The Princess and the Queen 30: The Younger
Viserys' tummy hurt after the feast. Perhaps he had eaten too much, or not enough. Perhaps it was because Aemon punched him there earlier in the day.
Aemon… that damned cunt…
His angry ten-year-old uncle had given him a beating that afternoon, which wasn't particularly surprising - or new. The boy would always abuse his powers when supposedly training in the yard, and cow behind his mother's skirts when reprimanded by anyone. That said, this latest beating was worse than the others in the past week.
Probably because of the damned Pink Dread…
Looking back, mayhaps it wasn't the best idea to play that prank on Aemon, judging from his reaction. Though, Viserys should have probably known that Aemon would react in such a manner, due to past experiences. The boy would get angry at what he would perceive to be a "rude stare", or words intoned slightly wrong.
Actually, the prank was good; the look on his face made it all worth it!
For the first few days of the Blues' visit to Dragonstone, Aemon would constantly berate Viserys and his siblings, proudly declaring he would be the one to marry Visenya, not Viserys, and would laugh at poor Joffrey's inability to hatch an egg.
Whenever any of them would retaliate that Aemon didn't have an egg himself, he would burst into angry tears and claim that if he had an egg, it would hatch into the most glorious dragon in the history of their house.
"My Valyrian blood will mean I will hatch ten eggs at the same time!" he declared, simultaneously proudly but also through a flurry of salty tears.
Viserys didn't understand what Aemon meant by that, in truth, because Joffrey was just as Valyrian as Aemon. He just didn't have the silvery gold hair, but that meant nothing. Aemon's grandmother, Princess Rhaenys, also had black hair, but Viserys never heard Aemon saying anything about that.
Once Viserys had enough of Aemon's relentless punches, insults, and taunts, he went to Baelon, asking for his big brother's assistance in making Aemon stop.
"He won't do anything," Visenya said before they went to him. "He doesn't want to anger his new friends by doing anything to their precious baby brother," she added, her words partly filled with sadness and the other half with venom. "And doing something would make it worse."
She is never the victim of his wrath, so she doesn't think it's worth doing anything.
Viserys also noticed that his twin sister did not seem as close to Baelon as of late, starting with that argument on the Dragonmont weeks ago. Even though she still took Baelon's side there, she occasionally made off-handed remarks about him being lazy and disinterested in everything. It was hardly noticeable, but Viserys could notice, and reckoned Baelon did too. But since Mother's half-siblings arrived from King's Landing, Baelon spending all of his time with them playing dice and drinking made those barely noticeable remarks slightly more noticeable.
She still loves him all the same; that is beyond doubt.
"We may as well ask him," frowned Joffrey.
"We have to ask," replied Viserys. "And he will do something; he's our brother."
"What can I do?" Baelon grumbled when they asked him, his eyes tired, likely from the previous night. Visenya just glanced at Viserys ruefully whilst Joffrey sighed. "You know Aemon would run to the Queen if anything befalls him, or if he claims anything does. Just ignore him, or avoid him…"
"How can we?" asked Viserys. "He would just follow us, and the Queen encourages all of us to play with him."
"Go tell Grandfather or something," shrugged Baelon. "He shall discipline Aemon."
"We tried," Joffrey replied. "We told Mother, who told him, who told the Queen, but then Mother said that the Queen complained in Grandfather's ear so much, he had no choice but to relent to her."
Baelon whispered a curse and sighed before taking a long swig of the skin of wine he had. "What then? Do you wish for me to beat Aemon like he does to you?" he asked. "His wh- mother would never let us see the end of it."
"We can't say that word," Joffrey replied.
"It would be good if you did that," murmured Viserys, crossing his arms.
"Would it? It would only enrage him even further," Visenya said.
"Yes, but I want to see him hurt," Viserys said.
"I am not going to beat him for you. He is three years my younger and half my size," Baelon replied. "You don't like it when he tries to fight you because he is bigger than you, but I am even bigger than him," he explained, frowning.
"What then?" Joffrey asked. "If you don't want to beat him, what can you do that will make Aemon stop with all of it?"
Baelon pondered for a while, likely not to let Viserys and Joffrey down, whilst Visenya just pleaded for them to not inflame Aemon more. Eventually, Baelon's green eyes lit up, and he smiled like he would whenever he had a new idea to annoy Maester Gerardys.
"Back when me and Daeron and Baela were children, we had this pig… we called it the Pink Dread…" he smiled fondly, before explaining how they managed to steal a pig (after convincing the master-at-arms) and attach wings and a saddle onto it, and ride it around the yard.
"So you want us to give Aemon a pig?" Joffrey asked, confused. "How would that solve anything?"
"You could…" Baelon said, leaning forwards and grinning. "Pretend that you found a wild dragon for him to claim… and lead him to it. He longs for a dragon, from what you have spoken for him, so gift him a splendid pink dragon!"
"He wouldn't like it much…" Visenya said cautiously.
"That is why you do it!" happily said Baelon. "It would be funny, and you would finally get one back at him!"
"I would not like it very much if someone promised me a dragon but gifted me a pig," said Joffrey.
"And Aemon would not like it if someone punched him in the face, but he does it to everyone else," shrugged Baelon.
"Aye, but his lack of a dragon is all too similar to mine," he countered. "My eggs never hatched, and he never had a chance to have an egg…"
"It's not at all the same! You have never attempted to claim a dragon, and I have no doubt you would succeed whenever you try," said Baelon, rubbing Joffrey's curly hair. "Meanwhile, apparently back at King's Landing," he whispered, leaning forwards. "He tried to venture down into the Dragonpit and almost got burned!"
Yet Aemon always claims he would be able to claim any dragon out there!
"I wish he did," whispered Viserys.
"So, should we do it?" Baelon asked. "I know the stableboys, they can get a pig easily, and the washerwomen probably have some wings from a felled hawk they use for mummer shows… come… it shall take barely an hour or two!"
"I am not too certain…" said Joffrey.
"Why not? Did you not want to get revenge on Aemon? After all those times he leaves you bruised and in tears?"
"I do, but…" Joffrey sighed, shaking his head.
It did take a while for Baelon to convince them all. Eventually, he did, convincing Visenya that teaching him a lesson now would prevent him from growing into a cruel man when they married, even if Viserys doubted that would stop him. Joffrey would have instead Baelon give Aemon a clout in the head, but Baelon was vehemently against that.
The following morning, Baelon woke them up all early so they could prepare everything. He led them all to a secret corner of Aegon's Garden, where there was a hole in the wall and out of the castle, which Baelon claimed was one of a few. Around an oak tree, a pig with wings was tied there, calmly oinking and munching the grass on the ground.
"It doesn't look much like its nickname," said Visenya, putting her hands on her hips.
"I think it is quite intimidating," said Baelon, slapping the pig's back, making it squeal slightly. "Imagine this beast charging at you in a battle - I would certainly shit my breeches!"
He then led them up the Dragonmont, the mild morning breeze licking their clothes and hair until he found a small cavern. The cave was even cooler, and water dripped from the ceiling, which made Joffrey shiver and sneeze. Baelon found a place to tie the pig, on an upward jutting rock not too deep in, so the pig could still see the sunlight.
"Like this, he would think there actually is a dragon waiting for him!" Baelon laughed, proud of his suggestion. "What… are you still having doubts?" he asked, noticing Joffrey's reluctance.
"No, it's all well," smiled Joffrey weakly.
"Very well!" beamed Baelon, slapping him on the shoulder. "Now, all you three have to do is lead him up here," he smiled, stroking the pig gently before they made their way back down the mountain.
Some hours later, after they all broke their fasts together in the great hall, which was the norm for the past few days, Viserys, Visenya, and Joffrey left the hall to discuss their plan of action.
"So, we shall lead him up together, and when I whistle, Joff shall run into the cave and lead the pig out," Viserys explained to them, keeping his voice low. They both nodded intently, but Viserys noticed his twin sister still seemed slightly reluctant, even if still willing, and much more enthusiastic than the previous day, and Joffrey looked more than keen.
Sometime after everyone had dispersed from the hall, they found Aemon training in the yard, beating the senses out of a boy who seemed around two years his senior. Upon seeing the three of them approaching, Aemon dropped his wooden sword on the boy's head, ending the poor land's suffering.
"What?" roared (or squealed) Aemon. "You three? What do you want with me?" he asked petulantly.
"We have something for you," Visenya said shyly, and then Aemon was suddenly willing to listen.
Just as we expected… he would not hear us out if it were me or Joffrey asking.
"Where, and what is it?" asked Aemon, an eyebrow raised.
"It's in Aegon's Garden," Visenya replied. "Well, somewhat… but it's a secret, so just the four of us", she added, whispering. "It's about dragons!"
"Dragons?" repeated Aemon, his dark purple eyes glinting.
"Aye," she nodded. "Come, follow us."
"Why would there be a dragon in the garden? That's stupid!" moaned Aemon, trudging along behind them. "This had better not be something silly."
"It's not in the garden; it's outside it!" laughed Viserys.
Joffrey smirked somewhat before rolling his eyes. They carried on walking past the gates and into the lush green garden. The leaves and bushes seemed to shine in the dim afternoon, and the garden was some much-needed colour in the grey castle on the grey island on the particularly grey day.
"There is a secret exit out of the garden that leads to the side of the Dragonmont," explained Viserys. "And just by the exit, there is one of the untamed dragon's lair."
"Eggs are there," Joffrey smiled. "Since we are the only ones without dragons, we could take an egg each."
"I originally wanted to tell my mother, but-" began Viserys before Aemon interrupted him, just as they expected.
"No! Do not tell her! I want to get the egg!" he snapped. "You said that it was one of the untamed dragons…"
"We did-" Viserys replied, before being interrupted again.
"Then I will claim the dragon!" Aemon proudly declared. "You can take all the eggs, Joffrey. I won't need them, then. But it's not like they will hatch," he scoffed, dashing ahead, his pale gold hair fluttering behind him.
Joffrey frowned at that before turning his mouth in anger. The nine-year-old then clenched his fists, but kept his tongue sealed.
"Easy, Joff," Visenya calmly said. "Words are wind. It's not true."
"Yes…" he sighed. "I can't wait to see the look on his face now," Joffrey said, almost smiling.
"Where is the damned secret exit?" Aemon asked, turning back at them. "Hurry up, all of you!"
When they finally reached it, Aemon was the first through, only needing to duck slightly to go under the exit. Viserys, Visenya, and Joff didn't need to, but their big brother Baelon did yesterday. Still, the three of them minded their footing, not wanting to trip on some loose rocks on the other side, on the Dragonmont.
"Make sure your big nose fits through, Viserys!" called Aemon from the other side, pacing back and forth impatiently. "And hurry up, Joffrey, you're too fat!"
They then ascended the Dragonmont for a small while, still low enough to be under the shadow of the castle's walls. Viserys looked over at the Stone Drum and Sea Dragon Tower further behind. The grey towers stood solemnly, with a flock of crows flying around it, cawing and flapping.
When they finally reached the small cavern's entrance, Aemon was about to rush in first before Visenya encouraged him to wait for a moment.
"Be careful; the dragon may be sleeping in there," Viserys warned.
"Well, go and check then," Aemon shrugged. "I do not wish to turn into dragon food."
"Aye, I shall check, and come out when it is safe to enter," Joffrey nodded, before Aemon stepped forwards.
"No!" he quickly said. "You want to claim the dragon before me! You don't go!"
"I wasn't," Joffrey sighed. "But Visenya can go in place of me."
"Very well," she agreed.
"Good," mumbled Aemon.
When only a minute had passed, Aemon already began complaining about how long she was taking. Viserys tried to ease his fears, but his uncle just insulted him.
"Ah, here she comes!" Viserys said upon hearing the pig's squeal coming from within the cave.
"That doesn't sound much like a dragon," noted Aemon as Visenya brought out the pig, tightly holding onto the ropes.
"Behold!" announced Viserys. "The Pink Dread!" he said, gesturing to the pig. It just oinked before eating some grass by Visenya's feet.
Joffrey couldn't help but laugh too, and Visenya even let out a chuckle. Joffrey snorted whilst he laughed, which just caused all of them to burst out into more fits of laughter as Aemon stood between them all, silently without reaction.
"The tastiest beast there is!" laughed Viserys, holding his tummy because he had gotten a stitch.
However, the laughs all ended when Aemon finally reacted, kicking the pig in the snout. The pig yelped in terror, squealing and running in the opposite direction, almost knocking over Visenya.
"You lied! You liar!" Aemon screamed before turning and punching Viserys once, twice, thrice in the stomach. Viserys fell to the floor, clutching his belly and short for breath. "I will get a dragon, I swear it!" continued Aemon, tears flooding onto his dark blue doublet. "I will ride the biggest dragon alive! And I will kill you all with it! And I will claim it before I leave your horrible island!" he spat, before sprinting back down the Dragonmont, his sobs echoing in the wind.
"Viserys!" Visenya called worriedly, running to kneel by her brother. "Are you hurt? Did he hurt you?"
"No…" groaned Viserys as Joffrey pulled him up to his feet. "I am well, truly…"
"We should never have done that prank," she said sourly, shaking her head. "I knew you would get hurt."
"He would have hurt me anyways," Viserys replied. "But at least we made him cry…" he said, grinning through the pain.
Later that evening, there was a feast in the great hall. All of the residents of Dragonstone were present, including the peculiar Tyroshi sellsword captain, the haughty Lord Marbrand, and Lord Celtigar, who would stare for slightly too long. Viserys' tummy was still hurting somewhat, but Mother rubbed it there gently, kissed him on the head before the feast, and promised it would all be well.
"Grandfather has already chastised Aemon for his nasty outburst at you all earlier," she explained calmly. "But none of you should have been sneaking out of the castle. The holes in the walls shall be patched so no more of these escapades can happen. Are we clear on that?"
Viserys nodded meekly, and Mother chuckled and embraced him once again. For the feast, they all dressed in matching cloths, the dark red of House Targaryen with black details. Cloth-of-silver flames were stitched onto Viserys, Visenya, and Father's cloths, whilst Baelon and Joffrey's were in cloth-of-gold. Mother's, meanwhile, was done with a fantastic purple that shimmered in the candlelight as she walked.
As they walked to the feast, Viserys pulled his parents back and told them about Aemon's words after he punched him.
"And how does he expect to claim a dragon all the way at the top of the volcano?" scoffed Father. "His overbearing wench of a mother shall not let him out from under his skirts after what befell the sorry whelp today. And he shall only be able should his father let him. Do not fret, lad."
"Yes, but I do not want to imagine him with a dragon," frowned Viserys. "The biggest dragon, more so."
"You do not need to, because it shall not happen," Father replied, almost dismissively.
"Very well, Father," Viserys conceded. "But just to make sure…"
"You want Joff to try and claim him before that, don't you?" asked Mother, patting his head. Viserys gave a nod as answer, and she smiled. "Aye, we shall go, early on the morrow, out onto the Dragonmont. All of us can be there, and your brother shall finally have a dragon."
The feast proceeding was painfully mundane. Joffrey's spirits were somewhat lifted after Mother told him they would go out to claim a dragon of his choice. He announced that Vermithor would soon be his mount, or Tyraxes or the Cannibal, if he couldn't seek out the Bronze Fury. Still, the events of the afternoon hung over all of them like a dark cloud.
Viserys had little appetite for any of the meals served, and neither did his sister or Joffrey. Baelon, meanwhile, helped himself to as much wine as he could before walking off with Mother's two half-siblings before the feast was concluded.
Throughout all of it, Viserys could feel the reproachful stare of Aemon, who was seated as far away as possible on the raised tables, even if it wasn't far enough. Luckily, after Aemon finished some conversation with his mother and father that Viserys could not make out but seemed intense and angry, the ten-year-old was taken to his quarters to sleep. Two guards draped in dark blue cloaks accompanied him out of the hall, and Viserys breathed a sigh of relief.
Still, it wasn't enough. His stomach still hurt, but it wasn't the pain from the punch, hunger, or eating too much. He felt somewhat nervous, even though nothing would happen now.
He will leave the island in a few days, and we also made him cry earlier. And Joff will soon have a dragon! Today should have been a good day, but why does it not feel like such?
When Viserys finally wanted to take his leave from the feast, too, as the night grew late. Soon, the whole hall began to disperse, and Visenya and Joffrey also decided they had enough for the day.
He changed into his nightclothes and returned to the soft comfort of his silk bed. Visenya's bed was across the room, too, and Joffrey's room was adjacent to theirs. Baelon's was down the hall, so even if Mother and Father's chambers were in the Sea Dragon Tower, some distance from the Stone Drum, Viserys was close to his siblings.
Despite all that, he couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned for what felt like hours, his stomach still dully aching. It was almost worse than a strong ache because it was hardly noticeable, but still there.
Eventually, he had enough of the turning and decided to get out of the bed. He squinted his purple eyes to adjust to the low light and looked across the room. Visenya was still asleep, softly snoring as she did.
Groggily, Viserys climbed out of the bed and to his window. From there, out of the Stone Drum, he could see the lower bailey directly below and then the castle's inner walls. After that was Aegon's Garden. To his right was the empty sea, stretching out for what seemed like forever. To the right of his window was the looming Dragonmont, towering even higher than the Stone Drum.
He sat there, watching the empty sky, broken occasionally by the sounds of birds, the howls of wind, and the distant waves crashing against the cliff face. It was a relatively calm night, and the temperature seemed quite mild. However, that was broken by a roar gradually getting louder from behind him.
Within moments, the roar had become deafening, and louder than any dragon Viserys had ever heard. He looked up instantly and saw the sky being ripped apart by a gigantic bronze mass. Its scales glimmered in the moonlight as he flew overhead and out to the sea. The dragon let out another roar, then released a plume of bronze flame across the water. The sea then began bubbling, letting out a small eruption of black and red and orange.
Vermithor!
The Bronze Fury banked to its right, bearing south, before circling around and back to the island. For a second, Viserys thought he had made eye contact with the dragon, its molten bronze eyes staring at him. It was the only source of light in the black abyss of night, along with the moon and a small patch of pale gold on the dragon's back. Vermithor let out another roar, before beginning to turn to his right.
"What is it?" a soft voice asked from behind Viserys. His sister had awoken from the noise.
"It's Vermithor," replied Viserys.
Visenya jumped out of her bed and ran up alongside Viserys to try and catch a glimpse of the dragon. It had gotten closer to the island now, circling slowly right above Aegon's Garden, before landing somewhere on the Dragonmont, away from Viserys' line of sight.
Hopefully, he won't disturb our sleep any more.
Shaking his head, Viserys turned back to his bed. Just as he was about to climb back in, a lump formed in his throat. He paused in his tracks and turned to face Visenya. He gulped loudly, and his pale fingers began to tremble.
I only just realised…
There was a rider on Vermithor.
"What is it?" asked Visenya, startled by Viserys' terror.
"D-did… you not…" he stuttered, unable to say what he wanted. "On-n… Verm… Vermithor…"
"On Vermithor?" she repeated, looking at the window.
"On…" Viserys nodded. "R-Rider…"
Visenya squinted her eyes for a moment before turning whiter than she already was. She froze, before sprinting up to Viserys.
"Do you remember… what… who…" Visenya asked, her breath heavy.
That pale gold thing…
"The rider had pale hair," said Viserys. "Who…"
Once he realised who it was, his stomach dropped.
"Aemon…" they both whispered.
"No… it can't!" she complained. "How could he have gotten out?"
"The garden," laughed Viserys bitterly. "There must have been other exits!"
"No, no, no, no…" Visenya said. "What should we do? We need to tell someone. Or do something!"
"Mother, Father, we can go to them!" Viserys suggested, but she shook her head.
"They are on the other side of the castle," she replied, keeping her head up. "We shall go to Joff and Baelon first. It was Joff's to claim, and Baelon can protect us. Then we go and find Mother."
"Yes," agreed Viserys. "We have to be quick, though."
They both rushed to the large grey door of their room, which had a dragon etched into the cold stone. They pulled the door open and into the small hallway. The door to Baelon's room was open, but nobody was in there, whilst the door to Joffrey's was sealed.
Viserys ran up to it and knocked on it as hard as possible. Within less than a minute, Joffrey pulled open the door. His brown eyes were still half closed, but he instantly woke up after noticing the horror on Viserys and Visenya's faces.
"What is it?" Joffrey asked.
"Aemon claimed Vermithor," Viserys said plainly.
"What? How?" he replied, his eyes growing wide.
"We don't know, but we have to do something about it!" Viserys urgently said.
"We should tell Baelon, or Mother," Joffrey replied.
"Where is Baelon?" asked Visenya.
"I think he was with Daeron and Baela the last I saw him," said Joffrey, shaking his head. "He may still be with them. He would be on the floor above, then."
"We can't tell Baelon if Aemon's siblings are with him," sighed Viserys. "We'll go to Mother then."
Visenya and Joffrey nodded, and they knocked on the door. The guard outside opened it and looked at them with an eyebrow raised.
"Your Graces," the guard said. Viserys knew him as Ser Eldon, a friendly old man who could barely walk. "Should you not be asleep at this time?"
"Sorry!" Viserys said to him before darting down the hall, Visenya and Joffrey following behind.
"My Princes!" he shouted, staggering behind them before stopping to puff and pant and keel over.
The three of them ran down the stairs of the Stone Drum and out into the lower bailey. Luckily, there were no guards posted there to stop them. Viserys smiled, remembering that Baelon once told him that the guards would just play some dice or sleep during the hour of the wolf when the castle was at its most silent.
The night wind bit at them, and Viserys shivered as he ran barefoot through the stony outer bailey, making goose pimples appear on his arms. They ran through the middle bailey, past the back of the great hall, shaped into a great stone dragon's claws.
When they rounded past the hall and towards the armoury and the entrance to the Sea Dragon Tower, they came across Aemon, casually walking through the middle bailey, a smirk on his lips.
The three of them came to a halt instantly, and faced their ten-year-old uncle. He wore a dark blue doublet and had a dark sable cloth around his back to protect him from the cold. He had the same wormy lips Viserys remembered, as well as the same pale gold hair, but something seemed different about him.
His eyes were still the same too, but fire seemed to glow behind them, filled with hatred and malice. For a moment, it glinted a bright bronze. Viserys felt his stomach drop, just like it did half an hour ago, which felt like a lifetime ago.
"It's him," said Joffrey.
"Aye, it's me," Aemon said proudly, looking at them all with contempt.
"You claimed Vermithor," Visenya said angrily.
"Thank you for saying the obvious, sweet niece," he sneered.
He never insults Visenya…
"I was to claim him…" Joffrey said dejectedly.
"Then you should have," Aemon replied bluntly. "Why did you think so? Is it because your hair is the same colouring?" he scoffed. "No, your hair is just that colour because you're a bloody Strong."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Viserys, as he noticed Joffrey's fists clenching.
"Are you a halfwit?" asked Aemon. "I mean that your half-brother is a bastard, and your whore mother fucked another man. Ser Harwin was that man. The one who died in a fire," he smirked. "As will you someday."
"You take that back!" Viserys yelled as Visenya walked towards him angrily.
"And I'll feed you to my dragon!" Aemon laughed, before Visenya slapped him across the face.
Aemon responded by shoving her onto the ground. Joffrey screamed, rushing towards his uncle. Aemon swatted him away, too, punching him on his nose and kicking him in the groin. Joffrey went reeling to the floor as Viserys ran up to him next.
This time, Viserys managed to avoid Aemon's swing, barrelling into his uncle, sending both of them to the ground. Aemon roared at Viserys, sounding almost half-dragon, as he scratched at Viserys, trying to get him off.
He threw Viserys off him, but only after receiving a punch on the nose, which made him bleed. By the time Aemon got to his feet, Visenya and Joffrey were back on theirs, too, and charged at Aemon.
Aemon dragged Visenya by the arm, shoving her back down before throwing a punch at Joffrey's face. Joffrey responded by hitting Aemon in the chest and trying to grab his neck. It was futile, though, and Aemon kneed him in the stomach before throwing him down on the coarse gravel.
Viserys, meanwhile, trying to regain his senses, rubbed his eyes and stumbled back up. He staggered to Aemon, only to notice that his uncle pulled a small knife out of his pocket.
I don't care.
He charged at Aemon, ducking from one punch, before landing a swing at Aemon's right shoulder. Joffrey ran in from the right, sending Viserys and Aemon down to the ground. Aemon kicked Joffrey away, whilst Viserys punched Aemon's face once, twice, thrice.
Aemon used his left hand to shove Viserys off him and got to his knees. Visenya ran at him, but was promptly sent back to the ground with an elbow to the face. However, Viserys managed to regain the upper hand, sending Aemon back to the ground as the sound of thundering footsteps came from somewhere around them.
Adult voices roared some words Viserys didn't hear as he grappled with Aemon on the coarse ground. The voices and shouts became louder and louder, but Viserys didn't stop. Aemon tried to push away with his left hand, but his right remained by his side.
Why isn't he… oh.
Suddenly, Aemon's right hand swung upwards, and the knife slashed across the left side of Viserys' face.
"Princes! Get away from each other!" the voices shouted, dragging them off each other.
Viserys couldn't make out the words, nor could he see who dragged him. He fell back to the ground, clutching his face, as somewhere on the island, Arrax cried out in pain.
Half of Viserys' world went dark, as a warm, red liquid ran down his face.