Chapter 23.1- The Seadragon's Roar

XXXXX- ICARUS JORDAYNE

He watched the new Lord of Driftmark fly away on his dragon with a sigh of relief. They’d almost been caught right there and then. Damn it, the boy had good instincts. The fact that they’d had enough wine within to make up the casks was just pure luck.

“How the hell did we even get so much wine?” He asked his brother. Icarus knew that he consumed a fair amount of wine, but surely not twenty casks worth in a single trip. They weren’t selling anything where they were going though.

“We didn’t. Good thing he insisted on looking instead of tasting. This shit’s been watered down so heavily that it’s only slightly more drinkable than piss”

“So all our wine stores are gone now?” He asked just to be sure.

“Most definitely. Most of our water all well. We’ll be drinking watered wine for the rest of the trip, brother” Oberon clapped him on the shoulder in what he must have felt was a helpful gesture. Icarus just felt empty. This punishment was getting worse and worse. The sins of the father, indeed.

“What about the other ships?” He asked, referring to the other two ships that were part of their fleet.

“Well, that was the wine for the trip back, and they probably did the same as I did, considering they passed the inspection as well” Icarus groaned. This was going to be a long few weeks.

“Chin up, brother. At least we’re not dead.”

“At least we’re not dead” He agreed sullenly. Part of him would rather be dead than deal with weeks at sea without good wine. And then there wa going to be the negotiations with the Tyroshi. He almost wanted to get a bad deal out of revenge, but then that would give the Bastard the excuse to just execute him and be done with it.

“Be above reproach, Icarus. Your father made mistakes, but he paid for them with his life. That should be enough, but House Martell did not get where they are now by settling for enough. The Prince will do his best to find a way to get rid of you— to get rid of all of us. We must not let him. Whatever he asks, do. Whatever he wants, give. Prove yourself invaluable. Serve him so truly that he can never punish us. Let all of Dorne see you as his most zealous supporter. He will know that any attempt to deal with you will show him as a man who rewards service with scorn” He remembered those words like his Mother had said them yesterday and not over a decade ago before he had been sent to Sunspear, a hostage in all but name.

He had lived by those words, and now the Prince had still found a way to almost kill him. What some would see as a reward— a sign of trust, being sent to negotiate on behalf of all of Dorne for an alliance in the war that they knew was coming. Those with wits about them would see the danger. Sent straight through Velaryon-controlled waters to get to the other side to negotiate an agreement for levying war against said House Velaryon.