Your Highness, It's Time You Married

Vomysor was the first to fold his wings and land steadily on the flat ground before the Dragonpit. The mountain-sized Bronze Fury slowly crawled into the Dragonpit, with Silverwing landing close behind.

The Valaerys family's Dragonpit was similar to the one on Dragonstone. The dragons were not kept in chains, but allowed to build nests and live as they pleased. Dark green Vermax and gray-white Arrax stretched out their necks and roared at the two huge beasts in the nest, then stared at them eagerly. Shadowmare hid in the shadows, its gray-white eyes fixed on Vomysor and Silverwing as well.

Shadowmare was growing at an astonishing pace. Its neck, body, and wingspan seemed to change every day. The only thing that remained the same was its gaunt, skeletal body.

When Vermax and Arrax had first arrived, they had been curious about Shadowmare, but they soon kept their distance. After all, that dragon's appearance was rather... strange.

Valar was the first to climb down from Silverwing. After gently stroking her scales a few times, he turned and ran to Rey and Lucerys, ruthlessly ruffling the two boys' hair.

"Flying wore me out, Brother. Is there lamb today?"

"Yes." Lonzell slowly climbed down from Vomysor's back. Vomysor turned his head and lightly nudged Lonzell's raised hand with his enormous snout before lazily drawing his head back. "Good work this time, old fellow."

"Once the dragons are done eating, send the remaining lamb to the kitchens. No strong liquor. That goes for you lot too. Where's Little Jace?" One sentence from Lonzell silenced Valar. Still, Lonzell had only said no strong liquor. Fruit wine and light ale should be fine, right?

"Little Jace is at Bayleaf Tower," Rey answered first.

Lonzell nodded. "Good. Little Lu, go find Little Jace after feeding the dragons. We'll eat at Silver Blood Tower."

Prince Lucerys nodded.

The Dragonpit Silver Guard carefully drove a flock of sheep into the Dragonpit. Vomysor glanced at the flock, and the guards hurriedly withdrew.

A blast of scorching Dragonfire swallowed the sheep before they could react. Heat swept through the Dragonpit, but none of the boys seemed bothered. They did not even break a sweat.

Lonzell watched Lucerys stare unblinkingly at the roasting lamb and could not help letting out a soft sigh.

When Vomysor finished breathing fire, only a pile of roasted lamb remained at the entrance. The two great dragons tore into the meat first, while the three smaller dragons crowded over and gulped down the fat roasted sheep.

During the war, Vomysor and Silverwing had eaten plenty of horseflesh and human flesh. They had certainly enjoyed themselves. On the journey back, the two dragons had even hunted whales, so they did not eat much now before returning to their respective nests to sleep.

The remaining lamb was finished off by the three smaller dragons. Shadowmare might have been skin and bones, but its appetite was not small. When Arrax tried to snatch food from it, it even roared back a few times.

Of course, there was more than enough meat.

The boys waited for the dragons to finish their meal, helped clean their scales, and only then returned to Silver Blood Tower.

Dinner had already been prepared. Jacaerys returned with the servants as well, clutching a thick book.

Dinner in King's Landing was not lavish. The staples were white bread and rice mixed with sauce. Balance Vale was well suited to growing rice, so Lonzell had ordered large paddies opened there. There was roasted lamb, sheep offal soup, and a stew of chopped sausage and onions. There was also fresh cabbage and fruit.

The Valaerys cooks were skilled enough that almost no one spoke at the table.

Only after the dishes had been completely cleared did the boys lean back in their chairs with satisfied expressions, digesting their meal.

"Your Highness, a letter from King's Landing." Evans, the assistant maester, pushed open the side door. Seeing the boys sprawled around the long table, he could not help licking the grease from the corner of his mouth. He had enjoyed the same food at Raven Tower, though in smaller portions.

"Good. Thanks, just give it to me." Lonzell, who had been lying back and rubbing his stomach, immediately sat up and took the letter from Evans.

Then the corner of Lonzell's mouth began to twitch.

"Brother, what's wrong?" Valar asked in confusion.

Rey seemed to have guessed something. He exchanged a look with Lucerys, but seeing the clear innocence in Little Lu's eyes, he looked away again.

Jacaerys, on the other hand, seemed to recall some rumors from court and looked at Lonzell with concern.

"So this day finally came."

Lonzell sighed and looked at Valar. "Don't just sit there. This letter concerns you too."

"Eh?"

"Don't 'eh.'" Lonzell unfolded the letter. It was a very, very long one. "King's Landing wants to arrange our marriages as soon as possible." The boy let out a long sigh. "They're afraid the Dornish will try to marry into our families."

"Eh?"

"The letter lists all the eligible girls under the Iron Throne." Lonzell spread the letter flat across the table. "Little Lu, take Rey and get some rest."

Prince Lucerys nodded and pulled Rey, who was wearing a wicked grin, out of the hall.

Jacaerys moved closer instead. He was familiar with noble studies, but the dense array of sigils on the letter still made his scalp tingle.

He could only look at the important parts first.

There were many noble maidens in the Crownlands. Perhaps King's Landing was getting desperate, because it all felt like they were making up the numbers. This included three girls from the Darklyn family of Duskendale, the eldest daughter of the Count of Stokeworth, the Count of Rosby's four-year-old daughter and his sister, the Count of Staunton's daughter, and the Count of Bar Emmon's daughter.

He did not know a single one of them.

Prince Jacaerys was equally baffled. Since when did the Crownlands nobles have so many daughters?

There were few eligible girls in the North. Sir Bennard, regent for Duke Cregan Stark, recommended his own daughter. Count Desmond Manderly of White Harbor recommended his daughter and younger sisters.

Sir Tyland Lannister recommended members of his own family—no fewer than ten Lannister girls. The focus was on Tyshara and Cerelle, the two daughters of his twin elder brother, Duke Jason Lannister. Duke Jason's wife, Lady Joanna Westerling, had also recommended several girls from the Westerling family.

Several Reach houses were enthusiastic. The Florent family believed only a girl from their house was worthy of a dragonriding prince. The Rowan family declared that the above was nonsense, and that they had two eligible girls, both pure and beautiful maidens. Count Tully quietly recommended his second daughter, Sansara, as well as Diana Tully, who knew Lonzell and was still staying temporarily in King's Landing. Lyman Beesbury also recommended his youngest daughter. The Tyrell family remained silent, because they had no eligible girls.

Count Ulfwyn Peake put forward his three-year-old daughter, Myrielle, suggesting they could arrange a betrothal first. Count Peake insisted that his daughter was the most suitable choice.

The Hightower family was comparatively quiet. Their main branch had no eligible daughters either.

The Stormlands were even more direct. Borros wrote directly to King's Landing: I have four daughters. Any one of them will do. Count Caron and Count Swann also recommended girls from their respective families.

Count Edric Dondarrion could only look at his sole remaining son, Jon, and sigh.

Lonzell was sighing too. Politics sometimes turned everything into an incomprehensible mess. He believed the Dornish would soon send a similar letter.

At the end of the letter, the king once again emphasized the alliance between the two families. If the royal family produced a princess, then a Targaryen princess would still be the preferred marriage match.

Lonzell picked up the letter and covered his face with it.

He suddenly felt so tired.

Just then.

A shriek came from outside the window.

Lonzell immediately stood up.

A dragon had arrived.