When The Throne Bleeds

32. A Beautiful Risk

DORNE

Irida wore a sleeveless rose coloured dress made of soft gauzy material. It had a plunging neckline, and a narrow brown leather belt that encircled her waist, hugging it tightly. Her jet black hair was tied in a high bun at the back of her head, a few stray strands falling on her face. Her ink stained fingers rose up near her face as she wiggled them unconsciously, her eyes on the thin book on the desk in front of her.

She sat on a wooden chair in a large decorated chamber, it had long orange curtains that had been tied at the ends of the wide windows to let the bright sunlight stream in, several paintings depicting the history of Dorne adorned the canary yellow walls and six other people sat on their individual chairs in the same chamber, three in the front row and four at the back, a similar desk and the same book in front of them.

Fifteen year old Irida peeked at the person sitting right next to her in the second row.

"Huma! Psst!" She said under her breath.

The dark skinned girl subtly turned her face towards her, her black curls hiding her eyes.

"What?"

Irida pointed her finger at the single question written on the otherwise blank page in front of her.

'Provide a brief description of Lord Edmyn Tully and explain why he deemed it right to rebel against King Harren the Black.'

Huma widened her eyes in horror. "Edmyn was the one who rebelled against Harren the Black? What the hell is that question?" She said quietly, grimacing.

Irida briefly closed her eyes in irritation before turning to beg for help once again.

"Please Huma. I studied every single thing except the histories of House Tully, please tell me you remember something."

Huma looked at her with remorseful eyes, shaking her head. Irida pinched the bridge of her nose, taking deep breaths to calm herself. Huma nudged her, eyeing her own question.

'Give reasons to prove that Balon Greyjoy's motives to start the Greyjoy Rebellion aligned with his beliefs as an ironborn. Also highlight the battle strategies used by Stannis Baratheon to destroy the Iron Fleet in the same rebellion.'

Irida looked at Huma in shock, gritting her teeth. "This is easy. How do you not know this?" She hissed.

"This is an examination, not your evening gossip session, girls. Stop at once or I'll be forced to kick you out of here." Maester Gastan, their theoretical tutor, barked sternly.

Both the girls stiffened back to their places, with Irida resisting the urge to say - I'd like to see you try, old man.

Slumping her shoulders, she rested her head on the back of her hand, angrily turning the pages of her book, every one filled with perfect and detailed answers, every page but that last one. Nostrils flaring, she snatched her feather from the desk, plunged it in the bottle of ink and hastily wrote whatever she knew about House Tully, except, of course, what the question was asking for.

Narrowing her eyes at the unsatisfactory answer she wrote, she shut her book close and stood up fluidly. She walked over to the desk Maester Gastan was sitting behind, her rose dress trailing behind her and slammed the book on his desk with just enough noise to annoy him.

She then turned around, proceeding to walk towards the open door and into freedom. This was her last theoretical examination, and she was looking forward to the extensive combat examination that would begin soon. She had quite sharpened her skills with weapons, especially daggers and spears. But she would have to fight with a sword too, she grumbled at the prospect.