Chapter 16: Riding For Kings Landing

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  [Ding! END +1 for your intense bed performance.]

  The m sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, painting the room with a warm, goldehe faint sound of waves crashing against the shore drifted in through the open window, mingling with the occasional chirp of distant birds.

  Arianne y beside me, her head resting on my arm, her hair a dark cascade over the silk sheets. Her finger zily traced circles on my chest, the cool press of her touch trasting against the warmth of the room.

  “So,” she murmured, her voice light but edged with something deeper, “when are you leaving?”

  “This m,” I replied, my tone casual, though I could feel her body tense slightly against mine. “Yes, in a couple of hours.”

  Her lips pursed, and she frowned. “’t you wait? It’s not as if you’re on a timer…”

  I let out a quiet ugh, my hand brushing her side. “I am on a timer, in fact,” I said. “As beautiful Dorne – and its princess – is, I ’t be idling here. I have seven kingdoms to recim. Just wait for me. I’ll be ba no time.”

  She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You better. Unless some other man steals me while yone,” she teased, her grin pyful but her gaze sharp, gauging my rea.

  My hand slid lower, cupping her ass with a firm squeeze. She let out a soft whimper, her shes fluttering. “After st night?” I asked, my lips curling into a smirk. “I doubt you’ll be satisfied with anythihan a dragon dick. And well, if you still whore around…” I trailed off, my tourning mogly disappointed. “It’ll be a shame to see my current number one Queen didate lose her position.”

  Her scowl deepened, but not because I called her a whore, she’d heard a lot worse the whole night. It was because of the st line. She looked at me, and the er of her mouth twitched as if fighting a smile. “Right… Priestesses ’t be Queens,” she said, her grin sharpening. “I guess I’ll have to wear a chastity belt, then.”

  Arianne Martell was a whore in all but name, and I wasn’t blind to that. She was too flirtatious, too urained, and far too aced to getting what she wahat was why she’d never be my queen—not in this lifetime or the . But still… she was mine now, and I wasn’t about to let her fet it.

  I decided to mention her behavior to Oberyn. The entire Old Paew by now that I’d bedded the princess. Her moans weren’t quite restrained, so they must be assuming she’d be my Queen. So if I mentioned her whore-like behavior to her uncle, he would figure out my iions. His Elria and their daughters wouldn’t let Arianne spread her legs for just anyone if it risked the position of Queen. Especially not with the Sed Sons stationed here. They’d be too wary of loose lips spillis.

  Yawning, I let my hand wander upward, brushing over her round, soft boobs befiving one a grope. “It’s time for me to get up,” I said, nudging her with my . “So better to work, Princess. Use your mouth.”

  Her lips parted slightly, a soft whimper esg her as her cheeks flushed. She bit her lip, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “Yes… daddy.” She moved between my legs, her obedienquestioning as the warmth of her mouth embraced me far more than the warmth of the m light.

  ****

  The st of spiced wine hung heavy in the air, mixing with the ctter of goblets and the coarse ughter of men who knew only battle as their stant. The dimly lit chamber buzzed with energy, the kind that came when men drank just enough to lower their guard without dulling their edge.

  I sat among them, my back resting zily against the high-backed chair. Daario Naharis was at my side, his sharp grin practically a perma feature of his face. He sipped his wih the practiced ease of a man who knew how to enjoy life without ever letting his guard down. His eyes flicked toward me.

  “So, you’re leaving, yrace?” he asked, his tone casual but the curiosity beh it clear.

  “Not yrace yet,” I replied with a faint smirk, tilting my goblet just slightly toward him. “But I like the sound of it.”

  Daario’s grin widened. “Oh, I think you are. You’ve got a thousand Sed Sons under your and, and from what I’ve heard—” he leaned in, l his voice but not enough to hide his amusement, “—from the Old Pace st night, it sounds like you’ve got thirty thousand Dornishmen, too.”

  The ugh that left me was low and smooth. “Fair point,” I said, raising my goblet slightly in aowledgment. “And yes, I’ll be leaving soon.”

  “How many men are you taking?” he asked, swirling his wine as though the answer were just as important as the drink. “Last time we spoke, you mentioned—”

  “Same pn as before,” I interrupted my tone calm but carrying the weight of finality. “I’m going alone.” My gaze swept the room, noting the men whose ughter came a little too easily, whose movements were just a little too deliberate. “And before you ask, no, I ’t share the details. Too many ears, even here. But if I need your assistance, Prince Oberyn will reach you.”

  Daario raised his goblet with an approving nod, his grin shifting into something sharper. “Uood. To your success, then.”

  The k of oblets was a muted sound pared to the din around us, but it held more weight. I dowhe rest of my wine in one smooth motion before setting the goblet aside. Rising from my seat, I gave Daario a short nod before stepping away.

  The hall noise faded behind me as I walked through the corridors of the Old Pace. The stone walls cast long shadows in the faint light. The silk curtains swayed gently in the breeze, and the faint st of citrus teased the air.

  It’s about time, I thought, the fai flicker of a smirk pulling at my lips as the door to the meeting room loomed ahead. I’d mention Arianne’s case first and then announce my departure.

  My boots echoed softly against the stone, each step steady, deliberate. The ughter from the hall was a distant hum now, repced by the quiet anticipation that had bee a familiar panion.

  The door creaked open as I pushed it, and I stepped inside, my thoughts already on the road ahead.

  ****

  “Alright, Prince Viserys. Have a swift journey,” Prince Doran said, nodding at Viserys.

  The m air was crisp, carrying the st of salt and citrus as it wafted through the Water Gardens. Sunlight dappled the tiled paths, its refle glinting off the still pools. Oberyn Martell leaned against a carved pilr, his sharp gaze fixed on the figure preparing to leave.

  “Thank you,” Viserys Targaryen sat astride a white horse, his hair bleached bd his face ed in cloth, leaving only his sharp silver eyes visible. The transformation was striking—practical, but striking.

  It would hide him well enough, though Oberyn couldn't help but feel that no disguise could mask the fire that radiated from the young prince. Fire was difficult to tain.

  A crowd gathered at the gate. Beside Oberyn, Princess Ariaood silently, her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the departing figure. Her expression was carefully bnk, but Oberyn knew her too well. She looked like she was holding her breath as if his departure would rob her of air. Good, Oberyn thought. Let her feel that weight. It would keep her tethered.

  “She’s in love already,” he murmured to himself, amused. He g her sidelong, noting the faint tension in her jaw. A single night had been enough to snare her heart. That could work in Dorne’s favor.

  He thought back to his versation with Viserys the previous evening. The prince had been blunt, as always. “I’m not aiming for marriage, not yet,” he’d said. It had annoyed Oberyn at first—he disliked the idea of his niece bei with false hopes. But Viserys had been clear: while he had no immediate pns to make Arianne his queen, he didn’t want to give Dorne false promises, either. He admired her, and perhaps… perhaps she could be queen one day. But only if she ear.

  It was ho. Oberyn respected that. Better this than ay scam.

  He’d spoken with Elria afterward, askio keep an eye on Arianne. If there was even a sliver of a ce she could rise to queen, then she o stay pure—untouched by sdal or poor choices. At least for now.

  “I’ll be riding now,” Viserys called, his voice breaking Oberyn’s thoughts.

  He nodded, about to respond, when the sound of hoofbeats echoed through the courtyard. Heads turned as a figure emerged from the shaded paths of the Water Gardens, her dark horse cutting an imposing silhouette. Kinvara.

  Her crimson robes caught the sunlight, making her appear as though she carried fire itself. She rode with effortless grace, her red hair gleaming like embers, her smile sharp and knowing as she reined in beside Viserys.

  “You’re leaving without me?” she asked, her tone ced with amusement.

  Viserys tilted his head, his gaze flig over her. “A Red Priestess is… spicuous,” he said, his voice edged with skepticism. “You’d stand out too much.”

  “Not if I waly that,” Kinvara replied, her smile deepening. “I’ll simply say I’m here to preach. What’s suspicious about a reading the word of her god? Besides,” she added, her tone softening into a teasing lilt, “you need ay, don’t you? You ’t just appear in King’s Landing with nothing. My presence will give you credibility should your outndish powers slip.”

  Viserys frowned slightly. “And if they hang you? The rgest Sept that worships the Seven Gods is in King’s Landing.”

  “Religious leaders have a mutual respect for one another,” Kinvara replied, her fidenwavering. “At worst, they’ll waro stop preag if I gain too many servants. But I won’t gather servants; that isn’t my goal. So I’ll be safe.” She g his bleached hair. “And besides… this?” She gestured to his hair. “One good rain and your secret are out. You should have asked me sooner.”

  Before he could respond, she snapped her fingers. Her hair shimmered, shifting from its glossy bck to a sleek, fiery red in an instant. She looked at him, arg a brow. “Easy, isn’t it?”

  Viserys groaned. “You could’ve told me that before I went through three wigs.”

  “It was funny,” she said with a grin. “But no more wigs. I’m ing with you. Azor Ahai needs his priestess, doesn’t he?”

  Oberyn watched the exge with narrowed eyes. The priestess was too smooth with him, too fident. Dangerous. She would be a threat to Arianne’s position—Dorne’s position—if weren’t a Priestess. Even so, she o be kept on watbsp;

  A sudden idea sparked in his mind.

  “Perhaps I help,” Oberyn said, stepping forward. His voice carried the easy charm he always wielded so effectively. “Varys’ little birds have long wings. Unfortunately, even here in Dorhey wouldn’t know your secret, I assure you that much, but they’d notice a Red Priestess traveling from here to King’s Landing. That’s enough to draw suspi to Dorne.”

  Kinvara tilted her head, her smile faltering slightly as she listened. He cpped his hands, a girls carrying ons stepped up. Three among them stood out.

  “But,” Oberyn tinued, his tone shifting, “if suspi is iable, the us use it to our be. My daughters are skilled in more than just poison. They fight, spy, and kill when needed. You take them as your followers with the excuse that they’re servants to the Red Priestess. Their presence will lend you prote—and they’ll be more eyes and ears for you in King’s Landing.”

  Elria’s hand touched his shoulder lightly, a silent question in her gaze. He met her eyes, his expression softening slightly. Trust me, his look said. She sighed, nodding.

  “U-uncle?!” Arianne’s head so look at him, and he ignored her. She was feeling threatened, but he’d expin to her ter.

  Both Arianne and Elria seemed to uand what he was doing. If not Ariahen perhaps one of his daughters could secure a pce of influence besides Viserys Targaryen. Maybe not as ‘Queen,’ but as lovers. After all, Elria and Oberyn weren’t married either. Yet, she was invaluable to him.

  Viserys sidered this, his sharp gaze flig over Oberyn and then to the Sand Snakes, who had stepped forward at their father’s silent and. The three eldest—Obara, Nymeria, and Tyeood tall, a step before the others.

  “Alright,” Viserys said at st, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I’ll take the three of them. Too many would just get in the way.”

  Oberyn cpped his hands, satisfa gleaming in his eyes. “Three more horses, then.”

  The m ended as five riders rode out through the gates of the Old Pace. Viserys, Kinvara, and the three Sand Snakes—Obara, Nymeria, and Tyehe rising sun cast long shadows across the courtyard, and Doran and Oberyn watched them go, his mind already turning over the threads of his pns.

  One way or ahrough one girl or another, Dorne was going to secure a high position in the new Empire that’d be born.

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