Fishing to Lure a Dragon

Blackwater Bay.

The sailboat made good time, and Dragonstone's outline soon appeared in the distance.

"Heave-ho."

Aemon sat on a small stool at the stern and cast his rod with force.

The hook splashed into the water, while fist-sized bait madly chummed the waters.

"You won't catch any fish like that."

Laena quietly approached, resting her fair wrist on the railing and leaning forward, showing off her lush, curvaceous figure.

Aemon glanced at her and said disdainfully, "The willing fish bite the hook. Don't you get it?"

Was he fishing for fish?

Completely wrong. He was fishing for a state of mind.

Tilting her head, Laena advised, "The ship is moving too fast. Even if the fish smell the bait, they can't catch up to the hook."

Aemon raised his chin and declared shamelessly, "My fish basket has no need for trash."

"That makes some sense."

Laena nodded thoughtfully, found herself a fishing rod, and cast her line from where she stood.

She was even more of a capitalist than Aemon—she did not even use bait.

Seeing this, Aemon sneered. "You don't even deserve the title of Baiting Immortal."

His bait had been mixed with sweetgrass. The fish acted as though they had taken drugs the moment they smelled it.

What did she have going for her?

"Squeak, squeak."

The furry Gold-Nosed Rat poked out from his collar, extending its tiny paws to point accusingly at the beautiful silver-haired woman.

It looked rather comical, borrowing the tiger's might through the fox.

Laena lightly rolled her eyes, too lazy to pay attention to either the man or the rat.

Time passed second by second.

The sweetgrass began to take effect, drawing great schools of fish to the hook.

Aemon constantly reeled in and cast out, busy as could be.

Laena was initially amazed, then numbly turned her gaze toward the ever-nearing Dragonstone.

"Are you staying the night?"

Aemon suddenly asked.

Laena blanked for a moment. "What?"

Aemon reeled in his line yet again and said matter-of-factly, "On Dragonstone! I can treat you to grilled fish."

A voyage from King's Landing to The Gullet took roughly a day.

Dragonstone was not far away, so if there was no hurry, it could serve as a stopover.

Though Driftmark and Dragonstone were adjacent to each other.

It would be even more convenient for Laena to return home.

"Sure!"

Laena agreed without hesitation. She dejectedly put away her fishing rod and smiled. "You treat me to grilled fish, and I'll show you around Dragonmont."

Aemon furrowed his little brows.

This woman really has a good mindset. She got skunked this badly and can still laugh.

Pointing toward Dragonstone, Laena introduced, "Dragonmont has hatched two young dragons. One is a glittering gold, and the other is an inky cobalt blue. You'll definitely like them."

Every Targaryen was a color fanatic, especially when it came to handsome dragons.

Her little cousin would surely go crazy for them too.

Aemon's eyes lit up. He had indeed taken the bait.

He really wanted a dragon of his own.

Failing that, touching one to gather some Magic Essence would do.

As they spoke, the sailboat changed course.

Dragonstone was now close at hand.

"Screech!!"

Suddenly, a sharp cry rang out.

Startled, Aemon hurriedly looked toward the sound.

On Dragonstone's East Coast, among the reefs not far from the beach.

A petite Pale Grey-White Dragon suddenly appeared.

Aemon stared intently.

The Pale Grey-White Dragon plunged into the sea, seized a Silver-Scaled Sea Fish in its jaws, then shot into the thin clouds in a flash.

That was all he saw.

Its illusory pale grey-white scales allowed it to vanish into the clouds.

A natural master of concealment.

"Do you know that dragon?"

Aemon asked blankly.

Laena's expression turned solemn. She grabbed him and pulled him toward the bow, quietly warning, "That's a Wild Dragon. It's best not to provoke it."

Wild Dragons had strange temperaments. Better to avoid them whenever possible.

No one knew when Dragonstone had gained another Wild Dragon. From the looks of it, it was still in its juvenile stage.

Dragged away by force, Aemon came to his senses and anxiously said, "My fish! I haven't reeled in my fish yet!"

"I'll have someone collect them later."

Laena would not hear otherwise, allowing the fish in the basket to flop onto the deck.

It was absolutely not a petty act of revenge because she could not catch any fish herself!

At noon.

The sailboat resumed its course, moving farther and farther away from Dragonstone.

Aemon lay over the railing, his fair little face filled with tragic despair.

"My dragon! I didn't get to go ashore!"

He had already been prepared.

Why would they not let him land on the island and begin a grand dragon-taming adventure?

Laena wore a blue dress, her shapely hips resting against the railing as she watched his misery from nearby.

Aemon reached out a hand, trying to salvage the lost opportunity.

They had originally planned to go ashore and rest, but Lady Rhea had suddenly ordered them to leave Blackwater Bay today.

"Mom, why?"

Aemon's face fell, as though all his strength and tricks had abandoned him.

Lady Rhea's face was frosty as she coldly said, "Your father is back. He treats his niece's fief as his own."

The implication was that even meeting him would feel filthy.

Aemon froze in surprise. "Wasn't he fighting a war?"

"He won."

Lady Rhea said coldly, "Lady Laena received word that your father, cornered like a dog, entered the Stepstones alone to lure the enemy deep in. He killed Crabfeeder in a one-on-one duel."

Aemon blinked and looked at Laena beside him.

Laena gave a slight nod, confirming it.

"Seven Hells!"

Aemon slapped his forehead, unsure whether to be worried or happy.

His father Daemon returning victorious should have been a good thing.

But given the relationship between husband and wife, father and son, it was truly hard to say.

"And Uncle just sent reinforcements."

Aemon felt utterly helpless.

Alicent had told him that Uncle Viserys had finally found his conscience and sent troops to support his isolated, helpless brother.

He had intended to make a heroic entrance and mend their brotherly bond.

But everyone had forgotten one thing.

Daemon was known as the Rogue Prince, the very embodiment of cunning and valor.

A ruthless man with such a strong epic aura, one worthy of having a book written about him alone, could not be judged by common sense.

Lady Rhea folded her arms across her chest and questioned, "Are you coming with me, or staying on Dragonstone?"

Aemon shook his head. "I'll stay with you."

"Good. Then be quiet."

Lady Rhea seemed to have been triggered. The mention of Daemon immediately set off her temper, and even her words became sarcastic.

Aemon had no choice.

If he stayed on Dragonstone, he would most likely encounter his victorious father, Daemon.

But father and son had little affection between them, so there was no need to meet.

Whooo—

Suddenly, the watchtower sounded a horn.

Sensing something, Laena said her farewells in advance. "Driftmark is up ahead. I'm getting off."

"I'll miss you."

Aemon was exceedingly perfunctory.

Laena was both amused and annoyed. She bent down until they were at eye level, then pinched Aemon's chubby cheeks with her fingers. "I promised Rhaenyra I'd look after you. Later, I'll ride Vhagar and see you off for the last stretch."

Aemon's perspective was rather unique. Staring at the ample curves nearly bursting from her bodice, he blanked out.

Compared to her, Rhaenyra was utterly outclassed.

"Bye-bye. Next time, I'll invite you to visit Driftmark."

Laena seemed addicted to pinching him. Her pale fingertips kneaded his cheeks for a while before she reluctantly let go.

Only after she turned and left.

Aemon slowly came back to himself and said indignantly, "What a presumptuous person. You're really presumptuous."

She could just pinch this king's cheeks because her chest was big?

He had not gotten to visit Dragonstone, and now his traveling companion was leaving too.

Aemon could not help feeling discouraged. He returned to the stern and continued fishing.

Targaryen men rejected the temptations of beauty.

Fishing was the true path.

Then he found the fish basket at the stern completely empty.

Aemon was dumbfounded.

The basket had been knocked over, and the wet deck bore charred marks as though scorched by fire. Half a fish bone was still left behind.

Aemon crouched down and picked up the pitiful half of the fish bone.

Then he tilted his head toward the clouds on the horizon.

"Fish Thief!"