AN: Rejoice, my muse is back working overtime and taking illicit substances she refuses to share the name of.
Disclaimer: I don't own A Song of Ice and Fire, the Game of Throne or the Star Wars books, TV series or games. They belong to their creators, publishers and/or copyright owners. This story is not for sale or rent.
Chapter 7 Part 1
=Sith=
291 AC
Spear of the Sun
Slaver's Bay
The voyage to Slaver's Bay lasted longer than it could have. Prince Oberyn Martell traveled on one of Dorne's finest warships, escorted by a squadron of fine war galleys, making them far faster than any merchantman prowling the seas. Nevertheless, bad weather forced them to take a detour to Lys, which everyone on board enjoyed. Oberyn had no complaints during the week he spent there sampling what the infamous pillow houses had to offer. His only regret was that Elaria wasn't with him… that wasn't entirely true. Because of Viserys Targaryen's stunts and Doran's orders, Oberyn already missed the birth of his youngest daughter. When all was said and done, ships weren't a good place for very pregnant women. Oberyn's real regret was that he wasn't there to deliver his newest daughter and ensure his Paramour was all right. Consequently, the Prince spent most of the voyage eager for it to end so he could return home.
At least Daemon was always present to distract the Red Viper with spars and other fun activities.
The storms that pushed them to Lys were not a unique experience on their way to Astapor. The Dornish squadron reached Volantis without accident and enjoyed another week while the ships resupplied and the crew rested. After that, the gods decided to be less than cooperative. They prudently avoided the Smoking Sea, swinging south of the ruined Valyrian Peninsula. Storms ravaging the Gulf of Grief pushed them to New Ghis, where the Dornish had to spend nearly a month until their ships could be repaired.
Oberyn could keenly remember their arrival at the docks. Iron legionaries kept a large crowd at bay, gawking at a war galley proudly bearing a painfully familiar banner.
At New Ghis, of all places, Oberyn saw a banner with a three-headed dragon flying proudly for the first part in nearly eight years. The Prince was the first of his compatriots to jump off their ship on the docks and demand answers about the Targaryens.
As it turned out, their detour was a golden opportunity to learn more about the Sorcerer Prince, as people called Viserys over here. Immediately it became clear that the Ghiscari weren't thrilled that a dragon nested in Slaver's Bay. Oberyn could hear the gathered crows grumble at the Targaryen banner, and he had to remind himself of the animosity between Old Valyria and the Ghiscari Empire. New Ghis styled itself Old Ghiscar reborn, so it made sense they wouldn't be thrilled at Viserys taking one of the nearby Salver Cities.
Ulwyck Uller, Elaria's uncle, and Daemon hurried to join Oberyn, followed by a group of Dornish spearmen. Meanwhile, the Captain got the attention of the port authorities and began negotiating repairs and resupply for the squadron. The Prince's rank and status as an official representative of Dorne earned him a visit to the Ghiscari court. Unitil, the news of his presence could filter through to the Empress of New Ghis. Oberyn mingled with the crowds at the docks and then hit a few pillow houses. For once, he was more eager to gather information than to partake in the pleasures of the flesh. Still, doing both was more than feasible, not to mention fun.
What Oberyn learned was both helpful and not because, unsurprisingly, there were many conflicting rumors.
"Prince Viserys used foul magic to take control of the Unsullied and conquer Astapor!"
"The Valyrian bastard slaughtered all the Good Masters before exiling their families after robbing them blind!"
"Viserys was a wise and merciful conqueror who allowed the Good Masters to leave with their lives safe for a few foolish enough to offend his little sister, the Princess Daenerys! Those who did so died struck down by terrible magic!"
One thing was sure: the more Oberyn learned of his quarry, the more eager he was to meet the young conqueror. Daeron, the Young Dragon, was about the same age when he conquered Dorne, only to die out of arrogance and underestimating the Dornish. It was going to be interesting to see what Viserys was made of.
Days later, Oberyn, Daemon, and Ulwyck had the grand 'privilege' of an audience in the Empres's court. Legion commanders and Ghiscari nobles stood behind the Harpy Throne while courtiers lined up the walls in the audience chamber. Columns shaped like Harpies gilded with brass and gold held the ceiling and terraces where higher-ranked nobles looked down upon their lessers.
Oberyn could vaguely recall the colors of Ghiscari houses from the small archipelago holding New Ghis. Most of those were in place of honor behind the Empress or in the galleries above. Lesser nobles lined the walls, often standing in the shadows cast between the columns – those were the Ghiscari with holdings on the mainland, where no large cities existed since the Valyrians brought low the old Ghiscari Empire. That was ironic in the Prince's mind because if it wasn't for the nobles and merchants operating on the mainland, New Ghis would be a pale shadow of the grandeur he now experienced.
The islands by themselves simply couldn't support the military and trade power that made New Ghis and its Empress the premier power between Volantis and Qarth. That was especially important because the Red Waste and the Giscar mountains shielded the Ghiscari holdings on the mainland from Dothraki raids, allowing them to prosper in peace ever since the Doom.
"Presenting Pink Grace Liqaqi Gellhi of the Astrapori Temple of the Graces," the seneschal announced. "Envoy of Sorcerer Prince Viserys Targaryen, First of His Name, Ruling Prince of Astapor!"
A hush fell upon the court. The Empress leaned forward, and even with the dark veil hiding her face, it was clear she was curious to see and hear what the envoy had to say.
"Your Imperial Majesty," the Ping Grace bowed deeply as protocol demanded. "I am heartened to be in your radiant presence. I am Pink Grace Liqaqi Gellhi, bringing your Radiance good tidings from Astapor!"
Oberyn noticed how a group of nobles stirred at the introduction, and he couldn't miss how some of them flinched every time someone announced the Priestess' name. Were they distant relatives? The Prince needed a few moments to recall that it was customary in this part of Essos for young noble girls to be given to the local Temple of the Graces.
"A Valyrian dared claim a Ghiscari City," The Empress's voice struck like a whip. "You will explain your master's actions, Priestess! The days of the Valyrian Freehold are over. There are no more Dragonlords!"
"Your Radiance, that is precisely why my Prince sent me here," The Pink Grace offered another deep bow. "Prince Viserys has neither the desire nor the intent to wage war in Essos. The reason he took Astapor is simple – the foolishness of the Good Masters made it the easiest and simplest way for him to gain a trustworthy army in our Unsullied. My Prince's intent and ambitions lie in Westeros. He is eager to restore the Targaryen Dynasty on the Iron Throne forged by his forebearers. Astapor's distance from Westeros is a shield against the blades and armies of the Usurper Robert Baratheon and his lapdogs. If left in peace, my Prince aims to prepare for wars of restoration in Westeros. Astapor will be a distant safe port for commerce once the Targaryens recover their ancestral throne. My Prince's only desire in Slaver's Bay and beyond in Essos is the opportunity to trade freely."
That proclamation got everyone murmuring. Overyn couldn't contain his grin. Perhaps Viserys was precisely what he needed to avenge Elia and her children!
"The Good Masters you brought in exile might beg to differ, Pink Grace," The Empress countered.
"My Prince's goals mean that he can't be seen as abetting slavery in a city he holds, Imperial Majesty. We are all aware of how the Westerosi Barbarians view the ancient trade," the Priestess sounded profoundly apologetic. "The best my Prince can offer is that visiting dignitaries and traders can retain their slaves while doing their business in Astapor. However, Prince Viserys can't be seen in allowing the selling or buying of flesh in any territory he controls."
"Barbarians," the Empress scoffed, and her court conveniently tittered at her half-hearted jape.
Oberyn's smile grew wider. Viserys was proving himself not a complete fool. There was no way in the Seven Hells that Dorne could be seen aiding a slaver to ascend the Iron Throne, not even to avenge Elia! Aiding and abetting slavery was one of the few things she would never forgive to see those who murdered her and her children pay for their transgressions.
"We've heard your Prince's words, Pink Grace. You are granted all privileges worthy of an honored diplomatic envoy. We will discuss your Prince's actions and intents before deciding how to proceed," The Empress decreed.
At the very least, Viserys bought himself time before New Ghis moved against him. It remained to be seen if the young Prince could put this boon to good use.
=Sith=
A week later, Oberyn attended the royal court for a second time. By then, he learned of all rumors concerning Viserys, even as they grew wilder by the day. He even managed to meet the Pink Grace, though sadly, she proved resistant to his charms.
The woman either knew nothing else or was devoted to the Targaryen Prince because no matter who inquired or how they did it, she kept repeating the same narrative. Viserys was only interested in a future war in Westeros. He knew that trying to fight slavery as an institution would be madness, and he only outlawed it in Astapor due to how the Westerosi perceived it, etc…
Frankly, if it wasn't for the pillow houses and amusing new outlandish rumors, Oberyn would have grown bored weeks ago.
The high point of their stopover at New Ghis was the Empress making up her mind about Astapor.
"Pink Grace, we Ghiscari are old and wise people," the Empress announced, to sage nods from her courtiers. "Going to war for war's sake would be foolish. We pride ourselves on our Iron Legions, which are made of proud Ghiscari citizens. Wasting their lives without a good reason is not something we desire. We have decided to allow your Prince to prove his words true. However, there will be consequences due to his actions against the old trade. Your Prince's actions might be understandable in light of his barbaric Westerosi heritage. That makes the disruption of the old trade and potential loss of revenue no less real. Any trade between New Ghis merchant houses and Astapor will come with increased markup and taxation. Any noble and merchant houses that suffered the seizure of property or loss of life when your liege took Astapor are hereby free to seek further restitution beyond the blood price offered by your Prince, envoy Liqaqi Gellhi. They are free to demand a blood price they deem fit for the offense and refuse to trade with Astapor under your Prince's control. They have my leave to support any enemies your Prince's actions earned him or will earn him in the future if that is what their honor demands."
At that proclamation, Oberyn's estimate of the Empress's cunning, or at least that of her advisors, rose significantly higher. She just announced that New Ghis might finance a war against Viserys while shielding itself with a cloak of neutrality. Viserys would invite retaliation by New Ghis' full might if he retaliated. This way, the Empress and her cronies were free to make the Targaryens' lives much harder while avoiding an open war against a powerful sorcerer. If Viserys proved himself more dangerous and capable than anticipated, the Empress would happily sacrifice some minor noble and merchant houses to avoid a potentially ruinous conflict.
Essos was in for very interesting times, Oberyn decided. He couldn't possibly wait for the ship's repairs to conclude so he could finally reach Astapor and meet Viserys!
