The Dornish Quarters

[Dirty Chai]

With the presence of the young heir to Sunspear at court, some quarters in Red Keep have been given to the young Doran Martell and his entourage of retainers and servants brought from Dorne. They have lived here now for couple years, since Doran came to squire for his uncle Ser Lewyn, a knight of the Kingsguard.

[Pontifex Maximus]

(thought I'd bring this to your attention, don't worry about the character technically being with the King, his role in what I'm planning will be minimal and won't require anything substantive from him)

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Queen arrived with Ser Lewyn at the Dornish quarters.

[Dirty Chai]

After a very brief delay of only a few minutes, the Queen Dowager and Ser Lewyn stood in an enclosed room which was shadowy and crimson.
The young heir to Sunspear walked up to the waiting Queen and bowed before her, and offered a smile.

Doran was dressed in a simple unbelted kaftan, and the collar was loose. Similarly, the household and retainers about did not seem to have changed their clothing for the meeting, simply just showing up. Perhaps that was why the Dornish never kept their guests waiting long..

"Good evening, your Grace," greeted the youth, his voice crisp with adolescence.
The household around her offered bows and respectful murmurs in turn. There were perhaps two dozen bodies standing in the small lounge, and the doors and entrances had been closed, with a guard at each one.

Ser Lewyn nodded to his nephew and then looked around the room before glancing at Shaera to see what she would say.

[Pontifex Maximus]

The room was tastefully appointed, Shaera appreciated the change of pace and a more exotic setting. "Prince Doran, how nice it is to finally meet you." She gave a warm smile and turned to survey the room. "I see that you have brought your court with you." She said, commenting on the number of people present. "I have several matters I wish to discuss with you. My counselors have informed me of your continued loyalty to the throne, and for that you have my thanks. I have been working tirelessly to secure more swords for the cause, but our list of allies grows thin."

She had no idea how much of this the boy understood, but she did not wish to treat him like a child. "For my part I have set about setting up the defenses of the city in the event that we are besieged. For now our port remains open, and this will provide an escape route. As of yet we have no escape destination."

[Dirty Chai]

Doran would be considered a young man in a few years, but he wasn't quite as quick as his uncle yet.
However, his household listened, knights and retainers from the desert listening attentively to every word.

The boy did respond, catching on. His voice lowered, subtly.
"Dorne would safeguard the King and his family, my mother the Princess would make sure of it," he offered with a formality.
Then he changed his tone however, becoming more frank, "But the seas are not ours.."

[Pontifex Maximus]

Shaera nodded, the young man seemed to understand. "Any journey would be perilous. I cannot predict the future with any accuracy at all. Hoppefully it will not come to fleeing. have you raised your banners?" With what she knew about the present situation, Maelys might be trapped between a Dornish host and her son's host. That would make a quick and jolly end to it all.

[Dirty Chai]

The boy blinked and glanced at his uncle Lewyn.
"I.. I cannot say.." he stumbled, unsure, before becoming formal again, "Not that we have heard, your Grace."

Lewyn turned to the Queen Dowager and elaborated in a quiet tone.
"Sunspear will march soon, I am sure."

OOC: This happens before Aerys leaves the city so I can't claim to have raised banners at this point, but the Dornish household would certainly tell you now that they've raised banners

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Very good." She answered. "One last thing." She addressed the room as a whole, for this prince was still in his minority. "I have need of administrators and counselors. Our manpower is much diminished in the absence of the King and his generals. Are there any here who could serve in an ad hoc advisory role?"

[Dirty Chai]

OOC: They're just unnamed auxes. If someone wants to sign up one of them and play them and volunteer, that's fine, but otherwise I can't help you there.

The household generally all round seemed unlikely, with most of those present making clear that they weren't equipped or ranked to take on the responsibilities the Queen Dowager implied.

Doran and Lewyn looked at the Queen with a sympathetic look.
"There is Arthur Fowler, your Grace," said Doran, "who is a member of this attachment, but is he not your Master of Coin already?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Yes." She sighed, feeling more isolated by the minute. "It seems that I have recruited all the help already available in the capital."

[Dirty Chai]

The boy deflated a little, aware that he could not help the king's mother further, and it visibly bothered him.
"Dorne is always at your service," assured Ser Lewyn, "to the best of our capabilities."

"With time I am sure, able men will present themselves," offered the boy, though feebly.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Yes, with time." She agreed. "That is all for now, I will send word if I can think of anything else." With that the Queen began to depart

[Dirty Chai]

The Dornish hosts bowed their heads as she left, while Ser Lewyn followed Shaera as a shadow might