章 46: Chapter 40 - Home Away from Home
6 AC
Zolha Noy (Sandstone)
Druselka Qorgyle
With Volantis now truly secure and the R'hllorite priesthood leadership purged, much work lay ahead of the Iron Throne in properly integrating their vassal state as a properly functional ally.
The first of many significant changes was renaming the country. Volantis was a country of slavery, oppression and social division, where the rich elites deigned not to walk the same earth as those they deemed inferior. Now it was renamed to Dāeria, Land of the Free, a land where former slaves walked hand-in-hand with free men to build a brighter and better future for themselves, their friends and family and their countrymen.
The city of Volantis itself was renamed Siglissiās, Rebirth, derived from the High Valyrian word 'sigligon' which meant 'reborn', for how else would this remarkable transformation begin for Volantis?
Ostentatious palaces were torn down and rebuilt or renovated as proper bureaucratic offices, where clerks worked tirelessly to record, sign and archive documents and letters of varying degrees of importance day and night. Within the Triarchy Palace, now renamed the Sigligon Archonite Palace, they drafted the Dāerian Code of Law which enshrined the new anti-slavery policies that came to define the new country.
Clerks travelled the entire country, taking a nationwide census to obtain an accurate record of its population for the purpose of taxation, land and educational reform. It would take at least another year to truly complete, but such was their dedication that some estimated the census would be completed at least three moons earlier.
Veterans conscripted willing freed slaves into the military, creating countless regiments of men-at-arms and a small professional force with which to defend the country from preying Essosi slavers, mercenaries and Dothraki khalassars. The Tegonians and Dornians played an integral role in helping the Paletillians devise and instil anti-cavalry tactics in the new Dāerian Army, and in training the new Dāerian Navy.
It was agreed that for the first five years, the Iron Throne's military would provide security and protection as the Archonship of Dāeria's military was slowly being established. Afterwards, for the next five years, they would slowly withdraw their military and gradually allow the Dāerians to take greater responsibility of their protection until the last of the peacekeeping troops was pulled out.
As for funding, the plundered treasuries of the nobility provided more than enough to cover all costs for at least seven to eight years, and by the time that money ran out, the planned economic investments would have started to reap fruitful harvests.
Finally, for matters of succession, to ensure Dāeria's loyalty and the support of its people, the Targaryens would implement the Paletillian Succession Laws [1] to ensure as few avenues of contesting the line of succession as possible.
Archon Nakoquo Esserah, a political non sequitur and a nominal figurehead until his replacement next year, was a powerless boy with nothing to his name, not even a sliver of recognition; all the new courtiers treated him the same way most nobles treated smallfolk. He existed only to place a fancy wax stamp on all documents prepared by the army of clerks sent from Paletillia.
Though Arin Rada had to work at Siglissiās for the better part of the year to help rehash the new Daerian laws.
Druselka Qorgyle graduated from the Aryslonye Military Academy with the rank of Second Lieutenant. Due to her achievements, she was fast tracked for promotion to the rank of Captain. She returned home a hero, celebrated and decorated, though there was a more distant look in her eyes.
Her mother Elia was the first to greet her, hugging and bathing her with love.
"Welcome back, sweetheart," Elia beamed with joy, "Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Just a few scratches, nothing serious," Druselka answered, her eyes squarely fixed on Elia's, "How's everyone else?"
"Lewyn and Maryse are busy with work as always, so I've had to take care of my grandchildren in their stead," Elia frowned slightly, though she quickly smiled again, "At least they take breaks every now and then."
"I think that's good, since we don't need more workaholics," Druselka remarked, "What about my other siblings?"
Elia had become Arin's paramour ever since his rescuing her from Rhodry, and since then she has borne him five more children: One son and four daughters. Her last daughter's birth damaged her womb severely, and though the Hydromancers managed to heal her and avoid any lasting damage, they strongly advised her to not undergo anymore pregnancies.
"Oh, you know them, always sharing their father's laziness and anti-social behaviour," Elia groaned, "I truly wonder why children take more after their father than their mother. Anyway, you must be tired from the long journey; I've ordered the servants to make your favourite snacks."
"That would be lovely," Druselka smiled.
She had another month of break to enjoy before having to return to East Point for work.
IIOII
Rhoyehom
Bholtha Xadoq
He never expected his brother's rival to play dirty in that ritual duel, in a bid to control the entire island kingdom of Walano. Both he and all his followers paid the price, exiled from the only home they ever knew.
They drifted from place to place, first in Essos where they sought work and support to retake their isle. None were interested in a foreign kingdom abroad despite the riches offered.
His brother Tarral grew increasingly frustrated, and his temper was stretched thin the more others rejected his offer outright or gave very evasive answers. Now, here they were, in Dornia of all places, hoping to gain at least some support for their cause.
"I swear… I hope this Black Fox does not give us an evasive answer, or I will give him reason to not waste my time," Tarral growled angrily beneath his breath.
Bholtha nodded, "We can only pray he listens to us, though I too tire of this constant wandering; our finances are running out, and the men are beginning to complain. There's only so much I can do to placate them."
Tarral scoffed but said nothing in argument.
Eventually they were approached by a guard of the Ducal Palace [2], who said to them, "His Lordship the Grand Duke will see you now."
"Finally," Tarral huffed.
As they went to present themselves before the Grand Duke, they instantly felt a predatory gaze upon them, and they shivered in cold sweat.
Grand Duke Arin Rada cut a dashingly handsome and imposing figure, his eyes hardened from years of war, treachery and strife, and he eyed them as a predator eyed possible prey. His wife the Grand Duchess Belandra was similarly dignified, and though not the warrior or strategist her husband was, one would be remiss to ignore the contributions she made on the political and administrative fronts.
For a man aged thirty-and-six, Grand Duke Rada looked no different from a ten-and-six year old man, while his wife was equally youthful-looking at thirty-and-eight. Bholtha himself was just ten-and-six while his brother was twenty, and they were hailed as the most beautiful men to exist in the Summer Islands.
They bowed before them, and Bholtha was the first to speak.
"Our humblest greetings, Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Rada. I am Bholtha Xadoq, and with me is my brother Tarral Xadoq. We were both Princes of the island kingdom of Walano before we were exiled, due to losing in a ritual duel."
"At ease," Arin beckoned, "I hear you wish to seek support for your cause?"
"We do, Your Lordship," Bholtha answered, "We wish to right this dreadful wrong done to our family, for our enemy cheated and won the duel by unfair means."
"And if I may add, they had help from a few corrupt priests here and there to stage the duel to their benefit," Tarral added angrily, remaining civil as best as he could.
"We know you have your own concerns, but we wish simply for financial and political support. Should we succeed in our cause, know that you shall enjoy beneficial trade routes to some of the most prosperous lands in all the known world," Bholtha finished with a flourish, anxiously anticipating his answer.
Belandra and Arin whispered among themselves for a few moments, and as the Xadoq brothers waited Tarral became increasingly impatient, and despite Bholtha's pleading eyes the eldest Xadoq was almost ready to make demands.
Then Arin gave his answer.
"Tell you what, I'll support your cause..."
The Xadoq brothers' eyes widened at this statement, and they felt smiles of relief come to their faces.
"…On a few conditions," Arin quickly added.
"Please name them, Your Lordship," Bholtha said.
"First, I cannot and will not donate troops to your cause," Arin started, "No one in Westeros wants to be involved in another war so quickly after our last one, and I need my troops elsewhere."
While Tarral begged to differ, both of them knew that if they relied on foreign troops to retake their lands, duel or no duel, it would sit ill with their subjects and in turn damage the legitimacy of their cause. They would have to independently raise their own forces, be it other Summer Islander exiles or Westerosi, or mercenaries of any kind. Even then they had to watch their finances, and mercenaries tended to be expensive to hire.
"We accept," Tarral replied rather sullenly.
"Next, if I am to give you money to spend, I need you to do your share of honest work - both you and the men under your command," Arin continued, "If you work well, I might throw in a surplus here and there. Furthermore, if any noble wishes to curry favour with you, make sure they are not the kind who will inconvenience me in any way, or cause harm to the people."
"Gladly, Your Lordship," Tarral was beaming now.
"Lastly, do not, under any circumstance, ever attempt to undermine our authority," Belandra warned, "If you do, know that our punishments are extremely severe."
"Just look at what happened to the slavers of Volantis," Arin smiled, his face cold and unfeeling.
At once the feeling of dread amplified, and they swiftly nodded their acknowledgement.
"Good," Arin smiled, "Now, as for your place of work, I will send you to Aryslonye (Sunspear), being one of the closest ports to the Summer Islands. From there, you shall pay for your own accommodations and troops, and act under the auspices of Ducal law. Do you understand me?"
"We completely understand, Your Lordship," Bholtha answered.
For now, it was as good a deal as they would get.
[1] Paletillian Succession Laws - Due to Valyrian polygamous customs, Arin Rada as Master of Law drafted this new law to prevent exploitations of loopholes and confusion when determining the next heir of a noble house.
If a man has more than one wife, the eldest firstborn son - from any wife - is the undisputed heir of the family, be it the first or second wife and so on. As such, for example, if the firstborn child from the man's first wife is a daughter, she will be passed over for the eldest born son from his second wife.
If the eldest son were to die, the next son would inherit. If there are no sons left to inherit, the eldest daughter will inherit and even then, it will be the eldest firstborn daughter no matter whether it was the first wife or concubine who sired her.
Concubines are not equal in status to second/third wives et cetera, and who hold a little more political clout than regular mistresses. As for paramours in Dornia, they are in a sense 'exclusive' concubines who can share the duties of a wife without being an actual wife.
[2] Ducal Palace - The main headquarters of government in Rhoyehom and all of Dornia.
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