"It's most dangerous when I have the fewest weapons on me."
After just one night, Arthur understood the other layer of meaning behind Lady Nym's words.
"How are you feeling?"
Arthur asked softly, his gaze resting on Lady Nym's face.
She slowly opened her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly in the morning light.
Arthur leaned down and kissed her gently on the forehead.
"Hmm?" Lady Nym could no longer pretend to sleep. She stretched lazily like a cat just waking up, languid and charming.
Her arms reached over her head, and her silky black hair scattered on the pillow, reflecting the dim light from the window.
"I should be asking you that." The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, her eyes glinting with amusement.
Arthur got out of bed, his bare feet sinking into the soft carpet. He walked to the table and poured a cup of wine.
The liquid swirled in the cup, glowing amber.
He turned and leaned against the table, looking at Lady Nym with a complicated expression. "What kind of relationship will we have going forward?"
"Why do you ask?" Lady Nym lay on her side, propping her head up with one hand while the other idly played with the folds of the sheets.
A hint of confusion appeared in her eyes, then she chuckled as if realizing something. "Oh, right. I almost forgot. Your name is Snow, not Sand.
"We Dornishmen have different customs from Northerners. We don't care much whether a child is trueborn or the offspring of a paramour.
"Many lords and even countesses have paramours.
"Between lovers, there is only pure love and desire, not inheritance, marriage alliances, or any of that messy business.
"Similarly, out of love, it is not strange for a man to lie with a man or a woman with a woman. The septons always try to guide us Dornishmen to the 'righteous path,' but with little success."
She sat up, leaning against the headboard, an imperceptible smile on her lips. "We can give each other pleasure."
She licked her lips, a sly gleam in her eyes. "I want you to be one of my paramours."
"One of?" Arthur raised an eyebrow.
He recalled Lady Nym mentioning the Fowler twins of Skyreach earlier.
It had to be said, the Dornish were indeed known for their hot blood and sexual freedom, as Lady Nym claimed.
Dornish culture originated from the Andals but was heavily influenced by the Rhoynar, leading to different customs.
For example, equal inheritance for men and women, lack of stigma for paramours (who held a certain social status), and a more open attitude towards sexuality compared to other regions.
"I have a very good relationship with the Fowler twins. If you are willing to duel them for me..." Lady Nym's smile widened, her eyes provocative.
"I would be happy to remove the 'one of'."
"Them?" Arthur keenly noticed she said "them" (feminine) instead of "them" (masculine/mixed). He frowned slightly.
"They are women?"
"Jeyne and Jennelyn Fowler," Lady Nym said as she got out of bed and dressed elegantly.
Her fingers nimbly tied the laces of her gown, her tone relaxed. "We've known each other since we were children in the Water Gardens, playing and fighting in the pools.
"If old stick-in-the-mud Franklyn hadn't forbidden them from coming with me to Sunspear this time, you would have seen them by now."
Arthur shook his head. "I don't duel women. There is no honor in winning or losing."
Lady Nym chuckled lightly, snatching the wine cup from Arthur's hand with a swift movement reminiscent of the previous night.
"They would duel men for me. Honor has nothing to do with it!"
She took a few sips of the wine, her eyes lighting up. "This wine?"
She wiped the drop of wine from the corner of her mouth with her thumb and sucked it. "It tastes wonderful. A flavor I've never tasted before."
"Here's a cup." Arthur took out another goblet and poured for her.
"This is Amber Peach Nectar, produced in my fief. It's the latest brew.
"One of my two goals for this trip to Sunspear is to make this wine famous."
"One of?" Lady Nym raised an eyebrow, curious. "What is the other goal?"
"I want your father, Prince Oberyn, to knight me." Their cups clinked. Arthur told her truthfully, "If you are willing to help me...
"I would be happy to remove the 'one of'."
Lady Nym frowned slightly, her tone displeased. "You approached me for this?"
"My Lady, this is my room. You approached me." Arthur corrected her calmly, catching the hand she was quietly reaching towards him.
"Alright, I take back what I said." Arthur held her struggling hands and promised.
"I guarantee our relationship won't be mixed with other messy things. Only pure love and desire."
"Hmph." Lady Nym snorted lightly and pulled her hands back. Her eyes showed dissatisfaction, but the corners of her mouth turned up. "As long as you know."
Seeing her pout for the first time, Arthur found it amusing. He couldn't help but reach out, wrap his arm around her slender waist, and kiss her lips.
Her lips were soft and warm, still carrying the faint scent of wine, intoxicating him.
---
An hour later, the caravan set off again.
Sunlight spilled over the Dornish desert. Golden sands trembled in the wind, and distant mountains shimmered in the heat waves.
Arthur rode the purple horse, feeling its powerful muscles ripple beneath him, adjusting to its gait.
He looked back at Lady Nym. She rode a golden-red sand steed, looking composed, her black hair flowing gently in the wind.
To pass the time when the caravan camped, Arthur showed Lady Nym his tame vulture, Sharpwing.
"No wonder they call you the Falcon Catcher." Lady Nym looked at Sharpwing perched on Arthur's outstretched right arm. "Horses, hawks... Arthur, is there anything you can't tame?"
Arthur was noncommittal. "Maybe dragons. After all, they're extinct."
"Arthur, are you sure it won't scratch me?"
Sharpwing's massive size, sharp talons, and beak made Lady Nym a little nervous.
She had kept hawks and seen many birds of prey at Skyreach, but never one this huge.
"Don't worry. I've been training him for a year and a half. He's not like the purple horse." Arthur extended his arm, which was protected by a custom leather gauntlet. Sharpwing's talons gripped it tightly.
Arthur beckoned, and Sharpwing obediently lowered its head.
"See, Nym? It's fine. He's very obedient. He won't attack anyone without my command." Arthur stroked the bird's head and brought Sharpwing closer to Lady Nym.
"You can try petting his head."
Perhaps Arthur moved his arm too quickly. Sharpwing lost his balance and half-opened his wings to stabilize himself.
Several squires curiously observing Sharpwing near Lady Nym were startled by the massive wingspan and stepped back.
One lost his footing and sat down hard on the ground.
Lady Nym wasn't scared. She leaned closer to Arthur. "He's so big. Can I really touch him?"
"Lady Nym, he's very well-behaved. Watch me." Edric stepped forward and stroked Sharpwing's head, explaining.
"As long as my cousin or someone he knows is here, Sharpwing won't hurt anyone."
"When Cousin is busy, Wick, Vic, and I feed him."
Lady Nym tentatively touched Sharpwing's feathers, then praised Edric. "Edric, you are brave, just like your cousin."
During the rest of the journey, Arthur and Lady Nym's relationship heated up rapidly.
By day, they rode and hawked together, discussing their experiences in taming horses and hawks.
By night, they discussed their travels... until Arthur brought out the travelogue of the Lysene captain, at which point the discussion turned into physical "conflict."
By the time they neared Sunspear, their relationship wasn't just "talking about everything," it was knowing each other inside out.
During this period, Arthur also successfully used the Equipment Card [Violet (Zi Liu)] on the purple horse.
Now, Arthur could ride the -1 Horse [Violet] for pursuit and the +1 Horse [Shadow (Jue Ying)] for escape.
---
Planky Town, Dorne
Planky Town was a trading town located at the mouth of the Greenblood in Dorne.
Trading ships coming and going docked or passed through the town's harbor.
The Orphans of the Greenblood made their home here, trading with merchant ships from all over the world.
Planky Town was the closest thing to a true city in Dorne, aside from Sunspear.
However, Planky Town was built entirely on water. Planks replaced streets, and pole-boats, barges, and merchant ships tied together with hemp ropes formed the houses, halls, and shops, bobbing with the waves.
In Arthur's eyes, it was a budget version of Braavos.
Upon learning in Planky Town that the tourney at Sunspear would begin in seven days, the party rested for only one day before setting off again along the Greenblood.
A cavalry scout reported, "My Lord, the group ahead flies the banners of House Yronwood and House Martell."
Lady Nym explained, "The leaders are likely Count Anders Yronwood and his foster son, my cousin Prince Quentyn Martell."
Arthur asked, "Should we go say hello?"
Usually, when encountering other noble parties on the road, standard-bearers would exchange names. If they knew each other well, they would meet and chat.
Lady Nym shook her head. "Count Anders Yronwood won't give me a warm welcome. My father killed his father in a duel."
Among the great houses of the Seven Kingdoms, there were always powerful and unruly vassals beneath them.
Like the Boltons to the Starks, the Freys to the Tullys, and the Royces to the Arryns.
In Dorne, House Yronwood was formerly that powerful and unruly vassal.
The reason it was "formerly" and not "currently" was due to a past event.
This event was the origin of Prince Oberyn's nickname, "The Red Viper."
Rumor had it that when Prince Oberyn was not yet sixteen, he was found in bed with the paramour of the old Lord Yronwood.
The old lord was strong and known for his fierce temper. He demanded a duel. Due to the Prince's birth and age, it was agreed to stop at first blood.
The duel ended with both wounded, and honor satisfied for both sides. However, shortly after, Prince Oberyn recovered fully, while Lord Yronwood's wounds festered, leading to his death.
People believed Oberyn had poisoned his blade. Since then, both friends and foes called him "The Red Viper."
To quell House Yronwood's anger, Prince Doran sent his eldest son, Prince Quentyn, to Yronwood to be fostered by Count Anders Yronwood shortly after the boy's birth.
"Is that why you maintain a relationship with the Fowler twins?" Arthur suddenly found it amusing.
"Didn't you say there's no messy business between lovers, only pure love and desire?"
Before Dorne was united, House Fowler allied with House Martell to overthrow House Yronwood, the most powerful Dornish kings at the time.
Since then, the neighboring Fowlers and Yronwoods had been feuding.
House Fowler, guarding the Prince's Pass, and House Yronwood, guarding the Stone Way (Boneway), were the two powerful vassals commanding the two main routes into Dorne from the north. They were also rivals under House Martell.
Lady Nym rolled her eyes at Arthur. "You really have no sense of humor."
Just as Lady Nym finished speaking, Lord Franklyn Fowler, who rarely showed his face, rode over.
Franklyn Fowler had graying temples, sharp eyes, broad shoulders, and exceptionally long arms.
He had a well-known nickname: "The Old Hawk."
Arthur: "Lord Franklyn, is something the matter?"
Franklyn was direct. "House Fowler has never been on good terms with House Yronwood. I will not send a standard-bearer to contact them.
"If House Dayne wishes to do so, please feel free."
Arthur: "What are you saying? We've traveled together for so long; naturally, we advance and retreat together."
"Besides, you sent troops to mediate our conflict with House Blackmont before."
Franklyn nodded at the first part, but frowned at the second.
"That was Lady Nym's doing. I received Prince Oberyn's letter and was still mustering my vassals when she resolved the matter ahead of me."
Arthur looked at Nymeria. He remembered when they went to the Blackmont camp, Lady Nym had threatened Ser Elwyn by saying the Fowler army was coming.
Arthur: "Regardless, Starfall thanks you for your willingness to help."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Franklyn took his leave.
Watching Franklyn ride away, Arthur mused.
This Lord Franklyn called a spade a spade. He gave off a sense of genuine candor.
Let Me Soar. Arthur recalled the words of House Fowler.
Lady Nym reminded him, "I forgot until you mentioned it. You have a grudge against the Blackmonts. Be careful if you face their men in the tourney."
Arthur shrugged. "They're the ones who should be careful."
Though he said this, Arthur raised his guard.
"Men aren't horses or hawks," Lady Nym warned.
"Whether in the tourney or before it, tricks and dirty hands are common."
"Knights swear to protect the weak and innocent, but sometimes the things they do are beastlier than beasts."
"I will take it seriously."
Arthur knew what Lady Nym was referring to.
The brutal fate suffered by Prince Rhaegar's wife, Elia Martell, and her two children after King's Landing fell was the work of two knights.