Mid 110 AC, Port Corinth
Aethan Celtigar POV
They and their escort of ships finally arrived at the mouth of the river that led to this city of Corinth, finally ending his very long journey. Still, it had to be noted that the journey from Lotus Port had been sedate enough for the past half moon as they hugged the coastline of this Summer Island, greeted endlessly by white beaches untouched by man, though, what struck Aethan was the number of times ships bearing crimson and blue coloured sails on their journey to this Corinth.
Thrice they encountered fleets of ten or around that number as they followed the northern shores of Walano all the way east to the mouth of the river that led to Corinth, 'patrolling against pirates' as the 'envoys' who were aboard his ship described, and one occasion, he got to see the behemoth ships that were twice or near enough twice as large as the Carracks that escorted them, and he'd noticed they bore oddly square shaped door-like openings on the sides of the ships.
There were rumours about them, these ships, though when Kings Landing had dismissed it out of hand, so did the rest of the Realm, thinking it to be the same kinds of ships that Prince Aegon had constructed before his departure.
It seemed like they were wrong, he thought wryly. He'd wondered if Prince Aegon would be willing to sell one of the ships to House Celtigar…
Once they passed the mouth of the river and began to sail upstream, he walked towards one of the envoys who was in discussion with one of his sailors.
"How long until we arrive at the port?" Aethan asked after he stopped by the Summer Islander envoy named Qhaxos, unable to contain his impatience.
The Port of Corinth was several leagues upstream, they'd said, and the city itself was half hour's ride from the port and Aethan admittedly was deeply curious to see how much of their…polite boasts were true.
Depending on the winds, the journey to the port could take some time.
Qhaxos turned towards Aethan, a polite smile on his face as he inclined his head respectfully "Perhaps an hour, likely less if the winds remain favourable further upstream which they tend to be." He said and after a few more words exchanged, Aethan nodded and left the man be, choosing to turn his attentions to the river.
He preferred not to speak with these envoys if he could help it. After he'd gotten all of his questions answered, or at least as well as they wanted to answer them, there was little to talk to them about…and he was glad for it.
They were a strange lot, these envoys.
There were four of them, one of them a Summer Islander and the other three clearly with the blood of Old Valyria in their veins even if none of them had the full set in their features. They were polite, clear and well spoken, friendly even, but Aethan could tell that these were not the merchants like they were dressed as.
Envoys…
That was what they introduced themselves as when they approached him.
When they explained who they were and what they were doing for the Prince, he understood then that these were akin to that of messengers who often were knights tasked to deliver sensitive information to another.
Though, Aethan mused as he glanced at the talking envoys who were now talking amongst themselves at the edges of the upper deck, it was clear enough from his discussions with them, when they spoke with some level of authority and knowledge, the kind of authority and knowledge that ought to only belong to the nobility, that these men were not simple messengers…nor were they simple merchants.
Aethan shook his thoughts away and instead set them back towards the river they were traveling upstream on, full sails up, towards the city that was boasted about.
Boasts that spoke of a thriving city of fifty thousand and more, a harbour that at its busiest could host hundreds of ships, and where you could find anything you desire in the markets and the merchant shops for much less than what it would cost you in the Free Cities or in Kings Landing, from much coveted purple dyes to yarns of silk, such was their happy boasts when he dug for information about where he was headed.
He was sceptical of it, not believing that such a place could have goods that cheap nor did he believe a city of tens of thousands could be built in ten years. Gulltown, a city many centuries old, had numbers like that and it took centuries to get there.
He was surer that they were overinflating Corinth like the Essosi love doing when they talked about themselves or their riches or their lineage.
Corinth was likely impressive, to be sure, after all, even on Claw Isle, they'd heard of the Prince's wealth, ill-gotten or not, bolstered as it was with the bounty of the Basilisk Isles, but he was doubtful the city had the people and splendour the envoys were claiming. Double the number of people that had come with him from Dragonstone, he could believe, but fifty thousand, four fifths all former slaves?
Still, he mused to himself, as hard as it was to believe, there was a large part of him that reasoned that he could not completely dismiss their boasts. After all, he'd found out the truth of the matter soon enough won't he, so why lie?
The sense of excitement within him grew stronger as they drew nearer to Corinth which unfortunately was tempered with the expectations that was levied on his shoulders.
He had to return with something to show for the journey.
He shook his head though the demands his father placed upon him could not be shaken from his mind…or the shame such failure he'd bring upon himself.
He sighed a little, a considering look settling on his face.
When three large Essosi carracks were seen by the fishermen of Claw Isle, they worried that that the Triarchy were expanding their war to the Houses of the Narrow Sea since a number of Narrow Sea Houses had sent men and relatives for fight for Prince Daemon.
The last thing they expected was for the ships to belong to Prince Aegon and their worries had soon enough turned into excitement when that was understood.
And his father had spared no expense in welcoming the sailors on the ships after father had read the letter they brought that bore the seal of Prince Aegon.
The letter, which he had read with his brother, who'd confirmed Prince Aegon's handwriting, invited representatives of House Celtigar to Corinth, and vaguely referenced 'opportunities' for their House that would be clarified when he'd meet their representative.
Bartimos had immediately offered to go himself, an offer their father immediately dismissed out of hand, for fear of Bartimos' safety at sea, and instead, their father turned to him to be their representative, the spare son whose loss would not be so damaging to their House and he obeyed as was his duty.
Of course, it was not difficult to obey, for the danger in the Stepstones had been the lowest it had been since the war had begun, and also particularly because this was as much an opportunity for him as it was for House Celtigar.
The Prince's exploits in the Basilisk Isles, and his rumoured wealth meant that there may well be a place by the Prince's side once he'd agreed a trade alliance between Prince Aegon and House Celtigar for goods like porcelain, ivory and more.
"First, get the alliance." Aethan muttered to himself as he shook his head.
A significant portion of their argument for the alliance depended on the goodwill of Prince Aegon for House Celtigar. House Celtigar, whilst not destitute or without strength, had much of its influence in the Realm dry up when the Prince departed from Westeros, something he was ordered to 'carefully' hint towards by his father if it seemed like the Prince was more uninterested than they'd hoped.
Bartimos had not been pleased with their father on this matter but there was nothing they could do against their father's will and truthfully, Aethan agreed with their father.
House Celtigar needed to grow and if the means for their growth, their rise, presented itself like it had now, then they needed to take it by all means.
They were only one of three noble Houses remaining of Old Valyria –the upstart Old Blood of Volantis were nothing but descendants of peasant army commanders – yet their status in Westeros was that of lesser nobility when House Velaryon, a House that once was their equal in nobility and in prominence before the Conquest…before the birth of the Conqueror by way of Laena Velaryon, was considered to be the second House of the Realm.
All of it thanks to House Targaryens to whom the Velaryons could thank their rise and prominence to even if the Velaryons have forgotten it and House Celtigar must do the same by allying itself to the one Targaryen who can provide them with the opportunity to secure their rise.
And Aethan was sure that Prince Aegon would not be opposed to helping them rise in a deal that should be favourable to both parties after all, House Celtigar, or rather his brother Bartimos, was amongst the few who had remained loyal to the third son of Baelon when rumours existed about his wrongdoings with Princess Gael.
At first, his brother's loyalty had been rewarded with a voice that was heard in the Red Keep and with cheap porcelain their merchants sold elsewhere in Westeros and Essos, but all of that fled when the Prince left the Realm.
An irritated look flashed on his expression before it disappeared.
Now, neither King Viserys or Prince Daemon paid much attention or favour to House Celtigar let alone the other Houses of the Narrow Sea, beyond that which is called Velaryon, and with the shipping lanes beyond the Stepstones drying up, so did the little trade that came to Claw Isle that had already suffered when Dragonstone's industries collapsed when its people left with Prince Aegon.
Much of their recent trade that came to Claw Isle was that of merchants needing to resupply on their journey from or to Kings Landing to or from Braavos.
With less trade passing through the Stepstones, there was less much desired goods available at any given time so that meant that merchants would have less reason to travel to the cities on the opposite sides of the Narrow Sea in order to turn a profit.
And though Claw Isle was by no means Spicetown or Gulltown, it was a good port that still attracted merchants to resupply should they find themselves a need to and it was a good income even if the wealthy Houses would sneer at their low income.
Income that was all but gone and now their House was feeling the pinch of it, having had to reduce their spending in order to make sure they didn't dip into their savings.
And so, the arrival of Prince Aegon's ships were seen by their House to be a chance to drastically change their fortunes whilst at the same time increase their influence with King Viserys as they become the link that connected the sons of Baelon. But first….first Aethan had to get the agreement, he thought to himself and for the rest of the journey upstream, he readied himself for that task.
A little while later…
The sight of piers on both side of the river was curious, particularly since they were mostly empty, and because the port itself was some way away in the distance where he could see ships anchored.
'Dozens upon dozens of ships must be able to dock here…'
It reminded him somewhat of Kings Landing further along the Blackwater River though not even the capital had that many piers away from the main harbour…or piers that long.
From what one of the envoys were telling him, they were lucky that none of the trade fleets have returned, otherwise their speed would have been much slower, that is, if they were even allowed to dock at the main harbour. He caught the look of the shipyards as they neared, and he could see the front of what looked like two halt built ships, the behemoths that the envoys called galleons, in the shipyards.
'I should take a look if I get the chance' Aethan mused to himself.
The other five ships were made to dock at the edges of the harbour whilst his ship was guided towards the inner harbour where they were reeled in when they cast down the long line and it hadn't been long before they walked down the gangway and onto the pier towards the six men who were waiting on them.
As he got closer, he took the opportunity to scrutinise the well-attired man who led the guards and who was walking towards Aethan, a sword on his belt. The man was silver-haired and had a rugged face which bore hard blue eyes He looked familiar, Aethan thought.
"Lord Aethan Celtigar." The man said with a low bow of the head, low enough to be respectful of his nobility but not so low to be subservient, the kind of bow knights of friendly Houses would give. It was also an indication that this man was no noble despite his attire. "Prince Aegon has sent me to welcome you to Corinth."
"I thank you and the Prince for your welcome" Aethan said with a respectful nod before he asked "though I would wish to know your name?"
"Ser Galaenys Qarqaris, Lord Aethan. I am a commander of the Corinthos Army." The man named Ser Galaenys answered swifty.
'Commander? Corinthos Army?' Aethan wondered as he filed away for later. Instead he nodded in acknowledgement and asked "House Qargaris? The knightly House of Dragonstone?" A House established during the Conquest, one of the more noteworthy knightly Houses, if the information the maester had given him for the journey was correct.
He'd not realised that many properly established landed knightly Houses had left with Prince Aegon until he learnt of it from the maester.
In fact, a fair number of Houses like Qargaris that had exemplary ancestors during the Conquest that left with Prince Aegon, Houses that had land in places like Massey's Hook or Crackclaw Point, had gone with Prince Aegon.
If the man was surprised that Aethan knew of him, he did not show it "Aye." Ser Galaenys said with a faint dip of the head. "Though I expect that I no longer hold the privilege to call myself of Dragonstone." There was a trace of amusement in the knight's voice.
Aethan suppressed the urge to snort at the comment.
Yes…there was little doubt that the land that had been his family's was any longer in House Qargaris' possession. Whilst none of the land had been granted away, as far as he or the maester knew, it was doubtful that this man or any of his House had a claim left, particularly if that Hightower Hand had anything to say about it.
After all, the knightly Houses had made their choices when they attached themselves to the third Prince instead of the Targaryen of Dragonstone.
"Quite." Aethan instead simply said, ending that direction of conversation as his eyes veered to the ships that were docked some way away from the main harbour, an act that the man caught and he spoke up in answer.
"If you wish, we can wait for your men to arrive before we head to Corinth." The man offered. "Otherwise, the men I sent can take them there after they are fed and watered along with the rest of your crew on the ship."
Aethan considered it before he answered.
"No need to wait, Ser Galaenys. They can follow" Aethan decided.
The knight nodded "Follow me then, I shall lead you to Prince Aegon. He is at the Games with the majority of our people."
"Games?" Aethan asked as he, his two guards, the envoys and the party led by the knight walked towards solid ground.
"The Olympic Games." Ser Galaenys clarified and Aethan could see the glimmer of excitement in the man's eyes. "It's much like a tourney though there are many more competitions than what you would see in a tourney." Ser Galaenys said and Aethan nodded in understanding though he wondered what other 'competitions' there were.
"So we have not missed all of it?" One of the envoys asked strangely hopeful and similarly there were such expression on the faces of the other envoys.
Ser Galaenys laughed "No. At this moment, the spear throwing finals are starting in about an hour – you just missed the bull-leaping finals – and there is yet the final of the chariot race to go. The second semi-final and the final of the Rugby games to go are set for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow." 'Bull-leaping? Rugby games…?' he recognised chariot racing at least…some of the Essosi cities were said to hold them.
This seemed to please the envoys at least somewhat.
Aethan wondered how long these games went on for if they had an outside hope that they would not miss the entirety of it. By the time Aethan and his ships arrived, the envoys had already been there…
"Ah, I wanted to see the wrestling." One of the envoys lamented before he turned to Aethan and explained "It's a game of physical strength. You win by making the opponent yield once you have trapped them." The envoy said in explanation.
Aethan nodded in appreciation after which point the envoy asked the knight "Did Trytas win it at least? I had bet a good sum on it" the envoy asked with eagerness and Aethan was inwardly surprised by it.
He'd not liked the envoys for their stiff and strange demeanour yet here he was seeing them behave unlike what he'd seen them be for the past five and ten days.
"Trytas was in the final but he lost against a man named Tobas." Galaenys answered which caught the envoys all off-guard. "It was a very good contest."
Aethan was silent during the rest of the conversation as they talked about these Olympic Games, most of which he overheard them talk about the Rugby games which seemed to be Galaenys' favourite.
From the sounds of it, he also competed in the contest though he and his 'team' had lost in the second round against the team who had won their 'semi-final' game.
As they walked through the harbour, he noticed that there were few people there.
He did catch some conversation from the dockworkers – who seemed to speak only in High Valyrian strangely enough – that were there and heard them talk about this 'rugby' and how they wished they could attend them.
The envoys fortunately did explain a little about what rugby was and it seemed to resemble the team melees though he didn't understand the appeal of it since no arms were being used nor did he understand the appeal of throwing something to one another in order to win. Strange people…
Nonetheless it seemed to be a popular game and he'd see it for himself since the game was to start after the spear throwing contest.
They travelled passed the docks and rode out for the city, travelling on level roads made of grey stone, the hoofs of the horses clattering as they made way on a steady pace, and he wondered how it was accomplished.
He'd asked that question and he'd been shocked to hear that the stone was made and not cut as he had thought it made have been.
It was an invention of the Prince and the Grand Scholar Edywn, a title that sounded like it boasted the same honour as that of archmaester.
By the time they arrived at the twenty feet tall walls of Corinth, much of his attentions were set upon the dragons that flew overhead. There were three of them though outside of their colours which he could barely tell from this far away and in the glare of the sun, he could not discern how large or small they were.
"They're the eldest young dragons that belong with the young Princes, Lord Aethan." Ser Galaenys said in explanation. "They've returned from their hunt. You see that dragon there?" Ser Galaenys pointed out before he continued "That one has either a whale or dolphin in its claws." Aethan could see something resembling what Ser Galaenys was telling him.
The knight continued. "It's a common enough sight these days, especially since the dragons have been ridden by the young Princes. It seems to have caused them to be more active, particularly when it comes to hunting out at sea for dolphins and whales which they seem to enjoy the most."
"I see." Aethan said as he watched them fly. He'd had the opportunity to see Meleys, Princess Rhaenys' dragon, and Mīsaragorn, up close. Dragons were as wondrous as they