Chapter 36.6- The Seadragon's Roar

“I’d drink to that one” he said instantly, tone sober and thick.

“The woman still disturbing you?” He asked.

“Less so now that I’ve had to come here, but she somehow always finds a way to have someone send a message. The boy needs this or that or this or that, a million times. I’ve spent my wages on her every need, and now she still wants more and more” he said. Gerold, years ago, had made the mistake of fathering a bastard on a serving girl, and the Prince refused to hear word of anything less than him taking total responsibility.

And Gerold, to his credit, had taken full responsibility for it.

“Ignore her then. You’ve done your best. What more could she need or expect?” Yoren asked.

“The city. You know how it is. With nothing from Essos, there’s less food to go around, and even less of everything else. Things get more and more expensive, and there’s not a lot for a former Serving girl to do in he shadow city”

“You have a good heart, Gerold” He said. And wasn’t that the truth. For all his flaws, Gerold Sand was a good man. And worse for their plan, he was an even better Spear.

“Enough about me” He said.

“I assume you came to see the Prince”

“Yes, it’s a surprise not having you at his door”

“This place. You know nothing gets in without the Prince’s consent. There is no danger here. You can go on up, he’s expecting you two”

“Thank you, Gerold” They said, walking past him and deeper into the fortress.

“Seeing you two would be good for him, even. He’s not been himself since the last letter from the Velaryon Lordling.” Gerold said, and Icarus nodded, moving along with Yoren.

They knocked at the door, feeling like children once again. At least he felt like a child once again. He couldn’t quite speak for Yoren. And this wasn’t the place to ask.

“Come in” He heard the familiar voice, still strong even as weathered as it had been by the years that had passed.

He opened the door, dropping to a knee as he stepped into the room. By his side, Yoren did the same. Yoren had confided in him how much he hated bowing his head to the man that had seen to his father’s death. This will be the last time, my friend. He silently promised.

“Rise, my boys” He said, and they did so.

“To see the both of you, here and together brings no small amount of joy to my heart” he said, smiling with browned teeth that had begun to fall. Qoren Martell was no longer the man he had once been. Black hair gave way to grey as the years wore on. Strong teeth browned and fell. Smooth olive skin wrinkled with the years, and the body of the man that had once been able to outduel any on the sands flabbed with time.

“Thank you, father” He said, hating himself for using the title, even as he saw the flash of satisfaction in the man’s eyes.

“So what brings you here? Do you have news from without?” He asked, as if he was not aware of every grain of sand that moved in Dorne itself.

“Treason, father.” His eyes sharpened instantly. Age might have taken his body, but his mind had only been sharpened by experience.

“Whose? Who would dare?”

“Ours, father” he said, and then Yoren struck. The blow dart in the fold of his robes rose to his mouth before Qoren could even scream, and then he was slumped on the table.

A/N: So it is treason, then.