"We still have a month. That gives us plenty of time to prepare. Then it's settled."
After the brief meeting, everyone went off to make their preparations. Viserys, however, summoned Maester Marwyn for a private audience.
The maester from the Citadel had now fully settled into life in Valyria. His quarters were piled high with ancient books he had collected and cages of trained ravens. The first thing Viserys had done after getting up that morning was have him release the ravens.
"Your Majesty," Marwyn said after bowing. "All the ravens you requested have been sent."
"Good."
"Duke Arthur Dayne, Duke Clinton, and the other ministers stationed elsewhere should arrive within two weeks. As for the governors of the Free Cities, we have sent them word as well, but whether they attend is up to them."
Viserys nodded.
Marwyn hesitated, then continued, "Your Majesty, do you truly intend to move the capital now? Dragonwing Castle may be humble, but its formidable terrain makes it very secure. As for the New City..."
"What about it?"
"Nothing." Marwyn shook his head. "It's just that a city without walls always leaves me a little uneasy."
Viserys smiled.
"With dragons here, it hardly matters whether we have walls. The only reason we're still building them is to make the Empire look imposing to outsiders."
Marwyn paused, then smiled as well.
"You're right, Your Majesty."
Just then, someone knocked on the meeting room door. After Viserys called out in response, a little tousled head poked inside. There was something unmistakably northern about her, straight out of the North of Westeros. It was Arya.
After the meeting ended that day, she had wanted to find Maester Marwyn and learn more about what was happening in Westeros. Aside from Viserys, he was the only one with detailed