The King's Solar 598 AC

[Marie]

The King's Solar

[Marie]

Joanna arrived to see her brother Daemon. She was in a bad mood after her conversation with Talyn the previous day. To reflect her mood, she had chosen a burgundy dress trimmed with white. She asked the guards if her brother was occupied.

[The Smith]

The guard nodded, "But he told us you were always allowed in. I think he is napping."

When Joanna enters she sees that is the case. Daemon has nodded off sitting on a sofa, his boots cast lazily up on an ugly ottoman. There is a book in his lap, and his hands are cast out over the top of the sofas back.

[Marie]

Joanna smiled. She didn't often see her brother that peaceful. She moved qietly towards him and bent to see what book he had.

[The Smith]

The book was a history of the expansion of Braavos Influence under the Sea Lord Segrio Delinal.

[Marie]

Boring, Joanna decided at once. She'd heard nothing good about the Braavosi. Shrugging, she sat in a chair and waited to see if her brother would wake up.

[The Smith]

Daemon napped for another fifteen minutes, and then his head rolled to the side, and he opened his eye slightly, "Am I mistaken, or are you sitting and staring at me while I sleep?"

[Marie]

"Yes, you looked so peaceful it seemed cruel to wake you. I'll wager you don't get much time to simply rest."

[The Smith]

Daemon picked the book up and threw it into an empty chair, "Less then I would like, I will admit."

[Marie]

"But you;'re the king. You can do something about that, if you choose."

[The Smith]

Daemon laughed, "You are too much like mother. I may be king, but that is not the position of power you think. Read the histories dear sister every King has had a rebellion or uprising, and do you know how many times Kings have been brought down, or at least reduced to figure head because of such events. Baelor the Blessed ruled in truth three years I estimate. The rest of the time he had a hand so strong that if Baelor did not obey it would be his own head on a pike."

[Marie]

She thought about that. It didn't bode well for her own future.

"i can't win with you, Daemon. First you tell me that Lord Thatcher and his cronies don't givey ou enough work then you claim you don't have enough time to rest because of your duties. Only one of the two can be possible."

[The Smith]

"They both can be true easily, Jo. I did not say Thatcher does not override my duties. He just manages to make the important decisions, and lay them out exactly the way I am suppose to solve every problem. And if I err from his course, then we both know what will happen. I am 'given' the choice every time, but never do I feel like I have a choice." Daemon replied, and raised an eyebrow, "I can see you spoke with him."

[Marie]

"Yes."

She tried to keep to keep her tone positive.

"I gave you my word that I would speak to him and so I did."

[The Smith]

Daemon rubbed his eye, "Since you have clearly come to think I was lying to you then I will assume he made a rather strong case for his side."