It was a peaceful moment until the dragon's eyes opened up to a beautiful gold color that held intelligence and fury in both of them. Twin pools of liquid gold stared straight at her watching her every move until Adira moved between them. Once Vaelys saw her rider any anger she held towards the red witch disappeared but the she-dragon kept an eye on the priestess.
"Rytsas, ñuha gevie riña" Adira cooed at her dragon. (Hello, my beautiful girl)
"How" Kinvara stammered out.
"I told you, I called her and she came." Adira stated like it was a normal thing to say outright.
***
One Year Later
Sixth Moon of 91 AC
It had been months since she had arrived here in the Temple of R'hllor. Adira had changed drastically during her time training with Kinvara. Her magic went from her waving her hands wildly and spewing random words to properly channeling her magic into stronger spells. Then she was taught how to wield and fight with a short sword by one of the sellswords Kinvara found. It was strangely relaxing to hit something to Adira.
The first month was brutal and filled with the agonizing pain of training. She spent most of her time dodging the High Priest's eyes to visit Valey's and mastering her magic with Kinvara. However it went by smoothly and fast. The second month was the same routine in the first few weeks until she started to have these dreams.
It was different places but with the same man. Those dreams drove her crazy to the point she stayed up for multiple nights until Kinvara forced her to sleep. It wasn't the dreams that unsettled her but how real it felt.
But it was the fourth month that really had started changing her. Adira had been riding around on Vaelys when reality struck her. She really had been in this world for about a year now and her predicament hadn't really changed. Although it had been the most peaceful she had been.
However she had to build herself up to be powerful for this world didn't wait for nobody to change. So she did what anybody who was stuck in a world they had only read about - strategize. Adira first cornered Kinvara and ignored the look thrown at her.
"Dont look at me like that" Adira said while paced in front of Vaelys while Kinvara just looked tired already. " I have a plan that may seem crazy at first but it's worth it."
All Kinvara did was take a deep breath. With those words that got to working on the first step. In order to rebuild Valyria she would need a stable source of income to prepare for the foundations again. So Adira chose the one thing people loved-Alcohol and Food. Most importantly she was the only one who knew how to make distilled alcohol like Vodka and Tequlia.
So with some of the gold she found in the vault Adira bought a rundown tavern from an old man. With good decoration and hiring -more like buying in this case- employees, Adira started the distillery process of making alcohol stationed in the basement.
The tavern opened a few weeks later and business, while slow at first, started to pick up as the day moved on. It brought more money in but it also caught the attention of competitors. And it didn't take long for trouble to find her in the form of a displeased noble from a lower house.
Moreover he thought that since she was a woman, he could easily intimidate her out of business. Oh how she enjoyed sending him the head of the person he sent.
However that didn't stop them if anything it enabled them. So she sent back everyone of the men that went after her via headless. This earned her the name 'The Phantom' for no one knew who put it there nor did they see. Which thankfully made them get a hint and back off. Money was steadily increasing and with Kinvara's help she was able to leave the tavern in safe hands before moving onto step two.
Step two was assembling a squadron - more specifically one that would be hard to defeat in battle. This squadron wouldn't be like the ones in Westeros and Essos. It was going to be one of strict disciplines and rules from her world. Adira just didn't want structure, she wanted loyalty.
However loyalty is like a two sided sword, give them respect, have their needs be fulfilled, and keep your word then loyalty is not only earned but can be commanded. On the other hand if you betray that loyalty or someone who decides to be greedy can run that to shit.
So to get that loyalty she planned to build barracks with more than the basic needs and a steady source of food before announcements. It would of course be located on the island her fort would be on and most of all she would focus on building an education system for everyone. It wasn't hard to figure out that no matter what world she lived in the medieval era would always be the same. The wealth taking from the poor and barring them from the benefits of growth.
Adria wasn't in a rush to gain an army for she had time on her hands and the Dance of Dragons was still years away. She did want a steady foundation just in case something happens and she couldn't get to Vaelys in time.
She also knew that the thought of their children getting to learn to read and write would have a lot of the small folk running to grab that chance. However it needed to be when she purified Old Valyria again so that plan would be on the back burner.
When announcements went out a month later most people ignored it and called it a fool's play however some came with their hopes still high. Once she presented her rules, about 40 people left cursing her name. This left her with approximately 150 men and women to sharpen and mold into warriors. Men and women who traveled to Voltanis under the cover of night not for glory but survival. However it also introduced a problem when the High Priest started to be suspicious and sniffing around her.
In order to stop him and his followers finding out her plans Adira made the decision to move back to her island . Thankfully Kinvara knew something like this would happen and told the skeptical bastard they were going on a voyage to better her training. Now they were currently on their way to the island which she really needed to name. She couldn't keep calling it 'The Island' , which was exhausting.
Standing over the fire with a spoon in hand Adria stirred the spices into the stew. It was something she learned from the skills Balerion had given her for her wish. The recipe introduced new flavours to the people surrounding her. And turns out people just threw meat and whatever vegetables they could find in the wild together for spices were too expensive for the smallfolk.
Thankfully she remembered how most spices were planted and planned to introduce new spices to the land in Old Valyria once she figured out the problem. However this could take a couple months and maybe years to find the issue and root of cause. She paused as she felt a nudge in her mind.
Adira let that familiar touch enter her mind and the images she saw confused her even more. She saw glimpses of artifacts she found in the fort and one on Dragonstone. Then she saw a ritual circle on top of the mountain surrounded by fourteen braziers. Slowly the pieces started to connect and Adira let out a groan. Of course this had something to do with the Targaryens, a family she wasn't yet ready to meet.
"By the gods, what is that delightful smell?" A woman next to her asked, bringing Adira out her thoughts.
"Oh, it is just a stew I made,'' Adira answered patiently with a tired smile.
"It doesn't smell like any of the stew I've ever cooked," She paused dramatically before continuing, "It smells like a dish from the gods."
Adria just stared at the woman who continued her vividly long speech. She expected confusion, grief, and anger for being forced into isolation. Not this - whatever this even was. It was the first time since arriving in this world that she was too stunned to even utter a word.
"Uh, would you like some lady," Adira questioned uncertain.
"Genieve and I am no lady,' She answered quickly, "And I would love some."
After those words left her mouth, others started to ask for some as well. It seemed that the wish she got from Balerion started to come to fruition. Once everybody got a bowl and started eating, did the flood gates of praise open up. Adria ran into one of the rooms on the ship to hide her flustered face. This continued until they reached the shores of her ancestors' last home.
The chatter around her fell into a silent noise. Some of them had seen strongholds before but not one such as this one. It had a mysterious and magical undertone but still managed to look intimidating. The air felt charged like a strung bow. Since the deck was rotting away they had to start anchoring the ships near the coast line to not get stuck near the rocks. Lowering the small boats on the side of each cog ship and each group slowly started to gather on the beach.
"Welcome, everybody to Shadowvale, the place where your dreams can now become a reality."
***
Back with the Targaryens tensions were rising as a bloody civil war began in the free city of Myr. Though Westeros was not directly involved they still wanted to be cautious with this matter. It didn't help that rumors were flying around saying that some Myrish exiles were holding Tarth.
While the King knew not to believe lickspettles he also knew not to leave them be. So King Jaehaerys summoned his council to discuss the matter. On the council was the Hand of the King and his loyal friend Septon Barth. The Grand Maester Elysar and his Master of Coin Lord Martyn Tyrell.
His heir and eldest son Aemon was Master of Laws. The Master of Ships, Lord Coryls, was someone he had to keep an eye on. King Jaehaerys respected him but viewed his ambitions with a political weariness. And finally his Lord Commander of the Kings guard Ser Ryam Redwyne. Baelon was away in the reach dealing with business as he had stated the day prior. They were discussing trade agreements when the Old King brought up Tarth.
"Is there any word about the Myrish holding Tarth, My Lords" King Jaehaerys inquired.
"Oh, they are just rumors, My King, we have no actual evidence that they have Tarth in their clutch." Lord Martyn stated.
"Yet it can easily turn into problems if left alone to grow." Lord Corlys rebutted.
"Still we should not dive head first into what could be a misunderstanding" Ser Ryam argued.
"Enough," King Jaehaerys voiced softly although it was still powerful, "I have heard all I need. We shall not go into battle but investigate. If what we find is true then we will act."
"Aemon, you and Caraxes will go and investigate under the guise of a routine patrol," The Old King declared, "If there are Myrish do not engage in combat unless necessary, understand?"
"Yes Father," Aemon replied, "It had been a while since we rode."
And with that the small council meeting had come to an end. War was on the dawn and they needed to be ready. Although it felt like something big was going to happen, he didn't know what but King Jaehaerys felt it in his bones. But what was he to do for he was just an old man fighting against time itself.