Chapter 39.5- The Seadragon's Roar

He turned to Vaemond who whispered in his ear. Whatever Vaemond said seemed to be something he did not like because he shook his head abruptly.

“Nay, I’m no liar. I fucked the girl, yes. But that is what whores are for” He said, and I could see Vaemond take a visible and very meaningful step back, basically retreating and declaring he wasn’t involved in this. I resisted the urge to facepalm. I didn’t know whether what I felt was rage or wonder. Rage at the words I had just heard him use after raping a child, or wonder as to how a person could be so stupid.

Vaemond had probably told him to deny it. Westerosi law said that rape couldn’t be punished on the uncorroborated testimony of a single woman. Few things could actually be punished with what the Westerosi believed what flimsy evidence. If he had gone that route, he might have actually survived this.

“Really? She is a whore, is she? And what did you pay her for her services?” I asked. Laena looked incensed at the question. So did the girl’s brother. It must have seemed to them that I was accepting this foolishness. It must have seemed so to the foolish man as well. He swelled up, no longer quite so hunched in his chains.

“With my seed, my lord. She will surely birth a strong son. A captain in the Velaryon fleet for sure” The pride in his voice was sickening

I hummed, nodding my head along to his words trying not to show my rage.

“Maester Bernard, I apologise for my ignorance, but can you inform me of the going exchange rate for seed to gold”

“No such exchange exists, my Lord” Bernard said, and it took until then for most of the watching crowd to get what I was saying as it was only then that they began to laugh.

“So what did you pay her in gold, Allan?”

“My Lord?” Now there was confusion. Just a few more steps and he’d realise just how fucked up he was.

“I asked what you paid her in gold, Allan. Maester Bernard just said seed can not converted to gold”

“I did not pay the whore any gold, my Lord” He said.

“So that makes you a thief and a rapist then.” I said.

“Ho-hold on, my Lord”

“No. I don’t think I will. You said she was a whore and that was why you forced yourself upon her. But then you also say you did not pay her. That you did it without her consent means you raped her, Allan. And since you say she is a whore and you did not pay before taking her services for yourself, that makes you a thief.”

“No that’s not what I—“

“That is very much what you said. Now speak no further else I remove your tongue.” I said, and the man went mute immediately.

Good. I’d only ever seen one tongue removal back on Driftmark— a bard had made a lewd song about Mother, and Corlys had removed his tongue right in the throne room for all to see— and it had been far from pretty.