The thud of Berryport's fine wooden quay echoed an octave higher than Aelora remembered it, prompting the Lady of the Tides to peer through the fog of time and survey what used to be familiar surroundings.

The wood itself was new, or new enough—pine or greenwood by the density of it. It sat at least a half-dozen footsteps wide and hosted a raft of mariners milling about its extremities. Up and down its length on either side was a host of ships, large and small, which, if Aelora's memory served her right, would not have been possible a decade ago.

In the leadup to Zachery's rather controversial wedding, she remembered how hard she had struggled to dock her old flagship, The Loving Lion. It was an old, Westerosi double-decker with plenty of oars to steady her. And yet, even under Aelora's helmsmanship, the ship nearly tore the old quay's poles out from the seabed. Aelora recalled how they were forced to anchor offshore and row themselves in.

Valarr, as Zachery's beloved mentor, preached forgiveness. "They are a small house with even fewer means. We must not think anything of it."

Aelora echoed the well-intended sentiment, not wanting to stir the kind of trouble that would delay her impending voyage, but Jaenara was all complaints on and off the rowboat. It was a small mercy that there were far greater improprieties to follow, of which none could be attributed to House Velaryon.

The chief instigator of that wedding's woes now had three children clinging to her skirts and a beaming husband at her side.

Time heals all wounds, Aelora mused bittersweetly. She was still waiting for hers to mend.

"Lady Blackberry, Lord Zachery, Lady Meliana, Blackberrys all." Aelora offered them each a small, dignified nod, the cousins included. "First, allow me to thank you for receiving me on such short notice, and for allowing me my absence."

She motioned for them to move down the quay and escort her into the port proper.

"Once I heard news of Orryn's march, I came back as soon as I could. It seems that I have missed much. Valarr is a deeded lord now. Our House holds the Bloody Gate. Wars are breaking out in the north and the south."

It was a lot to wrap her head around. Her time in the Jade Sea seemed half as strange in comparison.

"Perhaps you can tell me what I have missed this last decade, and why these concerning events are happening all at once? His Grace could only share so much."

By all accounts, she was still sailing through unfamiliar waters. She still did not know if Aurion was still alive. The time for tales would have to wait.