Maekar's Apartments

Laena arrived after a short delay. She came in a black silk gown with a black lace overlay and Maekar saw, as he so often did, a softening in the Dowager's usually frosty expression. And then surprise as she saw his eyepatch and stump.

"My dear," she said, embracing him. "Who did this to you?"

"Unfortunate," she replied with a little sigh. "But war is dangerous, and you at least survived, unlike your grandsire. Are you healing well? I will be happy to offer my expertise if you should need it, though I cannot give you a new hand or a new eye."

"Oh, yes. He was just a septon, though," she said dismissively. "I will not pretend I mourned for such a man. I loathe their Seven Gods. Truth be told, the capital was deadly dull. Your cousin Adara took some common girl claiming to be dragonseed for her companion but the wench disappeared. And a new sorceress has come to court, which may upset the Qartheen girl, but that is all."

She sat looking at him. "Maekar, the gods give and the gods take away. That is the way of it. It grieves me to see your wounds. Had I been able to consult the great books stored in Oldtown, it might have been possible to...do many things that we can only dream of. But Rhaena tells me the maesters burned all such books that might have been useful to me. Even should I go to Oldtown to search for myself, it is likely I will find no more than a few scraps of knowledge. Your eye I can do nothing about, but have you considered fashioning a hand of gold or silver?"

"I had always believed the Citadel possessed secrets of sorcery and blood magic," Laena remarked. "Though I could be wrong, of course. Any such books would have been kept locked away, if they exist at all. And yet it is said our own ancestors in Valyria possessed much magic that was lost during the Doom. I have spent much time researching such matters, though I have few enough books on the subject. Perhaps we can help one another."

"No," sad Laena. "I said I could do nothing for you now. I can do many things but growing back a man's hand is not one of them. But it is my belief that the old people of Valyria knew much that we do not. Magic was said to be common in Valyria, far more so than it is for us. Yet it seems to be making a reappearance in our family now. That can be no accident." She smiled, just for an instant.

"As a young woman I read a portion of an old book, once, in the library at Dragonstone, a fragment of what had likely been a larger text. It spoke of an ancient library once ruled over by the lords of Valyria, a treasure house of knowledge. It is not known what became of that knowledge when Valyria fell."

She looked at him with a serious expression.. "Our lives have been dominated by this war so it was not possible to investigate this matter. But the war is over now. I am an old woman now yet it is my goal to seek out the Library of Elyria and determine if any of its knowledge yet remains to us. If so, we might learn secrets that would be to our benefit. Mayhaps even the way to grant you a new hand or replace your eye."

"How do you know?" Laena challenged. "Have you ever had leisure to fly there? They say the ruins are haunted by demons, but that is surely the work of superstitious folk. I don't believe it. The ruins are worth a visit, I believe. We might learn much and more about how our ancestors lived, and it may even be that we will find some knowledge lost to the centuries."

"No doubt she hopes, as I do, that we may learn from our past," she said. "I shall invite her to accompany me on my quest. You would be most welcome too, if you can bear to put your faith in old magic and an old lady who wishes only to see you well."

"So she is," She gave him a sharp look. "Try to have faith in us, Maekar. I know that is hard for a man such as yourself, who puts his faith in steel and dragonfire, but, unless this new sorceress knows something I do not, the scrolls and books of old Valyria may be your only hope to be as you were. It is more than most men who lose a hand can hope for."

"A pretty thing, for a sword," she remarked, trailing her fingers down the blade. "You are fortunate to possess this blade. Tell me what you know about Rhaena's...abilities."

She was still looking at the sword. "Sorcery can be as dangerous as a sword, and it can harm its wielder if they are not taught to wield it correctly. It is my hope that the knowledge of old Valyria may be able to help Rhaena. She needs to learn to control her skills."

"Yes. Well, I cannot blame her for that. She seeks to be as independent as any man. You of all men should understand that, bastard as you are. You have striven to achieve great things despite your circumstances. i believe Rhaena wishes to do the same though many would deny her on account of her sex."

She put a hand on his shoulder.

"Do not tell her I spoke to you of Valyria, unless you change your mind and wish to come. It is best if the matter is not spoken of in public. We cannot have all and sundry sailing or flying to Valyria."