Drazenko Rogare I

Author's Note: Again, incredibly sorry for the slow updates, I'm still facing the same issues, but I made sure to release a chapter this week.

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Drazenko Rogare was the second son of Piero Rogare, so whilst his older brother –Lysandro- was trained in financial matters in order to inherit the family business, Drazenko's education was focused more on politics and diplomacy, to be the channel by which the grasping hand of the Rogares could find new horizons, the link that will create new opportunities to grow his family's interest.

Over the previous years he prepared himself to move to Sunspear as a permanent envoy and liaison between the Martells and the Triarchy, hoping to gather more support and influence for the Bank of Rogare. But then the Targaryen crown prince had the mad idea to invade the desert princedom, and succeeded to boot!

So at the inception of a new crisis, he is in an even more compromising yet important position, as one of three envoys responsible for negotiating with the Targaryens over the delicate issue of the Stepstones.

It was but a fortnight after the new year of 122 AC that he arrived in the city. Its reputation was very much undeserved, it didn't smell like shit for one, and secondly it seemed to him as organized as any of the free cities, a bit bland, but that is to be expected from inferior architecture.

He learned much later that this was due to the major reforms implemented by Prince Baelon, the same prince who caused the debacle he found himself in, so Drazenko found himself looking forward to meeting the man.

He met the king though, but that was an unexciting event, the man was clearly sickly and weak, yet the Throne he was sitting on was more than intimidating enough. He heard that the other two envoys had already arrived; Racallo Ryndoon arrived much earlier than either of the rest, and had apparently already ingratiated himself with the young lords of the realm.

He could see that, the Tyroshi admiral was boisterous and shared many qualities with Westerosi, their dislike for slavery, per example. And it is rumored that he spent many days training alongside them in the Keep's yard.

An aged but tidy looking man approached him in the hall.

"Lord Drazenko." The Hand of the King greeted his tone haughty and blunt.

Drazenko smiled. "I am no lord, my Lord Hand, just Drazenko is fine."

Otto simply nodded. "I hope your stay here was pleasant."

"It was." He answered. "This castle is magnificent, truly worthy to house the rulers of a continent."

Personally, Drazenko thought it was subpar, but flattery is a basic proponent of diplomacy.

"Good." Otto says. "I have come to you to apologize for my absence in today's meeting, the King deemed me worthy for another task, so I'm afraid we won't be able to discuss matters."

Something more important than the negotiation? That's strange; could it be that the King simply didn't wish for the man to involve himself in it? There are rumors aplenty about the Hand's tendency to favor his house in decisions pertaining the realm whenever he could get the chance, so that may be it.

"I also came to ask you for a favor." The Hand asks.

"A favor, from the Hand of the King?" The Rogare asks himself. "Just ask and it shall be yours."

"Gratitude to you, I do not usually ask for favors from any man. But your House has a reputation that pushes me to do so despite my natural disinclination." He says. "In truth, my grandson, Prince Aegon Targaryen is going to be present at the negotiation meeting tomorrow, the King had him apprentice under the Master of Laws and he showed incredible promise, but I am afraid that negotiations at such an advanced level may be too much for him to handle."

"Neither the prince nor the King has the tendency to favor family over skill, so I found their decision to be… unusual." His mouth quirked up at the last part. "Yet as a loyal servant, I follow their wishes to my best abilities, but as a grandfather, I cannot help but worry, so if it isn't too much, could you show some leniency toward him? Make him look good in front of his sire?"

He stills for a moment, thinking his words through.

"I shall strive to do so, in fact, I'm about to visit my colleague, so I may be able to tell them to do the same." He managed to say.

Otto smiled lightly. "That does put my mind at ease." He says. "Farewell, Lord Drazenko, may we meet again."

"Farewell, Lord Hand."

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The doors to Serena Ormys' room opened abruptly, allowing him to swiftly enter.

The woman was a Magister's wife, and a very influential person in the city of Myr, she was middle aged, with olive skin and onyx hair and eyes.

Racallio Ryndoon, Tyrosh's representative, was a famed admiral, a devious and eccentric man, he stood at six and a half feet tall, with a stooped posture and gait since one shoulder was higher than the other. He dyed his hair and beard and beard purple with orange streaks, and always sported a malicious grin.

"What do we know about one Aegon Targaryen?" He suddenly asks.

Serena looks at him with a raised eyebrow. "Not much, he's the second son, with Hightower blood through his mother. Why do you ask?"

"Because Otto Hightower just approached me, implying his importance to the coming negotiations." He turns to the man. "You spent more time here than both of us; do you know something we don't?"

"Yes, actually." The captain-general's accent was indistinguishable; you couldn't know his origins through it alone. "He's apprenticed to the Master of Laws, and participated in the negotiations for Dorne's reparations. I also heard rumors lately that his betrothal with his sister Princess Helaena is to be annulled."

"Hmmm…" The Rogare puts on a thinking pose. "The Hand told me that he'll participate in today's meeting too, but that wasn't all, there was something there I couldn't quite grasp."

"Do we know what their demands are? Without an idea of their strategy we won't be able to divine any hidden causes behind the younger prince's appointment, if they do exist, that is." Serena says. "What can we expect from the negotiations?"

"They'll try to secure at least nominal ownership over the islands, Westerosi care too much about appearances."

"There is also the matter of the raids on their ships; they'll demand an immediate halt to their support, if only to secure more leverage." She continues.

Drazenko scratches his chin in thought. "Otto indicated his absence in the meeting, while we know for sure that the Seasnake will be present."

"That is good news, right?" Serana says. "Corlys Velaryon will ask for the lowest tolls possible, Spicetown is a major merchant destination, the more ships cross the Stepstones the faster he fills up his coffers."

"Corlys isn't the one in control of the Westerosi side, the Crown Prince does." Racallio comments. "I didn't meet the man, but rumors are abound about his administrative and mercantile acumen, Dragonstone has seen many ships dock at their ports."

"Dragonstone has been the source of plenty new exotic goods, like dyes, diamonds, obsidian, and brandy. And with the help of Braavosi ship builders has a significant merchant fleet." Serena says. "Alongside his new Kingslanding reforms, I believe he'll be of an equal mind with the Seasnake. Maybe that is even the reason for the Hand's absence."

"Maybe…" Rogare said. "Yet we cannot know for sure, let us prepare for all possibilities. Now, for trade deals, do we propose we negotiate as a united entity or as individual cities?"

"I say we stay united, we'll get better…"

What few hours they had before the meeting were spent collectively brainstorming strategies and scenarios, it was a harmonious affair, since for the second time in the Triarchy's history, they actually had common goals.

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It was time for the meet, so the Essosi trio was led through the keep straight to the small council chamber.

As they entered the room, they found themselves face to face with the following, Prince Baelon Targaryen, Prince Daemon Targaryen, Lord Corlys Velaryon, Lord Tyland Lannister, Lord Jasper Wylde, and finally, the unexpected Prince Aegon Targaryen.

Drazenko found them to be quite comfortable in their own skin, experienced enough that they showed no signs of nervousness or anxiety.

Even the youngest Prince, who probably never participated in an affair of such size, did an admirable job hiding his nerves.

They sat directly in front of the Westerosi side, warmly greeting them.

"Lords Rogare, Ryndoon, Lady Serena." Prince Baelon was the one who spoke to them. 'Greetings."

"Greetings, your Grace." Drazenko answered. "It a pleasure to meet each and every one of you."

The prince just nodded, before opening his large book to a random page. "Likewise, but let's get straight to the meat of the matter shall we?"

At their nods, he continued. "In accordance with our envoys message, the purpose of our meeting is to discuss a peaceful resolution to the matter of the Stepstones." He says, reading from one of its pages. "To that end, we would like to propose the cessation of tolls and tariffs enforced for all ships passing through the islands, which would exclude all other entities like the other Free Cities, of course."

While they were shocked, the prince raises his head and warmly smiles at them. "Let us have free and unfettered trade, shall we?"

Drazenko didn't trust his mouth to answer, so he just stayed silent alongside his comrades.

"Of course, there are several concessions we would expect from the Triarchy in return for such a favorable deal, the least of which are the recognition of the Targaryen claim over the archipelago and the cessation of all support for the current pirates and privateers raiding our ships." Lord Corlys continues.

Racallio was the first to answer, Tyrosh being the one most threatened by a foreign power so close to their land. "If that is true, then we would expect the permission for our fleet to patrol in order to protect our sovereign territory."

Lord Tyland Lannister answers. "As long as they house neither slaves nor slavers, then all ships are welcome to traverse the islands, with the knowledge that our royal navy is responsible for our protections."

"All slavers, poachers, pirates and privateers are to be treated as hostile, and I will personally burn their ships to the ground." Daemon continues. "Any and all ships of your non-mercantile navy can only cross through with prior warning, any who do not do so will have to both surrender and get judged for their actions, or they shall receive the same treatment as the others."

The three envoys look to each other for a second, before Drazenko turns back to speak. "If we are to discuss your terms any further, we'd like to ask about your plan for the islands." He says. "What will your approach be concerning their governance."

Prince Baelon looks to his brother, who promptly begins reading from a piece of paper. "A Lord Governor will be named by the King in order to managed the islands are needed." He flips through the parchment, intermittently reading parts from each one. "There will be plans to build fortifications, smallfolk will be moved in order to create settlements to offer services, warehouses supply depots and such are also to be constructed, and a major fleet –to be built within the next six months- will be under their jurisdiction and considered a branch of the royal navy." He finally looks up at them, reminiscent of his brothers actions at the beginning of the meeting. "The fleet's primary function will be to offer protection for Westerosi merchant ships and transportation of goods for those without the means, in order to facilitate trade between the west and the east."

He notes the Seasnake's flinch at the mention of the new fleet. So he was planning to offer his ships to do the same thing, huh.

Serana's eyes grow a gleam of greed. "Those services, can they be offered for our merchants too?" She asks.

Indeed, Drazenko was aware of his families desire to look east for better opportunities, and yet the Triarchy was dependent on their merchant ships for survival, this means that a significant amount of investment is spent in order to keep a sizable navy in order to protect their traders, and if they could use the Westerosi navy to the same ends with a cheaper price, then It'll allow them to spend even more gold on their new ventures.

"Provided they aren't peddling flesh and that they pay good enough, then yes, I don't see why not." Aegon confidently answers.

Lord Jasper laughs at his response. "You should speak to Prince Aegon about further details at a later date, since he'll be named as Lord Governor for the Stepstones; he's the one responsible for the new fleet."

Rogare had to blink twice, so that was what the Lord Hand was alluding to.

He shifted his gaze to the Seasnake, and even though the man's expression was unchanging, Drazenko knew that he'd be hurting inside. As the son of the Hightower Queen and a prince of the realm, Prince Aegon is perfectly poised to be a counterbalance against his interests.

He then stared at Baelon, who simply laid back on his chair with a smile, letting the others take the rein of the negotiations. He must be the one behind that scheme, annulling the Prince's marriage to his own sister, allowing him to participate in the negotiation with Dorne; those were all in order to give his brother the necessary influence and fame to assume such a position.

But the Rogare just shrugged his shoulders, this is good for them, and Westerosi politics are soon to be none of his business.

By the end of the meeting, when the sun was already down, they had come to several agreements.

One, the seven Kingdoms will claim ownership over the Stepstones.

Two, there is to be neither tariffs nor tolls for the shipping lanes, allowing for free trade between the two entities.

Three, the Targaryens are free to negotiate their own conditions with the other free cities; they do own the islands after all. Drazenko wagers it is to offer equal terms to the Braavosi.

Fourth, slave merchants are simply forbidden, and are to be treated as equal to pirates; Prince Daemon is to lead a separate fleet, responsible for proactively hunting all pirates and slavers across their sea borders.

Fifth and finally, a non-aggression treaty is to be signed by both parties, respecting their pertinent sovereignty over their territories, and any breach of that treaty is to be declared as a declaration of war.

The specific details are to be hammered over the next week, but all in all, the Rogare surmised it to be a favorable deal, the cessation of tolls alone assures that.

So he went to his guest quarters with a spring in his step.