CHAPTER 6: THE ROGUE AND THE MAESTER
Valley of Arryn
That kingdom had never been to Daemon's liking, far from it, he still didn't know how his father could have allowed that unholy union with the bronze bitch. But at least he was getting something out of it to recruit mercenaries. At the moment he had the support of Lady Arryn, thanks to that damned andala blood of his brother's wife. In fact, he had been gathering mercenaries for two weeks, to defend Viserys' rights. Then he was staying at the Eagles Nest with Lady Arryn. Damn, how he detested that woman. But now he was meeting with the lady and her chief trusted advisors.
"We have recruited over two thousand mercenaries" Daemon said savoring the wine on the table as he looked at a map of the seven kingdoms "I hope the lords of the Vale are ready."
Lady Arryn didn't seem too pleased by the rogue prince's company either, but she kept her regal figure.
"They are mobilizing" she said gravely "But it takes some time...We are still waiting for ravens from the other realms.
Daemon gave an icy smile.
"Perhaps I should go talk to Lord Tully," he said, looking back at Riverrun.
Then Maester Llum entered the room. He looked agitated, and carried a roll of parchment in his hands.
"Maester what tidings do you bring us?" inquired Lady Arryn.
"My lady" he dojo in a soft voice "an urgent message has come from the capital."
Then Daemon rose and approached the maester, stepping between the warden of the Vale and her advisor. The maester didn't want to give it to him, but Daemon practically took it out of his hands. He read it quickly, and smiled mischievously.
In a fit of rage, Daemon lunged at the maester, knocking him to the ground with a slap, followed by several kicks and as many punches. He would have killed him, had it not been for the guards pulling him apart with all their might. Even Lady Arryn herself had to rise from her chair.
"Cry out," said Lady Arryn with attitude. One of her guards handed her the parchment, and she read it without losing her dignity "this poses a problem."
"This is an insult!" cried Daemon.
"The king has named his third son Vaegon, prince of Dragonstone, and commands all lords of the seven kingdoms to present themselves at King's Landing to swear allegiance to him" said lady Arryn without any joy.
"My grandfather has lost his mind!" shouted Daemon.
"And what do you suggest?" she asked him sharply "it is an order from the king."
Daemon released his grip on the harpy's guards, and ran out of the room and out of the castle. He mounted Caraxes and set off for the capital, "How dare his grandfather scorn his brother like that," he asked himself. It was true that Viserys had no great qualities, but still it was his right. His father had only been dead for a few moons, and his grandfather had replaced him as if it were nothing. And on top of that, he was his third son! A Maester! He couldn't believe it, it must have been a joke in very bad taste.
He spent a day and a night on the back of Caraxes. But at last he spotted the capital. Without a second thought he descended on the red fortress. He landed in the gardens, where Vermithor also stood. With no time to lose he walked all around Maegor's keep looking for his grandfather or his brother, until he came across that vermin Hightower. He seemed to be chuckling at his misfortune. It would have been him, the snake over his grandfather's ear.
"My prince, I hope you have in a good day, it has been a long time since you were seen at court" Otto said with a boastful look, which caused the rogue prince to retch.
"I see you have become well accustomed to my father's place" Daemon reproached him "tell me did you cause that stupidity?" he asked throwing the parchment at him.
"No. It was his grace's idea," she replied, "the king needs another heir after your father's tragic death."
Daemon snorted.
"Where is my grandfather?" asked Daemon.
"The king is meeting in his office right now" said the hand "I was just on my way to meet him."
"I don't give a shit!" she shouted past him.
He walked through the halls, narrowly missing knocking down every page or courtier he came across, and nearly killed the guards at the door until they let him in.
In his office, the old king was reviewing the documents that Vaegon had been writing for a couple of days. His eyes were tired, but he really found all that information interesting. There Vaegon had laid out the idea about the construction of a medical laboratory for pharmaceutical development, to begin with, and other initiatives for the improvement of the construction of new infrastructure on the capital.
"You have wasted no time in all these years at the citadel" King Jaehaerys told him rather surprised.
Vaegon let out a laugh.
"We cannot focus on the things already done but on the things that remain to be done" Vaegon replied "the sewerage is a good foundation, but the city needs to improve its hygienic conditions, the construction of baths is essential, especially since the city is likely to keep increasing its population, which will lead to a saturation that the existing infrastructure will simply not be able to cope with."
"Yes...you are right" said the king wearily "if you so wished, I would name you my hand."
"I thank you father, but the position of prince of Dragonstone alone, is in itself a great responsibility" he said with some sadness "I never imagined I would be occupying this position...now I know how Baelon felt when Aemon died"
"Yes...it was not easy for him" acknowledged the king with regret.
"What a joke is this!" bellowed Daemon entering the office drawing the attention of both of them.
But the old king was not in the least intimidated by Daemon's entrance, though Vaegon felt for a moment some trepidation, seeing that angry young man enter with one hand very close to his sword. Though seeing the presence of a pair of royal guards behind, he kept his temper.
"It is no joke" he replied without any joy "your father is dead, but I still have a son left, whom you and your brother will serve faithfully."
Daemon turned and glared with murderous fury at the one who had replaced his father.
"It is a pleasure to see you again...nephew" Vaegon said in his kindest tone.
But the rogue prince snorted. Perhaps finding him more of a trifle than Otto Hightower.
"You!" he shouted angrily at him "you're stealing what belongs to my brother! you'd better get out of here or else..."
"Daemon!" his grandfather shouted angrily at him "get out of here...now!" the king told him with a hint of acerbity in his voice, as he motioned to his guards.
Daemon resisted, but the guards roughly dragged him away. He let out a couple of expletives, but they confined him to his quarters for the rest of the day. Nevertheless, it left a bad feeling in Vaegon's body. Really that boy was going to give him trouble.
"Excuse him" his father told him "he is hurt by Baelon's death, they were very close".
"I know" Vaegon answered him more calmly "Baelon was never the same since Alyssa's death" it was no secret that Baelon had taken refuge in his children since the death of his wife.
The rest of the morning was spent coordinating with Otto Hightower and Grand Master Rucinter, it was necessary to make the changes when possible. In any case, he could not move at least until the Draconys' brood hatched, under no circumstances could he allow those hatchlings to fall into someone else's hands. Now more than ever he had to be careful, especially with Daemon under his roof. In any case, all the great lords would come to the capital to swear allegiance to him. Then he could persuade them to support him. Vaegon had no friends and was not well liked. And even though he had the greatest dragon in the known world, it did Maegor no good when the seven kingdoms turned against him. He was not Aemon or Baelon, if he wanted to start he should start with the common people first. But he had already begun his moves, first of all, he had decided that Sir Harold would be the new commander of the city guard. That was a matter that had to be dealt with in the first order, for he did not doubt that Daemon had connections because of his flea-bed raids.
But for the moment he had to show his might, and Draconys read his thought, for he flew there with the swiftness of the wind. But now his size had grown noticeably larger in a very short time, causing a commotion in the capital. So he kept the dragon eggs secretly in his chambers.
Then she had Viserys and Daemon brought to the gardens. There the whole court was summoned, for a feast in memory of the gracious queen. The king would remain in his chambers resting, so he would be in command. The guards brought the two princes. Viserys was somewhat freed from the responsibilities of the throne, since he had not been destined for it anyway, and only wanted to be with his Aenma and his books about Valyria. Quite the opposite of Daemon, who had looked like a caged beast, robbed of what was his. It was no wonder, he had always considered himself his brother's heir, so apart from his love for his brother, he also felt that he was being robbed. The truth was that both brothers were like night and day, but he had to put them in their place.
But he had already taken action and Draconys was on the outskirts of the city, waiting to intervene. Meanwhile Vaegon greeted them seated, while guards and advisors surrounded him in perfect placement.
"My dear nephews" said Vaegon cheerfully "come, sit at my table."
They both did so somewhat reluctantly and were served some squab in sauce.
"Uncle what have you summoned us for?" asked Viserys somewhat confused.
Vaegon smiled. He beckoned, and they all sat down.
"To eat, we are family and we have been separated for a long time...we must know each other again" he said with a smile "it has been so long since we last saw each other...my sister was still alive, your mother...she was a great woman. I still remember when you were a chubby, giggly little boy, while your brother was a cackling little thing."
"Yes...it's been a long time," Daemon said grudgingly.
"Yes...I missed your brother claiming Balerion and you claiming my brother's dragon" he replied calmly "but I would like to show you my dragon...since you haven't had a chance to do so...indeed Draconys city is unforgettable."
Then Draconys took flight and in no time a golden dragon with red eyes and nine hundred and sixty feet in size, red eyes, and golden scales that glowed, hinting at its increased might, shadowed the sky in all its glory. Viserys trembled and Daemon looked up at him with wide eyes, even the court was not yet accustomed to the image of the colossal dragon.
"May I present Draconys...my dragon...fresh from the ruins of Valyria" he said matter-of-factly "You should have seen how he knocked out Vhagar. He is a dragon of fire and lightning, the supreme dragon, the dragon of the storm, the dragon of a king...my dragon."
They were both speechless.
"Do you like the squab?" he asked them with false innocence "It's well passed over fire...if just the right amount of fire...in the Valley have you eaten many partridges?" he asked Daemon "Tell me how much fire is necessary?"
Draconys then flew in circles staring at the sons of Baelon."There's nothing like a good family meal" said Vaego raising a cup of wine from the Draconys roared with joy making the whole capital shake.