CHAPTER #70

Evening found them all at the Assassins Guild, in a private chamber, specifically designed for meetings. Even though Arya ran a tight crew of assassins, she still asked Aulix to do a sweep. He could do a multi-animal warg now, with a partial connect and it never drained his energy. That allowed him to keep his mind active, with no passing out after affect. Taron could feel him reaching out to the animals. He also knew when it got too much for Aulix and would ask his friend to stop. Maybe it was because 15 years ago, Aulix used magic to save Taron's life, that they were inexplicably linked.

Once satisfied that no one outside of those in the room, would hear them, Aulix held up a hand for silence. "When we were on our quest to kill the Night King, so many years ago, Arya's brother Bran made contact with me. He clarified a prophecy, before disappearing."

"Which prophecy?"

Taron answered, "Lightbringer and the One That Was Promised."

Aulix continued. "He said that within the piece of red star that falls to earth, lies Lightbringer. The sword was thus sent by the Gods to free people from the Night King. The One That Was Promised, would wake the stone dragons."

"Do you know who the Promised One is?" Rayana asked.

Arya guessed, "Aegerys… am I right?"

"I don't know how to wake dragons, not even Drogon. So it can't be me." Aegerys denied.

Tam smiled, "you don't, but I'm sure Aulix and Taron do."

"We have found where the red star burns. First we get the Lightbringer, then we wake the stone dragons."

Gendry asked, "so how do we get this legendary sword out of the flaming rock?"

"Always the practical thinker, aren't you?" It was a rhetorical question. Aulix grinned, "that you'll find out once we get back to it."

"There's no way I'm riding on a dragon again!" Gendry protested.

Arya smiled and kissed his cheek. "You've only been on a dragon once… it was fun, not scary."

He was not impressed. "Can't we just ride horses there?"

"It takes too long. If the piece of red star gets into the wrong hands…."

"Fine. Other than me, who else is coming?"

"I'm going, Aulix, Kiren and Aegerys."

Sarra inquired, "how long will you be gone this time Taron?"

Her question wasn't answered, instead her husband said, "we leave in the morning, pre-dawn."

"Does mom know you're taking her dragon?"

Aulix winked in response.

Arya had other information she sought. "You mentioned stone dragons that can be brought to life. Where are they and I thought Drogon was the only real dragon left."

"As you know, the continent of Sothyros, (found south of Essos), still contains wyverns. They might be smaller and savage offshoots of dragons, but still are dragons."

"They'll never get as big as Drogon." Aegerys contributed.

"True, but they are still linked to that old magic. It is rumoured that proper dragons still exist in the darkness beyond Asshai, which lies east beyond the Dothraki Sea and Qarth."

"Is that where the red star's baby lies?"

"That's an interesting way to call it, but no. We found it on the southern shore of Ulthos," Aulix explained.

Kiren needed more information. "What should dad and I bring to this flaming baby?"

Aulix handed a scroll to Gendry, who looked it over and then put it in his pocket. "So this is why you had me go work with the ancient maester-blacksmiths of Qohor. But where will we get so much Valyrian steel?"

"Some came from Qohor and the rest from Andalos, more than that we will get from the burning rock."

"But Taron, no one remembers how to extract that steel." Gendry said in defeat.

"My friend, you under value your skills. You once said that the steel talks to you through your hammer. We believe that the knowledge you seek, will come to you once the process begins."

Gendry knew it was useless to argue with Aulix. Instead he added, "when we made the breast plate for Drogon, blood and flame were used. Will that be part of this process too?"

"Yes."

The Twins looked at each other and then asked in unison, "if you awaken more dragons, will that not add to the unbalanced magic in the world?"

Byt agreed, "the law of equal exchange has been unequal for years. How will a weyr of dragons help?"

"The Night King's power has been growing; seas are beginning to freeze along the shoreline of Westeros. That power is where the problem lies. Dragons are how we win against his evil magic and restore peace."

Tallen wondered, "will there be enough dragons so we can all ride with Aegerys?"

"Maybe," Taron shrugged.

"That would be so cool. But I don't know if I want Aegerys to be Emperor of the World, his ego is too big already," groaned Rayana.

Before bickering broke out, Aulix stood up. "We're done for now. Be ready tomorrow and we go fully armed."

Arya scratched her head, "how many dragons are needed to defeat the Night King? What if he gets control of them too… wouldn't he be unstoppable then? Is the risk worth it?"

Tam was the only one to voice an opinion, "I think that's up to the Gods. The red star wouldn't bring us hope, if there was no chance for us to succeed."