Chapter 39.4- The Seadragon's Roar

“Not guilty with cause” he said next, amending his earlier statement. I nodded like it was completely normal for two members of my family to be so obviously advising two opposing parties in a dispute.

“And what is that cause?” I asked. He made to speak, but Laena ’s mouth was at his ear again. Did she have to stand so close? It wasn’t like Vaemond was going to be listening in to try to sus out her strategy or anything like that.

“Aggravation, my Lord” Kysaro said next. I nodded, silently wondering if I should have brought a piece of parchment or something to note this down. Of course, turning to my side showed Bernard had arrived at his usual position and was beginning to set up.

I gestured for him to scribe the proceedings and waited until he had finished his set up before I spoke again.

“Where is the complainant?” I asked, turning to the crowd. Laena said something to one of the serving girls and in a matter of minutes, a girl walked forward. Fuck.

I could see Laena’s eyes harden as she gazed upon her. Probably in a similar way as mine did. The girl had silver hair and bright purple eyes. And I used the word girl very consciously. She could be no older than six and ten. And that was me being generous. There was a grace in how she rook every step even as it became clear that she was doing all she could to make her limp less than obvious. Every step clearly brought her some sort of pain. She was the blood of Valyria. And this animal had dared to lay his hands on her. Of course he had. He’d probably done so particularly because she was the blood of Valyria.

There was no race of peoples in this world that could compare to ours when beauty was the quality being measured. It was a surprise even that the girl had been sent here at all. If the Lyseni had any choice about it, they would probably have kept someone with her looks. I guess that went to show that my demands had hurt them somewhat.

“Are you Myrilla of Bloodstone?” I asked, beginning the inquest.

“Yes my lord”

“Indeed. Did this man rape you?” I asked, pointing straight at Captain Allan.

“Yes my lord” The whispers in the hall intensified at that.

“Tell me what happened”

“He-he asked me for some mead, my Lord”

“Mead?”

“My brother makes the best mead in all Bloodstone, my Lord” She said, and it was difficult to hear anything other than pride in her tone.

“I see. So he came to buy mead from your home. What happened then?”

“When I went inside to bring him the mead, he followed me my Lord. And then he— he”

“No need to give me specifics, Myrilla. That is enough.”

“What is your defense, Captain Allan?”