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Chapter 7 Part 3

=Sith=

291 AC

Astapor

A dull wooden dart whistled through the air, aimed at Daenerys. The Princess ducked, evading the training weapon, only for a second one to hit her in the shoulder hard enough to leave a bruise. She had a helmet with covered eyeholes, ensuring she couldn't use her eyes in this infernal exercise.

"Trusting your senses is an outstanding trait for a regular warrior to have, sister," Viserys lectured.

Dany bristled at her brother's amused tone, for she knew what was coming, and it was simply infuriating.

"However, we have the Force and other magic. Those powers elevate us beyond the ken of mere mortals. Listen to the Force, bend it to your will, and use it!"

Daenerys sensed the energy all around her tremble and raised her training sword in a guard stance. The Sith Acolyte did her best to anticipate the attack she knew was coming. Yet, in her frustration, she failed to block even one of the darts Viserys threw at her. Dany yelped in pain as the weapons hit her and growled at her brother.

"Use your anger and frustration. Such emotions are fuel for the Force. You must submerge into these emotions without losing yourself in the rage. You need them to feed the offensive side of the Force until you have the experience and understanding to draw on it without heavily relying on such emotions!"

Dany knew that! It was deceptively simple and straightforward to say. Actually, doing as instructed was another matter altogether!

What made things even more frustrating was that Dany could touch the Force and use it for basic things when calm and collected. The same was true when Visy linked their minds and guided her through utilizing emotions in the way he talked about. However, when Dany tried to do it by herself under any kind of pressure, it only worked when she was so angry she saw red or terrified. While that could be useful as a desperate measure, it wasn't something to rely upon. The Princes could clearly recall what happened when they tested it, and it wasn't a pleasant experience.

Viserys intentionally kept pushing her until pure rage overwhelmed Daenerys reason. She went at Ser Richard like a madwoman fuelled by the Force. Dany moved faster than she had any right to. She struck harder than any eleven-year-old ever could! Within moments, she had the veteran knight fall back, barely managing to parry or avoid her dull blade until his back hit a wall. Dany's training sword hammered at his defenses unrelentingly until she found an opening, then another and another, slamming her blade into Ser Richard's armor with bruising strength. She was so absorbed in beating her target that she didn't even notice, much less sense, her brother picked up a training dart and threw it at her back. She would have died then and there, too absorbed by her fury to pay attention to other threats.

Viserys used the Force to show his sister real terror the next time she lost control. An abyss of mind-bending fear swallowed her whole while three Unsullied with training spears surrounded her. Afterward, it was only because Visy linked their minds and showed her what happened that Dany knew what she did. She saw herself through her brother's eyes and let out a piercing scream that pushed the soldiers away. Dany moved in a blur, too fast for the Unsullied to strike. The Force allowed her to anticipate their moves and react before they did. It took her mere heartbeats to take them apart with her training blade, and if it wasn't for Visy halting her, Dany knew she wouldn't have stopped until they were very dead.

What was worse, she didn't recognize her brother and lashed at him with both her weapon and the Force. If he were anyone else, any other ally or friend, they would have died before the Princess recognized them. She didn't recognize Visy either; it was just that he was more than capable of handling her onslaught and subduing her.

A dart lightly tapped Dany's helmet. She could vaguely sense it moving before her eyes. She pushed her helmet off her head and glanced from the training weapon to her brother, who shook his head at her.

"Daydreaming during training is bad enough. Losing your concentration in battle is a death sentence. The next time you do this, I will have to use a sharper reminder, something neither of us will enjoy."

Dany knew that wasn't entirely true, which was one of the most dangerous gifts the darker side of the Force offered. If you let it, the Force could allow you to live with anything you might have to do to survive, no matter how despicable or monstrous. At the same time, that was a slippery slope that could easily make you a monster, leading to self-destruction through burning your bridges with all your family, friends, and allies. The Force might allow you to stand alone if you had enough training and experience. However, you needed support to get there. Once there, no matter how individually powerful, there was only so much you could achieve alone. That was arguably the greatest trap the Force offered…

A dull dart hit Dany's forehead hard enough to make her drop her helmet with a yelp and clutch the bruise.

"Focus, sister. I want the best for you, and that means training you so you are the most dangerous woman on Planetos!" Viserys said.

He meant every word. His fond exasperation at her antics made Dany's heart flutter, reassuring her once again that no one else cared or would ever care about her as much as Visy did.

"You know, you are making it very hard for me to remain vexed at you, no matter how much you deserve it, Dany," Visy huffed.

Ser Richard walked into the training area, wearing white chain armor underneath a white tabard with the Targaryen crest above his heart. That was the newest armor design he was trying for the Royal Guard, for everything he had attempted until now proved unsuitable for the climate in this part of Essos.

"Your Grace, Princess, we have visitors. A delegation from Dorne arrived earlier tonight, requesting an audience," The Lord Commander informed them. "Prince Oberyn Martell is leading it."

"You know, I recall him visiting soon after we went into exile, and that was it. Isn't it curious that we saw nothing from the Dornish when we needed them most?" Viserys scoffed.

Dany winced at the bitterness leaking from Visy, trying its best to poison the whole room. She couldn't blame him. Daenerys didn't remember such a visit, much less any Dornish support when they were on the run.

Viserys huffed and took a deep breath. He shoved his bitterness and anger away in such a way that made the Force around him tremble enough for Dany to notice.

"Inform Prince Oberyn that we will meet with him tomorrow evening after holding court. Like it or not, he's a distant kin, and we have precious little left of that… and he is the first to come now that we are no longer powerless exiles."

=Sith=

Chapter 7 Part 4

=Sith=

291 AC

Astapor

Coming to Astapor was one of the best decisions he had ever made, Oberyn decided. He also had to credit his brother for sending him here. Just observing all the changes Viserys had made was enough to ensure the visit was worth it.

Like most sane Westerosi, Oberyn wasn't a fan of slavery. Walking Astapor's streets and seeing countless liberated slaves walking around as free men and women was exhilarating. However, the Red Viper couldn't decide if Viserys was a genius visionary or a madlad, for he was doing his best to turn all those liberated slaves into warrior people.

"This reminds me of home," Daemon muttered as they observed Unsullied and others train blocks of regular people to use shields and spears. Nearby, better-trained freemen and women were practicing with short swords.

"Even we didn't go this far," Ulwyck noted.

Nothing was preventing Dornish women from becoming warriors if they so desired. It was customary for young girls to get a dagger and learn how to use it to defend themselves. While it didn't always work, most rapists to be in Dorne ended up gutted, stabbed, and often enough neutered long before the city watch or anyone else could get their hands on them. As a father of many daughters, the Red Viper wholeheartedly approved of that. Their first dagger was one of the most important gifts he could offer his girls. Well, the blade and training on how to use it like a master.

However, what they saw was a step beyond what Dorne went to, even during their darkest times, like during the Targaryens' invasions.

Oberyn was also right about the city's outer walls – they were in far better shape than he remembered. Hundreds of people were still busy restoring and improving them. A glance was enough to see sections for siege weapons to be constructed like those overlooking the docks.

It was becoming clear that Viserys intended to hold Astapor for the long run and use it even after he came for the Iron Throne. Oberyn could see the utility of such a distant, safe port for Westerosi merchants. While holding Astapor in the long run could prove challenging and expensive, it could be worth it. Such a safe harbor might make trade with Yi-Ti far easier and safer, and that alone could more than pay for holding and maintaining a city so far from Westeros.

"Most of those people are already better than regular levies," Ulwyck pointed out.

Oberyn focused his attention on the training people. The Unsullied were peerless if unimaginative. Fighting their fight was a losing proposition – the Red Viper figured out that easily the last time he was in Essos. Watching the free citizens train was eye-opening. It was expensive for all those hours of training could be spent working. It was also dangerous, especially in light of the creed Viserys was hammering into everyone's heads.

Freedom through Power. Oberyn liked it. That was how Dorne kept its independence for so long, even if the price in blood was frightful.

Granting everyone weapons and eventually armor as it became available was, on the face of it, a foolish, ruinous expense. It could backfire. The free people of Astapor might decide not to follow Viserys in war… The Red Viper laughed at that thought. Judging by what he saw to date, such an outcome was improbable. Viserys not only freed all these people, he gave them weapons and power. Oberyn could sense it in the air; the young Targaryen earned himself an army and was busy turning it into a great fighting force. Between all these freed slaves and the Unsullied, the only thing Viserys missed was cavalry. Oberyn already saw the Prince's navy, and according to the Dornish Captains, its crews were already very good and getting better.

"A heavy cavalry charge can break them, but not the Unsullied," Daemon concluded. "If Viserys has enough time to complete training and outfitting all those people…"

"He'll have at least two armies by the time he is ready to return home," the Red Viper's eyes shone malevolently, dreaming of bloody vengeance. He could clearly see it now; it was closer than ever!

"Our cavalry and spears might just be enough combined with what he has at hand," Ulwyck nodded in approval.

A small, mad smile graced his lips. Almost eight years ago, the Ulliers lost half their men at the Trident. Ulwyck had to ransom his older brother, Harman, the Lord of Hellhold, for a hefty prize. The Ulliers had more reason to loathe the Usurper than most other Dornish. After Dorne lost almost ten thousand spears in that war, virtually everyone loathed Rober and those who supported him for losing friends and family in the Rebellion.

It was only Doran and the knowledge they didn't have the numbers to gain their vengeance that held Dorne back for so long… There were still many days people like the Red Viper hardly cared, for their hearts cried for vengeance.

Today, Oberyn's heart cried in indignation, too, for Viserys Targaryen decided to slight them by making them wait for an audience until late evening. A dead man brought that news, further fouling the Red Viper's temper with his very existence.

"Ser Richard Lonmouth," Oberyn exclaimed at the white cloak who visited the Dornish party in the inn where they stayed. "You are supposed to be dead!"

"I was lost and as good as dead until my Prince and Princess found me and brought me back," the knight of the Kingsguard said. A pleasant smile made his scars move as if alive, making him look propery terrifying. "Prince Viserys will see you tomorrow evening after court concludes."

The Red Viper twitched at the slight and at Lonmouth daring to be here, alive, when Elia, Rhaenys, and little Aegon were gone.

"Where were you?!" Oberyn demanded. "Did you carry that cloak eight years ago?!"

"I was a regular knight then, in service of my Prince," Lonmouth's eye hardened. "You must know Rhaegar didn't abandon his wife and children at the Red Keep. They were as much hostages to ensure Dorne's support in the war as to keep Rhaegar in line. If it wasn't for Aerys holding them, my Prince would have almost certainly turned the Royal Army around and deposed his father before dealing with the Rebels! Aerys lickspittles and other damn traitors at court made that impossible just like they ruined our plans for Harrendal!"

Oberyn flinched at those words as if struck with a mace. For years, he had believed that Rhaegar abandoned Elia and the children. The thought that Aerys kept them as hostages against him as well, instead of only to keep Dorne in line after the slight Rhaegar inflicted upon all Dornish at Harrendal, never really crossed his mind.

The Red Viper also barely noted the rest of his party gape at Lonmouth's words.

The Dornish left the training ground to explore the city further. Criers kept repeating the same creed on most lively corners across Astapor, making the visitors wonder what made Viserys think of this new way he was pushing. Oberyn was a learned man who forged himself many chains at the Citadel before traveling to Essos to further his knowledge and enjoy many adventures. He had heard of nothing quite like this in all his years.

More importantly, those were no empty words. Viserys was obviously working on delivering on his promises, as all the people training to be warriors proved.

=Sith=

Oberyn swaggered into the pyramid the Targaryens took as their own, followed by his companions. They all wore the best Dornish finery, more than suited for any Royal Court in existence. Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen met them in a large, well-lit audience chamber void of courtiers. Only Unsullied and five white cloaks were present, lining up the walls or standing guard beside the royals.

The Dornish Prince noted that his hosts had grown up since he saw them last. Then, they were young children who held a hint of potential if they were destined to live long enough. Back in Braavos, the Targaryens held no power. They were not dangerous.

Those were not the young Royals sitting on intricately carved wooden thrones and staring down the Red Viper without a care in the world. They both wore rich black and red clothes embroidered with the three-headed dragons of their House. Despite her clear Valyrian coloration, Oberyn could see hints of Rhaenys, which were all Targaryen in the young Princess. The shape of her eyes, her nose, and chin…

The Red Viper lowered his gaze and swallowed his building rage.

"Our Niece and nephew should have been here with us," Viserys said, and his simple words rang with truth.

Oberyn's head snapped up, and he stared at the young Prince. Beside him, the other Dornsih were stiff like boards, unsure how to react.

"The Iron Throne should have been Aegon's. Perhaps his and Rhaenys' both," Viserys continued, stressing the Targaryen's custom of marrying into the family. "Tywin Lannister murdered them to put his blood on the Iron Throne. If I have anything to say about it, he will live to see us turn his legacy to ash."

A demented smile fit to match the craziest of Ulliers stretched the Red Viper's lips. He suddenly found out he cared not for any slights Viserys might have given him. They were speaking the same language, after all.

"Prince Viserys," for once in his life, Oberyn bowed with no care in the world. "Princes Daenerys, seeing you healthy and prosperous is heartening!"

Viserys eyes blazed like a dragon, burning with power. Oberyn had no trouble believing many of the tall tales about the Sorcerer Prince when an unnatural chill spread through the chamber, and the shadows in its corners came alive.

"We share bonds of blood and vengeance, Prince Oberyn. Yet, like almost everyone else in Westeros, there was no trace of the Dornish in our hour of need."

Ah, that. It made sense then, but the Targaryens were clearly unhappy with everyone's past decisions. Even Daenerys, as young as she was, smiled a bitter smile at her brother's words.

Oberyn opened his mouth to speak Doran's words. He was about to say that the Dornish kept searching for the Targaryens when they learned of Ser Darry's death and the royals' flight. The Red Viper glanced at the hissing shadows, felt chill seep into his bones, and decided that Doran was too clever for their own good.

The Prince of Dorne was a gambling man, so he took a gamble.

"I have no excuses, my Prince," he admitted and felt the gazes of his compatriots bore into his back. That wasn't how they agreed to do things, and the Red Viper didn't care. "All I can say for certain is that we couldn't have brought you in Dorne. The Usurper would have never stopped until he saw you dead, and we wouldn't have been able to protect you. A war to break us would have had sufficient support among the Lannisters and the Reach to make up for any divided loyalties or the depletion of the rebel armies. In his infinite wisdom, my brother decided that the two of you only represented a potential we couldn't be seen nurturing. You would have made something of yourselves, making you worthy of Dornish support, or House Targaryen would have died with you."

Viserys burning eyes bore into Oberyn's very soul, making the Red Viper glad he didn't mention the secret betrothal between Arianne and the Sorcerer. He was hoping his compatriots would also keep their mouths shut on the topic.
"Vows of fealty. Bonds of blood," Viserys chuckled bitterly, and the living shadows slowly devouring all the light in the audience chamber grew more ravenous. "A kinslayer sits on my family's throne. A Lannister is a Queen over the spilled blood of my family. When it mattered most, blood and vows were worth nothing. So tell me, Prince Oberyn, why are you here, claiming kinship?"

"I can tell you why my brother sent me. I can also tell you why I initially came. And I will. But the reason why I am here now is simple. It has nothing to do with politics or the Game of Thrones back home. It is simple. Blood for blood until the Lannisters are gone, and the Usurper rues the day he sat on my Nephew's throne!" The Red Viper's voice dripped deadly venom.

"Then we have an understanding, Prince Oberyn," Visery stood up and smiled a terrible smile. "Come, we have much to discuss."

The living shadows hissed in vindication before retreating. The chill dissipated, leaving the audience chamber as it was when the Dornish arrived.