11th Month of 299 A.C. Volantis
Lord Jon Connington
Volantis had all the hallmarks of being a home to the dragonlords of Valyria, there were dragons everywhere, on everything. The Black Wall separated the commons from those who had the blood of Old Valyria in their veins, and somehow Jon had found himself behind it, residing in a mansion that belonged to the Tiger Valerion Maegyr, the man who was going to be championing the Tiger cause in the upcoming Volantene election. Jon had found himself in Volantis after travelling with the Golden Company, he had finally managed to convince Strickland to move the camp from Volon Therys to Volantis, so that they might meet with the Triarchs as well as with Princess Daenerys. Jon had heard of her adventures, how she had captured many a slaver with her dragons, and how Ser Tristan had been tasked with preparing her for her adventure back to Westeros to marry the King. She had three dragons, and Jon found himself seeing some signs of her father and not her brother in her, and that was slightly worrying. He hoped that there was more of Queen Rhaella in her than her father, and so far it seemed he had been right.
Jon could still remember what Brandon Stark had told him before the man had departed for Lorath, and the secret that he guarded. To keep an eye on the company and the girl, for Mopatis was playing with something that Jon was convinced he did not truly understand, of course there was a lot Jon did not understand about what was happening, but he thought he knew enough not to get himself killed. Though, he supposed, that all depended on what the girl sitting in front of him thought of the plans they were about to discuss. Daenerys Targaryen was a thin girl, her silver hair gleamed in the light of the room, her dragons were big beasts that were nestling in the old rookeries of Old Valyria, and as Jon looked at her, he could sense power in her, perhaps she would be worthy of the King, instead of the Stark bitch. For the life of him, he could not understand what his silver prince, or what the King could see in the Starks, they were cold people who brought nothing to the table.
He blinks and brings his focus back to the room, as Princess Daenerys speaks. "So, we have been sat here for the past two moons, and what for? Nothing has changed since we convened here. The elephants continue to hold sway over some of the populous, and the red priests continue to preach war. Lord Valerion, how soon might an election be held?"
Valerion Maegyr, was a man who looked all the world like how Jon imagined Prince Rhaegar would have looked had he survived the rebellion, tall, handsome, muscular, he was something else entirely. His voice was firm when he spoke. "As soon as Qohor begins moving forward with their plans. The moment they do that; the people will clamour for an election."
"And how soon might that be?" the princess asks.
"Within the moon, princess." Maegyr replies.
The Princess looks at him then and asks. "Is that enough time for us to prepare and move forward? Or do we need to wait for word from Pentos?"
Jon thinks for a moment, he knows that the eunuch and the cheesemonger have a plan, something he has never quite worked out, why need a plan for the princess, if they were going to support the King all this while. Uncertain of that, he responds. "I think we are done waiting for word from Pentos Princess, I think the time has come for us to move."
As expected, Strickland speaks then, voicing his objections. "Princess, whilst I can appreciate your desire to return home, surely it would be better if we waited to see what word comes from Westeros? After all, the King has not yet brought up the issue of your return, and that in itself should spell some worry."
Jon's eyes narrow then. "Are you suggesting that the King would not want to invite his aunt back home? What nonsense is that Strickland?"
Strickland holds his hands up placatingly. "I am not suggesting that, I am merely saying that it feels strange that the King has not yet mentioned the return of the Princess. Surely, that would be something of pressing concern."
Jon can understand where the concern comes from, from what he had learned of the King from Varys, the man was considerate and loved his family deeply, the man's wife was with child as well, though whether or not she had told the King that was another matter. That it seemed the King had not mentioned inviting the princess to return to Westeros was deeply worrying, however, Jon was not sure whether or not the eunuch had deliberately left that bit out of his reports. He voices this concern. "Whilst it is concerning, I do think that there are some things we need to take into consideration here. The eunuch is clearly playing some game here, as is the cheesemonger, and I think they might well be withholding some information."
The princess speaks then, her voice thick with confusion. "I had thought they were supporters of my family? Why then would they withhold information?"
Jon sighs, there is some of her brother's inability to see the woods for the trees with some people. "Because, it suits them, because information is power princess."
Valerion Maegyr speaks then. "I agree with Lord Connington Princess. The eunuch I do not know well, but Mopatis I do. And I can tell you right now, he is playing some other game. No doubt he hopes to use you as a card to force the magisters of Pentos to give him more power."
The princess looks horrified at this. "He would use me as a tool to further his own ends? He… he told me things."
Jon leans forward then, intrigued. "What sort of things princess?"
The princess looks at him, her voice no louder than a whisper. "He told me that my brother was going mad, and that he had tried to prevent me from being sold off to the Dothraki, but that because Viserys was the King he had no choice but to obey. I had thought him true then, but if he was supporting my nephew, if this boy is my nephew, why was he saying these things?"
Jon sighs, seeing what the magister had been planning then. "I think he was merely saying something to keep you safe Princess. After all, from what you have told me, Prince Viserys was not the safest of people to be around, and then there are the Dothraki who are not reliable whatsoever. I think he always meant for you to return home, but there is something else…." He trails off then, unsure of what to say.
"What is it?" the princess asks, her voice sounding desperate.
Jon thinks for a moment, trying to remember a conversation he had had with the cheesemonger many years ago. "I think he wanted to use you as bait for something else as well princess."
"Bait for what?" the princess asks, sounding disgusted.
Jon sighs. "I am not sure, but something major." He turns to look at the men before them. "I say we move from Volantis as soon as possible, we cannot wait for an election, nor can we wait for the cheesemonger and the eunuch. We are going to reunite a family, not start another war."
There are some murmurs of agreement, and then Strickland asks. "And where might we get ships to take us home? The triarchs are not like to want to let us leave until Mopatis has done his duty to them, and it's not like we won't be seen as an invasion force by the King."
Jon thinks over this, and he can see the sense in it, after all, the Golden Company has a history of sorting the Blackfyres and invading Westeros, rather than returning home, and of course, there would be the issue of resettling the former soldiers onto their former lands. "I think it would be possible to send word ahead of us to King's Landing, after all, the King does not seem as if he is completely under the eunuch's thumb, and as such, I think we can convince him that we mean well." Jon says, looking around the room, but mainly focusing on Princess Daenerys. "Furthermore, I am sure that if you were to write a letter to him Princess, that might well ease things over as well. I am sure the King would want to meet with you."
He feels encouraged by the look of hope that flashes across the princess's face then, however, it seems Strickland is not done. "And what of the ships? Where will we get the ships to transport our men, and elephants to Westeros?"
Jon feels anger flowing through him, he feels as if Strickland is trying to deliberately undermine their attempts at getting this issue resolved, and then something clicks in his head. Of course he is, the Blackfyres might be dead, but the Stricklands were one of their most fervent supporters, is it possible the man knows something I don't? before he can reply, Lord Valerion speaks. "I can provide you some of the ships under my command. There are not many, but there are enough for the Princess, as well as some of your men. As for the others, well, there is someone who might be able to help you."
"Who?" Jon asks.
The man hesitates for a moment, and Jon feels something of his old anxiety begin to creep in once more, eventually the man speaks. "Euron Greyjoy. He has at least thirty ships, and men as well as resources to provide for the Golden Company and the horses and elephants."
Jon sighs internally at that, Euron Greyjoy, a mad man, the man who had sacked Lorath to look for the thing that Brandon Stark was guarding, Euron Greyjoy, the man who had forced his own brother to beat his wife to death for the shame she had caused him. Euron Greyjoy was a mad dog, but he was a fine sailor and his fleet was supposed to be something special. "I… are you sure? Is there no one else?"
His heart sinks further when Maegyr shakes his head. "No, I am sorry my lord, but Euron Greyjoy seems to be the only one willing to make this voyage."
"What is wrong? Why is Euron Greyjoy such a bad option?" the princess asks, drawing a snort from Strickland.
Jon looks at the Princess, takes a deep breath and then says. "Euron Greyjoy is a mad man princess, to put it bluntly if you take his ships he will demand something from you, and it will not be pretty. Nor will the people of Westeros react well to seeing you on his ship."
The Princess considers this and then asks. "The Ironborn are not well liked in Westeros are they?"
"No they are not princess." Jon responds.
"And asking Euron Greyjoy for his help, would appear as if I was siding with them?" The Princess asks.
"It could do." Jon responds cautiously, and then a thought enters his head. "Though, Euron Greyjoy was exiled from the Iron Islands, and is known to be considered an outlaw there. Perhaps that is something that could be used to your advantage Princess."
Jon feels some form of relief that he does not need to explain how to the Princess, instead, she simply says. "Very well then, I think I shall meet with this Euron Greyjoy and see what he proposes."
"Very well Princess, I shall speak with him and arrange a meeting." Maegyr responds.
Jon feels as if a weight has come off his chest, but as he looks at Strickland, he knows that his working is only just beginning. He will need to write to the King as well, to introduce himself and explain what will be happening soon. And then he shall be home, and maybe the bells can stop ringing.