JACE
"And that, Young Prince, is why you shouldn't awaken a maiden half your age if you don't fully intend to follow through. Next thing you know, they're off fucking men who settle for no less than a bushel of oranges and a ship to Asshai, and take it out on the children when they don't get it. It is unfortunate that you had to suffer the price, what with your pathetic training."
Oh, Jace is suffering right now. Daemon had made good on his promise right away, and Jace had immediately regretted his enthusiasm. Luke, mother's boy as he was, had left the study and refused to listen to a story that their mother had not wanted them to hear. The wiser of us both, Jace laments.
"Stop, stop, stop," he pleads.
"No no. If I've learned anything from that night, it's that you do not pull out of the situation halfway through. You finish the job."
He's doing that thing, Jace knows. Enjoying his discomfort, but he cannot help but indulge him. "Gods be good. Take me now."
"Wait, have I told you this story before? Because that's exactly what your moth—"
"Daemon!" He blocks out his mother's words do not indulge his sport , because he does not wish to think of his mother right now.
"Not to worry, I will see to your training in both domains from now on."
"Both?"
"You will accompany me to King's Landing and stay with a friend of mine in the city. The delicate situation demands that your marriage remains… faithful, and I will not have my daughter attached for life to a virgin of no skill."
"I do not believe that necessary." He tries to deny the reaction Daemon seeks.
"Worry not, I have no interest in taking such a persona—"
"Prince Daemon, Prince Jacaerys," Maester Gerardys mercifully interrupts. He drops a score of scrolls on the table between them.
"So many? We were gone but several days," Daemon complains, no doubt in regret of agreeing to manage Rhaenyra's affairs.
Jace was ostensibly shadowing him to prepare for his — hopefully in the distant future — investiture as Prince of Dragonstone, but he suspected Daemon wanted to pass off to him any affairs he deemed beneath his attention. War, dragons and books were his stepfather's domain, along with entertaining the guests and garrison. He was content to leave the administration to the Princess. The nobles around her seemed to embrace this dynamic, perhaps as a sign he would not push to overpower the Princess when she takes the throne.
That might actually be the intention , Jace realizes. Assuring the lords that Daemon would not be the King, but still reminding them that Rhaenyra wielded him like a weapon, should they step out of line.
"Which matters are of the most urgency?" Daemon asks.
Maester Gerardys is ready with a response. "We received a raven from King's Landing this morning. The King has been asking for the both of you all throughout the night." Daemon looks uncomfortable in the way he does whenever faced with an emotion he cannot solve with a sword or a dragon.
"He also requested that you bring Aegon and Viserys, he's desperate to see them again."
"That strikes me as odd," Daemon says. "They seemed to cause him much distress when we visited. And why just the youngest? Is he aware that we left to separate the elder boys?"
"There is no elaboration."
Daemon folds his arms and narrows his eyes. "I was hoping you could advise us on the King's health. If I bring the boys there would be no room for you. Rhaenyra is late into her term and I have much business to take care of, we would be away most of the time without the staff with whom they are familiar."
"There is... Something else."
"Yes?"
"Lord Corlys has landed on Driftmark, still abed. The steward has written to inquire as to the whereabouts of Princess Rhaenys.
This earns Jace's voice. "She's not presently on Driftmark?"
"It would appear not," says the Maester. "Perhaps she was not aware he was expected to land with such expediency."
"That is not so," Baela says from the doorway. Jace smiles at her, he hadn't realized she'd come in. "I was present when they brought word to Grandmother, she knew without a doubt he was to land today. Whatever business she may have, she would not miss receiving her husband after a six-year absence."
His smile drops. He looks to Daemon, but he seems to have redirected his attention inwards. "What of the other messages?" Jace asks. "Is there any other word from King's Landing? Or of Princess Rhaenys?"
"None, My Prince." No one responds, so Maester Gerardys takes the lead. "Will you be flying to King's Landing, Prince Daemon?"
Daemon looks up. "With my two sons the King has supposedly asked for? No. We agreed I would not depart until Rhaenys was available, and now she appears to have vanished from this world. Vanished well into the night when her husband was expected earlier in the day."
Jace voices his fears. "You don't think the Princess remained to conspire with the Greens, do you?"
"While her husband burns with the blood fever?" Baela challenges. "And her granddaughters stand to marry into both the Driftwood and Iron Throne? No. I have lived with Grandmother for years, she would have departed as soon as she was able."
"And so you conclude that she was not able." Daemon does not say this in the form of a question. The air is heavy with dread and confusion and speculation. "Rhaenyra has likely already landed."
"We know nothing but speculation," Jace says. Were Baela born a man, she might have grown into the very image of her father. As it was, she echoes the Rogue Prince in temperament. They were a bad influence on each other.
"We know enough," Daemon says. "We know they seek to lure us back to the vipers' nest with no guard, with no news of the whereabouts of the Princess Rhaenys. And we know… for my brother to remain of sound mind and in good health is not to their advantage. Or even to their intention . That much I learned on our short visit." As usual, Daemon takes things just a bit too far. Jace had learned this was usually in preparation for taking things far too far. And his mother was not here to intervene.
"Must you assume the worst in everyone?"
"I assume the worst in the leeches that have long sucked the life-blood from the King."
Jace sighs. "So what, storm King's Landing shouting 'you dare to invite me!?' Alienate the Greens even more than you already have?" He tries to emulate the tone his mother uses to chide Daemon. "Or worse. If you're right, fly into a supposed trap you know not what for? All over one message you deem suspicious."
"And Rhaenys?"
Jacaerys did not have an answer. Only… "We do not even know she is missing, only that we don't know where she is."
Baela shakes her head. "I'm leaving for Driftmark to greet our Grandsire." Jace remembers she'd flown here on Moondancer to join them on the ship. "I will send word regarding Grandmother."
"I think that's best," Daemon says. "But fly carefully, the moon is low and the night is dark." Baela nods. Ever a woman of action, she heads to Moondancer immediately.
Jace cannot tell where that leaves them. Neither can Gerardys, apparently. "What response should I send to King's Landing?"
Daemon had been toying with Rhaenyra's ring on his small finger. She'd recently reached the phase of her pregnancy when her fingers swell too much for her ring, and she'd passed it to him on the ship. With their attention on him he realizes what he was doing and stops.
"Tell them I left immediately as well, you know not where. Ask them when we should expect the Princess Rhaenys. And… tell Rhaenyra not to worry, I found her ring before I left. And ask if Viserys… Tell her we cannot get him to bed, he won't go to sleep without the song she sings him each night. But the boys cannot remember which one, and the maids don't know Valyrian."
Gerardys nods and turns to leave, but Daemon stops him. "No. Jacaerys will write the message. You're a young man left to care for your siblings and you're panicking. You're angry with me for leaving you before ensuring Rhaenys was here. You need an answer right away. Your brother will not go to sleep and you don't know what to do."
"Well," Jace says. "At least the 'angry with you,' and the 'don't know what to do' parts are true."
To his surprise, Daemon actually cackles.
"What now?"
"It's just funny, Young Prince. I have never seen you so much as you are now."
"And what is that?"
"You are the image of my brother." Jace is glows for a moment, but his stepfather continues. "In that you're indecisive and a pain in my neck. Get to it. Sound really annoying. Shouldn't be hard."