Chapter 34.3- The Seadragon's Roar

“Threatening to attack our cities is not how one begins a peace negotiation” The announcer turned interpreter turned to me and said after one of the Magisters spoke. He was translating his words then.

“Sending an insult is not how one replies an offer to discuss the terms of peace” I shot back.

“What insult? This one is unaware of any insult?” Vaemond bristled in his seat but did not rise. On my signal, Igneel roared into the sky, before breathing the hottest flames he could straight in the sky. I didn’t need to look backwards to know that he had breathed blue flames at least twenty feet straight up.

“Then I will remind you. You sent a slave you had dared to take from the protection of House Velaryon. You not just boldly flaunted your previous breaches of the state of peace that had existed between us, but dared to show that you were unafraid of the consequences of doing so. Now, the consequences have come due and they are payable in full” I practically spat out the words, enjoying the way the grown men flinched backwards. Probably more scared of the fire breathing creature than the teenage boy in front of them, but as far as I was concerned, we were one and the same.

“Then both parties will take it that we are now even” One of the Lyseni was the first to get himself in order and speak.

“Indeed” I replied once the words were translated.

“Now I will get into the terms of peace. You, all your cities, shall agree to the following: six million gold pieces upfront, and then three million gold pieces to be paid at the beginning of each year until a period of ten years has elapsed, twenty thousand slaves for me to choose from your key industries, all slaves of Westerosi origin shall be handed over to me regardless not forming part of the twenty thousand, you shall not attempt to increase your naval might or restore your warships for the next ten years, you shall not enter into any contracts with any sellsails or pirates to make war against the Stepstones, and in exchange I shall recognise that the state of hostilities against us is at an end, I shall not make good on any threats or promises to burn your cities to the ground, and I shall allow ships from your cities access to the Westerosi market through the Stepstones at the same tolling rate I charge ships from all other locations, except Westerosi ships, of course” I said, making demand after demand and watching as they reddened with each one. Of course I wasn’t expecting to get so much out of them but ask and it shall be given and all that..

“This is highly objectionable” The translator said after one of the Tyroshi men ranted in bastard valyrian for over a minute. I gave him a look of amusement. I’d understood some of that, and could say highly objectionable was a gross understatement of what he’d been told.