The Peace Agreement
Victor concluded the conversation and linked to the next important topic.
"Now that we are family and the future of House Martell and House Di Natale are closely linked together, let's talk about the next peace negotiations. I will agree to release the nobles of Dorne that we captured, but I will be extremely hard on the merchants of Tyrosh and Myr. I want them to fear me, as I have no desire for constant harassment by pirates or mercenaries. If they dare to touch my islands, I will start war with them directly. If my foundation were more stable, I wouldn't mind conquering all of the Stepstones, but without some adult children I can't scratch my hands to wide."
Doran was thoughtful. For his taste he already gave Victor a lot of benefits without negotiation too hard, the peace talks were a nice occasion to make up for it. He had to report all of this to his mother later. Even though he knew she would be satisfied with the development, he could do even better.
"I think we should delay the public announcement of your engagement with Arianne for half a year. Dorne should act like a neutral party that creates a balance. If we announce it right now, the next peace talks are going to be difficult, as everybody we see us on the same sight and Dorne will lose a lot of prestige. We can use the negotiations to insert Dorne into the Stepstones as a balancing partner and a neutral party to stop any fights. I think they would like to cede control over some islands in the Stepstones to Dorne, as to create a buffer zone between the influence of Lys and the alliance of Myr and Tyrosh. We can suggest taking control over Bloodstone and Grey Gallows. This would create a balance of three powers in the Stepstones, which no one could break. Even if House Di Natale could win a military confrontation, it would be unwise to start a war with Westeros and Essos at the same time. I think everybody would be able to accept this solution, even if unwillingly." Doran was quite delighted with this idea.
Victor on the other hand wasn't against Doran's proposition, even though he was lightly taken advantage of. But he couldn't really argue with his future father-in-law about some islands that he wouldn't get in the first place. But losing Bloodstone made his heart ache for a bit, as he would likely never be able to take it back from his future in-laws.
Bloodstone is the largest of the fourteen major islands in the Narrow Sea that make up the Stepstones. Bloodstone has been the island of choice for several Pirate Lords and exiled Nobles. Named for the dark-red sand beaches on the southern and eastern sides of the island, Bloodstone is pockmarked with abandoned outposts, burnt harbors, and forgotten smugglers dens.
Grey Gallows on the other hand carries a somber reputation and is feared by sailors and merchants alike accordingly. Two centuries after the breaking of the Arm of Dorne, the Stepstones were ruled over by a Lyseni known only as The Grey. Governing with malice and spite, he terrorized the islands for nearly two decades before the cities of Tyrosh and Lys united with three Pirate Lords to relinquish his rule.
With his rivals closing in around him, The Grey found himself trapped upon the isle, and preferring death to capture, he hung himself before they could reach him. The island has ever since been named to remember his deposition, although few recall the tale.
The worst part is that Victor most likely must help Dorne and House Martell to capture and gain control over the islands. And even after winning the islands by force, they would need to be included into Victors industrial chain, or else the money used on capturing and controlling the two islands wouldn't even be worth the gain. He would remember this favour by Doran and let Arianne repay him in the future.
"Well, now that everything is fixed, we can start our play. I think you are a little more experienced in such political negotiations than I am, father-in-law. Just tell me what to do and I will at your service." Victor said ironically.
Doran knew he had taken advantage of his son but didn't feel guilty at all.
"The best use of people like Oberyn is to use them on the negotiation table. You can never take advantage over the tongues of merchants in a peaceful way. You need someone unruly, someone they know they can never control, to mess up the situation and disrupt their concept. That's why I love my little brother in those situations.
Oberyn who was watching a play for most of the morning was suddenly a little angry. The mighty Red Viper was nothing more than a stubborn fool in the eyes of his brother.
The following peace negotiations were not nearly as impressive as Victor thought they might turn out to be. Oberyn with a belly full of anger pressured the merchants of Essos into agreeing into the deal that Doran suggested before. They also officially admitted the ruling power of Victor over the six islands he conquered. The peace agreement would last for the next 20 years. This was the only way for the merchants of Essos to cede another two islands to Dorne.
After this agreement House Martell and House Di Natale would rule 8 out of 14 islands of the Stepstones, which included all the larger islands. Any party wanting to trade through this channel would now need their consent and pay a tariff.
All parties were satisfied and finished the negotiation in one day. There was really no point in dragging this on any longer. The merchants of Essos wanted peace of mind and didn't care about two islands, if Dorne would guarantee no further war, and Victor knew he could gain nothing more than this, if he didn't want to start an all-out war.