"Let him in."
Aegon's quill traced a line of ink across the map, his voice level.
The tent flap lifted, and Marlos entered, still in his armor, his face drawn with the exhaustion of a sleepless night.
"Your Highness," he began, his voice hoarse. "We discovered something while taking inventory of Harry's belongings."
Aegon's quill did not stop. "Speak."
"Harry prepared a special gift that he intended to present to you after the banquet."
"After last night's upheaval, the matter was left unresolved. This morning, the servant responsible for guarding it came to ask what should be done with this object... this person."
He paused and lowered his voice. "Apparently, she's a young woman, but her hair and eye colors are exceptionally pure, unlike those of ordinary Valyrian descendants."
"Harry gave strict orders to keep her secret and house her separately. I... did not dare decide on my own."
Pure blood?
The quill in Aegon's hand stopped.
Harry Strickland, a Blackfyre remnant, had prepared a woman with pure Valyrian features as an offering at a banquet where he would swear allegiance to Young Griff?
This could not simply be flattery. The Blackfyres themselves had Valyrian blood. Why go to the trouble of offering another?
Unless... her bloodline was special enough to serve as some kind of "compensation."
"Where is she?"
"Just outside the tent, guarded by two soldiers."
"Bring her in."
"Yes!" Marlos visibly relaxed, then turned and hurried out.
Aegon set down his quill and leaned back in his chair.
He intended to see what sort of offering she was.
A moment later, Marlos returned, stepping aside to admit a slender figure wrapped in a coarse, dark gray cloak.
Two fully armed guards from the Blood Oath Band followed close behind and stationed themselves just inside the entrance.
Marlos