[PREVIEW] Nihilus Filius Et Sacerdos Chapter 13

The day had come. The sun was shining bright, the sky was nearly bereft of clouds, and the wind carried the scent of the sea. As though prepared by higher powers for celebration. 

And if the main courtyard at High Tide was anything, it was definitely hosting a celebration.

“Isn’t this a little too much?” whispered Ecclesia, tugging her clothes.

“Laena and Corlys don’t seem to think so,” Albaz whispered back, though his red eye kept darting left and right. His fingers twitched every time they passed over his sword.

Indeed, it was as though the entire castle had come to see them off. Rows of armored knights and men-at-arms lined the walls and pathways, holding back a growing crowd of nobles and other brightly-colored visitors. The Velaryon’s flag with the seahorse was on full display, fluttering from every battlement and spire. The ever-increasing crowd of nobles all whispered and pointed at Albaz or her dragon-skull hammer, some subtly and others much less so. And from the crescendoing mutters behind the gate, the news had even spread beyond the castle to Spicetown. The Velaryon maester and Maqarro stood in the shadows of the belfast, writing in leather tomes and exchanging brief statements which Ecclesia couldn’t make out. In the center were the Velaryons themselves, commanding perhaps even more attention than Albaz. Corlys and Rhaenys stood proud with arms interlocked, dressed in their finest clothes, just like when they’d dined with the King. Unlike herself and Albaz, who shied away from the visitors’ attentions, the Velaryon heads seemed to revel in it, and Ecclesia swore that Corlys’s grin grew wider with every murmur. 

Rhaenyra and Laenor stood by their side, with their children in tow, all dressed with equal pomp and brilliance. Ecclesia glanced at the princess, who smiled and dipped her head in acknowledgement. Rhaenyra had visited them quite often in the past few days, politely inquiring about their stay in Westeros and filling them in about the history of the kingdoms. In return, Ecclesia did her best to tell her about Dogmatika, though Rhaneyra was more curious about the various monsters she encountered. 

Her sons tagged along once, bombarding them with questions she couldn’t understand, even with the increased language lesson regimen Laena had put her and Albaz on. Instead, Ecclesia entertained them by lifting her dragon-skull hammer up and down, causing them to gape and clap. Even Rhaenyra was amazed, dubbing her the ‘strongest woman alive’.

She blushed hard at the memory of the title. She was strong, sure, but compared to Fleur and the other knights, she was still a trainee. Fleur was way stronger.

Albaz wasn’t spared in the slightest. The children asked - or more likely, demanded - that he transform into a dragon, much to his discomfort. He was torn between their begging faces and Ecclesia’s worried one, but Laena interjected and managed to delay the request. 

‘Hm, where is Laena?’ thought Ecclesia, scanning the crowd for the familiar head of ringed silver hair. ‘She said she was going to come with Daemon and her children. Are they late?’

Corlys raised his hand, and a hush fell over the crowd. The maester at his side ignored him, furiously scribbling on his parchment. With wide steps, he and Rhaenys approached the two youths.

“Albaz and Lady Ecclesia,” he said, raising his voice. His words, despite being in the Common Tongue, were slow and precise enough for them to understand him. “Today, you leave us at the behest of our King, Viserys First of his Name, who awaits you at the capital. And while your travels may carry you far from these shores, know that we were honored to host you, and call you friends.”

Ecclesia smiled, bowing at the waist and Albaz followed her lead. “Thank you for your help, Lord Corlys,” she replied. Her knowledge of the Common Tongue wasn’t perfect, but Laena and Maqarro’s relentless lessons drilled enough of it into her head. “You, Rhaenys and Laena are very kind to us, even though we’re strangers.”

“Think nothing of it, my dear,” Rhaenys replied. “It would shame us as lord and lady if we allowed young ones such as yourself to wallow in the depths of Valyria.”

The muttering increased, and the eyes of the court turned as one.

“As I have stated, both of you are always welcome on Driftmark and in our halls. Meals and beds shall always be prepared for you, and any troubles that plague you, we shall alleviate.” Corlys grasped their shoulders and fully addressed the crowd. “Let it be known that from this day on, Albaz and Lady Ecclesia will be forever friends of the Velaryons. Any request from them is a request from me or my family.”

Ecclesia’s eyes widened. That was…a very big deal. Even Albaz, who knew less of court politics than she did, knew that what Corlys said wasn’t some empty remark.

“Are you sure?” her friend asked. “But we are…not…” he gestured with wild hands. “Like you.”

Corlys chuckled and Rhaenys’s smile grew. “You have proven good and true friends to my daughter and her family, master Albaz. In our world, that is a rare gem indeed.”

The silver-haired lord raised his hand and snapped his fingers. A pair of guards emerged from the crowd, carrying a thick, locked chest. 

“I have gathered clothes and coin for both of you, donated thanks to the courtesy of Laena and Daemon. The Queen’s seamstresses are of fine quality, but I thought it would be better to have them prepared.” He bent down and lowered his tone to a whisper, the Volantene flowing from his lips. “I have also placed some of my notes on magical sites to aid in your search for home. It is a pittance, but I shall send more when my traders return from Essos.”

A faint gasp escaped Ecclesia’s lips. That was…not a small amount of gifts, judging from the chest’s size. Especially the notes. She wanted to thank them again, but she composed herself, flashing another grateful smile.

“We’ll come visit you,” Albaz said as he grasped Corlys’s hand. “We won’t leave without a goodbye.”

“Another priceless gift we shall forever cherish,” the lord replied. He then drew them closer to himself. “I beseech you, be careful. King’s Landing is a dangerous city; words can prove deadlier than daggers there. Laena will protect you, as you are her wards, but I ask that you do the same for her.”