saw that you were goading him?!" Arral stroked his long beard. "I think not! The man was bright! Very bright! But read his accounts! Too much used to disappointment to recognize the remarkable!"

My eyes widened minutely while Lambert and Morgan stiffened in their plate which made a slight creaking sound.

"Yes! Yes!" Arral nodded while scribbling. "Politics, politics and more politics! You are pleased! Irregular! Which means you saw something useful!"

I gave a shrug, "After a fashion."

I was being lied to by someone, Corlys sought to manipulate me and the Velaryons were hiding something.

My smile was positively toothy despite myself.

But I know that he is lying, my smile was a bit too wide. He needs to persuade me and I have the trump card to screw him up.

Vindication was a lovely feeling, proof that someone was conspiring against me and I had the stronger hand. If I could just puzzle it out… then I could collar one of the main actors of the Dance.

My smile faltered a bit when Arral scoffed however, "I do hope you understand his motives! Your schedule is very full! It will be difficult to expand further!"

I laughed at the bluntness, "My dear Arral, whatever makes you think that I-"

"Tired line!" Arral snorted. "You know, that I know, that you know! Why does he wish your marriage?!"

My frown was audible and interrupted my good mood. Arral was random but he seemed genuinely interested.

But the Velaryon gains were obvious.

"Prestige, a royal marriage and they get rid of a deflowered daughter," I counted off but Arral made a rude noise. My smile turned into a momentary frown when I realized what I had let slip. Well it is Arral, chances he will care to relay the information is slim.

Prestige was the biggest prize in Westerosi society after all.

Arral slapped his hand onto his face with audible force and he looked up past me. "I see that I will have to restructure your lessons!"

"Care to explain?" I gave him a dry look but he waved me off.

"I think not!" The mad maester shook his head. "I will make it the center of tomorrow's lesson! Yes! I will need charts! And pictures!"

Before the conversation could get any more embarrassing, Ebermen cleared his throat, "We had a reason for coming."

I blinked for a moment, oh right.

I had to stop getting distracted by fanboying, it was clearly not the best thing for my health.

"You are right Ebermen," I sighed.

"Oh?!" Arral perked up in interest, "You had a reason for coming?!" He scratched his chin. "Oh yes! Cancelled lessons! Well, we will have to undo that! Now what is your purpose?! I cannot give you aid that will affect tomorrow's lesson! That would be putting the shadowcat before the kraken!"

Another upshot about this entire thing was that Lymon had given me free reign for a few days.

It troubled me that Lymon was so pleased about hosting the chief Black. Although it did make sense in retrospect. Both men were too canny by half to miss any opportunity to line their pockets.

"Well I actually need a small favor," I smiled.

That got his interest, "A favour? Tell me more!"

It said something depressing about my life that asking an old and probably crazy sorcerer for a favor was not the stupidest part of my plan.

Almost as depressing as being told-off by said madman.

"If I may," Ebermen said as we rode back to the docks. "This seems like a foolish plan."

"It seems foolish because it is," I sighed. "But I need to get a better grip on the situation."

"I am rather surprised that you think this is necessary," Ebermen noted.

"How so?" I asked as we made our way to the ferry.

Ebermen shrugged and leaned in close enough to whisper, "It seems obvious to me that she was pregnant."

"Perhaps," I nodded slowly as I processed that suggestion. "I had considered the notion already."

It seemed plausible enough since that would explain Laena's weight gain, even if said gain would make most women I know or had known happily strangle her considering how her gain was distributed.

I shrugged, "It does not add up, that creates too many additional questions."

For one I could not see Daemon taking this all laying down if she was pregnant and if he loved her as he was implied too in books… it just did not seem plausible to me that he would leave her. There were also the questions of the raw luck it would take for her to get pregnant from a one-night stand because that was just ridiculous.

For another, there was Laenor's outrage. The boy had proven a thoroughly bad actor and that rage had been visceral. Which suggested that I had been off the mark with my comments.

But he had also been awkward meant that he there was more that he was not telling me.

Then there was Rhaenyra's participation. I could not see how she had so quickly been taken into the confidence of the Velaryons.

"So you still feel your plan necessary," Ebermen sighed.

"Correct," I nodded as Sky launched herself across the gap with a lazy glide while we followed behind.

"I am not certain that she is strong enough," Ebermen said cautiously.

"It is hardly that dangerous," sort of.

"And if Lady Velaryon takes it poorly?" He asked.

Well it would take surely a few minutes for Vhaegar to cross the distance and roast us alive.

I smiled, "We can burn that bridge when we get to it."

"…I am starting to question the wisdom of Valyria." He said dryly before hesitating a moment. "I had expected a different reaction."

"Oh?" I tilted my head. "I am not so sure about that, you all insist that I am somewhat… careful."

"That does not change that you are in a fine mood," Lambert commented.

Because I know where the knives are this time, "Well, then let us hope that my plan works so that I can stay in a good humor."

"As you say."

…

I stood in my chamber surrounded by my loyal guards and servants. Or at least the people who have some masters with goals that I cannot even comprehend if they have not seen fit to act yet.

"Is everyone clear on the plan?" I asked while rolling my shoulders.

"I think we all understand it" Nessa frowned. "The wisdom of it is another thing entirely."

"I am still not convinced that Clearsky can hold the weight," Edric commented. The eldest of my guard eyed the device.

"I assure you that it is perfectly fine!" I wave him off while adjusting the makeshift saddle. "She was able to hold me in a glide before! Surely this cannot be too great an effort!"

Why was no one agreeing with me here? Sure, I might have not gotten much sleep but this was far from the worst idea I ever had. I could all but taste the win when I confronted Laena.

"Anyone else have any objections?" I asked brightly.

They all just shuffled their feet and looked to be at varying stages of uncertainty.

"Good!" I nodded as walked over to Sky where she sat next to ceiling ramp that allowed her reasonable access in and out of the chamber.

And frowned when I looked at her.

It was not the chains that I had borrowed from Arral and the modified saddle that he had been working on that bothered me.

It was the fact that she was staring intently into my eyes with her own silver-blue orbs, as if she was desperately trying to communicate something to me.

"You do not like the idea either, do you?" I sighed.

It was not like I was not nervous either but the way I saw it, I was never going to have a private moment with her otherwise. Laena clearly did not trust my people and she seemed hellbent on sticking to the script.

I needed to be able to catch her off-guard or I would not be able to get the truth from her properly. It would have been easier if the incompetent trio had just told me what was happening instead of assuming that I charisma as my primary stat.

Alright, trio is unfair to Joffrey, he is very much the brains of that particular operations. Duo does not seem fair either since Rhaenyra is still in a less than ideal place and I am the one pushing her to seduce some guy for no other purpose than his looks. And Laenor is strangely likable-

I shook my head, now was not the time to be distracted going over my opinions of the people in my life.

"Alright Sky," I said walking towards her. "Let's just get this over with."

But the moment I came within a meter of her she started shuffling back at an equal pace.

"Don't be a child," I sighed at the retreating dragon.

I followed her up the ramp and up to the battlements.

"You are not making this easy," I groaned.

How am I stuck debating the validity of my plan with a freaking dragon?

I stopped before she ran out of battlement, I took in a deep breath and massaged my temples and she tilted her enormous head and blinked.

"Look," I said patiently and patently aware of how ridiculous I looked at the moment. "You can protest all that you want but that does not change the fact that we do not have any better options."

She snorted.

"You know, it is really easy to just pretend that you do not understand me when it suits you," I crossed my arms.

"Gaemon!" Ebermen rushed up the stairs.

"Ebermen we have been over this," I groaned. "I am just going to glide down and climb back up, it is hardly that big of a risk."

Ebermen took a breath before continuing, "Not that, you do not need to go."

"Really?" I asked dryly. "What do you suggest that I do? Kidnap her and drag her up here."

That had been Nessa's counter-proposal to my own much more reasonable plan.

"Not necessary," the bull shook his head. "She is already here."

"What?" I tilted my head as Sky snorted.

…

"I was not expecting you," my words were warm as I sat across from her in my study (which was totally not a repurposed storeroom). Ebermen waited outside while my disappointingly relieved staff returned to either their duties or their duly allotted time rest. "Not that this is not a pleasant surprise, mind you."

She had come dressed in the same riding leathers as I had seen her wear during my failed attempt at negotiation the previous day. I would wager that meant that her parents did not send her.

That and the uncertain look on her face.

"I apologize for the intrusion," She said across from me while she wiggled her thumbs in her clapped hands. "I was not expecting you to go out at this hour."

Hmm, should have probably changed out of the riding leathers before letting her in.

"Do not worry about it," I smiled.

Actually I was worrying a lot about it, my entire plan had hinged on catching her unawares and putting myself into a position of initiative. I guess if you want to make the dick-god laugh you, tell it your plans.

"Still," she said apologetically. "I was rather surprised to learn that you were not asleep."

I wanted to note that it was a pleasant change of pace to for once not be sleeping when people decided to bother me at night but that seemed inappropriate.

"Which leads to my surprise at your visiting at this hour," I noted.

She took a breath. "I wished to apologize about yesterday."

A more dickish man might have played dumb as to what exactly she was referring to but despite my better judgement I was not one to kick a not-Cole when they were down. Especially when she was accidentally making puppy-dog eyes.

What are you going to tell me? I mused. That running to Daemon was a mistake? That there is a good reason to lie?

"You need not," I smiled reassuringly. "I understand your position."

Her eyes widened in panic for a moment, "Who told you?"

The frantic and nervous tone in that question was worrying.

At that moment, I had two options, I could throw out one of my theories and see if it stuck or I could admit that I was not sure was she was referring to. Neither option was particularly profitable but a false guess and I would lose the opportunity… On the other hand.

"It is rather obvious," I said kindly but leadingly.

Leading questions and implied knowledge, the cardinal tools of bullshit.

Her face drained of color as her frown deepened and her eyes went wide enough that I was surprised that they did not fall out.

"Oh," she licked her lips nervously. She looked down at her hands. "Is-is that so."

That… sort of worked?

She moved one of her arms to massage the other in an attempt to rein in her shaking.

Damn it Westeros, I do not know if she is being genuine or not.

She took a breath.

"I know I have no ri-right but I beg you to please liss-ten to what I have to-to say," She looked like she trying to keep her act together and was failing miserably.

Either she was genuinely scared of coming clean or I had somehow rippled some first-rate acting skills into existence. I was not quite ready to discard the latter.

"I am willing to listen to what you have to say," I leaned forward with a smile and patted a hand reassuringly on her knee. Tell me your excuses, slip up.

"Thank yo-u," She tried to force a weak smile and straighten herself but it took her a moment to collect herself enough to speak.

She took a breath and nodded to herself while I hesitantly concluded that I had succeeded.

"Laenor and Rhaenyra, they said you helped them," She said while raising a hand to massage the back of her neck.

"They are Daemon's" She said nervously.

I cannot wait to see how you expla-wait, was that plural?

"They?" What the hell is Westeros pulling on me? Freaking autocorrecting?

She nodded.

"They," she stopped for a moment. "They are sweet girls. They have done no harm save be born to a wanton mother."

Her voice was catching at irregular intervals and her hands were digging into her knees.

First rate acting or genuine? I had never been great with crying women. What sort of game is Corlys playing here? Or is it Rhaenys? Joffrey?

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked as the thought entered my mind.

Either I was being set up or she was truly an abysmal player.

"Because they said you would find out," she said nervously. "Mother, Laenor, they said you already suspected. Rhae s-she said that you would not care."

Well I suspected something as any sane man would but it was not as if I was freaking omniscient. What exactly did the others think that I was?

I thought over my response for a moment.

Things were not going to plan. I was supposed to be the one doing the unbalancing, not the other way around.

"You were absent for three years," I noted. "Those numbers do not make sense."

She lowered her head and tried to take a breath to collect herself.

"I tried to," She continued. "I tried to speak to him, to write to him. It was too late for Moon Tea when the Maester realized it. I had fallen ill and the Maester feared-he said that- that if I killed them. I would not be able to have children again. That father would not allow it. I had no choice! I had no choice! I wrote him. I begged him to have me. That I would try. I would be a good wife."

"And?" I asked.

"He would not have me," she looked up with her swollen eyes as her words spead up. "He said that he would not have me or acknowledge the bastard, if either lived. I thought that I would go to him even, that it would be all right. But I was- I was already getting sick. I could not fly, the Maester forbade me the boat."

That did not make sense, why the hell would Daemon turn her away? He had ignored Viserys on the matter before and he certainly did not give a damn about Rhea. Hell, it was actively easier to hide a mistress on the Stepstones.

"Why?" I asked, it was not really a question aimed at her so much as what one asks of the universe when it took away pieces of your puzzle.

Why had Daemon not gone for it? It was a win, win for him. I sincerely doubted that he gave a shit about his honor or had any of the fundamental decency to not capitalize on a vulnerable heiress offering herself up on a platter, all toppings included.

"He said that he would not turn against his brother, that he would not betray him further," She was weeping now.

I felt bad for her but there was no way in hell that that excuse was legitimate.

My memory might not be perfect but that did not jive with what I knew about Daemon. The man was the gods be damned Rogue Prince, honor and family loyalty were nothing to him.

"That does not explain your absence," I said. Our engagement was over a year after the that night, she should have been in a decent shape to attend the wedding, it would have been tricky but she clearly managed to recover from the pregnancy fine by then.

"It… It was not an easy birth," Laena said slowly with a grimace. "Our maester is young and father-Lord Corlys, he-he said that he could not stomach spending good coin to spread news of his daughter's. Of his daughter's-"

I rubbed my eyes, why the hell is this happening?

Laena was having a harder time keeping coherence and the tone was becoming less an explanation than a confession. "The twins were born a month early, the maester said we would die like as not. I-I did not wa-I mean, they needed me. I had to try. I had thought that I was fine but..." she swallowed. "I am still prone to sickness. I am sorry to have so shamed you."

I had expected something bad but if I did not feel sympathy at that point then this would not be kicking the dog so much as flaying it in front of its puppies alive and wearing it as a festive hat. I smiled just a little at the thought of arranging a meetup between the local Boltons, I needed some humor.

She could be lying but of she was then she had a truly monstrous imagination to go with her talent for lying.

She could fake the fat, lie about Daemon, pass herself as… why would anyone pass themselves out as such miserable creatures?

"You are putting me in a difficult position," I sighed in frustration as my upper hand was starting to seem an incredibly revolting one.

Laena nodded, "Mother and fath-father, they said that if I hid it from you, then one of our cousins would claim them as their own bastards. They, they said that with a good maester, I would give yo-you children and not fail as a woman. All that I had to do was-"

"Keep it a secret! Then why are you telling me?" I roared out the question despite myself.

The girl flinched as if I had struck her.

"Because they said you would find out," Laena said helplessly. "And after you spoke to me I knew that I you would find out."

This… this is not a conversation I want to be having.

"What do you want from me?" I finally asked.

Laena stood up and took a step before going to her hands and knees before and dipping her head, "I am begging you to have mercy. "

What the fuck kind of act is this?! I screamed my denial.I am supposed to be tripping you up and forcing you into my sway. Not this! Not whatever this is.

"Please," she was crying with a ragged desperation. "Please. Please do not break the engagement. I do not care if you take other women. I will give you children until it kills me. I will obey whatever you ask. Just please, please forgive my weakness. I can be useful. The Velaryon name is a good one. The dowry will be fine. I will never ask for anything! I will be your slave. I will use Vhagar as you will! Anything. Please. Please. Please help me."

It was a pathetic and heart-wrenching sight by the end. She was begging at my feet with a desperation and debasement that only came from begging for someone else's sake. Her face was red from trying to bite back wails and tears, as if those might earn her an execution.

I hated Westeros.

I truly fucking hated it.