Chapter 49: Desire

Eighth Moon, 113 AC

Baela

"How are you settling in girls?" Aunt Viserra asked after they had taken their first helpings of the morning meal.

She had invited the two of them to break their fast with her and they had obliged. It was only the three of them however, as the other resident ladies in High Tide, Alys Grafton and Irina Tarth, did not have the highest opinions of Targaryens.

Not that Baela had much high opinion of them in return. Their cold stares and glares, especially from Irina, had irritated her for years. She had reluctantly asked Jacaerys once why they disliked her and it had only made her dislike them more. Lesser nobles taking out their resentment of her grandfather and house on her because they were too weak to otherwise do anything about it? How pathetic.

"Very well," Rhaena answered their aunt eagerly.

"And how are you finding Driftmark?" Aunt Viserra continued.

"Oh Driftmark is wonderful," Rhaena answered. "We visited many times but it still never ceases to amaze me, especially now that I'm actually living here permanently."

Aunt Viserra smiled wistfully. "You should have seen what it was like when I first came here. It was even more splendid and beautiful then." There was a hint of regret and nostalgia in her voice.

She had tried to describe how Driftmark had been different to Baela and Rhaena before but it had never quite worked. Baela didn't know about her sister, but the image had never been fully realized in her head. Perhaps it was one of those things that you needed to experience for yourself to truly understand. No words could truly describe the feeling of riding a dragon after all.

"And you Baela?" her aunt asked again.

"Could be worse I suppose," Baela said noncommittally, shrugging.

Her goodmother frowned. "Anything troubling you?"

Baela paused at that. She had been married for over a month now, and sometimes she still struggled to really adjust to that fact. After the tourney had ended, the wedding celebrations and feasts had continued for another week and culminated in a hunt in the Kingswood that had lasted three days.

Once that was done, Rhaena and her were whisked away off to Driftmark. The change in her place of residence was not as much of an adjustment as it might seem. Rhaena and her had visited the island many times in the past four years with their grandparents, staying some nights in High Tide and being guided around the island by the Velaryon siblings.

Baela had no qualms admitting that she liked Driftmark. It was an idyllic and peaceful island, with many amenities and luxuries the Red Keep and Dragonstone still lacked despite her family's attempts to correct it. The bathrooms were wonderful and just one of the comforts that came with living in High Tide, a gorgeous palatial castle that rested on a picturesque tidal island.

No, Baela could easily get used to the comforts and luxuries of living on Driftmark. What was less easy to get used to however, was everything else about it. The way House Velaryon did everything, how it ruled and governed, how they treated the smallfolk, their very philosophy, mindsets, and methods, were very much not Westerosi and not Targaryen. That was when it had hit her all over again, just as it had on the day of the wedding, that she had left House Targaryen and joined her fate to an entirely different family. It felt foreign to her, other, and it only reinforced the fear in her mind that she would be estranged from her birth family little by little.

Aunt Viserra was the last person she wanted to confess any of this to however. Her mother had told her of her conversation with her on their wedding day in excruciating detail. Rhaena had not really been all that concerned about it but Baela had. She had little desire to reward her aunt for her cruel words to her own mother by confiding something so personal in her.

Viserra Velaryon however was not the kind of person that could be dissuaded so easily. "Baela?" she pressed again, gently but Baela could hear the slight imperiousness in her tone. The Lady of the Tides was very much used to being heard and obeyed. Perhaps she was only trying to help her, but it was clear that she expected an answer.

Realizing she had spent too long lost in her thoughts, Baela found something to answer with. "Just settling in with Jacaerys I suppose. Things are still a little awkward between us." Growing up in the intrigue of court had long ago taught Baela that the best way to lie was with the truth. She wasn't being deceitful but neither was she sharing what she did not wish to.

Her aunt nodded. "It's not uncommon for newlyweds to be like that. Especially given the… difficulties between Jace and your father."

"Was it like that between you and Lord Corlys as well Aunt Viserra?" Baela asked diplomatically.

Aunt Viserra looked thoughtful. "In a way I suppose but it disappeared fast. I'm sure any awkwardness that still occasionally arises between you and Jace will fade away in time too. At the moment, you're both still transitioning I think. You've said the vows, wedded and bedded each other, but your minds have yet to fully process or accept that you are now married. It will take some adjusting."

"Adjustments that Rhaena and Lucerys seem to have no problems with," Baela said, teasing her sister. Rhaena blushed but there was a happy, almost dreamy look on her face. Baela felt happy for her, she was glad that Rhaena had seemed to find some balance that worked for her because she knew that she had many of the same worries she did, even if it was to a lesser degree.

Her aunt smiled. "It's different for every couple. But you can work through almost anything with your spouse as long as both of you are committed and willing to put in the effort to make the relationship last. That's what I learned during the years my family spent in Tyrosh."

Baela nodded slowly. She was vaguely aware of the story. It was hard to spend any significant amount of time with the Velaryons and not know some things about the years they spent in Tyrosh, in open and blatant defiance of the Iron Throne as her parents would say.

The exact details were not something she knew very much of however. Jacaerys and his siblings were just children when most of the troubles had happened and Baela did not feel anywhere near close enough to her goodmother to ask her about it. The idea of asking her goodfather was even less appealing. She was even less sure what to think of Corlys Velaryon than his wife.

Still, the talk of relationships had brought another question to her mind. "Is Cassandra Celtigar something that Jacaerys and I would need to work through?" she asked.

Aunt Viserra paused. "What makes you think there is any connection between Jace and Lady Cassandra?" she asked, but the slight hesitance in her voice gave her away. They both knew there was.

"She's Addam Grafton's wife isn't she? When Jace tilted against Addam in the tourney, all of you looked a little wary and uncertain. Not to mention I can swear I hear the servants whispering at times, comparing me to someone else. Someone also named Cassandra," Baela pressed.

Her goodmother sighed. "It's not a secret or anything, but it's not my story to tell. I'm afraid any way I tell it might give you the wrong impression."

"Who is she?" Baela asked again, tiring of her stalling.

Aunt Viserra shook her head. "Ask my son that first. If he doesn't tell you, I will, but this is something you should hear from him."

Baela nodded reluctantly but realized that if Aunt Viserra didn't want to answer her, there was nothing she could do to make her. Before she could say anything else however, Rhaena interjected abruptly, perhaps seeking to steer the conversation away from the awkward turn it had taken.

"Aunt Viserra, would it be possible to expand the Dragon Den? It's a little crowded now that there's seven dragons staying in it," she said.

"I will have to speak to my husband and the engineers, but I don't see why we couldn't at least look into it. Alternatively, we could expand some of the stables on the surface and keep some of the dragons up here with us as well," Aunt Viserra replied.

"Would you be willing to give us any advice on how to bond with our dragons and ride them better?" Baela asked eagerly. Rhaena soon chorused her agreement.

One of the few things her parents had ever begrudgingly spoken highly of in regards to Aunt Viserra was her feats as a dragonrider. She was known as the Sea Dragon for a reason, having fought and won more battles and wars than either of Baela's grandfathers or her uncle Aemon, though her father had always preferred to call her by her more crude moniker as the Butcher of Bloodstone. Her feelings about her regardless, Baela would be remiss to pass up the chance to learn from the most accomplished and skilled dragonrider since Visenya herself.

Aunt Viserra smiled. "I'll give you far more than advice girls. How do you feel about personal lessons?"

"Really!?" Baela asked excitedly despite herself.

If it was even possible, Aunt Viserra's smile grew even wider. "I don't see why not. I taught all four of my children how to ride since they were very young and I'm sure that they will be inviting the two of you on their weekly races soon. If you want to stand any chance of beating them, you'll have to do some catching up."

"Thank you so much Aunt Viserra," Rhaena said happily.

"It's no trouble dear. And please, feel free to call me Mother if you like," she replied.

Rhaena complied happily but Baela's mood soured a little. Of course Aunt Viserra had seen this as a way to bond with them and if they weren't careful, it could be a way for her to manipulate them. Baela resolved to remain mindful. She was eager to learn what she could from Aunt Viserra but she had to remember to be wary and watch her and the rest of the Velaryons for anything suspicious. Whatever she had meant when she had spoken to her mother, Aunt Viserra's own words were damning her.

The rest of their breakfast continued, with Rhaena and their aunt speaking about odds and ends, while Baela barely contributed to the conversation despite Aunt Viserra's attempts to coax her back into the conversation with talks on their dragonriding lessons. She reciprocated, begrudgingly, but only for the topics that truly interested her and she could see benefit in.

She could tell her aunt wanted to build a relationship with her, but Baela still didn't know if she could trust her. And even if she did, in some ways it felt like a betrayal of her real and only mother. Gael Targaryen was her mother, not Viserra.

Baela looked over to her twin and could not help but feel a little disappointed in her. She knew Rhaena loved their parents dearly and would never seek to replace them with their goodparents, but she was too trusting in Baela's opinion, especially given what Aunt Viserra had said to their mother. Rhaena had fallen for their aunt's mask easily. But then she had always been more susceptible to it hadn't she?

She'd been infatuated with Lucerys ever since they had first met around the time Grandfather Jaehaerys was dying and their other grandparents, Baelon and Alyssa, – who were technically their aunt and uncle as well on their mother's side – had only encouraged it. Rhaena wanted all of their family to get along and she wanted a happy marriage with the husband she loved. She was far more eager to integrate into House Velaryon and Baela supposed if it made her happy, good for her.

Baela was still unsure about it herself, feeling confused and not knowing what to do or think. Sometimes it felt like she'd be forced to choose given how at odds her goodfamily and birth family were. How did Rhaena balance it so easily? At first glance it might seem like she had just outright chosen the Velaryons over their parents but Baela knew she still wrote them eagerly and seemed to know exactly the right things to say or not say to avoid any arguments. She envied her skill in navigating this complex situation.

When she had finished with her meal, Baela excused herself, eager to be away from her aunt's presence and she reluctantly gave her leave to go. She didn't hate Aunt Viserra honestly. No matter what her mother said about her, Baela could not help but like her and that scared her sometimes. Aunt Viserra just felt genuine and it was tiring to keep her guard up. Maybe she shouldn't be so disappointed in Rhaena for not doing so.

Baela wished she didn't have to trouble herself feeling like this, but she owed it to her parents to at least be a little wary of Aunt Viserra and her husband for now. Her parents had never trusted them for a reason and Baela wasn't ready to let that go just yet. Her aunt's words to her mother at her wedding was still unacceptable and suspicious in Baela's mind.

As she walked away from the room her aunt and sister continued making small talk in, Baela happened upon her husband Jacaerys walking with his brothers in one of the corridors on her way back to her quarters. He must have finished breaking his fast with them like he told her he would be.

She smiled. Despite her worries about his mother's intentions and his rivalry with her father, Jacaerys himself was still the highlight of her marriage and Baela found that liking him came almost too easily. She had been very flattered and pleased when he had won her the crown of flowers at the tourney and named her his Queen of Love and Beauty before the eyes of the entire realm. Even if it was expected of him to give it to her as his newlywed bride, it had still gone a long way to removing Baela's misgivings about him.

He was sweet, witty, and sarcastic. Able to give back her teases and prods as good as he got from her. And by the gods was he handsome. Tall and with broad shoulders and a strong back with very well-defined muscles toned by his time in the training yard or riding his dragon, Jacaerys was certainly not lacking where looks were concerned. Their marriage bed was definitely the most exciting part of being married.

Jacaerys noticed her from where he was walking beside Lucerys and Daeron and smiled back at her. Baela made to greet him but froze when the thought reappeared in her head. The way her aunt had spoken of that woman did not leave much to the imagination and yet at the same time it also left too little. By the time Jacaerys had reached her, her mind was busy imagining lurid scenarios concerning her husband and this Lady Cassandra.

"Baela?" he asked, growing concerned as he approached her.

Her mood had soured and her anger had begun to brew. She didn't really understand why. What he did before their marriage should have been of no consequence to her but it was unpleasant to even think of it. It just wouldn't leave her mind and she needed to do something, anything. She grabbed Jacaerys' hand and dragged him away from his brothers who looked both confused and amused.

It was lucky that they had found each other like this, because in the state she was in she would have been perfectly willing to drag him out of any meeting or task. Once she had pulled him into one of the rooms in the side of the corridor, Jacaerys spoke up.

"What is all of this about Baela?" he asked her, sounding a little annoyed.

"Who is Cassandra Celtigar?"

Jacaerys frowned. "She's the granddaughter of Lord Bartimos of Claw Isle, wife of Ser Addam Grafton, the heir of Gulltown."

"I'm not stupid. I know all of that. What I want to know is why your family all shuffled nervously when you faced her husband in the tourney. Why the servants whisper to each other and compare me to her. Who is she to you?"

Jacaerys stared at her impassively before he sighed. "Nothing beyond a second cousin anymore… but when we were younger, we were friends of a sort. And eventually I came to love her and I was fortunate enough to have that love returned."

Baela winced. It felt like he had thrust Seafang through her heart and she hated the feeling and she hated that she felt it. Jacaerys was eight years older than her, why was she so surprised that he had had another relationship before her?

"Did you fuck her?" she demanded.

Jacaerys scowled. "No. I told you, you were my first. I was not lying."

At her disbelieving look he continued. "Look, by the time I was of any age to be interested in anything like that, I had already grown fond of Cassandra. I never went to any pleasure houses like Luke or Daeron might have because I only wanted her and bedding anyone else just felt wrong. And of course, once I was betrothed to you, I kept to the chastity expected."

"But you're also saying that you never bedded her?" Baela challenged.

"No. Other men in my place might have but I never did. I won't lie to you Baela, I had hoped to marry Cassandra but when that was not confirmed, I refused to dishonor her and ruin her future. When my betrothal to you was sealed, I ended things with Cassandra and that was the end of it. I haven't spoken to her in years," Jacaerys said.

"Why didn't you bring this up before?" Baela asked.

"I probably should have," Jacaerys admitted. "But I didn't know how to even go about doing it. And part of me just wanted to forget it all."

He looked at her again. "Why are you getting so worked up anyway? You were surprised when I said our wedding night was my first time as well. Does the idea that I had a chaste relationship before we were betrothed bother you so much?"

Baela denied his words. "It's not bothering me. I was just curious."

A sly smirk began to form on his face. "Really?" he said as he walked forward toward her. "Dragging me into this room, huffing with anger and annoyance is what you consider not bothering you? If that's so, I'd hate to find out what you're like when you're actually bothered."

Stunned by his sudden movement, Baela began to back away from him, but she soon found herself against the wall. Jacaerys slammed his left hand on the wall beside her and leaned in. Her heart was pounding. She could feel his breath on her lips, his right hand caressing her cheek softly.

"Admit it dear wife, you're jealous," he said as their eyes locked. Baela was held in place, captivated by those deep purple orbs, lost in them, enthralled by them as they darkened with a familiar lust.

Baela gasped breathily in anticipation, speechless and waiting for him to steal a kiss from her. Their lips were close, so very close, but they never met. As fast as he came onto her, Jacaerys withdrew, leaving her terribly disappointed.

"You don't have anything to worry about. Cassandra and I – "

Baela interrupted him violently, pulling him back and turning him around. Now it was her turn as she pinned him against the wall and then captured his lips aggressively, forcing her tongue into his mouth and wrestling with his own tongue. It tasted sweet and savory, like the food he had just eaten to break his fast.

She couldn't deny it to herself any longer. The difficult relations between their families notwithstanding, her reluctance and hesitance to truly commit to House Velaryon and leave her birth family behind regardless, Jacaerys was hers. He had sworn it before gods and men and she meant to hold him to it.

When they finally broke the kiss, Baela whispered fiercely to him, breathless, "You're mine. Only mine, and I won't let anyone else ever have you or your heart, even in your memories."

He growled and kissed her again, slowly undressing her as he did so, fumbling with her dress as she all but tore his shirt off. When they became one as they had many times before, she sighed in contentment.

It was not love, not of the kind that she had ever seen from her parents, grandparents, or goodparents. It was a possessive and needy lust. Jacaerys' mind and body belonged to her as hers belonged to him in turn. Maybe one day, their hearts would be exchanged as well but that day was not today.

She let the thoughts drift away. Did she love Jacaerys or not? How would she reconcile the conflicted feelings within her due to her parents and the house she married into being at odds? None of it mattered. Baela let herself go in the pure physicality of it.

When they were done, clarity was not long from returning. Having recovered from the haze of lust that had consumed them, they hurriedly cleaned up and dressed. Baela felt incredibly embarrassed; what had they done? They were in a random unlocked room in the castle. They were exceedingly fortunate that no servant had happened upon them. The whispers and teases from everyone in the castle would have been mortifying.

She made to leave when Jacaerys held her hand to keep her from going. "As I was saying before you interrupted me – "

"You liked the interruption," Baela said with a smirk despite herself, feeling like teasing him.

Jacaerys sighed but smiled in turn. "I did. And as I was saying, you don't have anything to worry about Baela. Cassandra and I are over, have been for years. You are the only one that I was ever with in that way. You were my first time, not Cassandra."

"But you love her don't you?" Baela challenged, feeling her good mood souring again. Why did he feel the need to continue this any further?

"I did. Now it's just dull. Something that never could have been, and I move on from it more and more every day."

Baela did not answer.

"Come with me to Tyrosh," he said, with a little excitement in his voice.

"What?" Baela asked, confused.

"I haven't gone back there in several months. You've never been right? Let's go together. We can bring Luke and Rhaena as well. High Tide is my parents' home but Tyrosh is what really feels like home to me and I want to show it to you. You'll love it."

"I'm not so sure," Baela said, uncertain. If she thought Driftmark and how House Velaryon ruled it felt strange to her, how much more foreign would Tyrosh be like?

Jacaerys smiled deviously. "I never took Cassandra to Tyrosh. She's never been there. It would be a first for both of us if you came along."

Baela growled. This cheeky husband of hers. She leaned up to his lips and stole another kiss before walking away.

"So is your answer yes?" he called out to her and she could hear the smugness in his voice.

"Yes damn you, it's yes," she answered begrudgingly. He had played her like a fiddle and yet a part of her didn't mind.

____________________________________________

As it turned out, Jacaerys' brothers had not walked away but had instead waited for their brother and later clued in on what they were doing, keeping guard for them to ensure no one disturbed them. It had been incredibly mortifying to hear their bawdy jokes afterwards however, especially when Rhaena and Laena had learned of it and joined in, teasing them endlessly. Despite the embarrassment however, Baela didn't regret it, and she felt closer to Jacaerys than ever.

Three days after that, ahem, incident, Baela had set off from High Tide alongside her twin sister, goodbrother, and husband, atop their dragons. It was a full day's flight between Driftmark and Tyrosh and while they had initially only meant to stop over at Tarth for a break at midday to have lunch, Jacaerys had ended up deciding that they would stay the night to rest their dragons.

While he hadn't said it, Baela knew full well that Tessarion and Morghul were more than capable of making the trip even without stopping for the midday break, which was really more for the riders than the dragons. The two dragons were the largest of their generation, both easily a third if not more of the size of Vhagar and they were well experienced with this route, having flown between Driftmark and Tyrosh dozens if not hundreds of times in the past few years.

Moondancer and Morning however, were not as strong. They were younger and much smaller, only being a fifth the size of Vhagar, and until Baela and her sister Rhaena had taken them out of the Dragonpit a few months ago, they had never even seen the outside world. Their muscles had recovered from the years of disuse in that time, growing stronger as they had constantly flown them and left them free to hunt and explore. However, they still couldn't match the strength of a pair of two-dozen year old dragons who had lived and grown freely since they were hatchlings, and this was the longest flight that either of them had ever been on.

Baela had known that Moondancer had started tiring as noon arrived but she had hesitated to ask Jacaerys to stop for the night. She had been reluctant to burden him and mess with the schedule he had planned but it turned out she hadn't needed to. He had recognized the signs of exhaustion in Moondancer and Morning and had called for a stop without her needing to say anything.

She was grateful to him for the forethought and caring consideration for her dragon. That night, as they enjoyed the hospitality of Evenfall Hall, she had thanked him for it in a mutually enjoyable way.

By the next morning they were off again, and having rested a whole night, Moondancer was energetic and vigorous. They flew further south from Tarth until they reached Rain House, at which point they turned a little to the south-east and continued onwards. She found herself grateful once again for Jace's foresight because crossing the Narrow Sea with a tiring dragon would have made her very nervous.

They reached Tyrosh about noon and Baela's jaw almost dropped in awe when she first set her eyes on the city. It was so large it felt like it stretched for miles in every direction even if she knew that she could still cross the entire city with her dragon in less than ten minutes.

The next thing that caught her eye as they approached the city, was the soaring tower that stood on an island at the harbor's mouth, rising high above any other building and reminding her of the stories she had heard of the High Tower in Oldtown. Baela could see the way the sea walls along the harbor complimented the fort at the base of the tower on the isle with winches and supports to hold a great boom chain to close off the harbor whenever necessary.

'So this must be the infamous Bleeding Tower,' Baela thought. Once the seat of the Buzantys captain that had almost overthrown House Velaryon, the Bleeding Tower now flew the Seahorse banner with pride and the men garrisoning it were all proud soldiers of the Velaryon Army.

As their dragons soared over the tower, Baela's eyes moved beyond it to the rest of the harbor. A vast expanse crammed with ships from every corner of the Known World. Baela espied Summer Island Swan Ships, Ibbenese whalers, and Volantene carracks among many other ships of all types, origins, shapes, and sizes. The great Arsenal of Tyrosh rested directly ahead of the Bleeding Tower, repairing and building new ships every day, or so it was said.

The sea walls that lined the harbor stood tall and proud, bristling with battlements, barbicans, and crenellations and separating the city from the vast rows of docks and piers. Behind those walls or even in front of them in some places were enormous warehouses filled to the brim with exotic goods and great bazaars and markets where merchants and traders haggled and sold their wares. At a central and easily reachable location near the docks and markets was a large marble building with great columns that she suspected was the Velaryon Bank.

Tyrosh was larger than King's Landing but unlike King's Landing, which even now was still messy and disorganized and with the unsightly filth of Flea Bottom not dealt with, Tyrosh was exquisitely clean and ordered. Much of the city had burned down in the Morghon Riots twenty-two years ago and the Velaryons had taken advantage of the clean slate to rebuild it in their image.

The style of the architecture reminded her of Spicetown but there was a slightly different motif that could only have been Tyroshi in origin. The roofs tiles were mostly orange and brown but the occasional silver and blue dome would cut against them, making a pattern that was wonderful to behold from above. Neat and wide cobblestone streets crisscrossed the city in an orderly grid system, intersecting blocks of grey concrete, white stone, and wooden buildings, many of which rose as many as four or even five levels. Great columns, arches, fountains, and statues dotted the city, especially at the junctions of roads where they seemed to serve decorative purposes.

Many notable and iconic landmarks soon became obvious. There was a tall clocktower under construction that looked very much like Big Ben back in Spicetown. Besides the tower was a great expanse of gardens, manses, and other buildings within a perimeter wall, a campus Baela soon realized. It reminded her much of the university back in Spicetown but it was far larger and rather than being half abandoned, it was instead bustling and buzzing with activity. Near the university was an enormous and wide building with tall columns and arches which she suspected was the Tyroshi Museum and deeper into the city was a great and massive sept.

The Sept of Liberty, if she recalled the name correctly. It reminded her a little of the Sept of the Waves in Spicetown but it was much bigger and had a slightly different architectural style, built of marble and with great columns and arches. It was larger than even the Great Sept of Jaehaerys in King's Landing with seven tall towers, crowned with silver and gold, and an enormous blue dome in its middle. At its entrance was an enormous reddish-brown metal statue wearing a crown and holding a torch.

Baela just shook her head in awe at the sight of it all. For months, maybe even years, she had listened to Jacaerys and his siblings sing Tyrosh's praises. Even the smallfolk on Driftmark who had visited the city before, the merchants and servants of High Tide, all spoke in wonder of it, calling it the City of the World's Desire.

Baela thought that maybe they were right. Driftmark was beautiful, that was without question. But Baela had always felt like it was lacking something. Now she knew what. Driftmark was like a ghost, a fading and old beauty in the autumn of its life and past its prime. Tyrosh was at the noontide of its glory, the height of a summer that would never end. And there was still more to see.

Past all the great buildings, apartments, houses, manufactories, markets, and streets, was a great and tall black dragonstone wall that formed a large oval ring. The famed inner walls of Tyrosh, the Black Fortress. Though perhaps the Black Fort would be a better name for within the fortress walls was a great complex of palaces, manses, institutions, fortified keeps, gardens, fountains, barracks, and drill fields. The Black Fortress was located toward the far end of the city from the Bleeding Tower and had its own harbor and docks independent of the rest of the city, a relic of an ancient time when the entirety of Tyrosh had fit inside the fortress walls.

Baela and her companions' destination was nestled in the heart of that fortress. The largest building of all inside the fortress, though perhaps not in the city entire. An ostentatious and enormous manse built out of pale stone with three stories, gold inlay and paint accents. Clear and blue glass windows stretched from the base of each floor to its high ceiling. Once known simply as the Archon's Palace, the rechristened Zaldilaros Palace was the palatial seat of House Velaryon inside Tyrosh.

Following Jacaerys' lead, the three of them landed their dragons in the massive courtyard at the front of the palace. Baela looked around as she dismounted. It had looked much smaller from the sky but the palace grounds were enormous once she had landed. Everywhere she turned, she saw only smooth paved rounds, fountains, statues, and great gardens and grass yards. In the distance she could make out the other buildings she had seen over a stout perimeter wall, but only due to their size.

They had company it seemed as Baela saw a delegation coming to greet them, stepping down the white stone stairs from the great entrance doors. The head of the company was a couple that Baela vaguely recognized. The man was as tall as Jace and greatly resembled him, though he was older and wore his hair in a ponytail. While Jacaerys' eyes were a deep purple that Baela constantly lost herself in, this man's eyes were a vibrant and rich blue.

'This must be Vaemond Velaryon,' Baela thought, vaguely recalling meeting him in her previous visits to Driftmark years ago, though she hadn't seen him at all recently. The woman beside him had a typical Westerosi look, with brown hair and brown eyes. Ryella Royce if she recalled correctly. Two young boys that she presumed were the couple's sons walked beside them and Baela guessed that they were about ten and seven respectively, though she did not recall their names. Luckily for them, both of Vaemond's sons had inherited his striking silver-blonde hair over his wife's more common brown.

Vaemond looked unimpressed. He looked at Jacaerys and then at Lucerys and then simply said, "You're late. We expected you yesterday."

Jacaerys was quick to answer. "We decided to stop over for the night in Tarth."

Vaemond raised his eyebrow. "You haven't done that in years, ever since your dragons got strong enough and you and Luke brave enough."

"Yeah well, we had some green riders and dragons accompanying us this time," Lucerys said.

For a moment Vaemond flicked his eyes to look at Baela and her sister and their dragons but soon turned his attention back to his cousins. "Whatever," Vaemond said before he pulled both of them into a tight hug. "You had me worried there for a while little cousins. Please don't do that again."

"There wouldn't have been much point sending a raven all the way from Tarth for only a one-night delay but yeah sorry. We'll try not to do it again," Jacaerys said as he broke away.

"Ah, where are my manners," Vaemond said as he turned to address Baela and her sister. "Princess Baela, Princess Rhaena, a pleasure to meet you again." His tone was cordial but curt. He hid it much better than his embittered mother Irina, but Baela knew that Vaemond also placed no small amount of blame for his father's death on Baela and her house's shoulders. It was much easier to hate them than to hate his own uncle Corlys after all, who was arguably the real reason for his father's death.

Still he was at least trying to be polite so Baela would return it in kind. "The pleasure is all mine Ser Vaemond," Baela said before she offered her hand for him to kiss. He did the same with Rhaena.

"You remember my wife of course," Vaemond continued.

"Of course, a pleasure to see you again Lady Ryella!" Rhaena said eagerly, though Baela wondered if her enthusiasm was faked.

"Yes, a pleasure, though do forgive me, I'm afraid I've forgotten the names of your sons," Baela said.

"No worries." Vaemond smiled disarmingly. "This is Daemion," he said as he placed his right hand on the taller boy. "And this is Alyn," he said with his left hand placed on the shorter boy.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you again!" Rhaena cooed as she bent over and leaned in to speak to the two boys. They blushed and thanked her before hiding behind their parents, causing a round of laughter among the gathered Velaryons.

"Don't worry about them. It's not every day that they have beautiful young women greeting them," Jacaerys said.

Baela raised her eyebrow cheekily with a smile. "So you think we're beautiful?"

"But of course! Was that ever in doubt?" Jacaerys said dramatically.

Baela only scoffed but she cut the edge with a radiant and amused smile.

"On the topic, I'm sorry that I couldn't come for your wedding Jace, Luke," Vaemond said. "I wanted to but work here was quite heavy."

"It's quite alright Vaemond," Lucerys said with a smile. "We know you're busy here. The work you do is of utmost importance."

Vaemond smiled at his cousin's words. Soon enough, once the greetings were done with, their company was walking up the stairs to the palace. The Tide Guard that had followed Vaemond out locked protectively in formation around them while the Dragonkeepers tended to their dragons.

They really did resemble the Dragonkeepers that served her family, wearing the same plate and scale armor and helms crested by rows of dragon scales diminishing downwards. The only difference between them was that where the Targaryen Dragonkeepers wore gleaming black armor, the Velaryon Dragonkeepers wore shining silver.

As they walked into the Palace, Vaemond and Jacaerys' conversation turned to matters of state. "Since you came a day late, I had to rearrange a lot of your meetings. If it's alright with you, after lunch you have a meeting with some emissaries from Lys and Myr," Vaemond said.

"Clear my afternoon," Jacaerys ordered. "I've just arrived and I would like to show my wife around the palace. Can't it wait?"

Vaemond looked hesitant. "I suppose it could but," he said before he leaned into Jacaerys' ear and whispered something that Baela did not catch.

Jacaerys sighed. "Very well. Tell them I'll meet with them once I've had my luncheon."

"You're not going to show me around?" Baela demanded. What was the point of bringing her here only to run off with his cousin to meet some emissaries?

Jacaerys looked apologetic at least. "I'm sorry, this is a lot more urgent than I thought it would be."

Baela wasn't really satisfied with that explanation but she said nothing further, not seeing the point of getting into an argument with Jacaerys in front of so many people. Vaemond led them to an exquisite banquet hall where a hot and fresh lunch had been prepared and was waiting for them.

After hurriedly dining on some delicious local Tyroshi cuisine and delicacies for lunch, and of course sipping his ever favorite pear brandy with it, Jacaerys excused himself. "I'm sorry Baela, Rhaena, but I do have to get going now. I'll try and meet up with you later. In the meantime Luke, just show them around the Palace," he said before he walked off.

Baela huffed unhappily but there was nothing to do about it. She'll give him a piece of her mind later. Once the three of them had finished with their lunch, Baela followed Lucerys as he showed her and Rhaena around the palace. The Tide Guard followed them at a respectful distance, walking behind, beside, and in front of them.

Lucerys started his tour with an apology for his twin. "Sorry about Jace. I'm not sure how he explained this trip to you Baela, but it isn't really a vacation when we come here. We actually have to rule."

Baela was confused. "What do you mean you rule?"

Lucerys sighed. "Mother and Father have not set foot in Tyrosh for over eight years now. Honestly I think they just hate this city, and I can't blame them. It has a lot of bad memories for them. But Jace and I always loved it. It's where we grew up, it's our home, so for our sake they always visited Tyrosh every few months or so to bring us back here. Well once the two of us came of age, they just stopped doing that. They told us that we were men grown now and we could fly to Tyrosh whenever we wanted and spend however long we wanted in the city as long as we made sure to return to High Tide within three months."

Baela crossed her arms to continue listening to Lucerys' explanation. "What's this got to do with Jace running off?"

"Well our cousin Vaemond is the Lord Mayor of Tyrosh and Steward of the Black Fortress. In the absence of our father, the Archon, he is the final authority in the day to the day running of the city. Before him it was Uncle Victor until he passed away last year, may he rest in peace, but I'm getting sidetracked.

"There's just some things that aren't the Mayor's place to decide. Vaemond constantly sends ravens to our father asking for his decisions but that isn't always ideal either so whenever possible, he leaves some less urgent decisions waiting for when Jace and I come because our parents have given us the authority to decide them. We usually come about four times a year and spend at least a month here each time, just taking in the sights but also working through whatever matters that we need to see to."

"So will that be what the two of you spend most of this trip doing then?" Rhaena asked worriedly.

Lucerys winced. "Hopefully not. We can stay longer this time, maybe two or even three months instead. Make sure we get through all the work and any new issues that arise, while also fitting in enough time to take you two around the city. Trust me, there is a lot to see."

"Best get started on it then," Baela said.

Lucerys nodded and began leading them around the palace, showing them the many ballrooms, game rooms, decorations and the like. Whenever they encountered servants or even courtiers as they walked, they were reverent and almost worshipping in their respect and deference to Lucerys, calling him Zaldilaros in awe and profusely greeting him and tending to his every order and request obsequiously.

To Baela's initial shock and then pleasure, some of this reverence seemed to have been hesitantly and tentatively extended to herself and Rhaena as well, though she sensed the courtiers and servants were not yet sure what to make of them both. She made a note to herself to ask either Jacaerys or Lucerys what all the fuss about this 'Zaldilaros' business was but soon forgot it in the near literal tide of wonders and treasures Lucerys was eagerly showing them.

Baela was honestly impressed with just how luxurious the palace was. The floors were made out of polished marble, gleaming and smooth. Whites, blues, and golds ran along the floor and along the walls, twirling along columns and windows until it reached a roof where chandeliers with hundreds of candles hung gently.

Exquisite porcelain vases, fine mahogany and ironwood desks, and great tapestries and paintings filled the corridors and walls, covering every inch possible with wealth without cluttering and making it look messy. There were frescoes and murals and mosaics on certain roofs that looked gorgeous, while other parts of the roof had gold inlay on white.

The carpets and rugs were made out of fine cotton, wool, and silk, and they were so soft Baela felt like she could fall asleep on them. Almost every room and corridor had enormous base to ceiling glass windows, tinted blue and made of the finest quality Tyroshi glass. The days when Myr made the best glass in the world were long over as Tyrosh had supplanted them in that aspect long ago.

Each window had two layers of curtains. A dark blue thick wool, cotton, and velvet inner curtain meant for blocking out the sun and ensuring privacy that was normally drawn back and a luxurious outer silk curtain that was thin and airy and let light through easily to light up the palace in the daytime while not wholly sacrificing privacy.

He eventually led them up the grand and sweeping imperial staircases to show them the rooms they would be staying in. The staircase railings were made out of bronze and had a gilded filigree and pattern. Their rooms were no less luxurious, with large king-sized beds and feather pillows and the softest and fluffiest mattresses Baela had ever felt. And of course, the bathrooms she had come to expect at High Tide were present as well, installed by the Velaryons after they had taken control of Tyrosh.

It all just screamed enormous wealth to Baela. She had thought that High Tide was a symbol of wealth but Zaldilaros Palace had it beat by far. It hurt her to admit it, but neither the Red Keep or Dragonstone could even compare to this almost casual boast of wealthy comforts and luxurious amenities. It had to require a veritable army of servants just to maintain the palace. They didn't even have time to see it all. Much like one could not explore the entirety of High Tide or the Red Keep within a single day, so it was so with Zaldilaros Palace.

Eventually growing bored of seeing endless luxuries inside the palace, Baela requested that Lucerys show them the grounds. He complied eagerly. To her great pleasure, there was a very large and well-kept stables attached to the palace. Baela missed the palfrey she had left behind at High Tide, it had accompanied her for many years now, but she claimed another from the stables, choosing a fierce black stallion as her mount.

Rhaena had always preferred gentler and more obedient mares but Baela, whose passion for riding burned hot, often sought out the more stubborn horses, seeking to tame them and bend them to her will. She was always careful though, she had heard too many stories of horse riding accidents not to be.

She turned down the stable boy's offer to saddle the horse she chose and saddled him herself. The stable hands saddled Lucerys and Rhaena's horses instead and soon they were off. They spent the rest of the evening exploring the grounds and galloping through the parks and gardens, even venturing into the small forest for a time.

They rode as far as the perimeter wall at one point where Lucerys had pointed out the buildings peeking over the wall, naming the headquarters of the Velaryon Bank, the mint and gold reserves, the headquarters of the East Trading Company, Admiralty Hall where the Velaryon Navy was headquartered, and various manses and ministry buildings servicing the bureaucracy of the Tyroshi government. Castle Dour which hosted the headquarters of the Velaryon Army was the closest however. There was a very clearly marked and defined road that ran due east from Zaldilaros Palace straight to the perimeter wall, with a walled and gated crossing of the street to the fortified side entrance of Castle Dour.

This was by design as since Zaldilaros Palace wasn't the most defensible, in the case of any crisis, the people there could evacuate to the safety of Castle Dour which not only hosted the headquarters of the Velaryon Army but hosted several regiments of the army itself in the attached barracks, complete with armories to equip them and drill fields for them to train. These regiments served as the garrison and city watch of Tyrosh.

There were also entire neighborhoods within the Black Fortress, apartments, houses, wells, water fountains, granaries and warehouses, and even a small market. In many aspects, the Black Fortress was still a self-contained city within a city, designed to be able to hold and support the entire government of the Archonate with minimal contact with the rest of the city if necessary. A holdover from the siege mentality the Velaryons had had during the early days of their rule over Tyrosh, when they had felt threatened by the possibility of insurrection or assassination on a daily basis.

Sadly, by the time they had ridden back to the palace from the perimeter wall, the sun had begun to set. Baela felt disappointed that they hadn't even left the perimeter walls of the palace grounds when there was so much to see outside them but she supposed that there was plenty of time to go sightseeing.

"Thank you for taking us around today Lucerys," Baela said.

"No problem at all Baela, it was my pleasure. And please, call me Luke."

Baela hesitated briefly but agreed in the end. She had been spending quite some time with Jacaerys and Lucerys over the past few months and she supposed she did feel comfortable enough calling Lucerys by his nickname now. "Alright then… Luke."

Luke's smile was radiant and charming. She could see why her sister fell for it. Speaking of said sister, Rhaena pouted dramatically and pulled Luke away from her for a kiss, as if to remind her that Luke was her husband not Baela's. Baela laughed at the sight, she hardly needed a reminder of that. Still, she looked forward to building a friendship with Luke. She thought it would do them all some good and help her deal with her difficulties reconciling the two families she was now part of in her heart.

As dinner was almost ready and Jacaerys was still nowhere to be seen, Luke asked her to go find him and summon him to the banquet hall. 'By force if need be.' His words not hers. He had barely told her this before Rhaena had pulled him in for another kiss.

Feeling rather amused at the sight, Baela made a note to herself to remember to tease them about this later on. They were deserving some comeuppance for their relentless teasing after her tryst with Jacaerys back in High Tide.

She eventually found some servants and asked them where her husband was and they pointed her to one council room. As she neared the room, Baela couldn't help but feel curious at what exactly had kept Jacaerys away from her all afternoon. She leaned her head against the door and tried to listen in on the conversation.

She didn't feel particularly guilty about it. She was Jacaerys' wife and didn't see what secrets he needed to keep from him. Unfortunately, she didn't really hear much of use, only some words like 'Triarchy, Zaldilaros, Seven, faith,' and something to do about money and support?

Suddenly, she could hear Jacaerys dismissing whoever he was meeting with, and the scrapes of the chairs against the floor as they all rose to their feet. Hurriedly, she backed away behind a nearby corner and tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible, like she totally wasn't eavesdropping. Most of the men leaving paid her little heed but Baela did note to herself that many looked Valyrian. Lyseni perhaps, as Vaemond had said.

She peeked back around the corner to see if her husband was done yet. Jacaerys walked out with one man, dressed in a septon's vestments, but Baela was a little surprised to see that his eyes were as purple as her own and his hair just as silver as hers as well. The man was speaking to her husband even as they exited the council room.

"I cannot thank you enough for your support Lord Jacaerys. It means everything to the faithful in Lys to know that the House of Zaldilaros has heard their cries," the man said.

"Think nothing of it Septon Maekar. We're only doing our duty to our enslaved brethren. As the Seven command us to," Jacaerys replied charmingly.

"You have more piety and goodness in your little finger than all the lords of Westeros have in their whole bodies if these are the results we can achieve in so short a time," Septon Maekar said, amazed. "And I must thank you and your cousin again for this gift," he said as he raised the fabric of his vestment with his hands.

"The slave masters in Lys do not look kindly upon the Light of the Seven. Those of us who are caught practicing the faith are put to death. So much for the tolerance of a daughter of Old Valyria. It would be impossible for me to get these vestments normally and I have had to make do with improper articles of clothing whenever I give services."

"Will you be able to get it to your sept safely when you return to Lys then Septon Maekar?" Jacaerys asked worriedly. "I could speak to some of my agents and they could smuggle it right to your doorstep if need be."

Septon Maekar let out a breath in awe. "Truly you are Seven-blest my lord. Your generosity honors me. Yes, that would be greatly appreciated, and it would remove many worries from my mind. If I am caught trying to enter Lys with clerical vestments, they will assume I am a missionary and execute me immediately, not at all caring that I am by right a freeborn citizen of Lys with the legal right to practice his own religion!"

Jacaerys looked sympathetic. "I feel for you Septon Maekar, and for all our enslaved brothers and sisters. The faithful of Lys and Myr both will be in all my prayers from now on."

Baela had never seen Jacaerys or any member of his family pray even once. As far as she could tell, they only made a show of listening when they attended the weekly services at High Tide's sept. Not that Baela was much better than them with regards to piety.

Septon Maekar did not seem to notice Jacaerys' insincerity however. The man became emotional, almost tearing up. "You have my gratitude Lord Jacaerys, and that of all my flock. We are so alone in that slaver city sometimes, feeling downtrodden and surrounded. To know that we are in the thoughts and prayers of a Zaldilaros is beyond honoring and uplifting to us. I hope and I pray that your plans come to fruition my lord."

Baela was growing tired of this conversation. She announced her presence by walking up to Jacaerys and giving him a kiss on his cheek. She could tell that he was a little startled but he did not show it to his septon friend.

Septon Maekar smiled. "Is this your wife Lord Jacaerys?" he asked her husband.

"Indeed," Jacaerys said, forcing a smile. "Septon Maekar, this is my lovely wife, Princess Baela. Baela, this is Septon Maekar from Lys."

"Ah yes. Even in Lys we have heard word of you and your brother's marriages to the Targaryen Princesses. You have my congratulations for your wedding Lord Jacaerys, Princess Baela," Septon Maekar said.

"Thank you Septon. And it's a pleasure to meet you. I must say, I never would have expected to meet a Lyseni septon."

"Few do," Septon Maekar admitted with some mirth in his eyes. "But perhaps that will change in the near future as the number of faithful in the city grows. The success of your marriage will ever be in my prayers, I wish you all the blessings that I can," he said.

"Thank you very much Septon Maekar," Jacaerys said.

"With your leave my lord," Septon Maekar said with a bow and then departed once Jacaerys granted it.

Once Septon Maekar was out of earshot, Jacaerys turned to her. "Don't do that again," he ordered.

"Do what?" Baela asked innocently.

"Walk up and startle me while I'm having a conversation with someone important," Jacaerys almost growled.

Baela frowned. Why was he so getting so defensive? "Sorry. Though I don't see how that random Lyseni septon is so important to you over me. Your wife. You're not even that pious Jacaerys. Praying? I have never seen you pray even once outside a sept and I swear half the time you're just mumbling nonsense for the sake of appearances even there. What were you even talking about with him and all those other random commoners from Lys and Myr?"

"Nothing important," Jacaerys dismissed.

Baela crossed her arms. "And you mean to tell me that you abandoned me on my first day in this city that you brought me to for nothing important?"

Jacaerys winced.

"Well Jacaerys? I want an answer," she demanded.

Sighing loudly, he pulled her into the council room before he locked and closed the door. Turning back to her he spoke.

"Look, it's not a big secret or anything, not from you at least, but we are trying not to advertise it. We're giving aid to the followers of the Faith of the Seven in Lys and Myr. They're under heavy persecution in both cities for their religious opposition to slavery."

"And you're telling me that House Velaryon is doing this out of the goodness of its oh so pious heart?" Baela asked, unimpressed.

"Well no if you put it that way. That is part of our motive but it wouldn't be enough normally. We didn't get as rich as we were by wasting money. No we're trying to get more economic influence over Lys and Myr by sponsoring the growth of co-religionists who would be sympathetic to us."

"Thereby allowing House Velaryon to make more money," Baela continued.

"Exactly," Jacaerys said.

"And this couldn't have waited until tomorrow?" she pressed.

He winced again. "I'm sorry. I know it's not an excuse but some of these people needed to meet me as soon as possible. There may be suspicion from the authorities in Lys and Myr about their movements. Still though, you are right. I'll make it up to you."

"And how do you plan to do that?"

"I've told Vaemond to clear my schedule tomorrow. You will have my complete and unwavering attention for all of tomorrow."

"Hmm, do go on."

"Where did Luke take you today?"

"Where you told him to. Just around the palace, and we went into the grounds for a bit, as far as the perimeter wall. He pointed out a lot of the other buildings in the Black Fortress."

Jacaerys nodded. "That's good, because tomorrow I don't intend to take you to see the rest of the Black Fortress."

Baela frowned. "Where do you want to take me then?"

"Beyond the Black Fortress obviously. She's waiting for us out there."

"She?" Baela was confused. "Who is she?"

Jacaerys smirked. "Tyrosh of course. The Queen of Cities."