Chapter 34.6- The Seadragon's Roar

“So we are fully in agreement as to everything then” I said, basically ending the negotiation after what felt like hours of talking and grinding out specificities.

“Yes. The terms are satisfactory. Our scribe and yours can exchange copies now” The interpreter relayed the Lyseni’s words. I gestured to Bernard, and he walked forward with his draft of the treaty. I read it over to make sure everything was in order before handing it over to the Lyseni who was doing the same with their own draft. I looked at their draft, finding it also satisfactory. Then I signed it and handed it back before signing my own copy that the Lyseni had already signed.

Then both Bernard and the scribe got to work producing copies that we both signed and exchanged as well after careful reading.

“That will all be done then” I said, rising and prompting the magisters to do the same.

“Yes, Laenor Velaryon. It is good to see that you are everything that I expected and more” The Lyseni said, turning directly to me and speaking High Valyrian. The other magisters seemed to be confused at the sudden switch, fizzling their eyebrows.

“You speak the true tongue?” I asked, shocked. The daughters of Valyria had a tendency to distance themselves from the Empire that had spawned their existence these days. Especially since Volantis was still established as the spiritual successor of the empire in a lot of ways.

“I do. I am of the old blood” He said.

I almost scoffed. Old blood was code for child of a slave that just so happened to be able to trace his blood back to the Valyrian house that had sired his ancestors. But pointing that out would be far from helpful in this case so I nodded like it meant something.

“Indeed. It is good to meet one such as you, despite the circumstances.”

“Circumstances? There is peace between our peoples now, Laenor Velaryon. And now that there is peace, there is room for an accord. One between the Triarchy and the powers of the Stepstones would be highly profitable” He said, and I could see little on the faces of the other magisters, but Igneel’s senses were able to detect the rage in the Tyroshi, and the anticipation in the Myrish. Ahh. I could see it now.

This wasn’t just about peace. Of course it wasn’t. I needed to stop thinking of these people the same way I thought about Westerosi. The Westerosi when it came to war, held long grudges and peace negotiations were over the barrel. With these people, they didn’t seem to care for holding the grudge. They’d lost and they were ready to move on, already seeing the potential for profit. Merchants, I thought to myself. Did anything matter to them more than gold? It seemed not.

I plastered a smile on my face. If they wanted to play ball, then I would play ball.

“Of course. We can begin discussions on that end in a year or so. When things have settled down somewhat.” I said.

“We will be looking forward to hearing from you, and I wish you the best with your new Kingdom” He said in turn, and then they began making the walk down to their ships.

“I think that went well. Did it not?” I turned to my group, only to find Laena looking at the terms mouth wide open.

“How did you get them to hand over so much gold? I couldn’t be sure I was hearing the numbers correctly.” She asked.

“A dragon is a powerful stick, I guess” I said with a chuckle.