"All right, then." Aegon shrugged and stopped refusing.
The two sat on the stools Corlys had pulled out earlier.
Only when Aegon sat down did he notice what the stool was made of-the wood had a distinctive golden hue, its grain as fine as silk, gleaming warmly in the morning light.
This was goldenheart, found only in the Summer Isles. It was not merely a "national treasure" of the islands, but a rare timber whose export the islands' various "kingdoms" strictly prohibited.
The Summer Isles boasted the finest timber in the world. Their hardwoods, bloodwood, ebony, mahogany, purpleheart, yellowwood, burlwood, tigerwood, and ivorywood were sought after in every country. Yet goldenheart alone was not only worth its weight in gold, but impossible to buy even with money.
And Corlys, that old Sea Snake, had not only gotten his hands on it, but casually put it in his hall to use as stools.
Aegon silently marveled at House Velaryon's wealth. He shifted his backside twice on the goldenheart seat, found a comfortable position, then propped his elbows beside the board and picked up an ivory piece.
At first, no one noticed what was happening at the board in the corner.
Rhaenys led the visiting party deeper into the gallery, while Laena acted as their "guide." Standing before a bronze statue from Yi Ti, she explained its origins to Viserys and Alicent-
It was said to have been buried with an ancient emperor of Yi Ti, a Son of Heaven. Corlys had traded three shiploads of spices from Qarth to a Yi Tish merchant for it.
Viserys listened with keen interest, mint tea in hand. Alicent stood beside him, holding Rhaenyra's hand. Now and then, she bent to whisper something in her stepdaughter's ear, making Rhaenyra nod repeatedly.
Daemon still leaned beside