24

I was in our cabin with Maggie, working on her meditation, when the winds picked up and the ship started rocking. I wasn't too worried, over the past few days we had sailed around a few squalls that had caused similar motions, but when it didn't show signs of letting up I went on deck.

The afternoon sky was dark, I couldn't see any breaks in the clouds, and the crew was rushing around the ship, tying things down and reefing the sails. Or furling, I had never been clear which was more or less but they were definitely pulling the sails in as the wind gusted. The waves were shuddering against the hull and the accelerating wind was blowing the spray up onto the deck. All together it didn't look promising. "Dresden, you should go below." The captain had once again surprised me, I was beginning to think summer islanders wore such bright clothes because that way you could see them after they snuck up on you. "This storm, it came up fast and we'll have to run from it. It will get worse before it gets better and we don't need inexperienced men on deck." Taking one last look around at the darkening sky, I nodded and went back down.

I thought of asking Oberyn, who had sailed far more than I, for his thoughts, but he had barely left his cabin but for meals on the trip, being ensconced with a woman with her hair dyed blue. I didn't really feel like interrupting, so I went back to our cabin where Maggie was waiting. "What's going on, is everything alright?" There was an undertone of worry in her voice so I fell back onto an old parenting trick.

"He said we're going to be fine."

Naturally it came back to haunt me. The storm had driven us well north of our original destination and we had to put in at another port to make repairs. As we watched the local pilot take us into White Harbor, and past some rather impressive fortifications, Maggie was telling Oberyn and his current friend how I'd tried to reassure her. "And then he came back, white as a sheet, and told me it was going to be fine, before hugging me and not letting go." They laughed at my sterling example of parental care as I tried not to sulk.

"Harry my friend, take it from me, a man with many daughters." Oberyn gestured expansively. "All of your efforts to shelter and protect her will be scorned, just give her the tools to protect herself and be ready to help. That was what I did for my Obara, and she has had no complaints."

I left them to their mockery and eavesdropped on the pilot and the captain's discussion. The main mast had developed a crack and would have to be replaced. The pilot was confident suitable lumber was available and we'd only spend a few days making repairs before continuing south. I pulled my coat tighter around me, south sounded good. For all the talk of spring there were snowbanks visible in the streets, and hunks of ice were floating through the bay. I didn't know much about White Harbor but I'd picked up a little. It was a secondary port on the east coast of Westeros, and the major one of the north. It was on the mouth of a river, the White Knife, that penetrated well into the interior and was responsible for shipping almost all of the goods from the north. Just from looking at it ,as we sailed in, it was far smaller than Braavo but a pretty city nonetheless. The buildings were made of a white rock, probably the source for the name, and when the sun pierced the clouds the city shone. Maggie had joined me looking over the railing. Nearly being shipwrecked had severely dampened her enthusiasm for sailing, and she and I were looking forward to solid ground. "Aren't you glad we didn't appear here?"

I thought about it, even knowing next to nothing about the city I didn't think we'd have done so well. "Yeah, Chicago is the one cold white city I'll live in. What about you? Didn't you ever want to have a snowball fight?"

Maggie shivered theatrically, "If I ever wanted that, I don't now. Even Braavos gets too cold for me, I miss Guatemala's weather."

"I like having seasons beyond rainy and dry, of course the way they stretch on for years here might be too much of a good thing." Maggie nodded and huddled up to me. She was wearing a sweater of mine, Braavos was in summer and King's Landing was apparently hotter, so she hadn't packed too many warm clothes. She was swimming in it, a recently twelve year old girl, even a tall one would never fit my clothes and the sweater looked closer to a dress on her.

We waited as the ship docked, waiting longshoremen threw up lines and part of the crew tied us down as others had already started work on stripping the mast for it's replacement. Oberyn joined us near the gangplank, he had changed into a tunic wearing the crest of his house, a spear piercing a red sun. "Are you two ready to visit the Merman's court? I doubt a Martell has been here in a hundred years, if ever." We followed him off the ship towards the white castle overlooking the city. The streets were clean, and the cold prevented the smell of fish from being as pungent as Braavos. The houses were smaller and they had thicker walls, no doubt to keep out the far harsher winters. I wanted to explore the city longer, but we'd be in port for several days at least and I'd have time.

The guards at the castle's gates looked surprised to see us, but admitted us into the keep. A large balding man, in his early to mid thirties, wearing a blue cloak pinned with a mermaid brooch and a sword sheathed at his side approached us. "What business does a Martell have in White Harbor?"

"Well, I am Oberyn Martell, Manderly, and my ship had some trouble in the recent storm. But now that I am here, I may try to further my goal of making the eight." The fat man blushed at that, and I was hoping whatever the joke had been also went over Maggie's head. Traveling with Oberyn had made it clear he was a bit of a libertine and I didn't want Maggie exposed to it much more than necessary. He was a fun person to know, he had stories from around the world and a quick wit, but twelve year old daughters weren't the ideal audience in my mind.

The Manderly seemed to have recovered, "My apologies my lord, I am Ser Wylis Manderly, who else do I have the pleasure of addressing?

"Ser Harry Dresden and his daughter Margaret, late of Braavos. I invited them to accompany me back to Dorne and thus far I have been a poor host, with our ship nearly sinking beneath us. I had hoped that the hospitality of your hall would help." He looked inordinately pleased with his alliteration and Wylis joined me with an incredulous look.

"You of course shall have it. If you wish, you may stay here until your ship is ready to depart." With that awkwardness out of the way, he led us into the castle. The rooms we were led to were warm and decorated with tapestries. Guards patrolled the halls carrying tridents, the mermaid theme had been taken a little far in my opinion, and instead of mounted animals, figureheads from ships adorned the walls. Wylis had sent someone to get our luggage from the Purple Martin, and we had hours until dinner. I lay down for awhile, relishing the solid and not rocking bed before rallying. I was about to find Maggie, and try to tour the castle when there was a knock on the door.

A servant in the green and blue livery of the house stood outside, "Lord Manderly hopes that you will attend him in his solar." I assented and followed him through the halls and up the stairs. Entering the solar I nearly stumbled. Lord Manderly was the fattest man I'd seen since coming to this world, back on earth he'd be overflowing a mobility scooter, but here he was the lord of a major city, despite having the mass of an elephant seal. "Thank you Stebbins, you may leave us now." The servant bowed and left. He waved a flipper languidly "Why don't you have a seat Ser Dresden." I sat in the indicated chair, and took some of the wine Stebbins had poured for us. "So tell me Ser, how did you come to be traveling with the Red Viper?"

I didn't know if Oberyn had a cover story, so I decided to tell a vague version of the truth. "We met almost a year ago outside Braavos. We had several mutual friends and when he knew I was looking for entertainment he invited my daughter and I to join his trip. White Harbor was an unexpected, although enjoyable addition."

Manderly drank some of his wine before replying. "It seems rather capricious of you. Traveling across the sea and continent can be hazardous, especially on a whim." He reached down into his desk and I tensed from old reflexes. "Especially when without you these will stop being made." He had produced one of my compasses and I groaned internally. I didn't know how everyone I met seemed to know they were mine, but it was another annoying part of the compasses. "They are marvelous, some of my captains have even started buying one on every trip to Braavos and selling them when they return. Even at their current price it's easy money."

"They certainly have succeeded beyond my hopes." I managed to say that and appear somewhat happy, it was getting harder every day.

"Well they are a gift to sailors and thus to me. Even if you weren't traveling with a Prince of Dorne I would feast you for that. Will you be staying in Dorne when you reach it?" Oberyn had claimed that northmen were blunt, he wasn't joking. I hadn't thought a lord of the north would care where I lived but it seemed that my work was influential enough that I was a geopolitical consideration. Joy.

"I plan to return to Braavos after we arrive, something about the city appeals to me." Manderly nodded and if he was happy it didn't show. He asked a few other questions about the compasses, nothing about their construction, and then excused himself saying it was almost time for dinner. I left, following Stebbins who had stepped back in, before Manderly could leave his chair. I half though cranes might be involved in getting his bulk up.

The feast was interesting. It was mostly fish, with eel pies as a course, but there was also venison and beef. Red meat was expensive in Braavos and was often of low quality, Maggie and I both ate more than we should, although we didn't compare to any of the male Manderlys, who could probably have eaten a cow apiece. The main hall, the 'Merman's Court' was more adherence to the castle's theme. The walls were wood with carved reliefs of sea creatures, sharks, smaller fish and whales, while the floor had coral, seaweed, and crabs. It was an impressive room and sitting at the head of the table gave an excellent view. Wylis and his brother, the Lord's sons, told stories about fishing, hunting, and sailing. Several times it seemed like they would tell a story about the war, but quick looks at Oberyn stopped that. For a first meal in Westeros it was excellent. The only diversion from the light subjects was Lord Manderly questioning Oberyn if he'd heard any rumors about the Ironborn. From what I gathered they were viking like raiders who had scourged the west coast before the kingdoms unified. Apparently they had been quiet lately, normally some would sail around the entire continent to prey on the shipping of the free cities, but there hadn't been any yet. Oberyn didn't know anything, but told a story about the islands, which made me glad Maggie was sitting with Wylis's much younger daughters. Returning to my room and ensuring Maggie found hers, I sank into my stationary non-hammock bed, and dreamed of white trees and black birds.