KING'S LANDING 

They were lucky Westerosi hadn't bothered to learn languages outside of the common tongue, if they heard the vile threats from her household Hira would certainly be an enemy of the crown, though it wasn't as if she wasn't intending to become one after this mistreatment.

"Stripped of lands and titles as if Jin's life was worth only that." Raki fumed, lip curled in disgust. "Say the word princess and I'll kill him. I'll kill them all."

"Stay your hand, Raki." Emica warned, ever the voice of reason. "One move against them is a move against all. We have no allies here."

"We have no need for allies." He insisted. "Our swords are enough, we can -"

"Hira." Jade's quiet voice cut through the arguments, silencing them. "I was promised my due."

The princess made plenty of promises in her life. She has failed in every one of them.

Hira only knew of fury at that moment. What was once bubbling inside her threatened to erupt and lay waste to everything surrounding her. She wanted Zhurong to burn Oldtown to the ground until all that was left was ash and bone. The king unrightfully stole her justice, so she will take justice into her hands.

"He was mine, sister."

Jade wept in the corridors of the Red Keep. Servants scurried by. Noblemen and women gave them crude looks.

Life went on, yet for those who bore the Han standard were stuck at this point of time, hearts filled with pity for their kin. Humiliated and angry at the dishonour they were subjected to by a kingdom they wished to tie themselves with. For the colour of their skin, for all their differences their own blood was killed.

"He was mine and now he's dead. Jin's murderer runs free without consequence. What will you do to avenge his death?"

Hira gripped Jade's face, staring deeply into her eyes. "What will we do. You are my mistress of poisons. Ready your weapons. Lyonel Hightower dies. A life was stolen from us, so we will take his in return."

She wiped the tears that trailed down Jade's face. Her lady nodded, eyes clearing from the cloud of pain and hurt and bitterness. Hira was silently pleased, she'll need her poison expert ready and able minded.

Mourn all they could, but justice couldn't be acted upon without a proper mind.

That decision wasn't made lightly, Hira acknowledged. There would be a reckoning if they were suspected in Lyonel's demise and perhaps Hira wanted that.

She wanted the entire court to know she dealt a hand in his death. Let them fear her. If the king wished to bend rules and laws as he saw fit, then so will Hira.

Had this been Leng, Lyonel's head would already be mounted on a spike outside the palace gates, but this was not home and justice wasn't swift. King's Landing would not cost her another life, not the blood of her people.

The sun was slowly setting and so she ordered her ladies to return to their chambers. Shouta stayed behind as she gathered her thoughts. The corridors were near empty at this part of the Keep.

Ever the silent shadow, Shouta remained vigilant and so when he mentioned a certain clubfoot following their steps, Hira found herself eye to eye with Lord Larys Strong.

Another man she avoided, for his presence always unsettled her. His lingering gaze during feasts left her feeling uncertain, much like Otto Hightower.

Her patience thin, she ignored the Master of Whispers, until his slimy voice greeted her.

"My condolences, princess." His tone came across pretentious, despite the gentle smile on his face.

She hummed.

"It must be difficult to be so far from home." He continued his charade of pleasantries. "Your people serve as a great comfort, I'm sure."

"Until a Hightower lays his hands on them." She rebutted.

"Ah, yes. Ser Lyonel has done you a disservice, as he does the queen." He peered at her, as though he was looking straight into her soul to discern all the puzzles that made her. "The king must be so burdened with this ordeal. To allow the death of his lady wife's kin so easily ..."

"And yet my guard's death is so easily ignored? If this is justice in Westeros I fear for the people."

"The truth of the matter is that King Viserys' hands were tied. To betray his niece, or to betray his wife and Hand? What choice would you have made?"

"It has nothing to do with his relatives and everything to do with justice. Good day, Lord Larys."

Hira turned to leave, yet the weasel voiced what he truly wanted. "I come as a friend to share your burdens with. If you ever have need -"

Hira mockingly laughed. "I need nothing from the likes of you. The council of the king's are all snakes, but rest assured Lord Strong, my venom is far deadlier."

[ x ]

Later in the evening, Hira found herself in the kitchens seeking a bowl of porridge for Jade who still protested against eating, denying all the food brought to her room. The princess threatened to shove it down her throat if she kept this up and so Jade compromised on a small meal.

To her surprise a familiar child was back in her proximity. The yellowed haired urchin she's seen as of late ran across the kitchens, a loaf of bread in her hand. A woman with brown-red hair caught her by the back of her dress and proceeded to scold the child.

"She's the Queen's lady-in-waiting?" She affirmed with Shouta, who nodded.

Talya, she remembered.

So this is how Mysaria kept tabs on her. How many agents did the White Worm have hidden under the royals' nose, Hira wondered. All their secrets, all their little whispers in the dark were being fed back to Mysaria. Hira gave credit where it's due and her father's past lover has done well for herself. Knowledge was a powerful tool.

A kitchen staff passed a bowl of oat porridge and she thanked her. Before they departed, Hira caught the girl's bright eyes and gestured her forward.

"I have a message I need passed along." She murmured to the girl, plucking a coin from her dress pocket and handing it discreetly. "A fair exchange, no?"

"Fair is fair." She still hadn't given her name.

"Tell your employer I wish to meet at the old inn on Eel Alley tomorrow morn."

"She'll be there."

Hira smiled sweetly at the girl, knowing the eyes and ears on them. To fool the court and its conspirators one must play the game of thrones.

She handed her a candied piece. "Such a sweet child you are, reminds me of my niece. Isn't that right, Shouta?"

Her guard spared the gremlin a disinterested look. "More like a long armed monkey from the Northern forests."

The girl frowned and stomped her feet. Hira laughed and ushered her guard out the kitchens, taking note of Talya's worried brows and the mutterings of servants.

[ x ]

Hira knocked on Aemond's door the following morning, knowing it far too early in the day, before the sun even broke the sky. She knocked twice, waited just a second before entering his chambers without a single thought. If she wished for this to work smoothly she must hurry. At the very least no guard was stationed outside his chambers, making it easier to kidnap the prince for the day.

Stepping into his room, Hira was surprised at the clean and organised state. Shelves of books lay along the walls of his modest apartments, with a few trinkets littered around. In the far back of his quarters was his bed, which rested Aemond under the covers.

She crept towards the sleeping prince, taking a moment to admire his bare chest. His eyepatch was nowhere to be seen, which allowed Hira to stare at the scar that ran across his forehead down to his cheek. She traced the line, gasping softly when Aemond's eyes opened. A bare gaping hole was all that was left.

He gripped her wrist, eyes shocked.

"Good morn." She whispered.

Aemond murmured, "Are you real?"

"I should hope so." She replied dryly.

"Perhaps a kiss would determine it."

She smacked his chest, idly feeling the firmness of it. "Don't jest. It's unbecoming of a prince naked in bed."

"You're the one in my chambers taking a peek." He stroked her wrist with his thumb. "Not that I mind your presence in my room all alone, but why have you decided to visit me so early?"

"I wish to go to the city."

He raised a brow at the request. "I heard what happened at the court proceedings. I've never seen my grandfather so red in the face. How are you fairing, Hira?"

She shook her head, ignoring his question. "Join me at a tavern that all the servants have been raving about."

Aemond abruptly pulled her down to his chest, forcing her hands to lay flat on his bed on either side of his face. His hands gripped her waist, caressing the skin under the blouse that came undone by Aemond's manhandling.

"You've ignored my presence since Jin's passing. Helaena fears you hate us."

Hira frowned, unable to hide her shame at the treatment she displayed to her closest friends. "I haven't been ignoring you or Helaena. I shall speak to your sister to assure her. My household takes priority first."

"As they should, they're your people first and foremost."

She lowered herself until she laid her head on his chest. The position was awkward on her lower body, legs dangling from Aemond's massive bed, but she enjoyed the warmth that he emitted.

"I've been a wreck." She professed, the words spilling out like a broken faucet. "I miss Jin everyday. Jade is hurting. Your father denied me justice. We're angry. I'm going down a path I won't be able to come back from and I have no fear of it. I don't know what to do and yet I still make moves."

"My Hira," Aemond kissed her forehead.  Damn that endearment, Hira will never be used to hearing it from his lips. "Why must you carry this hardship alone? It's not weak to ask for help."

She lifted her head to stare at Aemond's lilac eye, the one that gazed back at her with an emotion Hira wasn't ready to think on. "Then this is me asking for help. Come with me to this inn."

"Ask and you shall receive." His lips curved upwards. She traced his lip gently with her finger, stunned when he bit into it and delicately licked the tip.

Aemond's grin was predatory. She shivered.

"Next time." He promised.

Hira wasn't sure if she wanted to know what he meant by that.

[ x ]

The old inn on Eel Alley was located well away from watchful eyes. Cloaked in hoods, Aemond and Hira sat on a small table close to the entrance.

"Your guards decided not to join?" Aemond questioned.

"I wished it to be only us."

Violet eyes searched for a face that belonged to the White Worm. The inn was busy enough not to suspect two royals tucked away in the corner. Once Hira sighted the familiar taunting smile of Mysaria, she asked Aemond to fetch ale and breakfast. Still under the impression that this outing was for the sake of seeking emotional help rather than other nefarious means, Aemond obliged.

A woman that flanked Mysaria drifted to the counter that Aemond stood by.

The White Worm sat in the vacated seat. "How lucky am I to gather another visit by the Princess of Leng."

"Only due to your knowledge, rather than your alluring personality." She tapped the table with her fingers, needing to ground herself. "Assuming your little spy told you the happenings of court yesterday?"

"She did. What a terrible tale. To have justice plucked from your very hands must anger you so." Mysaria reached over the table to grasp her hand.

"It does." Hira stopped herself from pulling away. "Will you help me pluck the life from the man who murdered Jin?"

Mysaria's grin widened, a gleam in her eye. "Are you willing to face the wrath of the Hand and the queen?"

Hira was insulted. "What more could they do? Lest Daemon arrives on dragon back to burn them to ash. That is before I strangle them in their sleep."

Mysaria revealed Lyonel had already left for Oldtown in the dark of night. He had taken her threat seriously, to anger Hira means to anger Daemon and the craven would rather face the disappointment of his father rather than Daemon's dragon.

Hira absorbed everything all at once, knowing their time was limited. Aemond had already purchased their meal. From the glare on his face, Hira knew his patience with Mysaria's agent was waning. As he approached their table he threw a suspicious look at Mysaria, who stood at once and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

Hira scowled at the woman, who sent a sultry smile in return.

"Thank you for your kind generosity, princess. It's lovely to meet my kin, albeit distant as it is."

Aemond returned to his seat, passing the plate of food and ale. Hira found that she liked having him across from her more so than Mysaria.

"Friend of yours?"

"Distant kin, or something of the sort." She half-lied. "She knew my father. As a child she was stolen from her land and grew up a slave. She asked for my help to reunite with her family."

"Generous indeed."

They were silent as they ate. Hira wondered if Aemond knew she had lied. He was smart, had an inkling about certain things when it came to Hira, no matter how much it irked her.

Swallowing her bitter ale, she said. "Thank you for joining me."

"When a lady enters your room unannounced with the intention of stealing you away from the yard training, how can you say no?"

"I knocked. Twice."

"I make no complaints. If you wish to greet me every morning in my chambers, please do so."

Hira rolled her eyes. "Why should I have to trek to your chambers?"

Aemond smirked. "An invitation to visit yours in the early morning? Will you be undressed too?"

"Maybe I will be. Unfortunately my chamber doors will be bolted from the likes of you."

He groaned in false agony. "You play with my heart, my princess. Cruel mistress."

It was pleasant seeing Aemond like this. It brought a flutter to Hira's stomach. When he smiled and jested, her heart leaped out of her chest, for who else had seen him like this? This Aemond was hers alone.

Whilst he distracted her from the pain of losing Jin, Hira kept her mission close to her chest, always at the forefront of her mind.

The price Mysaria asked for was concerning. It appeared that being Daemon's daughter was a one off for the woman. Simply, in the future, when asked of it, Hira will have to oblige the White Worm in anything she wanted.

The plan was simple, but not guaranteed to be a success. Too many factors that could go wrong. Hira held no fear of the Hightowers. What she said to Mysaria was correct, she would kill them first before they acted on their wrath and if they touched her, Daemon would burn their world to the ground in retaliation.

Hira only hoped Aemond would forgive her. He wasn't close with Lyonel, seemed not to care for his leaving, but he cared for his mother greatly. Alicent's pain was his. Whoever hurt Alicent, he would hurt tens times more. Mysaria had asked if she was willing to risk their fury and she was. But did she wish to risk Aemond's admiration of her? The answer was no. He's grown on her, showed her in more ways than one that he cares for her more than a friend. His actions have never caused her to doubt how he felt.

Aemond wanted her. Desired her. Yearned for her. She had no fancy to hurt him or cause strife in his life.

"Your eyepatch." She tapped the leather strap. "Why do you wear it?"

"Do you not like it?"

"Do you find delight answering my questions with a question?"

Aemond crossed his arms. "Women have faint hearts. I wear it to hide the scar."

"Know a lot of women, do you?" She teased.

"A few, though there's only one I care for." He gave a pointed look.

"Lucky girl." She couldn't hide her smile. "Lengii women adore men with scars. If you were to ever step foot in Leng, the women would hound you until you gave in."

"It's fortunate then, that I have found myself a Lengii woman here in Westeros."

How could Aemond's gaze be so soft yet electrifying? Hira resumed drinking her ale, unable to focus on anything but his lingering eye.

The two eventually left the inn and parted ways, Aemond to the yard in the Red Keep and Hira to the Dragonpit where she spent the rest of the day on Zhurong.

It wasn't until nightfall that she enacted her last part of the plan.

[ x ]

AEMOND

"I see you haven't grown tired of me." Aemond mused when he opened his door to find Hira standing outside, not that he minded much. Especially when she wore a simple silk shift dress with a thin robe to ward off the chilly air. The robe left little to the imagination and the shift was low on the chest. Aemond should be ashamed for looking. Instead he licked his lips, gazing at Hira with hooded eyes.

She swallowed. "Are you an old man to go to bed at this hour?"

"Are you a woman of the night to be up at this late hour?" He retorted. "Wearing nothing but thin cloth?"

"I need a distraction." She held out her hand.

Intertwining their fingers, Aemond allowed himself to be tugged to a lesser known area of the Keep. Hira leaned against the stone bannister, facing towards Aemond and back facing the open courtyard where they once lit lanterns.

"If it's a distraction you need, why are we tucked away in the middle of the corridor instead of saddled on our dragons?"

Hira peered at him with soft doe eyes, licking her lips. "Because I want a different distraction."

Aemond understood her meaning instantly.

Before Hira had knocked on his door, Aemond held his cock in his hand and thought of nothing but her. Her lips, her eyes, the dragon crown that adorned her head on her name day, the way the colours suited her right, her laugh, when she nibbled on her lip as she's preoccupied. Every thought was consumed by her. It was as if his lewd thinking brought her to him when she appeared behind his closed chambers.

And seeing her in this, saying those words, how could he possibly hold onto his restraint?

Without pause he stepped between her thighs, pressing himself close until he felt every inch of her body on his.

He murmured in her ear. "I try to be a respectful man, so make it very clear to me, Hira. You wish to use my body as a distraction?"

She bit her lip, causing Aemond's eye to dart to the soft flesh.

He leaned down with the intention of laying his lips on hers, but Hira tilted her head to the side, causing him to press his lips to her cheek instead. He answered her response with trailing kisses down her neck, making her gasp so sweetly. He memorised those sounds, engraving them into his mind lest he forget those delicious whimpers, especially when he sucked a deep red spot on her neck, unable to help himself.

Hira breathed a sigh when he continued to suck little marks over her neck, each sigh getting louder, almost as if she wanted to get caught. Not that he minded much. He's seen the way men looked at her. Were someone to find them in this compromising position, it would be more of a win to him than a loss.

He was Hira's the moment she encouraged his wild idea of claiming a dragon. His curiosity had turned into desire without even realising it. And the men who called her bastard, yet gazed on her womanly body, from her curves to her lips, how could he not wish to drive his sword through them? He itched for it.

He knew that Aegon leered at her. Sober or drunk, his eyes trail over and over and over and when he's caught he only sends an infuriating smirk and every part of Aemond craves to strangle his brother for the offence.

"Get out of your head." Hira gasped in his ear, her hands caressing his neck.

"You're right. I'd rather my head be in between your thighs."

Aemond holstered her up on the bannister, Hira's legs wrapping around his waist. Her silk robe came undone and Aemond stroked the curve of her breast over her shift, softly grasping the supple skin, enjoying the fullness.

"You're so beautiful." He mumbled into her neck, sucking a larger red spot, dragging his tongue from top to bottom until he licked her earlobe.

Hira giggled. "That tickles."

He smiled against her flesh, unable to stop the warmth that spread over his chest and the pounding of his heart. How can a woman be so endearing and captivating?

"Can I kiss you?" It came as a demand rather than a question.

He felt her nod. Aemond grasped her thigh, not quite believing it and leaned down to taste her. He was only a breath away when he heard a gasp that wasn't hers.

Hira's head jerked to the servant who stumbled on them, red faced and gaping. What she was doing at this late hour, Seven knows.

"Leave." Aemond commanded, still grasping Hira's thigh. He pulled her closer, covering her body with his.

The servant rushed away.

Hira sighed in annoyance, running her hand through her hair. Her chest heaved with every breath and her cheeks stained pink. Under the torch light she sported plenty of red marks and satisfaction swelled inside him.

Aemond knew the mood was ruined, but no matter, he understood she needed him the way he needed her. They had all the time in the world to explore what was kindling between them.

He laid a kiss on her forehead, staying a moment longer before withdrawing himself from her. He helped her down from the bannister and dressed his cloak over her, unwilling to let anyone see her half naked and alluring. He laced their hands.

They stopped beside her door, ignoring the glower her black haired guard gave them when he spotted Hira bare feet and slightly panting. The wide smirk that hadn't left Aemond's face was also critical evidence to what transpired between them.

"Keep it." He insisted when she attempted to give the cloak back.

She gave a smile. "Thank you Aemond."

He knew it wasn't about the cloak.

"Anytime, my princess. Perhaps next time we'll stay in my chambers to not be disturbed. You make such sweet noises."

Hira glared playfully. "It'll be you making those noises."

He gave a smug look, already anticipating the next time they're alone. Tilting her head up to his with a finger on her chin, he placed one last kiss on her forehead, savouring the moment before departing to his chambers.

[ x ]

JADE

In a brothel along the Roseroad, a hooded figure stood over Lyonel Hightower.

He clawed at his throat, skin purple like the lavender Prince Aemond once gave to her Princess. His eyes blood red, the whites disappearing in a beautiful display of justice. Sick yellow bile dribbled down his mouth.

Jade hummed a childhood tune as she watched life fade from his eyes.

A life for a life.