Chapter 30: Interlude— The Squire of Hearts
Chapter Text
Wine, he needed more wine. Rushing to the closet, Joffrey Lonmouth filled the flagon from the leftmost barrel before rushing back to Lord Corlys' solar, taking care not to spill the wine. Thankfully, none of the goblets of wine were empty upon his return. Lord Corlys sat on one side of a table, speaking quickly in Valyrian that Joffrey's ears had to struggle to understand. Before it could be asked, Joffrey topped off each goblet of wine, before returning to the side of the room to await further instruction.
"And yet," the man sitting across from Lord Corlys said, picking up from some earlier conversation, "your King has shown himself to be all too willing to throw aside sworn and honored arrangements on his whim. That alliance was sealed in gold and shared bloodshed, you can offer us no guarantee Pentos will not be tossed aside like a worn-out paramour!" Lord Corlys picked up his goblet and took a long drink, letting silence fill the air until he returned the cup to the table.
"My friend," he began. "Pentos' cooperation in this endeavor has ever been a close comfort for myself and King Daemon. With the assistance of your Prince, we have opened the trade lanes and allowed goods to flow once again. It is troubling as to why yourself or your Prince would believe us so ready to betray your Prince. You must recall, we had no intention of ending the alliance with Braavos, their young new Sealord declared the end of it—"
"Cut the shit," the Pentoshi interrupted. "You knew this would happen, the treaty with Volantis matches what Braavos has supplied near exact; there would be no purpose in this were it not viewed as inevitable the alliance's end, would there not?" Lord Corlys stopped and closed his eyes for a moment.
"It was not an unforeseen outcome," he admitted. "Yet all the same, 'twas not the intent. Pentos has nothing to fear, unless your Prince should declare the end of this venture of his own accord, leaving behind what was promised for support. There is naught to lose, and all to gain, from continued support, and naught to gain and all to lose from withdrawing said support."
Joffrey knew this was incorrect, Prince… no, King Daemon hadn't told about the departure to Volantis itself, let alone planned it with Lord Corlys. The fury on his lord's face that day was unlike any he had ever seen. The Braavosi pulling back from the venture had only served to infuriate him more, followed by the Iron Bank refusing to issue further credit or exchange Velaryon coin. What did Volantis offer to compensate? Vague promises of support that may never come? Even worse, the guilds from home that had backed the venture had refused any further money to the Stepstones 'alliance with slavers' or raised the interest high enough as to make no difference.
Laenor told him it had all been Luke's idea, that the boy hadn't thought of losing Braavos as a consequence. Yet that didn't solve that King Daemon had listened. Child lords and kings had regents, to prevent childish flights of fancy from ending years of work. Men grown were not to indulge a child's every whim, even when they are the lord, let alone when they are not.
"Then let's hear it, my lord, what can you promise to us that cannot be simply taken away at a whim and assure my Prince that our alliance with Bloodstone remains strong?" Ah, there it was, finally. Letting Lord Corlys make his offer showed there was still some willingness to deal.
"We are willing to guarantee Pentoshi vessels the same rates and protections as those accorded to Volantis, and immediately begin repaying the debts to your banks," Lord Corlys said. The envoy seemed to see an opening, and rushed in.
"We will need a way to guarantee that repayment," he said, standing up sharply. "Pentos will keep a permanent envoy and garrison here, and we will be paid through toll revenue directly. Until that debt is repaid, you will receive no further money from the Free City of Pentos nor any guild within. That is the only offer you will receive, Lord Corlys."
It was outrageous. Pentos had no right to demand any of those things… and yet if it was refused, no more help would come, and the only true navy outside of Lord Corlys' in the Stepstones would withdraw. They would be reliant on the greatest slaving state in Essos in their war against it. There was no good choice.
Lord Corlys gestured to him, and Joffrey picked up the flagon and refilled the goblet swiftly.
"To continuing friendship, then," he said after a long pause, raising his goblet. The envoy raised his own before both drank deeply. The envoy soon departed, looking all too pleased with himself. As soon as the footsteps faded, Lord Corlys threw the goblet hard against the stone wall.
"That two-faced whoreson!" he growled out in Common. Joffrey moved to pick up the goblet, but Corlys waved him off. "Don't." The Sea Snake strode over to the door and knocked loudly.
"Braxton! Inform Daemon I have need of him at once. I care not if he's plowing his prick, you bring him back here!" he commanded. The guard on the other side of the door barked out nervous approval before rushing away. Joffrey backed up to the wall as his lord picked up the envoy's wine goblet and emptied it, before refilling it from the flagon himself. Joffrey took the chance to pick up the empty goblet from the floor and return it to the table.
It was several minutes before King Daemon arrived, dressed in the fine tunic the Volantenes had given him. Joffrey bowed his head, but Lord Corlys stood defiantly, before sitting back in his chair. King Daemon slumped into the chair opposite, while Joffrey spared little more than a glare for the boy that was the King's shadow.
"You had need of me, Corlys? Well, spit it out, I hardly have all day." Joffrey bristled, but held his tongue.
"Pentos will continue to back us," Corlys began, "so long as we divert a portion of our tolls to immediately repay what they have loaned us, to be enforced by a Pentoshi garrison on Bloodstone. Until that is paid, they refuse to loan us any further money." King Daemon placed two fingers on the bridge of his nose.
"That leaves us with rather little money, would you not agree?" he finally said.
"You chose to forge the alliance with Volantis, Daemon! None of our potential allies wish to deal with oathbreakers and slavers. The Westerosi guilds, the Faith, the Braavosi! And now the Pentoshi dictate terms to us as our only chance to escape being a puppet of Volantis, and they know it." Corlys took another long drink from his goblet.
"Bring 200 of your men from Driftmark here," Daemon said quickly. "I will order a strengthening of the garrison with levies from Sunstone as well. The Pentoshi can have their garrison, let it serve no more purpose than to guard their ships. It matters not, they cannot challenge the dragon. Let them think they've won, they shall depart soon enough." Lucerys piped up moments later.
"I shall write to Mother and Jeyne, Gulltown's guilds will back us or find their coffers pained," he said, clasping his hands behind his back as if he wasn't three and ten. Daemon flicked his eyes to the boy, then back to Corlys.
"The Faith shall be little trouble soon-"
"And the question of money? Gulltown's guilds are not enough to fund this venture," Corlys interrupted. "If you mean to bankrupt my House funding a fool's errand—"
"I'll ensure the backing of King's Landing," Daemon bit out. "Lucerys, head to the dragon keeper's, have them ready Vermithor and Caraxes." Joffrey's head snapped to the boy, who had a look of realization on his face before rushing off. "My brother is hosting a tournament in honor of his… illustrious wife, and their five years of marriage. I give him a public show of brotherhood, and he'll accept me back with no questions. King's Landing's guilds will provide more, and Viserys will cover what they cannot," the King grinned at the thought, "he never could refuse me." Lord Corlys closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"See that he doesn't refuse. If more money is not provided, House Velaryon may find this venture to no longer be worth any amount coin," he said simply.