Chapter 35.5- The Seadragon's Roar

—

“Well met, Ser Lancel” I said, walking forwards, and stretching my arm out to clasp it with his.

“And you, Ser Laenor. It is a pleasure to meet the youngest Knight in all the realm” he said in turn. I smiled at the compliment before he continued.

“Let’s hope it goes better than it did the last time a dragon rider was the youngest knight in all the realm, ey?” He asked with a chuckle. Was this some sort of jokester? Or was he mocking me? Trying to piss me off? It was too hard to tell so I just kept my placid smile on my face even as he kept our arms joined for just a bit longer.

I let go, and then he did the same with a nod. “And if I am not mistaken, this is the fairest maiden in all the realm” he said with a flourish and a bow in return for Laena’s curtsy.

I waved my hand to the side, and one of my servants stepped forward with the bread and salt. That was one thing that was beginning to look up, thanks be the Fourteen. Mother had sent us the staff needed to form the very beginning of a household here on Bloodstone, and it was a game changer not having to wash my own clothes, or to deal with food made my sailors. The food wasn’t plentiful because we were stuck shipping it in from Driftmark after Driftmark shipped it in from the Riverlands. It wasn’t the best supply chain all things considered, but it was passable. We’d probably have to begin buying food from the Slaver’s bay cities sooner or later to feed our growing population if things in the Reach didn’t look up soon.

“Back in Lannisport sing songs of your beauty and tell tales of your grace and charm, but I must regrettably inform them that even their wildest creations fall short of the vision that you are to behold in person” He said, looking at my sister with the kind of look that made me want to put a knife in his eyes.

Thankfully, his snake mouth was busied with the bread and salt soon after and I was ushering us off to the solar for a meeting.

—

“So my Cousin said you wanted to meet to discuss hiring some staff of House Lannister” he said the moment he took his seat across from him.

“I want your best surveyors” I said, joining him in cutting straight to the point.

“For these islands? I doubt you’d find any gold.” He replied. “I have an eye for such things, you see, and I’d be impressed if you found more than a few bare nuggets”

“Gold is far from the only thing that can be of value. Are your surveyors only trained to spot gold?” Because if they were, that would be another can of worms.

“Far from it. They are the best in the world at what they do. If there is anything of value under these islands of yours, they will find it” He said.

“Good”

“But then that leaves the matter of payment.” He led on next. And this was the part that the in-person meeting was needed for.

“I will pay their wages while they are working for me at half again the rate you paid them, and pay you a facilitator’s fee of one dragon per surveyor” I said, and he scoffed.