บท 8: Chapter 8 - Truth Revealed
Chapter VIII: Truth Revealed
14 BC
Sunspear
Meria was in a foul mood ever since what was colloquially called the War of Crimson Salt took place. Every day, she received petition after petition to cut House Rada down to size, to constrict its growth in every possible manner with every possible scheme. Half of her was tempted to just fulfil their requests out of paranoia, half of her crushed the other half with ruthless pragmatism.
Much as it galled her to admit it, the so-called eastern and western triumvirates of House Rada's neighbours were guilty of various acts of corruption and cruelty towards their own subjects, and for the western triumvirate to go as far as raiding caravans?
The eastern triumvirate was no better; spies brought her ample evidence that they were fabricating claims on Ifarahoy through forged documents and going as far as to position troops on the border, as if poised to strike the moment they learned of any weakness to exploit.
What else could she do but denounce them for their actions?
As a result, House Rada now held as much land as House Yronwood, and given time they would develop into a new powerhouse capable of taking the Martell armies head-on, or so their detractors and naysayers believe. The more they opened their mouths, the more she was inclined to believe they were being antagonistic simply for the sake of being such, as was their nature.
She heaved a heavy sigh as she received the last petitioner for today before adjourning court, and she stifled a yawn as she rubbed her eyes.
"Good work, mother."
Meria huffed at her son Nymor's words, "How can dealing with all manner of foppish, snobbish and generally insufferable pricks be good work? I'd much rather spend my days at my solar sorting through paperwork than this rubbish."
"Paperwork's an altogether different demon to fight," Nymor remarked in good humour.
"A quieter demon is better than a demon that loves rubbing itself in your face," Meria countered, "Anyway, tell Deria that I'm free to talk now; she's been pestering me to talk about a specific subject for days."
"The Red Princes, Mother?" Nymor asked.
"And why the Red Edicts [1] still remain in practice today," Meria solemnly answered.
IIOII
Meria's Solar
The solar of Princess Meria was a quiet and comforting place, away from the pinpricks of countless wagging tongues and piercing stares and the political schemes of countless players, pawns and fanatics of every denomination. It was here that Meria loved to wind down and relax, and at times have a chat with her family.
Were she younger, she would have preferred to wind down at the gardens of Sunspear, the sweet fragrance of flowers helping to calm her nerves. Old age took its toll on her body, and unable to endure the rigours of travel, she was confined to Sunspear's palace in her twilight years.
It was here that Deria would receive the answers to her questions regarding the question of Rhoynish heritage, and why the modern Dornish do not conform to the old ways.
"I believe you are owed an explanation, dear granddaughter," Meria said softly.
Deria knew that whenever Meria adopted a soft tone, it was for situations of genuinely heavy severity or high importance, and she pursed her lips.
"I asked you about the reasons behind the Red Edicts, and why House Rada still adheres to the old ways," Deria started, "Furthermore, I want to know what are your thoughts on House Rada's meteoric rise to power."
Meria nodded at this, "Then take a seat, it's a long story."
As Deria took her seat, she listened to everything her grandmother said with rapt attention, never faltering, never slouching an iota.
"Two generations after Nymeria united Dorne for the first time in its history under House Martell, Houses Wyl and Manwoody launched raids on Dorne's traditional rivals and neighbours - the Stormlands and the Reach - as they have always done for millennia. It was nothing out of the ordinary, but that was when they started receiving backlash for allowing the raids to happen in the first place."
"But no Dornish ever thought twice about the raids or even punishing them in the first place," Deria stated, "Partly because it served to weaken our neighbours and also since the deserts were harsh to any army without a proper water supply, they did not believe any invasion of Dorne could ever bear fruit. Furthermore, though they despise the raiding ways of the Red Mountain Dornish, most invaders were bled dry in the mountain passes and stalled long enough for their neighbours to distract them. The logistical undertaking alone would be a tremendous strain on their coffers."
Meria wistfully looked outside the window, taking in the scenery of a lively and bustling Sunspear below her, the people of the castle milling about their daily lives without a care in the world.
"By then, a great number of the Greenblood Dornish - direct descendants of unions between Andal and Rhoynish - followed the Faith of the Seven rather than the Mother Rhoyne or any of the Rhoynish Gods. That being said, a great number of them staunchly opposed the continuation of the Red Mountain Dornish's raiding ways, and were clamouring to have the Houses responsible punished and even permanently removed from power."
"Their pleas fell on deaf ears, did they not?" Deria asked.
Meria nodded solemnly with a heavy sigh.
"The then ruling patriarch of House Martell, Prince Mors III Martell, was eager to remain in the good graces of the Houses of the Red Mountains and other Dornish further away from the lands under rule of the Greenblood Dornish, unwilling to risk the Princedom's stability. However, he was a rather mediocre leader while his sister Nymeria II, a staunchly Rhoynish woman through and through, outshone him in every possible manner. A talented general who won countless battles, she had the widespread support of the people and countless petty nobles and merchants who wanted to curry favour with her and was most outspoken in favour of war as justice for the Red Mountain Dornish's transgressions."
"...Did they clamour for her to be Princess instead of Mors III?" Deria asked.
Again, Meria nodded solemnly.
"There was a treacherous and tyrannical advisor of Mors III by the name of Alfryd Sand, a baseborn relative of House Martell and his Master of Coin. One of the wealthiest and most influential political players of his time, he had the Prince's ear who himself was beset by increasing paranoia and envy, jealous of his sister's talents."
Deria felt a chill down her spine and partial anger against this Mors III.
"Eventually, Alfryd was able to convince Mors III to declare Nymeria II a traitor to Dorne, guilty of attempting to usurp the throne from him. The Red Mountain Houses, eager to end the growing Rhoynish power and dominance of Dorne, readily agreed to send troops to his aid."
"That… Isn't this the same kind of situation as with House Rada right now?" Deria questioned, "Arris Rada may be the ruling Lord of his House, but Arin's talents may as well make him the true Lord instead."
"Indeed, but there are marked differences in comparison," Meria gently corrected, "Anyway, as soon as Mors III's edict was announced, more than half the Greenblood houses rebelled, and the stage was set for the War of the Red Serpents [2] - a war that would doom the burgeoning cultural power of the Rhoynish."
"At the time, the power of House Martell was concentrated in eastern Dorne, was it not?" Deria inquired, "After all, the Houses of the Red Mountains would not have surrendered otherwise."
"Indeed, though it was not after suffering a string of devastating defeats that they finally submitted. Kingly houses are extremely proud and unwilling to surrender otherwise," Meria nodded, "Nymeria II won many battles through her shining charisma and boldness, and her victories served to further the rebel cause. However, at the same time, she was exceptionally biased against the Rhoynar who converted to the Faith of the Seven, and those who supported her cause but preferred their new faith gradually came to be alienated by a combination of abusive language from her and discrimination from her subordinates, and they clashed more than once with the Orphans who entered her service."
"It's always internal politics that threatens the unity of a faction, is it not?" Deria said.
"And it was internal politics that led to Nymeria II's downfall," Meria agreed, "Several of Nymeria's colleagues, starting to grow jealous that she and her inner circle were hoarding all the fame and glory for themselves, were swayed by offers of amnesty by Prince Mors III - all suggested by Alfryd Sand [3]. Eventually they joined the enemy camp and managed to assassinate Nymeria II and all her loyal officers and generals."
Meria heaved a heavy sigh.
"In all honesty, Nymeria was a highly impetuous woman who lacked the subtlety needed for a political player, and rather than be willing to compromise, which is a crucial trait of cunning and shrewd political players, she threw a fiery temper when things did not go her way. And Mors, while plagued by insecurity and jealousy, did know how to better play the game than Nymeria in his willingness to compromise with others, never letting his personal biases get in the way of his duties. Perhaps seeing his sister's temper, he knew that Nymeria's rivals and even some of his own circle would be willing to defect, if only to get out from under her control."
"Leaders cannot let their emotions get the better of them. Isn't that you taught me, grandmother?" Deria put forth, saddened by the sorrowful origins of the Red Edicts, "Because if they let their emotions get the better of them, they could do irreversible damage with the harmful and foolish things they do. And yet, I can also see why he so easily listened to Alfryd Sand. Perhaps it is also because Nymeria was too overconfident and full of herself, and was unable to notice the pebbles piling underfoot."
"That's my granddaughter," Meria smiled, patting her shoulder, "Alas, as you can guess, Nymeria's rebellion was ended when she was assassinated by her own generals, and Mors III issued the infamous Red Edicts that banned the Rhoynish language and culture and forced the Orphans into their nomadic lifestyle. Only House Rada stubbornly continued to practise their Rhoynar heritage in defiance, using all manner of political tricks to stay afloat and avoid dissolution."
"Until now," Deria finished, "And with Arris's son Arin taking the reins, who knows what he will do next? And grandmother, how do you say Arin is different?"
"Remember when he visited Sunspear at my order, following the War of Crimson Salt?" Meria said.
"Yes, he flawlessly answered every question you posed to him in court, and was unflinching beneath everyone's stares. In fact, he seemed… humble, yet quietly confident," Deria answered, "Also, I can't really describe it… it's as if I'm looking at a creature whose entire body is an empty shell, his heart concealed in his foot with a third arm concealed behind his back."
"A rather strange creature, but a dangerous creature nonetheless. You have the right of it, my dear Deria," Meria said, her lips forming a deep frown, "The fact is, I get the impression he does not care what others think of him."
"He does not?" Asked Deria.
"When I asked him about the possibility of him having orchestrated the massacre of the rival houses, he merely shrugged and said to me: 'Even if I did not orchestrate it, it would have happened, one way or another,'" Meria stated, her eyes narrowing grimly, "It's as if he fully expected the houses to be wiped out, that someone would take matters into their own hands for whatever reason. At the very least, if circumstances force his hand, I feel that rather than be loved and respected, he would be hated and feared if it gave him the results he wanted."
"But there are too few instances in Westeros where Houses were exterminated, least of all the Great Houses, and Arin said just that?" Deria questioned in disbelief, "And why would you think he would do such a thing?"
"Because morality is not his concern, only legality," Meria said, "He said that in the land of Yi-Ti, such a thing was distressingly common; whenever rebels were captured and punished under Imperial law, their families were also exterminated to prevent further rebellion and challenge to Imperial authority. And the way he said it, he fully agreed with such a practice and even seemed to contemplate it himself, as if rather than allow a troublesome house to remain and fester, he would rather excise the rot root and stem, so it would not trouble him down the road. To me, it is clear he has no illusions or delusions about the nature of the Game of Thrones, and perfectly understands the consequences of not valuing a ruler's connections."
"Does that mean he is a threat to House Martell, mother?" Asked Deria.
"...I cannot say for certain," Meria answered doubtfully, "I am suspicious and perhaps a little paranoid that House Rada grew in power so fast, but I do not believe he is a real threat to House Martell for the time being, since they only just annexed those lands. I do not believe, however, that he will remain idle."
"And earlier, you said that the situation was similar but different," Deria continued, "I get how similar it is, but how is it different?"
"It is in the character of the leaders, Deria," Meria answered, "Whereas Nymeria II would simply throw a tantrum when things go wrong, or disregard subtlety entirely, Arin is someone who chooses when to be overt, and when to be subtle. He also has talented and capable subordinates united in desire with him, and who can take over if things go wrong. Furthermore, rather than throw a tantrum, he will simply persevere and continue to find a solution to a problem no matter what. His flexibility, subtlety and perseverance make him a truly terrifying enemy."
"...Do you believe him to be a threat, grandmother?" Deria asked.
"Honestly, I don't think he wishes to threaten the stability of the realm for his own ambitions; consolidating his gains will take at least a decade, longer to further grow his power, and as such he will focus on maintaining the peace," Meria stated, confident in her conclusion, "In the meantime, we ought to start taking measures to ensure some idiot nobles do not threaten the peace for their own misbegotten ambitions."
"I could not agree more," Nodded Deria.
[1] Red Edicts - The Term for the Edicts issued by the Red Princes which banned the practice of Rhoynish language and culture.
[2] War of the Red Serpents - The Dornish Civil War that killed the burgeoning cultural establishment of the Rhoynar in Dorne, and which blackened the name of the Orphans of the Greenblood for siding with Nymeria II.
This established the Reign of the Red Princes: Mors III, Bryanna, Belessa, Felix and Mors IV, whose reigns would see the last of the Rhoynar outside of the Orphans converted to the Faith of the Seven.
[3] Alfryd Sand - A name synonymous with greed and treachery, he was the one who helped Mors III Martell condemn his own sister Nymeria II and all her loyal followers to death. It was he who helped lay the foundation for the Red Edicts, and his name went down in infamy.
Eventually, he himself was murdered after a long tyrannical rule, though the Red Edicts would continue from Mors III's reign onwards.
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