Fire And Blood

Making An Example

Rhaenys XII

The women of Korra's band were a busy lot. The Hag's Teeth lay anchored close to the shore and rowboats were being deployed to and fro, bringing with them cargo and supplies that the pirate crew must have stockpiled upon their island. Many of the women were clad in a wide array of garments, ranging from colourful silk tunics and silver bracelets to simple trousers and sandals with the sleeves torn or cut off from their shirts, revealing toned and sun-kissed arms as they were dragging crates and bundles out from the cave serving as their hideout and down to the beach. They clearly were no strangers to heavy labour despite their beautiful and delicate features saying otherwise. There were a few more in the cave still, or so Rhaenys had understood from the chatter of some of the women. They were likely guarding their belongings whenever the rest departed from the island to engage in acts of piracy and had yet to actually come out now. They would be in for a surprise once they were to get out of there and catch sight of their dragons.

Aegon had offered his assistance to the crew, as had Commander Pahryl and several from the Wolf Pack, the giant sellsword's raw strength in particular speeding up the process noticeably. Despite this, however, a few of the women remained suspicious still and shot wary looks at them every once in a while, their hands never straying too far from their weapons.

"The King's becoming more and more kingly with each passing day," Uncle Oberyn quipped, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You must feel proud."

Rhaenys turned her head to her left, her uncle's gaze directed at her and a knowing smile on his lips. She replied with a smile of her own and an agreeing hum.

"I am. He has changed after Qohor. We all have but Aegon...he has been brooding a lot again lately." Rhaenys sighed and leaned into Oberyn's side. "Beheading man after man throughout the entire day. But they deserved it. He knows it, Dany knows it and I know it. And yet, we are all shaken still, I believe."

"And why is that?" her uncle implored.

"I shall speak only for myself, Uncle, but, I believe it is...the callowness we have shown. So easily lulled into carelessness by the comfort and security of Tychor's manse and gifts that we allowed for the plots and schemes of the merchant princes, magisters and goat zealots to fester." Rhaenys took a shaky breath. "It had almost cost us everything and that we have left that – that thrice-cursed city unscathed is nothing short of a miracle."

Uncle Oberyn hummed but didn't comment further. They continued to watch as Korra's ship was being loaded with crates and sacks of food and plunder. Their dragons had returned to roaming the skies and hunting for fish. When they had breathed their fire for the first time in their presence, Korra and her crew had stopped and openly stared, pointing their fingers and chattering among themselves. When Arrax, Sundancer and Jadewing's shadows passed over them, the pirates would flinch away, startled and nervous, their worried glances making sure that the dragons were not about to swoop down and take them for prey. Rhaenys was not ashamed to admit that she took a certain sick pleasure in it.

"We will make mistakes, Uncle," Rhaenys said, breaking their silence. "I know we will. Even the greatest Kings and Queens in our dynasty have made mistakes. But we will not allow ourselves to be lulled into false security again."

"I am pleased to hear that, but don't be too hard on yourselves." Uncle Oberyn pressed his lips against her temple. "Even Ser Barristan, Ser Jorah and I have fallen into this trap. We are supposed to have the experience. You have the excuse of your youth."

"Mayhaps, but to me, this is not good enough." Her gaze hardened but her voice softened, a steely whisper cutting through the noise of the busy pirates. "From our inner circle, I trust no one the way I trust you, Uncle Oberyn. Ser Jorah has proven loyal so far, but I do not trust his affection for Aunt Daenerys. I do not trust Ser Barristan at all and I doubt that I ever will. I merely tolerate him. And concerning Commander Pahryl...he is, at the end of the day, a sellsword. If someone pays him more than we do in hopes of him betraying us, he will, at the very least, consider it." Rhaenys stared her uncle directly in the eyes. "You, I know, will never betray us and that is, why I ask you – as your Queen, not your niece – to keep as close an eye as possible on Sers Barristan and Jorah and the sellsword commander. The pirate has no important position as of yet."