Chapter 14: The Wrath of House Valreon

A/N: thanks to all the story favourites and followers! You all inspire me to keep going with the story! Shout out to Naruto and Josh for your comments really appreciate the encouragement. Also want to shout out to Kallypso whose story A Wolf Amongst Lions got me started in the first place. If you love Tywin Lannister and Arya this story is fantastic :)

Their allies assembled in the largest hall looking worried about the turn of events. The allies shifted uneasily and murmured amongst themselves, brows furrowed in concern. Some were itching for a fight and others were worried to go to war. The alliance was meant to bring peace and prosperity but so far had brought only trouble from the families underneath them. Alaerya entered the hall and they clapped for her entrance, pleased by her survival as she was the key to their collective success. She waved and smiled in thanks, and joined Aeyrelis at the front. He kissed her and she stood next to him, Aeyrelis cleared his throat...

"We just wanted to thank you for your support in recent events. I'm sure you know it's been a difficult few weeks since my family was the target of an unprovoked attack. I'm sure you're wondering who was responsible, Ive been wondering that myself. And I tried to find them to no avail, luckily we have Alaerya here who saw the events and focused on her attacker. She identified them, then also searched their minds and found an alliance to destroy our families."

All the Lords shifted glanced around at one another, angered that person had nearly succeeded.

"And so we have been given approval to wipe two lesser Valyrian families from the records and accrue their wealth as our own."

The Lords looked at each other surprised, "This has never been allowed before" said Kaeryon, father of Allaria's betrothed.

Alaerya answered, "Top Valyrian Families have never arranged themselves into an organised group. We have always acted alone with the support of one or two houses. We have brought peace to Valyrian nobility and the Governors want that peace to remain. They signed the decree to have Houses Ballaer Varghnar removed from Valyrian official records. Their properties and businesses will be seized by us, their vaults emptied...by us"

The room was still, everyone was in disbelief and dumbfounded this was happening.

Rhaegon Aelleron father of Rionaron's betrothed stood, "I knew I was aligning with strength when I signed the betrothal paperwork. When are we enacting this decree and how will it be split."

"We are all here now to discuss how this will be divided. Just because you aligned with us doesn't make you subjugated to us. I meant it when I said we are all strongest together. Both houses have numerous properties, mines and slaves to divide. Their wealth is also quite large in their vaults, we propose to split what's in the vaults six ways. And to show our gratitude for your friendship and alliance we propose to you that their properties, mines and slaves be divided amongst all of you. We will take a share from the vaults and that is all, we will open the floor to discuss how the remainder will be divided amongst you".

Majority of them were shocked, Valyrians didn't usually miss an opportunity to grow their own Houses as a priority.

"Why wouldn't you take a share of the rest Aeyrelis? You've more than earned it" said Vyselis Maraxon, father of Rhaellyra's betrothed.

Aeyrelis picked up his drink and took a sip, "Well there is another matter to discuss in the near future once this is dealt with and you'll understand I have plenty of wealth and properties. I am giving these to you in good faith of our alliance in the name of our children and their marriages to come in the future"

Alaerya stepped forward with lists of properties and assets to be divided and they all spent the next few hours dividing them up.

"Just one thing," said Aeyrelis before the paperwork was to be signed, "the residences of these families is not included in these listings. Once we deal with these traitors you'll understand why"

"Is there a reason to keep them for another purpose?" said Aery Traellar, father of Aeyrelions betrothed.

"Yes, and as I mentioned you will come to understand and appreciate that purpose. It suits all of us"

After some murmuring among themselves the men agreed.

Once everyone was satisfied and signed the agreements, the men shook hands and bowed to Alaerya.

"You know how to build good relations Aeyrelis, we are satisfied with our arrangements" smiled Kaeryon.

Aeyrelis laughed, "Now the real fun begins...let's round up our traitors"

The men left the room and stormed to their dragons and flew out to two houses in Valyria to enact the plans.

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Alaerya knew these families, they had grown up in the same social circles and been friends at one point in their life. She had forbidden the children to be harmed at the meeting and the alliance had obliged, they disputed her decision but she respectfully asked them not to become child killers. She kept the children seperate from what was going to happen in the dragon dome.

"Is this all the children from both families?" She asked her servant in hushed tones as they watched the children from the doorway.

"Yes my Lady. We took them from their classes and some of the servants from the houses we know rounded up the children and evacuated them before the adults were aware of what's happening."

Alaerya placed a bag of gold into her palm, "Divide this with the servants who helped you and tell no one of this"

The bag was heavy in the servants hand and Alaerya knew there was more than enough to keep the entire chain of spies she had satisfied.

"Yes my Lady" she bowed and left the room.

Alaerya felt sad looking over at the children who might have met their end today had she not intervened. The older children were studying their books and the younger ones were crawling all over them. Some played together chasing and hiding each other squeals of laughter bouncing off the walls. Alaerya remembered how much simpler life had been as a child as she watched them, and she realised just how much she had changed since being one of them. Sometimes she felt she showed too much mercy but she could not condone the killing of children.

The children were of various ages, they all looked at her trusting as most were her students. She sat in front of them and they turned to her eager to hear her words. Inside her heart sank and felt heavy knowing this moment would change their lives significantly.

"Children something very serious is happening today and I need to talk to you about it."

One of the older students had been crying, Vysarra looked at her with red eyes. The other children were confused, they hadn't detected the danger of the situation that was unfolding.

"Vysarra are you alright?"

Vysarra shook her head, "Come here" said Alaerya.

She apprehensively walked over to her, "What do you know?" asked Alaerya quietly.

Alaerya lowered her voice and cast enchantments that no one could hear except Vysarra and her.

"My mother-" she sobbed, "she told me..." she took a deep breath, "she needs to pay for what she tried to do to you"

Alaerya was surprised and she knew her face looked shocked, "You support the choice of my family and our allies?"

Vysarra nodded, "Do what you have to and please make it quick for us"

Alaerya's eyes hardened, "I will not condone killing children"

Vysarra looked shocked, "But-"

She looked into her eyes, "Children will not be harmed but other actions will need to be taken"

Vysarra nodded, "Whatever you deem fair I accept."

"Good, keep the others in line who will not like what they have to hear"

Vysarra agreed and returned to her siblings, she was the oldest in her family of four children. Her younger brother looked at her enquiringly and she motioned for him to be quiet.

The other children were now scared she could feel the angst in the room and decided to not give sweetened lies to them. They quickly noticed she wasn't there to teach them today.

"Children your families tried to assasinate me weeks ago and we have been given approval to retaliate."

The older children gasped and looked at each other in fear and around the room expecting the worst.

"The adults from your families will be killed and your homes will be gone. I'm sorry you have to be involved in this, it's not fair to such young ones to have to suffer because of the stupid decisions made by others you're related to. But we are where we are and at this moment the members of my alliance are bringing your families here to be judged and executed."

All the older children were distressed now, the youngest ones didn't understand what was going on but they knew something was wrong. Some of them began crying picking up on the tension in the room.

The oldest boy, Vyraelon Varghnar, spoke up, "What will they do to us? Will we die with our families?"

"You are my students and I've decided to protect you. Your family names will be stricken from Valyrian History, as if they never existed so you will be given new family names. You will be distributed between the families of our alliance. Siblings will stay together, cousins will be seperated and you will take the family name of your adoptive family. You will be treated well and all we expect in return is for you to live without revenge for your family. They chose to attack and tried to kill me, I have helped all of you grow and become talented in your own ways. If anyone here wants to attack me do so now. Otherwise let go of any plans of revenge as I've placed magical wards over you that you will physically be unable to take revenge. And believe me when I say you do not want to test these wards"

The children were still for a time and one boy rushed forward in anger, yelling at Alaerya. Vysarra's brother Vyraelon. He didn't make many paces before he was sent flying into the wall across the room and was knocked unconscious. Alaerya hadn't even blinked and her power and force was enough to keep the others in line.

"He will be fine children no need to worry. Now does anyone else want to avenge the death of their families?"

Vysarra stood, "We have no need to avenge someone who has protected us. Most of my family is in this room, I ask you to follow me in accepting this act of mercy"

Her siblings and extended family looked troubled, they clearly were wanting to resist but knew they couldn't win or survive. After a short time they approached Alaerya, she shook their hands and looked at them sternly searching for malice. She found nothing to be concerned about for now.

"For today I want you to remain here where you are safe. I will place guards at the door and magic to keep people out. You will not be harmed but you also cannot escape. And when your cousin wakes remind him I won't show mercy a second time." She looked stern, "Anyone who attacks me after I leave this room will not have a nice end"

She left the children hostages feeling a slight degree of relief, but felt dread at what's to come.

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The enemy families were held under guard, their dragons were present because the Valyrian people knew dragons were intelligent, they knew a change of power had come. Alaerya entered and noticed all the allies were present with their families. Even the children were present her own included. 'Time they saw how ruthless we can be', thought Alaerya.

Rhylla and Auraelia were on their knees watching her approach rage and fury in their eyes. Auraelia watched with a mixture of rage and fascination that she had survived the Kiss of Death. It was after all Auraelia who had thrown the spear covered in the poison. The remaining adult members of the enemy families were present, also under guard.

Alaerya stood by Aeyrelis, "Do you know why you're here?" Boomed Aeyrelis in anger, "you schemed and plotted to kill my wife and disrupt the peace we have arranged in Valyria. Your jealousy and anger you weren't considered strong enough to align with is your undoing." He paces angrily as he spat out the words, his rage, grief and despair at nearly losing his wife boiling over into fury. As he walked and spoke the air swirled around him angrily.

He unrolled the decree, "Here I have a decree that Houses Ballaer and Varghnar will be stricken from Valyrian History. Your Houses will be forgotten, your properties seized by us, your vaults emptied by us, your dragons will be taken on by us...and your children will belong to us too"

Upon hearing this Rhylla and Auraelia tried to stand and attack. Getting to their feet they tried to charge with twisted looks on their faces. Instead they were subdued and they spat at Alaerya's feet their faces distorted in disgust.

"I'd rather my children die than be taken by you" snarled Auraelia.

"I'm not taking all of them, they will be distributed among the families loyal to us and they'll be hostages. Their names will be changed to the adoptive family name and you will be forgotten" said Alaerya, softly and calmly. But in a way that she knew would provoke them both.

Rhylla snarled at her and Aeyrelis stepped forward, "As for you my old friend if you weren't so bitter and jealous you might have been offered beneficial opportunities earlier in your life. You were discussed to be betrothed to my brother we would've been siblings by law. But after your disgusting behaviour after I was betrothed to Alaerya it was renigged."

Rhylla fell silent, she had always loved Aeyrelis brother growing up and didn't know of the arrangement. This was been a sad realisation for her and was one of the sources of her anger towards Alaerya. Jealousy she got to marry the one she loved when she didn't.

"Why do we get punished? We didn't play a part in their schemes!" one of the hostage men yelled from House Varghnar.

"If we spare all the children and all the adults you'll conspire for revenge. You will call us weak, you will never rest. This ends here, you all die" replied Alaerya calmly. The hostages didn't respond, because they knew it was true because they were conspiring that very moment. Thinking wildly in their minds how to save themselves so they can continue to plot and scheme. Alaerya raked her gaze over them and they felt her presence in their minds, she felt some withdraw in horror. Others held their stance and she knew sadly inside that the only way forward was by slaughtering them all.

She looked up at the crowd of dragons watching the proceedings, she had mastered dragon magic and knew how to appropriate them to her cause. She projected her thoughts and feeling with magic to the dragons, when she was finished she requested a pledge of allegiance. A few moments passed and the dragons made no moves, suddenly one of the largest reared and roared. A small number of the enemies dragons departed the dome, she had given them a choice to join or be free to go on your way. Some chose that path and left without accord. The remainder aligned with Alaerya, one dragon flew down behind Alaerya and she looked into its face for a time silently. She turned and watched as the dragon burned the enemy families until none stood anymore. The dragon dome was bright with light and the smell of roasting flesh which was never pleasant. The dragons feasted one the corpses of their former Masters, Rhylla and Auraelia were sitting in puddles, soiling themselves knowing their end is coming.

"This is personal what happened between us three" said Alaerya calling for her blade.

It flew from its spot on her belt to her hand, "You both conspired to kill me despite having no real grievance from my end..."

Auraelia laughed loudly and cruelly, "What you did to my face isn't enough to have a grievance?"

Alaerya turned to her, "I tried to make amends with you and you chose to ignore me. From what you did from then is on you..."

"I'll curse your whole family..." she snarled, "your grandchildren will be be born dead, your family line will last one generation before you are all dust and mean nothing to anyone..."

As she spat her words Alaerya stride forward drawing the sword at her hip, sharp and faithful. In one movement when she was mid sentence, Alaerya sliced her head from her shoulders, she gurgled mud sentence, words of abuse and cursing stuck in her throat. Alaerya watched her lifeless body fall where she knelt.

Aeyrelis strode towards Rhylla, "You chose the wrong friends..."

As she went to argue with him she screamed out in pain as a wind came from nowhere. It whipped her hair around her face and she struggled against it crying and writing in pain. After a minute or two the wind disintegrated her until she was a pile of dust next to Auraelia's headless body.

Both family lines ended there in the dragon dome of House Valreon, from stupidity and jealousy. The former ladies of these now extinct Houses were gone, dead on the floor of their enemies home. Following the fate of the rest of their house into being forgotten.

Alaerya turned to the watching families and the children.

"We've shown no mercy to our enemies and we won't tolerate those who rise up against us. Go and raid those houses who no longer exist, bring us our share of what we agreed to and take what has been agreed on for yourself. And when you're done burn those houses to the ground. The former Houses of the Families hadn't been included in the property to be divided to serve as a warning to other minor houses. Rise up and you will meet the same fate" Covered in the blood of her enemy, Alaerya left the dragon dome as the other Lords went to claim the prizes for their loyalty.

The dragons and their Lords flew into the air as one and in formation flew in two groups, one to each house. Other nobility noticed them and looked on from their domes wondering what was happening in the towers of the families. The lower houses in Valyria didn't know what was about to happen, they whispered and pointed speculating what had happened. Burning of nobility's houses had never happened before in Valyria, it was completely unheard of, shocking and brutal. The Houses of the Families were signs of pride, signs of grandeur and signs of power. To be stripped of everything Including your name and to lose your house is the worst punishment of all for a family. When the signal had been given that the Houses were raided and empty of valuables and people, two dragons blasted each House. The fury of fire was unleashed on the buildings and under the intensity of sustained dragon fire the buildings started disintegrating and began looking melted. The dragons took a break and another two took their place, burning the buildings simulataneously. The largest dome in city melted and the building was razed to a pathetic stump of the glory that had once stood there. And the smaller dome was crumpled and wrecked.

The nobility from the Lower Houses gasped in horror from their domes and speculated the details behind the fate of Houses Ballaer and Varghnar.

Two names synonymous with pride, lust and anger...three traits that had brought nothing good to their families. War loving and quick to anger these attributes hadn't served them well over the year, aside from some notable military commanders in each family line who were prominent in the Ghiscari wars. These families weren't rich with magical talent like others, Ballaer gained power through fear and torture, and now House Ballaer was gone. House Varghnar had lost their glory long ago and was known for trying to greedily grab back it's long gone power at all costs. And they made the wrong move at the wrong time and it cost them everything.

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Alaerya had returned to the garden again in her dreamwalkingt, standing in front of the tree with a bleeding face. She moved closer to it, the cold making her breath fog in front of her, she reached out her hand and touched the tree. The energy swirled up her arm in shock waves so strong she struggled not to cry out. Her entire body endured shock waves of tingling energy and images and scenes of people's lives she didn't know and places she didnt recognise flashed by her. She steadied her breath and they slowed down, her eyes milky white staring. Eventually the images slowed down and she returned to her body, whatever this tree was it had power and magic. She had never known a plant to have magic like this, there was the Temple of Stone in Valyria who specialised in Earth magic but when she studied the mysteries there no one mentioned a tree with a bleeding face. She stepped back and looked around, the castle was next to the garden a short distance away. She felt compelled to go there, she started walking towards its snow covered turrets and wolf banners when she saw him. He sat in her periphery watching him, his eyes boring into hers. He was present this time rather than walking dream roads. She approached him instead.

"You can go in there and explore if you wish. It's not the same as where you're from but it's nice regardless" he spoke with no emotion or warmth but she could feel he was kind.

She searched his energy field and found no danger or ill intent.

"Where is this place?" Her voice and Valyrian accent sounded stilted after his even voice

"This is Winterfell" his answers were short and to the point, she ascertained he was using magic but what kind she couldn't tell

"And who are you? Why have I returned here?"

"You also get to the point Lady Alaerya, my name is Brandon Stark but I'm now known as the Three Eyed Raven."

She wracked her brain thinking if this was familiar, her mind raced through the knowledge stored in her brain and found nothing

"Tell me what that is, for I do not know"

"I can see everything that has and is happening, I can also see what may happen in the future. Although I'm sure you understand there are many...threads to be strung. Some might be cut short, others may change course and some may continue on just as they were meant to"

She stepped closer to him, "And why am I here" The snow crunches beneath her feet and the cold air pricked her skin.

"Because you may be the only one who will be alive that can save this place."

He looked around at the garden and the castle, she almost felt a sense of emotion coming from him but it was gone as quick as she felt it.

"You want me to save Winterfell? From who and how?"

"Not just Winterfell, all of us. We need you. You're the only one he won't see coming. If you and your family die in the Doom it will affect threads of the future here...in Westeros"

She did not know what this Doom was but it seemed he inferred to the destruction of Valyria, her interest was piqued.

"What is Westeros?" she said looking around and noticing the cloud her breath made when speaking.

"Your new lands are located between a large continent- that is Westeros, and a group of islands called the Summer Isles. I have searched through the memories of time to find someone who can help us. We have an enemy who will destroy us all, he does not feel and does not rest. Unopposed he will sweep through Westeros and Essos killing every man, woman and child..."

"Will this person..."

"He will not rest until he wipes out everyone and everything. He is no longer human, he cannot be reasoned with" he cut in speaking over her, answering her question without her having to ask.

She looked around at their surroundings, taking it all in thinking over his words.

"How is it possible he won't see me? He has magic? That means he can recognise me" after everything she knew of Valyrian magic it was unmistakeable when someone else worked magic. It was like a unique signature people can feel, and you could find people by focusing on them with the right training and practice.

Bran shook his head, "You are the only person alive I found whose power can destroy him. He can find you now, yes, just as I found you. But he has lost all reasoning, he believes he will win with no resistance and so focuses only on using his talents to find ways to beat us in the time I'm in. He hasn't looked into the past, we are alike except I haven't lost all of my humanity. And I found you, if you can make a Valyrian artifact to hide entire cities and islands you can create be shielded with powerful magic to repel this particular being. When it comes time to attack, he will be unprepared and vulnerable"

She looked thoughtful, "If I help you defeat this King what does that mean for me and my family moving forward. What do we gain?"

Bran smirked, "You will conquer the entire continent and build a New Age of Valyria in Westeros. Your family will singlehandedly bring Valyria out of the Doom and into the future"

Suddenly he showed her images of a large continent, large cities within it, dragons flying the continent and new cities being built. This continent had working gold and diamond mines, fertile lands for produce, vineyards and established trade routes.

"You'll see these lands will be open for the taking. If you take them you will save a civilisation and build a new one. One that will last forever and prosper beyond what you believe is possible"

"Before I agree to this, show me this unbeatable opponent"

She walks over to him and he takes her hand, their eyes go milky white and she sees hundreds of thousands of soldiers, dead soldiers sweeping through cities she presumes are from this place called Westeros. And then she sees him and knows it's him instantly, walking death, she feels into him and shivers she has never searched through something so evil and...dead inside. He looks at her, through her, she turns and sees he is standing over looking the large city with the red castle. The same city with the red castle she has seen before. It is overwhelmed with death, no one there stands a chance against him and his army.

The visions cease, "See why we need your help"

"What about this army, when he is gone what happens to them? I cannot take a land with that many of those soldiers left to contend with"

"When he dies the magic controlling them dies too. The lands will be vacant and in need of rebuilding."

"What of the people? I won't have enough of my own to hold and repopulate a land this size without outside influences interfering. This could be too much of a step up..."

"There will be enough survivors. They will find you and you will find them"

She really disliked riddles, she liked to know the whole picture and the risks involved. Especially when it involved her descendants and people.

"How long until you need our help?"

He smiled a cryptic smile, "when our lands fall the survivors will find you. And then we will need your help."

She made a sign of frustration, "Stop talking to me in riddles and tell me now, how long?"

"A few hundred years, seems like a long way into the future now but it will go fast. Prepare your descendants to fight and make plenty of weapons with this"

He holds up a black, glassy stone. She recognises it, and looks at him confused.

"This? This is of value? We toss this away when we find it in our mines, this black glass has no value or use in our magic."

"It has its own magic, it can't be used to manipulate any other magical energy. It's one job is to extinguish evil from the world and this is the one great evil we need to kill. And this will help you along with Valyrian steel"

He holds up a sword with a Valyrian forged blade, she walks along it until she sees the hilt. A white wolf.

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She wakes with a start, that dream had been unnerving, those blue eyes haunted her for days. She unrolled and studied maps of the land the boy had shown her. It was a huge expanse of land, too big for her small forces to take and inhabit. But if this land had everything he had promised it would truly take her people into the New Age.

She decided to tell Aeyrelis of the dream and show him the scroll later that night. Tonight was a meeting in the Great Hall and where the treachery of Houses Ballaer and Varghnar will be revealed. She didn't want to miss this meeting.

The Great Hall was again full and the High Nobility were seated in the lowest row closest to the Governors. There were some changes to ranks of nobility and tonight was the first night some of the families betrothed to the Valreons were able to access this part of the meeting hall. What the others couldn't see was the tables lined with beverages and food for the Highest Nobles to enjoy with the Governors before the meeting. There were a lot of new and happy faces there tonight and a lot of new and profitable bonds formed. Also to note some children from House Ballaer and Varghnar seemed to be escorted with other High Families. The Lower Families were confused to say the least, which was obvious by their blatant pointing and talking.

The High Governor cleared his throat and amplified his voice with magic.

"Tonight we have much to discuss but first we will begin with a rather disturbing and saddening topic. An unprovoked attack against the Highest Ranking Family in the Freehold occurred in the previous months. Alaerya Valreon was attacked on dragon back with a spear laced with the Kiss of Death. If not for her strength in magic and body she would not be here today. In fact she is the only known person to survive this kind of poison. During the time she was in a coma recovering she examined the day she was attacked and identified her attacker and an alliance between a High and Middle ranked house which sought to spread dissent and begin a war between the noble families. Which could've resulted in more deaths and more destruction all of which is unnecessary and benefited no one long term. Upon learning of the identities of the attackers the Governors gave permission to House Valreon to enact a punishment they saw fit to stop further blood shed. They chose to end the line of House Ballaer and Varghnar, the adults of both houses were executed by dragon fire. And the Mistresses of both Houses executed, by the Valreon's own hands".

The hall erupted in murmurs. This was completely unprecedented, no one had received sanctions to murder and extinguish another House before. The High Governor waited for the noise to die down which took some time as some of the families dreams of scheming for power were crumbling in this hall.

"I will continue. Further to this, all assets and properties were divided between the supporting Houses to House Valreon. They took no spoils as their own, they chose to enrich their supporters instead. And it is here we enter a new age in Valyrian nobility. We have established the top families are working together in mutually beneficial relationships. Any unprovoked attacks and attempts to disrupt the peace we have with families who have a history of warring with one another will no longer be tolerated by the Government. House Valreon has started something we needed for a long time here and haven't been smart enough to integrate. Working together, comaraderie and trust. A divided Valyria is weak, United we are stronger. Do not cross the Highest Nobility, as you will end your Houses by meeting the same fate". His unveiled warning rippled through the room, to keep them in line and prevent war.

The room was still, all the families were processing this new change, and some started clapping. Relieved the fighting was officially deemed to be over, and eager to forge a part in this alliance.

"Where are the children of those families?" Said a voice from the crowd

"The children were spared by Lady Alaerya who doesn't condone the murder of children. They have been stripped of their family names and adopted by the other High ranking families. They have taken on the names of their adopted families and when the time comes will be betrothed accordingly under the name of their new Houses."

The middle and lower classes looked genuinely scared as they realised the fate which would wait them if they sought to disturb the new ranking in families. Some looked thoughtful, a few happy with the change but most were concerned at the prospect of having their houses destroyed and children re purposes to another family.

Alaerya felt all kinds of emotions in the room but she felt mostly fear which is what she wanted to feel from them. Fear was the only thing that would keep the lowest families in line, they had the least to lose and would be the hardest to contain. The wealthier ones had more businesses and financial interests to protect and would succumb easier to aligning their shared interests.

"Why were their Houses destroyed they could've been sold for the Government or repurposed?" Said a man from one of the lower families

"Yes, " said the High Governor, "they could've been but we agreed that strong and public action needed to be taken. Their houses we will all see every day, so any one of you with plots in your mind can look to those buildings and see what waits your family. But in the future, yes the Government will seize those properties and repurpose them. The decree will be made, thank you for your contribution"

He needed to take on some suggestion and was glad of this one, it kept the families thinking the Government was the over arching power not serving the allied families but all of them. When it was really the opposite, more than just changes in nobility rankings had happened when the Valreon's seized power. They had manoeuvred mostly unknowingly to bring the Government to heel as well.

The rest of the meeting most of the crowd were too stunned to speak up on other less relevant issues. Alaerya smiled inside as she felt the city coming under some kind of control.

Afterward she saw Aeyrelis and Tellerion talking on their way to their waiting dragons. They shook hands and Aeyrelis looked back at her, watching her approach.

"Is he staying in line?" Asked Alaerya quietly.

"Yes my dear no opposition there. He wants to stay in our good graces. He just offered me a proposition."

"Oh what is he angling for himself then?"

"If we have another child, a betrothal"

She looked at him slightly surprised, another child had never been considered. She felt she was done with birthing and raising children after the twins. She hadn't felt the rush of early pregnancy and felt it was over for her now.

"We will have so many wishes for betrothals from every House in this city. But I'm not so sure we have another child coming Aeyrelis"

Aeyrelis chucked, "We will have all kinds of pledges coming and I guess we will see about another child." He rubbed her stomach affectionately but discreetly, "The other families will want to remain living indoors after all". He vaulted up onto his dragon and she followed him onto her own, with a swish of wings they soared side by side into the sky.

End note: I usually like to upload two chapters at a time but this week will only be one...sorry! Just have ALOT happening at the moment and don't have time to dedicate to writing...next week I'll be back to posting up two chapters at a time :)