The Reward

On the morning of the Small Council meeting, inside the king's study atop Maegor's Hold.

King Viserys I sat at the head of the long table.

Prince Aemond stood a step away at his father's side, his gaze calmly sweeping over the faces on either side of the table.

These men were the core of the realm, the ones keeping the Seven Kingdoms running.

Hand of the King Otto Hightower sat in the first seat to the king's left.

Master of Coin Lyman Beesbury sat opposite Otto. The old man, past fifty, hailed from the Beesbury family of the Reach.

Master of Laws Jasper Wylde sat beside Lyman, a balding, portly nobleman.

The Master of Whisperers, Larys Strong, sat midway down the table. Known as the Clubfoot, he was leisurely sipping wine from his cup.

But when Aemond's gaze passed over him, Larys raised his eyes slightly and met the prince's look with a polite smile on his lips.

Aemond looked at the Clubfoot and sneered inwardly.

The Castellan of Harrenhal, Larys Strong.

A year ago, his father, Lord of Harrenhal Lyonel Strong, had been the Hand of the King.

His elder brother, Harwin Strong, had been Princess Rhaenyra's lover and the true father of her three bastards.

House Strong had also been a staunch member of the Blacks.

But a sudden fire had consumed Harrenhal, killing the old lord and his eldest son, Harwin. His second son, Larys, had naturally inherited the title.

And before long, Otto Hightower, newly returned to the Hand's position, had brought him onto the Small Council as Master of Whisperers.

Ruthless, Aemond thought.

He'd murdered his father and brother, eliminating the Blacks' most important pillar on the Small Council. He'd inherited Harrenhal and cleared the way for Otto to return as Hand.

Now House Strong had turned to the Greens.

Master of Ships Tyland Lannister sat opposite Larys. The Westerlands lord's younger brother was around forty.

But more than half of the Kingdom Navy under his command had been won over by his predecessor as Master of Ships, the Sea Snake, Corlys.

He was a Master of Ships in name only.

Ser Criston Cole, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, stood not far from the door.

Grand Maester Meuros sat at the far end of the table. As a scholar, he was always ready to offer the king counsel.

"Let us begin." Viserys broke the silence in the room.

Hand of the King Otto spoke first. "Your Majesty, first, regarding the cultivation of the Crownlands..."

The meeting dragged on.

Taxes, grain reserves, road repairs, disputes among the Crownlands' lords...

The tedious, complicated business of state washed over the Small Council like an endless tide, wave after wave.

Aemond stood silently, occasionally handing his father documents that needed signing or passing him warm water mixed with honey when Viserys coughed.

"...Therefore, I recommend reducing the mill tax on the south bank of the Blackwater Bay by thirty percent, to encourage more farmers to reclaim wasteland." Lyman Beesbury finished his lengthy report and looked up at the king.

Viserys rubbed his temple and nodded wearily. "Approved. Anything else?"

"Your Majesty," Lyman hesitated, then turned his gaze to Aemond. "There is one more matter... Prince Aemond came to me yesterday and requested a withdrawal of one hundred thousand Gold Dragons from the treasury."

The meeting room fell instantly silent.

Every eye turned to Aemond. One hundred thousand Gold Dragons was no small sum. It was enough to equip an elite force of a thousand men or build a midsized castle.

Viserys turned to look at him as well, curiosity in his eyes rather than reproach. "Aemond? What do you need so much money for?"

Aemond met his father's gaze and explained, "I want to expand the manor you granted me, Father."

"It's near the Kingswood, in a good location, but the existing buildings are far too simple. I plan to build a castle there."

Aemond spoke casually, but Hand of the King Otto knew the truth.

Not long ago, Aemond had indeed asked for fifty thousand Gold Dragons through Ser Kade, House Hightower's representative in King's Landing.

Afterward, his manor by the river had begun recruiting workers. More than five hundred were already laboring there, including experienced stonemasons, carpenters, and blacksmiths.

At Aemond's request, House Hightower had also sent several knights to be stationed there and train the workers.

He was building up his own power. Otto was glad to see it.

"A castle..." Viserys murmured.

He regarded his second son with a complicated look, then thought of how the boy could command two dragons...

The king raised his head and looked at the Master of Coin. "Lyman, then grant him two hundred thousand Gold Dragons."

"Two hundred thousand?!" The old Lyman Beesbury nearly jumped out of his chair.

"Your Majesty! That... that is far too generous! The treasury may be full, but an expenditure of this size must be considered carefully!"

"After decades of savings under King Jaehaerys and Your Majesty, the treasury holds only a little over three million Gold Dragons. To withdraw two hundred thousand at once—"

Hearing the Master of Coin trying to reject his decision, Viserys cut him off coldly. "Aemond is my son."

"How can this money be considered generous?"

"My son needs a castle worthy of his station."

"And that land will become his domain."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the table. "As for the size of his domain, it could be expanded a little..."

His words left everyone astonished.

An independent domain? That meant Aemond would no longer be merely a prince. He would be a lord with his own lands, army, and treasury.

Hand of the King Otto said nothing, evidently wishing to avoid any appearance of favoritism.

Master of Laws Jasper immediately spoke up. "Your Majesty is wise! Prince Aemond is exceptionally gifted and truly deserves this honor."

The Master of Whisperers, Larys, gently set down his cup and smiled in agreement. "Your Majesty, this will also strengthen the royal family's power around King's Landing."

Master of Ships Tyland Lannister hesitated, then nodded as well. "I support Your Majesty's decision, too."

Though Grand Maester Meuros furrowed his brow—Viserys was clearly doting on Prince Aemond too much—he wouldn't comment on the matter.

Only Lyman Beesbury objected. "Your Majesty, even if you wish to grant him land, the matter requires consideration."

"The area near the Kingswood is royal land, but it has also long served as the royal family's hunting grounds. If it becomes Prince Aemond's domain, what of the other members of the royal family?"

"Other members of the royal family?" Viserys's voice suddenly turned cold. "My eldest son, Aegon, is on Tidepool Island. My eldest daughter, Rhaenyra, has Dragonstone. My youngest son, Daeron, is at House Hightower."

"Aemond is the only child of mine at my side. What is wrong with granting him land near King's Landing?"

He gave Lyman no chance to say anything more and announced his decision. "My mind is made up. The manor by the river and the surrounding hundred miles will be granted to Aemond as his domain."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for this generous grant." Aemond bowed, sincerely expressing his gratitude.

At that, Viserys turned and asked, "Have you decided what to call your domain?"

Aemond smiled. "I would ask Your Majesty to name it for me."

"Then let it be called Dragon's Roost. Lyman, withdraw two hundred thousand Gold Dragons from the treasury for the castle's construction."

"Otto and Jasper, draw up the official documents and inform the Seven Kingdoms, confirming Aemond's lordship over Dragon's Roost."

Aemond smiled at Master of Coin Lyman.

Now even His Majesty favors me.

The Small Council is full of my people.

How can you possibly compete with me?

He also had Rhaenyra to thank. As heir to the throne, she'd been consumed by her old grudge against Queen Alicent.

Then there were the rumors about her bastards, along with all the malicious gossip about her.

Because of it all, she couldn't bear to stay in King's Landing by the king's side, and spent her days shuttling between Dragonstone and Tidepool Island.

Noticing the prince's gaze, Lyman could only look helpless.

Aemond hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. Two hundred thousand Gold Dragons, on top of the fifty thousand he'd received from House Hightower, would be enough for now.

Dragon's Roost... The name was decent enough.

The meeting fell silent. There seemed to be nothing else to discuss.

Viserys looked at the assembled members of the Small Council. "Anything else? If not, we'll end here for today..."

"Your Majesty," Hand of the King Otto suddenly said. "There is one more matter."

"Envoys from the Triarchy have been waiting for some time. You agreed to receive them yesterday."

Viserys paused, then said, "Would you look at that—I nearly forgot. Let them in."

Otto nodded to Ser Cole, who stood by the door.

Cole opened the door and announced to those outside, "The king will receive the envoys of the Triarchy!"

From outside came the sound of footsteps, drawing nearer.