Inside the Velaryon's tent of command, night winds hissed against the cloth. Per the usual here in the Stepstones.
In any case... Corlys paced near the mapped table, one that had marks of the caves.
With jaws tight, he muttered. "He was struck in the shoulder, you said."
His brother Vaemond answered. "Aye. The healers tend to him now. But it serves him right. Running off alone as if he's even half of what his abandoned son is capable of."
And with a hating expression, Vaemond added. "The man even had the gall to silence me... and call you the Slow Snake."
Which made the Sea Snake pause to ask. "Slow Snake?"
So, Vaemond explained that. "It's what he mocks you. Or mayhaps what the realm mocks you. Our great voyages took decades but that bronze boy did the same in less than three years. A difference that is hard to miss..."
And while Corlys contemplated in silence, Vaemond appeasingly ensued. "But they are ignorant fools, brother. Let the boy reach Yi Ti and Asshai at the same pace… and perhaps we might just concede. As of now, he's only done half of what we've done."
To which, Corlys exhaled slowly to then say. "Half is enough to shame us. For the Royces may very well reach farther, Vaemond. They have ships that need not cling to the coast. And they ride the truly open waters and take to sail with better winds."
Vaemond wasn't having it, as he accused. "You speak as if you've already yielded."
So, Corlys continued. "They can sail in moonless dark if they so dare. For they need neither sun, star, nor shore. Their charts are changing the Narrow Sea as we speak. Bolstering their already fast speeds that put every ship I've ever commanded to shame."
Which made Vaemond frown deeply. "What manner of sailors are they? To overtake the finest seafarers of Driftmark?"
"Untested lads, most of them. But growing. As their so-called compasses do the rest." Was what Corlys replied.
Vaemond questioned. "Compasses?"
"Like the device we've heard Yi Ti is developing." The Sea Snake said. "But from what I know, that thing just points south and is more of a curiosity at present than a tool. While the Bronze fleet's version uses the north as an indication. And it is even said that the Bold Bronze has his own special compass, one that points to wherever he wills... whatever he desires..."
Vaemond scoffed. "So that's it? They have some directional trinkets in hand and you act in gloom?"
"That is a navigational wonder that even the Golden Empire has yet to perfect but that bronze youth beat them to it." Corlys muttered. "At such a mind that outmatched a kingdom of kingdoms, I could really just be akin to being a slow snake like they say."
At which, Vaemond uttered sharply. "Are you wallowing already? Now that we know how they do it, we copy it. We improve it. We show these newcomers who the Lords of the Tide truly are."
Corlys let out a humorless chuckle. "Lords of the Tide? Then tell me, Vaemond... have you prepared yourself to walk into that ghost city without fear? Before Vaes Braedazma is what it currently is, you didn't even dare leave the ship."
"Also, can you battle beneath the waves against creatures older than our line?" The Sea Snake added again. "Those Deep Ones the green folk are whispered to have worshipped... apparently, it was as real as can be. But even when it was still just hearsay, you were the one who urged me to turn back and never explore those Thousand Islands."
Vaemond's face stiffened at these shameful retellings.
But Corlys was not yet done, as he continued. "Can you strike terror in Nefer when Nefer itself terrorized you?"
"Can you hunt in Mossovy? Treating that dark foggy forest as though it was some normal trip in the Kingswood?"
"And even if you could miraculously do all that, little brother… Cannibal Bay has already been stripped bare. The Royces have the treasures that took millennia to accumulate. So, we would need another age of frozen mishaps to match them."
For all these truths, Vaemond's jaw just clenched as he said. "So you've given up, then? Content to watch our coffers drain while this war bleeds us? To watch us fall behind? We were the richest House in the realm, Corlys. Now we're not even close."
"We are at a point of no return, need I remind you. For a Lannister has already taken over your position in the Small Council... and we've offended the King."
"It was the King who offended me!" Corlys barked back. "And it is you, Vaemond, that offended the Lady Rhea of Runestone."
"She is but a woman." Vaemond defended. "Acting as if she is mightier than me, so I acted to show her her place."
"A woman, yes. But she birthed a son greater than any man expected. Mightier than you!" The Sea Snake hissed. "And as things stand, I truly may have to marry Laena off to some unremarkable child of that Sealord in Braavos… when she could've been wed to that Bronze one himself as an acceptable match."
"All because of your loose tongue, that path is closed. A contingency made moot." Corlys conclusively intoned.
But Vaemond only scoffed at the accusations... and stormed out of the tent without another word.
Not willing to hear his brother out any further.
It was for the better... as even Corlys had grown tired.
Even as this war at the Stepstones has no clear victor just yet... the great Sea Snake and Lord of the Tides felt as though he had already suffered so many defeats.
From a rival that may have never seen him as such.