After Danyla sent men to formally take over Blackmont, the Earl of Blackmont was dumbfounded. He had expected to be granted Kingsgrave, Wyl, or even Eyriehold in exchange, but the new domain Danyla gave him was Sandstone-which had yet to be captured.
"Your Highness, apart from that one dilapidated well and the settlements near a few underground rivers, Sandstone is surrounded by hundreds of miles of inhospitable desert."
"And... and..."
By now, the Earl of Blackmont's entire household and all his possessions had been moved to the fortress southeast of Starfall. It was too late to back out even if he wanted to, so he could only plead desperately with Danyla.
"Your Highness, could you grant us another domain instead? Even a smaller one would do!"
"After all, the heartlands of Dorne have poor soil and a harsh climate. Establishing a new stretch of fertile land would be immensely difficult. Sandstone has some of the worst conditions in all of Dorne."
"Please show us mercy, Your Highness. House Blackmont will remain loyal to you forever."
"There is something you do not know, my lord. I have already set men to work on a great canal running from east to west south of Skyreach. It will channel the abundant water of the Red Mountains into the lands around Sandstone."
"With ample water, conditions in Sandstone will improve greatly. Even growing nothing but grapes, fruit, and Dorne's various specialty spices will bring House Blackmont a substantial income."
"Besides, though the surroundings are harsh, Sandstone is exceptionally rich in mineral resources. Its ore production ranks among the highest in the Seven Kingdoms. Otherwise, House Qorgyle would never have become one of Dorne's great noble houses."
"And rest assured, Earl of Blackmont, my sister and I will help you capture Sandstone. We will also