Fire And Blood

Preparing For New Destinations

Rhaenys XV

Once the negotiations with the Company of the Rose had been concluded and the contract writ in ink and blood, they were now able to focus their attention on other important matters, such as building a seaworthy fleet to transport their men, horses and baggage with them to Astapor.

It took far longer than she would have liked but after five days of seeking audience with various sea captains, inspecting their ships and haggling and arguing on the price of their services, Rhaenys could finally say that their sojourn in Volantis was at its end. Now, they were the proud owners of four carracks, nine great cogs and seven galleys, all thanks to their…very distant cousins.

It was not as if Rhaenys did not appreciate the gesture shown by Jaevar, Vigon, Daenya, Alaesys and Maera. Rather, it, admittedly, still bothered her that a very popular chain of brothels might carry with it the Targaryen name, even in passing. Nevermind that it was established by a princess of the blood herself nor had Rhaenys the authority to demand from the Volantene Targaryens to change the name since they had a right to it as well. Nevertheless, despite her reservations, their Volantene cousins had stayed true to their word and had played a large hand in helping them get acquainted with many seasoned seafarers that frequented their brothels as well as spreading the news to the rest of the city of their interest in hiring additional ships to carry their growing number of goods and men.

The coin they had earned from selling their Qohorik gifts had come in handy at attracting prospective captains and still, they had a sizable sum left in their coffers, though she doubted it could last them for another year with all the expenses they've been doling out lately. All that was left was preparing their newfound ships for the journey ahead and hiring more sailors, of which the latter was the much easier task. The Roses alone had equipment worth close to a thousand men and women. It was far from an easy and swift task to transport their camp material, weapons and much more from one end of Volantis to the other.

Before they would actually be ready to depart, it would likely take them several more days, much to her impatience.

And while their advisors were busy overseeing the proceedings and transfer of their belongings to their newly bought ships – or, in Pahryl's case, recruiting more men into the Wolf Pack to replace their recent losses – she was overseeing her little brother with his menace of a she-dragon from a safe distance by the railings. Once again, Jadewing was roaring in fury at Aegon and breathing fire at him and, once again, Aegon swung his whip at her. Arrax was no better at responding to these lessons but Jadewing was an entirely different beast altogether. There were times when she wondered if Jadewing would ever allow herself to be ridden but if Aegon the Conqueror had had the respect of a dragon the size and power of Balerion the Black Dread, then she was sure that her Aegon could tame Jadewing.

And there were times when she wondered if Jadewing's temper and anger had to do with her being female. Had Meraxes, the she-dragon of her ancestor and namesake Rhaenys, the sister-wife of Aegon the Conqueror, been as aggressive as Jadewing was? She'd never get answers for it, she knew, but it made her ponder still. She was sure that there must have been books and tomes relating to the dragons of the Targaryen dynasty and their different dispositions before the rebellion. Now, however, she doubted that they still existed. The Usurper and his dogs had surely destroyed them all by now.

It's such a shame that the Usurper is well and truly dead.

Surely rumours of their deeds in Essos had reached the shores of Westeros by now. She'd have loved for Robert Baratheon to hear of them, of their dragons. She'd have loved for the Demon of the Trident to quiver in fear and piss in his breeches at the mere mention of them, of the Targaryens half a world away. Unfortunately, the Stranger saw fit to take him early, so they'd have to make do with only Lannisters instead.