Traitor

Rebels

With a swift flourish, she neatly signed at the bottom: Arianne Nymeros Martell.

Then, with a crisp thud, she stamped it with her personal seal.

Arianne lounged sideways against her chair, slender fingers idly playing with the quill in her hand, while her gaze drifted toward Lord Hand Mace, who looked like The Lord Oaf.

Her red lips curled slightly. "Clearly, House Tyrell is not the only one willing to do its part for the peace of the realm. House Martell is willing as well."

"Hmph!"

Lord Hand Mace merely snorted through his nose and ignored the Martell woman. Instead, he reached out and pulled the parchment bearing the alliance agreement before himself.

His other hand reached for the quill.

Yet the moment his fingers touched it, he paused, hesitation surfacing in his eyes.

Was he acting too impulsively?!

After all, this was a momentous decision concerning the future of The Reach...

Seeing that he still could not make up his mind, Princess Arianne beside him lifted her wine cup and elegantly took a sip of Summer Wine. "Lord Hand, such matters do indeed require careful consideration. I have heard that the person truly in charge of The Reach is Lady Olenna Redwyne. I sincerely suggest that you ask Mother for her opinion first."

Arianne's mockery did not provoke the slightest anger from Lord Hand Mace. Instead, he said earnestly, "Martell, learning to heed the wise counsel of others is one of the required lessons for becoming a qualified heir."

Arianne clenched her fist, a cold smile flashing across her lips. "And is being unable to make a decision when something happens also one of the lessons someone was required to learn?"

"You!"

Seeing the two about to quarrel again, Gryn helplessly interrupted, "My two Small Council Members, please