Lonzell Varezes

Chapter 2: Lonzell Varezes

Pale golden hair and beard were tangled together, caked with dust and blood. Lifeless blue-violet eyes stared blankly at the boy. The open mouth seemed to be trying to say something, but unfortunately, he could no longer say anything.

He was the son of the former Triarch of Volantis and the boy's mother.

The boy recognized where that severed head had come from.

No— the boy screamed frantically in his heart.

Please, don't let Longzel have done this.

That was the grave crime of kin-slaying!

"What are you looking at, Rey?"

His brother's voice came from behind him. Rey spun around, his violet eyes still tinged with fear as they met his brother's deep purple gaze.

The silver-haired youth smiled into his younger brother's eyes. He was tall and slender, no more than fifteen or sixteen. His fine short silver hair curled slightly, and his deep purple eyes were narrowed just a little, gentle and reserved. Even among the Valyrian nobility, famed for their beauty, he stood among the most striking. His purple silk toga robe looked cool and comfortable, while a magnificent silver dragon armlet encircled his exposed arm, every detail proclaiming the youth's extraordinary status.

"Brother!" Rey pointed at the severed head, looking fearfully into Lonzell Varezes's eyes.

Longzel smiled and stroked his brother's silver hair. He looked toward the slightly chaotic main courtyard, and the gaze that had just been as gentle as a warm spring day in Volantis suddenly turned icy. "Amor, you frightened my little brother."

"My apologies, young master." The burly man with a slightly curled beard raised his still-dripping long-handled battle axe and gave a slight bow in Rey's direction. The tattoo of a long-winged dragon on his cheek gleamed in the sunlight. "Master, this man infiltrated the residence and attempted to steal your property. In accordance with the laws of the Black Wall Code of Volantis, I executed this thief."

With that, Amor gave the corpse, its neck still bleeding, a light kick and sent it tumbling to the ground, signaling for the Unsullied guards nearby to drag it away.

"Longzel, this is kin-slaying!"

The High Valyrian pronunciation was somewhat shrill, and there were even grammatical errors.

The fat silver-haired man made no effort to hide his terror or his soaked lower garments. He pointed at Longzel and shouted with a pudgy finger. Unsullied armed with spears and clad in full armor surrounded him.

Though even more Unsullied and silver-armored guards with facial tattoos had them surrounded.

"And this man." Amor raised his long-handled axe. "According to the law, for Black Wall nobles to lead armed men into another's residence is considered a declaration of war."

Longzel gently patted Rey's head, signaling him to step behind him, before turning his eyes toward the fat man.

"Who are you?"

"Y-you—" The man nearly fainted from rage.

"Oh, I remember now." Longzel clapped his hands. "You're Little Cavido of House Pentaro, the youngest son of former Triarch Old Cavido." He took several steps forward and gestured for Amor to lower his axe. "I just returned from the workshops in Velonserys Town and do not yet know what happened. So, Lord Cavido, could you explain why you brought soldiers into my residence?"

Little Cavido was already beginning to regret being talked into this mess by his unreliable bastard brother.

"Lord Longzel." Seeing that Longzel had not immediately ordered him expelled, Little Cavido gathered his courage and shrank behind a burly Unsullied, exposing only his head. "Please forgive my offense. I merely represent House Pentaro in offering condolences for Lord Cleorius of House Varezes, who has just returned to the side of the gods. As for the soldiers—"

Little Cavido swept his gaze over the main courtyard, his Unsullied guards, and the trembling male and female slaves huddled off to one side. His voice grew louder. "They are my slaves. Volantene law permits nobles to bring slaves when visiting others." He slapped the Unsullied beside him, who did not move an inch. "They are responsible for my safety. As for those male slaves, I need them to carry me. And the female slaves—"

Before he could finish, Amor raised his axe again. The tall warrior watched Little Cavido in silence. Little Cavido immediately swallowed the rest of his words.

"There are no slaves in the Varezes residence. Even the Unsullied are contracted servants beneath the crest of the Laurel Silver Dragon." Longzel stepped forward and spread his arms. "Our house welcomes friends who respect our traditions." He glanced at the bloodstains on the ground. "But we will never welcome those with ulterior motives or thieves! Lord Cavido, what exactly did you come here for?" the youth demanded loudly in High Valyrian.

"I-I came to m-mourn Lord Cleorius," Little Cavido said, his voice trembling.

"Then what about him?" Longzel tilted his head toward the patch of blood. The corpse had long since been carried away by the efficient Unsullied. "If I recall correctly, that man belonged to you."

"Lord Longzel, please do not misunderstand. Though that man was somewhat related to me by blood, he was not among the guests who came with me for this presumptuous visit. I was not familiar with him," Little Cavido hurriedly distanced himself from the dead man.

One had to admire this scion of House Pentaro for his ability to adapt. Longzel shook his head helplessly.

"Then why did you accuse me of kin-slaying?"

Under Longzel's deep purple gaze, Little Cavido felt uncomfortable all over. This time, he even pulled his head back behind the Unsullied.

"Lord Longzel, please forgive me." He switched back to High Valyrian with a distinctive Volantene accent.

That sounded much more pleasant.

"My High Valyrian is not very good. Perhaps my pronunciation was wrong and you misheard me. I swear in the names of R'hllor, the Lord of Light, and the gods of Old Valyria. I swear upon the honor of House Pentaro."

Rey, who had been watching the spectacle from behind Longzel, curled his lip. What honor do they have? Master Vysar said Old Cavido only became a Triarch by bribing the elders and senators. His family even went beyond the Black Wall to scatter money in the streets and bribe voters.

Just then, Rey noticed several young men gathered in a corner of the main courtyard, whispering among themselves.

The boy glanced at his brother, then slowly edged toward them.

"I see." Longzel swept his gaze over the people Little Cavido had brought. Once he saw them all lower their heads in fear, he waved for his own guards to withdraw. "Lord Cavido, please convey my thanks to House Pentaro for its condolences."

"House Pentaro is deeply saddened by Lord Cleorius's passing." Seeing that Longzel was letting him go, Little Cavido breathed a sigh of relief and forced out a few tears. "To express my grief, I personally offer the ancient and noble House Varezes the lands between the Little Rhoyne and Ben Odur Estate, along with two thousand tiger pelts, for the funeral rites. Please accept them, Lord Longzel. The house's gifts will be delivered later."

"Thank you, Lord Cavido." Longzel bowed slightly and raised a hand, signaling that he could leave.

Two Unsullied hurriedly lifted Little Cavido, whose legs had already given out beneath him, and fled in a panic with the remaining slaves and Unsullied soldiers.

Longzel could not help rubbing his head.

How could that idiot Little Cavido not know the dead man's identity? That had been his bastard brother.

And Longzel's half-brother by the same mother.

It was all the cursed legacy Princess Senira had left behind. Though Longzel had gathered in several of the bastard sons and daughters his mother had left behind, there were still a few who remained thorns in his side. Fortunately, most of them had already returned to the gods.

Only one was an exception.

Alexiu Bantaro—the unlucky man Amor had beheaded on the spot.

This bastard, who was already nearing middle age, had even attended the Great Council of 101 in Westeros. If Princess Senira's reputation had not been so terrible—well, even if it had not been, given his status, this bastard could never have sat upon that Iron Throne.

Even though he could no longer speak, Longzel knew exactly what he had come from his own estate for with such fanfare.

"Don't think you can bully me just because I'm young."

Longzel turned and walked toward the fountain at the center of the main courtyard. With his palm facing downward and no other movement, a drop of silver-glimmering blood fell into the pool.

It vanished without a trace at once.

"Looks like Mother's cursed entanglement has finally been severed." Longzel withdrew his hand and headed toward his younger brother and the young men chatting and laughing nearby.

Amor rested his long-handled axe against his shoulder and followed closely at Longzel's side.

"Amor, where did Valar go?" Longzel asked after his twin brother.

"Young Master Valar went to the Silverblood Army Estate on the Orange Coast. You arranged a military training course for him, supervised by the Unsullied centurion, Silver Scorpion."

"Good." Having asked about his brother, Longzel arrived beside the young attendants who had been talking and laughing.

Lynn Valtaken, with black hair streaked with silver, was holding Rey and smiling as he said something. His bronze arms were solid with muscle. Though young, anyone with a little experience could tell that he was a capable warrior.

Amos Fezer, his neat silver hair cut short, stood with his arms folded, leaning against a nearby pillar with a smile.

Ago, the braided Dothraki youth, was bare-chested and silently leaned against the wall. The arakh at his waist gleamed coldly, yet his eyes brimmed with amusement.

Sebastian Calamityflame, whose beautiful eyes shone brightly, saw Longzel approach and bowed slightly, stepping aside to clear the way.

This revealed the silver-haired young man leaning against the wall with a wicked grin on his face.

"Tigaro, what did you prepare for little Kavedo?" How could Longzel not know what these companions of his had done? After sweeping his gaze over them, he went straight to Tigaro Dagarion, who was still grinning.

"My lord, he drank the wine I offered him." Tigaro reined in his smile and answered formally. "Rest assured, I did not prepare anything too potent. It was merely a mixture of forest scorpion stings and Lys salt crystals."

Longzel raised a hand to stop him from continuing. "Just tell me how long he has left to live."

"If he avoids alcohol and sex." Tigaro held up a number with his fingers. "One or two months will not be a problem. If he cannot control himself, three days at most. The more he drinks, the faster he dies."

"Well done."

"As you wish."

Longzel patted Tigaro on the shoulder, then led Amor through the corridor and into the estate's main hall. Surrounded by marble pillars stood an enormous map table carved with the sea routes of the Varezes Family. The young attendants followed in with Rey and took up positions beside Longzel. Servants entered one after another carrying bronze urns filled with ice, and the room swiftly became much more comfortable.

These young men were among Longzel's most important supports in governing the family.

Lynn Valtaken was also Princess Senira's bastard son, but his origins were exceedingly humble. Before Longzel took him in, he had not even known who his parents were. He had made a living collecting debts at the port of Lys.

Amos Fezer and Sebastian Calamityflame had both come from a Lysene slave ship captured by the Varezes fleet. Lysene pirate fleets had destroyed Sebastian's homeland and captured him when he was young. Valyrian blood, famed for its beauty, also ran through Amos's veins. For that very reason, the captain of that slave ship had intended to sell Amos to a brothel in Lys.

Fortunately, that ship had never reached the port of Lys.

Ago came from a small khalasar sheltered by the Varezes Family. Their khal had died in battle on the Dothraki Sea, and another khal had destroyed their khalasar. They wandered until that not particularly strong khalasar was crushed by Volantis's Tiger Cloaks, who guarded the borderlands.

Tigaro Dagarion also came from Lys, but unlike his companions of the same origin, his father, Fisher Dagarion, had once possessed immense wealth. Yet it had all come to an end amid Lys's internal strife. Fisher died from a cup of poisoned wine, while Tigaro was sold into slavery by other great families—until Longzel's father rescued and adopted him.

Visari and the family's chief steward, Vansen Kaon, were already waiting beside the map table.

"My lord, we have sold the northern estates according to your instructions." Seeing Longzel approach the table, Vansen Kaon bowed slightly before continuing, "All payments were made in gold and silver."

"Which families bought them?" Longzel looked at the chief steward with his long black beard.

"Primarily Lord Hamar of the Cyrenaica Family and Lord Doran of the Megaya Family." Vansen moved to Longzel's side and lowered his voice. "Lord Doran is willing to pay twenty percent more, in the hope of inviting you to a banquet at the Megaya Palace."

"I understand." Longzel appeared to have anticipated this.

As the free-trading city-state of Essos most closely tied to the Valyrian Freehold, Volantis had always practiced a republican system. After the Doom of Valyria, Volantis, which sought to rebuild the Valyrian Empire, launched a war. At the end of that chaos, later called the "Bleeding Century," Volantis suffered a disastrous defeat. The warlike Tiger Party withdrew in disgrace, and to this day, two of the three seats of the Volantene triarchs remained in the hands of the Elephant Party, the ultimate victors of that conflict.

The Varezes Family supported the Elephant Party. Vagadu of the Cyrenaica Family was one of the current two Elephant Party triarchs.

As for the Megaya Family, which was willing to raise its offer, its head, Bericio, was the Tiger Party's lone representative among the current triarchs.

The reason was self-evident.

"Did you accept Lord Doran's invitation?" Longzel lightly tapped the table.

"No." Vansen Kaon shook his head. "However, Lord Doran also intends to purchase the family's mines."

"The mines can wait." Longzel looked toward Visari. "Master Visari, how is the construction of the great sailing ships at the shipyard progressing?"

Visari pulled a piece of parchment from his sleeve. "The Weeping Boy and the Silent Lord have completed their sea trials. The Cleorius and the Sea Dragon have just been launched. I can assure you that these great sailing ships are capable of navigating any sea."

"Including the Smoking Sea among the ruins of Valyria?" Longzel said quietly.

"That..." Visari was at a loss for words.

Longzel did not pursue the matter. He nodded and continued, "Lord Kaon, proceed with the original plan. Sell the lands, workshops, and estates. Sell the mines last."

His deep violet eyes shifted toward the young attendants beside him.

"Ago, take Sebastian and Amos to the Silverblood Army Estate. Tell Valar and the others to make their preparations."

"Yes, my blood of my blood." Ago lowered his head.

This Dothraki youth stubbornly regarded himself as Longzel's bloodrider—the warrior and close companion of a khal in Dothraki tradition.

"Lynn, take Tigaro and deal with the family's holdings within Volantis."

"As you wish." Before Lynn had even finished speaking, he grabbed Tigaro and rushed out.

"Master Visari." Having assigned the tasks, Longzel turned to the old scholar. "We may depart now."

"As you wish."

Beneath the Varezes estate lay a vast artificial cavern.

In generations past, it had been where the family heads stored their treasures and fine wine.

Now, it had become an enormous laboratory.

Longzel strolled among grotesquely shaped statues and intricate symbols.

There were twisted manticore-like creatures, limbless wingless dragons resembling long serpents, faceless people, people covered in different faces, roaring flames, and humanoid objects inlaid with various gemstones.

Silver-white and blood-red fluids flowed across those intricate symbols, eventually converging at the center of the laboratory.

A book with a silver-and-red cover lay quietly there, as though it had been waiting all along for someone to open it.

Longzel pressed his lips together and, beneath the gazes of Visari and Amor, opened the book.

"To my eldest son: Lonzell Varezes."

That was how it began.

A new author starting a book—please feel free to offer your critiques and guidance.