A Trip To Raventree Hall

He was gazing around in wonder. It had taken him a little while to feel comfortable on dragonback. After all, it was very different to riding a horse. He had relaxed after a while, though, eventually trusting Vira to ensure he didn't fall. He dismounted carefully, he who was accustomed to leaping casually from horseback, and patted the dragon's hide with a friednly hand in doing so. "You have my thanks, noble beast," he murmured, before looking at Vira again. "Do you need my help?" He asked. "What did you make of Raventree from the air? It's home to me, and always will be, but I never thought it would look so splendid from the sky."

"I will. Would you rather see my family first, or the godswood? We were married under the Valyrian rites, so I would like to show you to my gods too." He grinned.

"Of course they are. So the gods can see."

As they entered the audience chamber, however, it seemed that live at Raventree had almost come to a halt after Aegerys had been spotted. Half the household seemed to be gathered. She saw Axell's father, who looked like an older, portly, heavily bearded version of his son, with his family around him, as well as many high ranking retainers, guards and servants. Axell put a hand to the small of Vira's back as he ushered her forward to the centre of the room, with all the people looking on.

"Father," he said. "May I introduce my wife, Vira, a dragonrider and seed of the late Prince Maeron."

Lord Blackwood rose ponderously from his seat. "Come forward, my child. Let me look at you. It has been many years since I laid eyes upon a dragonrider."

"And so you shall," Lord Blackwood agreed, as the family gathered round. "Tell me, my dear, how is it that this marriage came to pass?"

"I was merely curious," said Patrek Blackwood, as his brother exchanged a glance with their father. "It's hardly common for a common born woman to wed a knight, even if she is a dragon rider."

"What family matters would those be?" Axell asked. Meanwhile, Lady Blackwood was saying something to her daughter, while the lord looked on with a thoughtful expression.

They went to the lord's solar, where Lord Blackwood offered fruit and ale. He looked to Vira with a friendly expression. "So, Vira, speak plain if you will. I am sure you have something on your mind."

"I should hope so, but dragons are dangerous." He laughed nervously. "You are a good lass, Vira, I can tell. It seems to be an admirable project and one to which I can give my full support."

"Not much," he said. "I've not been in the Riverlands much since he became famous. I've spent most of my time at court or fighting the crown's enemies. We'll find someone who knows, though."

She couldn't help noticing a few of the people giving her shifty glances and she guessed that some people might have aided Rivers. Most looked frightened, however. A woman was the first to come forward "He killed my daughter, m'lady. Raped her first. That were two days after he got the highborns. Afore that, it's said some here gave him shelter, but it weren't me. He makes us pay taxes to him now, for his protection. 'Cept his men are the only ones we need protection from."

The man screamed as his clothing was set alight. He danced madly, trying to get his clothing off, and only managed to burn his hands in the process. But the dragon hadn't put a lot of effort into it so the flame did not incinerate the man as Vira had hoped. Instead he lay on the ground with his clothes mostly gone, screaming in agony as his back was badly burned.