Fatebringer | Viserys Targaryen

Chapter 16

Sunspear glowed in the distance.

Ysira was exhausted, but gripped the railing of the ship tight as she stared at the castle rising at the edge of the beach. A forest rose around the edge of the water, and within the line of trees she could see men in woven Dornish armor, a combination of leather and lightweight metal similar to what was worse in Norvos.

A group of women and girls waited for them, all dressed like guards and with various weapons in their grasp. They'd done without their turbans, demonstrating various degrees of hair length and elaborate braids. Most had dark, full heads of hair, but given their attire were likely bastards born to House Martell– she imagined these were the Sand Snakes, her cousins and daughters of her Uncle Oberyn.

They anchored themselves in the sea and lowered their tender boats into the water. Ysira had their ship unload before everyone, followed by their Unsullied, their servants, their mercenaries, and finally their sailors. Their boat reached the docks first, prompting the Sand Snakes to move toward them and hold out their hands to help them climb out.

"Princess Ysira," said the oldest of the Sand Snakes, falling to one knee and pressing her forehead to Ysira's hand. "We have been looking forward to meeting you."

The other Sand Snakes followed, even the smallest that could not have been more than seven years old. "Please, rise," said Ysira. "There is no need."

"There is need, cousin," said the girl behind her. "The Lost Princess of Dorne has returned to avenge the crimes done to our house." The same girl beckoned the others to turn toward Viserys and Daenerys. "Your Grace, Your Highness. We are at your service."

"Thank you," said Viserys calmly. "It is good to meet you at long last."

The women rose at last. The one in the lead introduced herself, "I am Obara Sand, first daughter of Oberyn." She was a big-boned woman probably nearing thirty, with long legs and close-set eyes. Her brown hair was braided back, and as she strode to the end of the deck to greet the other boats, she did so quickly and angrily, tapping her spear against the ground. Ysira recalled being told by her mother that Obara was Oberyn's daughter by a whore in Oldtown, and she was fond of riding stallions using spurs.

"Nymeria," said the second woman, opening her robes to reveal several hidden knives as if to offer them her 'sword.' "To serve you all." She was probably five-and-twenty, slim and slender with straight black hair worn in a long braid pulled back from a widow's peak. Her dark eyes were large and lustrous, full lips wine red and curved in a silken smile. Ysira recalled hearing that she was the daughter of a Volantene noblewoman, which surely explained her perfect olive skin and high cheekbones.

The third was visibly different from the rest, with fair skin, golden hair, and deep blue eyes. She had dimples blooming on her cheeks, and she spoke with a gentle, sweet voice, "I am Tyene Sand. I've much looked forward to meeting you, Princess Ysira."

Her mother had told her that Tyene had always been the closest with Arianne, and was the daughter of Oberyn by a septa from the Reach. Though she looked much more like her mother, she had a widow's peak like her sisters and the same viper eyes that must have come from their father. Though she was three-and-twenty, only a year older than Ysira, she seemed to think herself much older, perhaps from having spent so much time with Arianne. Additionally, though she seemed innocent and pious, Ysira could imagine that Tyene's immense knowledge of poisons made her feel more mature than she actually was. She was just as deadly as the rest of them.

Given there were only four girls left, all much younger, she imagined Sarella Sand, daughter of Oberyn and the a Summer Islander captain, had not come to Dorne for this occasion. It made sense, given she'd heard her curious cousin loved Oldtown. The fifth came up to Ysira, curtsying. "I am Elia," she said pleasantly, a girl tall for her age of four-and-ten. "Named for our aunt."