Kovan didn’t like Dorne, he had decided. He didn’t hate it, either, but he missed home. The sun was too strong here. Still, the Water Gardens were pleasanter than he had expected, greener, and he liked that the servants’ children were allowed to play with them. It was just… a strange place with strange people, and he missed his little brother.
“Kovan!” Kovan looked up at the sound of his name to see Kassius Tyrell approaching him. They hadn’t seen each other in two years, and it was a shock to see him now. He was as fair-skinned as ever, and as always unexceptional in looks with brown hair and brown eyes, but he looked far different than he had when they had last met three years ago. He looked… peaceful. Kassius had never been much of a playmate. The Vyrwel family had often sent Kovan over to Highgarden in the hopes that the two boys of similar age would get along, but Kassius had always been the sort to hide in the gardens, more comfortable painting on his own than playing with anyone, and seeming to be a sort of shy, clumsy child.
Kassius Tyrell now was nearly unrecognizable. It was hard to call him friendly, but his face glowed with a comfortable sort of cheerfulness Kovan had never seen him wear without one of his siblings present. Kovan thought he liked this Kassius better. “Welcome to Dorne.” He said with a smile. “Here, let me show you around.”
“Thank you, Kassius.” Kovan said, feeling a little awkward. Kassius had always insisted that Kovan not call him “lord,” but he felt weirder about it today than he ever had before, since Kassius was actually starting to act lordly.
As Kassius began to show him around the Water Gardens, Kovan struck up an awkward conversation. “It has been some time. You look quite well. It seems Dorne has done very well by you.” He realized too late that that might have seemed insulting or overly familiar.
Kassius didn’t seem to notice though, or care. He just smiled with that gentle joy and after a moment’s pause to think, responded, “I suppose there is truth in that. I have come to love Sunspear and the Water Gardens. How do you find Dorne?”
Kovan twisted his lips slightly. “These gardens are acceptable, but Dorne is not for me, I believe. It’s… too dry, and lifeless and strange.”
“What do you mean by that?!” Came an indignant young girl’s voice. Something smacked into his face, and Kovan staggered backwards in surprise. The first thing he saw was the lemon rolling on the ground at his feet. The next thing he saw was a dark-skinned black-haired girl with beautiful eyes glaring up at him from behind Kassius. She was more than a head shorter than the two of them, round cheeks red and puffed up in anger.
“What?” He asked, rubbing his forehead where it had struck. “Who are you?”
“Princess Myria!” Kassius cried in dismay. The poor boy looked positively horrified, and did not appear to be able to tell who to apologize to.
“He’s rude!” The princess announced, pointing straight at Kovan. “Dorne isn’t ‘lifeless and strange.'” She huffed.
“He was only speaking his mind.” Kassius tried, looking a little panicked.
The little girl didn’t seem to like that one bit, frowning at the Tyrell now. “You’re supposed to be on my side.” She said, casting Kovan a venomous glance as if she held him personally responsible for this sudden betrayal.
Kassius waved his hands around a little frantically. “Sides? I- Princess, I would never-“
Kovan shook his hand out in front of him, “I’m okay! So this little… lemon girl is princess of Dorne. She seems quite fond of you. Nice to meet you, Princess. I’m Kovan Vyrwel.” Still squinting one eye, he gave her a little bow.
She didn’t seem impressed. “I don’t care! It’s not nice to meet you.” She grabbed Kassius’ arm and tugged on it. “Let’s go, my love.” She said, grumpily.
One of Kovan’s eyebrows shot upwards, but Kassius didn’t seem surprised or at all perturbed by that endearment. He just continued to look very panicked and confused. Kovan sighed. “Don’t mind me, Kassius. Go ahead, I shall make my way fine without you.” And he would. He’d always been good at taking care of himself. Kassius wavered for a bit, but the little girl tugged him away even as Kovan continued to repeat that he was fine. Before they could leave earshot, however, Kovan called after them, “You would think this place strange, too, if you saw the green, rolling hills and flower fields of the Reach, little princess!”
She turned to yell something back at him, but Kassius grabbed both her hands and pulled her away, saying something quiet to placate her.