Nights on Dragonstone were always accompanied by damp sea winds. Yet the howling wind only made the beach seem quieter. Dragons rested upon the shore and cliffs, occasionally rumbling like thunder, but somehow never breaking the beach's tranquility.
Disheveled and reeking of alcohol, Aegon sprawled across the beach. His younger brother had forcibly dragged him out of the tavern again.
"What the hell are you thinking?" Aemond grabbed Aegon by the collar and hauled him upright. "Mother may be foolish, but have you forgotten everything she said? You are the kingdom's rightful heir. A perfect opportunity has fallen into your lap—an opportunity to win over a Dragonlord family whose strength may rival our own—and yet you played dumb in front of them, then ran off to drink with whores?"
"You say that as if you weren't there." Aegon tried to shove Aemond away, only to discover that, drunk as he was, he could not move his younger brother, who had launched into another lecture. "Rightful heir? Father's designated heir is my sister. Do you see any sign that Father intends to name a new one?"
Aemond shoved Aegon hard enough to make him stagger. "Is that all the ambition you have? Don't forget, simply being alive makes us a threat to that slut. Do you think that bitch will allow us to remain and threaten her Strong bastards?"
Aegon fell silent. "B-but I already stopped Mother. If Helaena gives birth to a daughter, she'll marry Rey. Rey has a dragon too, and Uncle Lonzell's family is so... close."
"Do you dare ask Helaena whether she's close to you?" Aemond was nearly driven mad by his older brother. "Never mind whether you can even father a daughter. Even if you do, Rey is fourteen years older than her! Can you wait