Dance of the Dragons "I"

"Don't worry. There'll always be a place for us to prove ourselves."

Aemon was perceptive. Grinning, he bumped his thin shoulder against hers.

Rhaenyra hurriedly lowered her head, hiding her feelings behind her brow.

"The Small Council isn't what worries me most. They're still beholden to the royal family."

Rhaenyra rubbed her brow and said wistfully, "Baelor is brave, but he's only a child, and he's gone so far away to the battlefield. It feels as though my heart is being fried in oil."

Especially lately, when she had spent so many nights unable to sleep.

Even after she lay down, the sound of her child crying echoed in her ears, as if it would crush her heart to pieces.

"What are you considering, then?"

Mysaria leaned forward, meeting her eyes directly.

The Queen was a woman, and women were naturally tenderhearted and afraid of war.

With her child on the battlefield, her worries grew by the day.

Rhaenyra thought it over carefully. "I think Essos is on the right track. We should bring Rhaegar back to take charge."

"You can oversee matters here. All you need is a little help."

Mysaria furrowed her brow slightly.

"That's not the same." Rhaenyra was calm as she murmured, "I can't shake the feeling that something major is about to happen. The children's father needs to be here."

She closed her eyes and tried to smooth her deeply furrowed brow.

Mysaria's eyes grew thoughtful. She said bluntly, "If you've made up your mind, I can send a message by raven."

Those two murderous uncle-and-nephew were stationed in Essos. The Rebellion couldn't withstand the fury of dragonfire.

Withdrawing at the right time would be a sensible choice.

"Good. You write the letter."

Rhaenyra agreed readily. Taking several petitions from her drawer, she began to