Early the next morning, the banquet hall of the Hall of Nine Voyages, which had been bustling late into the night, had already been cleaned spotless by the servants.
Not only had the deep-blue satin tablecloths been replaced and the candlesticks polished to a shine, but even the Myrish carpet Harlan had wrinkled by rolling across it had been removed and replaced with a brand-new one.
The sea breeze poured through the open floor-to-ceiling windows, carrying the distinctive salty tang of the Narrow Sea and the crisp freshness of morning dew, sweeping away the lingering smells of wine and greasy roast meat.
As the master of the castle, our lord the "Sea Snake"-Earl Corlys Velaryon-had arranged a private meal that morning especially for the members of the royal family.
Though called a banquet, it was really more of a simple yet refined family breakfast.
The long table was covered with pale-silver linen and laden with freshly baked oat bread, honey-soaked figs, smoked ham sliced thin as cicada wings, several plates of fresh oysters just delivered from the docks at Hull, roasted cod drizzled with lemon juice, and hot wine flavored with cinnamon and cardamom, specially fetched by servants from the warehouses at Spicetown early that morning.
Viserys sat at the head of the table. After the endless "surprises" Aegon had brought him since the previous afternoon, followed by a night's rest, he looked noticeably more spirited.
Most of the pallor seasickness had left on his face had faded by now. He held a steaming cup of mint tea and spoke quietly with Alicent beside him.
Rhaenyra sat on Alicent's other side, her gaze occasionally drifting toward Aegon-
The little bastard had never come to her room last night to "beg forgiveness." Instead, she herself had fallen asleep while lying on