Chapter 90: Southward

Wright found the manager of the Iron Bank.

Upon learning that the fleet carrying the gold to Storm's End would depart in two days, Wright proposed that the three of them travel by ship along the way and disembark at the Stepstone near Tyroshi.

Naturally, the Iron Bank's people were more than pleased. With a powerful mage like Wright on board, it was a guarantee of safety.

These past few days, Wright had barely spoken. Everyone had their moods, and Nymeria and Tyene took turns attending to him.

The Iron Bank's fleet set sail, with Wright, Nymeria, and Tyene standing on the deck, feeling the sea breeze.

Wright leaned against the railing, gazing at the bustling port of Braavos, then turned to Nymeria and Tyene and asked, "If, and I do mean if, the Baratheon's went to war with Dorne, what would you do?"

Nymeria, too, had not been in the best of spirits lately. Caught between her father and her husband, she mimicked Wright's stance, leaning on the railing:

"I don't know. Maybe I'd just hide at home, pretend nothing's happening until the war ends."

Wright felt Tyene lean on the other side of him. "And you, Tyene? What do you think?"

"I'd probably do the same as Nymeria— stay home, and probably study alchemy," Tyene replied, her golden hair flowing with the wind, unlike her sister, who always tied her hair in braids.

Nymeria's voice spoke up again, "But where is home? Wright, you've never really had a home. You lived at Storm's End when you were little, but now it belongs to your brother, Renly. After that, you went to the Citadel, and after that, you stayed in Red Keep until you came of age."

Nymeria turned her head to look at Wright. "It wasn't until our wedding that you officially moved into the newly built magic school. I know the magic school is your passion, and you want to be like the Sorcerers in the old stories, traveling the world and discovering hidden places. But have you ever thought about me or Tyene?"

Wright responded, "Is that really what you think? You never cared about anything I did before."

Nymeria said, "The night before our wedding, when father wasn't drunk yet, he spoke to Tyene and me. He told us that when we got married, we should support our husbands in their decisions, manage the household well, and help our husbands' House grow. But you? You don't even have a proper home!"

Tyene followed up, "The magic school may be safe, but it's just a school, not a home."

Wright remained silent.

"You spend every day reading and studying magic. We barely even feel like a married couple — it's more like we're comrades! Do I need more comrades? I have Tyene, that's enough. What I need is a proper husband!" Nymeria's words sped up as her tears began to flow.

"We liked you when we were little, but it was just the kind of liking children have. We liked listening to your stories, and even though you could beat us, you always let us win, so we enjoyed training with you.

Then we got engaged, and we kept writing to each other. Gradually, I began to understand what engagement meant. I've heard so many love stories, and many disgusting rumors about marriage betrayal. Every girl has dreams about love. I've thought about how to love you, Wright. I'm three years older than you, and I've kept my virginity for you."

Wright wiped away her tears but didn't respond, allowing Nymeria to continue expressing her frustrations.

"When you were twelve, you achieved military success and became the Archmage, sitting in on royal meetings and becoming a high-ranking official in the kingdom. Do you know? The news reached Dorne, and countless girls envied me. Tyene and I were so proud of your achievements. But in the following years, you traveled all over the Seven Kingdoms without coming to see us. We had to come find you."

"Dammed Wright! Before my sister found you in Highgarden, she always called you that," Tyene added.

"Then we got married. I thought we would live the kind of life I had imagined, but you wanted to travel the world. Tyene and I supported your decision. In the North, we wanted to go to the Wall with you, but we couldn't adapt to the weather. Here in Braavos, on the night we fought with the Golden Company, we wanted to fight beside you, but we ended up being a burden!"

Nymeria's tears flowed more heavily.

"I trained day and night, Tyene consumed toxic alchemical materials — why did we do it? It was all for you!"

Tyene, too, was crying.

The Iron Bank's fleet passed through the Long Channel and reached the Old Clothes Vendor's Wharf. From their current position, they could see Oberyn's ship.

Nymeria burst into tears, "If the Baratheons and Dorne go to war, I'll stay out of it. But you and father fighting... that night on the ship when you confronted him, I was terrified. Because I knew you could easily kill father, kill his guards, and kill everyone on that ship."

"I really don't want you two to fight. We don't have children. If you kill father or if father kills you, I don't know what I'd do."

Wright couldn't use his magic to stop the tears, so he just hugged both Nymeria and Tyene, gently patting their backs.

"I can promise you that if war breaks out with Dorne, I won't directly confront your father. But why do you two keep thinking that the Baratheon's and Dorne will go to war?"

Wright used Tyene's handkerchief to wipe her tears, then wiped Nymeria's face.

"One thing can be the spark for war, but it can also be cut off at a certain point. I know Dorne has plans against me, but your father, Prince Oberyn, is very clever. He killed Daemon in time to stop things from spiraling out of control. So don't think that when he killed on the ship, it was to threaten me. He was just talking for others to hear."

Nymeria looked up, "Is that true?"

"It is. But that was just a temporary way to prevent things from escalating. If their plans continue, there will definitely be future conflicts," Wright said firmly.

Tyene gently touched her sister's red eyes, "Is there no way to ease things?"

Wright thought for a moment, "There is a way. Both sides could sit down and openly talk about their demands. But that's impossible because your father is behind Doran Martell, who is the true master of Dorne."

Both of them clung to Wright tightly.

Tyene whispered, "When will there be no more war?"

"Maybe only when the Seven Kingdoms are truly united will there be a temporary end to war."

The ship had already passed the Titan of Braavos and entered the open sea. Wright led both of them into the cabin.

"There are places in Essos I must visit, Volantis and the ruins of Valyria. Once I've been to those two places, we'll go back home. I'll find a place to build our own house, and then we'll have a lot of children."