Zoella Martell's Chambers

[brigida]

Zoella Martell's place of residence within the Tower of the Sun.

[brigida]

Tristeza came immediately to Zoella's chambers upon her return from the Far Reach, hoping that she could be found there. The siege of Sunspear by the Ironborn was not a pleasant homecoming gift, but perhaps she could find a way to make a positive out of this very negative situaton; she found Emelia's imposter gone upon her return--the Faceless Man had evidently fled the city, and left no trace of his having gone. This was a problem--a major problem, and Tristeza must speak with Zoella at once to get her perspective on the situation, and any information she might have.

[Fel]

The guard keeping watch on Zoella's chambers allows Tristeza entrance.

[ashalind]

Zoella was very pleased to see her cousin back so soon.

[brigida]

"Zoella," Tristeza addressed her cousin, sparing no time for pleasant greetings "I fear I was too soon in condemning the ideas you shared with me when last we met here in Sunspear--It seems I was much mistaken, and have come across clear evidence that the Emelia who has presided over this Kingdom of late, was no Emelia at all, but rather a Faceless Man in her disguise."

[ashalind]

Zoella hung her head and tried hard not to cry.
"You can't imagine what's been happening here, coz. I've been living in hell. A country without a head is like a dead beheaded snake- it might trash its tail and twist and coil but it's meaningless and chaotic. I've been...I've been forced to see our soldiers dead, every single one of them, speak with that Ironborns, hear their laughter and jokes, see all our palace despoiled. It's a pity you didn't take my worries seriously but at least tell me it's not too late to repair the damage. Where is our Princess? Did she let it happen? Is she dead too? "

[brigida]

"She is dead, Zoella." Tristeza said with a solemn finality, choking back the nagging guilt she felt over her ready dismissal of her cousins fears. "But one might assert that it is never too late--the imposter had fled for now, but presumably, he will return if he thinks it safe...All we must do is provide him with an opportunity, and bide our time--if he never returns, vengeance will be lost, but turmoil will be spared, and it will be all the better. I am assuming the role of rulership for the time-being, and would ask you, if you find it acceptable, to hear the matters of state with me, and to help me decide how to respond--In the North, they have a Hand of the King--I am no king, though I may need a hand."

[ashalind]

Zoella found herself inundated with news. Her first reaction was profound grief over the death of Emelia, her second, a strong urge to avenge her princess. After a second came the realization of the final words of Tristeza.

"You are to rule? You will be our princess? What about the Ironborns? I've heard that lord Harlaw talking about leaving some of his people here - do you think they will let you rule?"

Then she thought about vengeance again and the fate of Dorne if the Faceless Emelia was ever to return and claim "her" position. She thought about the scenes that she'd witnessed. "Never again", she told to herself.

"I am determined to do everything in my power to help you with your difficult task, my lady", she answered and courtsied solemnly. "If you want me to hear the matters of state and give you my council , I promise to do it as well as it is possible. I am yours for good and for bad."

[brigida]

"I am glader than you know to hear it, Zoella--but you must not call me 'lady,'" she said with a brif solemn smile. "I am ever your cousin, and to you, I shall never presume to be anything more," she promised. Her eyes turned dark once again, imbued with the shadow of a woman who became more jaded by the day; "We have a difficult task before us; But I know we are great enough for it."

[ashalind]

Zoella hugged Tristeza; she saw the pain and the tiredness.

"I am here to share your sorrows and tasks, coz; together we will make Dorne great again, I'm sure of it. I'll start my work today as indeed, we have plenty to do. In my opinion, our first duty is to people of Dorne - they have to be fed and feel safe in their houses. We must find a way to build a new army. If only our sand turned to money...you know, I got an idea."

[brigida]

"Tell it to me, Zoella." Tristeza beseached her.

[ashalind]

"Our sand is what we have in abundance. There's one thing we can do with the sand, the proper kind of sand, of course, but we don't lack it either - glass. I know, the Dornish people have been making glass for a long time but I have a new variety on mind. I must talk with the elders of the glass-making guild and I must visit a ship. If I am lucky, Dorne will soon enjoy its prosperity again. When we are poor and weak, everybody treats us as an easy prey. If we are rich and prosperous, nobody will dare to attack us. Ever."

Zoella stopped talking.

"What do you think of it, coz?", she asked timidly, a girl of 16 again.

[brigida]

Tristeza smiled; "I know no more of glass than what I see in the market place; I fear I will not be of much aid to your scheme--but, by all means, dear cousin, we have little to lose, and much to gain if your idea goes right. I would ask you only to be descrete--there are yet weaknesses in our system that we want not even our own people to know of." she brooded on a less pleasant note.

[ashalind]

Zoella looked a lot happier and she admired the wisdom of her cousin.

"I can't do everything on my own so some people from the glass making guild have to be informed about my plans to some extend but I am pretty confident they won't betray the secret. There's a formula only known to myself and I have no intention to show it to anybody, not yet. They will do their work, then I will do mine and, if the results are good, when the right time comes, I will try to find a reliable person to confide in. I'll keep you informed, coz, as probably we will have to do some business with Farryn, the head of the guild"

[brigida]

Tristeza smirked as Zoella mentioned her secret formula--she herself had no knowledge of chemistry, or any sort of science, really...She wondered if Zoella had had input from some Maester of a scientific expertise; "I am sure I will find myself vastly impressed," she smiled good-naturedly, "I wish you luck in the deepest of possible senses, Zoella...I am as much invested in your success as you are yourself, and I do believe you know that." with these final words of trust, Tristeza rose from her position beside her lovely cousin, and eased her way to the door with one final encouraging glance backward, before slipping out to prepare for her trip to Godsgrace.