The King & Lord Reyne

"It is," Maekar agreed, looking across at Lord Reyne. "And you may be of service by relating to me the state of the Treasury, though first I would speak to you of the future. Lord Harroway has fled the capital, but in spite of that I wish to retain as many of my lord father's appointments as I may. You have managed the crown's finances ably for many years, and I would have you continue to do so under my reign, my lord."

"Conquest fills treasuries quite well, and I have a number of reforms in mind, but you are right that nothing can be done until the threat of Aegon is dealt with. I mean to convene a meeting of the Small Council immediately to discuss how we shall move forward, but I wished to speak with you first to ensure your loyalties. I have already spoken with your liege lady. Lady Tysha and I did not formally come to an agreement, but she is on her way to the capital as we speak and I believe that she will pledge fealty to my crown when she arrives," the King replied, his expression unreadable.

"The Faith of the Seven is defeated, and if those who declare for my brother do so because of his Gods, then they prove him as an unworthy successor to my father's throne," Maekar replied. "Where does our debt stand? What resources does the treasury have on hand?"

He lifted a letter, that Lord Reyne could see had been sealed with yellow wax. "This letter arrived from Sunspear today; Princess Daenya is a prisoner in Dorne and Princess Sarella demands twenty thousand dragons as ransom."

Maekar nodded. "Gods alone know what that girl was doing in Dorne, but it makes us look pathetically weak if we just allow one of our own to remain in captivity with no response," he agreed. "I doubt taxation is the answer; the realm is so depleted already that imposing further taxes on the smallfolk seems pointless. You cannot draw blood from a stone, and if they have nothing to begin with increasing their taxes will not gain us more than we already have."

"The bones of the Queen's Dragon will fetch a fair price I am sure, though the sale must be conducted quietly; it would not do for it to be widely known that we are such paupers as to sell off our dead dragons, but Dragonbone is a valuable commodity in the east," he said with a frown. "When I convene the Small Council, we will discuss the issue of these pirates in the Stepstones; they will have to be dealt with to ensure that our shipping lanes are not threatened and that trade continues uninterrupted."

"I do not. Arrange the sale; Amethyst was large, there should be at least three hundred pounds of bone in the Vaults, not including the Skull which should be placed to the Throne Room with the others. That much weight of Dragonbone should fetch thirty-five or forty thousand dragons, perhaps a little less as discretion will be important. I will entrust that to you, and in the meanwhile write to Sunspear with a counter-offer; perhaps I can negotiate a better price for her release," the King replied. "I also want the guard on the Treasury to be doubled; Aegon has little enough gold stored on Dragonstone, and will be in sore need of it."

Maekar sat for a moment in silence. "Offer her twelve thousand, as well as a three-year extension to the current peace treaty between our nations. Additionally, imply that I am willing to offer a formal apology on Daenya's behalf, as her mere presence in Dorne was a violation of the truce that I made with them three years ago," the King replied.

The treaty that he had signed with Princess Sarella in 77 AL had included a five-year truce (until 82 AL) as well as a withdrawal of all Crown forces in Dorne and the exchange of several border castles, though it was widely known that Dorne had gotten the better end. Extending the truce to 85 AL was not insignificant, and a formal apology, a public one, was also a serious matter.

"She was born a fool, I fear. We will get her back, but I will not bankrupt the Kingdom nor put us further in debt to do so; the Dornish will treat her as befits her station until she is ransomed," Maekar replied with a frown. "I will draft a letter, and leave it to you to make the necessary arrangements. I will see you in council, my lord," he added, indicating that Lord Reyne was demised for now.