Valyrian Steel

Chapter 26

Dragonrider

Aegon watched Rhaegal tear into the goat he had slaughtered for him. His dragon gobbled the treat up in two bites. Aegon was happy to watch his dragon eat. Rhaegal's scales shone like emeralds in the winter sun and steam rose from the snow beneath her. She was always warm. She looked up at him and snapped playfully in his direction. He was starting to love the dragon bearing his father's name. When everyone else thought that she was always aggressive, but he started to spot her moods. She was hungry, playful, annoyed or simply challenging him. Arya had told him that Rhaegal would always test him.

"You should approach her?" Daenerys said beside him. "She's finished."

"She doesn't like training so soon after eating." Aegon said as he leaned back and waited for Rhaegal to show him she was ready.

"You know her now?" Daenerys asked with interest.

"I had to. If I didn't spot her moods or tells Arya would toss a shoe at my head." Aegon said with a grin.

"I thought you would be more concerned with what Rhaegal will do to you." Daenerys smiled.

"Arya is quicker to hurt me than Rhaegal. Rhaegal hasn't tried to kill me in over a two weeks. Hurt me sure, but not kill or maim me. I think Rhaegal trusts me."

"Do you trust her?"

"Almost." They watched Rhaegal hop about and Viserion approach warily.

"How is she going to do it, rescue the prisoners and kill Walder Frey?"

Daenerys sighed. "It is not my secret to tell. Suffice it to say she acquired certain skills in Essos. I've never met anyone deadlier."

Aegon watched her face for any emotion but Daenerys was skilled at keeping a regal front to shield her thoughts. He let out a sigh. She still held up her walls, but everyone has walls so he figured that it was acceptable.

"I almost feel sorry for the Freys. I gave her free reign of the situation. As long as she does not kill children and she releases the prisoners, she can do as she pleases." Daenerys said in order to keep the conversation flowing.

"Is she so fearsome?" He asked with a raised brow.

"I've seen her fight once at my previous wedding. I was distracted but she took down a man twice her size with a smile on her face and killed four others before she warged into Rhaegal. For a while I wondered if she was the third dragon. The song of Ice and Fire." Before Aegon could ask her anymore questions she motioned towards Rhaegal, "She is coming."

Aegon grabbed the whip at his hip at watched Rhaegal approach him. He cracked the whip twice and she stopped. Her bronze eyes connected with Aegon's and he reached out his hand. Rhaegal brought her snout closer to his hand and nuzzled him gently.

"It's time." He murmured

Aegon watched Rhaegal carefully and snapped his whip. "Ilagon" lay down.

Rhaegal raised her head and started to extend her wings when he snapped his whip again. "Ilagon!"

She stilled, her fringe along her spine flexed and her pupils dialated. Aegon cracked the whip again and gave her no ground. He could almost hear Arya scream "The tail idiot!"

Aegon snapped the whip in the direction of the tail she was flicking and she hissed.

"Ilagon!"

The world stilled and all Aegon saw were bronze eyes. He dared not move. Finally she lowered her head with a rumble and her wings went flush against her side. Aegon approached slowly. There was a spot on the nape of her neck that was clear of the spiked fringe she had along her spine. Aegon mounted her and immediately decided that he would need a saddle for all future rides. One of the frills along her spine was deathly close to his manhood. He snapped the whip.

"Sovegon" he called out with as much firmness as possible.

Her wings extended and she took flight. Aegon let out a delighted whoop as the ground disappeared beneath him. The ground shrunk beneath him and he looked up at the sky with a smile. Rhaegal moved beneath him swerving upwards into the sky and bringing above the clouds. Aegon let out a victorious laugh.

He was the dragon.