Disclaimer: I do not own Elder Scrolls or A Song of Ice and Fire. All rights belong to their respective owners.

Chapter 26

Dorne 297 AC

The fire crackled in the lit torches that illuminated the walls of the great hall of the Old Palace, the fortress of Sunspear. The atmosphere was festive, clear in the conversations and laughter of the nobility of Dorne and other guests. Joy mixed with the sound of clinking glasses as members of various houses shared words with those with whom they had good relations.

Many enjoyed the typical regional delicacies, such as lamb, duck, and other meats, all prepared with abundant spices, most of them hot. The strong flavor of these seasonings discomforted several outsiders, although the wine that the servants distributed tirelessly helped mitigate the burning in their palates.

At the highest table sat the leader of the ruling house, Prince Doran, sitting calmly while keenly seeing the behavior of his vassals. His eyes focused on how they interacted with each other, looking for any signs of shifts in alliances. Although his spies had detected small pockets of discontent, none were large enough to threaten his house's power, at least for now. Doran knew that politics was ever-changing, and what was stable today could be a problem tomorrow.

"So, brother... are you enjoying the party?" asked Prince Oberyn as he approached with a smile, embracing a woman with black hair and cat-like eyes by the waist.

The woman was Ellaria Sand, the natural daughter of Harmen Uller, the lord of Hellholt. With her exotic and sensual beauty, she attracted the gazes of many.

"Yes, though not as much as you." Doran replied with a smile before turning his attention back to the great hall.

"I can see that." Oberyn commented, following the direction of his brother's gaze. As he did so, he raised an eyebrow and smiled with some amusement. The reason was simple: the Daynes.

Both princes were looking at the ruling family of Starfall, gathered and chatting happily with their companions. These were not nobles or knights, but commoners, the traveling companions of Ashara's son.

"I still can't believe that boy has his own ship." commented Ellaria, diverting her gaze from the young bastard to the dance floor. There, two of her "stepdaughters" were dancing with knights, while Princess Arianne danced with the second-place jouster.

Ellaria's comment was based on information her daughter, Elia Sand, had obtained after talking to the champion's cousin, young Lord Edric Dayne. The news had quickly reached her ears, and from there to Oberyn and finally to Doran, who at once verified the dock records.

"It's not a big ship, love." Oberyn noted, recalling the moment he saw it after finding it in the records anfinding dock.

"Maybe, but it's a ship that, at first glance, doesn't seem to have oars. That's not common in these waters."

"That's right. But not only that: its design is different from any ship we've seen. And that's saying a lot, considering our location and the number of vessels that pass through here. Although it has certain similarities to a cog, there's something strange about it." added Doran, recalling the description of the vessel.

"You're right, but that's not all." Oberyn commented, uncomfortably remembering a peculiar sensation he experienced when approaching that ship: an overwhelming need to stay away, something he had never felt before. However, he wasn't referring to the ship itself, but to its owner.

"That boy is more dangerous than he appears." Doran said, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Jon.

Doran's statement caused Oberyn to nod. Both understood what he meant. After the revelation that the Starks and the king knew the young man was alive and that he hadn't been in Dorne, Jon had a conversation with Doran. It wasn't just any dialogue, but a tug-of-war that left Oberyn completely astonished. Despite his youth, the bastard had not only skillfully evaded his brother's questions but also managed to obtain information about the state of the kingdoms and the capital.

"Have you thought about the idea Arianne presented to you, brother?" Oberyn asked, stopping his observation of Jon and focusing on his niece, who was now dancing with Obara after leaving her knights.

"I have. Despite its flaws, I've come to the conclusion that it could be one of the best 'ideas' my daughter has had." Doran replied, recalling the proposal Arianne presented to him before the party began.

The idea was to convince Eddard Stark to legitimize his bastard son, then marry him to her. This would seal an alliance between Dorne and the North, two regions historically marginalized by the other kingdoms. While the proposal didn't fully convince him, he could see the obvious benefits: an alliance not only military but also economic. However, the main problem lay in Stark's son, whom his daughter wanted as a consort. The best choice would have been one of Eddard's legitimate sons, but the only one close in age to Arianne was the heir to Winterfell, a position too delicate to be the prince consort of Dorne.

Another alternative was to betroth one of his sons to one of the Stark daughters, a choice he found more attractive.

'So many possibilities that could favor my house, but also so many risks... There is still time, not much, but enough to carefully plan my daughter's future betrothal. For now, I will keep Arianne's idea in consideration.'

"I see." Oberyn said, frowning slightly. He didn't understand why his brother didn't accept the idea immediately, but, although it bothered him, Doran was the Prince of Dorne, and he would follow his orders.

While the two eldest members of House Martell chatted among themselves, Jon and his group conversed with his maternal family.

"I can't believe you and Jon aren't a couple." commented Allyria as she looked Daenerys up and down, scrutinizing every physical detail of the young Targaryen. This made Daenerys feel uncomfortable under her inquisitive gaze. "Although... I suppose you aren't fourteen yet, right?"

"N-no..." Daenerys responded, somewhat shyly, as it was the first time someone had treated her that way.

"Umm... I see. It's a shame." said Allyria, smiling as she looked at Daenerys again. The girl was beautiful, and the light lilac dress she wore highlighted her appearance, giving her the look of a princess. In fact, seeing her, she felt she had met someone with similar features, although she couldn't remember where. "Well, if you're looking to be with my nephew, I won't oppose it."

Allyria's words made Daenerys blush and start to stammer. Fortunately for her, Jon quickly intervened.

"I think you've teased Dany enough, aunt." Jon said in a calm tone. Until recently, he had been chatting with his uncle about what had happened in the meeting with the Prince of Dorne.

"You offend me, nephew." Allyria replied with feigned disdain and an amused smile. "I'm not teasing your friend... at least not too much."

Jon sighed. He had expected something like this. His aunt seemed to have taken on the personal mission of finding him a partner, arguing that his father's wife would never do it, as her main interest would probably be to prevent Jon from having descendants.

"Although, I still can't believe she is an active member of your ship's crew, Jon." commented Ulrick as he looked at the rest of the StarWolf's companions.

"Yes, I suppose it must seem strange to have women in a ship's crew." Jon responded, shrugging without showing much curiosity about the topic.

"Not so much. While it's not common, some women are usually on ships, although generally to fulfill certain specific jobs..."

Ulrick's tone left little to the imagination. Everyone understood what he meant, including Daenerys, who shuddered at the thought.

"Although, in some cases, it includes what you think. In others, they occupy roles such as cooks, nurses, or midwives, especially if it's a ship transporting a noble." Ulrick explained, noticing the crew's uncomfortable expressions.

"I see." Jon said, followed by nods from his crew and a sigh of relief from Daenerys.

"By the way, Jon mentioned that you are something like wandering merchants. How does your business work? And how do you divide the profits?"

Jon began to explain how they traveled from port to port, transporting goods they considered profitable. Sam took the floor to detail the more technical aspects, while the rest of the crew shared how they managed the profits from each trip.

"So, you divide the goods equally, and each person sells them to different guilds or merchants, keeping the profit margin. Then, you return the invested capital and reinvest it in the next commercial venture. Is that correct?" Ulrick asked.

"That's right, uncle." Jon confirmed.

"Wow, that's... innovative?" Ulrick commented, glancing at Beric, who was next to his fiancée.

"You could say that. That way of working is not common on merchant ships. Normally, the captain controls the profits and distributes them according to his criteria. Their method is quite novel... and, judging by their smiles, it seems to work for them." Beric added.

"It's interesting, but how did you come up with that idea?" Allyria asked, intrigued.

"You could say I read it in a book." Jon replied with a smile. Green, Edd, and Pyp laughed, while Sam blushed and Daenerys looked at them, confused.

The response piqued the curiosity of Allyria, Ulrick, and Beric, who raised an eyebrow, signaling they wanted an explanation.

"It's funny because that's Sam's typical response when we ask him where he learned something." explained Edd, the only legitimate noble in the group, as both Samwell and Daenerys hid their true identities.

"Understood." Ulrick said just before noticing someone approaching. He looked up and saw Princess Arianne, accompanied by Nymeria and Tyene.

"Princess." Ulrick greeted, making everyone aware of her arrival. Immediately, those present bowed.

"Lord Dayne." Arianne responded with a smile. She wore one of her classic revealing dresses, attracting the gazes of the men present. Her eyes settled on Jon, and with a knowing smile, she gestured to him. "Could I borrow your nephew Jon Snow for a few minutes?"

The question elicited various reactions. On one hand, the tone she spoke with was not seductive, but it was affectionate, which made Daenerys and Allyria uncomfortable. Both frowned, distrustful of the princess's intentions.

"I am not my nephew's owner, princess. If he wishes to go with you, he doesn't need my permission." Ulrick responded, observing her with distrust. The rumors about Arianne worried him, and he feared she might try to manipulate Jon.

"No problem, princess." Jon responded calmly, reassuring his relatives. He seemed immune to any attempt at seduction.

Arianne smiled and began to walk away, accompanied by Jon, Nymeria, and Tyene. As she watched them leave, Daenerys couldn't help but frown. She felt she needed to keep Jon away from Arianne, but she knew she couldn't cause a scene. Instead, she decided to turn to Allyria to talk about Starfall and Jon's mother.

The gazes of many nobles were fixed on Jon and Arianne, who were dancing in the middle of the floor, moving to the sound of a soft melody played by the group of musicians Prince Doran had hired for the party.

"So, Ser." said Arianne with a smile on her lips as she looked Jon in the eyes. "Are you having fun?"

"A little." Jon replied as he took the princess's hand and spun her around. "But not as much fun as we had a couple of hours ago."

To Jon's surprise, his words achieved something that almost never happened: they made the princess blush, who felt a shiver as she remembered what she and her cousins had done with Jon. Her mind recalled how the bastard of Winterfell had taken all three of them at the same time, giving them one of the best moments they had ever had, something that surprised all three of them, as they did not expect someone his age to be able to do everything he did. Fortunately, her mind did not wander too much, and she managed to focus on the dance while responding to Jon: "You're right, that was... memorable..."

"Thank you, I like to know that I met your expectations." Jon commented with a sly smile on his face, which made Arianne smile as well, as she found Jon's attitude somewhat amusing.

"You more than efficiently fulfilled that task, but you still have one left." Arianne said, emphasizing "you have one left."

"Of course, I'm aware of that. I just need to know who my targets are."

"That's easy, for some reason they are all gathered in the same place." Arianne said as she discreetly nodded towards the place where all those supposedly dangerous to her ascension as Princess of Dorne were seated.

Jon noticed that Arianne's jaw pointed to a place behind him, so he couldn't see clearly. This happened because she didn't want to turn around and look indiscreetly at the possible conspirators. So, he decided to wait for a moment to change position, and that moment came when the song made them spin, allowing him to change his angle of vision.

Jon's eyes focused on the place where he calculated the supposed conspirators should be, and as he did so, he was quite surprised to see that at that table was Arianne's brother, Prince Quentyn. The prince was laughing and enjoying the company of some people who were clearly not the nobles supposedly conspiring against Arianne, but their heirs.

'Fostering friendship between their heirs and the person they want to see on the throne of Dorne... that's a basic move in politics. Bringing your children together with your candidate ensures your place in the new government.' Jon thought, turning his face to see the people Arianne had pointed out as conspirators.

That group was made up of Lords Yronwood and Wells, while the third belonged to a house of landed knights. The young bastard knew this because Arianne had explained it to him after he asked about his possible enemies. Narrowing his eyes, Jon realized that this supposed alliance would not be a big problem for House Martell... well, that wasn't entirely true, as the Yronwoods were the second most powerful house in the region, only surpassed by House Martell. In fact, realizing this, Jon thought that House Yronwood was like House Bolton in the North.

"Did you see them there?" Arianne asked, looking at Jon, who had already stopped seeing the supposed conspirators.

"Yes, I did... Are you sure they are a danger to your ascension?" Jon asked, looking at Arianne.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"Because I don't see them as a real danger. It's just one house, the second most powerful, yes, but not the most dangerous."

"Not alone, but they don't follow the Rhoynar succession rules, but the Andal succession rules, which makes them prefer Quentyn over me."

Hearing this, Jon began to wonder if they had really gotten into a problem invented by the mind of the Princess of Dorne. Unfortunately, he had given his word to help her, and he was not someone who broke a promise. So, without thinking much, he moved his right hand and subtly made a golden glow form in his palm. Quickly moving his hand, he cast a spell that made several wine jugs fly, which ended up spilling on several people, creating a bit of chaos that attracted the attention of everyone, including Jon's friends, the Princes of Dorne, Princess Arianne, and, above all, the people Arianne considered dangerous to her ascension.

'This is the moment.' Jon thought, seeing how the telekinesis spell had worked better than expected. The cause of the wine jugs flying was a small gold coin that Jon had dropped, which he had attracted to him with telekinesis and then shot towards the wine barrels. Although a thrown coin wouldn't have made much noise, Jon had sent the coin with great force, creating the perfect distraction for what he had in mind.

'At first, I thought about killing them or putting them in a coma, but now I see I was wrong. They don't seem like a real threat, in fact, they seem more loyal than one would think. So, I'll use plan "B".' Jon thought as he let go of Arianne and, with a quick movement, moved his free hand and cast a new spell. From a scroll he had imperceptibly taken out, green light spheres quickly flew towards the group of men, hitting them in the head. 'Done, with this, it's all over.'

A second later, Jon saw how the supposed conspirators began to touch their heads, feeling some pain, a result of the spell. Jon's goal was simple: to slightly change the minds of the targets. The spell he used belonged to the difficult and dangerous mind magic, a type of magic considered very dangerous in Nirn, not only because of its complexity but also because of its destructive potential. Jon hadn't learned this spell; it had come from one of the scrolls his master had left him as a gift, which was why, now that he had used it, he felt irritated. He didn't like to spend valuable items that could be useful in the future. However, as he had promised to help Arianne and didn't want to cause permanent harm to people who didn't seem so dangerous, he decided to use this method.

Knowing he couldn't tell Arianne about the magic, Jon decided to remain silent and not reveal what he had done. Instead, he would use another mind magic scroll to alter the memories of Arianne and her cousins, thus creating a lie about what had happened.

With that done, he felt he was no longer bound by his words to Arianne, so he decided to enjoy the party and that little moment with the family he still didn't know well, as, in a short time, he would have to return to his ship and continue his journey.

Summer Sea 297 AC

The «StarWolf» sailed the waters of the Summer Sea, heading east. The ship, which had previously been filled with exotic spices from the Summer Isles, now carried less of that merchandise. This was because Jon and company had sold most of it to some merchant guilds in Dorne, obtaining a considerable sum of gold dragons that were distributed equally. After closing the deal, the ship was loaded with a new type of provisions: fruits, vegetables, and salted meat. The reason was simple: the group needed to prepare for their next goal, which consisted of collecting the remaining stones before heading to Valyria. There, they planned to seal the region and prevent what Edzard had mentioned from escaping and causing chaos in the world.

As the ship advanced through the sea, Jon was in the navigation room. He wore different clothes than he usually did. This was because, before leaving Dorne, his aunt had commented that he didn't look like a sailor in his usual attire. Without asking for his opinion, she took him to a shop to buy him more suitable clothes. Although she could have had custom-made garments, time was of the essence, so she chose the best she could find.

Now Jon wore a white linen shirt, paired with black pants of the same material and black leather boots. He also wore a leather belt with a baldric from which hung a curved sword, a gift from his future uncle-in-law, the Lord of Blackhaven. Over the belt, he wore a light purple fabric sash adorned with copper and opal charms. Additionally, his aunt had given him a sleeveless gray doublet and a black wool coat with golden details, perfect for cold nights at sea.

'My aunt really went all out with these clothes, and not just for me, but for the entire crew.' Jon thought, remembering how his aunt and uncle were delighted to meet his friends. Although Jon had expected some tension with Sam, due to him being from the Reach, his uncle didn't seem to have any problems with him after meeting him. However, the meeting took an awkward turn when they introduced Daenerys. His relatives at once recognized her as the girl Jon had crowned at the tournament.

'I got a bit scared when my uncle asked where Dany was from, as he mentioned she had Valyrian features that reminded him of Queen Rhaella, although the hair color didn't match. When I asked him why he thought that, he said he had seen the late queen several times. Luckily, he didn't discover Dany's true identity and only started asking if there was something between us. I managed to clarify, there's nothing more than friendship.' Jon thought, letting out a slight sigh.

He hadn't wanted to leave Dorne so soon, as he wished to spend more time with his family. However, the events of the banquet forced him to leave. He didn't want to get caught up in Princess Arianne's intrigues, who insisted on knowing how he had handled the supposed conspiracy. To avoid problems, Jon was forced to use a mind magic scroll to alter the memories of Arianne and her cousins, implanting a false memory that seemed plausible.

The memory Jon gave them included a confrontation in which he had threatened the supposed conspirators with false evidence of treason, forcing them to accept their defeat. The scene ended with Arianne relaxing, grateful that everything was resolved without violence. However, when the princess tried to reward him for his actions, Jon decided to leave to avoid complications.

Even so, the memories of what happened in that room persisted in his mind. Recalling the night of passion he spent with Arianne's cousins, a girl from the Summer Isles, and another daughter of Oberyn, Jon shook his head, trying to push those thoughts away. 'I have to stay focused on the mission and not let a night of passion distract me.' he told himself.

He directed his attention to the magical projection in front of him. He remembered that the places where the seal stones could be found were three: Yi Ti, the enigmatic Asshai of the Shadow, and the continent of Sothoryos. The latter was a place as dangerous as Valyria itself, a deadly paradise filled with creatures and plants capable of turning every step into a death sentence.

'Of all the destinations, Sothoryos seems the most lethal, but something tells me Asshai won't be far behind... Those bloodmages and shadowbinders won't be a problem for me, but they will be for the rest of the group. I need to enchant their clothes to protect them against magic, not just the elements. I also need to find a way to hide Daenerys's magical aura. Her presence is like a beacon to anyone with magical sensitivity, making her too obvious a target.' he thought as he stopped looking at the map and walked towards his desk.

"Umm... if I remember correctly, I bought a book about Yi Ti and Asshai along with a bestiary of exotic creatures at the Citadel..." he murmured, diverting towards a bookshelf.

His fingers ran over the covers, stopping at each time to check if it was what he was looking for. After several minutes, he found the first of the books and, shortly after, the other two. With the texts in hand, Jon returned to his desk, where he began to read carefully. He needed precise information about the dangers they might meet in each place: inhabitants, creatures, mages, and any other potential threats.

Qarth 297 AC

The clear sky allowed the sun's rays to illuminate the beautiful and opulent coastal city of Qarth, the nexus between the east and west of Essos. This place was a mandatory stop for eastern merchants looking to venture west, doing business in Volantis, Braavos, King's Landing, among other cities. Therefore, Qarth was one of the most prosperous cities in the world, home to one of the great wonders described by the famous traveler Lomas Longstrider in his book: the imposing walls that protected the city.

These walls were three in total, each higher and more majestic than the earlier one. The first, known as the outer wall, was built of vibrant red sandstone and measured over nine meters in height. Its surface was decorated with intricate reliefs of animals: slithering snakes, birds in flight, swimming fish, and more exotic creatures like wolves from the red wastes, striped zorses, and monstrous elephants. The second wall, made of gray granite, reached twelve meters and was covered with war scenes: sword, spear, and shield combats, arrows flying through the air, heroes in battle, and massacred children, along with pyres of burning corpses. The third and final wall, closest to the heart of the city, was made of black marble, measured over fifteen meters, and was carved with scenes of passion that could make even the boldest women blush.

Behind these walls rose Qarth, a vibrant array of streets filled with markets where houses of exquisite colors lined up: pinks, purples, and ochres, with delicate balconies. The squares housed ornate fountains in the shape of dragons, griffins, or manticores, while inns, gambling halls, brothels, temples, and taverns crowded the busiest districts. On the terraces of the most luxurious houses, lush gardens with trees and flowers added beauty to the panorama.

The city was governed by the so-called "Pureborn" descendants of the ancient kings and queens of Qarth, who shared power with the main merchant guilds: The Thirteen, the Tourmaline Brotherhood, and the Ancient Guild of Spicers. However, while the city's leaders wove intrigues, a meeting laden with darkness was taking place in a very different place.

That place was the House of the Undying, a ruinous serpent-shaped stone structure, with worn walls and a roof of black tiles, many of which were broken or had fallen. Surrounded by a grove of trees with black bark and blue leaves with ink spots, the house was the home of the Warlocks of Qarth.

In a gloomy room within this palace, a long stone table presided over the place. Above it floated a swollen blue heart, beating with a deep sound and an indigo light. Around the table sat the Undying, figures that seemed more like animated corpses than humans. Their withered bodies and their skins, nails, and eyes of a deathly blue gave them a spectral appearance. Kneeling before them was Pyat Pree, a pale man with blue-stained lips.

"We have felt it, Pyat Pree... magic is returning to the world, slowly but steadily." Said one of the Undying in a hoarse, hollow voice.

"Indeed... its presence is intensifying, but not enough to satisfy us. We need more." Added a female voice among those present.

"What do you wish me to do, oh great Undying?" Pyat responded, bowing his head in respect.

"We need sources of magic, to absorb their vital and magical energy." declared another of the Undying.

The warlock's eyes, which had been closed, slowly opened. He looked up to contemplate his masters.

"What kind of people will be the lambs that will feed you?" he asked submissively.

The Undying remained silent for a moment, immersed in deep reflections. After several minutes, one of them finally spoke:

"They must be people with powerful magic. The ideal ones would be pure-blooded Valyrians; the purer, the better."

"Another option is shadowbinders or mages." added another Undying. "Although it would be risky. We have not yet recovered all our power, and they could attack us if not subdued beforehand. If you cannot dominate them physically, do not bring them."

"Finally, a viable option is the Skinchangers, those descendants of the First Men. They are usually found beyond the Wall and, although they are not Valyrians, they are a valuable source of magic. Communicate these orders to the other warlocks: to travel the known world and bring all the magical food they can for us."

"I will do so immediately." Pyat responded. With a final bow, he stood up and left the room.

As he walked through the dark corridors of the labyrinth that was the House of the Undying, he reached a chamber where the other warlocks awaited. Upon entering, those present saw him expectantly. Pyat shared the orders of the Undying, and his companions nodded silently before leaving the place, each taking a different direction to fulfill their mission.

The objective was clear: to obtain enough "magical food" to restore the power of their masters and return the lost glory to the Warlocks of Qarth.

Author's Note:

To those who have made it this far, thank you for reading. To be honest, my English writing skills are not strong, and I'm relying on Google Translate and the dictionaries that come with Office 2019.

We have seen Jon use powerful magic, which is wielded through scrolls. We also see that beings sensitive to magic, such as warlocks, shadowbinders, etc., are becoming aware that magic is returning, so we will see some interaction between Jon and his group with them in the future.

I apologize for any spelling errors. Please don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed the chapter, or if there's something that needs improvement, or if you have any questions about the story. Any constructive advice is welcome. With nothing more to say, see you in the next chapter.