Ah! I can't believe a single deleted thing is causing such havoc on chapters. I've corrected it now, I think. If not, let me know. Thank you!

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As always, please enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think.

Note: If you would like to read ahead, the next three chapters after this chapter are available on P. .^T.^R.^E.^O.^N./ Boombox117

Mid to Late 123 AC – Driftmark

Rhaenys POV

Rhaenys rose to her feet when the doors to her daughter's chambers opened, her fretfulness fading away in an instant, leaving behind her husband who took to stand vigil with her when she resisted to move from outside the doors.

"Does she live?" were the first words out of her mouth, words she simultaneously dreaded and hoped an answer for, as she looked at the red-faced Braavosi healer with worry and barely constrained desperation.

"She lives." The aged man confirmed and Rhaenys closed her eyes whilst her body, which she realised had been coiled up tightly, relaxed as desperate relief threatened to overcome her.

"The bleeding stopped?" Corlys asked, grave in tone of voice.

Laena's labour had been hard. Harder than the last two when it should have been easier. But it seemed fate had different wants of her daughter.

The first child came easily however it was the second child that had nearly killed her daughter. The child had been stuck in the womb, and in the attempt of the birthing, something had happened that caused Laena to bleed profusely.

It was then that the healers had intervened and cast everyone out so that they could focus on saving Laena from dying from the loss of blood and whatever tear that'd been made inside of her.

"The bleeding has been stopped." The healer confirmed tiredly before he continued. "However it does not mean that Lady Laena is safe." The healer said carefully. "We had to give her ample poppy before we could cut into her and stop the bleeding and it has left her likely far too little blood." The healer looked at them both before he spoke again, this time even more carefully. "She will take many moons to recover but even then, she may not be the same again."

"What does that mean?" Corlys demanded. The level of his voice was quiet but there was no denying there was angry worry there.

"The conditions that cause the bleeding during childbirth, such as that of Lady Laena, are rare but they are known." The healer said calmly but still carefully. "The tearing inside of the womb because of the child's irregular position often makes irreparable damage to the womb. Seven out of ten women typically die before the bleeding can be stopped." The healer said.

"But you have stopped it, have you not?" Rhaenys asked, the terror she felt forced down as she peered at the man.

The healer inclined his head. "We believe so."

"You believe so?" Corlys snarled as he approached the healer.

"We will need to monitor her for at least a day to be sure of it." The healer admitted. "It is amongst the most difficult of operations known in Braavos." The healer said before he looked at Rhaenys before he looked at Corlys. "We can be as sure as we can that we have quelled the bleeding but that won't be the rest of it." The healer took a deep breath before he continued. "She will likely be unable to have any more children after this. The damage to her womb is too severe. If, somehow by the Gods, she does become pregnant, she must terminate as soon as symptoms of being with child are found." The healer warned though for Rhaenys, she did not need it to have been said.

Laena would not endanger herself like this again and she looked at Corlys with a sharp look on her face. When Corlys met her gaze, having calmed down, she could see in his eyes that he would cease requesting Laena of trying for more children.

It was how all of this started in the first place.

Whilst Corwyn had largely recovered well and was growing into a strong boy, he was still the only male heir in the line of succession for Corlys. Laenor made it clear he will be unable to sire a child, despite swearing that he'd tried. Corlys had been insistent that Laena at least try for one more son after Jocelyn.

No more, she vowed.

"Thank you, Healer Arano." Rhaenys said with true gratefulness in her tone of voice. "If it was not for you and your aides, I would have lost my daughter this day." That much she could readily and easily admit. She did not think there were many maesters capable of saving her daughter and she did not believe Driftmark would have had that particular maester serving them.

"Yes…know that your service to my House shall be rewarded handsomely." Corlys said gruffly before he continued. "Is Laena decent enough to come see her?"

"She is. We have replaced the bedding also." Healer Arano said and Rhaenys swivelled her head towards one of the guards.

"Have the maids come and take the bedding." She ordered and the guard bowed before he left to do just that and it was a moment later that she walked into Laena's room with her husband.

"When will she wake?" Rhaenys found herself asking.

"On her own? Perhaps a full day at the most. However I would prefer her sleeping for at least a few days, my Princess. The body heals faster when it is at rest." Arano looked at her knowingly. "Body and mind."

Rhaenys sighed but nodded wearily. Once Laena learns that the second twin boy died a mere few hours after his birth…

"Thank you Arano." Rhaenys placed her hand on her daughter's forehead, her head aching at how cold she felt. "We would like to be with our daughter. Alone." Rhaenys said quietly, a glance sent towards her husband who looked stoically at their daughter.

"Of course, my Princess. We will be just outside." Arano said before he rounded up his acolytes, leaving her alone with Corlys and Laena.

"Oh Laena…" Rhaenys said tiredly as she brushed her thumb across her daughter's forehead. To see her strong and wilful daughter so beaten…

"She can't do this again." Rhaenys said quietly, without looking away from Laena.

She heard Corlys take in a breath, which to her ears sounded shudderingly, before he spoke up. "This is her last." Corlys agreed and Rhaenys looked at her husband and she saw him look at Laena with a complicated look.

"She still lives. She will continue to live." Rhaenys said as she saw the look on his face. She knew her husband. She knew that look.

"She is strong." Corlys agreed as he peeled his look away from Laena and met her gaze and he grimaced. "I shouldn't have pushed her." There was sorrow in his voice.

"Oh." Rhaenys said with a shake of the head. "Laena wouldn't have agreed if she had not wanted to." Wilful as she was, as emboldened as she was as the rider of the mighty Vhagar, Laena would not find herself bend if she did not want to bend.

Corlys chuckled lowly, in that low baritone of his that she liked hearing.

"Aye, true enough." Corlys sighed heavily. "The Gods have had mercy at least in saving one of the boys." Corlys murmured and Rhaenys couldn't help but agree.

"Losing both of the twins…" Rhaenys trailed off. As strong as Laena was, she didn't think Laena would have dealt well with that. Not at all.

They had to hope the boy was strong enough to live. There were no issues, as far she could tell, the boy's cries had hinted at that, but one could never…

"Will you go see how the boy is?" Rhaenys asked as she glanced at her husband and Corlys nodded stiffly before he stood up and left.

It was some time later that Corlys returned and he returned not alone.

"Mother!" Jocelyn cried as she rushed forward on the side of the bed where Rhaenys was and Rhaenys was quick to stop the four year old from trying to get on the bed.

"Jocelyn." Rhaenys tone of voice was as firm as the hold on her granddaughter's shoulder, the girl's whimpering cry making it not easy. "Calm down."

The young girl sniffed as she looked at Rhaenys with the same eyes Laena had inherited from Corlys.

"What's wrong with mother? She sick?" the girl whimpered.

"Yes. She's very sick. She needs to rest. So you have be very quiet." Rhaenys said carefully, intently and the young girl, much to Rhaenys' relief, the girl quieted down and Rhaenys lifted up the girl and placed her on her lap.

Daeron and Corwyn then arrived by the other side of Laena's bed, worry etched on both father and son's face.

"I don't like seeing mother like this." Corwyn stated quietly and Daeron placed his hand on his son's shoulder, his face clouded with guilty concern.

"Neither do I. But your mother is strong. Very strong. She will recover."

"Your father is right. Your mother is the rider of the mighty Vhagar. It will take more than this to take her away from us." Corlys said as he also arrived by Laena's bed and Rhaenys swept her gaze across. Looking at Corlys, at Corwyn. Daeron. Her hands tightened around Jocelyn. Laena.

And despite the situation, Rhaenys couldn't help but smile a little.

At the sight of her family.

A day later…

"You shouldn't have sent a raven to Rhaenyra." Rhaenys snapped at Daeron as her hand tightened around the letter from Kings Landing.

"Mother…" Laena began as she winced as she sat up.

"You shouldn't move." Corlys warned but an exasperated look was all the answer they got from Laena.

"Daeron has done exactly what I wanted. Rhaenyra is my friend." Laena said and Rhaenys rolled her eyes at her daughter. Laena continued. "None of us could have expected the King to do what he's doing."

"Rhaenyra…" Rhaenys grabbed the bridge of her nose as she looked exasperatedly at Laena. "Viserys' coming isn't solely because of a funeral." Rhaenys said darkly and she ignored the look she received from Laena as she looked towards Corlys who seemed contemplative.

Rhaenys didn't like it.

She knew what look was.

"It's a great honour the King's coming to Lucerys' funeral." Daeron said. "And you cannot deny that the King doing so despite being as ill as he is means much more."

"It would if it did not mean that he's coming because Rhaenyra requested it so and you all know what Rhaenyra desires from us." Rhaenys said with a dark look.

"We have Vhagar. We have Meleys. Seasmoke. With Vermithor and Silverwing, mother, there is nought to worry." Laena said tiredly and as much as Rhaenys hated admitting it, it was a good argument. They clearly had the upper hand.

Whilst the Greens had Dreamfyre, somewhat equal to Silverwing, that was all they had. Whilst Aegarax, Jaehaerys' dragon, Tessarion, Daeron's dragon, and Summer, Helaena's dragon, were fast growing and much larger than the young dragons of Rhaenyra's two of her three children, they were incomparable to the five mentioned by her daughter.

Laena continued. "And who else is Jocelyn going to marry? That is worthy of her?" Laena asked Rhaenys, deadly serious. "One of the half Hightowers?"

"Never." Corlys was quick to say, irritation on his face. "I will never throw my weight behind Otto Hightower's progeny." Corlys then looked at Rhaenys, his expression softening. "We will do what we have done until now. We wait."

Rhaenys knew what Corlys meant.

To wait until they got everything they wanted and more. Allowances that would make Driftmark richer. Stronger. Allowances that permitted them to expand House Velaryon properly into the Stepstones with the backing of the Iron Throne.

An Iron Throne that had a Velaryon Queen in Jocelyn.

"Enough." Laena's weak voice cut through the room. "I do not want to speak about this anymore. What is done is done." Laena said tiredly as she closed her eyes, her hands tightening around the bundle that was the sleeping Corlys the Younger.

"I…I can wait another day to put…Lucerys…at rest." Laena's voice wavered and Rhaenys sighed at that. Laena's eyes opened, red rimmed. "As my husband says…it is an honour the King grants us. Has the letter been sent?"

Whilst they did not have a maester, they did find someone who knew the secret art of the ravens after years of searching.

"It has." Daeron confirmed as he glanced at Corlys before he looked at Laena.

"Then it is done. We wait until the King's here."

A day later…

Rhaenys stood by Laena's side as the barge that had the little bundle was pushed out to sea, in accordance with Velaryon's traditions.

"It's unfair." Laena whispered and Rhaenys moved to speak but she found herself stopping when she saw that Laena was clinging onto Daeron's hand, her words not intended for Rhaenys.

"Aye…aye it is." She barely heard Daeron say and Rhaenys looked away, her eyes tingling, and she watched the barge drift away into the sea, where countless of Velaryons had crossed, crossing into the arms of the Gods.

'Yes…it's unfair.' Rhaenys thought to herself.

A little later…

After the ceremony, and after dinner was had, as expected, Viserys had requested that they meet to discuss.

And so, she found herself in a room with Viserys, Rhaenyra, Baelon, Corlys, Laena and Daeron, discussing the very thing she did not want to discuss.

She knew that neutrality was an impossibility. The lines were being drawn all across Westeros and she knew that more were waiting until there were changes in the favour of the Greens.

Gods knew that she could see the worry in Alicent's eyes as she gazed upon Rhaenys' families' dragons…and those of Rhaenyra and Baelon.

And in the darkest of minds, she couldn't help but wonder how much the Hightowers hated that they got rid of their maesters, thus got rid of their assassins.

She'd had been sceptical. Before.

When Aegon had told them in private that he'd had visions of grey rats clawing at bellies of dragons. How he'd looked for proof but found nothing and yet had to tell them to make sure they were at least aware of the possibility.

Rhaenys had doubted, as had Corlys but they couldn't let the chance go so they quietly had the maester and his acolytes investigated and whilst they found no proof of wrongdoing, they did discover the maester was sending ravens without their permission.

That was enough for Corlys to question the maester and when Corlys found their answers insufficient, did he have the maester further questioned.

The maester had died under the questioning and they discovered that the maester did inform the Citadel on House Velaryon where the maester admitted likely ended up in the hands of the Hightowers.

The maester said that he had not done anything to poison Laena or Rhaenys and he'd never do anything like that but enough had been enough. Rhaenys had admittedly wondered if the maester's predecessor, who had taken over not long after Laenor's birth, had done something to shrivel her womb as she found it difficult to get pregnant after Laenor. She found it unlikely, as she had no more wish to go through another difficult pregnancy but she couldn't help but wonder…

Corlys had arranged the maester's death and sent the acolytes, which had been kept unawares, away back to the Citadel.

They'd declined any further maester to come to Driftmark, as was their right. If the Ironborn could resist, then so could they.

Corlys had then spent significant amount of resources in sussing out any more traitors in their household and they had to get rid of more than two dozen servants, whom couldn't be confirmed to be trustworthy.

After that, Corlys had made sure no enemy was in their midst, hiring Braavosi and Pentoshi healers that had no reason to be enemy with their family, whilst also arranging for their families to live comfortably on Driftmark…

It was clear, nonetheless, that Hightower was actively an enemy of their House.

And an enemy that sought the death of her daughter because of Vhagar.

That the Greens had come with their entire brood, including dragonless Aemond, was no surprise. Rhaenys eyed Rhaenyra for a moment.

She also knew that it was the same reason why Daemon the Younger had not been given a dragon egg in the crib. Caraxes.

The only thing that made Rhaenyra hesitant in having her son claim the dragon was the fact that dragon was a highly temperamental one…one that had killed several dragon keepers after Daemon's death…and one more years after.

To throw a boy at that dragon was not something Rhaenyra or Baelon could dare.

And if the word was true, that Aemond had been rejected by Caraxes, they then had time to let the boy grow.

"I do not see why you are so hesitant in betrothing young Jocelyn to Daemon." Viserys remarked in a slow and tired way as he slumped in his chair.

Viserys had the look of death about him. His skin, his face, was scarred. Clumps of hair was all that he had left. It was a terrible sight.

The journey itself too did not help, Rhaenys had no doubt.

'To think that peace is dependent on his living.' Rhaenys thought to herself.

"We are not hesitant." Corlys spoke up, speaking for House Velaryon as he was.

Corlys leaned back in his chair. "We simply have been here before. The idea of Queen dangled in front of us." Corlys grabbed Rhaenys' hand.

"First, it had been my wife, who by all rights should have been Queen." Rhaenys looked sharply at Corlys who ignored her look. Rhaenys looked at Viserys who grew stormy despite his ugly and sick visage.

Corlys continued. "Then it was my daughter. Whose bloodline was impeccable and ordinarily would have been Queen, in accordance to the closeness of our families."

"Father…" Laena began but Corlys raised his hand.

"I understand that matters have worked out well. Daeron is a fine goodson." Corlys said with a nod to Daeron, who sat there stoically and nodded stiffly.

"However, you can understand my hesitation in joining our Houses given the spurning my House and my family has received from you…and from your predecessor." Corlys gestured with his hand. "Who is to say that you may not spurn it once more just so you can secure our…" Corlys trailed off and grew silent and at this Viserys straightened up in his seat, his eyes narrowing.

The words were unsaid but the message was clear.

Loyalty.

And what will you do to earn ours?

Rhaenyra placed a hand on her father's hand and the two exchanged a silent look before they looked to Corlys again, seriousness etched in their faces.

It seemed…

They'd get enough.

Everything Corlys wanted.

Which she knew was just about enough.

…

…

…

The sudden opening of the doors startled her.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Corlys bellowed as he rose from his seat and the Velaryon, royal guards and the two King's Guard stopped in their steps.

"My Lord." The Velaryon guards bowed. "There has been an incident with the Princes and young Lord Corwyn."

Rhaenys' eyes widened as she got up, later than both Daeron and Baelon who practically ran out the doors. Laena, still walking difficultly, following their steps.

"What incident?" Corlys asked after he snapped out of his shock.

"Yes…what incident?" Viserys coughed and held onto Rhaenyra's hand, stopping her from leaving. "Rhaenyra…"

"Prince Aemond has been claimed to have attacked Prince Daemon…and Corwyn." One of the King's Guard said carefully and Rhaenys flared her nostrils as she glanced at Viserys who coughed so more and after she met the gaze of Rhaenyra, who looked hatefully angry, she hastily walked towards the doors.

"Where are they?"

"The Training Yard, my Lady. Prince Baelon and Ser Criston have drawn swords."

Rhaenys did not wait much longer before she left the room and she could not recall how long it took to get to the training yard, only that she neared to the sound of steel and the sight of Baelon fighting with the Kings Guard Criston Cole.

"Sheathe your swords or I have shall you be made to sheathe your swords!" Corlys bellowed angrily as he arrived at the training yard and the Velaryon Guards stepped closer, the sounds of their steel swords unsheathing an ominous sound.

But it seemed as if the words did little to get through to both men, even if the men stopped attacking each other, with Criston's Cole's face looking on as much as Baelon was looking on Cole hatefully.

"Ser Criston!" Alicent's shriek of the voice cut through the chamber "Cease this now!" At this Cole seemed to remember where he was and he stepped back though his sword pointed squarely at Baelon.

"I will have your head for this, traitor." Baelon growled as he sheathed his sword.

"I was defending a Prince of the Blood." Was Cole's response, and it was insolent though it compared not to the words next. "Even if it was from another Prince."

This was enough to enrage Baelon again but after a signal from Corlys to the guards, the Velaryon Guards positioned themselves between Cole and Baelon.

Rhaenys had the mind again to look for Corwyn and she found him being looked over by Laena whilst Daeron stared daggers away somewhere. She followed his gaze and she saw Alicent by her son with a bloody cloth with Jaehaerys and Daeron standing protectively by their mother next to their uncle Gwayne. Aegon the Younger was not far but he seemed to be taking enjoyment in all of it, drunk as he was.

Rhaenys shook the thoughts away and went towards Corwyn and concernedly asked "Is he harmed?"

"A bruise." Laena said with anger in her voice.

"I'm fine." Corwyn squirmed under his mother's hands. "I stopped Aemond from really hurting Daemon." Rhaenys narrowed her eyes at that.

"What does that mean, Corwyn. Why would Prince Aemond want to hurt Prince Daemon? What happened?" At this questioning, Corwyn grew angry but also somewhat…shamed?

"Corwyn. Answer. Now." Daeron demanded.

"We wanted to train. But when we got there, there was only Aemond." Corwyn looked down at his feet. "He was training by himself. We didn't say anything to each other. At first. Me and Daemon were training together but then Daemon beat me and then Daemon boasted saying that he'd become a great knight, like his father but then Aemond started talking for no reason and mocked him saying he'd be more like his grandfather Daemon, a bad knight." Rhaenys exchanged looks with Laena and then Corlys before she looked towards the crowd of people that surrounded Aemond.

"Why did you leave the feast?" Laena demanded to know. "And where were the guards?"

Corwyn looked ashamed. "We…kind of escaped. We just wanted to train. Daemon said that he learnt lots and that he got a lot better. I said I was better and then we just wanted to know who was really better."

"Continue." Corlys demanded after a few moments of silence and the look she'd seen on his face told him enough that the guards would answer for this.

Corwyn continued. "Daemon got angry and said that it is a lie. Aemond said it was true but then Daemon said that he wouldn't listen to a lying dragonless Targaryen and this got Aemond really angry." Corwyn shuffled a little. "I also said some things too. To help Daemon."

Rhaenys sighed tiredly and she got to see Rhaenyra coming in though without Viserys.

"What did your foul boy do to my son?" Rhaenyra hissed out as she glared angrily at Alicent whilst she walked over to Daemon. She took her son's face into her hands and looked him over.

Daemon had a bloody nose and a large bruise on his face too.

"Your husband tried to kill my Aemond!" Alicent shrieked back as she got to her feet, the same hate shining in her eyes. "He broke Aemond's jaw and was going to kill him!"

"He would not ha-"

"QUIET!" The loud command of Viserys silenced the entire room as he was wheeled in by the royal guards. Viserys then descended into a harsh coughing fit and one of the acolytes approached Viserys.

"I'm…fine." Viserys said as he weakly waved away the acolyte and the guards brought him into the middle of the yard.

"What happened?"

Both Rhaenyra and Alicent talked over each other and Viserys was forced to shout again, silencing both.

"Your Grace" Ser Criston Cole stepped forward, his head bowed. "I followed Prince Baelon when he noticed that neither Daemon or Aemond were present at the feast anymore. But when I arrived, I came to witness Prince Baelon striking the young Prince Aemond hard with fist." Cole then looked at Baelon with venom.

"I feared for the young Prince's life so I moved in defence of him."

"He tried to kill your son!" Alicent cried out as she held her three and ten nameday son closely into her arms.

"Spare us your dramatics." Baelon growled as he glared at Alicent. "I had no intentions of killing the boy." Baelon turned his gaze to Viserys. "I came upon Aemond wielding a dagger and moving towards my son who was on the ground with a bloodied nose." As Baelon had spoken, his tone of voice descending into a deep growl the further he spoke.

"I merely got him away from my son even if it was a bit heavy handed."

"You broke his jaw!" Alicent shrieked.

"A light punishment for one who tried to kill the second in line to the throne." Baelon rebuked and before anyone could speak any further, Viserys interjected.

"Aemond…" Viserys weakly spoke up though there was little weakness in Viserys' gaze. "Is it true?"

"N-n-n-no." Aemond shook his head his head, his words said with difficulty. "I-I onnn-ly want-tted t-t-to s-s-scarrr-e them."

"Liar! You lie like you lied about grandfather! You wanted to kill me! You said so!" Daemon cried out.

"What lies?" Viserys asked and the question took Rhaenys by surprise.

"He said that grandfather Daemon deserved to die because he was a bad knight and that I too will be unworthy to be a knight. He also said bad things about Corwyn's mother too, that she deserved to die and, and, that mother was a thief!" Daemon all but yelled out and when he finished, there was a deafening silence.

One that was broken by Aemond.

"H-h-e l-l-lies!" he said in defence of himself, and he was the very visage of being afraid. Not surprising as he was beset with looks of ire and anger from everyone safe from his own brothers, mother and uncle. And Cole.

Alicent approached. "He's just a boy who doesn't know what he is saying." The nervousness belied her words.

"Aemond is what Daemon is saying true?" Viserys asked directly to Aemond.

"N-n-no."

"Do not lie to me. Is it true?" Viserys snapped at Aemond who got angry at the words.

"T-th-ey s-ss-aid I w-was n-n-ot a r-r-real T-t-targ-garyen!" Aemond said with hurtful shame in his voice and Rhaenys winced a little at the depth of the shame that was in the boy's voice, a reaction of hers that surprised her.

"You let yourself be angered by some meaningless words? By a seven nameday old boy?" Viserys' dripped with terrible disappointment.

"B-Bael-lon tried t-t-o k-k-ill m-me!" Aemond yelled in desperation as he pointed to his broken jaw.

"He did not. Else you would be dead, boy. I see he's done nothing wrong." Viserys said with real anger in his tone of voice and Aemond reared back in shock…and betrayal.

"I-I o-on-ly t-trrieed to scare h-him!" Aemond said shocked and upset.

Viserys shook his head. "You tried to scare a boy half your age with a dagger. A dagger. A foolish thing to do. Even if you had no intent on using it. What were you thinking?" Viserys said with disappointment and anger in his voice.

"Viserys." Alicent exclaimed shock. "Baelon broke his jaw. His jaw. And had Ser Criston Cole not intervene-" Viserys raised his hand.

"Aemond broke Daemon's nose in their childish argument and threatened Daemon with a dagger." Viserys said with anger in his voice and it silenced Alicent for a moment.

"What about Baelon's punishment?"

"What of my punishment?" Baelon repeated dangerously as his hand rested on Dark Sister. "Pray tell, Queen Alicent. What is it that you want to levy on me?"

"Baelon…" Viserys warned before he sighed heavily. "There is nothing to punish." Viserys said before he looked at Alicent intently. "Or do you want me to consider this to be anything more than a mistaken squabble between children, even if our son should know better at age three and ten?" Viserys said with no small amount of anger in his tone of voice. "And as such must consider his attack on his nephew, second in line, and his treasonous and insulting words?" Viserys in a low dangerous tone.

Alicent said nothing even if she looked angry and no little amount of fearful.

Viserys shook his head. "We are a family. What have we come to when uncle harms nephew and cousin harms cousin?" Viserys said with tired despair before he shook his head again and looked at Cole.

"And you…"

Cole straightened upward. "Your Grace. I take full responsibility if you seek to punish me for defending what I saw as a threat to one of the Princes of the Blood."

Viserys looked at Cole before he shook his head again and looked at the acolytes. "Is his jaw the only part that has been hurt?"

"The jaw has been broken, Your Grace. It will take many moons for it to be healed." The acolyte explained.

"Then he is well enough to travel?"

"He is, Your Grace."

"Viserys." Alicent tried and Viserys glared at her to be silent. And she remained silent.

"Ser Criston. You shall take Aemond and return him to Kings Landing this very eve. " Viserys ordered and spoke again before Alicent undoubtedly would request to return too. "Only Aemond shall return. The rest shall remain here with the rest of our family. This is my command and I shall not be disobeyed." Viserys said before he heaved tiredly and signalled his guards. "Take me back to my quarters. I shall rest for the night." But Viserys did not leave without saying one more thing.

"Let it be known that any more incidents shall incur my wrath. We are family…act like it."

Few had the appetite to return to the feast or elsewhere after that, and instead, Corlys had their family turn in for the night, though she did not leave without asking Corwyn a few more questions, with Corlys and Laena present.

"Aemond said that Laena was not a Targaryen and didn't deserve to have Vhagar."

"Is that all he said?" Rhaenys asked after a few moments of silence.

Corwyn shifted a little. "Corwyn. Tell us the truth." Corlys warned.

"Yes." Corwyn confirmed before he looked a little awkwardly.

"Why did Daemon make it seem as if Aemond said worse things? That I should die?" Laena wanted to know.

"I don't know." Corwyn murmured.

Laena sighed before she took hold of her son. "This is not over. We will speak further on this when we've got no more guests." Laena said in a murmur and soon enough it was just Corlys and Rhaenys.

"What a mess." Corlys said irritated.

"Mess? Husband, we're past mess." Rhaenys murmured as they walked towards their chambers, the memory of Aemond's betrayed and utterly angry look scarred in her mind.

It was only a saving grace that there were no large dragons left for Aemond to claim.

Yet…yet she couldn't help but wonder why she still felt a shiver each time she remembered that look of Aemond's.

-Break-

Mid to Late 123 AC – Kings Landing

Aemond POV

"Where are you going? The Red Keep's that way, my Prince." Ser Criston said as he neared Aemond.

"T-to the drag-gon pit." Aemond said pained, barely able to move his jaw but there was nothing that could stop him from doing what he wanted. What he had to do.

"Your father has given me orders to take you to the Red Keep." Ser Criston denied.

"N-n-no." Aemond clenched his fists as he fought the wave of pain and forced himself to speak clearly. He had to speak clearly.

"I will…" Aemond fought the tears and spoke further. "not be dragonless any longer." Aemond said as he met directly Ser Criston's gaze and Aemond let his anger and shame and his fury shine through as much as he could. "Please."

Ser Criston met his gaze and struggled with himself for a long moment before he sighed heavily. "Your father is going to have me killed for this. Especially if you're going to do something as foolish I think you probably will do." Ser Criston looked to the heavens before he looked at Aemond again, a trace of a smirk on his face.

"Your father did say to take you back to Kings Landing…You are here now."

Aemond, momentarily, smiled before he lost it and he looked away and made his horse go faster.

They arrived at the dragonpit and they were greeted by a number of dragonkeepers.

"Prince Aemond. Are you here to claim one of the hatchlings?" the dragonkeeper was speaking of the two eggs that hatched on its own after Jaheaerys' and Jahaera's eggs, which had been of the same clutch Dreamfyre had laid.

His…father said that he could claim one of those dragons, even encouraged him to but Aemond resisted it all the time. He wasn't meant for those little dragons. He was meant to have Vhagar. Or Caraxes.

'I won't be afraid anymore. I will never afraid again.' Aemond vowed violently to himself and Aemond ignored the dragonkeeper before swiftly went towards the steps that led down into the caves of the dragonpit.

He passed dragon and dragonkeeper as he went further down the pit.

He'd been here. Once.

When he'd been ten namedays old. Aegon had made fun of him, again, in that nasty way of his and Aemond, to prove himself, had tried to go into Caraxes' lair.

Caraxes was infamous now in their family.

Ever since Daemon died, it was said that the dragon had grown terribly aggressive and had to remain chained at all times. In fact, the same chains that bound it before Daemon died had never gone off.

And yet, the dragon had killed another dragonkeeper in the years since.

He had only made it halfway there, barely avoiding the flames that Caraxes had fired into the roof of the cave, and no one believed him that he had not even tried to bond with Caraxes.

Especially his father. 'Why would you even try to claim him, my boy? He's not meant to be yours. He belongs to my grandson, when he's old enough to make the bond'.

Aemond clenched his fists, so hard that he digging deep into the flesh of his palm, and he silently snarled in anger, hate…and betrayal.

That man was no father of his.

Baelon tried to kill him. Kill him. He'd seen those eyes of him. He was only one swing away from cutting off his head and he would have if it wasn't for Ser Criston.

Aemond found tears forming at the corner of his eyes and he angrily swiped at them. He wasn't lying when he said that he really was just trying to scare them.

He wasn't an idiot. They were annoying and yes they angered him but their words were never as bad as Aegon's words were, which often were said with laughter.

But no one believed him…just as they did not believe him when he'd said that he didn't make the attempt to bond with Caraxes.

'They'll believe me when I bond with him…not that I will care anymore' Aemond thought angrily to himself.

'Nor will I care when they grow angry and say that I stole Caraxes'. Dragons were not things to be stolen. They belonged to no one specifically. Anyone could bond with a dragon as long as that dragon wanted you.

And Aemond…

Aemond was going to make Caraxes want him.

Or he will die trying, Aemond thought as he finally reached the pass that led to Caraxes' cave and he could hear the Blood Wyrm stirring and Aemond steeled himself as he closed his eyes momentarily before he reopened them, determination shining as he walked further into the dark nearly lightless cave. Into Caraxes cave.

And as soon as he arrived, he heard Caraxes stir and Aemond had his breathe in his throat at the sight, or rather silhouette of Caraxes.

But the moment didn't last when Caraxes opened his maw and an ignition of fire burbled at the ends of his maw.

"CARAAAXESSS! CALM!" Aemond shouted, the pain of his broken jaw stinging badly but Aemond would not let it defeat him. He would not let Caraxes defeat him.

The fires dimmed as the worm like dragon gazed upon Aemond with poisonous eyes, a terribly deadly growl escaping Caraxes' maw, as if he was but a moment away from snapping forward and rip Aemond apart in his dagger teethed maw.

"CALM! CALM CARAXES!" Aemond shouted and the growls grew heavier and Aemond clenched his fists tight enough that he felt his palms throb nearly as much as his jaw was. "I am not your enemy." Aemond added before he breathed in heavily and Aemond met Caraxes' eyes fearlessly, and had anyone been able to see this moment, they would have seen a visage, a glimmer, of madness in his eyes, and that it reflected perfectly that same madness as there was in Caraxes' eyes.

"Obey me and you shall never be chained again. Obey me and you shall burn and kill and eat all of my enemies, our enemies." Aemond snarled out as his fists tightened further, tightening near as tightly as the pain that was tightening around his heart, pain that came from years of mockery, years of slights, years of unanswered debts to collect.

"None shall ever slight us again and if they do…it will be the last thing they will ever do." Aemond snarled in a tear-filled rage fuelled shout and his shouts echoed against the walls of the cave and Aemond found heavy tears running down his face and Caraxes closed his maw, a heavy growl coming out of his maw.

"Obey me Caraxes and let us be feared together!"

Aemond stepped closer to Caraxes, meeting the dangerous dragon's gaze unwaveringly and Aemond thought an eternity was passing as the dragon remained quiet and still until…

Until, finally, Caraxes brought his head down to Aemond and Aemond…

Stepped closer and placed his hand on Caraxes' snout, causing the dragon to growl lightly but not aggressively and Aemond, Aemond felt it…the bond…form.

Aemond let off a shuddering gasp, one that broke the look of anger and determination and made him smile blindingly with utter joy and relief.

Caraxes pulled his snout away and turned his head sideways, a growl escaping his maw, and Aemond could see what Caraxes wanted.

He wanted proof.

And Aemond would oblige. Aemond climbed atop of Caraxes and head directly to the chains that were fastened on him. He could see scarring around the scales where the chains were and he tried to get it off but the pin was slightly bend.

It took him a long time to try to get it off, hitting it with rock after rock, but finally, he did get the pin to budge and finally off of Caraxes.

Caraxes let off a deafening roar as the chains fell off and Aemond scrambled to get himself into the saddle and he barely managed to do it before Caraxes began to crawl out of his cage.

"CARAXES! CARAXES IS FREE!" He heard the dragonkeepers yell as they moved further upwards and out of the cave.

"THERE IS A RIDER?!"

"IT'S PRINCE AEMOND, HE'S CLAIMED CARAXES!"

Aemond found himself smiling at that acknowledgement and when they finally reached the exit gates, where were fast being opened, the dragonkeepers scrambled away to let them pass.

And when they finally reached open skies, Aemond felt every sense of the word when he spoke the word he'd longed, craved in saying for all of his life.

"Fly."

"FLY."

-Break-

A History of House Targaryen

The Dance of Dragons

Prelude:

Many historians point out that the moment the Dance became inevitable was when King Viserys, First of His Name, kept Princess Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne even in the wake of King Aegon II's birth to Alicent Hightower.

However, it is not as simple as this.

Firstly, by the time Aegon II and Helaena had wed, there was only one adult dragon under the Green Banner.

Dreamfyre, a she-dragon prior to the Dance of the Dragons known as a martial dragon, whilst the Blacks had Vermithor and Silverwing and almost certainly the allegiance of the Velaryons despite their stance having been claimed as 'neutral' prior to the betrothal of Jocelyn Velaryon and Prince Daemon Targaryen.

The odds were greatly stacked against the Greens.

It was entirely possible that the Dance of the Dragons, at least in the form that it took place, would not have occurred until many years later than it had.

However, that changed with the acquisition of Caraxes for the Green Banner by Prince Aemond Targaryen.

The odds were no longer insurmountable. Difficult, yes, however it was possible, and it is this that this historian believes to be the true beginning of the events that culminated in the greatest blood shedding Westeros has seen for centuries, an event to led to critical moments such as Duncan Waters claiming Meleys through an act of great treachery.

Some say that the Blacks had overreacted with the claim of Caraxes by Prince Aemond from what is discerned from witness accounts who have claimed that Prince Baelon had gone into a fit of rage over the grievous slight delivered to him and his father, however it is this historian's belief that the Blacks had only reacted in the manner that was due now.

They understood that peace was no longer an option and so, both sides planned for a war that both sides, those who survived, would later regret.

Dragons did not belong to any particular line…

Nor had they an appreciation of the son or descendants of their previous' line.

As so, the Dance of Dragons would teach.

-Break-

Mid to Late 123 AC – Elamaerys, the Unfinished Keep.

Bartimos Celtigar POV

The long steps towards the top of the large and lone rock of a mountain – a hill he heard described this place was not adequate of a description given that it was enough the height of a mountain – this side of the river came to draw near an end and Bartimos picked up his slowed pace, and the strain of it reminded him sharply of his aging.

He did not know why Aegon had asked, if Bartimos so wished though Bartimos had no real reason – or ability – to refuse, to meet him at the top of this mountain. All questions levied to anyone who may know garnered no answer.

Bartimos arrived at the top of the hill, and he couldn't help but stop at the sight of what he was seeing.

The area was flat, a stark look compared to the sharp peaks that towered over the flat area, yet that was not what shook him still. Nor was it the piles upon piles of stone that were stacked up some hundred metres towards his west.

No…

It was the very ground itself. Black stone…fused stone, was the very ground itself.

It was not what was surprising no. He'd seen it at the Royal Residences. The dragonpit…stables, was a huge dome that outsized everything save for the Sept and the Royal Residences themselves.

"My Gods." Bartimos murmured as he crouched down and touched the ground and after confirming that the stone did indeed feel like fused stone, he raised back up, and kept looking around, his gaze ignoring the half score of guards that were shadowing them.

He could not be entirely sure of how large the area was but he could guess that it was comparable to the likes of the Harrenhall…or perhaps even Winterfell.

'This will be a fortress unassailable as the Rock.' Bartimos thought to himself as he decided it would be more like Casterly Rock than anything else, especially if that opening which he could only glimpse off from afar even from the steps up was to be the dragon pit.

As he kept on looking, he kept on wondering, wondering when and where had Aegon found the means to create fused stone? From what he knew, such knowledge had died the same time Old Valyria had died.

'Yet I have seen many impossible things my old friend do, only now….' Bartimos thought with a grimness that he couldn't help but feel. Fire magic that was far from parlour tricks, dragonglass that allowed one to communicate across vast distances…

'If he is capable of flattening this entire area in what must have been a short period of time…and then to create an entire flooring made of fused stone…'

The implications of what else Aegon could do did not need to be thought of though Bartimos couldn't help but extremely relieved that none of Aegon's kin back in Westeros had a lick of the magic Aegon was capable of.

He did not trust either parties were able to be as nearly restraining in using it…

He looked towards his friend, who he saw, in the distance, was seated down on what seemed like a sitting bench of a kind in between two of the peaks, and Bartimos walked over to the man.

When he arrived by Aegon's side, he could instantly see what Aegon was seeing.

From their position, in between the two peaks, he could see the city, which seemed to be about three leagues away from the centre of the city, likely more given how far the buildings were from this far up.

"Your future keep will be impressive, Aegon." Bartimos said carefully.

Whilst Bartimos mostly referred to Aegon's children and his wife to the terms of address of their station, as strange as it was to address them in the same way he would King Viserys, Aegon had insisted that Bartimos referred to him with his given name.

Aegon gestured him to sit down and Bartimos looked upon his old friend's face, once more forced to take note that there was not much change in his old friend's face from the last time he'd seen him nearly a decade ago, the only exception was that the beard was slightly longer.

Aegon was a little lighter of body compared to his younger days but that was a minor change. In all honesty, it seemed as if his old friend had frozen in age, not like he was approaching forty namedays of living.

A stark contrast to his elder brother who seemed one and a half feet into the grave.

"I would like to think so, given how much time, effort and coin I am putting into this place." Aegon said and there was some humour in his tone of voice, a tone that soon shifted towards a more neutral one as he spoke further. "This is a favourite spot of mine." Aegon said before he looked forward.

"Whenever I have a great need to…think, I come here and simply…watch."

Bartimos had did not have much of an inkling of understanding with what he meant with having a 'great need to think' though, as he turned to look at the city, a city that had enclaves of buildings surrounded by swathes of undeveloped land but enclaves that were expanding outward every moon and every year, he did have an appreciation of why this might inspire his old friend to be here to conduct his…thinking.

After all, it was some achievement and Bartimos couldn't begrudge his old friend by taking satisfaction from his achievements.

Building all of this, he thought as he looked at the 'districts' and the riverside buildings, which were comparable to the merchants and noble manses near to the three hills of Kings Landing, in less than five and ten years…

Kings Landing took a century to build to what it is now. The initial works, which had been 'Aegon's fort' had been built over the course of the Conqueror's rule, a period that lasted from the Landing to the moment of his death, almost forty years.

Comparing that Elamaerys City however…

It was beyond belief to see how short of a time it has taken to build up a settlement with a hundred thousand souls and have enough to house them all without creating squalors like what Kings Landing has and once one thinks of the many thousands of acres of farms in the countryside, which he'd seen on few occasions…

"Tell me, Aegon" Bartimos began as he turned to look at Aegon with seriousness etched on his face. "How much of what these people believe of you is true?" 'Are you truly a Prophet?' Bartimos all but asked, finally asking the question he'd kept within himself for over weeks. He was not sure what compelled him to ask, now, though perhaps it was the sight of the fused stone that pushed him over the edge.

All of this was no work of a mere man. Bartimos could not believe that.

It beggared belief.

Bartimos could admit that Aegon was no mere man but to accomplish all of this, to find these lands, to rediscover some of what was lost of Old Valyria's glory with likely no taint of its blood magic – his daughter assured him of that much – it was hard to believe that the Gods had no hand in all of this.

Aethan was frustratingly unable to provide much answer in this regard.

Aethan had told him there was reason to believe in the assertions of Aegon and his family in the same vein that Targaryens were closer to Gods than they were to men and his daughter…well, she was far too enamoured with her now husband to be clear-minded.

"Does it really matter?" Aegon said in answer, still looking towards the city.

And before Bartimos could answer, Aegon looked towards Bartimos, and he was provided with a penetrating gaze from that sole eye. "Nor would it do you any good to learn how much is truth and how much is not." Aegon looked away from him. "Not when your place is not here, Bartimos."

Bartimos stared at Aegon for a long moment before he looked away, troubled as he was, and turned to look at the city beyond the peaks.

"Aegon…what are we doing here?" Bartimos asked as a few moments of time passed. "Why did you ask for me to come here?"

"Do you remember the last time we sat like this, on the precipice of great change?" The diversion of the conversation surprised Bartimos but only for a moment.

"Aye. You were set to leave Dragonstone within the fortnight." He remembered that night well.

They'd drank well into the night at the tops of Dragonstone, celebrating.

Bartimos could see Aegon smiling to himself before he lost it. "Much time has passed." And much has changed.

"We're nearly old men now." Bartimos agreed. Bartimos was six and forty namedays old. Aegon was not much younger at nine and thirty, even if he did not look it.

Much time had passed since they'd been young men.

Aegon smiled at that and seemed to nod to himself before he continued. "Yet for all the years that have passed, I can truly say that what has not changed is that we hold a friendship that I cherish much, even if time and circumstances have changed the nature of it." Aegon's expression slightly and he looked solemnly at Bartimos.

"You have my apologies, Bartimos." The apology surprised Bartimos and Aegon took an apologetic expression as he continued.

"I have not been the greatest of hosts despite you and yours' place in my family."

Bartimos made a noise from the back of the throat that acknowledged the point though he did not immediately respond to it immediately.

Their stay was…strange. To say the least.

Whilst he and Cassella, and Eldric and his son Barth along with Laenor Velaryon and his…close friend, were provided great honours by staying with the royal family in their Palace, honours that were not given to the other nobility, they did have the same restrictions.

Restrictions of movement, restrictions that prevented them from visiting entire sections of the city and beyond, and restrictions that saw them entirely at the mercy of Aegon with how their guards were not permitted a single blade amongst them.

In hindsight, Bartimos should have realised the restrictions that'd applied on board the ships – first the Carracks and then the Galleons – would have been made more severe.

No more than a dozen guards and servants combined, with only two of the guards permitted arms freely on board, with written assurances provided that House Targaryen of Elamaerys would see to their safety and rights for the entire journey until they were back at Kings Landing.

More than a few of the invitees had refused such terms, hence why so many had only sent spare sons as representatives, and the conversation that Bartimos had with Aegon over the dragonglass candle made it seem like those restrictions were to prevent any opportunity of endangering the ships rather than anything further.

But now, it was clear that Aegon had lied to them about how extensive their restrictions were. It would be not be so harsh to say that they were more like prisoners than they were guests of honour.

Bartimos and Cassella were, for the most part, exempt of the wider restriction, thanks to his daughter Valaena who married his now goodson Polaerys, but still not even they could go into the shops and factories where they made the silks.

More than a few times, he'd wondered why Aegon had invited them at all.

It was clear that he did not trust any of them, and though the trust was slightly more shown to him and Eldric, he knew that it was only just slight.

"I would not be harsh in saying that any future invitations would likely not be as received as well as this invitation had been." Bartimos commented and though there was lack of harshness in his tone of voice, Bartimos did think that even he would have to consider it carefully.

The journey itself was a major reason to reject an invitation but combined with the treatment they received…?

"I highly doubt I will send any more invitations ever again. Nor will my children, or your grandchildren, I suspect." Aegon said as he turned to look at Bartimos.

"Why did you?" Bartimos asked as he met his old friend's gaze.

It was clear that Aegon held little respect for the rest of the guests, bar a few.

In all truths, he expected that words on the weddings would be unkind despite the extravagance of it. Severely so.

And with the knowledge that Breannei, bastard of Daemon Targaryen, was the one who married Aegon's heir, he also knew that words on her would be petty given her nature as a bastard, even if she was legitimised.

"Perhaps I merely wanted to show off Elamaerys." Aegon answered in mild humour and Bartimos scoffed at such claims.

"Whilst I do acknowledge you are building something that beggars belief, Elamaerys is far yet from the sprawling city that makes men green with envy." Bartimos said to Aegon with a note of wryness in his voice.

Yes, it was astonishing to see how rapid the construction of the cities and all of the rest of it was but it would at least be another thirty to perhaps even a century before the city was anything like Lys, Braavos, Kings Landing or Tyrosh.

If anything, the more interesting parts of Elamaerys was the way it was organised.

The Archonate, the 'Civil Service' and these 'Departments of Archonate', the Academies, the royal army, the way the nobility was denied fiefs and armies…

That would almost certainly be discussed by the nobility of Westeros, something Bartimos knew would become a major point of heated conversation.

Why Aethan seemed satisfied enough with plots of land on the mainland and the ownership of an island which had obligations of him to raise into a fief but without most of the advantages given the restrictions of autonomy, taxation and the ban on being able to raise an army…Bartimos could not understand.

"That is true." Aegon acknowledged and then his expression shifted as he looked at Bartimos with a heavy look on his expression. "It will take much of our attentions and efforts to build the city and the lands surrounding the capital. And you won't be the first or last to get to that assessment."

Bartimos' eyebrows climbed before he furrowed them. After a few moments of silence, Bartimos spoke, having come to a conclusion. "You wanted them to see Elamaerys…you wanted them to see how preoccupied you are with building?"

"Elamaerys is a point of curiosity for most of the Lords of Westeros." Aegon stated as he looked away from Bartimos and back towards the city. "Only a curiosity, especially once our independence from the Iron Throne has been confirmed by the treaty signed by my brother. However" Aegon said as he rolled his shoulders.

"That does not mean curiosity of my family has ceased. A family of dragonriders that are unaccounted for does much to worry those who have cause to worry."

"You speak of the Greens?" Bartimos asked with a frown.

"The Greens, the Blacks, the rest." Aegon said with a hum. "They will receive some answers to their questions after the lords and nobility return to Westeros."

Bartimos considered that, considering what would be told to the rest of Westeros.

The new faith was the very first thing he thought of. The new faith would not go over well with Oldtown and much of the south of Westeros.

In all honesty, he thought that the new faith, with Aegon's status as prophet and chosen of the Seven that also practically claimed Aegon's family as divine, would cause all friendliness with the south to wither and die.

Whilst Bartimos believed in the Gods, he'd seen enough of his friend to have to consider that there could well be their interference, favour, at work.

And then there was the matter of magic, which would only compound the hostility that Aegon, and effectively Elamaerys, would receive from them.

Of course, there was some understanding that the Faith of the Seven was being worshipped differently but even he, one who was connected by trade to Velos, was aware of the magnitude of the changes in the Faith.

Beyond that though, the nature of the Archonate, a disagreeable nature to every noble, would also certainly be discussed, and including the virginity of the land and the lack of numbers for the land.

"Why? What purpose could this serve you?" Bartimos asked and before Aegon could speak, Bartimos answered his own question. "You want to know who would be hostile to you." Bartimos stated and Aegon offered a faint trace of a smile.

"It would be nice to know who would be my and my family's enemies, yes." Aegon said with a hum before he spoke further.

"As much as I would like to be ignorant of the happenings of Westeros, given our distances, practicality demands that I keep myself apprised at least somewhat of the Kingdom forged by my ancestor." Aegon explained and Bartimos nodded slowly at that though he wasn't entirely convinced by that answer.

"The isolation of Elamaerys ensure the safety of your Archonate." Bartimos pointed out. 'And the eight dragons that you hold.' Bartimos thought to himself.

Perhaps had there been no dragons, the allure of Elamaerys and conquest might have spurned his kin Westeros to act foolishly but he doubted even they would be so foolish to fight a war with a non-existent supply line, which would have to be considered secured before any war could be initiated.

They would have to consider that Aegon and Elamaerys would rather burn their farmlands and countryside then allow their enemies to forage for it.

That meant that Targaryen Islands would have be secured first.

As interesting as that train of thought was, ultimately, the matter of dragons greatly complicated everything. Elamaerys had dragons. In order to combat them, you needed to have dragons too and that meant that they'd have to transport them.

Aegon had proven it could be done but Bartimos thought it was a risky venture, especially given that most of the dragons would have to be battle capable, and thus large. Somehow Bartimos thought that it was this problem that would largely prohibit any real chance of aggression coming from Westeros.

If any aggression could ever come.

Ultimately, the relations with House Targaryen in Westeros and that of Elamaerys would have turn into great hostility and he couldn't see the Faith being enough of a reason to be the cause of it.

All the rest of it was inconsequential to the Iron Throne, as much as the rest of Essos was.

"That may not be the case always nor can it be the case that the relationship between my branch and that of my brother's will remain cordial. It might be a few years from now. It may be ten, twenty, or perhaps fifty years from now, if we're unlucky enough to arrive at that stage. Nonetheless, eventually, the isolation and cordiality may cease or will you tell me none of the Lords of Westeros are trying to figure out how to chart the Sunset Sea?" Aegon asked with a pointed look.

Bartimos could not deny that.

He knew Lord Corlys was trying to build a ship capable of traversing the Sunset Sea. Though he did not hear the same elsewhere, knowing the wealth Oldtown, The Arbor and the Lannisters possessed, he imagined they were trying the same.

Now that was known that it was possible to traverse the Sunset Sea, the tantalising prospect of more land, or more importantly, a route to the East was not one that could be ignored.

He doubted Aegon was unaware of this, and perhaps this was what concerned him the most, that they might have competition in the Sunset Sea with the powers of Westeros. After all, though he had not learnt anything about more land discoveries during his stay here, he could not think that it was not in their best interest to search for more land in their immediate waters.

For all they knew, there could be another Essos at their west.

"You realise that moons on the Galleons will perhaps accelerate this?" Bartimos pointed out. There were plenty of Velaryons on the ships that had inspected the ships up on close, even if they were denied access in certain parts of the ship.

Their insights will be invaluable to Lord Corlys.

And doubtlessly, the other Lords and nobles would be approached for their own insights.

"Perhaps." Aegon acknowledged.

"A small price to that I'm willing to pay however" Aegon's expression turned contemplative, almost uncaringly so as he continued. "I suspect that it will be a long time before they will be able to capitalise on it or for the circumstances of war to flourish, given the state of the Kingdoms. A tragic consideration but one that is of boon to Elamaerys and my family."

Bartimos grimaced before he looked at Aegon intently.

He and Aegon rarely spoke of matters beyond trade through the dragonglass candle. With the colony of Velos effectively and slowly replacing Qarth as the Gate between East and West, much of the Narrow Sea Houses on the coasts or islands were sending their ships to Velos to trade.

House Celtigar was an important cog in this, where they – and House Velaryon – were growing slowly richer as they supplied Kings Landing, Gulltown and a few dozen towns and smaller cities like Duskendale with the trade, though that was becoming more difficult with the increased corsairs in the Stepstones.

Beyond that, the rest of their conversation was about their families, and of course, the bastard sons of Daemon, and in fact, most of his time on the dragonglass candle was him and his wife, and previously also his father before he died, speaking with his daughter and nearly as often with his brother.

Despite all of that, Bartimos was under no illusion that it was certain that Aegon did not have other contacts, contacts unknown to Bartimos, that kept him apprised over the state of the Kingdoms.

His daughter, though unawares at the time, all but confirmed that there were more dragonglass candles during one of their calls, something he should speak with his daughter about…

In any case, it was certain that Aegon would learn of his enemies through them rather than Bartimos…and would learn about the fragility of the realm that was only kept at peace because of a fragile and sick King who was hearing the whispers of the Stranger stronger every day.

"You believe war is certain?" Bartimos knew that it was a pointless question to ask.

The horns of war were growing stronger each day. How the King did not see this baffled him truly.

Aegon's look all but confirmed it. "Neither side will understand the massive devastation they will visit upon the realm. Nor do I think they truly understand the brutality that will come from each side." Aegon looked towards the heaven. "They are very young, Bartimos, and youth has its downturns when it comes to matters that even the oldest and wisest would find difficult to overcome."

Bartimos remained silent for a few moments as he digested all of that.

"Your assessment is too cynical." Bartimos said after a while. "Yes, the tensions are high but nowhere near as bad as you suggest it will be." He'd met with Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Baelon on several occasions, and Prince Baelon in particular seemed to have a good head on his shoulders.

They would know that a war in their own family would only weaken them greatly, as it had done with Maegor the Cruel caused the House of the Dragon to dwindle to a sole male Targaryen by the time he died.

It took literal generations for House Targaryen to recover.

But Bartimos could silently admit to himself that his denial, weak as it was, was also because he feared the scale of the war. Aegon had shown that a single dragon could lay waste to entire empires, even if the empires were as weak as they were.

With each sides having multiple dragons…

"If both parties were willing to conciliate, they'd have married Helaena to Daemon or Aemma to Aegon, or done both." Aegon said solemnly and Bartimos grimaced.

Yes, that was…unfortunately true. The marriages would have united their lines and if the Greens still wanted to challenge the claim of Princess Rhaenyra, the call of a Great Council would have been a solution that both could have agreed to, now that both of the claimants had their own blood on the line.

"You could still stop this." Bartimos stated as he gazed upon his friend. "Your brother…your brother would listen. A Great Council, if it must be." Bartimos swept his arm across. "Convincing your brother compared to all of this…?"

Bartimos knew that Aegon, if he set his mind to it, truly set his mind to it, could convince to change the King's mind. The King's only living brother.

"If you think I could have avoided this, do you think I would not have tried?" Bartimos was taken aback by the harshness in the man's voice.

Aegon shook his head and his voice returned to normal when he spoke further.

"The time of reasoning with my brother has long come and passed." Aegon sighed lightly and Bartimos saw cloudiness in Aegon's sole eye as he spoke further in a tone of voice that Bartimos was unsure of its meaning.

"When he refused to give me Aemond because his wife whispered sweet words in his ear, that told me enough that there is no point in trying to change his mind on matters far more grave and close to his heart."

There was a long moment of silence.

"What will you do?" When the war begins.

Bartimos knew that Aegon had confirmed his acknowledgement of Rhaenyra as the appointed heir of the King. It was not such a secret to anyone, not with how advantageous the acknowledgement was in Princess Rhaenyra's camp.

But that was all that was known.

Would Aegon support her claim?

"What I can only do, my friend. I nor my children will be made to kinslay as would be demanded by either sides." Aegon said and there was rare hardness in his face.

Bartimos grimaced though he did not deny the point.

As much as he wanted to. But Bartimos had to concede that for Princess Rhaenyra to triumph, the Greens will not concede until made to concede and he wasn't entirely sure that would be possible without battle…battle with dragons.

Both sides – the Greens who possess their own traditional claim through the King's sons and Princess Rhaenyra who possess the King's appointment as heir – would be could not gainsay the need to eliminate threats to their rule.

"Princess Rhaenyra would see that as a betrayal if she learns of that." To herself. To her father. He was fairly sure that the acknowledgement sent by Aegon was also likely perceived as support…though to what extent Princess Rhaenyra might believe that, he did not quite know…yet.

Though given how noticeable it was that Princess Rhaenyra had been cold to her uncle during his stay for her wedding to Prince Baelon, even she would have to realise that it may be hollow, the acknowledgement.

Aegon shrugged. "That would be her prerogative." The words were said simply and almost without a care and Bartimos couldn't help but ask.

"Why did you acknowledge her as heir?"

Aegon remained silent for a few moments. "I acknowledged her place as heir because of my brother's decree and so, so is she the heir to the Iron Throne. It is the right of the King, or Queen once she ascends, to appoint their heir, according to the laws of the Iron Throne." Bartimos frowned at that way of phrasing. It was not an acknowledgement but rather an affirmation of acceptance more than anything of the King's decree rather than acknowledging Princess Rhaenyra had rightful claim.

Aegon looked at Bartimos. "The King's decree is absolute. His word is law. It matters not if his word, his decree is…unconventional."

Bartimos scoffed. "Unconventional?" Bartimos eyed his friend irritably. "Speak plainly, Aegon."

Aegon eyed him for a moment before Aegon hummed as he looked away. "I think you know what it is that I am saying, Bartimos. Everyone knows it. Everyone but mine own brother." Aegon said with a hint of bitterness before he grew solemn as he looked at the city and long moments of silence passed.

Bartimos did not have to think hard to consider what Aegon was saying. That the war of the succession, if it happened, could solely placed upon the feet of King Viserys. Of course, the Greens would also be at fault, for their ambition, but Bartimos was honest to say, if he and his House had the wealth and power of the Hightowers, if his daughter or his sister had married the King and his nephew was denied his traditional rights…

But he was not a Hightower nor was House Celtigar in that position and House Celtigar had sworn their oaths to Princess Rhaenyra. As did the Hightowers.

The fault of a war as bad as Aegon feared would be on King Viserys and the Hightowers' ambition.

"You asked what we are doing here." Aegon stated, catching Bartimos by surprise once more.

"Yes." Bartimos said as he eyed his old friend.

"You will soon leave. Three days from the morrow." Aegon said before he looked at Bartimos. "I wanted to tell you…with what is to come…keep to your oaths to my brother, the King. His word is law."

Bartimos clenched his teeth as he met the look head on with a glare. "I am no oathbreaker." There was no small amount of unfriendliness in his tone of voice.

Of course, there was also the great danger that Princess Rhaenyra posed to him and his kin, as Claw Isle was no great distance away from Dragonstone.

"I am aware. It is one of your greatest traits." Aegon said with a solemn smile, though the smile dropped as he continued. "However…if the worst does come to pass, and this war is bloodier and uglier than any before it…make sure to take care of yourself and your family, will you? Within the confines of your oaths?"

The words surprised Bartimos, as did the worry that was in his friend's voice.

Before he could speak though, Aegon continued, staring directly into Bartimos' eyes. "The dragonglass candle you brought with you…it will remain here. The frequency with which we trade at Claw Isle makes exchanging letters a feasible matter." The way Aegon spoke made it clear that he considered the matter closed.

Bartimos clenched his teeth at that. He thought that the candle, when Aegon requested he bring it, had only been because he wanted to make sure of their health and their status whilst they were on the open sea. Clearly he was wrong.

"Cassella will be wroth." Speaking with her distant daughter had become a favourite pastime of his wife…and their other children.

"I am aware however I have need of it elsewhere." Aegon said calmly and Bartimos turned away from Aegon with a look of anger on his face.

"I see." Bartimos said with no small amount of coldness in his voice.

The rest of the afternoon was quiet for neither of them spoke any further and Bartimos…Bartimos couldn't but think that much indeed had changed.

Much indeed.

-Break-

Mid to Late 123 AC – Elamaerys

Laenor POV

"You look like someone has killed your dragon." The teasing voice of Joffrey brought him out of his thoughts and Laenor smiled awkwardly as he pulled his sight from the city and towards his friend Joffrey who had come to stand just behind him.

Laenor met Joffrey's gaze for a moment before he looked away and back into the city. "Just thinking." Laenor murmured.

Joffrey took to stand next to him and Laenor heard him sigh.

"They were right, you know." Joffrey said patiently. "You can't just decide to remain. Not without closing off your obligations."

Laenor chuckled a little bitterly at this. "What obligations? To Jeyne?" Laenor said as he glanced at Joffrey. "We both know that my obligations to her were never going to happen." Laenor's expression flickered a little. "Not as I am anyway."

He liked Jeyne. She was a bit intimidating but she had a kindness about her. And an understanding. He even thought he might love her. In his own way.

And he'd tried. He really, really tried.

Their wedding had been consummated. Awkward and difficult as it had been. And they'd lain together four times after that throughout the years. But no seed had taken fruit and after that…there was no real point trying again.

Even Jeyne had known that, with how she'd grown tired of him…and Joffrey.

And she wouldn't listen that she use a substitute in one of his cousins, proclaiming she'd rather die heirless than sire a stain on her bloodline.

"And your obligations to your family?" Joffrey asked quietly.

"What obligations?" Laenor laughed and he tried to hide the bitterness. He really did but he couldn't. "They have their precious heir in Corwyn and if the Gods favour us, the Gods would have given Laena another son." Laenor sighed. He didn't really care that he'd been taken off as primary heir. He knew that he was not fit to be the Lord of the Tides. A Velaryon who could not sire a son was never fit.

Laenor continued, tiredly. "No, I have no obligations left in Westeros." Laenor said as he eyed the city forlornly. It was perfect.

His cousins and Aegon and great-aunt Gael had welcomed him – and Joffrey, and they all knew his nature too but seemed not to hold it against him, even if some of his male cousins didn't really understand it.

But as he stayed longer, as he got to understand the people that lived here, people who were from the Disputed Lands or Lys and Liberty Bay, he got to understand that the judgments that existed in Westeros were not as prevalent here.

They didn't hate him without even knowing him.

And it was perfect enough for him and Joffrey to come here and start anew.

He could stay here and save his family and Jeyne from any further shame and rumours for what he was, without fault of his own.

Rumours…

Nasty rumours followed his steps. So much so that his time in Eyrie was deliberately harming Jeyne, to the point she had asked him to 'aid the Vale in the hunt of the mountain clans' every few moons. An excuse to relieve herself of the rumours and to bring some honour to their marriage.

"Then it is simple." Joffrey said and Laenor could hear the smile in Joffreys's forcing him to look at Joffrey. "Isn't it? To close off non-existent obligations?"

"I suppose it is." Laenor said with a faint lopsided smile. "And I suppose it would be nice if I can bring Sea Smoke with me." Laenor murmured. He'd not stop feeling guilty if he abandoned Sea Smoke.

"And that too. That ruddy dragon of yours would probably try and find you anyway." Joffrey snorted and Laenor smiled. He'd hope so at least.

"You wouldn't mind?" Laenor found himself asking, again. "Really mind?"

Joffrey looked at Laenor before he looked away. "Why not?" Joffrey shrugged. "I figure we can probably go on one of these tours of duty His Grace Castorys and His Grace Valarr" Joffrey said with mocking in his voice and Laenor found himself chuckling at that. Aye, it was strange the way they had their terms of address. It wasn't hard to pick up that effectively they were all Kings in a way.

A strange way of doing things but one that Laenor found no issue with accepting.

He doubted Rhaenyra or the King would though.

"- had spoken of. You did always say that you wished you had a greater role during the War of the Step Stones." Joffrey finished, his voice ending in a musing tone.

"Aye, it would be wondrous." Laenor said, a little light shining in his eye and his voice took a turn of teasing. "I would love nothing more than to fight pirates and slavers along your side."

Joffrey's face took on a face of red but the blinding smile told him that Joffrey too liked that thought. "Save that look for later." Joffrey muttered.

Laenor looked around and he saw that few were paying attention to them. "I am sure we can find a private place and talk about pirates and slavers some more?"

Joffrey's look of resistance had only lasted shortly.

-Break-

123 AC – Elamaerys

Trytas of House Prībyon POV

Trytas groaned unhappily as he woke up from his slumber, the light peering through the glass window forcing him to blink several times, and he groaned in irritation as he swept across the bed and he grumbled lightly before he got up.

He glanced at the window once more and noticed that it was darker than usual and that it was raining…

"Damn woman didn't bother waking me up." Trytas muttered before he stretched himself out, groaning though this was more of a relief than anything else, and then he walked over the wash basin that was in the corner of the room.

He dipped one of the fresh cloth that sat by the basin into the wash basin before proceeding to clean his face with the wet cloth. After he was done, he cleaned out under his arms before he held out and stretched out his breeches and cleansed his cock and bollocks, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips.

In Velos, it had become popular to get the shit and muck off you without having to take a full bath, just as, he thought as he picked up the stickbrush and dipped it in the mint paste, taking care of the teeth become more popular.

Plus, back then, the most in demand Disputed Lands or Lysene whores were more likely to want to kiss you if your breath didn't smell like death…

By now, everyone in the city had taken to it, especially since more of the Arak sticks from mainland Liberty Bay were brought over pretty much in every delivery.

He dressed himself and he began to exit his room, he bellowed "Woman!". The wooden flooring creaked as he walked and he walked through the corridors of the second floor until he reached the stairs, wide enough to allow four men to walk side by side, until he reached the entrance hall. "Woman!"

"Father, mother's at the stables!" Came a childish noise of his eldest from the great chamber of the house and Trytas made his way there. When he arrived, he saw his children, Jace his eldest of six namedays, Jacearah five namedays and Trytas three namedays at the table with their tutor Maron.

The two eldest, Jace and Jacearah, both had papers in front of them whilst the tutor was by the wooden board, chalk in hand. His youngest was busy a little further away from his eldest two with one of those drawing books that had become popular over the past few years when the Printing Houses started doing them.

"Pleasant morning father." Jacearah piped up, and soon the boys followed in their morning greeting though his youngest greeted him personally as he ran up to him with the picture book in hand.

"Look this a lion." His son Trytas babbled in butchered High Valyrian and Trytas the elder patted the boy on his head as he glanced at the picture book. The drawing was indeed of a lion with the word written underneath though the drawing represented a lion only vaguely.

The shape of the body was about right, Trytas thought, but that was it.

The mane was not right – Trytas had been lucky enough to see one of those lions in Meereen – not was the ferociousness of the beast but it was adequate. Trytas supposed the Printing Houses couldn't truly capture the savageness of a lion with just black ink on them plates.

"Mornin'" Trytas grumbled whilst he patted the boy before he swept his gaze from his children towards the tutor, whom he eyed the tutor for a longer moment. Maron, a former slave from Yunkai, was a man of five and forty and well learned in matters of sums and letters who also helped them with the damnable taxes and bookkeeping. Gods have mercy and make sure his health remains good for many years, especially once the taxes grow after his lands start producin' real goods.

The man bowed his head respectfully.

"Milord." The tutor said respectfully and Trytas waved it off before he pushed his youngest son away back towards where he'd come from.

"Go boy." Trytas said as he eyed the boy and fortunately the boy obeyed. It was a moment later that Trytas spoke again.

"Do not let me disturb your lessons any further." Trytas stared at his children for a moment, his son the longest. It wouldn't be long before he'd send the boy away to the Military Academy. He nodded at them and went towards the dining hall where he could smell his morning food.

"Ah Dileah, sometimes I wonder if I should get rid of my wife and just marry you. I'd be happier for it." Trytas said with a grin as the smell of the food grew stronger, a smell of garlic lemon and butter to go with the trout he caught yesterday.

Not the lightest of mornin' meals but he was a Lord, his manor and it was his catch so he cared not.

The woman in question, a woman of fifty or so namedays – not even she is sure – smiled amusedly at those words as she glanced at him from over her shoulder.

"You flatter me, milord."

Trytas snorted. "No. I am not." Trytas muttered as he took a seat at the table and it wasn't long before he was served his meal.

Trout served with garlic, boiled lemon shavings from the springhouse, and butter with a side of apple pie and Trytas did not take long to dig into it.

After he was finished, left the manor through the back and made his way, through the rain, towards the stables, which lay not far from the manor, and was close to the houses of their workers.

As he neared the stables, he could hear his wife speaking to their workers, and it wasn't long before he arrived to see his wife speaking to them as one of the workers held up a leg of the one of the horses. And so too did they see him coming, including his wife.

"Husband." His wife, Serella, greeted evenly in that Lysene way of hers as she eyed him curiously with her azure eyes.

Trytas waved off.

"Don't stop on my account, wife." Trytas said calmly and the workers, a dozen and half of them and two guardsmen, eyed him a little uncertainly but Trytas again gestured them to focus on what they were doing.

He listened as his wife and the elder worker, a man named Lazor who learnt his horses as a slave, continued to speak about the horse and the discovery of farcy, a kind of disease of swelling that could cause pus and other kinds of shit. They talked about how severe the issue was and how they would have to check the other horses for the same issue, something that would not be easy but had to be done.

For this horse, the issue was too severe and it would have to be killed lest it spread to the other horses on his land, and Trytas grimaced unhappily at the idea of more horses having the issue.

With his main responsibility rearing and increasing the number of horses on Elamaerys on his thousands of acres of land, at least until the apple, citrus and orange and grape orchards had grown to maturity, the loss of a single horse meant that he'd lose a bit of his stipend to raise these horses.

Of course, it wasn't that significant. Trytas had about four and thirty hundred horses on his thousands of acres of land, land that was largely grasslands and pastural, but if the disease did spread to more…

The workers departed, safe for his wife and his guardsmen. "Why wasn't this seen before?" Trytas said with some unhappiness. His wife sighed and had a frown of disapproval, one he recognised well enough. He'd seen it plenty of times cast his way, after all.

"This one" His wife said as she eyed the horse that was tied to one of the wooden bars, "has been out in the field for moons longer than the others." She said and Trytas looked at the brand on the horse.

Each of their horses were branded with unique numbers with the sigil of his House, a Wolfbear. It made it easier to track them given that their horses were largely free roaming on his lands, which were surrounded by a seven feet stone wall using stones delivered by His Grace the Arch. It was the only thing that stopped them from going out bounds…and what would stop thieves from being able to get away with taking his horses.

"We'll have to be more active in checking them." His wife and Trytas nodded before he looked at his guardsmen who was an aged man about the age of Trytas.

The men saw the look and nodded before they left him and wife alone.

The two men were one of the many thousands of former slave soldiers that'd fought with them in the Liberty War. There were quite a few of these soldiers who had no interest in taking up any other role but serve as guardsmen so they'd been assigned to serve the Lords and Knightly Houses of the Realm.

Whilst Trytas had no need of guards to protect his family or his lands, he did have to concede that with the more workers they took on, the more the need of guards was needed. And he wasn't always present either.

He may even need to take on one or a few more guards, given the plans of turning his non-pastural lands into a mainly orchard producing lands, next to the small farm worked by his workers that produced most of the vegetables and chickens for his family and their families.

He would have to take on more workers for the harvesting and the fermenting and all of the other shit that goes with making wine and cider. And then, if he was to become the largest breeder of horses, as his wife wants to accomplish, well…

At least he'd be able to afforded without turning his new House into paupers.

"Should we warn the others of this problem?" Trytas asked with some annoyance. It would be the responsible thing to do.

"Not yet." His wife said ponderously. "If there are more with the disease then yes."

Trytas nodded before he looked at her intently. "You should have woken me before dawn if you wanted me to ride out into the city."

Their lands were in the southwestern side from the city, nestled in between farmlands and other estates of Knightly Houses, though there was not much farmlands yet, not compared to the west and northwest of the city, and they were a few leagues north of the Great Lake and twenty leagues of the eastern coastline.

The region they were in often had heavier rainfall than the city and it was surrounded by vast stretches of grasslands – these had been the lands turned into farms – marshes and hills though it was not as severe as the lands east of the river Sȳziarves and the mountains which were much taller than the hills this side and were well suited to become grazing lands for sheep and cattle in time.

In any case, their location was about five and twenty leagues from the city, which would take his horse, well-bred as it was as a Dothraki half-breed, all of a day and eve to reach. It would take much of the night and mornin' to recover so he'd be away nearly two days and he would have to set off before dawn.

His wife rolled her eyes and he was given a haughty look from his wife. "I tried. You woke up and muttered 'Leave me be woman, I'm trying to sleep here'." There was a bit of mocking in her tone of voice.

"I don't remember that." Trytas said as he scratched his head. He wasn't exactly a deep sleeper – the years of war knocked that out of him – but he did have a way of knocking right back to sleep without much difficulty.

It was entirely possible that he just forgot about that moment.

"Of course you don't." His wife said exasperated. "Anyway, I didn't press since it's been raining since before dawn. If you went, you probably wouldn't have gotten to the city until late in the night." His wife said and Trytas grunted in agreement.

The path to the city was pretty a path through the hills and the grasslands which were not even dirt or roads. His horse, no matter how fast and strong, would take significantly longer to get to the city. Perhaps until only a few hours from dawn, if there was significant mud. And the journey back would probably be worse too, especially since he'd be dragging a cart full of supplies, forcing to make camp or pay to stay at one of the farmhouses before night.

His wife continued. "You can after this rain clears up. We have enough salt, spices and other supplies to last us at least a fortnight anyway."

"I'll go before the week's end." Trytas agreed before he paused a moment, thinking it was probably best that he go three days from now. "I'll probably be away for three days when I do go. I've got matters to discuss in the city." He had to meet with Ser Uthrik who wanted him to train his new recruits on how to…convince men to loosen their tongues for a number of moons.

They'd even talked about it in the days he and his family had spent in the city for the weddings but he'd not yet gone.

His wife eyed him for a few moments. "The Academy?" she asked. Trytas shook his head.

"No, a comrade of mine. Personal matters." Trytas said. His wife didn't need to know what it was about…nor did he want her to poke questions that would leave her queasy.

His wife, though not a Lysene highborn, was from a well-to-do merchant family from Larger Lys, the island where most of the orchards, farms and fruit fields were located.

His Grace the Archon had, one day on Velos, called upon him and about two dozen other knights of acclaim, including the likes of the now Lord Andrew Sapner, and told them that he'd secured them a choice of women to take as wife or as gooddaughter and to spent time and choose a wife for themselves or their heir from the women he brought them.

They'd all been women from lesser nobility or merchant families who had given their daughters, nieces or kin to marry off to them.

It was perhaps the strangest time of his life and Trytas had seen – and done – a great deal of strange things, none could deny this of him. But that day, those days, had been a series of confusion ones.

Most of the women were total beauties and they knew it too. They also knew that they, him and the knights, were certainly of lesser breeding in comparison.

He'd not liked most of the ones he'd spoken with though they had tried. He understood, even if it took him a little while. Their fathers or uncles or great uncles or whatever relation their head of house had to them, had sold them off to clear debts with the Rogare Bank, which sought to curry favour with the Archon.

They'd been no more than cattle in all truths, with little dignity.

Fortunately for them though, the Archon had impressed on them that they were women that demanded respect and mistreatment of them, before they wed and after, would reflect terribly on him personally.

He hadn't heard any complaints, well at least not major ones that warranted intervention from the lawmen, so it seemed it worked well enough.

In any case, he'd eventually chosen Serella though few understood it at the time. She wasn't the most beautiful aye, but he liked the way she'd spoken to him when he'd asked her if she'd be much use in running a house and business. By then, the Prince had told them quietly that they would be granted particular boons for their service to his House that required of them to dedicate much time and coin to maintain.

So he asked bluntly and he got bluntness and firmness back.

And no small amount of contempt but Trytas cared not for that.

His own mother had been like that and look at him.

He'd turned out fine and a lord.

He thought his sons would do well under such a woman who wouldn't coddle them and he'd been proven right. It helped that she also had no small amount of ambition either, with how well she'd taken to turn thousands of acres of nothingness into something worth having.

Well ambition and anger. She had the latter in spades given she often cursed her uncle and her father for selling her off to a place of mostly nothingness. She said as much often enough in her fits of anger…

His boon nonetheless and he thanked the Gods he chose the right woman unlike a few of the other knights. His land and manor, amongst those of other knights and lords, had been made ready a few years ago though now few of them had stuck with it, with several of the wives becoming enough of a nightmare that they'd moved back into the city. Though that was what they said.

He, and most others, knew that none of them had the patience and desire to make their lands as productive as was required of them by the Archon.

The Gods knew Trytas would have struggled immensely in doing half of what was needed to keep this pain-in-the-bollocks place running if he'd chosen a broodmare.

For that, he Gods' damned loved his wife. Well, and because she was a Gods' damned goddess with what she could do to make him spill as much as these stallions of theirs. The reason why they did not have as many children despite their vigorous fuckin' was because she was a goddess with her hands and mouth…

Gods…

Despite all of that, despite being an admittedly hardy woman, she was still a woman. Telling her he tortured hundreds of men whose screams did nothing but irritate his ears, and that he was teaching others how to do it, was not something he should bother her with.

"I see." His wife said with a scrutinising look before she shook her head. "Well, you should take your steed and help the workers in bringing the horses in."

Trytas blinked. "We have enough of them to do the work for us." A dozen and a half that he paid to do exactly the work he didn't want to do.

The yearly total sum he paid them each, totalled three hundred and fifteen silver stags and fourteen hundred copper stars which amounted to two and a half gold coins, which was somewhat the same as the wages of a common labourer in the city employed by the Archon but he allowed them to eat and grow their own food – and his family's – for no extra cost, which put them ahead of the city dwellers.

He would have hired more – the Gods knew he could certainly afford a hundred more workers with his loot stipend with great ease – but it was rather hard to wrench workers free from the city, even at a greater pay.

Which he might have to do, eventually…

The ones who worked on his land, and the lands of the other landed knights or nobles, were those who had worked at cideries or wineries, and had been enticed by the contracted promise of holding a small percentage of ownership of the cideries and wineries once they were set up.

As of this moment, there were wineries on Velos who were testing out a few methods of producing wine with the grapes that grew in Liberty Bay though he heard it was shit wine.

It was fortunate then that they had planted grape seeds from Lys, Myr, Dorne and from the Reach, which, according to the few orchards that'd been planted eight years ago, were producing fine tasting grapes and decent enough wines.

Hopefully, by the time his own orchards were ready, they'd get it right and make some damn fine wine. He'd stop having to pay through the eyes for his wine then…

And for the surplus…well, Gods knew that Liberty Bay needed better wine and good old Elamaerys would be there to provide it to them.

"You helping them would speed matters up." His wife said with a raised eyebrow and Trytas scoffed.

"Not by much." Trytas said with a look of irritation. "But fine, until noon at the most." Trytas relented slightly.

His wife nodded pleased with herself "Thank you husband." His wife said before she stepped up closer to him and kissed him on the cheek.

Trytas grunted agreeably. "I will take Jace fishing with this time." At this wife grimaced visibly.

"He would miss his lessons in the afternoon." His wife said disapprovingly. "You know how demanding the Academy is becoming. Do you want him to shame us?"

This time it was Trytas who grimaced.

Aye, the Royal Military Academy was a bastard of a place.

The children who entered the Academy into the First Class, at age ten, who were oft the sons of knights, soldiers or lords, a son of the royal family, were expected to be best learned in matters of letters and numbers and were taught a great deal.

Far more than the children from the other schoolings in the city or near the farms, although the differences with some of the schoolings in the city was not as severe, at least from what he told by Lorgan Keller and Edwyn Hestatis.

Whilst the focus on military history, strategy and tactics was not taught until they were four and ten, they however were taught advantages letters and numbers, as well as matters of the body, historical battles and campaigns, engineering, justices which included principles of honour and even philosophy, as well as weapons training and discipline, amongst a few other things from the age of ten.

By the time they were four and ten, they were meant to be as well taught as the elder students from most other schoolings, at which point they were trained tactics, strategy, signals and a host more other specific to war, including more intense physical training led by the Unsullied who were about as torturous as can be imagined.

These boys would be expected to rise to become Generals, Commander-Generals, Commanders, Sub-Commanders, Knight-Captain and a few other ranks in the royal army.

The other Classes of the Academy, Second to Fifth Class, which were entered at age four and ten and presented the largest number of students that studied at the Academy. Most of the city boys joined to earn a generous plot of land or a sizable city land in the city or Gaelysia plus a medal of commendation after five and ten years of paid service, which was better than that of a labourer or farmhand and also included a pension, as either a guardsman or as a soldier.

There were paths of gaining a knighthood too, though the Archon had changed to mean to be 'one who served the Archonate in battle at sea or land' whilst hitting a stringent list that were called 'Merits of Knighthood', which was part of the reason why the Archon had sent his sons to hunt corsairs and slaver ships and distinguished themselves in battle.

The more sought after medals of commendation and titles that inheritable were earned in 'acts of exceptional valour and honour'.

There were also ways to rise to greater ambitions, if one did well on merit. Boys could rise from the other Classes to First Class on merit whilst boys from the First Class could also fall down into the other Classes similarly on bad merit.

"Fine, only this day. Otherwise I will keep to the week end's day as agreed." Trytas conceded and his wife's smile was worth the concession and he took hold of his wife's arm and they walked together back to the manor.

Hours later…

He rode to the Great Lake with his son on his pony, having travelled through farmlands before having to do travel through hills which were prominent around the northern parts of the Great Lake, and on the western sides too.

One thing Trytas could easily admit, despite the lack of easy comforts that were present in the city, was that the wildness of the nature surrounding them was a comfort in itself.

Well, at least since they'd cleared the entire region of the larger predators like the Wolfbear, Dōghar Lions, large striped lion like predators that was half the size of a Wolfbear, Byōghar cats which were similar to Dōghar Lions but smaller yet also more dangerous, and a pack dog creature, small in size but had long legs and long snout and often had dozens in their pack, more than the wolves of Westeros.

The Wolfbear and Dōghar Lions were more forest and jungle dwellers. For the other two, the further south one went into the larger stretches of grasslands, the more you encountered the pack dogs and Byōghar cats…which included the finding of much larger herds of prey animals that resembled deer and elk.

The Molrydys deer, a strange goat-like horned deer, Gensrydys deer, a rat-like deer, and a host of other kinds of deer, and two different types of elk, one a red-skinned one and a smaller brown-black skinned elk. And apparently, on the other side of the mountains, there were even more different types of deer and elk and even a goat type animal.

It seemed, the area where they'd made their city, was rather sparse in the kinds of prey animals that roamed around the lands.

In the early days, the hunters had to go deep into the forest to get all kinds of meat from the lion-like and wolfbear animals who were the most readily found animals – after all, before they came, it was they who had not need to hide – but they had also found a few types of forest dwelling deer and many types of birds, most of them song birds or pretty birds or those terror birds, but not so much these larger herd animals, which roved the forests in small numbers and were flighty and hard to catch. The other animals were usually too small to eat and were even flightier.

With the rest of the army's return, they had more men available to dedicate to hunting, which helped them greatly ease the need of meats, even if most of the meats were largely venison like. Not Trytas' favourite.

They arrived not far from the lake and not far from where they were, there were a few of the Geñombes. "Careful boy, stick close to me." He warned his son as he guided his horse nearer to that of his son's pony.

Whilst the Geñombes, a strange creature that favoured lakes and rivers and that possessed a elephant like trunk but otherwise similar to an oversized pig, were not an aggressive creature, they were however quite flighty, like an untrained horse.

Though admittedly, he thought perhaps their aggression probably was heightened after what had happened in the past few years.

Their numbers had significantly dwindled over the past four or five years thanks to the dragons who had been set upon the Great Lake after it was found it had large freshwater fish like trout, sturgeon and more…but was infested with the lizard-lion, or alligators as the Archon had called them.

The Archon and his family's dragons had all set upon the lake and hunted the alligators to extinction over the course of a few years.

And the lake had many, many, thousands of these alligators…

In any case, the death of the alligators had caused more of the fish to flourish and it allowed them to harvest the fishers in their droves a few times a every year in great amounts, which worked well in combination with the hunting of the large herds in allowing livestock to continue to breed and increase in numbers.

It also allowed Trytas to go fishing in relative peace too, especially as the restrictions of fishing in the lake allowed the fish to recover, whilst he had a permit to fish all year round, which made him love the Archon more than all of these lands and titles he'd received.

"Alright boy" Trytas said as he tightened the reins of the horse and pony onto the post by the river deck. "Let's catch some big old bastards, shall we?" Trytas said with a grin and he was met with a happy smile from Jace. Gods, he couldn't wait until Trytas the Younger was old enough to fish too.

They'd fish together in their youth, fight together in their good years and fish together once they're both grumpy old bastards.

'Just like we should have, old friend'

A day later…

"Father, father!" the sounds of his children woke up from his slumber and Trytas was understandably irritable.

"Unless the Gods' damned house is on fire, know that yer damn backsides are going to get bruised bad." Trytas growled as he rose from his bed and sent a harsh glare towards his children, who were now joined by the youngest at the door, likely having come last because of his short little legs.

At the harshness of his tone of voice and the threat, which was not an idle threat either, his eldest children wilted and looked at each other before his eldest spoke up. "The dragon Mīsaragorn by the house?" Jace's tone was unsure.

It took a moment for Trytas to process it and a moment later he got out of his bed and quickly went to the dresser. The children wouldn't lie about such a thing.

"Where?" Trytas demanded to know as he looked out the window though he could see nothing through the hazy, wavy opaque glass.

"At the back of the house father. The Archon is speaking with mother" his daughter explained, her subduedness fading away to excitement. "The dragon is so big! Can we come and touch the dragon?"

Serella probably sent them from the dragon. Mīsaragorn probably was the calmest of dragons but a dragon was a dragon and his children were still children and so were idiots. Not a chance he'd let them be idiots.

"No." Trytas was firm in his answer as he begun to dress himself. "If I see you outside of the house..." Trytas sent them a withering glare and any excitement felt seemed to die on their faces. Good.

He left them and quickly descended down the stairs and made his way to the back and there was Mīsaragorn, behind the Archon, who possessed suspiciously a fishing rod, and his wife who seemed to be speaking with him a little further away nearer the house.

His eyes went back to Mīsaragorn and Trytas couldn't help but wince at the sight of the dragon. The past years had seen the dragon grow even more, enough that it was very much visible that Mīsaragorn was destined to become the likes of Vhagar, a dragon he'd had the pleasure of only seeing from afar.

'Probably will continue to grow massively if he's gorging on alligators in the marshes and wet grasslands further in the east to help clear up land for the rice fields…'

"Your Grace." Trytas said with a bow of the head as he arrived by his wife's side, who grabbed a hold of his arm likely out of reassurance.

Trytas was familiar with Mīsaragorn thanks to many years of being in the dragon's presence, and whilst he was…accustomed to dragons, his wife was very much not.

Much less a dragon like Mīsaragorn who rarely presented himself in the city, roaming freely as he did.

"Trytas." The Archon Aegon greeted with a faint smile on his face. "Lady Serella, it was a pleasure to speak to you again." The Archon said before he looked to Trytas again. "I thought perhaps today was the right day to fulfil one of the many fishing days I owe you." The Archon said before holding up the fishing rod.

Trytas exchanged a look with his wife, who looked surprised, before Trytas looked at the Archon Aegon and spoke up. "Usually earlier than my normal fishing hours but of course." Trytas paused for a moment before he looked at Mīsaragorn again, whose big old green snake-like eyes were staring at him and Trytas involuntarily shivered and he hastily spoke again.

"As long as we ride there by horse."

He'd flown on Mīsaragorn once before, back in the Summer Islands, and Trytas would never, unless there was no choice at all, do it again. No. No!

The Archon's was one of amusement but thankfully he nodded agreeably.

"Of course. I can agree to that. If you will entertain a game or two of chess?"

A little later…

"Have your guests left then?" Trytas asked some time as he moved the bishop two spaces up, his face one of mild frustration as he struggled to find a way out of the trap Aegon had put him in.

They'd not spoken much whilst they'd been fishing, instead taking the opportunity to talk about their families in between their catches and whilst they played the game. For him, he talked about Jace and when he'd soon start personally the boy's martial training with the sword whilst Aegon spoke of His Grace Castorys' and Her Grace Breannei's departure for Draconys.

Though they mostly talked about the different fish that were in Elamaerys' rivers and the seas around it, including the rivers further southwest and to the far south, which had different species of fish than that of the north, including a type of fish that grew to over six feet long His Grace Valarr had witnessed in his journey south!

"They have made sail for Dragonsgate Port yes." Aegon confirmed as he responded with moving a pawn forward to bait Trytas into either taking it with the Castle or Queen that would see him lose either of them or his Horse, much to Trytas' frustration.

He'd not played this game all that often, 'Chess', one invented by the Archon for his children back in Corinth but one that was now widely popular alongside Cevasse amongst the elderly and the young at the Academies, and last he played, had been when he'd lived in the city before he moved to his lands years ago.

'I'm going to have to play more with Jace…' Trytas thought grudgingly to himself. Trytas understood the value of the game and Cyvasse, from a tactical point of view. He could see patterns of play that would prove very useful on the battlefield. Reacting and acting, baiting and trapping. It helped hone the mind, especially young minds, in creating strategies that dealt with active change on the battlefield against an enemy that had an 'equal' force to your own.

Of course, the main problem with the game was the fact that battlefields were rarely equal. Their wars were the prime example of this. It had been fought at an disadvantage in numbers but one they made up with superior intelligence of their enemies and with the element of surprise.

And, of course, the involvement of dragons.

Which always, always, introduced an element of total unfairness.

Ultimately, for all of its advantages, this game of chess, it was superficial in aiding the youngsters in developing a better mind for the battlefield. At least in Trytas' mind. The fact that Trytas was no real good at the game had no bearing at all.

Aegon glanced at him and Trytas spotted an amused smile on his face as he spoke further. "It's as if the city has breathed a sigh of relief."

Trytas grunted as he made his move. It was no surprise.

Rumours had spread when it was confirmed the Westerosi were coming. Rumours that talked about the disrespect the Archon had received during his time in Kings Landing.

Disrespect was rather strong – Trytas had been there after all and seen it with his own eyes – but it wasn't far off.

Few understood the reason why the Archon invited them.

But then Trytas knew that the Archon had not faltered in the decisions he made for their people so Trytas cared not to learn it nor would he ask about it.

The restrictions the Archon had placed on them to make sure they couldn't go into the shops and factories and steal their secrets only showed that too.

Even if it sounded like a mad plan or another that was being brewed.

They caught a few more fishes and after Trytas declined to play another game of chess, they largely began conversing again, and during that conversation about Jace and his Jace's pending enrolment at the Royal Military Academy, their conversation ended up veering towards the conversation of the Academies before it veered towards a conversation about the structure of the army, which had been changed vigorously over the past eight years, it having started during the stay Velos before sailing to Elamaerys.

The Royal Army had undergone significant changes in structure. Previously, it had been a loose command structure that were directly appointed to position, the commanders, by Aegon.

Now however…it was far more formalised with symbols that denoted the structure of the army and the numbers in their command. For example, a General, is denoted by five dragon 'insignia' smelted onto the upper arm of armour, commanded an army group of seven thousand or more men. A 'Commander-General', denoted by a four dragon 'insignia', commanded an army group of three to five thousand men.

A Commander, denoted by a three dragon 'insignia', commanded a 'battalion', a number between two to three thousand men, within the army group. A 'Sub-commander' commanded a company, one to two army units of five hundred, within a battalion.

A 'Knight-Captain' commanded a cavalry unit of fifty to two hundred but also serve to be an important cog in the military, doing anything from overseeing logistics to personnel and scouting missions, whilst a Knight could command cavalry units or knights of up to fifty men.

The Royal Navy had similar such denotations in their structure.

All of these upper ranks were officer ranks. However not all officers would get to become upper ranked officers. After all, there were only a few such positions available. Most would at most become knights or at worst a soldier or cavalry. It did not mean however there were not other officer 'special' positions.

There were specialised positions for officers who were capably adept in matters tactical, strategical and the logistical needs of the army, who would sit as support of the upper ranked officers and provide support for their 'superior officer'.

And it was this 'gap', as Aegon stated, that Trytas could tell bothered the Archon the most in Velos, where Andrew Sapner directly oversaw the hunts and additional operations in Velos or Liberty Bay without much a support structure in place.

With the assignment of Jenyārōñedārys (Viceroy) of Baevor Laevetheon, a former administrator and also a less respected figure than Baerros, it also meant that Andrew had a more…oversized voice than what he knew Aegon wanted to have from the Commander-General of the Velos Army-Group.

Whilst the city-guards and the Unsullied reported directly to Baevor, Andrew was one to be respected whilst Baevor…was not.

Trytas knew what Aegon was hinting towards, the over-reliance of men in powerful roles when in reality, the entire restructuring and creation of a 'professional army' was to cut that out.

He also knew whilst Andrew Sapner was by no means likely to harbour treasonous thinking, the precedent the man set out was a dangerous one too, especially given how long it would take to set things to right if the treason did occur.

Which might well become too late by then.

"It might be worth thinkin' about bringing back Andrew and some of the others." Trytas commented after Aegon all but complained about the gaps.

Andrew had been given the command of the army in Velos, which included the men who served on the ships that hunted for corsairs and slave ships, again after his 'term of service' had ended.

Maerro, Galaenys or Lomaerys were needed to train to men and carry out the reforms Aegon wanted in the army here in Elamaerys, which left only a few of sufficient seniority and reputation to match that of Andrew to take the position.

"He'll finish out his term. He's got less than two years left." Aegon said after a few moments and Trytas hummed understandingly. It would be a bad look after all.

"I will, however, shortly send Ser Maekar Romaerys with an order to take command two thousand reassigned soldiers to Hesh in Lhazar where I have reached an agreement with the Lhazarene to help with their Dothraki problems." Trytas raised his eyebrows in surprise before he narrowed his eyes in thought.

Ser Maekar was amongst those who'd taken up to the reform with seamless ease.

He'd do well to instil it in the others.

And he'd be a good successor to Andrew. And the kind of general Aegon wanted others to take inspiration from.

"Dothraki problems?" Trytas questioned.

Trytas might be mostly retired but he certainly still had a place amongst the army. And he was in the Archon's confidence too. So he knew that there had been skirmishes with the Dothraki in Liberty Bay, where long enough sustained attacks happened to allow detachments of their army to fight with the Liberty Bay armies.

The last time had been relatively large Khalasar of about five thousand. Hunting them had been a major role of Andrew's cavalry attachment and had Andrew not managed to escape the trap the surprisingly clever Dothraki had set up, they would have lost a large part of the cavalry. Fortunately, the casualties had been rather low.

As far as he knew, that particular Khalasar did not have its Khal killed despite being defeated in number with the combined army of Liberty Bay and theirs.

"The destruction of the Slaver Cities and the abolition of slavery in Lys and for the most part in Myr and Tyrosh, has effectively crashed the slave market which also provided the tenuous stability of the Dothraki." Aegon began to explained as he reeled in his fishing line before he threw it back into the lake.

"The Dothraki, ironically, had encouragements to 'behave', as much as Dothraki can, more civilised, which meant that their destructive raids and attacks had purpose behind them, and whilst the Dothraki do not have need of coin, they did trade captured slaves for horses, jewellery, supplies and weaponry, which in turn helped support campaigns against each other, who are for the most part the targets of their warring." Aegon explained and Trytas nodded, knowing this already.

"With the destruction of much of the slave trade, the savages have no more such restraints anymore." Trytas said in answer and Aegon hummed in answer. "So they have kicked up their attacks against the Lhazarene?"

"They have and they are not taking many captives." Aegon said considerately. "Usually they ravage villages and kill all of the men but take the children and women. Over the past year, they have killed off entire villages north of the Kosrak, where there were villages south of the longest fork of the Skahazdhan river."

Trytas grunted. "You would have thought they'd just shift to sell the slaves elsewhere. Like Qarth. Or Volantis."

"Qarth is some way out and then there is the Red Waste. The Dothraki rarely venture that far out, at least not since the formation of the Red Waste. And Volantis similarly is far from their place of power though perhaps had Volantis not been embroiled in their own civil war, the more savvy Old Blood could have found a way to replace the gap opened up with the destruction of the Slaver Cities." Aegon shook his head.

"No, unfortunately, this might well herald a period of increased Dothraki activities."

"So we're sending an men to help the Lhazarene?" Trytas said after a few moments of contemplation. "Not exactly the largest of numbers."

They had about five thousand out there in patrolling the seas of the Gulf of Liberty and the Summer Sea.

There could be more, such as the eight thousand or so men that were here on Elamaerys that were considered to be soldiers and knights of the army, but most of them also fashioned as part-time support to the labourers, masons and city-guard, when they were being rotated out to patrol the seas of the Gul of Liberty and Summer Sea.

Of course, they could increase that number significantly, if they called upon the veterans but then you'd significantly affect Elamaerys.

"The Unsullied." Trytas stated, having come to the answer. Whilst he did not think Aegon would send the two thousand Unsullied on Elamaerys, he could however send the Unsullied stationed on the Isle of Cedars.

The seven thousand Unsullied.

"Yes, I will draw from their numbers to Ser Maekar's army. Rhaegar has started to select the draw from his men." Aegon confirmed and Trytas grunted. The younger Unsullied were men now though untested. This would probably serve a good posting.

"Won't solve the Dothraki problem however." Trytas said meaningfully. "Not for us…Liberty Bay or the Lhazarene."

Even if more Unsullied were used, like those who survived the failed assault of Mantarys, it wouldn't do much to solve the problem. 'And it's not as if those Unsullied could be much use anyway…given that they lost to fuckin' double headed monsters in the red marshes of Mantarys.'

"It does not." Aegon agreed. "However in the interim it does allow us to gain a significant foothold with the Lhazarene."

"What foothold do we need with those peaceful sheep fuckers? They're worse than the Valemen." Trytas muttered and Aegon eyed him with some amusement.

"They're not as hopeless as most think them to be. They wouldn't have managed to save three major cities for centuries otherwise." Aegon pointed out and Trytas only grunted at that point. They might not be senseless fools but enough of them were.

Otherwise their people wouldn't consistently be hunted like game for centuries.

At least the Naathi had a reason to be peaceful thanks to those ridiculous diseased butterflies of theirs.

Aegon continued. "Regardless, they have agreed to provide us, solely, the bulk of their frankincense and myrrh trade in exchange of some of our trade goods, like porcelain." Trytas was about to answer but before he could speak, Trytas felt his line tug and he stood up in the boat and reeled in the fish.

"Ah, a big bastard, aren't ya?" Trytas said with happiness as he dropped the fish in one of the buckets. Not his largest but definitely larger than average.

He'd eat this one for dinner.

Trytas then took his seat back and looked at Aegon. "Ah, you didn't just come to fish with me, did you?" Trytas grumbled. He did not believe for a moment that Aegon was bringing up the problems of the Dothraki, or the fact that they'd get frankincense now in return for porcelain – in reality it was for protection – for no reason.

"Not entirely no. But I did want to fish though." Aegon said with a faint smile and Trytas snorted. Yes, just like him. Nothing just for enjoyment.

"You have a plan, don't you? To deal with the Dothraki?"

"If the Dothraki really are becoming more than just a nuisance, then what we fought for could well become for nothing." He did not think that the Dothraki could breach the cities of Liberty Bay, not after the restoration of the walls but he could see them ravaging the countryside. Which could kill the cities as not even Velos' farms could feed the cities. Not yet anyway.

Aegon smiled briefly at Trytas before he looked the lake. "I have."

Of course he did. Trytas knew the man well enough that ploy with the Lhazarene was just a starting point to get more out of them.

Aegon glanced at Trytas, a glint in his sole eye. "You interested?"

Trytas snorted before he tapped at his belly. "My heart will probably kill me before one of those savages could."

Trytas was not in any shape to be leading any army. And truthfully, Trytas had no real interest to get into shape either. He liked his life.

Fuck his wife, fish, occasionally do a few things for his lands, teach his kids a few rare wise things and fish again. Aye, his life was quite fine the way it was.

"Whilst I am pleased that you have come to fish with me, almost as pleased I am when I am fucking my wife" Trytas said with a grin "I can't say that I am thrilled having to get in shape and make sure I don't have to refit my nice Elamaeri armour suit to fit me." Trytas said with a fading grin that mostly turned into a grimace.

"Truthfully, I thought you have enough of war." Trytas added, genuinely curious.

The Archon had entirely devoted himself to Elamaerys from what he'd seen.

His dragon and that of his family had practically cause a situation that necessitated more men to quarry because of how much stone that was being delivered to the city, the masons and the builders. The city was rapidly being built. Trytas might well see the city pretty much finished before the Stranger took him.

And then the Guilds, all of those fabric makers, glassmakers, porcelain makers, carpenters, and a dozen other such guilds and shops and factories, and then the whole Archonate thing and all those who did whatever the Seven Hell's they did.

The man was a busy bastard and Trytas had thought that was what truly made the Archon happy and given how draining the wars in Essos had been previously, he didn't think he'd see another war.

Aegon sighed heavily. "Because Elamaerys needs this." Aegon looked out to the lake. "The army. The people. Even my sons. Everyone needs this. When the time comes to seek approval with the Council, they will see and agree with my view."

Trytas stared at Aegon for a long moment before he grunted and spoke up after those long few moments passed. "You should fish more." Trytas said and Aegon's expression broke, and he laughed suddenly. Loudly.

And Trytas laughed with him.

Aegon looked at him appreciatively before he nodded. "Aye. Perhaps. There is a peace here that is quite enjoyable."

"Aye. I love it more than most other things." Trytas agreed before he eyed the Archon intently. "What need do you have of me?"

If Aegon asked him to serve once more, of fuckin' course he'd serve.

He had little doubt that Aegon's family would agree with Aegon.

"Worry not. I won't ask you to active duty. No, what we have use of is your knowledge, authority and respect you command."

Trytas furrowed his brow. "Is this what Uthrik wanted to speak about?"

Aegon shook his head. "No, that is a separate matter but one that I want you to also help with." Aegon said meaningfully and Trytas nodded his head in understanding.

He doubted there was much need in teaching men how to torture Dothraki given that they were savages and knew nothing of much use. Besides, the Archon could do it himself, given that he'd heard that the captured Dothraki had shrieked like women when the Archon had his hands on them at the end of their Liberty War…

"No, my current need is for you to help train a division of the most talented knights in the next few years. I want them as hard as nails and as fit as horses. The Unsullied will help but ultimately, that will be your responsibility."

Trytas considered that. "Hard as in having iron linings in their stomachs and able to sleep soundly after a bit of dirty work?" He knew that the men under Uthrik would be trained to have that but he wasn't yet sure these men had the same need.

"No. They'll be an honourable lot." Aegon smiled faintly and Trytas snorted.

"Not as honourable when I'm done with them."

If they're facing Dothraki, they'll need not be honourable.

"Where will I be training them?"

"There will be a training fort built not far from this lake." Aegon answered and Trytas had a suspicion that Aegon was doing this to make this easier on him.

"So you'll do it?"

"If you're going to do it, better do it right." Trytas grunted before he eyed the Archon intently. "Besides, you'll owe me for this." Trytas gave off a massive grin, one that did not lessen as he spoke further. "You won't be able to refuse me when I ask you fly down on your dragon once every moon and come fish with me."

What was it? Those runners? Postmen? Lettermen? Anyway, he'd badger the Archon with his requests if he had to. He had the special Lord seal that'd make sure it'd get delivered right to his palace after all.

The other bastards can have their excuses and shove it up their arses. 'Oh, you're more than two day's ride away. I have duties I can't leave behind'. Pah, pissants.

Aegon frowned lightly as he spoke. "I can't commit to that but I can commit that I will at least visit once every two or three moons and fish with you. Perhaps even take you to one of the other islands on Mīsaragorn."

Trytas grimaced. "No, no, no need for that."

Aegon chuckled at that.

There was a lull in conversation though not for long when Trytas spoke up.

"Will it be the Slaver City treatment or the Myr treatment?" he asked, genuinely curious. He had to think it would have to be the former.

"Neither." Aegon said and there was a coldness in his eye. "But at the end, the Dothraki will be far from the threat they currently present. Especially once we break them at Vaes Dothrak."

Trytas groaned and he leaned back in his seat. Gods' damn. Was he really going to miss out on this? The Dothraki cared only for a few things, this much he knew.

They cared for their cur of a Horse God and for Vaes Dothrak, which was a holy place…and the place where their widows, children, slaves and most of their wealth was located, at least that which was outside of the Khalasars.

And so, the Dothraki would have to be honour bound to defend Vaes Dothrak. Every Khalasar. Or they'd basically collapse from within.

Fragile little cunnies.

He could see it now…Their army and dragon – dragons – sweeping aside one Khalasar after the other, slaves joining their march to Vaes Dothrak where they'd meet a concentration of Dothraki Khalasar perhaps a hundred thousand strong…all that would be no more than kindle for the dragons.

Ah…it'd be the glory parts all over again.

Trytas glared at the Archon with no small amount of bitterness. "You're a cruel man." Breaking the Dothraki was going to be a legendary thing all across Essos.

Even in the other slaving Free Cities.

"There's always a spot by my side, my friend." Aegon said with a mild grin and Trytas snorted at that before he shook his head.

"I'll think about it." Trytas muttered and he meant it to. He eyed the Archon intently before he narrowed his eyes. "Though I doubt there will be as much loot spread across the army. This time."

His time in the city had told him enough that the loot had caused the Archon and Elamaerys many problems trying to balance everything out. Fixed prices, stipends and pensions, investments in the Companies, and many, many other encouragements were given and made to make sure that a loaf of bread wasn't a thousand times more expensive than it was in Kings Landing.

Prices had stabilised now but there were still some issues in pricings and another such influx would just throw everything back to the start.

If you told a young Trytas that too much gold was a problem, he'd laugh you out.

He knew that there were rules within the army and navy charters now that specified that campaigns of war against 'rogue peoples', which meant uncivilised people practicing slavery and other peoples like those who practiced foul magics, were permitted to be looted with 'bonuses' to be specified before the campaign.

"No, there won't. There will be a fixed amount of silver, of course, and a portion of the goods we take from Vaes Dothrak for the men but the rest of the coin will go into the Elamaerys' treasury." Aegon said with seriousness etched into his face.

"Besides, it is not, at least entirely, the prize I seek to take from Vaes Dothrak."

"The slaves." Trytas stated and Aegon nodded slightly and Trytas grunted before he spoke again. "Well, we could do with more people." Which was entirely true.

They needed more labourers, farmhands, and all kinds.

As far as he knew, there were perhaps another fifty thousand people coming from Velos, and another twenty thousand coming from Lys over the next seven to ten years. The ones from Lys tended to prefer to stay in the city and tended to be fairly useful and knew trades or could be trained in trade relatively quickly.

The Lysene were likely to become part-time labourers and would help finish the city.

Whilst the people from Velos tended to be a mixture. The ones who'd come from the Disputed Lands or Liberty Bay and would soon move to Elamaerys, were also quite useful, with a number of them wanting their own farmlands.

They'd served much of their service on Velos as workers with how they'd been rebuilding the city, so they'd get their lands pretty much as soon as they landed.

Though he wouldn't be surprised if the Lower Council and the Civil Service assigned them some more work as farmhands and preparing lands because of the need for it.

And these would be a sizable amount of the fifty thousand, which included wives and children that would not be of much use in terms of labour.

The others would be given a trade or another in the city or in the towns by the mines and quarries, once they were built or finished built.

Nonetheless, whilst another seventy thousand people in less than ten years was going to help majorly in helping building up Elamaerys, Trytas knew that most of these people had come to Elamaerys with promises of land and promises of a trade.

Eventually, all would get sick of labouring, which was hard, hard work, especially labouring in a place where was nothing. Trytas knew because he himself had been in such a situation, twice, both in Corinth and Elamaerys where he'd also laboured.

And once all of the shops and wares and everything else in the city were fully running, with the Companies demanding more goods to be produced, if Aegon's and Baerros' efforts become as successful as they believe it will be, well, that meant that there'd fewer and fewer labourers and farmhands and more to do the dirty work as those jobs were much easier.

Dirty work such as building a coupla new cities in middle of nowheres.

Like Gaelysia.

It wasn't a problem right now, of course. As of this moment, there were tens of thousands of labourers, miners and quarrymen. Men who made a trade of it.

The wage was good after all.

And more of these tens of thousands would be coming in the next ten years, of course, but eventually, these men would get their land or trade or get old and their sons were unlikely to follow.

That problem would get solved eventually too, with how the Archon encouraged every family to pump out babe after babe, but that was a long term situation and they had far more short term problems.

So Trytas was quite sure that Aegon wanted these slaves freed, who would likely be children especially young boys, and become another influx of people who could work and were used to hard work long into the future.

And he was also quite sure that the bulk of the loot going towards the Elamaeri treasury was exactly because they needed to keep paying a good wage and keep building.

Ah, he could feel a bastard of a headache coming from thinking so hard.

And his wife thinks him a small minded fool. Pah.

Well at least his long term issues were likely solved. There was a town planned nearby so he and his heirs should at least be able to hire labourers long term wise.

They spoke of little else the rest of the fishing, only breaking up in their fishing to eat – having a man who could produce fire in his hands was as handy as a nipple on a woman's tit - and they'd spent long into the day fishing, much to Trytas' delight. Aye, not a bad life after all.

-Break-

Mid to Late 123 AC – Far South of Elamaerys

Valarr POV

The monthly meeting of the Council of Dragonlords dragged on for longer than he expected, or wanted, as matters of the Archonate was discussed.

From matters of trade and projected goods production this month to matters of settlement construction such as farms, public works like the aqueduct, the shipyard, the expansion of factories, to matters of the Isle of Cedars and the colony there and Gaelysia to matters of much more.

The most interesting points in all of it was the proposal of his sister Rhaena, who wanted more artisans from Liberty Bay to be approached, and the proposal from his father who told them that they would need to fortify Dragonsgate Port and the other islands now that it would be known that they were in use by Elamaerys, and lastly the state of Essos and Westeros.

For the former, the proposal was largely due to Rhaena's desires to increase the number of statues in the city, statues that commemorated more of their people instead of just commemorating them in obelisks in the Hall of Heroes.

Though Valarr thought it was also because he was certain that she wanted to learn how to work marble, to add to her skills as an artist. Working with chisel and hammer as much as he did brush and paint.

The second point was a concerning point, Valarr could admit.

Dragonsgate Port was exposed despite its importance to Elamaerys. Galleons sailed to Dragongate Port from Elamaerys to drop off their wares and goods.

Presently, their fleet of Galleons was six and forty in numbers and four and thirty Galleons worked the same routes albeit in segments.

Half of the four and thirty Galleons travelled to Dragonsgate port with coin and more importantly goods from the East and elsewhere whilst at the same time, the other half sailed from Dragonsgate Port to Velos where they took Elamaeri made goods for the merchant Carracks to take hold and disperse to all kinds of markets.

The most of the rest of the ships travelled to and from Dragonsgate Port to Elamaerys to take or deliver goods.

It was a system allowing them new supplies and goods every two to four moons.

Father had explained that the Islands would be known now to the Westerosi, where some may find it a target to raid. If not them then perhaps others.

The Gods knew that corsairs would likely be itching to strike back at them after they'd hunted as many of them throughout the years. It was because of their efforts that slaving ships and corsairs rarely passed through the Ghiscari Strait any more.

Although it seemed like father considered the Westerosi as the greater threat, and the part of the reason why he invited the Lords of Westeros to the weddings.

He wanted to bait them with the Targaryen Islands to see if he should consider them an active threat rather than a passive one, whilst also seeing what the reception of Elamaerys would be for the Lords…and the Faith.

The last point was not as concerning to Valarr even if it did interest him.

The Braavosi were getting more and more involved with Myr, where they were sending ships, Braavosi soldiers and sellswords to keep order in Myr and its territories, and from what was reported via their Consulate on Lys, the Myrrish folk were growing more and more unhappy by the impositions made by the Braavosi.

To the point that the number of Myrrish arriving on Lys was faster than before.

Although it seemed like it was not just the Braavosi however. It seemed like the noble families of Myr were intentionally aggravating the situation in order to gain back the foothold they'd lost since father had effectively disarmed them as a threat.

The Tyroshi were feeling similar tensions and instability though that was largely stemming from the fact that the Iron Throne had significantly slackened the ropes that bound Tyrosh, and of course the Braavosi appeared to be involved there too.

The instability of the region was likely also being exacerbated by the cold civil war in Volantis between, effectively, the Old Blood and its sister-cities and the Red Faith, where slave rebellions and slave soldiers were skirmishing with the forces of the Old Blood inside the Black Walls though largely it was outside of the Black Walls in the city proper and the territories around it.

Presently it wasn't as bad as it could be, far from it, but from what it seemed like, that was largely neither side wanted to commit fully to win, not when the consequences of losing were as severe as they were.

But it could get bad…how bad not even his father knew despite his constant use of trying to decipher secrets from the flames.

And then there was Westeros.

Well, it was the same as it had been the last time they'd talked about it.

The calm before the storm. Well, a storm that was slowly coming into the horizon. Father reported that the spies in Kings Landing told him, besides the sad news of cousin Laena's loss of her second child in childbirth, that Aemond had claimed Caraxes, father's brother's dragon, something that father considered likely to be taken as a great insult by their cousins Rhaenyra and Baelon.

Despite the fact that their kin in Westeros had no official inheritance doctrines like their family did. Each of their dragons would first be given an opportunity to be bonded by their direct children or grandchildren.

After that, any Targaryen could try to bond with them.

But then Valarr knew that his kin in Westeros weren't exactly forward thinking on how to deal with matters of inheritance, where Kings can make absolute decisions as much as they wanted.

As much as Valarr disliked sitting Council meetings with his family or with the Lower Council, at least father couldn't just make decisions alone any more.

The meeting wrapped up soon enough, both proposals having been accepted by vote, and before he could close the connection on the dragonglass candle, his mother called out to him, asking when he'd return.

Valarr considered it and, after having looked at his dragon and at his wife Vaera, did he answer. "We will likely remain away for another four days." Valarr confirmed to his mother.

That would make over a fortnight of having been away. He wouldn't mind it being longer but their stores would become critically low by then and he doubted that Vaera would wish to solely eat whatever the roasted meat of animal they hunted.

"Very well. Be safe." His mother said and his siblings and father said the same, more or less, before he signed off and let off a heavy sigh.

He sat there for a few moments before he shook his head and made his way towards his wife Vaerra, who sat away a little further in front of the small tent on the scissor stool, reading one of the historical books from their family library.

She turned to look at him with some amusement in her expression. "It is always so long?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"Not always but most of the time." Valarr groused as he stopped beside her, though there was a trace of a smile on his face as he met his wife's azure eyes.

His wife hummed beautifully. "It's too bad you cannot appoint a regent for your place." There was teasing in her voice.

Valarr laughed before he dropped himself on the grubby rock beside her. "If only I could but unfortunately the perks of being a Dragonlord don't come without it." He shook his head. "At least it's only once a moon."

It was a small sacrifice to make, in all honesty. After all, the whole purpose of the Council was to make sure that there was consensus in their family and that they were all aware of what was happening.

And Valarr understood his father's fears. Gods knew that father drove the problems of what could happen when a dragonrider felt underappreciated in all their heads.

He only wished that there was a better way than a tiresome meeting…

"Anyway." Valarr shook his head as he looked up at his wife who had been studying her. "Are you ready to move out again?" Valarr asked his wife.

His wife looked at him for a moment before she looked at the horizon and Valarr followed her gaze. They had made camp on a large flat area of one of the mountains of the Rūkarthon mountain that directly overlooked the Ālmsion, which meant 'little claw' in High Valyrian.

The Ālmsion was far southeast of Elamaerys and it was encapsulated by a long mountain range, though much shorter than the Silver Mountain range, that separated the land mostly from the rest of Elamaerys.

He'd been here before a few times, and he'd seen that the land had a much shorter width than most of the rest of Elamaerys, with the exception of Relgorion (Little Beak) on the northwestern of Elamaerys, and a much, much wetter climate too.

However, from where they were, the land was a beauty to behold.

Forests that stretched far into the horizon yet that was not all that there was. There were wetlands, and the coasts, long stretches of white sands that were alike to that of the islands north but the difference was that the waters were bluer and clearer.

Ālmsor (larger claw), which was to the southwest, was similar though there were fewer wetlands and many more forested hills, or jungled hills rather, than Ālmsion.

It was very similar to the lands about thirty leagues south of Elamaerys where there was thick jungle. The only exception to that was around the river Bōsalago, the longest river in Elamaerys and that rivalled the river Sȳziarves in terms of width, where there were parts that weren't as heavily forested, such as the mouth.

Though Valarr didn't think building a settlement at the mouth was the best choice. Valarr wasn't the best cartographer but even he knew that building a settlement there wasn't the best of choices. The banks of the river were crowded by growths of plants, even something that looked like underwater trees, and then there was the weather.

The southern parts of Elamaerys rained. A lot. And it was humid and it was very warm. Even now, despite being thousands of feet above the ground, it was not cold at all. Down there in Ālmsor? It was much hotter than it was in Elamaerys or most of the north, which already was as warm as the Summer Isles.

Whilst he and his family were admittedly better suited to deal with hot climates, their people, the Valyrian majority in particular, were not.

And then there was also the fact that the river was infested with lizard-lio-, alligators. It was probably because the river was a lot warmer than that of Sȳziarves, which started high in the mountain whereas Bōsalago was probably just fed most of its water from the large amounts of rain that came from the east and west.

That was why he believed Ālmsion to be a better site for a future settlement than anywhere else and it would be the perfect place to grow Summer Islander crops.

"Yes." His wife said after a few moments, breaking him out of his thoughts. She turned to look at him, her book closing and she reached out to the bag that was filled with maps.

As the more adventurous of his family, he'd been basically granted to fly as much as he wanted. As long as he coupled that with a bit of duty.

So after his 'tour of duty' had ended, he'd taken to that, learning from Rhaena how to draw and from the cartographers how read the landscapes.

By now, he'd created the vast majority of the maps of Elamaerys, which tied the coastline maps from the ships with that of landmarks, forests, jungles, volcanos, mountains, hills and more, along with the distances from the coastlines.

It wasn't the best, Valarr could easily admit, since he wasn't exactly interested in mapmaking, but it was the best they had.

And his work would almost certainly be used to plan out the settlements south beyond the mountains and volcanos that basically closed off the northwest and Elamaerys from the south.

"Though we should eat first before we go." His wife added and Valarr nodded agreeably to that as his wife brought out the older map of Ālmsion and Valarr sat up a little as he moved over closer to her.

"It will probably take us until into the eve to get there." Valarr said as he pointed to the spot where they'd talked about a few days ago.

'Shrykos…come back.' Valarr signalled to his dragon whilst he looked at the map.

They would have to stop at one of the islands he marked out as a safe place to stop at. There were also alligators on this land too, along with a swathe of other large predators. There was even a strange bird like creature that looked similar to a terror bird but actually larger and without feathers.

It tasted similar to chicken though, he mused as he remembered eating some of Shyrkos' leftovers of the bird. But then, even alligators tasted like chicken even if the meat was tougher.

"We should try and get there as soon as possible. It wouldn't do to try and put up the tent in the dark with all of those beasts around." His wife murmured as she looked at him and Valarr shrugged slightly.

"It'll be fine, like always. Shrykos will scare off anything that dares approach the tent."

"We've always been staying on mountains and hills far from where any animal would care to be." His wife pointed out and Valarr had to concede the point.

It was untypical but then the land was rather untypical too.

He eyed his wife for a few moments before he spoke. "I'll make our scouting short." He wouldn't bother when he was alone with Shrykos but with his wife around…he had to be a bit more careful.

"Thank you." She murmured with a faint smile on her face before she leaned forward and kissed Valarr on the cheek, making Valarr heat up but smile nonetheless.

He had to admit.

His wife had truly put in the effort in wanting to share his passions these week and a half. Whilst they had been spending a lot of time during their betrothal, where he'd gotten to know her as a woman and wife-to-be, he had rarely talked about his wants to travel the world and find strange new lands.

It was only shortly before his wedding after Vaera had asked him about why he liked disappearing for days on end that he told her the truth. About how the further he went with Shrykos, the more he felt he was accomplishing what no one else had.

How he was seeing things what no one else had. Not his brothers…not his father.

He hadn't been sure what Vaera's reaction would be, especially given that he'd hinted that he'd be as much away as he would be in the city…perhaps longer once they started up exploration further out west and south, which seemed like something that'd happen in the next few years

She was as much as prim and proper as her cousin and all of the other noble ladies, even if there was parts of her that made her unique.

Like the way she enjoyed riding. Or the way she grew sarcastic to those who irritated her even though it was masked by a polite tone and smile. Or the way she seemed excited to ride his dragon with him unlike her cousin Valeana.

But he hadn't need to fear as much as he thought he might be that Vaera did not understand, or rather did not want to understand.

Instead, she'd asked if she could come and despite his attempts to dissuade her as he didn't believe her – what prim noble woman would want to spent away in the middle of nowhere hot and humid with dangerous beasts around – but she'd only grew firmer that it was what she wanted and eventually forced him to agree.

He thought she might change her mind a few days into the trip. The dirt and the sweating and the difficulty of sleeping in a linen tent that did little to protect against the cold of night but despite a bit of moodiness, she'd braved it well.

And as time went on, she'd only continued to deal with the difficultness of it all, especially she appreciated the effort Valarr took in searching for nice little spots to clean themselves.

And Valarr was happy for it.

It was certainly a lot less lonely when someone could actually talk back to you…and when you could have sex with them. Lots of sex.

…apologies Shrykos.

Valarr loved the moody dragon but it got tiring getting growls for answers and as much as he loved the moody dragon, sex was an incomparable bonus.

They continued to converse a little, largely talking about their remaining route and matters back home – his siblings having moved to Draconys with the settlers – along with mostly inane topics, before they cooked up a meal of salted meats, cheese and soup made of dried vegetable and cuttings of songbird meat Valarr had killed with bow and arrow.

Shrykos had arrived during their meal, descending slowly and landing behind them, and after they'd finished up their meal, they packed everything up, including the scissor stool which they flattened, and climbed atop of Shrykos.

A day and a half later…

The winds whistled gently as they flew over the southern most tip of the Ālmsion, passing over wetlands into region where thin shrubbery grew on dunes on the edges of the beaches.

They continued to fly over the land, reaching towards the islands that were thinly connected to the mainland by a sandy land bridge.

There were the closest islands to the southern part of Elamaerys.

There were about a dozen more islands further south, with each of them allowing one to see, just beyond the horizon, the next island. The only island that was an exception was the Crescent Island, which probably will have its name changed in the coming decades, which was about as far from the chain of islands as the northernmost tip of Elamaerys was to Draconys.

He'd been there once. It was not as different than Bazmionys, which to say that it was basically a jungle island, but the only difference was the animals that lived there.

There was a kind of dragon-like creature there. A wingless dragon. He would have thought a wyvern but apparently they could get as big as a two decade old dragon.

In any case, these weren't that big at all, only about twice or thrice the size of the alligators but with hind legs that were much longer even if it seemed to walk on four legs.

It also wasn't the only strange animal either. Valarr had seen apes, monkeys. Seven Hells, in Elamaerys alone, there were hundreds of Little Valyrians that made the nearby forests home thanks to father's introduction of them.

But these ones…they were bigger.

Much bigger.

Bigger than a man, at least thrice the size of men, and they looked very strong too.

He thought that they might be a kind of man, apemen, until he'd described it to father who said that they were like a creature known as gorillas.

They continued to fly for a little while longer, until they reached the end of the island chain, and Valarr signalled Shrykos to turn back to the mainland.

They'd been far out enough anyway, he mused as he eyed his wife from behind him, who he saw was taking a few notes for his sake on the maps he'd made before.

"You might want to put them away. I'll be pushing Shrykos to get us back to the mountains before the last light." Valarr said in a raised voice.

Now that they were done, he could push Shrykos to get back to the mountains north of Ālmsion in fast time, he mused as he eyed the afternoon sun.

His dragon was probably the fastest dragon and the one with the most stamina.

"Don't have him make any sharp movements." Vaera said as she began to put away her papers. "Or this time I won't try to avoid you with the consequences." Vaera said with no small amount of threat in her tone of voice and Valarr laughed a little.

He'd grown a little bored flying save so he had Shrykos do all kinds of stunts in the air, like they usually did whenever they'd been away. Both of them like doing it, ever since they'd first done it when they'd both been young.

"I promise." Valarr said as he mockingly held his hand to his chest and his wife pushed him in response, making him laugh a little louder.

Soon enough, they were making their hasty journey back across Ālmsion. After they'd rested at the mountains, they'd go west, almost all the way west.

They'd fly over the eastern side of Ālmsor, before rounding above the Silver Mountains range that divide almost all of Elamaerys right through the middle but ended in the north of Ālmsor…

As they flew over the southern tip of Ālmsion, Shrykos behaved a bit differently, his head turning towards the east, as if he'd seen something.

"What is it Shrykos?" Valarr asked with a frown as he tapped the scales of his dragon and his dragon growled in respond, and Valarr understood it clearly enough that there was something there on the horizon.

Valarr squinted his eyes as he tried to see what Shrykos was seeing but they were too high and too far from the eastern coast and so he leaned to his side and pulled out one of the Far-Eyes, telescopes.

"What is it?" Vaera asked from behind him.

"Not sure. Shrykos has seen something I think." Valarr said in respond.

"One of the ships?" Vaera questioned.

"Mayhaps." Valarr said but he wasn't sure at all. Whilst Valarr was more…free from his obligations as a Dragonlord, he did have a lot of authority when it came to mapping out Elamaerys or any kind of exploratory missions sent to the South.

Part of his mapping included finding places that would have a lot of value to Elamaerys, like finding places that naturally had a lot of pearl bearing oysters, like there was at western Ālmsion in the Crescent Bay…

Valarr looked through the telescope and he scoured the area where he felt Shrykos was looking but he couldn't really find much. "Shrykos…fly where you saw whatever you saw it." And Shrykos growled his understanding and soon they veered towards that direction and it was then that Valarr saw what Shrykos had seen.

"Oh fuck." Valarr exclaimed as he looked away from the telescope, his eyes wide.

"What?! What is it?" Vaera asked surprised and probably concerned too, once he snapped out of it.

Valarr looked through the telescope again and it was easier this time to find them again. "People…there are people."

"Our people?"

Valarr shook his head. Definitely not their people. He could only really see the two ships from this far but he could tell easily that those ships were too small and too narrow looking to be their people's ships.

He might have thought them to be their fishing boats but their fishing boats were not that large relative to the small, small silhouettes of people he could see by the ships.

And their hauler ships were definitely not that shape either, with how much wider they were. Almost square-like.

He slowly dropped the telescope and handed it over to his wife. "Not our people."

Vaera's eyes were wide before she took hold of the telescope and peered through it.

'I will need to call father shortly' Valarr thought to himself with grim seriousness.

When Elamaerys had been first found, Admiral Locke and his crew had found a old boat about eighty leagues down the eastern coast.

A boat with bone arrowheads that likely was only at most four or five decades old.

Perhaps even shorter due to being weathered badly.

And over the years…they'd found two more instances of evidence that there had been people…or people-like people who had set foot on Elamaerys, instances such old pieces of wood further down south of Ālmsion.

And in every instance, they had not encountered any peoples on Elamaerys.

None except their own.

The question was…

Why?

Where did the survivors go?

Did they die on Elamaerys? To the lions, to the wolfbears, to the other strange and dangerous animals that were deep in the jungles?

Or mayhaps they died to disease?

Northern Elamaerys was better than the south, especially since it was not as hot and no way near as humid as it was further south past the mountains, and his lessons on Sothoryos and Summer Isles told him much that dangerous diseases dwelled in hot and humid lands where diseases thrived.

Could this have been what killed these people?

There were many questions they all had about these findings, and it was part of the reason why his father was happy enough to let him take charge of the exploration with Shrykos…in the instance there were people somewhere hidden in the jungles.

But he saw nothing, found nothing.

Until now.

"You need to call your parents and your brothers. They are two boats, Valarr." Vaera said with worry in her voice and Valarr understood.

One could be explained that it was an accident but two…?

It meant that it was almost certainly not an accident. Almost. It could have been an accident but the chances of that.

No…Valarr had to assume that these people knew how to get to Elamaerys and given the size of their boats, they couldn't have come from far. Surely not.

"Let's get closer to them first before I call." Valarr said as he turned around and Vaera sent him a look that told him that she disagreed vehemently with that choice.

"We won't climb off Shrykos." Valarr soothed. "They don't look like they could have anything that could harm Shrykos." The idea was nonsensical.

"Really? Who was it that told stories about our neighbours being evil unknowable people who dabbled in monstrous magic worst than anything Valyria could have thought of?" Vaera shot back at him and Valarr had the decency to grimace as he scratched the back of his head with the telescope.

Ah yes…

He'd seen the skull of that strange non-person person.

A skull that was pretty much black in colour that was in the shape of a human skull, or ape skull, but that was it. It had bones that protruded out, like goat horns, from the cheeks, and two fang like teeth that showed that it was definitely a meat eater.

They'd not found any more skulls like that but Valarr and his brother Castorys during the boring days during the tour had dreamed about what they could be.

The look of the skull certainly did not look peaceful and so they'd dreamed up that it was an evil creature like the Children of the Forest but without the false image that they were innocent.

Both he and Castorys had come up with wild imaginations, trying to come up with their own stories that they'd tell their own children like how father had done with them, and amongst all of the stories, the fact that the skull people were evil never wavered.

He'd told Vaera that story in the early days of their trip, something that he regretted a little because she had not appreciated it and had almost denied him sex because of it.

In any case…

"Well, if they are evil looking creatures, we won't even land." Valarr conceded. He could admit that if they were magic wielding evil creatures then he'd rather not risk Shrykos. And Vaera. Of course.

Shrykos closed the distance, as they neared, Valarr saw better.

And when they were closer, so too did the strange people see them.

"Shrykos, land close but not too close." Valarr said as he tapped the scales of his dragon.

"They're regular people?" Vaera questioned and Valarr glanced of his shoulder and nodded.

"They appeared to be." Valarr quickly went into the side of his bag and pulled out his chainmail. "Quick, wear this." Valarr ordered his wife as he handed it to her, who looked worried and frightened.

Valarr glanced back towards the front and he could tell Shrykos' appearance frightened the people clearly, as they began to run to their boats.

After he'd seen them far better as they'd neared, enough that he could tell they were ordinary people, decided that he would not risk them escaping.

"Valarr…" "Just do it, Vaera. We can't let them go." Valarr interrupted with a stern look on his face and finally she did as he ordered and after she had it halfway on, did Valarr turn away.

"Shrykos, land behind the boats in the water." Valarr commanded as he tightened his grip on the handles. He glanced at his wife who had it . "Vaera, brace yourself!"

Shrykos manuoevred himself, his wings extending and reducing his speed and it wasn't long before they swept around and landed in the water, hard, but safely.

Valarr heard sounds of yelling in a foreign language as Shrykos turned himself 'round, his body rising to an intimidating posture and Shrykos let off a deep growl.

The yelling grew louder, more panicked and Valarr decided it was enough.

"Shrykos…calm. Let them see me." Valarr said as he tapped his dragon's scales.

He'd orientated his dragon in a way that they could not see him or Vaera.

Shrykos growled lightly but obeyed, his draconic body lowering closer to the water and when that happened, Valarr saw past Shyrkos' body and he saw them.

They were brown of skin, almost the same colour as the Naathi but paler. Their skin, which was exposed from the waist up with only a strange kind of breeches covering their manhood, and had tattoos all over them, to the point that it was not strange to say that half of their upper body was tattooed.

Their faces too were tattooed, like how it was said Red Priests had their faces tattooed, and they possessed hairs that resembled the hairs of the Yi-Ti, silky black hair that flowed. But that was where all of the similarities ended.

These men – he saw no woman with them – were all big of body, very big of body. And tall too.

And they were armed, Valarr thought warily. Some had axes of a kind, with axeheads that looked to be dragonglass, whilst the others had bow and arrow and it was this that worried him the most.

They saw Valarr and Vaera too, and this made their shouts dim a little, with a few of the men speaking amongst themselves and Valarr thought he could see confusion, fear and anger on their faces.

The confusion he understood, just as he understood the anger and fear, but the anger seemed more hostile. 'Mayhaps I am reading into it too much…'

"Hello!" Valarr shouted as he raised his hand and this caused the voices to dim as they all stared at him.

'Father is going to kill me' Valarr mused to himself as he looked at these men.

One of the things they'd discussed was that Valarr would not risk himself, even if he had Shrykos. Disease, magic, whatever, these were the risks that came with the unknown.

But Valarr couldn't let them go.

Where did they come from?

Did they intend to come to Elamaerys?

How far were their lands? What did they know of the world?

He had so, so many questions!

He couldn't let them g-

Valarr's eyes widened as he saw one of the men draw back his bow. "Shrykos, shield us!" Valarr shouted and it was just in the nick of time that Shrykos moved to put his body in the way, and Valarr heard the dull sound of the arrow hitting Shrykos' scales.

Shrykos roared and it set off a host of shouts and a host of arrows fired at them but Valarr had the presence of mind to ensure that Shrykos didn't kill these idiots before they found answers.

"Shrykos burn their ships and then fly! Get us away!" Valarr shouted before he turned to Vaera "Vaera, lean to the other side and keep your head down!"

The immediate moments were filled with stress as Valarr kept his head down as Shrykos burned the ships and took to the skies. Once they were clear into the sky, Valarr took an opportunity to see what they were doing and he saw that they were, in vain, trying to salvage the boats.

Valarr jerked forward and he realised he'd been pushed and when he glanced to his wife, he saw her looking at him with murder in her eyes.

"You risked our lives!"

"I know, I'm sorry." Valarr grimaced at the weak apology. It wasn't the brightest thing he'd ever done. "I will keep us away from them." Valarr sighed before he met his wife's angry look. "But we can't leave them. Not until we capture them."

"Capture them?" Vaera asked baffled. "They're savages!" she exclaimed.

It wasn't the worst of assessments. These men were clearly not a civilised people.

The breeches they were seemed as if they were made of a kind of ropey thread.

And the weapons they had…did the First Men even have such primitive weapons in the Age of Heroes?

"Yes but they got to Elamaerys." Valarr said in answer and though his wife remained angry, he could tell she understood what he meant by that.

"Call your father." Vaera said with no small amount of anger in her tone and Valarr grimaced at that. He'd have to make it up to her…somehow.

Nevertheless, he went into nearest bag and pulled out the dragonglass candle and after a deep breathe, connected to father's candle. Over the years, they'd figured out more of the candles and how to isolate their candles from everywhere else, especially once they'd learnt that there were indeed those who secretly tried to see through their candles.

"Yes?" a voice that was not his father answered. It was one of their servants who was made to be near the candle at all times when father wasn't, something that started when he and Castorys had left on their tour of duty.

"I need you to get father. And Polaerys." Valarr paused. "Get everyone. It's an emergency."

"Of course, Your Grace."

The sounds of the man departed was enough to make Valarr breathe out the breathe he held onto.

"Your father will send men to capture them, do you think?" Vaera asked after some time.

Valarr glanced at her before he nodded. "Yes. He will. He won't want to let them go." Valarr said as he turned to look at the men who were still by their still burning ships.

'And likely keep them prisoner until they can be understood. Not only because they're obviously not a peaceful people…but also because who knows what they have…or can do' Valarr mused to himself.

"This is big." Vaera said after a few moments and Valarr could only hum in agreement.

'Aye…this was probably as big a news as any since the discovery of Elamaerys.'

After all…

They might well have neighbours.

-Break-

The Age of Elamaeri Exploration

The Washqutet People

The arrival of the nine Washqutet people was as momentous a moment as the discovery of Elamaerys though unlike Elamaerys, which inspired hope and divine purpose, the discovery of peoples capable of traversing the Sunset Sea in a boat no better than a river boat heralded an inspiration of suspicion and wariness.

Even in the early years of Elamaerys, there was an infant sentiment that no one but the Elamaeri people were permitted, or had rights to, the lands claimed as Elamaerys and so, it came to a shock that there were people who regularly had discovered, and rediscovered, over the past hundred years.

It took over a year to converse with the captured Washqutet to understand them without any confusions but it was time and effort well spent as they learnt more about the Washqutet…and the creatures that dominated their lands and subjugated their peoples.

For a long time, it would not be believed by those who had been privy to the claims provided by the primitive Washqutet, a matter that was not helped by Archon Aegon's ban of exploration towards southeast of Elamaerys, which lasted all throughout his reign as Archon and that of Archon Castorys, only having been lifted a few years into Archon Aemon reign.

Many claim this act as proof and evidence that at least the First Archon believed those claims however, the real truth would be lain bare in 183 AC when the Land of the Washqutet were found and subsequently begun the prelude of events that culminated into the decades long conflict with the creatures, known colloquially as the Zekiras (Stalking Hunters in Valyrian)…