Small Council

Dragonstone.

The salty sea wind swept across the castle's long bridge. Rhaenyra shivered, but with her maid supporting her, she still stood firm despite her swollen belly. The princess looked toward Driftmark, where two black specks were speeding toward the castle.

"Princess, the wind is too strong out here. Perhaps you should..." the maid asked worriedly.

Rhaenyra shook her head firmly. "I cannot stay out of something this important, nor will I sit here and wait for Daemon to bring me the outcome."

This is a ruler's responsibility, she told herself.

Caraxes's fin-like hind legs slapped against the churning sea. With a roar, his long body soared above the cliffs and landed steadily on the long bridge. The Red Queen had arrived a little earlier, circling Dragonstone once before landing on the other side of the bridge. The two Dragonriders dismounted. A soot-covered Rhaenys hurried forward and supported Rhaenyra.

The older princess cast the maid a reproachful glance, but Rhaenyra stopped her. She shook her head, signaling that the maid was not to blame. "I told her to bring me here to wait for you."

The princess looked at Daemon, who approached with his head lowered. "Why did you not tell me at once?"

"You need rest, darling." Daemon rubbed his hands together.

"I am pregnant, not dead." With the older princess and the maid supporting her, Rhaenyra moved to Daemon's side. "A new Dragonlord family has risen, and we have no ability to eliminate them completely. You know what that means."

"The Targaryens are no longer the only dragonlords in the world."

Daemon nodded to the maid, took his wife's arm, and naturally supported her.

"And they possess Vomysor and Silverwing, two old dragons that may have gained powers unknown to us in the ruins of Valyria." Rhaenyra looked into her husband's eyes and continued.

"How did you know?"

Daemon froze. He remembered that the letter had said nothing about the ruins of Valyria.

"I read." Rhaenyra rolled her eyes at Daemon. "Even if Lonzell Varezes possesses mysterious powers, he could not have summoned dragons without the aid of the ruins of Valyria. If magic alone worked, we could not have monopolized dragons for so many years."

"Do you have an idea, Rhaenyra?" Rhaenys asked.

Rhaenyra looked at them both. "Can Meleys and Caraxes guarantee the deaths of Vomysor and Silverwing? And what about the Valaerys family's enormous fleet?"

Rhaenys shook her head. "We cannot be sure whether those two old dragons that emerged from the ruins are still what they once were. If we fight, we will most likely be able to kill Silverwing, but Meleys and Caraxes may die as well."

"We cannot afford the cost of failure," Daemon said. "So I intend to negotiate."

"You want to win them over?"

Rhaenyra stared at Daemon in disbelief.

"Essos cannot tolerate a Dragonlord family with dragons." Daemon supported his wife as they walked. "Valantis will split because of this. The city-states that assassinated Dragonlords during the Century of Blood will fear them, while plotters and warmongers will take up arms. The city-states will descend into chaotic warfare and eventually wear away their fighting spirit."

Rhaenys continued from where Daemon left off. "Essos is too vast and too complicated. Besides, time is truly on our side. The young dragons will eventually be able to take to the skies and fight, and Vhagar will return to her peak in a few years."

At the mention of Vhagar, all three of their faces twisted.

"What terms can you offer them?" Rhaenyra looked into Daemon's eyes. Rhaenys added, "Terms for standing with us, Daemon. My granddaughter is already betrothed to my grandson. You can no longer win them over through marriage."

"The Hightower family in King's Landing cannot either. Her daughter is married to that foolish son of hers. Heh."

Daemon chuckled. "I trust my brother, our king, to offer us the best terms." He kissed his wife on the forehead. "I will bring dragons and an army to you. Trust me."

At that moment, in King's Landing.

This enormous, chaotic city had grown from the small fortress Aegon built at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush during his conquest. As Aegon I unified the Six Kingdoms, the great city rose from the ground. It was said that five hundred thousand people lived within its walls.

The king's red fortress stood atop Aegon's High Hill, its towering structure solemn and imposing. It was said that after the Red Keep was completed, the "tyrant," the "cruel" Maegor, slaughtered every worker to ensure its secrets would never be revealed.

The Red Keep.

The members of Viserys's Small Council watched Queen Alicent Hightower's puzzled expression uneasily. They had no idea why they had been summoned in such haste.

The Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower, understood everything the moment he saw his daughter's expression. The king had not even told his own queen what had happened.

Master of Ships Ser Tyland Lannister and Master of Laws Lord Jasper Wylde exchanged looks, then ultimately decided to say nothing.

Master of Whisperers Lord Larys Strong and Master of Coin Lord Lyman Beesbury stared motionlessly at the jeweled orbs before them, symbols of their authority.

"Where are Grand Maester Mellos and Ser Cole?" Otto finally broke the silence in the hall.

"My lord Hand, we are here." Grand Maester Mellos struggled in while carrying a large stack of books, slowly making his way to his seat.

The handsome Ser Criston Cole, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, followed beside King Viserys I in white armor and a white cloak. As the king's personal guards, the seven white knights of the Kingsguard were generally men of exceptional martial skill and unimpeachable character—or at least, that was how they appeared to the outside world. This was especially true of Criston Cole, the current Lord Commander. Though born low, he possessed fine swordsmanship and a handsome face. After the death of the former Lord Commander, Ser Harrold Westerling, Cole had assumed his duties and was responsible for protecting the entire castle.

The king still wore a trace of hesitation on his face, but in the end, he sat in the seat of honor and placed the king's jeweled orb into its recess.

"My lords, the realm faces a crisis. I can only seek your wisdom."

"At your service, Your Grace." The ministers rose together, bowed slightly to the king, and only then returned to their seats.

"Grand Maester, explain the situation."

Grand Maester Mellos nodded and drew out a letter.

"My lords, word has come from Dragonstone. Lonzell Varezes, a Black Wall noble of Valantis, and his younger brother Valarr Valaerys used magic and other means in the ruins of Valyria to tame Vomysor and Silverwing. It is said that they gained more than one dragon egg as well."

"Impossible!" Otto shot to his feet. He had never lost his composure so completely.

In that instant, everyone in the chamber was shocked.