Pre-Chapter A/N: So here we are back on our regular upload schedule. Sunday and Tuesday/Wednesday. I've put systems in place to ensure we don't fall behind again so yay. I look forward to stress-testing them as the madnesses of life stack up (We're over a week in now and life is really hitting. We're still on schedule though, so things look good!). To celebrate the scale of our achievement, we've got a cheeky little discount for the whole month (code: MAY01) on patreon(https://www.patreon.com/c/Oghenevwogaga). Next five chapters on my patreon(https://www.patreon.com/c/Oghenevwogaga)— same username as here and link in bio.
Our race lasted the better part of the next two hours. The sun rose and began to hang in the sky while we banked and twisted past each other over and over again. Race was an interesting way to put it when it was more like a game of tag. Vhagar had tagged us twice. Once by using the seas themselves as a weapon and the other by flying into the clouds and catching us off guard. For a creature so large, she was capable of astounding levels of stealth. She had been helped by the initial darkness, of course. Once the sun rose, she hadn't been able to achieve anything of the sort.
Laena signified her surrender by banking and beginning to descend—abandoning the chase. I felt a smile cut my face in two even as Igneel's joy flowed through my body like it was my own. He liked winning just as much as I did—perhaps even more, because while Laena and I were in love, he and Vhagar had something just a few steps below hatred between them. They wouldn't seek each other out to fight anymore—that would be a much closer fight these days than it would have been when we were younger, but he still did enjoy beating her just a bit too much, and she hated losing to him more than basically everything else.
I noted the island Laena was about to land on, and my smile grew even wider. Atlantis. Five years since our wedding and I still hadn't started building here. I'd told her about it, of course. Showed her where I would raise a palace for us and our children to retire to one day, but building it before the children were born felt like a waste. We would never be able to come here all that often. Work at Bloodstone was immense. Not just for me, even. Laena was the lady of House Velaryon and she did a far better job of it than I had ever expected—not that I had underestimated her ability, only her interest.
Vhagar shook the ground as she hit it. The trees that lined the boundary between the beach and the inner parts of the island shook from her landing. Igneel and I were far more discreet. We shot downwards, his wings folded in to make his profile as aerodynamic as possible. I felt the wind threaten to snatch me from his back, but just tightened my grip on the saddle with my legs, while spreading out my arms and feeling it all. The joy of being alive.
Seconds before we would have smashed onto the sea—the speed we were moving at ensuring that the sea would have felt like concrete rather than water—Igneel's massive wings unfurled. The wind caught on them, slowing us some, but not enough. He flapped his wings once, and the magic I felt within him began to swirl in the air around us as we came to a stop right before we would have hit the water, and then he began to fly towards Atlantis' beach.
We landed and Laena was on me before I had even fully touched the ground. Igneel just grunted and moved off to the side as I was practically assaulted with her lips. Not like I was complaining as they met mine in a furious dance. Up, down, and then over and over again. When she detached for air, I could barely stop the whine of disappointment from crossing my lips.
"I am sorry," I said when her eyes met mine.
"I told you to wake me when that happens," she said.
"You looked like you were having a good sleep. I'd hate to disturb that," I said.
"And I woke up still when you were gone. I don't like not having you there with me," she said, referring to our bed.
"How did you even wake up? I know I was near silent," I said.
"You think me and the little one wouldn't feel it when our man was gone?" she asked, clearly not going to give me a serious answer. I just chuckled and looked around at Atlantis.
Five years had left the island even more beautiful than it had been before. The trees and greenery had fully recovered now. It looked wild and untouched, but still so beautiful and well laid out at the same time. Nature was a better architect than even the best of men, and this island was proof of that.
"It's beautiful," she said.
"I agree." I didn't think there was anyone with eyes who would dispute Laena's words here.
"Same dream again. No changes?" she asked.
"Yes," I said. She sighed, placing her hands around my waist and her head against my chest. When we had married, we had been about the same height. Now, I was a good head taller. Not because she was short, but because I had grown to be a good head and shoulder taller than most others. I still had my lithe Valyrian frame, even if now, it was formed from coiled muscle the likes of which I couldn't have even dreamed of having before, but what I lacked in breadth, I had made up in height.
"What are you going to do about the invitation?" she asked. I did not need to ask what she was talking about. Little Baelon Targaryen, the first fruit of the marriage between Rhaenyra Targaryen and Jason Lannister, was going to turn one in two months and we had received an invitation for the tourney that was going to take place in King's Landing to celebrate.
"I still haven't decided yet," I said.
"I was heavily pregnant when the wedding took place so we could get away with not attending without it being seen as a massive insult. Not attending this will not be interpreted in any other way," she said.
"Are you saying that you want us to go?" I asked.
"Nothing of the sort. Merely making sure that you are aware of the situation."
"I am aware. And yet, I do not want to go, Laena. King's Landing? I want nothing to do with it."
"Then we don't go. Mother can go with our apologies," she said.
"It will be an insult," I said, repeating her words.
"It will be an insult, but one we can afford to pay. Viserys still seems to be hanging on to your every word. Rhaenyra is a ways off from becoming Queen. Either we fix things with her before that, or we have an uncooperative ruler on the throne. It will not be the end of the world," she said.
I nodded, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"You are right," I said.
"Of course you think I am. I'm just repeating your words back to you," she said, and I chuckled this time.
"I should have known those words sounded familiar," I said.
"You should have," she said herself.
"We need to head back soon. I have a meeting," I said, looking over at the sun. It was maybe seven or eight a.m. We had more precise means of telling the time back on Bloodstone, but we were yet to succeed at miniaturising any of the clock designs we had gotten to work to the point where we could have something like a watch.
Our engineering and metalwork was just not there yet.
"The Council meeting? I have that as well, have you forgotten?" She pouted up at me.
"You didn't attend the last two," I pointed out.
"I didn't have anything to say, and it wasn't like there was anything I needed to hear either," I said.
"Indeed? And that has changed now? What do you have to say, because I know you haven't changed your mind on the importance of the things we discuss to you," I said.
"I think the Council should know that we are going to begin building here within the moon," she said.
"Oh? And when was I, the one whose gold is going to be used for this, going to be consulted?" I asked with a building smirk.
"Now. I've told you, haven't I? I want to give birth here. Bloodstone is nothing but bad vibes, and I know you won't agree to make the journey all the way to Driftmark for weeks to await the birth. This is a happy middle ground," she said.
"Then I don't have anything to say. We'll have to move some other project around to free up concrete and manpower, but we should be able to start something within the moon," I said.
"And you find Zalindros' designs satisfactory?" I confirmed.
"I told you I loved them. You were the one with reservations," she said.
"I know I said we wouldn't need a fortress, but I've seen brothels harder to invade than that thing," I said.
"Seen a lot of brothels, have you, Laenor Velaryon?" she asked, leaning backwards and raising a brow.
"Of course not. Just a metaphor," I assured her. The brow went even higher, showing that she wasn't convinced.
"Okay, let's get going," I said, not wanting to continue this conversation before I dug myself into an even bigger hole.
— —
"We may begin now. I apologise for our lateness," I said as I walked into the meeting room with Laena at my side. We had made it back to Bloodstone with more than enough time to get ready for the meeting. But then, because we happened to have more than enough time, we decided that it wouldn't hurt if we had a little bit of fun in the shower as we got ready. Of course, I didn't need to explain that that had ended up taking us from a time surplus to a time deficit.
Parvella smirked in my direction before turning to Benedict. Something passed between the Maester and the woman who now officially served as head of the Velaryon bank before he grumbled and placed a hand in his pocket before passing a silver stag to her.
"Gambling on your Lord and Lady is not permissible," I said, putting two and two together.
"We weren't," Parvella said, even as Benedict groused out a "We're sorry, my Lord."
"Which is it? You either weren't or you're sorry?" I asked with a chuckle.
"Your Maester is a sore loser is what it is," she said.
"Of course. Now give it over." I stretched out my hand. She scowled as she flicked the stag in my direction. She'd put too much force in it. It would overshoot my hand by a few inches and slap against my chest before clattering to the ground. Adjusting and snagging it out of the air was child's play.
"Ahem," Vaemond coughed, drawing us back to the business of today.
"Yes, yes. We ought to begin. Uncle, you're clearly eager, so I would like to hear from you first," I said, kicking off the meeting. We met once in a month and whenever there was something pertinent to discuss. I had initially started with weekly meetings. However, things in this world didn't change all that quickly, so sometimes the meetings bled into each other and just became boring for everyone. Making it a monthly requirement meant we could do more working than meeting, and that was for everyone's good.
"The Navy stands at full strength. The ships moored at Bloodstone port for repairs have been sent out to sea now. The pirates who were plaguing the waters between us and Slaver's Bay have been thoroughly driven off thanks to Lady Laena's involvement. Vhagar seems to have scared any of those left alive into giving up their naval ambitions. We will maintain increased patrols to ensure they stay driven off," he said.
"And my orders regarding the ships from Slaver's Bay?" I asked. This was one of the moves that a good portion of the Council had opposed for risking war, but I knew the people of Slaver's Bay. Those magisters were too cowardly to respond to my provocation.
"The quasi-blockade is maintained. Any ships leaving or approaching are stopped and searched. Any slaves caught within are freed and brought to the Stepstones," he said. I nodded, pleased. I had gotten the idea from a certain nation back in my old world. House Velaryon had the greatest navy in the world. We had the resources to take up the role of providing a security guarantee for a lot of trade, and that meant we could ensure that any who used the sea lanes we secured did so in ways that we permitted. Choking off the supply of slaves to Slaver's Bay both helped to fight the trade, as well as ensured that we had a steady supply of warm bodies to be put to work here.
"Good. And how goes recruitment?" I asked.
"Is your standing order regarding recruitment from Westeros still in force?" he asked.
"Yes," I said.
"Then poorly. Rhaenos is pumping ships out of the yard faster than we can get the men to crew them. Our fleet is massive and is doing a good job of projecting Velaryon power over the waves, but that power is an illusion. Half our ships are half-crewed, and that would be bad enough on its own, but then you add the fact that we have several ships resting at ports on Driftmark and Torturer's Deep, and the situation becomes untenable," he said.
"Last month we agreed that you would explore other means of shoring up our numbers," I challenged.
"We increased the starting pay for crew. The people of the Stepstones are not biting the bait. The standards we need for our seamen are exacting, and unless we lower those standards, it is unlikely that the problem will be solved anytime soon."
"Your recommendation has already been noted," I said. He had made it over a year ago when the problem had been a trend on a graph and not an on-the-ground reality.
"Has anyone else been able to think of anything?" I asked. No one bit. No answers. I knew it as well. I'd been turning it around in my head for months now, and the only solution was something I very much did not want to do.
"What is the greatest risk we could face if a targeted group of saboteurs are injected into our forces from among the Westerosi?" I asked. No one in this group was surprised by the question. I had initially not wanted to tell them about the fact that I was preparing for a reality where we would be at war against Westeros, but there were just some things that could not be done alone. Laena had convinced me to confide in them, and so far, things were going well. My plans were moving even faster now that all hands knew where we were sailing towards—full strategic independence.
"Sabotage is not the greatest risk. We would spread out any recruits so widely that there would be no chance. Espionage is a far greater risk, but they will be out at sea most of the time, only able to communicate with their masters when we make port," Vaemond said. I nodded.
"And defections if it ever comes to war?" I asked.
"We will recruit among the smallfolk. Smallfolk are not well known for their loyalty to abstract concepts like King and Country. We pay them well, and I reckon we can keep most of them on-side. Besides, even if this risk was salient, would it not be better to face it when it comes rather than cripple ourselves in the here and now because of a possibility?" he said. I scowled, still not fully comfortable, but he was right.
"Bernard, write to Lords Baratheon, Stark, Arryn, and Tully. We will be recruiting amongst their peoples. Tell them we will pay a copper for every smallfolk we take into our service," I said.
He nodded his understanding, and I turned my attention to Parvella next.
"How are our finances looking?" I asked.
"Passable. Cash flow is strong, and there seems to be little chance of returning to the crisis from three years ago. The calculations from the last month are in, and I can announce that we are still somehow managing to make more money than we spend, so the treasury is healthy," she said, and then, seemingly seeing something on my face, she hurried to qualify the news.
"However, another massive project will still strain the treasury beyond healthy levels. We should be stockpiling for the chances that an income-erasing event like a war with any of our major trading partners takes place," she said.
"Well, bad news then. My wife has an announcement," I said. Parvella dramatically slumped into her seat. I smiled at her antics.
"The Palace on Atlantis must begin construction this month," she said.
"I thought a decision had been made to defer construction until—" Bernard said before freezing. He looked even closer at her.
"You are with child," he said with some shock.
"Thank you for taking the announcement from me," she said with a joking pout. The shocked looks on the faces of the councillors were replaced with bright smiles as they all offered their congratulations.
"Congratulations, Nephew, Niece. This one will live. I know it," Vaemond said with all his usual tact, which was to say none at all.
I placed a hand on Laena's shoulder, begging her indulgence. He meant well, even if he did a terrible job of showing it.
"Thank you."
"We will be building on that hope. My wife intends to give birth there. I assume that we will be able to achieve that much?" I asked, directing the question at one of the more recent additions to this council. Recent in this case meant he had only been with us for about four and a half years.
"Yes, my Lord. We should be able to manage it by rerouting some resources from the project on Crete. If that is fine with you, of course," he said. I nodded, signalling my agreement.
"Now, how goes glass production?" I asked, bringing the meeting back on track.
A/N: Another catching up chapter that moves plot forward as much as it tries to give us context as to what has happened in the last five years. Also, expect Laena to use anachronisms just as often as Laenor does. He put tons of them in her vocab when they were younger, after all. Next five chapters up on patreon(https://www.patreon.com/c/Oghenevwogaga)(same username as here and link in bio), support me there and read them early. Discount available with the code MAY01– have fun.