The skies of Stonedance

Autumn was the most beautiful season on Massey's Hook.

This narrow strip of land, a necessary passage for anyone approaching King's Landing by sea from the south, had belonged to the Storm Kings of the Stormlands before the War of Conquest.

But House Massey and House Bar Emmon had been friendly with the Targaryens of Dragonstone, and ultimately sided with House Targaryen when Aegon the Conqueror took up arms.

After the Red Keep rose beside the Blackwater Rush and the Crownlands were carved away from the Stormlands, Massey's Hook became part of House Targaryen's directly ruled lands, loyal to the Iron Throne generation after generation.

Rhaenyra liked it here. The sea breeze was fresher than in King's Landing, and the air held neither the stench of Flea Bottom nor the scent of intrigue that never quite left the Red Keep's corridors.

Stonedance stood at the highest point on the eastern side of Massey's Hook, facing the Narrow Sea. Its white stone walls gleamed in the sunlight. From the battlements, the sea could be seen on two sides, and in clear weather, even the outlines of Dragonstone and High Tide were visible.

She had already spent two days here.

More precisely, she had waited here for two days-waiting for the great ship carrying her entourage to creep along the coast and catch up.

Syrax had flown from King's Landing to Massey's Hook in only a few hours, while the ship had taken nearly three days.

"Princess, won't you truly consider staying a few more days?" Jeyne Massey held Rhaenyra's arm, her voice full of reluctance to part.

She was the second daughter of the Earl of Stonedance, a few years younger than Rhaenyra, with chestnut hair, brown eyes, a scattering of freckles, and two dimples when she smiled.

When she had accompanied her father to King's Landing to pay homage as a young girl, she and Rhaenyra had become fast friends at their first meeting.

"I'd like to stay longer, too." Rhaenyra sighed. "But the ship has already reached the harbor. I can't leave them waiting."

They stood in Stonedance's garden, before a broad, neatly trimmed lawn. Beyond the lawn lay a cliff, and beneath the cliff, the blue sea. The sunshine was lovely, the sea breeze gentle, and a few gulls circled in the distance.

Aegon was not beside Rhaenyra.

More precisely, Rhaenyra thought he was nearby-a quarter of an hour ago, he had still been sitting on the lawn playing with Sunfyre, holding the golden dragon's wingtip and pretending to comb hair that did not exist.

Sunfyre had kept his eyes half closed, wearing an expression that said, I've put up with you long enough, but had never moved away.

Rhaenyra had been too absorbed in her conversation with Jeyne to notice that the lawn behind her was now empty.

"Is that your brother, Prince Aegon?" Jeyne pointed into the distance, her eyes shining. "He looks so handsome on his dragon!"

Rhaenyra smiled and nodded. "Yes, he-"

She stopped.

Her smile froze.

Aegon was riding on Sunfyre's back.

Sunfyre stood in the middle of the lawn, his golden scales gleaming like molten gold in the sunlight.

He spread his wings-wings already broad enough to shade nearly half the little garden-

And Aegon sat just behind his shoulders, his two short legs gripping the dragon's spine, one hand clutching a raised scale on Sunfyre's neck while the other waved toward them.

"Aegon!" Rhaenyra's voice tore through the garden's peace.

Sunfyre had already taken flight.

With only a light leap and two beats of his wings, he rose into the air with the three-year-old boy on his back.

The golden shape, as large as a full-grown horse, swept over the lawn, over the flowers, and over the dumbstruck Jeyne's head. After circling once above the garden, he flew out toward the sea.

Rhaenyra froze.

Jeyne froze.

Ser Gormon Massey, who had just entered through the castle gates, froze as well.

Gormon was Jeyne's elder brother and the heir to Stonedance. In his early twenties, he was tall and sturdy, with House Massey's distinctive dark brown curls and a pair of steady gray eyes.

He had intended to pay his respects to the princess and prince in the garden, only to see a three-year-old child riding a dragon out to sea.

"Seven above..." he murmured, nearly dropping the helmet in his hand.

More cries of surprise came from behind him.

The great ship carrying the entourage had reached the harbor that morning. Tyland Lannister had brought everyone to rejoin the princess, and they were now approaching from the castle.

The Cargyll brothers walked at the front, followed by Larys and Floris, with Garwin Hightower and a few attendants bringing up the rear.

Everyone saw it.

Sunfyre circled above the sea, his golden scales reflecting the sunlight like a flame burning in the sky. The tiny figure on his back, silver hair streaming in the wind, turned to wave at those on shore.

Arryk Cargyll's scabbard struck the stone steps with a dull clunk.

"The prince..." Alec Cargyll's voice sounded dry. "Is he flying?"

"He's flying," Erryk answered woodenly.

"He's only three," Alec said.

"I know," Erryk said.

They exchanged a look, both remembering how Aegon had helped them out of a predicament at breakfast a few days earlier.

Then, they had thought the prince exceptionally clever. Now, "exceptionally clever" seemed woefully inadequate.

Tyland Lannister stood on the steps, looking up at the sky, the map in his hand fluttering in the sea breeze. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again.

Larys Strong leaned on his cane, his gray eyes narrowing slightly as he watched the golden trail in the sky. The faintest smile touched his lips, but no one noticed.

Floris covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide. "Prince Aegon!"

Garwin Hightower stood at the very back of the group, still carrying the luggage he had brought off the ship.

As he watched his nephew flying through the sky on a dragon, only one thought filled his mind: Does my sister know about this?

Rhaenyra finally recovered her senses.

She gathered her skirts and rushed toward the edge of the lawn. Syrax lay sunning herself on a nearby rock, and at the sound of her footsteps, she lazily raised her head.

"Syrax! Get up! Bring him back!" Rhaenyra shouted in High Valyrian, her voice almost breaking into tears.

Syrax tilted her head, looked at her, then at the golden speck in the sky. She gave a lazy rumble and tucked her head beneath her wing again.

She knew Sunfyre. She had carried her rider and her rider's brother with the little fellow accompanying them countless times, from King's Landing to Dragonstone, from Dragonstone to Driftmark...

Besides, the little fellow had often secretly taken his little rider on low flights inside the Dragonpit. Every time, it had happened right under her eyes. She was long accustomed to it.

But how could Rhaenyra have known any of that? All she knew was that her three-year-old brother was riding a dragon without a saddle, out over the sea.

Just then, Sunfyre slowly descended.

He flew back from the sea, unhurried and steady, as though he carried a sack of feathers rather than a three-year-old child. He circled once above the garden, then settled gently onto the lawn, folded his wings, and lowered his head.

Aegon slid off his back, stumbled, steadied himself, and looked up to see Rhaenyra's face.

He knew that expression all too well.

Two years ago in the Kingswood, she had worn it when facing the boar. A few days ago at the Small Council, she had worn it when facing Viserys.

But this time was different-there was no anger in her expression, no grim resolve, only...

Fear.

"Sister-" Aegon spoke first, knowing that he had accidentally let his secret slip.

"Aegon Targaryen!"

But Rhaenyra had already rushed over, scooped him off the ground, and clutched him tightly to her chest.

Her arms trembled, her breath came fast, and her heart pounded as though it might burst through her chest.

"You scared me to death!" Her voice was muffled against his hair. "How could you! You're only three! Sunfyre is only three! No saddle! No straps! Out over the sea! How could you!"

Aegon could barely breathe in her embrace, but he still reached out a little hand and patted her back. "Sister, I'm fine. Sunfyre is very steady."

Sunfyre nodded beside them, rumbling his agreement.

Rhaenyra glared at him. The golden dragon immediately drew his head back and pretended to study the ants on the ground.

Ser Gormon Massey stepped forward and dropped to one knee. "Princess. Prince Aegon. Forgive my discourtesy, but does the prince... do this often?"

"Not often," Aegon poked his head out of Rhaenyra's arms to add in his own defense. "Occasionally."

Rhaenyra pushed his head back down. "Be quiet."

Gormon's lips twitched as he suppressed a smile. He rose, looking at Aegon with newfound respect.

Flying on a dragon at three was unheard of even in House Targaryen's history.

Aegon the Conqueror had first mounted Balerion at twelve, and King Jaehaerys had tamed Vermithor, the dragon hatched alongside him, at eight. Yet this child before him had climbed onto a dragon's back himself at three.

Gormon unconsciously overlooked the fact that the child's father, Viserys the "Young King," had become the last rider of Balerion the Black Dread at seventeen, comparing the child instead to the two greatest Targaryen kings in the Iron Throne's history.

Tyland Lannister finally stepped onto the lawn. He bowed to Rhaenyra first, then looked at Aegon with a complicated expression.

"Prince Aegon," he said, choosing his words carefully, "if I may be so bold as to ask, do you... often fly like this?"

Aegon glanced at Rhaenyra. Her eyes were warning him: Say the wrong thing and you're finished.

"Occasionally," Aegon repeated obediently.

Tyland looked at Aegon, then at Sunfyre, and finally at Syrax-the great dragon was lazily basking in the sun, utterly untroubled by everything that had just happened.

He understood. This was not the first time. Even Syrax thought nothing of it.

He took a deep breath and decided not to ask any more questions. Some things were better left unknown.

The Cargyll brothers approached and knelt before Aegon.

"Prince Aegon," Alec Cargyll said, his voice deeper than usual, "we failed in our duty to protect you and did not notice in time that you-"

"Get up." Aegon freed one hand from Rhaenyra's embrace and waved it. "I climbed on secretly myself. It had nothing to do with you."

He paused, then added, "Besides, you didn't know I could fly on Sunfyre."

Alec and Erryk exchanged a glance, then both lowered their heads. Not out of humility, but because they did not want the prince to see their expressions-

A three-year-old child was making excuses for them, when they were supposed to be protecting him.

"You are merciful, my prince," Erryk said, his voice a little hoarse.

Holding Aegon, Rhaenyra watched as the anger inside her slowly subsided, replaced by a feeling she could not quite name. This little fellow had nearly caused a disaster himself, yet he was still thinking of others.

She looked down at Aegon. The boy gazed back at her with his violet eyes, apologetic and pleading.

"We'll talk when we get back," she said, her voice softening.

Aegon nodded and obediently rested against her shoulder. Today really had been his fault. After all, this had been his first chance to fly outdoors since he had begun riding his dragon. How could he not have been excited? He simply had not expected to be caught.

Rhaenyra turned to Jeyne with an apologetic smile. "Jeyne, I'm sorry, but I must go. The ships are already in the harbor. If we don't leave soon, Father will send someone to hurry us along."

Jeyne stepped forward and took her hand. "Princess, you may return whenever you wish. Stonedance's gates will always be open to you."

She glanced at Aegon and lowered her voice. "Your brother is truly remarkable."

Rhaenyra gave a wry smile. "So remarkable he nearly stopped my heart."

They smiled at each other. Then Rhaenyra said, "In a few years, once your father agrees, come to King's Landing and be my companion. I need someone I can talk to."

Jeyne's eyes lit up. "Truly?"

"Truly." Rhaenyra nodded earnestly.

They embraced in farewell. Ser Gormon Massey knelt to salute the prince and princess. As he rose, he said to Aegon, "My prince, the skies of Stonedance will always be yours."

Aegon lifted his head from Rhaenyra's shoulder and smiled at him.

The group began moving toward the harbor. Tyland led the way, the Cargyll brothers flanked the princess, Larys and Floris followed behind, and Garwin once again trudged miserably at the rear with Aegon's luggage.

This time, Rhaenyra did not ride Syrax.

Holding Aegon, she walked up the gangplank and onto the deck. Sunfyre followed. He was much more practiced at crossing the gangplank now, and bounded up to the stern in a few steps, settling in his usual spot with his golden eyes fixed warily on the harbor.

Syrax circled overhead, waiting for the ships to set sail again.

The sails rose and the mooring lines were cast off. Stonedance's white walls grew smaller behind them.

Rhaenyra leaned against the ship's rail, holding Aegon and watching the coastline recede. The sea breeze lifted her long hair, and the setting sun gilded her profile.

"Aegon," she said suddenly.

"Hmm?"

"Next time you want to fly, tell me first."

Aegon looked up at her. Her expression was calm, but the lingering fear had not yet left her eyes.

"All right," he said.

Rhaenyra lowered her head and kissed his forehead.

"Promise."

"Promise."

Sunfyre sneezed at the stern, as though he scorned the siblings' tender moment.

The ships sailed south.

Their next stop was Storm's End, the heart of the Stormlands and the seat of House Baratheon.

There stood walls lashed by howling winds, a great tower that had endured a thousand years, and a duke named Borros Baratheon-

A burly man who, like the wind, was furious yet ever-changing.

Although Rhaenyra's journey was officially meant to "clear her head," everyone knew she was actually "choosing a husband."

Storm's End was her first stop.

Resting against his sister's shoulder, Aegon watched the sun slowly sink over the sea and silently considered how to help Rhaenyra fend off those "candidates" once they reached Storm's End.

He had only just managed to leave Cole and Harwin behind in King's Landing. He could not let someone at Storm's End reap the benefits.

Sunfyre dozed at the stern with his eyes closed, the tip of his tail tapping lightly against the deck, as though saying, Don't worry. I'm keeping watch.

The ships sailed into the dusk.

Storm's End still lay ahead.