Dragon Song of the Smoking Sea

The visions surged like a tide. Beside a towering spire, Lonzell rode Vomysor into battle against a larger dragon, ultimately trampling it into the sea. On an uninhabited island, he fought three dragons smaller than Vomysor and, at great cost, killed all three. In the strange jungles of Sothoryos, he battled long-winged dragons; on the Great Grass Sea of the Dothraki, he hunted giant elephants; and across the vast Summer Sea, he preyed on surfacing sea monsters.

At last, the visions faded. Lonzell and Vomysor returned to reality.

The countless battles within the illusion had been deeply etched into the boy's body. It seemed as though a long time had passed, but to those on the ground, only an instant had gone by.

Lonzell slowly climbed down from the dragon's back and accepted the clothes Lynn handed him. Vomysor gave the crowd an uninterested sweep of its gaze, then turned toward Silverwing and roared several times.

"The ruins of Valyria are not a place to linger," Lonzell said. "We'll leave as soon as possible. Valar, ride Silverwing and bring up the rear. Practice your flying while you're at it."

Valar nodded heavily and, without another word, climbed back onto Silverwing's back.

The two giant dragons took off one after the other, leading everyone away from the ruins.

Perhaps because their earlier hunt for Fire Dragon Worms had cleared the monsters from this area, the journey back went far more smoothly.

The group reached the shore where they had landed in half the time it had taken to arrive. They boarded the small boats they had come in, and propelled by magic, the boats swiftly and steadily left the ruins of Valyria behind.

Somehow, it seemed as if something had helped ensure that everything went smoothly.

When the two giant dragons broke through the clouds and landed on the Valaerys fleet's flagship, the Silent Lord, the ship's sailors and soldiers erupted.

The Dragonlord had returned.

The crew rushed about spreading the news. The warships quickly weighed anchor and set sail, joining up with the main force cruising farther out.

When the main Valaerys fleet saw the dragons roaring through the clouds and arriving above them, the same frenzy swept through the fleet once more.

News was like the wind.

Nothing could stop it from spreading.

Word that dragons were circling above the Valaerys fleet was soon carried back to Valantis by passing Valantis merchant ships.

"What did you say?"

Bericio Maegya shoved aside the slave girl attending him, then seized the messenger by the collar. "Dragons appeared above the Valaerys fleet?"

"My lord, it is absolutely true." The messenger was also a nobleman. He had not believed it at first either, until more and more people began spreading the news and it was confirmed by ships returning from the sea.

"What kind of dragons? How large? How many?"

"The captains who returned said there were two dragons. One was enormous, with bronze-colored scales. The other was slightly smaller and entirely silver."

The well-informed Bericio immediately recalled the names of two familiar dragons. Delight rose within him.

The Black Wall nobles of Valantis had tamed dragons. This was surely the gods blessing Valantis's great cause of restoring Valyria's glory.

"Quick, summon the Tiger Party councilors—no, go find Doran. Have him take the Dragonlord's Crown from the treasury. Prepare ships at once to welcome our new Dragonlord."

Bericio laughed aloud. He seemed to have forgotten that the Tiger Party had only just offended Lonzell, and that they had long stood opposed to the Valaerys family.

"Tell His Majesty the Dragonlord that Valantis is willing to support him as Emperor of Valyria, so long as his dragons fight for Valantis."

"Yes, my lord."

Visama Palace.

Lady Cleophina Visama received the news almost at the same time. She frowned tightly as she looked at Governor Vagadu, who had arrived breathlessly.

"The Valaerys boy deceived us," Lady Cleophina said calmly. "He did not go east to open a sea route. He went to the ruins of Valyria."

"That's impossible!"

Vagadu cried out in disbelief.

"The ruins of Valyria are a dead land. No ship can survive the Smoking Sea. Not even dragons—Lady Cleophina, have you forgotten Balerion back then?"

"I have not forgotten," Lady Cleophina said. "But the fact is that the boy has tamed dragons and is returning with his fleet."

She continued, staring into Vagadu's eyes, "I do not believe you fail to understand what this means. The Tiger Party has already sent ships to receive him. If Lonzell Valaerys falls to the Tiger Party—"

"The Tiger Party is dreaming," Vagadu said, pacing back and forth uneasily. "With the Valaerys family's teachings, Lonzell will certainly understand which side he should stand with. Aegon Targaryen did not join the Tiger Party either. That already says a great deal."

"But we cannot take that risk." Lady Cleophina rose to her feet. "We cannot afford the cost of the Tiger Party's revival and another war. Governor Vagadu, what do you intend to do?"

"I will send envoys immediately," Vagadu said. "Lonzell is a clever boy. He will surely understand what is at stake."

"Not enough." Lady Cleophina made her decision.

"I have already sent envoys to Pentos, where Prince Reggio will inform the Dragonlord on the Iron Throne."

Lady Cleophina said.

"I believe their reaction to a foreign Dragonlord taming dragons will work in our favor."