290 AL
Sunspear…
It had been 7 years since Jon came to Sunspear and to say those seven years were uneventful was an understatement. The realm had enjoyed a relative peacesince his arrival but, now those times were over. Balon Greyjoy had just declared the Iron Islands its own kingdom. He fancied himself a king and he let all of Westeros know it.
Dorne was leagues away from any rebellion but, with the tensions between the Lannisters and the Martells , Jon Arryn couldn't afford to ask Dorne for help during the war. The only thing the crown asked of Dorne was for a handful of ships to supplement their patrols along the western coast. Asking for anything more would introduce an unstable element to a very fluid situation. As such, the risk of infighting between Lannisters and Martells was to great a risk to have both armies in such close quarters. Jon Arryn would not risk Robert's kingdom on the pride of lions and the vengeance of Martells.
As such, Dorne was left in a very good position. Wars and rebellions were talked about in the markets but, never in any seriousness. To the people of Dorne the war was nothing special. In fact, many of the bars in Sunspear found it rather ridiculous. "How could the usurper think badly on someone trying to usurp his throne?" Many thought to themselves. But, inside the royal training grounds, they thought of the war differently. They saw the war as it was. The first fragile cracks in a dynasty that nobody thought would last.
"Left. " clank "left" clank "Right" thwack.
"Ow, you said right but, you went left." Jon said.
"I did, and now you are dead boy." Syrio answered.
"But, you lied."
"Yes, but, you were not seeing. "
Jon becomes a little angry.
"I was so! You said right but, your sword went left. I saw everything." Jon said.
"Yet, you did not block left. My words said right but, my eyes said left. Never trust what you see or hear boy, for words and sights can lie."
"So, what should I trust?"
Syrio takes his wooden sword and pokes Jon's heart with it.
"Trust this boy. With this you will see far more than what your eyes see and your ears can hear. When you see with this, you'll never be blind again."
Jon nods in defeat. He had learned a lot from Syrio and he knew better than to discard any of his lessons.
Syrio raises his sword and smiles.
"Again boy!"
Jon returns his smile.
"Yes master."
Doran and Oberyn look on from the balcony overlooking the training grounds.
"Jon is learning fast." Doran said.
"Yes, Syrio and Areo are good teachers. But, from what I hear, they aren't his only ones." Oberyn says.
Doran laughs from his chair.
"Really, what have you heard brother?" Doran said with a smirk.
Oberyn shakes his head and laughs.
"Hmm, I hear from Ellaria that as soon as I left for Essos, a brother of mine stole my son from his maester. It seems said brother has taken him to court every other morning since my departure. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that do you?"
Doran openly smiles.
"Well, can you blame me? The boy is as intelligent as they come. I couldn't let such a raw gem be wasted on only swordplay."
Oberyn looks out to the field. Syrio had knocked Jon down again and already a big black bruise had begun to form on his arm. Syrio had decided to call it a day but, Jon didn't seem to want to give up yet. Syrio just laughed and hit his wooden sword against Jon's bruised sword arm. Jon winced in pain before finally relenting. Syrio's laugh could be heard all throughout the courtyard. Syrio takes Jon's sword and guides the boy towards the master waiting for him.
"Why, he is my bastard. What use is wasting your time at court with him when you could be using it on Arianne or Quentyn?" Oberyn asked
Doran takes a breath.
"Do you think Robert will rule forever?" Doran asked.
Oberyn doesn't answer.
"I take your answer as a no. We both see the writing on the wall. The Iron throne is fragile and everyone knows it. Know one expects this fool of a king to birth a permanent dynasty. The Iron Islands know it and so do the other realms. The days of the Barantheons ruling Kings Landing won't last long and when it falls, I want Dorne to be prepared."
Doran sighs, "I want Arianne to rule Dorne and lead her armies to battle but, I have to be a realist. Although we in Dorne don't mind a woman leading, the same can't be said for the other kingdoms. They would never let a woman lead their men into battle. And when the time comes, like we know it will, Dorne will not survive if it is alone. We need alliances and armies and that boy will get us both."
Oberyn nods in agreement. Doran points at the spot where Jon was.
"He's smart, courageous, and honorable. Our people already see the greatness in him and soon the other kingdoms will see it as well."
Doran points yard again.
"The Bravosi already sees it. If he didn't, I'd doubt he'd teach him the way that he does. This isn't the first sword lesson that I have seen and what I've seen gives me hope. Believe me brother, Syrio is teaching him some valuable lessons and I'm not talking about his water dance."
Oberyn ponders what his brother is saying before answering.
"He's teaching him the game."
Doran nods.
"Yes. He and I see greatness in Jon. He'll need more than swordplay in the future and me and his dancing master are seeing to it that he's more than prepared when war reaches us. He'll be a great leader of men and Syrio knows this much better than I."
Oberyn smiles.
"Well, when you're the first sword of Braavos, you tend to pick up some things."
"Aye, I'm sure you do and I plan for him to train all our children." Doran said.
"But, his contract was only for a year." Oberyn said.
Doran looked at his brother.
"Give him whatever he wants. We need him Oberyn. A storm is coming. One that I fear Dorne cannot weather alone."
Oberyn nods and as soon as he does he sees a familiar figure running jumping from the adjacent balcony onto his own. A couple seconds later the door opened showing both Martell brothers a disheveled and tired Jon Sand.
"Father where is he."
Oberyn smiles and points to the opposite direction that the cat had gone.
Jon runs out of the room doubling back towards the way he came.
Doran shakes his head and laughs.
"You are incorrigible."
"That I am brother that I am." Oberyn said.