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Volantis
Some time after the Dothraki Horde burned Part II
Damon knew the expressions of wealth and, since coming to Volantis, the ways to fight the desert's intense heat. Though his weakness was as always a beat of another sort. The woman who gazed at him and taunted was pleasant enough to look upon. More suiting to his tastes than his frail wife. The concern he felt was for the sharpness of her gaze, but that was something that could be corrected with time. Smiling with appreciation for the game she played, the Riverlander gave a deep and sweeping bow. "Revealing that so soon My Lady would be in bad taste. Though I can say while I have seen many a beauty while sailing the seas, you are by far the most exquisite."
"I find myself fearing that while often I was the one pursuing the ladies in my younger years, it is I who should be wary of being pursued." His words were light and in jest but his eyes roamed her in turn and appreciation. For he had spoken no lie.
"Humm… this one lies like he breathes brother." She smirked at Damon's response. "He fears being pursued? Perhaps you shouldn't have told him that tale about being related to Nymeria and some Asshai sorceress in the line somewhere."
"Calm yourself Calytrix. I did no such thing. Even if there is some truth in it. Can't go scaring off the faint hearted Westerosi peoples can we?" Darkin rumbled as he took Lyra's hand and turned them toward the trio that had joined them. "Lady Sharra, my dear, how are you?"
"Care for some juice, little bird?" Lyra indicated a carafe that looked cold.
"Mother, that pet name is irritating." Aster rolled his eyes. Though he was pouring a glass of juice1 for Sharra. It is a deep red like wine but smells rich and fresh with a bite but sweet all at once.
The overt flirtation was enough for Sharra to maintain a crimson hue even in the relief the room offered. Her eyes drifted along the murals, out to the view out to the city. The closest she had seen in their tour across was the seven kingdoms was maybe Casterly Rock or Highgarden. In comparison, they looked as impoverished as the Eyrie had felt when she had stood within those great castles. She wondered, with embarrassment, if the charge of being faint hearted was not at least indirectly targeted towards her. Sharra could not blame them for thinking it if it was.
“It looks so refreshing, Lady Lyra. Thank you." She accepted the glass, the rich scent pleasing but it was the chill as she brought it to her lips that led to her gulping an unlady-like mouthful of the nectar. Her eyes brightened with the relief of sugar and a chill that ran down her spine. She hoped that Damon would be content to ignore her again. The unsteadiness seemed to have dissipated. Though Aster seemed annoyed with the pet name, Sharra found it sweet, though her tongue stumbled in finding a way to navigate between mother and son, but she gave a soft smile of appreciation towards the woman. A much warmer sort than her mother.
“Had you entertained the Prince…the King, while he was here?" Sharra asked quietly, hoping to avoid drawing Damon into the conversation. She had never met the man, but she knew her brother’s views on him and the difficult line it was to walk between owing their position to him and despising his mockery of the faith.
Both Lyra and Darkin shared a look and a smile. Lyra turned back toward Sharra. "My dear do you mean Vhandyr or do you mean Maegor? Not that the distinction would make a difference but yes we entertained both. As well as Vhandyr's other family members. We have entertained House Balaerys for as long as I can remember. Maegor is not our Prince or King, remember we elect our Ruler here in Volantis." She smiled and handed a plate of food to the girl patting her hand gently.
Aster led Sharra over to the pool. "My sisters like to set chairs in the water and dangle their feet in. If they're wearing pants they just sit in it but dresses are a different matter. Besides that mixed company. Only Lunaerys would flout convention so hard. Probably because it is a convention." He lead her to a chaise in case she felt that dipping her feet was too impertinent.
Dipping her hand in the water Calytrix made ripples then flicked them off and set her drink down. The wading pool was at most up to her mid calf and had a hidden shallower end; that they were at, that was only ankle deep here. Swinging her legs over she stood from the chair and walked through the water to stand by Damon eyeing him critically. "You might pass testing. Have any children?"
Lyra bit her lip to smother a laugh at Calytrix and her attempt to overset Damon with her boldness. She wondered how Damon was going to handle the woman. She was less subtle in conversation than with a blade. Calytrix had trained her children that had wanted to learn water dancing and Lyra knew she was strict but full of knowledge. Calytrix and the Braavosi water dancer they had handpicked were quite a team teaching those who wished to learn the art.
Passively watching his sister flirt, Darkin led Lyra to sit near where Aster and Sharra were. Personally he wished the girl would stay. Aster seemed to like her. But if she wanted to go Aster would follow her and eventually bring her back. Or possibly stay with her, though that was much less likely after the "little bird" got used to Volantis and her weather. Sharra seemed… undervalued by her family. Darkin felt like she would bloom in Essos.
The young Arryn picked at the plate she had been offered, and sat it at the small table beside the chaise Aster had led her to. She began to sit, but paused. The other women were so at ease, perhaps - perhaps it would be rude to ignore such a custom. Nevermind that cool waters on her ankles and feet sounded so pleasant. Like when she had been a small girl along the family’s piers in Gulltown. Before her mother had found her and berated her. Instead, boldly she felt, Sharra delicately lowered herself, softly lifting the skirts away to slide off her delicate silk slippers and touch a toe to the water. They were right, it felt marvelous, an impish but genuine grin flickered across her face as she turned her head to Aster, a moment of seeking approval.
Calytrix had given up her seat, and Sharra cautiously made her way towards it. Skirts lifted to skim across the top of the water, soft splashes with each step, until she could settle into the chair, feet dutifully dangling into the small pool. The smile returned, a flash of tempered pleasure. Her elder siblings would have been scandalized, surely.
She thought of asking how Maegor had been received here, but, with the man’s second wife’s kin present surely there was only one manner of answering it. “I am afraid I did not learn much of the Free Cities." She had been taught little of anything beyond embroidery, hymns, and prayers. Sharra’s lips pressed together, this wasn’t how she had rehearsed it in her head but it seemed almost natural now to propose it. “It would be shameful if I left still knowing so little. I would so love to see more of your city." Her eyes wished to seek out Aster, but it was Lord Darkin and Lady Lyra she tried to address it to - for propriety.
The man smirked at Calytrix as he let her study him. To do anything else would be in error among this particular gathering. "A son." There was no denying Alton, the boy was as robust and healthy a young lad as any. The only regret he had was that his father kept the boy close to him. Damon was under no illusions, his son would never be allowed to follow his path. Alton would be taught the ways of the knight. To become another of the swords that guarded House Harroway and Harrenhal. He had commented once to his father a out the lad coming with him to Essos to study but that thought had been cut down. Salted with more comments as to why Damon had not sired more children. A private army of cousins to fight for Jon's heirs.
Jon's heirs… Lucas would die of shock if he knew. The thought leant a smile to Damon's lips. "I would have brought him here to study when he was older, had I the option." And the lad would prove a useful tool. A seed for the family to have some status here.
Raising an eyebrow, Calytrix asked. "And you do not have that option why? Is his mother not dead? Since you have no wife, for surely your Seven would object to more than one. After all that is what got Maegor in the bind he is in. The man's a fool to think he's Aegon's equal. Just because he has his father’s dragon does not mean he will follow in his father’s footsteps."
Darkin watched and listened to Sharra with a smile. He could tell she was addressing himself and Lyra because she felt it was more proper. "But of course, though Lyra and I find ourselves busy with day to day tasks, we have contacted our son in Braavos on your behalf. Cephaeys is willing to take you and your brother to Pentos as well as up to Braavos to round out your tour if you like."
Lyra watched irritation flicker in Aster’s eyes for a brief instant before he blinked. Oh he's got it bad. Good. About time. And I like the little falcon girl. Sipping wine she turned her attention to her sister's shenanigans. I doubt I've ever seen a woman so forward in conversation as Calytrix. Come to think of it, I don't think Maegor was fond of her forwardness. Then again she wasn't fond of his history. She loathed Alys. Not that I blame her. I could rub two rocks together and find more use. And the lack of thought for anyone but himself is rather apparent especially considering the situation across the channel.
Turning her attention back to her eldest and their younger guest Lyra smiled. "Aster is very well educated and was planning a trip up the coast. He will not admit it but your arrival set his plans on their ear."
She smirks?! Why?! Aster swore that he felt his eye twitch. "Muñnykeā ao jāhor sagon se morghon hen issa2. My mother speaks truly. However it was not something that could not wait. Rescuing such a fair lady was the one time I could feel like a hero of old. If it meant I could stay longer in your presence I would be happy to accompany you on your journey, gevie mēre." He knelt next to Sharra as he reached out and caught Sharra’s hand then slowly raised it to his lips. He softly kissed her knuckles and sent a smoldering look to her.
The sea wise son of Lucas gave a dark chuckle. “My Lady, your forget that I am from Westeros. A son so young could not leave his mother and the mother had no wish to take to the sea, especially with a child. Let alone that I would had refused if she had offered." He assured the woman, for all Damon care little for his wife. Their child? He was innocent of the flaws that his mother had. “My father has dictated at what will be, and I have no choice to go along with his plans for now. In the future, it will depend greatly on how the fates fall." Though his gaze sharpened slightly. So this Calytrix did not care for Maegor? That was interesting and useful to know.
“My father is proud in support of the dragons, my brother prefers the Faith. I? Let the powers clash. A Lord has always had to balance both of them. To interfere would risk one’s House. There is wisdom in waiting. The dragons are not many, yet powerful while the Faith is many and lacking the, pardon the words, fire-power. I for one? The Faith will not yield and is deep seated through the middle of Westeros and there is no love of dragons in Dorne. It will be a game to see if the stalemate shifts."
The news that aid had been secured to see them to Pentos caused a brief flicker in her expression. But what followed was enough to send a rush of blood to her cheeks anew. The words slid around her, the touch of his hand to hers, his lips to her fingers and Sharra responded with a thoroughly embarrassed, choking, giggle. It did little but to deepen her blush. She couldn’t dare meet his eyes and rather frantically looked about for anything else to notice. “It…I…We..." She stumbled for words to respond to her hosts or to Aster. Her hand pulled away softly, folded into her other hand on her lap. “Gevie mere," she repeated, the words sounded wrong to her from her lips compared to all the times he had spoken them, “what does it mean?" Thoughts of kings and dragons and whatever else the Harroway man spoke of dwindled away.
Both Darkin and Lyra smiled looking at Aster. Who looked a little disappointed that Sharra had pulled away, but he had let her retreat. Someday she wouldn't find his attendance as shocking as she currently did. "You will get used to that soon." Aster whispered and grinned.
"You hold her in suspense, my son. The torture must be something you learned from your father." Lyra teased both her son and husband, smirking at the latter.
"Hen rhinka ziry gūrēntan hen zȳhon kepa, yn ziry iksos īlva tresy. Ziry gūrēntan hen zȳhon muñnykeā hae sȳrī3." Darkin laughed as Lyra playfully smacked him.
Smiling at his parent's antics Aster looked back over at Sharra. "It is how I see you. How you have always appeared to me. Beautiful one. Gevie mere means beautiful one. May I continue to call you beautiful? Though the word pales in comparison to the mere curve of your cheek." He reached out and as lightly as a butterfly caressed her cheek with his fingertips.
A moment that felt like a thousand moments, and Sharra’s response was an unmeasured smile. A surprise, even to herself. Here, for the first time, she was not the Maiden of the Vale. It was unnatural to suddenly have such attention on her, earnest and honest? The smile was matched only by a return and strengthening of a deep blush. “How could I say no to your request?" She replied quietly, reminded that there were so many others present.
A noise disturbed the quiet dances that played out between man and wife, between woman and man intended, between what could blossom into something more. Boots, still dirty from the city, and loud against the pristine stones. The smell of liquor and spice and sweat surrounded the swaggering young man accompanied by clearly disgruntled Rahl men.
“My dearest and favorite aunt." The words came out in soft slurs as if the rough common tongue had found the Volantene accent. He stopped, realizing the audience was far greater than he had initially thought. “And…well, everyone else. Lord and Lady Rahl your hospitality has been so..." The heir to the Vale found himself tongue-tied. He was barely disheveled, but considering how much of the day remained, it was a shocking sight to Sharra, who glanced nervously at Aster and then to his parents.
“What I mean to say is, we may have washed up at your door but your city I dare say…I dare say we should have intended to come here and not Pentos in the first place. You’ll all be the first -” He rubbed a hand over his chin. “Well, second I suppose, to hear the good news. Aunt, I’ve found you a husband at last and a good trade deal to match it."
Artys did not notice, or if he did, paid no mind to, Sharra’s face losing all color to a ghostly white. He did not stop to notice the way her mouth worked at finding any words fitting the occasion. Why would he? Women were to be wedded, bedded, and give a son or two - or six in his mother’s case - just as he would some day find in a woman. “I believe you know them Lord Rahl, such happenstance to meet them at a pleasing little venue. Maegyr and Arryn, what better match for a bird of prey than to a cat of war! Hah! Yes I’ve learned much about these tiger and elephant politics."
He slumped into a chair, his news delivered, and smiled to himself. Absent-mindedly and to no servant in particular he stuck out a hand. “Come, a drink to celebrate, no?"
Damon watched the family’s banter and smiled. This was something he was not exactly used to seeing. Lord Lucas humored such among his sons, brothers and the children of those brothers yet the Lord of Harrenhal rarely engaged with it. It had once been commented by a relative that all the joy in Lucas’s life died with his first wife. Perhaps that was so. Raising the goblet accepted from a servant to his lips, he paused as the younger Arryn walked in. All in good timing, for there was going to be an alliance here and one that Damon thought would work to his advantage especially if one of his sisters could be wed off to an Arryn. A three-way in alliances would only further strengthen the ties. Yet upon hearing the words that Artys spoke, the former pirate raised a brow.
Perhaps he could divert this, it would certainly put the new found lovers in his debt. “A joyous thing marriage. All the better when it is a union of the heart as well the strength of kin." He mused as he studied the young Arryn over the wine cup. “Ser Artys, I have three young sisters who can marry. My married sister is wife to Maegor. Perhaps with a marriage between our families and the Arryns and Harroway to the House of Rahl who are indeed wise in the ways of Volantis and looked upon with favor by the dragon lords in this area?" He was unsure of the last, but he wanted to tempt the man into this power play.
“I remember your sisters." A goblet had been placed in his hand but his eyes remained only half open as he raised it to his lips. “But we’re a family of many men and so few women." An inappropriate giggle sent ripples across the wine. He took a gulp. “I have neither sisters nor other aunts to spare for such deals. Qavo Maegyr manages the family’s port business and what better pairing could there be when my own brother is being groomed to expand our port in Gulltown." Artys brought the goblet back to his lips, tipped his head back and swallowed deeply til it was empty. “Fine wine, thank you."
Sharra could not handle it any longer. She swung her legs over the chaise, both feet planted in the shallow waters. She had not gathered the skirts of her dress and the hems were wet, wicking the water up the delicate fabric. Her eyes focused only on Artys. “I am the Maiden of the Vale and I will remain that." Without thought, she gripped Aster’s arm to raise herself without falling, she could feel her limbs trembling with unusual anger. “Excuse me, please." It was not a request, but at the moment she did not care how her generous hosts received it. Her nephew didn’t seem to notice either statement as she walked past him and his dirty boot prints, out of the room.
Damon gave the Arryn boy a pitying look. The boy was a dolt to not be able to read what he said, there was no other answer. “Lad, perhaps this is a topic I had best take up with the Lord of the Vale and not his heir." Since he seemed incompetent, if his mother managed to marry one of his sisters to this boy? Harroway would grip the Vale by the proverbial balls. “And perhaps it is something best look to him for the final say."
An eyebrow that was dark and arched rose toward a hairline that would make kings jealous. Aster turned flinty slate blue eyes from Sharra’s retreating form to her kinsman. “I find it very interesting that Qavo’s father and three older brothers died this morning and he was able to take over the piddling business. That was not a rumor that I had heard. Pray tell how much gold did you pour down his throat in the form of watered ale to pry that confession from him āeksio mittys4? The hells he frequents typically water the ale to make it go farther. Hopefully you did not decide to dally with the help. If you did, you should see a healer quickly. Perhaps what makes you a man will not fall off if you get it looked at before you begin to itch. They call her Scratch not because she does but because you will."
Standing Aster plucked up a goblet and a carafe of juice and inclined his head to those present. He then proceeded to follow Sharra leisurely and slowly letting her work off her temper. From that observation of temper she was in a high dudgeon, and while not his fault he might take the brunt of it. She flashed like a fire in the desert at high noon and she was glorious in her passion. Perhaps if she struck him with her vitriol he could play the wounded party and see how sweet she apologized. Maybe she had talons, this little bird. Grinning Aster strolled the hall knowing that she did not know the property like he did. Smoothing his expression to careful neutrality he continued on his way keeping a keen eye out for Sharra.
Soft laughter from Calytrix rose as her nephew walked out, laughter escalating in volume. She wiped her eyes, still chuckling after a full minute. Long enough that everyone could tell that she was laughing at the Arryn boy. “The bird believes the words of a tiger! This is the most amusement I have had since Cassie brought home that filthy flea infested monkey and tried to wash it."
At the sound of Calytrix’s laughter both Darkin and Lyra looked at each other and sighed. “Perhaps, sister, we should inform the lad of how he’s been duped rather than snicker about it?" Darkin stressed with a growl. “Keligon verdagon kirimves hen mittys.5"
His fingers tightened around the empty goblet as he waved away a feeble offer to refill it by a silent servant. The other Westerosi man was bothersome with his arrogance. Harroway may have wed - against god and man - to their dragon overlords but they were not Lords Paramount. “My father does not need to be involved in this. He wanted his sister married and she will be.” He hiccoughed, a gurgly unpleasant noise. He thought at least, his father wouldn’t be displeased by finally marrying off the woman.
But it was his hosts’ mockery, lightly toned and mixed with words he didn’t recognize, that sounded almost like the Valyrian he had been forbidden from learning, that set him off. He stumbled to his feet, the goblet dropped to the floor, glass splintered. The little lordling waited until Aster had departed, though he couldn’t stop himself from scratching at his groin at the mere suggestion. It had been a long night and a long morning, he’d not been picky about where or how he had sated himself.
“If it is a lie then I will see them held accountable.” His fist flexed, but the slur remained in his words and he was noticeably unsteady on his feet. His face flushed, from drink and anger. “I am not some pissant lord from lands still ravaged.” He tried to glare at Damon Harroway, but his blue eyes were glossy and red and couldn’t focus for long. Seven, he hoped he hadn’t fucked this completely. The pride crumbled into self-questioning and he felt again like a boy being scolded by his father for some impropriety or another. He hated it.
"At least this 'pissant lord' was raised to converse with those of station and not the whelp raised to converse in the manners befitting goat herds while as drunk as a swine herd." Damon said coldly, raising from his seat. "My Lord and Ladies Rahl. Forgive the boy, I shall see to it he gets back to his stables- I mean, rooms, by your leave." The lad was making a fool of himself and while a scathing comment was well earned? He did not want the House of Arryn to fail because of one brainless bird. Gripping the boy's arm, he jerked making Artys's hand leave his crotch even as he bowed to their hosts.
