Ch. 16 Alliance

.-Sylas-.

The breeze combined with the smell of salt, filled his nostrils as he breathed roughly while swinging his sword against the two men in front of him. Dareon and Arthur were breathing normally but they were sweating while striking Sylas' sword.

"I can't fight against two people with the swordsman talent, it's too much," Sylas said between ragged breaths.

"You're just too young, my lord. Wait a few years and not even the two of us will be able to light a candle in your name." Dareon said with a complacent expression on his slightly tanned face.

"I have to agree with Dareon, every time we sweat more and more with these sparrings." Said Arthur with a stern face.

"Fuck off, summer is almost upon us, and we are in Dorne, we'll cook like the meat we eat every day." Said Sylas while fanning some 'cool'-ish air into the small gaps of his mail shirt.

"My lord, Ser Oberyn is looking for you." A beautiful Sand Dornish girl said meekly with her cheeks red.

"I swear on Mother Rhoyne's name, if he implies giving Arthur to him again, I'll cut his cock." Said Sylas, but then he skipped a step and almost fell face-first to the ground as he looked at the door, where Ashara was looking at him with a smile. "I'm sorry you heard that, my Lady wife." The sweet words earned him a linen towel to wipe the sweat on his face and hair.

With a small peck on the lips, Sylas left Ashara and his knights to go to Oberyn's solar, which actually was taken over by Doran as Sylas' celebration would be held in a few days.

Knocking on the door, Sylas opened it after hearing Doran's quiet voice from inside. "My Princes." Said Sylas while giving a nod to the two men inside.

"Welcome, we were talking about…things," Doran said while motioning the squire to sit.

Sylas pouted and looked at Oberyn, who gave him a wide smile and a hand on his shoulder. "Oberyn told me your plan to strengthen Dorne significantly, I'm impressed that a… man of your age is able to come up with such an impressive idea. Oberyn told me to give you an opportunity, now you have it, convince me" He said while crossing his arms.

'Arms crossed but expectant gaze, either he is convinced or is about to' Sylas thought while looking at Doran's movements.

"I believe if there is a better distribution of titles it will be easier to develop the lands as the highest ranking lord can micromanage everything easier.

House Blackmont, House Dayne, House Qorgyle, House Yronwood, House Uller, House Manwoody, and House Wyl, every house has its honor and boundaries, friendships and enemies, but I can certainly state with confidence that House Fowler, has the connections and means necessaries to unite this houses under its banner and this banner would respond only to House Martell and maybe the Iron Throne if Dorne wishes to follow their orders.

First, House Manwoody, we have a standing alliance as my aunt is married to the brother of Lord Dagos Manwoody. House Dayne, I'm to marry Ashara Dayne and her brother Lord Ulrick Dayne has already accepted close cooperation with House Fowler, making Starfall act as the main port of our families. House Blackmont, led by Lady Larra who is married to a lowborn man, I've heard that she holds no love for the man, but she loves her daughter Jynessa dearly, a decisive woman who has started sending letters to my father as they wish to buy food from us because they prefer to buy it from us over the Reachmen, I believe with a bit of diplomacy an alliance can be reached without much problem since we have had friendly relations since the time we were kings.

House Yronwood, sworn enemies of House Fowler, that will be difficult to resolve since my Lord father hates the guts of the Lord of Yronwood, but, some economic pressure, political pressure, envy, and pressure from their vassals ought to do the job, and if it isn't enough, I and my Lord father would gladly march an army at the first mistake they make, I've heard somewhere that the Night's Watch have few men protecting us.

House Wyl, Hmm… they have a friendly relationship. with the Yronwood, but a marriage between the houses hasn't taken place for more than a century, so if we can entice them, they might cooperate with my house for profits…" Sylas said without thinking that much.

"You speak such words really casually as if you haven't given them much thought," Doran said with a small smile on his visage.

"I'm not ambitious by nature, my prince, I only seek to bring riches to my family, honor my family name and help Prince Oberyn, as I consider him my teacher and a precious friend of mine," Sylas said slowly with a smile creeping into his face.

"Can you elaborate on titles and vassals?" Doran asked while leaning forward.

"Yes, my prince, if we want to develop lands quickly, we must micro-manage, since there aren't many capable people who have the ability to do it, if we focus on two or three families who can raise their child to be loyal to House Martell and capable people, it would be the best. If my prince could accept to share the title "Prince", we could have two or three princes, something like the Stone Prince or Marcher Prince and the Prince of Dorne, or something like that, it would give the impression to others that we are equal, so it would be easier to discover people trying to aim for Sunspear if the other Prince stays loyal. If it isn't possible to share the title, Prince, maybe we could create a name for a direct loyal subject that governs over the lands that are far from Sunspear." Sylas said, now thinking as he spoke.

"What do you think about such a thing, Oberyn?" Asked Doran, as he seemed to be seriously thinking about it.

"Titles are just that, titles, how people call us, in my opinion, it doesn't really matter, Sylas thinks the same, but I guess it would elevate the one named Prince to a level similar if not equal to ours," Oberyn said while scratching his chin.

"Also, such a title can be temporary, only to be given to someone capable among the houses that are far away," Sylas said, never presenting himself as such a person.

Doran noticed that Sylas wasn't trying to push himself as a candidate with his words and he was just earnestly recommending House Fowler because they already had two alliances and good relationships with other lords around. "Making an uninheritable title like that won't be good for the realm, because people will doubt the holder and will be either jealous or maybe he won't be capable but will be politically connected." Said Doran pondering the idea.

"Of course, but an inheritable title will do the same unless someone of great renown takes it, and currently there is not such a man, or woman. My Lord Father, Franklyn Fowler is a decent diplomat, and a better knight, but he is in a feud with the Yronwoods, the same goes for them. Ulrick Dayne is currently allied with House Fowler and House Blackmont is a few letters away from doing the same, even with half of the work done, House Fowler and its head aren't prestigious nor loved enough to do it, but it's the best chance we could have to unite the Stone Dornishmen and the few Sand Dornishmen from the south" Said Sylas as he analyzed everything that he could think of as a problem for a permanent title.

"Oberyn told me that you negotiated the alliance with house Dayne?" Doran asked.

"Yes, my prince, since Ser Ulrick holds me in high esteem, he accepted a more personal relationship between our houses, now both of our houses will enjoy the betterment of each other," Sylas said while looking at Doran.

"Let's do this, if you get an alliance with Lady Larra Blackmont, you will get the title of Prince," Doran said, with a satisfied smile on his face.

"Many thanks for the consideration and the trust, my prince, I promise, in the name of Mother Rhoyne and the seven that I won't betray House Martell, let us be allies, now and hopefully for generations to come." Said Sylas as he stood up with a smile, next to him, Oberyn also stood up and was laughing lightly.

"May we enjoy the benefits of our alliance, and may our descendants enjoy the prosperity that we aim to create" Said Doran as he shook Sylas's hand.

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