"A fortune?"
Liu Qian sounded as though he had heard an amusing joke. "My prince, I have just conquered the city-states of the Three Daughters. The treasuries of Tyrosh, Lys, and Myr stand open to me. I have more than enough gold. How much could Dorne possibly offer? Three million Golden Dragons? Five million? Forgive my bluntness, but the annual tax revenue of all Dorne probably falls short of any one of the Three Daughters, doesn't it?"
A flash of anger crossed Oberyn's eyes.
But remembering his brother's instructions and the purpose of his visit, he forced his anger down. "Your Majesty, the Targaryen siblings have no practical value to you. Dorne is willing to offer a hundred thousand Golden Dragons for the two of them. This is the greatest show of sincerity Sunspear can make."
A hundred thousand Golden Dragons was enough to make even impoverished Dorne feel the pinch.
The smile vanished from Liu Qian's face. "Since when was it the place of an outsider like you to judge whether they have any value?"
Under Liu Qian's piercing stare, Oberyn's expression shifted several times before finally settling into calm.
He fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "Since Your Majesty has made up your mind, Dorne will not press the matter. However, we have brought you some gifts. After all, I was still your prisoner at the time of your coronation and had no opportunity to offer my respects."
He raised a hand in a signal.
Several Dornish attendants immediately carried in enormous, heavy oak chests. When the lids were opened, they revealed neatly stacked wine casks.
"Dornish Summer Red is renowned throughout the Seven Kingdoms."
Smiling amiably, Oberyn picked up a bottle himself and pulled out the cork. A rich, intoxicating aroma of grapes and oak