Chapter 37.2- The Seadragon's Roar

“Yes, and his as well” Icarus added.

“I think my head matters a bit more”

“Truly? I think I could live with hearing your voice a bit less. Our captive on the other hand? Let’s just say that without a deal with the Velaryons, I’d be pretty dead.”

“One can only hope this deal is as good as you say it is, then”

“It is.” He assured.

“For now, it is just words. It only matters if the Lordling decides to live up to his end of the agreement.”

“I’ve never known you to be so cautious” He said

“And I have never known you to be so reckless” his friend shot back.

“I have the measure of him. He will do as he says” Icarus assured as he found the required lever that allowed him push open the door buried inside the stone open. The light that shot from the entrance blinded his vision for a few seconds as his eyes were forced to adjust to the sudden change from darkness to abundant light.

“It sounds like you want to believe it to be true, my friend. Need I remind you that wanting to believe something is true will not make it so?”

“If you were so unsure about the deal, then why did you even join in the first place?” He groused while trying to get a bearing of their location. He had a rough idea of where the passage would take them, but beyond that, he could not say.

“Because I would rather die with you than live without you.” He said like it was the simplest truth in the world, meeting Icarus’ eyes. Icarus turned to the side, not wanting to see the intensity in that gaze. This was not the time.

“West. We ought to go west” He said instead.

“Of course” Yoren replied, following his lead without objection. Closing the passageway behind them seemed to either be impossible or too difficult to figure out in time so he left it alone and just went. Speed was better than anything else in this situation. If they could make it to the Tor in time, they’d be on a ship to Bloodstone before the day was up. And they’d be out of Gerold’s range of influence.

It took some walking before they found their horses and caravans again. They’d left them some distance away. The only lowborn allowed into the forest had been the servants and guards who lived there all their lives. The lowborn were deemed too easily influenced to be informed about Dorne’s greatest secret.

Being Yoren’s servants, they had the good sense to say nothing as the body of the unconscious Prince of Dorne was placed into a caravan and they began to prepare their horses.

“To the Tor with all the haste” Yoren ordered, and then they were off. Every step felt like it was a monumental change as the depths of what they had done began to sink in now that they had seemingly gotten away with it. Treason. His house would be a pariah in Dorne for at least a generation, he knew. To betray the Prince was one thing. To do so to the Dragonlords was something even worse.

The Velaryon Lordling had promised security and wealth. That promise would mean everything. Icarus had made his bed now. He was betting everything on rolling a double six. He just had to make sure he left the table with a more full coin purse than the one he had sat down with.