Sergio Delinaal's Festivals of the Four Winds

"Well met, Bertram," Elsey said, with a respectful nod. She stiffened a little at the question of her parentage, despite it's inevitability. Her gaze flickered downwards for a moment, then she looked back up to speak.

"I am the youngest child of the late Lord Aenar Targaryen, and Lady Jeyne Yronwood, of Dorne."

She felt a pang of anxiety in her heart as she searched his face for a response, waiting to see if the familiar look of disdain would emerge.

"To family," Elsey said solemnly, quietly, joining him in the long drink of wine. She seemed to linger on a thought, and smiled a little;

"I can't imagine father as a boy."

Her expression shifted again, becoming somewhat cool, and out came her practiced words;

"Thank you for your kind words, but do not apologise. My father drank too much, too often, but that does not excuse him of being a traitor. I am only regretful that his children must live under the shadow of his folly."

She shuffled her feet awkwardly, but straightened up, shaking her head a little as she put on a smile again;

"But you are right, I am alive and intact, save for a few battle scars. That is to be valued and celebrated."

She took another big drink of wine.

"May I ask how long you have been away? What adventures you were having, in which exotic places?"

"If it was so dreary, why spend twenty years there?" Elsey asked, her head tilting quizzically, somewhat amused. With that motion, unknown to her, the bandage around her throat became slightly exposed above the edge of the dress' high neck.

"Yes, Lord Sergio Delinaal is a generous and noble man. He was kind enough to visit me for cyvasse games a while ago, bringing me books and such while I was confined to my rooms, due to a leg injury. Of course, aside from my own observations, it is clear that he has the traditional Braavosi talent and passion for revelry. He has been fleeting around, looking after his guests, and keeping up his own part in the quest to drink and be merry beyond confusion," Elseyris laughed. "I'm sure he will greet you properly soon."

She flinched a little as his hand reached out to her throat, but allowed him to adjust the fabric, albeit with a look of embarrassment.

"Let us say that I have a... volatile marriage." she said coolly, being far more honest than she would have been, had she not had quite a lot of wine and brandy. She fidgeted with her two pendants, a subconscious comfort.

"I have trained with a flail, on and off dragonback, since I was nine, though I know a little of hand-to-hand as well," she answered, with a look of pride.

"What is your weapon of choice, My Lord Bertram?"

"It is alright," Elsey replied, "You did not make me feel uncomfortable."

She too drained her glass, and joined Bertram in filling her glass with Tyroshi pear brandy.

"I was... not taught brawling... formally," Elsey said, with an amused smile. "What I know has come mainly from scrapping with mouthy squires," she laughed.

Her expression became a little more serious, though still friendly;

"I think I might try to learn more though, as I currently have no flail with which to train. You might understand that it is an uneasy feeling to have no solid means of defence."

Elsey took a long drink of her brandy, briefly closing her eyes, to savour it. While she held a strong sentimental attachment to Stormlands red, the taste of pear brandy was higher among her favourites in terms of flavour. The warmth of it made her feel more like a dragon.

However, when she looked back to Bertram, her eyes were sad, as she began to answer his inquiry about her dragon;

"Alas, Nenyan, my dragon, was slain in battle, My Lord. His skull is on display in a place of honour in the Throne Room of the Keep, along with that of his mother, Azuria, who died on the same day. He was killed by Ser Hector Dragonbane at the battle of Oldtown. He was given to me as a new hatchling on my first name day, so we grew up together. We were very close, of course. I used to call him Little Brother."

Elsey's expression was deeply nostalgic. She clearly missed her dragon very much, and was still hurting from the loss.

"I am not permitted to seek a bond with another dragon, so, until that changes, these are all I have of a dragon."

She held her hand out, her pendants nestled in her palm, on the end of a long silver chain. One was a small dragon's tooth, about the length of Elseyris' little finger, a hole bored through the widest part to hold it to the chain. The other was a small carving of a dragon, hewn from cream-coloured chalcedony, with flecks of lilac, sea green and gold under the surface, and a tiny amber gemstone set in it's eye.

"The tooth is one of Nenyan's, and the little carving is a rendering of his likeness, given to me by my sister."

She felt a lump in her throat as she spoke of Nenyan, and her eyes felt hot, as they did when they were about to well up. She forced the feelings away and smiled up at Bertram;

"Tell me of your dragon, My Lord, and will you sit with me?"

She gestured to an unoccupied nook in the room, strewn with rugs and cushions.

After being pushed into showing her face Kesi arrived at the party, her blue hair up, pinned with a black clip and dressed in a black Qartheen gown.

As was the custom in Qarth she had a gift for the host and after depositing it tried to find a suitable place to lurk.

Spotting Kesi entering and looking around, Elsey waved and called out;

"Kesi! Welcome! Will you join us?"

Kesi looked over, gave a half smile then sat with them.

"It is being good to be seeing you again Lady Elseyris." She said, then looked at the man. "I am being sorry I am not knowing of your name?"

His smile widening at the compliment, Bertram looked up when he heard Elseyris call to her friend, "Two beautiful ladies? It must be my birthday! Of course my wife would smack me in the head for saying such things." He said jokingly, looking around briefly as if she might appear from nowhere.

Bertram set his glass down beside his cushion and stood, taking the lovely blue-haired woman's hand and kissing it lightly as he bowed.

"I am Bertram Targaryen, I have just returned to King's Landing after many years away. You accent sounds like one of Qarth. I do not speak that, however..." Bertram switched to High Valyrian as he sat back down, "May I ask your name? I hope I am correct in my assumption that you speak the high tongue of Valyria."

Switching back to common Bertram chuckled as he said "Indeed, forgive me, just an old man showing off in front of the ladies. Kesi,a lovely name! What brings you to King's landing?"

He the directed his next question at them both, "How do you two ladies know each other?"

Kesi gave Elsey a smile.

"Maybe you should be learning words of your family, Elseyris." She said, her tone was playful though. "And assistance has been greatly appreciated."