Nineteen days had passed since the feast at Highgarden. Lonzell and Jacaerys had first met secretly with Duke Loras here and finalized the trade agreement with Ser Haron Tyrell. Afterward, Lonzell drank and conversed with Count Thaddeus Rowan, received numerous Reach nobles, and signed a trade agreement with the Redwyne family of Arbor. Regrettably, however, not a single girl from any family had ultimately been selected as a marriage candidate for Valar. During this time, Ser Mund also brought news from the Citadel. The Conclave was unwilling to risk offending Lonzell with dragons appearing in person, but neither were they willing to surrender their monopoly on knowledge. Thus, they merely symbolically acknowledged the maester status of seven scholars, including Evans, and sent them their chains.
This was already the greatest concession the Citadel could make without Lonzell riding a dragon to burn it down.
After leaving Highgarden, Lonzell took Jacaerys and flew to Casterly Rock. They stayed only one day in that mountain city with its enormous harbor before departing. It was not because the Lannister family had been inhospitable.
They had simply been far too hospitable. Duke Jason had even intended for his two daughters to strip in public so Lonzell could confirm that they were virgins. Terrified, Lonzell fled with Jacaerys immediately after dinner. On the flight to Raventree Hall, Vomysor complained more than once about not having eaten his fill at Casterly Rock.
To be honest, Casterly Rock's roast meat was not as delicious as Highgarden's, and its wine was not as sweet. Still, it had fresh seafood, more singers, and more dwarf jesters. Duke Jason had even made his beloved lions and hyenas fight in the banquet hall. Lonzell did not much care for such spectacle, so after politely humoring Duke Jason, he left. Of course,