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~~~Azrael Jaesyrian, 277 AC~~~
~~~Hunting Camp, Crakehall~~~
Who knew my visit to Westeros would be so enjoyable, many, if not all; were fawning over me. All the great lords, lesser lords, and little people were ecstatic just to have me talk to them, look at them, or even walk beside them.
And I knew why that was, and I didn't care, to them, I was a candy, which attracted ants from all sides looking to get a piece of me. My power, what I represented, attracted them too much for them not to be enamored by it, and that could be seen in the way they all treated me.
And of course, it was also due to not disrespecting a king and one with a huge army behind him, and that was why my own Khalasar came with me, as a show of Xandarian power, as well as a safe conduct to correct problems long before they happened because the best way to correct problems was to avoid them.
And no one would want to have problems with someone who had a full, well-equipped army and a dragon only a day away.
On the other hand, the number of letters or marriage proposals was becoming impossible to sustain, old Walder alone had offered me more than nine of his daughters, and that's not counting the number of other women that other lords offered, just as they offer bread and salt to the guest.
Even Prince Doran had offered me the hand of his daughter, a girl who was only a year old, could one be but a person? I knew how political affairs were handled in Westeros, if a wedding could pay off, then that would be the best option to take to safeguard the future.
There were many examples of this, Viserys I, Rhaenyra Targaryen, and Jon Arryn. For people in this late period, heirs were crucial, and marriage would protect a civil war of succession, and that was why political marriage was so important here in Westeros.
But I was not prepared to know that up close, to see how many offered their daughters as sacrificial lambs, or even unborn sons, as was in the case of Lord Crakehall, who offered me his 'daughter', who was still in her mother's womb, was a complete horror.
"What do you think so much?" Valka interrupted my thoughts, making me look at her, and hell, she looked beautiful, her clothes, almost always black, highlighted her beauty to a frightening level, her lace dress, with its plunging neckline that let her attributes show, along with the occasional accessory she wore, made her look simple but beautiful, and with the beauty she always carried, she was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman I knew.
(Image)
"On marriage proposals," I replied, and she grimaced, spoiling her mannerisms, she shared my thoughts on it, and it was something that had hit us harder than we thought possible. In Xandar they didn't see that, of course, the age when someone became an adult was at fifteen, at that age, she would already have five years as a student at Amanda's Academy, and another five at the mandatory Military School.
And if after the age of fifteen, they decided to continue in Military School to create a military career, then that would protect them from any offer of marriage, and it had been that concession, that had helped hundreds of thousands of young men to continue studying and training to be soldiers.
They might marry later, and from that, more Xandarians would be born, but the prospect of marriage before the age of twenty was a rare sight, so to see a girl of eleven marrying a man of thirty would never be seen in Xandar, partly because it had made a marriage law, with a limit of age separation between the two spouses, not to exceed fifteen years.
"And why would that be bothering you? Just throw those milkshake letters on the fire and forget about it," Valka, direct and precise as always, was quick to state her view on the matter, "it's not as easy as you make it sound, they're selling children for as much convenience as they can get."
"This is not your kingdom, you have no power of voice here to decide to change anything, unless you do it by force, in Xandar that is not seen, you have caused it, and be content with that and turn a blind eye to it." Valka's words hit me hard, sure, I in a way was a monster, I had directly or indirectly murdered more than ten thousand people, and the burden of knowing that because of me all those children or women relatives of the slave masters of Meereen died was still held on my shoulders.
I had the power to prevent that, the book of the loyalty enchantment would have served to make sure they didn't seek revenge or go back to selling slaves, but my bloodlust, the power I had gained at the time was so strong that it went to my head, and the death of those people I saw only as characters in books.
But now there isn't a night I don't dream about it, and now, when I have more power than ever, and I see an injustice like this, and I let it happen, then it is my fault. "You have a huge heart, of that I am sure, but Xandar is our priority, there is still fighting and skirmishing in the Sea of Grass, and there are thousands of refugees from Mantarys and Sarnor to take in, building cities that cover all of our land is still in our plans.
Xandar still needs construction, and to dabble in matters that are so ingrained in the culture and traditions of an entire kingdom would take us months if not years to correct, I'm not saying I don't share your virtue of being helpful, but we are not in a position now to make major changes to this place when even our kingdom has not fully formed."
That I knew, but knowing I had the power in my hands, and not being able to do anything, or rather deciding to do nothing, created a bad taste in my mouth, "I know the prospect of doing nothing bothers you, but it is better to wait, foster Xandar as you have planned, and then come with full power to create a new world, one in the image and likeness of Xandar."
"Blood of my Blood," Essino interrupted us, Valka and I were sitting at a table with a large umbrella in the center to keep out the sun, Xandar there was rarely any sun, so the temperature always stayed low, but here, the heat was unbearable.
Valka greeted Essino, as she asked him what was going on; "What is it Essino?"
"It's Lord Tywin, he wishes to speak with you, he's coming in conjunction with the winner of the first hunt, Ser Gregor Clegane," he arrived faster than I thought, apparently he wanted a Netherite steel sword in his house sooner rather than later.
"Very well, have them come," I ordered Essino, while we were in a clearing, we were surrounded by the carriages, which brought a bit of privacy and meant that not everyone could approach, only those to whom the way was open.
Tywin was soon seen arriving, and as Essino had said, he had come along with The Mountain, along with two more guards. The Mountain was as the stories told, huge, the size of Essino, only unlike Essino, The Mountain had more muscle on his body, which even made him look like he had no neck.
And the thought of someday seeing a fight between those two filled me with excitement, and that I had yet to meet The Sword of The Morning in person, a man of that caliber would be a huge addition to the Xandarian royal guard with the right tools.
"King Jaesyrian," Tywin greeted me, and it amazes me every time something like that happens, how power can change the way people treat you because if it weren't for the power behind my back, Tywin wouldn't even deign to glance at me. And in that sense, I was like that too, so the idea that power was great, it was.
"Lord Tywin, Ser Gregor, I say for all that you are here for your prize, are you not?" I asked The Mountain, the witches had told me how he had slain the basilisk, and that had been a great thing to see, and it was why I focused on talking to Ser Gregor, rather than Tywin.
"Yes," was all Ser Gregor answered me, which caused Essino to tense up and place his hand on the pommel of his Arakh. Neither of them liked shows of disrespect. While they had been growing alphabetical in the affairs of the known world, that did not make their Dothraki roots disappear, and insults, however small, towards their Khal, they answered with blood.
"Yes, King Jaesyrian," Tywin interrupted, which made Valka look at him strangely, "forgive me Lord Tywin, but the winner is Ser Gregor, not you, he is the one who has the responsibility to decide," Valka told him, and I could see Tywin grit his teeth.
"My sword won will go to Lord Tywin... King Jaesyrian," Ser Gregor said this time, which made Valka raise an eyebrow. " Really? It's your prize; you were the one who bled for it," Valka commented, a little surprised.
"Yes, he is my liege lord. I owe everything to him, and that sword belongs to me. I can do with it what I want." Valka's countenance changed. There was no longer surprise in it, but pride... approval. Apparently, Ser Gregor's decision had made her respect him a little.