Resigned, Aegon had no choice but to straighten his collar and follow the Handmaid into Alicent's parlor.
As soon as he stepped through the door, he saw his good mother sitting in an armchair by the fireplace, holding his "virtuous younger brother," little Daeron, in her arms.
The one-year-old infant was curling up quietly in his mother's arms and sucking on his finger. Seeing his eldest brother enter, he blinked those pale purple eyes, grinned for a moment, and went right back to sucking on his finger with deep concentration.
Helaena lay alone by the window, standing on a high stool that had been moved in front of it. With both hands pressed against the stone sill, she stared intently at some direction outside-following her gaze, Aegon saw it was the direction of the Dragonpit.
The dragonpit renovation project he had proposed had already completed its preliminary construction. The habitats of several dragons had been re-planned, while the expanded Dragon Yard and new Dragonpit were still under construction.
Helaena was likely looking at her Dreamfyre.
Ever since the young girl formed a bond with Dreamfyre, most of her time lately-ever since returning from Driftmark-seemed spent pressed against the window facing the Dragonpit, muttering things no one could quite understand, like "They're fighting again" and "Dreamfyre doesn't like the new Mud Dragon."
During the welcoming banquet yesterday, Aegon had listened to her drone on about it for ages.
Still, judging by Aegon's understanding of that "Mud Dragon" Sheepstealer, Dreamfyre's assessment wasn't entirely unfair.
As for the other side of the fireplace-Aegon's gaze fell upon a figure sitting on a low stool, stuffing his face with a Honey Biscuit, and he paused.
Aemond Targaryen-his "rebel brother"-a "mobile spy" planted at his side by mom and dad, plus his elder sister.
When he