A secret gift for the prince

Elia neither agreed nor disagreed with her brother. "House Targaryen is, after all, the only bloodline that survived the Doom of Valyria. Whatever else you might say, humans who can tame dragons must have some mysterious abilities."

Not just in Westeros-there had been many rumors about the Valyrians in Essos as early as a thousand years ago. At their height, the Valyrians had almost been considered a miracle, possessing nearly a thousand dragons.

There were all sorts of legends, too. Some said they could turn themselves into dragons, some said they could commune with spirits, and others said they could foresee the future.

In short, rumors flew everywhere...

Oberyn scrambled to his feet. "Prophecy? It does sound a little like that. Elia, keep a closer eye on her."

Elia was a little surprised. "You actually believe those rumors? All right. The child is quite entertaining."

Elia wasted no time and went to play with Ghost the very next day.

Rhaenys was young and rather silly. But she seemed to have a decent character, and for the sake of Dorne's plans, Elia was willing to get to know her better.

When Elia arrived, Rhaenys was drawing strange designs with a black charcoal pencil. They looked like exploded diagrams of some kind of armor, along with two strangely shaped types of swords Elia had never seen before.

Both types had extremely slender blades with a four-sided cross section. A semicircular metal shell surrounded the hilt, looking as though it could protect the hand well. Figures were also written on the drawings to indicate their specifications: sword length, weight, and bell guard. The specifications of the three types of swords were all essentially different.

"What is this?" Elia came closer, picking up Ghost's drawings and examining them one by one. "A new kind of weapon? It looks like something an assassin would use."

Ghost continued adding several openwork patterns to the bell guards on the drawings, making the swords look more beautiful and elegant. "A weapon, I suppose, but the tips need to be specially made. These swords are only for competitions."

"Competitions? With swords this thin and flexible?" Elia grew interested. "Tell me more."

Ghost had actually thought of fencing because she had been inspired by duels.

Duels were extremely common in Westeros. Knights and nobles could draw their swords and start hacking at one another over a disagreement, whether for honor or for a woman. Trials by combat were also used to determine whether a noble was guilty, the most typical examples being the Imp's two trials by combat.

But duels in this era were almost always fights to the death. For instance, when the sellsword Bronn first fought for Tyrion in a trial by combat, he had swiftly killed the Eyrie's earl-knight, then pushed him through the Moon Door.

The handsome and immensely popular prince, Oberyn the Red Viper, had also died in this savage, bloody sport.

Was there a form of dueling that could settle disputes between nobles without being quite so bloody?

Ghost immediately thought of a club she had briefly joined at university-the fencing club. As it happened, Westeros did not even have this sport yet, despite its worldwide popularity in later ages.

Ghost planned to introduce fencing and give it to Prince Rhaegar as an apology gift. Since Elia had happened to come over, she could also hear the Dornish princess's opinion.

[Fencing was a sport that originated in classical times. Fencing lessons had appeared in Ancient Rome as early as the eleventh century. In medieval Europe, fencing was listed among the seven noble pursuits of knights, alongside riding, swimming, hunting, chess, poetry recitation, and javelin throwing. To study and promote the development of fencing techniques, countries across Europe established fencing guilds (associations and schools).

In the fourteenth century, a dazzling knightly class emerged in Spain, France, and Italy. They roamed the world with their exquisite swordsmanship and won widespread acclaim. Nobles from other countries began imitating them, and it soon became fashionable in high society, eventually developing into a means for nobles to settle disputes by drawing swords at the slightest provocation, with a single thrust deciding life or death. (The information above was excerpted from Baidu.)]

So Ghost was genuinely surprised that such a fashionable sport as fencing had never appeared in Westeros. Back when she had joined clubs at university, she had been madly infatuated with an older student in the fencing club and had worked her hardest to compete so he would notice her.

Unfortunately, he had later gotten together with a beauty from the university cheerleading squad, and Ghost had left the club dejected and consumed with sour jealousy.

Ah, the past was too painful to revisit... But the boys in the fencing club really had been more handsome than the next. With their long arms and legs, they looked so distinguished just standing there, and every last one of them could really fight.

Mm, I need to have a fencing outfit made for Prince Rhaegar. A close-fitting one... Slurp.

Ghost gave Elia a rough explanation of how fencing was played and its rules.

Modern fencing had three disciplines, and practicing footwork was extremely important to fencing well. Épée tactics leaned more toward mental battles and closing the distance; pressing an opponent step by step made the fight exciting and exhilarating. Foil required seizing the initiative, and its exchanges were more precise. One had to react promptly to real attacks and feints. Épée and foil were both thrusting weapons, meaning hits scored with the tip. Saber was different: it could be used both to thrust and to slash...

Ghost talked until her mouth went dry. She did not want to waste any more breath on the detailed rules; she would write them down later for everyone to read.

Elia listened with shining eyes. This sport was practically tailor-made for high society. Though the rules were simple, it required greater skill and talent, and Ghost had even considered protective measures.

This activity combined beauty with martial prowess. Nobles who disdained knights for knowing nothing but crude slaughter would absolutely go wild for fencing.

Elia asked excitedly, "Who are you planning to ask to help you make all this? If you don't have anyone in mind, how about leaving it to me?"

"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?" Ghost hesitated. It was not that she feared the secret getting out, but fencing required not only custom-made weapons and protective equipment, but also a specially prepared venue. They would also have to find people with keen eyes and a knowledge of swordsmanship to serve as scorekeepers and referees...

It would certainly be great fun for the participants, but there was no shortage of preparatory work.

Asking Prince Rhaegar would have easily solved everything, but Ghost wanted to surprise him and only invite him once the fencing venue was ready.

Elia said, "It's no trouble at all. In fact, I'm very interested. Money is no issue. I'll find craftsmen to make everything, and you find a suitable venue."

Ghost asked quietly, "Then could you keep it a secret from the prince?"

Elia paused, then gave a mischievous smile. "So this is for Prince Rhaegar?"

Ghost was thin-skinned, and she was so embarrassed that she nearly buried her head in her chest. Seeing this, Elia stopped teasing her. "I'll take the drawings. The samples will be ready soon. When are you planning to tell the prince?"

Ghost thought for a moment. "In a week, then. I'd like the prince to invite some friends to play."

Elia was a little surprised. She had thought Rhaenys had devised this form of dueling simply to please Rhaegar. It seemed she also realized the influence this sport might have on the nobility. Was she trying to win over the various factions and cultivate connections on the prince's behalf?

Elia nodded and asked tentatively, "No problem, but I have one request. I hope you'll agree to let me promote this sport in Dorne." She could see that this was an entirely new fighting technique, one that might prove no less effective in actual combat.

This activity was not only suited to the pleasures of the nobility; for knights and commoners, it would also be an exceptionally valuable form of exercise and recreation.