VISENYA IV
Visenya gazed down at the map of the Blackwater Bay. Just last week, she had returned from Duskendale after having the last Darklyn heir bend the knee to the dragons. Despite the devastation of their enemies at Rook's Rest, the Darklyns and Mootons still commanded a combined force of one thousand and five hundred troops, not enough to significantly bolster their forces but enough to ease the pressure of garrisoning the fort off of their better and loyal troops. Within a span of a few weeks, the Blackwater Bay was firmly under the banners of the dragons and thus securing a foothold on Westeros, from which they could advance against the ironborn and the Arrogant king.
Left in charge of the fort in both Aegon's and Jaenyx's absences, Visenya was stuck to maintain a somewhat tolerable mood for the various peoples at the fort. Lords Jon Rosby and Alyn Stokeworth were charged with leading the native Westerosi troops that had bent the knee to the dragons. Crispian Celtigar and Daemon Velaryon managed the banners sworn to Dragonstone, with Lord Sunglass placed directly underneath them for his father's cowardice. Ragaemor and Maerys Tarareon led the armed strength that came with Jaenyx while Aevor Rahitheon oversaw the fort itself due to his experience as an engineer and smith. With the addition of the Maidenpool and Duskendale hosts, the dragons now had a near nine thousand troops at their command.
However, Visenya knew that this was no united force. Despite serving the dragons, the Valyrian houses that came with them kept their distance from the Rosbys, Stokeworths, Mootons, and Darklyns, essentially the native Westerosi since the former associated the latter with a backwater culture that worshipped arbitrary deities, celebrated various acts of knightly valor while ignoring that many of them merely killed someone else's enemies, and were content with allowing some upjumped bastard into sleeping with another's wife on their first night. The divisions didn't stop there, as the Celtigar and Velaryon troops clashed with the Tarareons and Rahitheons, the latter accusing the former for forgetting their Valyrian roots in favor of being accepted by a backward people.
Keeping the peace between the Valyrian houses was not a difficult task for Visenya, as she was both a daughter of House Targaryen and Lady of House Belaerys. Crispian and Daemon had known her their entire lives and so, they would naturally defer to her and trusted her to make all of the decisions. As for Aevor Rahitheon and Ragaemor and Maerys Tarareon, they were unquestionably loyal to Jaenyx and all three had helped Jaenyx improve his negotiating position when they first arrived at Dragonstone. Her being a dragonrider and making a conscious effort to accommodate Jaenyx's vassals' need for their lord to have a lady strongly rooted in Valyria, which included speaking High Valyrian only with them, went a long way to earning their loyalty.
It was a different story for Visenya regarding Jon Rosby and Alyn Stokeworth. They were wise enough to see the futility of fighting once they saw the dragons fly over their castles, but they both represented everything that she had grown to loath about Westeros. Along with the usual haughtiness of Westerosi lords, both Rosby and Stokeworth showed how uncomfortable they were with answering to a woman even though they took great care in not making their discomfort obvious. Dealing with Lord Sunglass was enough for Visenya, but she found herself rubbing her head in vexation more often when dealing with two more lords like Sunglass. If their troops didn't fight as well as they did at Rook's Rest, I would have taken Dark Sister to their hearts just to shut them up .
Nevertheless, Visenya knew that it was up to her to make sure that harmony was maintained between their disparate houses, which was easier said than done and something that Rhaenys would have had no trouble handling. While Aegon and Orys were managing the threat of the ironborn to the west and north of the Blackwater Bay at the same time as Jaenyx and Rhaenys were infiltrating the riverlands, she was not foolish to ignore the threat to the south. Reports from Tarareon cavalry patrols and from Daemon's vessels all indicated movement from the Arrogant king's domains, specifically around the lands of Bronzegate, Felwood, and Haystack Hall as well as the lands on both of the Wendwater's banks. She flew high above those areas on Vhagar to confirm them, as she was taught by Jaenyx to cross-reference and check each report for its veracity and to avoid redundancy.
Any movement on the Wendwater was concerning for Visenya. Any direct route through the northern domains of the Storm King and towards Storm's End would have to cross through the Wendwater, which was not an easy task in itself. The troops of House Buckler of Bronzegate, House Fell of Felwood, and House Errol of Haystack Hall were noted warriors and archers, able to safeguard the northern domains of the Durrandon kings from the shiftiness around the Blackwater Bay and especially the ironborn under House Hoare. More importantly, thick woods covered the most direct approach to Storm's End, woods that the houses near the Wendwater knew well.
But even if they could move through those woods, Visenya knew that was only the beginning. The lands surrounding Storm's End were filled with stony ridges, which negated the use of cavalry and presented many opportunities for ambushes by funneling an army through its few passable areas. Attacking Storm's End from the sea was also not an option, as their approach would be alerted by House Tarth of Evenfall Hall and due to much of the coasts of Storm's End and the Cape Wrath being mountainous. The only way to do damage was by dragonfire, but there were many unknowns and no way of knowing for certain if dragonfire could destroy a mighty fortress like Storm's End.
And that was not including the strength of the marcher lords. Settled in the Dornish Marches, marcher lords such as the Dondarrions of Blackhaven, the Selmys of Harvest Hall, the Swanns of Stonehelm, and the Carons of Nightsong were renowned for their martial abilities and commanded bowmen that easily surpassed those from around the Wendwater. They also possessed much battle experience fighting the Dornish, many of which the Arrogant king participated in. Should Argilac Durrandon be able to bring the full might of the marcher lords to bear on the Blackwater Bay, the dragons would be in serious danger of being pushed out. In addition, the stormlords held much more loyalty to King Argilac than the riverlords to Black Harren despite his hold on his kingdom gradually slipping due to having no male heir and due to rumors that he wasn't the great warrior that he was in his prime. In essence, the dragons would have a difficult fight ahead of them in the domains of the Storm King.
Yet, despite the overwhelming obstacles facing them, Visenya saw some good news. Earlier that week, she flew over on Vhagar in a sweep over the southern domains of the Durrandons. She got curious when Tarareon cavalry and Daemon's patrols mentioned no banners of the marcher lords arriving near the southern parts of the Blackwater Bay. She had to fly high enough so that no one on the ground could see her, which limited to what she could see below. However, what she could make out from above was that the fields to the east of Nightsong, the farthest of the Storm King's marcher fortresses and located north of the Red Mountains, still had men tending to them in order to get the harvests of the summer years. The same was said for the fields around Stonehelm, which was at the eastern edge of the Dornish Marches. Both facts indicated one thing: the Arrogant king had not called the banners of his marcher lords and therefore did not mobilize all of his forces.
Not mobilizing the marcher lords was a good thing in Visenya's mind. That meant that the Storm King was more worried about the threats posed by Dorne and the Gardener kings of Highgarden, so he was keeping his best troops remaining where they were to deter them. The dragons could then focus on the threats directly south of the Blackwater Bay and how to maneuver through the thick woods extending all the way to Felwood in order to approach Storm's End. She had consulted Aevor Rahitheon on how they could move columns of troops through the woods, who responded by saying that the troops would need a combination of felling trees, shovels, and fire. He also said that using dragonfire would be the quickest way to clear a path through a forest, but like fire, one had to be careful so as to not uncontrollably set the trees ablaze.
Additionally, the Storm King not mobilizing all of his forces together meant that provided they move fast, the dragons could punch through Bronzegate and have a clear path to Storm's End. They might not be able to assault the fortress, but they could cut off the Durrandons and use the infamous terrain of the Storm kingdom to their own advantage by preventing reinforcements from coming through. But all of this had to wait until their numbers improved. The focus may have been on the riverlands, but Visenya had to plan when they do move against the Arrogant king.
Letting out an exhale, Visenya moved away from the maps and sat down on the mattress. Initially living in tents in anticipation of the enemy closing in on their position, their efforts in securing the lands around the Blackwater Bay and Aegon's victory at Rook's Rest allowed their troops to remain at the fort for the long-term. As such, Visenya had Rahitheon engineers construct more permanent structures for all of them, with a large wooden manor house built on the summit of the highest hill where she, Jaenyx, Aegon, Rhaenys, and Orys would live in. She occupied the rooms in the left wing, which had a mattress, a small table, chairs, and a collection of books that she brought with her from Dragonstone on the subject of Valyria's wars with the Rhoynar along with others detailing the conflicts between the Durrandons and the Hoares.
Visenya rubbed the mattress on the spot next to where she sat, her thoughts yearning for the one that was not there with her. Oh, Jae. I miss you already. She was not one for flights of fancy like Rhaenys, but the year she spent married to Jaenyx had deepened her feelings and longing for her husband. She did not know if it had something to do with their wedding ceremony, but she felt empty without him by her side. A part of him was within her, the half that made her whole, and she saw that Jaenyx felt the same way. And she never thought that she would stake so much of her existence on a man as well as giving her heart, but she gave both and he reciprocated.
Visenya closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to relax on the mattress after the day's work. Her thoughts were of their keep back on Dragonstone, to their bed in red and blue sheets, as a fiery sensation spread through her and put in arousal. She heard her breath quicken and moans leaving her mouth as she felt a familiar feeling come upon her. Oh… fuck…
Her thoughts were of Jaenyx as he fingered her clit hard while keeping his piercing amethyst eyes focused on hers. She remained still as he sucked and bit all the way down from her neck to her entrance. He would remain licking at her cunt, getting more moans from her and spurring him on. However, their best fucking was when she would be on top of him. Feeling his abdominals and chest and biting his lip while pounding up and down on his length, pulling his hands towards her breasts and sighing in content as he squeezed them. The sensations she had from their lovemaking were things she never wanted to end, but she felt more satisfied when she was the one that ended on top. Seeing him roll his eyes but her grabbing his chin and ordering him to keep them open. Fuck me, Jae, as a dragon would to another dragon .
A knock on her chamber's door pulled her out of her blissful stupor. Her eyes flying open, Visenya saw that she was covered in sweat, her tunic and trousers clinging to the curves of her body, and her heart pounding hard and fast.
"Milady?" Visenya heard through the door. "Lord Tarareon is asking for your presence at the south gate."
"A moment," she called out while she calmed herself down and wiped off the sweat from her face. She then felt her lower places feeling steaming hot and reached inside of her trousers to find her flower wet with her juices. She felt her face slightly blush, never expecting that a man would make her feel and think that way.
Visenya heard another knock. "Milady, he insists that you hurry."
"A moment!" Visenya repeated while she changed into her dragon coat. She made sure that Aevor Rahitheon made Rhaenys' befitting a lady of House Targaryen. Red with black trims, it was not durable as Visenya's but it could protect her from everything up to a small moment of exposure to dragonfire. After straightening her coat, she opened the door. "Yes?"
"Lord Tarareon said that there are riders at the south gate, carrying the banner of House Durrandon," the servant explained.
Visenya wasted no time getting to the south gate, finding Tarareon and Celtigar archers aiming their bows at a group of knights on horseback followed by a small column of infantry. Looking down from the battlement next to the south gate, she saw that all of them wore the sigil of House Durrandon, a black stag in a field of yellow with a crown around its neck. There were ten knights in two columns, with the leading two carrying the Durrandon banners and all wearing plate armor, who were supported by at least fifty infantrymen and thirty archers.
Visenya's eyes then looked at the two lead riders in front of the knights. One of them was also a knight, but his plate armor was more elaborately-decorated, with suns and moons carved on his cuirass and a blue sash worn diagonally from his right shoulder to left side of the waist. The lead knight had his helm raised up, which revealed the hardened, weathered look of an experienced warrior, with his straw-colored hair and beard slowly fading and his eyes betraying the strain received from many battles.
The other lead rider was much more intriguing than the other. In contrast to the mail shirts of the infantry and the plate armor of the knights, this rider wore a black cloak draped over the shoulders of her olive dress. She carried no weapons, but her stance as she sat on her horse told Visenya that she didn't need them. Her long, wavy black hair fell past her shoulders, but Visenya saw a steel behind her blue eyes. A steel that she could recognize whenever women were thrust into authority but were not very accepted among the male-dominated circles of upper society. Better keep an eye on this one .
"Soldiers of the dragons, we come on behalf of his Grace, Argilac of House Durrandon, first of his name, Storm King, and Lord of Storm's End. To whom shall we address?" the blue-sashed knight announced.
"You haven't identified yourselves properly, ser," Visenya answered back to the knight.
"And who are you to address a party representing King Argilac?"
Visenya held back a scoff before standing straighter. "I am Visenya of House Belaerys, Lady of the Basilisk Isles and rider of the dragon Vhagar." As if on cue, Vhagar flew low over the Durrandon group, causing the infantry to fall to the ground and the knights to flinch at both Vhagar's presence and her roar. It took a moment for all of them to recover their bearings. She couldn't help but smirk. You have not seen anything yet . "And who are we addressing?"
The knight looked ready to respond to Visenya's lack of decorum, but the black-haired lady held up her hand to silence him. "Lady Visenya," she sat straight. "I am Argella of House Durrandon, Princess of the Storm Kingdom and heir to King Argilac. And this is my sworn sword and the master-at-arms of Storm's End, Ser Bruze of House Tarth of Evenfall Hall."
The daughter of the Arrogant king herself? "This is very unexpected, Princess Argella," Visenya continued to stare at the Storm princess. "You did not inform us of your arrival here."
"You are speaking to Princess Argella Durrandon, Lady Visenya. You will address her as 'Your Grace,'" Ser Tarth admonished.
"Apologies, Ser Tarth," Visenya replied. "But your king is no king of mine and my family aren't sworn to Storm's End. So, we have no obligation to address her as such."
"You insolent, little--" Ser Tarth was fuming, but only Argella Durrandon putting her hand on his shoulder and scolding him while her eyes stopped him from saying anything foolish.
"Forgive Ser Tarth, Lady Visenya," Argella spoke up. "He has been loyal to my family and king for many years now and does not tolerate easily when one doesn't use decorum in my presence. But you have stated the facts. You are not sworn to my father, so I will excuse you not addressing me by my title."
"Thank you, Princess," Visenya responded. This is going to get interesting.
"Also, I have come to discuss matters that are too… delicate in the open. If you would be so kind, Lady Visenya, as to allow us entry into your citadel so that we may deliberate about them."
Visenya considered the situation. Argella Durrandon did not bring an army with her, but allowing her and her retinue into the citadel had risks. They could examine the inner workings of their fort and count how many troops were present at the moment. They might also try to provoke the men into attacking them, which would give the Arrogant king the excuse he needed to launch an all-out assault on their position. Still, Argella arriving at their citadel was a chance for Visenya to size up their adversaries and find out the measure of their resolve.
"You are allowed to have Ser Tarth accompany you inside, Princess. However, your knights and men stay outside."
Argella stared at Visenya before turning around and nodding to her retinue. She then dismounted, with Ser Tarth by her side as she approached the south gate. "Open the gate!" Visenya ordered.
Climbing down from the battlement, Visenya approached Argella Durrandon and Ser Bruze Tarth. The knight was just like any other she had seen before, loyal to a fault, strong, and stiff. However, Visenya was more interested in sizing up Princess Argella. She could see the steel behind her piercing blue eyes more clearly. Rhaenys was the epitome of grace, with her slender form drawing eyes whenever she danced, but Argella would come at a close second with her olive dress hugging her curves. She was slightly shorter than Visenya and not as muscular as herself, but she felt just as tall and strong.
"Lady Visenya, I don't mean to trouble you, but myself and Ser Tarth have just completed a long journey. May we have some bread and salt, please?"
Ah, guest rights. Of course . In all honesty, Visenya found the whole tradition of guest rights a dumb one. It took some outrageous tale to hammer the importance of that practice lest those who violate it get punished by some imaginary gods. However, this was a great chance for the dragons to find out more about their other adversary. Obliging her request, Visenya motioned a servant forward with bread and salt, from which Argella and Ser Tarth promptly dipped and ate.
"Come to my solar, Princess Argella. We can discuss whatever you came here to discuss there."
"Lead the way, Lady Visenya," Argella nodded.
"But Ser Tarth stays outside the manor house."
Ser Tarth was ready to protest, but Argella again put her hand up. "It's all right, Ser Tarth. She wouldn't harm us as we now have guest rights."
The solar in the manor house was not like the one on Dragonstone, but it was sufficient for the dragonlords. Aegon and Jaenyx would usually sit in the middle two seats, with Rhaenys and Visenya sitting on opposing sides and Orys sitting on the far end. The hearth was rather modest, but they didn't need it during the summer years. As the acting lady of their citadel, Visenya took the lord's center seat while Princess Argella sat opposite of her.
"I must say, Princess. This is rather… unprecedented. A king or a lord would never risk their heirs on a simple parley unless it was of utmost importance."
"You are correct, my lady," Argella replied. "But before we start and on behalf of House Durrandon, I give congratulations to your house on your victory over the ironborn at Rook's Rest."
"Thank you."
"I was told that your brother, Lord Aegon, and his other one, the bastard, turned an army three times their size to dust while also killing the Duskendale and Maidenpool lords." Visenya winced at Argella calling Orys a bastard. You better watch your words . "And I can see that the rumors are true."
"What rumors?" Visenya already knew what she was referring to, but she wanted her to be explicit.
"That dragons are not just alive, but just as potent as in the days of Valyria. I initially doubted them, especially when I heard that a dragon the size of Massey's Hook swooped down and turned thousands of men into ash. But as I have already seen your dragon fly above us, there is no point in doubting anymore."
"Quite so, Princess," Visenya nodded in satisfaction.
"With that out of the way, let's get to the important reasons to my presence today. I would have appreciated it if either your brother Lord Aegon or your husband, Jaenyx Belaerys if I remember correctly, were here." Careful , Visenya growled in her thoughts. "However, from what I hear of you, you're just as capable as your brother and your husband. So I believe that our words would flow smoothly if we dispensed with all the pleasantries and talked frankly. Would that be all right with you, Lady Visenya?"
"Of course," Visenya forced a smile. So she would rather talk with men. Does she even know who is she talking with ?
"Over a month ago, my father King Argilac Durrandon sent your father, Lord Aerion Targaryen, a message in which he sought an alliance between our houses against the ironborn. He had heard about what the ironborn did to your husband's men through his agents in the riverlands. As the ironborn since Harwyn Hoare have afflicted my house for generations, we have common cause. Now, I was aware that your brother Lord Aegon was already married to his sister and while incest and polygamy are seen as sinful in Westeros, those do not apply to you as Valyrians."
Visenya caught a hint of disdain from that last word. So much like her father from what I've heard of him . She saw Argella just as haughty and condescending as the Arrogant king, and she also was quite unaware of how her choice of words would affect a conversation.
"I have to admit. I was not completely on board with my father's decisions, mostly due to the thought of being a second wife and me having to submit to Valyrian customs, all of which are inimical to how I was raised." Visenya felt her hand clenched into a fist underneath the table. "However, given how my father failed to produce a brother before and after I was born, the survival of my house is at risk. And I am sure that with time, I would have tolerated a polygamous union with your brother and sister while ensuring the survival of my family's name."
Visenya wanted to groan at how ignorant Argella was. She certainly had the nerve to say the words that she was saying, but she was being very unwise at the moment. "What is your point, Princess Argella?"
"My point is that my father's offer for an alliance between Houses Durrandon and Targaryen is still on the table. I would be more than willing to wait for Lord Aegon to return to this citadel so that I may be able to persuade him of the value of this union myself. Once the alliance is made, my father will gladly provide your family a dowry befitting of dragonlords and at least twenty thousand troops in your fight against Black Harren. There is much to be gained."
What does she know about what it is befitting of dragonlords? And how dare she think that Egg could be persuaded to turn away from Rhae! Visenya crossed her arms. "What do you think, Princess Argella?"
Argella blinked. "I beg your pardon?"
"You talk of the benefits of the union, but I never heard your thoughts, not really. You seem like a very independent person. There is no way that you would have agreed to do this unless you thought that you could get something out of this proposal." Visenya leaned forward, her arms resting on the table. "So what do you want, Princess?"
A moment passed before Argella relaxed, but Visenya saw a smirk form on her face. "And so, the truth comes out."
Visenya blinked, astounded. "What?"
"Yes, there are things that do not sit well with me regarding you Valyrians. But it's either I marry one of you or marry some pampered lordling from elsewhere in my father's kingdom. Looking upon you, I can see for myself that the stories of Valyrian beauties that my father told of when he was in Volantis were true. Add that to you, your siblings, and your husband being dragonriders, I will certainly elevate myself into a higher form of existence and any children I have with either the men will carry the blood of Durran Godsgrief and of old Valyria, a potent combination. I hear both your brother and your husband are quite the stunners from what I can gather."
Visenya felt dragonfire spread through her heart. You crazy fucking bitch! "You think my brother and my husband will even entertain the thought of marrying you, let alone taking a second wife?"
"Why not? I had to turn down many offers for my hand, because many lordlings just lusted after me and did not care who I really was. Besides, your brother and your husband seem to have very good taste in women, especially Lord Aegon since he ignored the fact that he married his sister."
There was nothing that Visenya wanted to do more than to launch herself across the table, put her hands around her neck, rip out her tongue, and strangle her. Only through sheer force of will did it not come to pass. "You bring up my husband alongside my brother. Your father wanted an alliance specifically through a betrothal with my brother. Why also my husband?"
"To be frank, Lady Visenya, any one of them would do, although I hear that Lord Belaerys is quite the powerful man despite not having any lands because of his control over Valyrian steel."
Visenya slammed her hand down, her patience at an end while surprising the Durrandon princess. "Then you don't know just who you're dealing with, Princess," her addressing of Argella dipped with contempt. "You speak of alliances and dowries, but you forgot to mention one important detail that made us land on this continent in the first place."
"And what is that, Lady Visenya?" Argella looked honestly confused at what she was implying.
"Garaeron Rahitheon," Visenya still remembered the nephew of Aevor Rahitheon who went missing in the Wendwater. "Do you know him?"
"I don't, Lady Visenya," Argella denied.
"He was going to Oldtown to sell some Valyrian steel swords, but he went missing in the Wendwater while trying to reach a boatman in the Grassy Vale. Interestingly enough, he went missing just as soon as Prince Darvin Hoare showed up at Dragonstone with Vaeron Rahitheon, another one of our men who went to sell Valyrian steel weapons."
"Ah, the Unshackled Ironman," Argella said aloud in recognition.
"You know him?"
"He's a slippery character, that one. He once arrived without his father's knowledge to Storm's End to discuss business with my father, only for my father to throw him out once he said a few words out of turn. He was a little too interested in the many tales of how Durran Godsgrief fought the gods in their many storms and how Storm's End was built, which is just a little detail of his strange obsession with magic."
Now this, Visenya did not know. It may have explained how… predatory he looked when he gazed upon the halls of Dragonstone and especially at the stone dragon carvings in the wall. "But that's irrelevant. His father proved unable to control him whenever he led raids in my father's kingdom, but Black Harren could not do anything without stating to the riverlords that he couldn't control his own son. Looks like Black Harren is now finally seeing the consequences of allowing his son essentially a free reign to do what he wanted."
Visenya nodded in agreement, but had to keep the conversation on track. "Besides Garareon Rahitheon going missing in your father's kingdom, we've discovered that several boatmen coming to and from Dragonstone were paid by your father to spy on us, particularly whenever Valyrian steel shipments left the island."
Argella looked startled. "Do you have evidence to support that?"
"Your father knew about Vaeron Rahitheon being kidnapped by the ironborn, but he did nothing and instead used that as a pretext to propose an alliance between our houses. In addition, Garaeron Rahitheon goes missing at around the same time Darvin Hoare arrives at our home. Combined with the fact that several boatmen throughout the Blackwater Bay were paid by your father to spy on us, what makes you think we will accept your offer of an alliance?"
"Now, that is mere conjecture and the evidence is circumstantial, you have no---"
Visenya interrupted. "You said that we should be honest with each other. Are you reneging on that promise? We would not want to see our words tainted in bad faith now, would we?"
Argella scoffed, but her grin got bigger. "There is much coin to be obtained from Valyrian steel. What can you possibly do against us? You may have dragons, but my father can muster thirty thousand men in less than a month, some of whom have much battle experience from the Dornish Marches. You really think all of you have chance against both Black Harren and my father?"
"Your father provoked us by having boatmen spy on us, and your refusal to answer what happened to Garaeron Rahitheon shows that you know what happened to him. That means that your father also knows and is therefore a perpetrator."
"Do you really want to know what happened to him, Lady Visenya?"
Visenya felt her heart sink. "Is he dead?"
Argella sighed in indignation. "I heard that he resisted and killed five men with one of the swords he brought with him. However, an archer shot him in the eye and collapsed on the ground. We made a lot of gold from taking over the deal in Oldtown."
Visenya stood up in anger. "So you did know what happened to him, and you have the gall to come here and still speak of an alliance between us?"
"Look at your citadel, Lady Visenya. You command less than ten thousand men and your brother only won one victory. Your chances of winning against Black Harren are low enough, but it will decrease if you decide to also fight against House Durrandon. Even if you do win against Black Harren, you'll find the stormlords a much more loyal bunch to a Durrandon king than the riverlords to an ironborn. Your family could either accept the alliance my father proposes, or we can storm your island, take all of your people, and have them work Valyrian steel for us."
"Oh, now you're threatening us, in our own home no less?" Visenya raised her voice. "I knew you to be arrogant, but I never thought you would also be stupid."
"Careful, Lady Visenya," Argella warned.
"No, you should have been more careful when you decided to move against us. And now you have blood on your hands. So there can be no alliance between us."
"Hmmm…." Argella shook her head. "So be it. I'll let my father of your answer, although I doubt you speak for your whole house on this matter."
"After they hear of what happened to Garaeron Rahitheon, they will never have peace with you. Although, his uncle is here in this citadel right now and all I need to say is how his nephew died before he decides to kill you."
"You would allow your vassal to violate guest rights?"
"Guest rights imply that you come here without ill-intent, and yet you came here with threats and a confession of your family's involvement in the death of one of our vassals. More importantly, his uncle is a Valyrian through and through, so he would not give a damn about the traditions of Westeros. But out of respect for your station, I will allow you and Ser Tarth to leave this citadel alive. However, you will be foolish to expect the same leniency the next time we meet."
Argella nodded. "Understood. I do hope that you are prepared to fight my father's armies soon."
Visenya said nothing as she personally escorted Argella and Ser Tarth out of the citadel and to her men outside of the gates. She would refrain from revealing to Aevor Rahitheon what happened to his nephew until Jaenyx came back. The Valyrian houses might have responded to her, but she would need his advice on how to deal with the situation, since she had no idea what would happen if Aevor Rahitheon decided to go on a blood rampage against the Storm King.
Seeing the Durrandon retinue disappear further into the distance, Visenya found herself utterly baffled by who she had just conversed with. Argella Durrandon was certainly loyal to her father, which was admirable but her way of expressing was quite foolish. She thought that being a woman in power and having many men pursue her would make Argella a little more humble and careful in how she carried herself, since men would strike down a woman with authority who also practiced indiscretion. However, such experiences must have only made her more full of herself and more bullheaded. She admired that Argella spoke her mind and was unapologetic with how she spoke, since Visenya grew tired of the many times ladies in courts apologized for their words in men's presence. But she was so much like her father the Arrogant king. That could only lead to harder fighting against the stormlords than the ironborn, as the Durrandons would push their troops towards battle despite circumstances sometimes dictating against it.
However, that wasn't what got Visenya so rankled. Argella expressed interest in both Jaenyx and Aegon, not caring how Rhaenys and herself would think. It was bad enough that she saw herself being married to Aegon, as Aegon was quite clear on the Arrogant king's offer and Rhaenys would never allow another woman into their bed. But when she also mentioned Jaenyx… Jae is mine! No one else will touch him and I will burn anyone who tries to do so . What's more, Argella saw both Jaenyx and Aegon as a way to become part of a powerful family despite holding disdain for Valyrians. What the fuck is she thinking?
Visenya walked over to the spaces where the dragons were. Balerion was still with Aegon, no doubt helping both him and Orys in securing their northwestern approach against Black Harren. However, Vhagar, Meraxes, and Cloudwynd were still here, resting. After rubbing the snouts of both Vhagar and Meraxes, she spent a longer time with Cloudwynd. Blue like the deep ocean and like the colors of House Belaerys, she might have been as large as Balerion, but she was agile and possessed a powerful dragonbreath. She was also surprisingly docile, showing a reluctance to go into battle but more than willing to enter it if spurred on. Taking her husband's dragon's snouts into her hands, she placed her forehead against it and closed her eyes, feeling Cloudwynd's energy flow into her. Please, Jae. I know you'll be back, but please make it soon. I want to feel you inside of me .
Visenya felt Cloudwynd snort, her red eyes staring back at her own. It was as if she knew what Visenya was thinking about and seemed quite amused. She couldn't help but laugh while rubbing her snout some more. Dragons were connected with their riders for life, or at least as long as the riders lived, and she couldn't help but wonder whether Jaenyx felt her thoughts through Cloudwynd. I hope so, because he better come back quick .
" My lady !" Visenya heard from behind her. The other dragons were alerted to the newcomer, but were rather calm about it. She turned around to see Ragaemor Tarareon behind her. " One of our patrols came back. There's been movement near the Gods Eye! "
Visenya walked quickly alongside Lord Tarareon. " What is the report? "
" The ironborn have assembled another army and the last report has them crossing the Gods Eye on boats and going along its western shores. There's no doubt that they're trying to bypass Lord Aegon's positions near the north shore and come straight for our citadel ."
" How many did the patrol count?"
Lord Tarareon hesitated. " They lost count after fifteen thousand ."
Shit! Their positions in the northwest was fairly secure after Maidenpool fell and they had a direct approach to both Saltpans and finally Black Harren's fortress. Visenya figured that Black Harren had enough of being humiliated by supposed upstarts with imaginary creatures and was sending a larger force than he sent at Rook's Rest to end the threat at the Blackwater Rush. He already had a large force in the riverlands to keep the region in line, so it was clear he was now just throwing bodies at the dragons in the hopes that his numbers would overwhelm them.
It was quite clever, in Visenya's mind. The approaches south of the Gods Eye were relatively unprotected and the path clear to the mouth of the Blackwater Rush. If they could cross the river that flowed from the Gods Eye to the Blackwater Rush, the ironborn would be able to advance further into the lands around the Blackwater Bay and threaten Rosby, Duskendale, and Stokeworth. From there, it would not be hard to encircle their citadel.
However, the ironborn must have depended on their advance not being detected so early. If Aegon and Orys could reposition themselves further south in time, they would have a chance at blocking the enemy's advance. She had also heard via message sent a week ago about Jaenyx's and Rhaenys' progress in the riverlands, specifically how they got a force of riverlanders to join their struggle. If Aegon, Orys, Jaenyx, and Rhaenys could all converge on the enemy before they crossed the river, they had a fighting chance of repelling them.
" Lord Tarareon, prepare messages to be sent to my brothers, my sister, and my husband. They must know of these developments immediately! "
" Yes, my lady ," he answered with a bow before running off to get the messages ready. In Visenya's mind formed an outline of a strategy that could be used in the upcoming battle. She would have to trust both of her brothers, Rhaenys, and Jaenyx to fill in the details, as they would be the ones to adapt to the actual environment. I just hope that the messages would reach them in time .