"And rotten Volantis needs someone to bring about some changes, too!"
Teran Rhaena was not only stunningly beautiful but exceptionally capable. Barely into her twenties, she was already a leading contender to become the Tiger Party's next triarch.
Through her beauty and social skills, along with the political funds Danyla secretly provided, she had won over a large number of Volantene noble scions, merchants, and moneylenders.
Volantis had inherited Valyria's political system, with three triarchs elected by all its citizens ruling jointly.
Each triarch served a term of just one year, ending on the first day of the new year, but any triarch could seek reelection indefinitely.
Although the three triarchs were neither kings nor princes, they were the most exalted people in Volantis. For as long as they held office, their feet could not touch the ground. Thus, whenever they went out, they had to remain seated on elephants.
Volantis's political system resembled that of the Valyrian Freehold: any free person who owned land had the right to vote for the triarchs.
Each election lasted ten days, which were also days of pleasure for the people of Volantis, as the candidates employed every means at their disposal to curry favor with voters.
During these ten days of revelry, torchlight processions and speeches filled Volantis, along with countless performances by mimes, singers, and dancers.
Assassins dueled for the candidates they supported, and candidates' names were written on elephants. Some candidates even had their slaves sleep with voters, doing anything to win their votes.
However, only nobles who could trace their bloodlines unbroken back to the days of Old Valyria, and provide proof, could stand for election as triarchs.
No child had ever become a triarch, and when one triarch showed signs of madness, the other two would join forces to