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"I'm afraid that Lord Corlys is unavailable, my prince. He has instructed that no one, not even his lady wife, be allowed in his chambers until supper."

Daemon sneered at the guard who, to his credit, reacted with little more than a straightening of his spine. Nevertheless, he schooled his features and nodded. "Very well, but inform him I seek an audience at his earliest convenience." The guardsman lightly bowed, his polished armor clanging at the incline and the prince turned. His brow furrowed as he contemplated the dismissal; there could be many reasons, but he wouldn't bet a gold dragon on the main reason his good-father dismissed him.

The halls of High Tide were, like many possessions of the Velaryons of recent generations, a testament to the Sea Snake's wealth and ambition. The pale stone walls gleamed against the light, be it night or day. Each step he took lightly echoed through the halls, the sounds of the sea providing an ambiance that not even the Red Keep could provide. Silk tapestries, commissioned by Lyseni weavers to depict the voyages of the Sea Snake and the history of House Velaryon, adorned the walls. He passed by various relics, treasures and oddities, more trophies from distant lands. Servants and maids hastily bowed and curtseyed to him, as they should, as he made his way through the hallways.

He soon came to a balcony and paused. The grand view of Driftmark was laid before him, the waves crashing against the distant rocky shores, carrying the familiar salty scent. Behind the polished stone, flittering servants and patrolling guardsmen, the colorful huts of Spicetown seemed to glisten in the sun. Just farther ahead, Daemon could even make out the tall masts of the various trade ships that anchored in the town docks, bringing wealth to the Velaryons from all over the known world. A true testament to his good-father's ambition and efforts, one that he respected, despite their differences.

But his ambitions did not end there. He turned his gaze and the familiar sound of his wife's voice tickled his ears. Straightening his doublet, he headed towards the voice, and found her rapidly speaking to some serving girls. She was resplendent as always, her pure Valyrian heritage shaming all around her, with her curled white hair and sea-blue and gold dress. They curtseyed to her, then took notice of him and did the same, drawing her attention.

"Back from your meeting with Father already?" She asked as the girls left them. He shook his head.

"I was told he is busy with matters. What they are, I know not. But whatever they are, they cannot be as important as what I must say."

Laena rolled her eyes, Daemon was always dramatic. "Being the Lord of Driftmark means one has greater responsibilities than constantly catering to an audience."

"Even if the one requesting it is a Prince of the Realm?"

"Especially so." Dameon raised an eyebrow but didn't rebut her. Anyone else would have found themselves short a tongue, but his lady-wife's banter was one of the things that made their marriage so invigorating, unlike that Bronze Bitch.

Laena turned away and stared toward the horizon. "What troubles you, husband?"

He leaned on the balcony and huffed. "I think you know very well what…troubles me, Laena."

Her lips turned upward. "There seem to be a great many things that trouble you as of late."

"As amusing as your games are, I don't have the patience for them right now," he terse replied. Laena sighed and shook her head, letting the pair bask in the sounds of the Driftmark.

Eventually, he resumed speaking. "I simply wished to request him to curtail this chatter I've been constantly hearing around the castle. Surely your servants have far better things to do with their time than spend it as such."

"This is how servants pass the time while working, especially the serving girls."

"But to such a point where I can hear them as I walk?" his brow furrowed. "Especially when they are spun into some of the worst mummer's tales I have heard."

"While I have no doubt as to the reach a gossip yarn can grow to," said Laena, "Our guests have certainly earned such whisperings. Or has your time in the Red Keep dulled what sense of wonder you have had?"

"I ride the Blood Wyrm, wife. My sense of wonder rejuvenates itself every time we take to the skies." Yet he could not deny that when he gazed upon the newest wards of House Velaryon back in Pentos, even he felt taken aback.

Albaz and Ecclesia. Strange names that befit such strange individuals. One, a girl with features more Lannister than the Lannisters, yet held the same air of defiance as his beloved niece Rhaenyra. The other, a boy who seemingly came out of a Northern tale about the Children of the Forest, and then plastered with the looks of a Dornish and a Valyrian.

He had been mildly intrigued when Corlys introduced them in Pentos, and Laena's account of their arrival with Meleys and Rhaenys further piqued his curiosity. He at first mused that she was exaggerating - a dragon who could turn into a child, and a child who sat down and dined with them? But his wife was not one to be easily taken into the whims of fantasy, so there had to be some manner of truth to her statement. Corlys was tight-lipped when he had confronted him after the dinner, even more so than usual when it came to his dealings. He was about to press the issue further when the very subjects of his thoughts interrupted them and his good-father used the opportunity to leave. Since then, he had only been able to see them from afar, but never actually spoken to them.

Time to change that. "Where are they now?"

Laena blinked and tapped her chin. "I believe somewhere near their rooms, in the eastern wing. They have wandered little else since they arrived."

"Then that is where I shall go." With those words, he turned and marched with purpose, Laena following close by him. He glimpsed her startled look before it quickly composed. Whatever she wanted to say, she swallowed. No matter. They quickly passed through the halls again, the walls slowly shifting from pale white to a light sea-blue. More rows of trophies passed them by, dusted by more servants. They soon came upon an ornate door, with silver gildings adorning the frame and two spear-wielding Velaryon guards, tanned skin and brown hair, posted at each side. Upon taking notice of him, the two stood at attention.

"My prince," they bowed.

"The two guests that Lord Velaryon welcomed, they are here, yes?"

One of them blinked. "Y-yes, my prince."

"I would like to speak with them."

The guard swallowed before answering hesitantly. "My prince…Lord Corlys has instructed that the two not be disturbed unless by him."

Daemon's eyes narrowed as his finger tapped the pommel of his sword. "I am Lord Corlys's goodson and a Prince of the Realm. These two are guests that are of great interest to House Targaryen and I wish to properly greet them. Knowing this, are you two still willing to refuse my command?"

The guards' faces scrunched up and seemed like they were moments away from agreeing with him, but they said no further and gripped their weapons tightly. Loyal ones for sure. Rare in most men these days. Fortunately, his wife's voice broke the growing tension.

"I will inform my father about my husband's decision. Let us in and I will ensure you will not be punished."

"P-princess Laena…" the second one shuttered, nervousness dyeing his tone. Yet after a moment, the two seemed to relax and stepped sideways. Laena approached the door and gently rapped on the wooden surface.

"Lady Ecclesia, Goodman Albaz? It is me, Laena. I have someone who wishes to meet with you!"

A brief answer came, though the door muffled it from his ears. His years in Pentos along with his Valyrian education allowed him to pick up a smattering of Volantene, seeing as it was a sister tongue to his own noble one. Unfortunately, he was not nearly as proficient as his lady wife. Perhaps he would need to remedy that.

Laena pushed the door open and they entered the room. It was rather spacious for a guest room, with marble pillars and a grand window viewing the Narrow Sea, flanked with silk drapes. The roof was tiled with mosaics depicting the Grand Voyages, and a round carved table was placed to the side. Standing next to the bed were the two guests - and Daemon knew why they had attracted as much gossip as they have.

He had seen them before, true. But always in the company of Lord Corlys, his wife, or from a distance. The girl was indeed a great beauty, and in a few years, she would no doubt eclipse some of the Lannister women he had seen in the Red Keep. She wore another of Laena's old dresses, a dark-blue short-sleeved one, and that odd horned headdress adorned her forehead. In contrast, her poise was that of a warrior's; relaxed, yet tense and ready for action. She was staring at him with a guarded look, and made to move to acknowledge his station. The boy though…

To say nothing of his garments, but with his appearance alone, he appeared more of a dragonseed than any he had seen on Dragonstone or King's Landing. Fangs, pointed ears, red eyes - perhaps the term was far more…literal for him.

"I don't believe we have been properly introduced; I am Daemon Targaryen, Prince of Westeros, brother to His Grace King Viserys, and husband to Lady Laena."

His wife quickly translated the sentence into Volantene and at the end, the girl's eyes widened. She gave a quick curtsy - more of a small dip than anything - but the boy just looked at him strangely. Did those two not recognize his station? Even in Volantis, there were nobles. The girl then said something to which Laena translated:

"My name is Ecclesia and this is my friend Albaz. Why did you want to meet with us?"

He took a step forward and started circling them. "We were not properly introduced in Pentos; I fear that my good-father has made a lapse in judgment. You are quite a…unique pair, one that my family has not seen in many years. Not to mention the rumors which surround you two. So I came down here to see if they are more than just some old wives' tales."

Laena translated again the two looked at him strangely. "Stories? What stories?"

At first, Daemon thought they were deaf for not hearing the almost roaring whispers that escaped the servants' lips…but then he realized that even if they did, how could they understand them?

"Many things, some more trivial than others…but there is one that stands out." He raised his arm and pointed to the boy, who took a small step back. "I have heard from both the lips of my wife and Lord Corlys that your lady companion rides a dragon, but that dragon is in fact, you. Tell me; is there any truth to this?"

The boy tilted his head and his red eyes narrowed, his expression becoming guarded. Laena turned to him and shot him a sharp look. "Husband, I am aware that this sounds fantastical, but I implore you-"

"I must ensure that Corlys's words have merit to support his choice before the king. I would rather not have him dismissed from court as a mummer."

Laena looked like she wanted to protest further, but she only narrowed her eyes at him. As she turned to translate his command, Daemon felt a twinge of apprehension. Truth be told, Corlys's integrity was a more…minor concern. This was simply something he had to see for himself.

The boy shifted his gaze between him and Laena, distrust plainly visible on his face, before looking toward the girl who, after some hesitation, nodded at him. "Deíxe tou lígo."

Before he could ask what that meant though, the boy closed his eyes, exhaled, and…what happened next stopped his breath short.

A fire seemed to flash around him for a second. A crackling sound emanated throughout the room as a metallic sheen started to form around his arms and legs, with the hands and feet slowly becoming sharper and sharper. But his face - his eyes glowed like molten fire, and his already-sharp teeth began morphing into fangs. A low growl escaped from his lips, and Daemon was instantly reminded of the times Caraxes eyed food in the Dragonpit. With every second that passed, the fire around the boy seemed to heat the very air around him and his hand reached for Dark Sister's pommel. Then just as some unspoken thread would be cut, he felt his wife's soft yet iron grip on his sword arm.

"Daemon, please, stay your anger. They are but children, in a land not their own. More importantly, they are our guests, Father's guests. Do not sour his goodwill to you."

Glancing at the boy, he saw the girl gently rub his silver arm, uncaring to the flames that surrounded him, whispering soft words to him. As she did so, he felt the heat die down bit by bit.

"This should be more than enough proof, is it not? Father may have discovered something extraordinary with these two. If we could join their powers with our houses…"

Now, Daemon knew she was appealing to several sides of him, layering with her soft-heartedness, but he could not help but admit that it was working. If that was just a sliver of what the boy could do…the Hightowers wouldn't stand a chance.

The fire was completely snuffed out and the boy - Albaz's - arms had returned to their normal color and shape. The girl - Ecclesia - smiled at him before they both turned to look at the two nobles, caution returning to their features. Daemon firmly clamped on his lower lip to stop the deluge of questions threatening to spew. Laena was right; now was not the time. But he would have answers.

He carefully surveilled the room once more and noticed something new: leaning against one of the beds was a black sword with ruby-red markings, and as he narrowed his eyes, he could make out familiar smoky wisps flowing over the blade. Well, Corlys did say he found them in Valyria…

"That sword. Do you know how to use it?"

Laena translated again, and Albaz glanced at the weapon. Instead of verbally replying, he gestured with his hand by tilting it up and down.

"I see. I will be down in the yard after supper. If you do not wish to tarnish the value of that blade, I offer you to join me." He then turned to the girl. "You are welcome to watch."

Not even waiting for Leana to finish translating, he turned around and headed out the room, his mind racing at increasing speeds. Moments later, his wife came running to his side.

"You could have at least bid them a good day," she admonished.

"I have too many possibilities in my head to consider pleasantries right now. So the boy truly can transform into a dragon? How large is he?"

She idly rubbed her chin as they strode into one of the main halls. "Not as big as Caraxes, but definitely on the larger side. But if that armor is as tough as it looks, then he can take far more blows than your dragon."

"Yes, the armor…you didn't mention that it grew from him like skin."

"Did you see any spare sets of dragon armor lying around, perchance?" she questioned teasingly. The Prince just rolled his eyes.

"Regardless, it is clear that we must gain their allegiance no matter what. Such power should belong in the hands of the dragon alone." He then chuckled. "Well, not that it isn't right now. The girl, she is a warrior woman?"

"Yes, though I wonder where that hammer of hers vanished to? Only a giant could have lifted a weapon that size."

Daemon recalled the tale whispered among the halls when they had returned. When they had left for Driftmark, the servants tried to no avail to lift the hammer onto the ship, only for the girl to casually heave it over her shoulder and carry it herself. "I am sure that someone will see it. Seems rather hard to miss."

A light giggle escaped his wife's lips. He stopped and looked from between the pale-stone pillars and out to the sea, the briny scent wafting along the breeze tickling his nose. "What have you learned from them?"

"Not as much as you would have liked," she replied, brushing down her dress. "Ecclesia says she comes from a city called Dogmatika. No, not even Father has found out where it is. She says it is a great city of white stone, with a castle whose towers reach the sky. She says she was raised as a warrior from an early age, to fight against monsters."

"Monsters?" Certainly, that hammer seemed too much to be used against men…but monsters? Like grumpkins and snarks?

"Yes, I made sure that I didn't mishear her. She also spoke of another woman, a sister whom she loved very dearly. I cannot remember the name. But she apparently raised Ecclesia and taught her to fight, and Ecclesia said she was the best swordswoman in the kingdom."

Interesting. "And the boy? Albaz?"

"She said that they met by accident and that she thought him an enemy at first, but then spared his life. She went quiet after that, despite my prodding."

Most likely a tragic incident involving the boy, he thought. One that forced her to leave her home. "Is that all?"

A light blush dusted Laena's cheeks. "I…might have been a bit inquisitive in my talk with her. She did not wish to speak of it further, nor did Albaz."

Another chuckle escaped his lips. "No matter. This is very welcome information. Now, I must speak with your father before sunset. Will they be at supper or take their meals in their rooms like before?"

Laena nodded. "They will be present. If you recall the feast at Pentos, they scarfed down a quarter of the table." Her soft lips curled into a smile. "I can't imagine they would pass up another opportunity to do so."

"Good. See to it that they do." He turned his gaze back to the horizon, and in his mind's eye, he could imagine the slack-jawed gazes of Otto and his brood as they witnessed their guests..and the power that they - and soon he - would wield.

He wouldn't miss it for all the gold in Essos.

I'm back! Yeah...no excuse. Or rather, there is; I decided to take a break from Uni, felt like I wasn't enjoying (and failing) my chosen study field, decided to focus on my 3D art. Here's hoping it'll get better. BUT THE WRITING CARRIES ON!

This chapter finally showcases the POV of the badasshole Prince Daemon! Schemes in his mind are beginning to emerge, though how will they hold up remains to be seen...and now that the Albaz lore (Season 1) has come to a close in Yugioh, I can fully plan ahead! Yay!

I'm a member of the Shiro's Gaming Omniverse Discord (discord . gg/wd3tUYWVCd.) server and the Emerald Library (discord . gg/elibrary). If you want to hop over and chat, either about this story or anything else, feel free! I also have my own server Drake's Lair, at (discord . gg/2bD4UgyyPA).

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