Great Bastards

GULLTOWN'S GUEST

DAEMON II 

184 AC

The port of Gulltown shimmered beneath the warm rays of the winter sun. As Daemon, standing at the prow of the ship, took in the salty air, Perryn Corbray approached with his usual sly smile. "It smells like home," Perryn remarked. "After so many months of counting coins in the Red Keep, it's good to be back in the Vale."

A seagull flew above them, leaving its droppings on Aegor's shoulder as he emerged onto the deck along with Jon Hightower, the Hand of the King; Lord Perryn had insisted that he could chaperone the two boys on their mission to Gulltown, but King Daeron was adamant that the Hand join them as his personal representative. Daemon found that there was no use in objecting - Lord Hightower had turned out to be quite an agreeable travelling companion, and it was of course essential for the Iron Throne to be represented in matters of state and diplomacy.

"It appears the recent storms have heralded the end of this bitter winter," Jon began. "Surely as splendid a day as any to meet your bride, my Prince." Aegor smirked as he cleaned himself, while Daemon remained reflective. "The seagulls agree," the boy added bitterly.

The King had sent them to meet the Archon of Tyrosh and his daughter, who Aegon the Unworthy had arranged for Daemon to marry before his death. Daemon knew nothing of the Archon or the girl, Rohanne; he had only heard that the fair maiden, at the tender age of sixteen, was already said to be the most beautiful woman on either side of the Narrow Sea.

"It's still early in the morning, so Lord Orwyn Grafton will be asleep in his cradle, most like." Lord Perryn explained as he toyed with the sapphire ring on his middle finger. Daemon had never seen the illustrious Master of Coin unaccessorised. "The city's Regent, Lord Douglas Arryn, has agreed to meet with us. He has set up a warehouse where we can dock beside the Archon's ships, so our men can help with repairs if need be. Hopefully the damage is not too great."

Daemon thought back to the previous day, when King Daeron had shocked him by summoning him to a small council meeting for the first time. Making sure to arrive fully armoured and equipped with Blackfyre to make an impression, Daemon had struggled to hide his disappointment when he saw that only Jon, Perryn, Grand Maester Gordys, and the Kingsguard Ser Roland Crakehall were present beside the king. "The Tyroshi delegation was struck by an unexpected storm yesterday," Daeron explained as the Hand brooded over a letter in the seat next to him. "They were blown off course, and were forced to land in Gulltown last night. Myriah is ill and I don't want to leave her when she is so close to giving birth, so I want you to welcome the Archon and meet your new bride yourself. Lords Hightower and Corbray will accompany you, to ensure that the dowry our father promised is paid. I'm trusting you on this, Daemon. Don't let me down." And with that, Daemon was dismissed. He remembered leaving the council meeting with a flicker of rage rising in his chest - why was the King always so sure that he would disappoint? He wielded Blackfyre, for heavens' sake. If anything, it was King Daeron who would be letting the Archon down by not showing up to broker the marriage deal.

Still, Daeron spared no expense for the occasion. He had lent Daemon the royal fleet's largest and most prestigious galley, the Seastar, commissioned only six years earlier by King Aegon as a gift for his last mistress, the elusive Serenei of Lys, in addition to seven chests full of lavish gifts to bestow upon the Tyroshi delegation as an apology for their being inconvenienced. Aegor had even weaseled his way into coming. When Daemon questioned his half-brother on how he possibly could have persuaded the King to allow him to leave the capital after how close of an eye he had been keeping on their siblings in the recent weeks following his coronation, Aegor simply responded, "you're a knight, Daemon. And if you're going to impress the Archon and this Rohanne girl, you must needs a squire." When Daemon fired back by reminding Aegor of the vow he had made to watch over Mya, Brynden, and Gwenys at court, he assured them that Grand Maester Gordys had promised that he would, as always, keep an eye on the children. Daemon's mother had even volunteered to come too, but the king had advised Daena that it would be best if she waited to recover from her winter chill before considering travelling at all, let alone a trip to the Vale.