Chapter 28: Into the Sea

Viserra

Second Moon, 91 AC

"Maester Desmond has confirmed my suspicions. The poison was the Strangler. The symptoms match perfectly," Corlys said as he walked into the room. His words were calm and measured, but his face gave away his anguish.

Viserra knew it was mirrored on her own. She sat on the edge of her bed, her mind brooding. "If I hadn't stopped you from drinking the wine… you'd be dead as well," she said, haunted by the thought.

In response, Corlys wrapped her in his arms. "I'm here. I'm alive. Feel me Viserra; feel the warmth in my blood, the beating heart in my chest. You will drive yourself mad if you think of things like that."

"We almost died Corlys! We were so close to death! It was in our very hands!" she said, distraught.

"But we didn't! Both of us are still here Viserra." Corlys's embrace on her tightened.

"It's been a week… and it still haunts me," she confessed. "I see it in my mind, I see it in my sleep. Rhaekar, choking to death before me. His eyes, begging, pleading for me to help him. And I freeze and do nothing. I just watch him die, over and over again!"

"It haunts my dreams as well Viserra. My little brother, dead in my arms. He's been with me since we were babes, and now he's gone." She looked up and saw how tired Corlys was. Dark bags beneath his eyes and a weary face.

"Corlys… this can never happen again. We were lucky this time, and Rhaekar still died. Will we be lucky next time as well? I… I don't feel safe here anymore."

Before Rhaekar had died, they had decided against replacing all the staff and guards in the Black Fortress with Driftmarkers. Corlys and her had thought that keeping local Tyroshi in some capacity would have helped to make them appear as legitimately elected rulers rather than foreign conquerors. Clearly, it had been a mistake.

Even so, by their instructions, their quarters and food had been tended to only by trusted servants they had brought from Driftmark, each of whom had automatically assumed high ranks in the staff of the Archon's Palace and the greater Black Fortress. For seven months, they had not had a single incident or assassination attempt due to that arrangement. Until now.

He nodded. "I know. I've already taken precautions. The kitchen staff, the waiters, the cupbearers, and the food tasters have all been secured. The Tide Guard are questioning them as we speak."

"What have they been saying?

"Most don't know anything, or claim to not at least. They prepared and tasted the food and wine as normal before they served it to us, nothing was wrong. I am reluctant to question them sharply quite yet, they have never lied to us before. These are trusted men and women of Driftmark."

"How else would poison have found its way into the wine?" Viserra demanded. Either an assassin had somehow slipped by their loyal Seahorses, or they were not as loyal as they had thought them to be. Viserra did not know which scared her more.

"A skilled assassin might have been able to sneak past the Seahorses, especially if they were already part of the staff. You and I both know our Driftmarkers are far outnumbered by the local Tyroshi. The Black Fortress is huge, almost like a city within a city. Plenty of buildings and places to hide, to blend in. I've already expanded the questioning to all the servants with duties anywhere close to that dining room.

"Some of them have been reporting curious things. Strange unscheduled shift changes, or a servant from another part of the fortress suddenly being on duty there. One of the Tyroshi guards in the very corridor where the dining room was has even confessed under sharp questioning, that he was paid to look the other way from anything suspicious, by a man from the Temple of the Trios… the same temple that Lysos Eranyr worships at most regularly."

Viserra snapped up. "You think it was Eranyr?"

Corlys's face was grim. "I can't say for sure… not yet, but I'm collecting the evidence. The Strangler is not a common poison. Its necessaries are costly, and hard to acquire. The plants used are found only on islands in the Jade Sea and they are mixed with spices from the Summer Islands. It is a long and complicated process to make the poison. No common lowlife could get their hands on it. Eranyr has the means. He is the richest man in Tyrosh now apart from us and he has many trade dealings with the Summer Islands and the Jade Sea."

"But does he have the motive?" Viserra asked. It did not feel right. Eranyr might have had a checkered past, but in their time working together, Viserra had found him to be honorable and courteous. Assassination did not become him.

"Why not? Eranyr has the reputation and respect needed to rule Tyrosh. Furthermore, he already has a place in our regime as a collaborator. If all three of us had died, it would have been all too easy for Eranyr to have taken control of the city. The chance for absolute power corrupts many men."

Viserra was not so sure. She felt like they were missing something. Like she was missing something. She cast her mind back to that terrible day, desperately trying to remember. Grief and shock were clouded her memories like a haze. She searched harder and harder but she could not remember what she had forgotten. And then it occurred to her.

"The man who brought the wine," she said aloud.

"What?"

Viserra was frantic now. She turned to her husband. "I think… I remember. When I went to dinner that day, there was a man leaving the room. He said he was told to bring the wine Corlys. The poisoned wine."

Corlys was thoughtful. "I do not remember someone leaving the room before you entered."

"Why would you have? Like you said the assassin could blend in with our staff. Corlys, this man was a Driftmarker, that alone would have put you at ease, even had you not been distracted trying to think of what to say to Rhaekar."

Her husband was alarmed. "Are you sure?"

Viserra nodded. "He looked Westerosi. Tall… pale… and dark haired." she said, trying to recall what he looked like. "He had a birthmark, or maybe a scar, on his left cheek near his jaw; it looked a lot like a heart in a wreath of fire."

"That may not be a birthmark but it might be a scar," Corlys said. "Almost every Tyroshi servant we questioned had a brand of some kind somewhere on their body, usually denoting their religious beliefs or who their master was. Slaves had little rights and would be branded as a mark of belonging. I will speak to the Tide Guard. They will know if we have the man you speak of, and if not, I will have them double the search."

"The rest of his appearance however? I could have sworn he was Westerosi!" Viserra protested.

Corlys shook his head. "There were wildling slaves in Tyrosh. This man might be one, or be descended from one. We were careless here. In hindsight, a man with wildling descent could easily blend in among the Driftmarkers. I will have the Driftmark servants checked for any birthmarks like you describe, but I am beginning to think that there is no treachery from them after all. A cursory inspection of our staff records will let us determine if he is one of them or not easily now."

Another thought occurred to her. "Ario Orlyr worships at the Red Temple does he not? The symbol of the Red God is a fiery heart."

"You think Orlyr was behind this?" Corlys raised an eyebrow.

"He has all the motive Eranyr does, does he not?" she challenged.

"Perhaps, but does he have the means?" he wondered.

"Why wouldn't he? Half the city supports him. There were men with connections to the Buzantys and the local religions amongst the native servants wasn't there?"

"There was but the same could be the said of the Dyes. May I remind you that Eranyr actually lives within the Black Fortress as one of our councilors and ministers? It would have been infinitely easier for Eranyr to carry out the plot than Orlyr. You're biased against him."

"As you are against Eranyr," she retorted. Corlys was silent. She placed her hand on his cheek and caressed it gently. "It can't hurt to follow every lead can it? Rhaekar deserves no less."

Corlys softened beneath her touch and placed his hand on hers, holding it closer to his cheek. "You're right. He does. I will investigate them both. Whichever one of them it is, I swear Viserra, whoever killed my brother, tried to kill us… their heads will roll."

"No they won't," Viserra said. Her husband's face wrinkled in confusion adorably. She stared into his eyes. "Dreamfyre prefers to cut her meat herself."

He smiled vindictively. "That would be a very fitting death for those filth."

"My thoughts exactly," Viserra agreed. "I've never seen it before. I confess myself curious."

"Oh it will be gruesome and brutal I am sure, and no less than they deserve," he said darkly, eagerly. Rarely did Corlys speak in such a manner. Viserra found that she liked it. It was strangely arousing.

"What will be done to safeguard us from any more assassination attempts?" she asked him

"I've already seen to the arrangements. As before, we will only eat meals made and served to us by servants from Driftmark but we will go further than that. Now Driftmark men and women will taste our food and drink before our very eyes before we eat anything. Buzantys and all other armed men that are not our own will be barred from the Black Fortess, excepting a few that may remain to protect our esteemed friends like Eranyr and Orlyr. Velaryon men will be the only soldiers allowed in this fortress in any true number. When Aurane comes, we will replace all the servants and staff of the Archon's Palace entirely with Driftmarkers and take steps to replace as many officials throughout the rest of the fortress and even the city as well, where possible."

"And what of the Tyroshi? Those innocent in the plot? They will lose their livelihoods," Viserra felt compelled to ask though she could not bring herself to truly care about their plight in light of recent events. Her question was borne out of pragmatism alone. The unemployed were too easy to radicalize.

"I will arrange for them to work outside the Palace either in their current jobs, if that is possible, or in new roles. If none exist, that will simply be unfortunate for them."

Viserra nodded. There was a knock on the door before either of them could say anything else. Standing up from the bed, Viserra made herself presentable, and saw Corlys had as well. "Come in," she said.

Her trusted maid Pina entered the room. "My lady," she said running into the room before noticing Corlys. "My lord," she added with a hurried bow of her head.

"What is it Pina?" Viserra asked. She noticed that her trusted maid looked rather worried and unnerved.

"My lady, you must come at once! Two dragons have been spotted approaching Tyrosh!"

_______________________________________

Immediately after hearing Pina's urgent warning, Viserra had raced to Dreamfyre. If her family… if the Targaryens had decided to act against them now, Dreamfyre and her were their only chance at survival.

Mounting her beloved dragon, Viserra urged her into the sky. She was relieved to find that the dragons she now recognized as Balerion and Silverwing had not started burning Tyrosh or the Black Fortress. They had instead landed in the courtyard in front of the Archon's Palace and were surrounded by very nervous Velaryon soldiers pointing spears at them.

With just a thought, Viserra commanded her dragon and she glided over to the courtyard and set herself down before the other dragons. Dreamfyre growled at Balerion and Silverwing. Both dragons took offense at Dreamfyre's challenge but were calmed by their riders.

"Lykirī," her mother commanded Silverwing before turning to the antsy soldiers around her. "Lower your weapons. I am still your queen am I not? I come in peace, to see someone I love. I did not come to destroy you."

Viserra walked forward then. "It's hard to tell the difference these days," she said to her mother, though at her gesture the Velaryon soldiers relaxed.

Her mother's expression faltered. Her queenly face faded away instantly as she rushed to her and wrapped her tightly in her arms. Viserra struggled to breathe in her mother's embrace.

"Viserra! My love, my child! You are alive! You are safe and well!" her mother cried out in relief.

Viserra felt her eyes begin to water. Despite everything, her mother had come to see her after all. Looking beyond her mother, she saw Alyssa hesitantly approach and reached out her arms to her too. She was still angry at many of her family members, but now, so soon after Rhaekar had died, that they would come to see her was like a balm on her heart.

As they reluctantly broke the embrace, Alyssa began to speak. "We were so worried when we heard Viserra!"

"You… you were?" she asked, disbelieving.

Her nodded, her voice breaking. "Of course we were! We love you Viserra!"

"Are you injured? Poisoned? Are you well?" Alyssa demanded. "Lord Qoherys told us a little but we feared the worst."

Viserra shook her head. "I am well but… my goodbrother Rhaekar…"

"We heard," Alysanne nodded. "You have our condolences Viserra. We did not know the man, but we heard much of him. He was a good man."

Viserra trembled. "Yes. Yes, he was."

"We heard of Velos as well Viserra. I lit a candle before the Stranger in the sept before we left, so that the souls of the dead there might find their way to the seven heavens. What those slavers did was unjust and barbaric," Alyssa said firmly.

Viserra remembered Corlys's suspicion that her father had been involved with the fall of Velos, but she kept those thoughts to herself. She looked at Balerion and Silverwing before speaking again.

"Is your presence here a herald of my father's forgiveness? Has he reached out his hand to me like he did to Saera?" she asked, and she hated that even now she still felt that sliver of hope, hope that her father still loved her.

Her mother and sister looked to each other. "Your father remains stubborn. He has refused to forgive you or your house. His decrees stand. Alyssa and I defied him to come here. I will not be returning to King's Landing for quite some time. I am quite wroth with him."

Viserra despaired. There truly was no other way then. Not even her nearly dying could soften her father's hard heart. She shuddered to imagine what his judgement would be should they actually return to receive it.

"Has he no love for me at all?" she asked.

Her mother embraced her again. "Men are stubborn my dear. Their pride compels them to do things they should not, and keep grudges they should let go. Your father declared that he would have burned Tyrosh to the ground in your name in vengeance if you had perished, but because you had lived, he said you still needed to learn some humility."

"His words of avenging me have no meaning then," Viserra said bitterly.

Her mother did not respond. She and Alyssa were glaring at something in the distance. Viserra followed their eyes to see her husband cautiously approaching, flanked by men of the Tide Guard. Breaking away from her, her mother marched up to Corlys, Alyssa beside her.

"Your Grace, Princess Alyssa," Corlys greeted respectfully with a slight bow of his head, though Viserra knew her husband and knew that it galled him to be deferential to any Targaryen anymore.

"Lord Velaryon… or I hear you prefer the address of 'Your Excellency' these days," her mother said, though now her voice and tone had once more become that of Queen Alysanne.

"Depends which position I am acting in, Your Grace," Corlys said. "Nevertheless, as both Archon of Tyrosh and Master of Driftmark, allow me to welcome you to Tyrosh my queen," he said as the Tide Guard presented bread and salt to her mother and sister.

With guest right secured, Corlys and everyone else seemed to relax. Viserra took the opportunity to invite her mother and sister to lunch. Corlys gave her a look of annoyance but did not protest or gainsay her. As the Tide Guard led her mother and sister to the dining room, Corlys took her aside to speak with her.

"I am wary of having your mother and sister be in Tyrosh any longer than they have to be," Corlys began.

"Why?" Viserra asked. "Isn't this perfect? It's exactly what we've been hoping for, my mother is the Queen, my sister rides the Black Dread. If they could be convinced to join us, we will be one step closer to ending this feud and getting my father to remove the sanctions. We need it now more than ever."

Corlys was thoughtful. "Give them spiced food. I suspect they have not had very much of it these past few months."

"Why do you sound like you are not going to be there?" Viserra demanded.

Corlys gestured to Balerion and Silverwing behind them. "Someone has to see to the stabling of those dragons."

"That someone does not have to be you. You're running away from my family. Why? Does my mother and sister terrify you that much?"

"Did you see how tense our greeting was?" Corlys said aghast. "Your mother and sister do not like me and I happen to share the sentiment. The less time we spend together, the better for us all."

"They'll put it aside for my sake." Viserra was sure of that. "Please? Just one luncheon. I would like to have you beside me. I love them, but I don't want to be alone with them. And maybe together we could reach out to them better?"

Her husband looked skeptical but sighed before he conceded. "I will be there alright? But give me some time. I'll come later."

Viserra nodded before they parted and she made her way to the dining room. Corlys and her had both refused to ever eat in the room Rhaekar had died in ever again. That room had since been torn down entirely and would be repurposed for another role. One of the many other dining rooms had been prepared for the occasion.

Her mother and sister were waiting for her there, as were the host of guards and the cupbearers and food tasters. Only when Viserra had watched the tasters try every piece of food and drink on the table in front of her did she begin eating. Her mother and Alyssa followed suit.

As they ate, Viserra traded stories with her mother and sister. They told her of what had been going on in King's Landing, of seeing Daella and Saera again. Viserra was rather shocked to hear that Daella had very much improved from the timid and shy young woman she had once been. If Alyssa told it right, she was a strapping and confident young lady now. It was disappointing that political necessities had estranged them and left them on opposing sides.

When they spoke of Saera, Viserra had had to hide a smirk. Saera after all was in the process of secret negotiations with them to trade goods in secret, exploiting her supposed reconciliation with their father. She was not surprised to hear Saera was much the same in person as well and it filled her with no small amount of glee to hear of how she had lambasted their father in front of the entire family gathered, though it was rather disappointing to hear that she was falling into old habits with Daella.

For her part, Viserra told of her time in Tyrosh. She avoided speaking of Rhaekar's death or the investigation, or of their monetary problems. She restricted her tales solely to matters concerning the freeing of the slaves and her missing her children and Driftmark. Viserra judged those topics to have the least possible risk.

Looking at the clock, Viserra felt frustrated. Already twenty minutes had passed. Where was Corlys? Think of the husband and he shall appear it seems because barely a minute after that thought of hers, Corlys appeared.

"Forgive my tardiness Your Grace, Princess," he said with a dramatic bow. "I was seeing to the stabling of your wondrous mounts."

"No matter my lord," her mother said with a smile that did not reach her eyes. "Please, have a seat."

Alyssa was even less convincing than their mother, she was barely keeping the glare off her face. Corlys sat down nonetheless. As he did he asked a question. "If you don't mind my asking Your Grace, but how long do and your daughter, the Princess Alyssa, intend to be staying with us? The hospitality of Tyrosh is yours of course but I will need to inform my servants of the duration of your stay so they can attend to you."

Her mother looked at Alyssa and then to her with a smile on her face. "I was thinking perhaps two weeks. Ser Rhaekar's funeral should be by then yes? I would like to attend and pay my respects. I hear from Viserra that he was a good man."

"The very best," Corlys said, grief threatening to break his mask. Viserra could have sworn he looked almost genuinely touched by her mother's words. "You honor my brother Your Grace, thank you."

As if following their mother's lead, Alyssa attempted to give a compliment of her own. "The food is exquisite Lord Corlys, as good as I remember."

"Thank you Princess. Forgive me for asking, but you have not had very much spices these past few months have you? I am truly sympathetic to your plight. They are a wondrous thing and I pity those who must live without them. It is a shame that His Grace's sanctions have barred our trade from Westeros. I have heard concerning things about the state of the realm.

"I fear there may have been some kind of misunderstanding. His Grace seeks to punish my house for an imagined indiscretion and now the realm suffers for it. It was never our intention to give any offense but all of our pleas back to King's Landing have fallen on deaf ears.

"The realm suffers for nothing. His Grace's sanctions are not even affecting us all that much. While certainly not an easy challenge, it is a manageable one. Tyrosh and our trade situation is under our control but I cannot help but wonder… is Westeros?" Corlys asked.

Viserra was tense. She knew Corlys was following her plan but she felt it was far too soon to speak of matters like this!

"Is it? Is it really under your control Lord Velaryon?" her mother demanded then, her face had turned sour and Viserra began to fear the worst.

"Pardon Your Grace?" her husband asked, matching her mother's expression.

They had miscalculated Viserra realized. She had miscalculated. She hadn't truly judged just how angry her mother had been, and how much she had been restraining it for her sake.

She tried to interject, "Perhaps we should leave this discussion for another time – "

"Do not interrupt Viserra," her mother brushed her off. "I have questions for your husband and I will have my answers," she said before turning back to Corlys.

"Do not lie to your queen and pretend that everything is well Lord Velaryon. I have ears. I have long since heard of how Velos burned. Your trade routes have collapsed. Wealth you may still have aplenty but it is now very finite and then there is the matter of Tyrosh."

"What about it?" her husband demanded in a low, dangerous voice.

"Where was your security? You've controlled Tyrosh for almost seven months now. How did someone slip poison into your wine? Where was your guards? Your cupbearers? Your food tasters? Your trusted kitchen staff? Unless you mean to tell me that you are so incompetent that all of them were compromised!? My daughter almost died because of your failure!

"But then what did I expect from the Sea Snake? Arrogant to a fault and reckless too. Someone who dared to challenge the Iron Throne and seduced my daughter to enable his plans. What did you do to convince her to follow a fool like you into this madness Corlys Velaryon?"

Before Viserra could say anything else to try and calm everyone down, Corlys retorted, "Maybe it would have been easier for us if your sanctions hadn't made it more difficult to begin with!"

Alyssa joined in then, no longer able to restrain herself. "All those sanctions are your fault! Your stubbornness and your pride is just as bad as my father's! Worse even! By your actions you have thrust the realm into chaos and endangered my sister's life for nothing more than the sake of your arrogance! We promised you aid. Do you remember that Lord Corlys? And you spat on it!"

Tempers had risen, with no other choice, Viserra stood and raised her voice. "ENOUGH!"

Corlys, Alyssa, and her mother turned to her.

"Corlys needed to do nothing to convince me to follow his plan! I planned it with him, because we were betrayed by my own father. House Targaryen had gone back on its word to us once before. We could not trust that it would not do so again."

"We promised you our support to undo Father's decree Viserra! If you had waited but a few years you could have had it in all anyway! Your husband's actions have escalated this dispute beyond comparison, need, or reason! It is madness!" Alyssa shouted

"My actions," Viserra reminded, making Alyssa pause. "I read your letters Alyssa. I am not some foolish little girl being led around like a horse on a rein. I make my own choices, my own decisions."

"if you read them then why did you not write back?" Alyssa asked, hurt.

"Because they hurt me. I had thought that you of all people would understand me Alyssa. That you would have felt my pain, understood my reasons. But I see now that I was wrong to ever think that. First you gave me promises you could never have kept. Then, in your letters you made insinuations and accusations about my husband. Now you come here and instead of being with me in my grief, you challenge my husband and scream at him? No, I think it is time for both of you to leave," Viserra declared.

"Viserra," her mother pleaded.

"I'm sorry. I am grateful, so very grateful to know that I have not been forgotten, that you have come to see me in these dark moments of grief, but it is clear to me that you cannot stay here anymore. All of Tyrosh dreaded to see your coming, fearing the Targaryens had come to destroy us. Your presence here will only lead to more anger and heartbreak for all of us. Please, go."

Alyssa looked at her heartbroken before she rose from her seat. "As you wish Viserra. I can see I'm not welcome here." She glared at Corlys. "If her life is ever in danger again Velaryon, if she is injured or hurt, or gods forbid she perishes because of your stupidity, you will answer to me," she warned before she stormed out of the room.

Viserra glanced at her mother. She walked up to her and held her in a tight embrace again. She had been too shocked to realize it earlier, but when her mother had embraced her after she landed, it might have been the first time she had in many years.

"You may reject me now, but I will always love you Viserra. I will write you no more letters, I see they will fall on deaf ears; but Viserra, if you reach out to me with a letter of your own. I will answer it. All of us will," she said before she turned around and followed Alyssa out to the courtyard.

She watched as her mother and sister mounted their dragons and flew away from her. It may have been at her own request, but once again Viserra felt abandoned by her family. Why couldn't they understand? They knew nothing of her pain, of her reasons. Of her fears and anger.

"I'm sorry," Corlys said as they watched Balerion and Silverwing fly away in the courtyard. "I could have handled that better."

"I'm sorry too; for thinking they were better than this," she said, though secretly she felt that second sentence applied, at least a little, to her husband as well. He just had to open his mouth and pretend they had everything under control didn't he? And of course that would anger her mother who thought he had failed her as he had failed Rhaekar.

Corlys was remorseful at least and he had always been there for her. He held her as she cried into his shirt. The Tide Guard wrapped around them, surrounding them in a protective formation to give them privacy from any onlookers.

______________________________________________

Third Moon, 91 AC

The Velaryon fleet would never cease to be a glorious sight. Aurane commanded only a fraction of it and it still looked intimidating and impressive sailing into Tyrosh's harbor. Dozens of carracks, cogs, and galleys sailed or rowed into the harbor. In the distance the Bleeding Tower stood watch as they passed it. She wondered if it grated on Ario Orlyr to let the ships pass.

The Seahorse banner flew proudly from every ship's sails and standards. It was a proud and reassuring feeling to see so many of their banners fluttering in the breeze, and a great boost to morale. The Velaryon soldiers and servants already present in the city had come to welcome their brethren and cheered loudly to see their coming. They were not alone anymore. Their kin had come to aid them, brothers and sisters from Driftmark.

Viserra waited on the main dock with Corlys beside her, watching as Aurane's flagship, a proud four-masted carrack, sailed right up beside the pier. The anchor was dropped into the water and the gangplanks fell from the ship onto the pier. Sailors immediately ran down to fasten the ropes to the pier, mooring the ship at the docks.

Aurane walked down the gangplank. Her goodbrother had not changed much. He still looked very much like his older brothers. He was clean shaven now however and he wore an ocean blue doublet that brought out the color of his equally vibrant blue eyes.

He walked right into his elder brother and grabbed him tightly in a firm embrace. Corlys held onto his last remaining brother desperately, like a sailor clinging to a piece of wood in a stormy sea, treating it as the last hope of life it was.

"Corlys… Rhaekar… he…" Aurane said, getting choked up.

"He's with grandfather now," Corlys reassured his brother with a peace Viserra knew he did not feel. He was being strong for his younger brother, but who would be strong for him? There was only her to do that.

Aurane nodded before he backed up and straightened, standing at attention. His full height did not match his brother's but it was easily six feet nonetheless. He raised his right hand to his forehead in the Velaryon salute, the salute her husband had taught his men. Five fingers, straight and aligned.

"Admiral Aurane of the Velaryon Navy, reporting for duty, my lord."

Despite their grief over Rhaekar, Aurane and Corlys shared a smile at the tradition. "At ease Admiral. What have you brought me Aurane? Exact numbers if you can."

Aurane was quick to answer. "Not counting the ships you sent back to Driftmark to help me ferry them here? Fifty ships previously stationed at Driftmark, as well as two thousand fresh troops, and around three thousand servants and other administrative staff."

"Excellent," Corlys said, beaming. "We intend to replace all the staff and guards in the Black Fortress with people from Driftmark. The men and women you've brought will let us do that easily. Driftmarkers could start taking up important positions in the local guilds as well. You've done very well Aurane."

"I was also able to scrounge up the funding to support this extra manpower for at least another year without taking from our reserves in High Tide's vaults, maybe two. It's waiting on Driftmark, but we can bring the gold here at our leisure."

Corlys patted his brother on the back. "Brilliant. Well done Aurane. You've helped our situation so much here in Tyrosh."

Aurane's face turned grim now however. "I wish I could say the same about Driftmark. Despite our subsidies, things are worsening there."

"Are the people turning on us?" Viserra asked, concerned.

"Thankfully no. In fact, I'd wager they're more loyal than ever, but they are suffering. There's only so much we can take from Driftmark before it dies. Tyrosh will have to return some of it eventually for our home to be restored to its former glory," Aurane warned.

Corlys shook his head. "A worry for another time. Today little brother, we celebrate, and we mourn."

Before Corlys could say more to Aurane, Viserra tapped his shoulder and pointed him to the gangplank. Irina was descending now. Her son Vaemond had had a growth spurt and was far taller than when she last saw him. He would be three and ten this year, Viserra remembered. He was growing so fast. Vaella was beside her brother. She hadn't grown nearly as much as him, but eight months had left their mark on the nine-year-old nonetheless.

Corlys moved to greet their goodsister hesitantly, perhaps fearing she would slap him, but she hugged him tightly instead.

"Irina… I'm so sorry."

She shook her head. "You have nothing to be sorry for Corlys. Rhaekar knew the risks… he did his duty for our house. It is not your fault, no matter what he himself said to you, understand?"

Corlys did not seem to believe her, but he nodded.

As Corlys and Irina embraced and mourned together, Vaemond walked up to her, looking grim and resentful.

"Did he suffer?" he asked her, stone-faced.

He died in my arms, thrashing and wheezing desperately as he suffocated, she thought to herself.

"No. It was peaceful, like falling asleep," she said instead.

Vaemond was not convinced by her lie. "A strange poison. Most ones I know are painful," he said before he walked off to stand with his mother and greet his uncle.

She did not have time to call out to Vaemond again however, as Vaella, adorable as ever, rushed into her arms and hugged her tightly. "Aunt Viserra!" she said excitedly.

Viserra embraced her gladly, even picking her up and spinning her around a little before putting her back down. "You've grown so big Vaella!" she exclaimed.

"She's not the only one!" a voice called out from the ship.

Viserra turned to see Alys walking down from the ship. She had a noticeable baby bump, but she also carried two of them in her arms. Technically they weren't babies anymore, but Viserra would never stop considering them such deep down.

She ran to Alys and took her sons from her arms. Making a split-second decision, Viserra decided to worry about the how later and knelt down to embrace her sons for the first time in over eight months. Jace and Luke had grown so much while she was gone, too much. They were so much bigger now, and giggled ecstatically in her arms.

"Jace, Luke! Oh my boys!" Viserra said as she nestled her face in their necks and felt their comforting warmth and small beating little hearts. This, this what she had missed most. This was what she needed. Her mother and Alyssa's presence had been a double-edged sword, but Viserra could feel nothing but joy with her sons in her arms.

"Muña, it tickles!" Luke complained as his brother Jace squirmed in her arms. Viserra felt her spirits soar. Her boys remembered her! They knew who she was!

Finally having managed to writhe out of her arms, Jace ran to Corlys standing nearby and embraced him. Corlys was still shocked to see their sons but he embraced Jace tenderly.

Holding Luke in her arms, Viserra stood up, feeling his weight. He was so heavy now. All too soon she wouldn't even be able to carry him anymore. She still had a few more years however and Viserra was going to make sure she made the most of them.

Turning around on Aurane, Viserra demanded answers. "I'm happy Aurane, so happy to see them; but I'm also furious. Corlys and I gave you direct orders to leave Luke with Uncle Jorgen and Uncle Victor on Driftmark. Why did you bring them here?"

Alys answered on behalf of her husband. "They're precocious boys. Authoritative brats too. They couldn't understand why you were gone. They've been asking after you for months. When they heard that we were going to see you, they put their foot down and demanded to come, even daring to threaten to set their dragons on us."

Viserra looked down at the boy in her arms. He sheepishly nestled his face in her neck. "We want see Muña."

She clucked her tongue disappointedly but Corlys was more direct. "Jace, Luke. You are not to threaten your family members with your dragons. Understand?"

Jace nodded while Luke buried himself more into Viserra, if that was even possible. She wondered if they even understood what Corlys was saying beyond the idea that he was angry at them.

Corlys sighed and put Jace down and ruffled his hair. "I'm happy to see you Jace, and you as well Luke, but some things are just not done. Alright?"

Jace nodded furiously again, eager to avoid any more punishment.

"Where are their dragons anyway?" Corlys said, directing his question at Aurane. "They would not have let the boys come so far without them."

"They followed us south but a few miles out from Tyrosh they seemed to have gotten distracted and flew off somewhere," he answered.

"You didn't put them on the ships?" Viserra asked.

"Hells no. They're even larger than they were when you left, twenty-feet wingspan from tip-to-tip, and they breathe fire too. No way I was putting them on my ships. The boys called them to follow and they did. They kept up with the fleet well enough, though sometimes we'd see them disappear to go hunt or play or even rest in the water. They always came back by the next day."

"Tessa will come! Always comes!" Jace said proudly, utter surety in his voice.

"Ghul will come!" Luke shouted himself, as if agreeing with his brother.

Viserra shook her head in fond exasperation. Her sons' antics were so amusing. They seemed to think saying things together made their argument more convincing. How had she survived eight months without this? Eight months without them? Letting them go again would be so much more painful now.

She remembered, almost a year ago now, Corlys and her had sat down with the boys to help them choose some proper names for their dragons. Viserra had run through the names of Old Valyrian gods and heroes or tried to create some names to suggest to her sons. The ideas they were coming up with on their own had all the imagination of toddlers. No dragon deserved the ignominy of childish names like 'Blue' and 'Goldie'.

Eventually Jace had settled on Tessarion for his cobalt blue and bronze dragoness, and Luke had chosen Morghul for his yellow-black drake. The dragons had seemed to like their new dignified names and they had stuck. By now the names had spread enough that all Velaryon soldiers knew them by heart. The names of the dragons that would one day lead them to war, they whispered to each other.

"I let Dream off her chains to fly alone today. I've been so busy lately I've barely been able to fly with her. She was getting grumpy. Tessarion and Morghul likely sensed her presence. She'll bring them back," Viserra reassured her family members, some of whom were looking a little worried about the prospect of missing dragons. She set Luke down as she spoke, she was getting tired carrying him so long.

A roar sounded in the distance then, as if Dreamfyre had heard her. Turning to look they saw her flying in the distance, Tessarion and Morghul following her on her flanks behind.

"Right on time then," Viserra boasted. Her sons were not the only ones proud of their dragons.

The dragons approached fast, as they watched, they soared overhead. Dreamfyre led her much smaller progeny to the Black Fortress.

Seeing their dragons fly toward the fortress, Jace and Luke took off toddling after them but the Tide Guard caught them at Corlys's silent gesture. "Not so fast boys. It's not quite safe here, let's go to the carriage together. Also, we will discuss your punishment when we reach the fortress."

Her two sons whined. Viserra laughed at their disgruntlement. Aurane followed after Corlys, Vaemond and Vaella in tow.

Only Alys and Irina were left now and Viserra embraced them both warmly. They were like the sisters she never had. Even Alyssa hadn't shared a bond with her like she did with Alys and Irina, she might have once, but she'd thrown it away.

A week had passed since Alyssa and her mother had come to see her. Viserra still hadn't fully forgiven them. She had been so happy to see them, so grateful knowing they had come to comfort her in her grief and reassure themselves that she lived, because they loved her, they cared for her. Joy had turned to pain all too soon however, like it always seemed to with her family. No matter, she didn't need them anymore.

"Alys! Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant!" Viserra complained as they walked.

"I knew I would be coming soon, I wanted it to be a surprise!"

As they watched Corlys stuff Jace and Luke into the carriage, Irina spoke. "I hope you convince Corlys not to be too harsh on your boys. It's their uncle's funeral, they have as much right to be here as the rest of us. They missed you terribly as well. You shouldn't punish them too much."

Viserra nodded. "I will. Besides, it's only a short trip. They deserve that much at least, considering they'd be back on Driftmark soon enough."

Irina and Alys looked at her strangely. "Viserra… surely you don't intend to send them back with Irina?" Alys asked.

"Why wouldn't I? Tyrosh is unsafe for them. It would be putting their lives at risk!"

"Viserra," Irina called her. "You just reunited with your children after eight months away from them. Are you so sure you can part from them again?"

"What choice do I have? This city is dangerous for them! It killed Rhaekar, it almost killed Corlys and me, I can't in good conscience raise my sons here!"

"You won't raise them at all then Viserra. Think about it. With Rhaekar…. With Rhaekar dead, this city is growing out of control. It will be years before you leave Tyrosh and return to Driftmark. You will barely see Jace and Luke if they stay on Driftmark. Eventually they might even resent you for it. Do you want that?" Irina argued.

"I know you, and I know Corlys. I can see how much these eight months have taken their toll on you both, away from your sons and now with Rhaekar gone? Whether you accept it or not Viserra, you will need your sons Viserra. Need them to ground you, and remind you why you struggle and suffer. It's for them," she continued.

Viserra's mind was racing now. She refused to be her parents, she would not abandon her sons or neglect, never let them even think that she did not love or care for them, as Viserra had once lied in bed wondering about her own parents on her darkest days. Yet the nightmares of Rhaekar's death plagued her mind also, replacing her brother and friend with her sons, suffocating and turning purple in her arms. She could not bear that either.

"You've already done everything you can to make sure what happened to Rhaekar doesn't happen again. You can take every step necessary to safeguard your sons Viserra. Just…. Just think about it," Irina said before she walked to join her own children in their carriage.

_______________________________________________

Reuniting with their family had been an event surprisingly full of joy and smiles. Seeing Irina, Alys, Aurane, Vaemond, Vaella, and especially her sons Jace and Luke, had done Viserra's heart so much good.

All good things came to an end however. Eventually they had to get to the reason why everyone had come. Once they had put Jace and Luke safely in their chambers, with Pina watching them and near an entire platoon of the Tide Guard protecting them, Corlys and Viserra took the others to see Rhaekar.

His body had laid in state before the throne of Tyrosh for almost two weeks, dressed with spices to preserve it. Irina had broken down in tears seeing it and Viserra had felt like crying all over again. Young Vaella had been in denial and had run from the room, and Vaemond had only stared, stone-faced as ever and so very silent.

Now the day had come at last to give Rhaekar his burial. A small crowd had gathered on one of the beaches on the far side of the island from the city. Members of the Velaryon family, some trusted servants and vassals from Driftmark accompanying them, while three platoons of Tide Guard and Driftmark Marines stood guard.

Some of the Tyroshi elites and officials had tried to come for the funeral service. People like Lysos Eranyr and Ario Orlyr. Corlys had accepted their condolences but turned down all their requests to come for the funeral. This was a private event for family. Corlys was in agreement with her. They would not have men suspected of murdering Rhaekar attend his funeral. It would be absurd.

The rites had been done, and the eulogies given, all according to Velaryon traditions. Now it was time for one last tradition. Viserra watched as they pushed the small ship carrying Rhaekar into the sea. Corlys and Aurane held positions in the centre, Tide Guard around them, but it was Vaemond, as Rhaekar's son, who would give the last push.

"Vaemond. It's time," Corlys told his nephew.

No longer able to hold back the tears, Vaemond finally cried as he stepped forward and joined his uncles as they pushed the ship out with one last shove.

Having pushed his brother's funeral ship into the sea, Corlys came to stand beside her. As they watched the ship drift further out to sea, and slowly, ever so slowly begin to sink, Corlys began to mutter.

"We should have done this on Driftmark. Rhaekar wanted to go home, and now even in death he can't," Corlys said resentfully. There was loathing in his voice. Self-loathing, Viserra realized.

She grabbed his hand and held it tight. "Maybe… but then we wouldn't have been able to attend. Irina consented to doing it here remember? The sea will bear his spirit back home to Driftmark, take solace in that."

"Small comfort to his children," Corlys said bitterly. "Their father died in a faraway land and never came home. This will only solidify that in their minds."

To that Viserra had no answer. Even now Vaemond stared at his father's sinking funeral ship and tried to hold back his tears to no avail. Vaella on the other hand, was screaming at her mother in denial, unwilling to accept it even now.

"Mother! Father's ship is sinking! He's going to drown!" she cried.

Irina burst into tears and hugged Vaella but she kept complaining and crying, insisting that her father would wake up, they just had to save him from the sinking boat. Viserra pitied her niece. Nine years old was far too young to be faced with loss like this. Old enough to understand it, but not yet old enough to accept it, still hoping in her heart of hearts that her father would wake up and come home to her.

Corlys clenched his fists so hard they began to tremble, his teeth grit together firmly. Viserra watched him, concerned.

"When I die Viserra," Corlys began to say.

"Corlys, please don't say something like that now," Viserra protested.

"Valar Morghulis my love. All men must die one day. When I do, please lay me to rest in the waters near High Tide, beside my grandfather."

She nodded but she added. "We will have many decades together before that time comes." Viserra's voice was firm. She would accept nothing less.

"I know I said we should send them back to Driftmark… but I'm wondering if it would be better to keep Jace and Luke here with us in Tyrosh," Corlys said hesitantly.

"Irina suggested something similar to me. She said it would be years before we return to Driftmark and if we send Jace and Luke back, they might grow to resent us. We'd be like strangers to them."

Corlys nodded. "We will have to triple security. Make sure that nothing and no one can touch us or them in the Black Fortress. There is a risk, there always is, but it will be worth it. The alternatives are too painful to even imagine."

Looking to Vaemond and Vaella, Corlys continued. "They're going to grow up without a father. I refuse to let the same happen to Jace and Luke."

"The sooner we track down who killed Rhaekar, the safer we all will be. We could raise Jace and Luke here and fear little," Viserra declared.

"It will be done," Corlys promised her. "I will take no risk with our sons' safety."

Turning back to sea, Viserra saw that the ship had almost sunk now, and with it her friend would be gone forever. As the finality sank in, she felt grief and rage boil inside her. Whoever had done this to Rhaekar would pay dearly. Viserra hated them, and she hated her father for forcing them onto this path.

He had had the audacity to write her a letter for the first time, expressing his condolences and his thanks to the Seven for her wellbeing, even as he continued to maintain the sanctions on her house. His words felt so empty. It wasn't just her father though. She resented the rest of her family too, for abandoning her yet again, for slandering and threatening the man she loved. She was even a little angry at Corlys, for not holding himself in check dealing with her mother.

Above all however, Viserra was enraged at herself. She had failed her friend, her brother, and he had died in her arms. The memory would haunt her for the rest of her life. It would never leave her, never let her rest, and Viserra swore then. She would never let it happen again. No matter what.

The dragons roared then, interrupting her thoughts. They flew out into the sea. Before her eyes, as Rhaekar's ship disappeared into the water, Dreamfyre, Tessarion, and Morghul gave it a fiery salute, lighting up the sky above in blue and yellow-black flames.