The dim candlelight spilling through the neighboring window finally went out in the night wind off the Narrow Sea.
Aegon stood by the window, his fingertips still tingling with the chill of the dragonglass frame. As he watched the room sink into darkness, his anxious heart finally settled.
Rhaenyra had fallen asleep. His sister, who always sheltered him beneath her wings, had finally let down all her defenses tonight and surrendered to her dreams.
Though perhaps she had stayed awake this late because she was still worrying about why Aegon had refused to sleep beside her tonight.
But she would never know that, in the room beside hers, her younger brother was preparing to launch a bloodless hunt, cutting away the betrayals and thorns that would otherwise await them both.
Aegon gently shut the window, sealing out the cold sea wind and the night, then turned back toward the fireplace.
Sunfyre immediately raised his head, his golden eyes following Aegon. A low, docile rumble rose in his throat, and his huge tail brushed gently across the carpet, sheltering Aegon between his body and the fireplace.
Just then, an exceptionally soft knock sounded outside the door: three long taps and two short ones. It was the signal he and Larys had agreed upon beforehand, quiet enough that it would never disturb Rhaenyra next door.
"Come in." Aegon spoke softly, but with an unquestionable steadiness.
The door eased open, and Larys Strong entered first. Leaning on his oak cane, he limped across the threshold, a trace of night dew dampening his black coat. His gray eyes swept over the room in the dim candlelight. Only after confirming that nothing was amiss did he step slightly aside and let the two men behind him enter.
Following him were Alek Cargyll and Erryk Cargyll.
The twin Kingsguard still wore their snowy white cloaks, the swords at their waists polished to a shine. They had removed their heavy plate armor, however, and wore only light leather armor. Their footsteps were as soft as a cat's, making not the slightest sound.
Upon entering, they first scanned every corner of the room warily. Only after confirming there was no threat did they turn together toward Aegon, sink to one knee, and press their right hands to their left breasts in the formal kneeling salute reserved for royalty.
"Your Highness." The brothers spoke in unison, their voices low and respectful, without a single unnecessary word.
Aegon motioned for them to rise. His gaze rested on their faces, and he understood.
When Larys had gone out earlier, he had merely leaned close to Alek's ear and told him, in a voice only the two of them could hear, that the prince had urgent matters to discuss concerning the royal family's safety, and that the princess must not be disturbed.
Aegon had practically grown up before the brothers' eyes. Besides, it was because of him that they had been granted the honor of accompanying and guarding the princess and prince.
Moreover, they had traveled with Aegon and Rhaenyra all this way, and understood the young prince's nature better than anyone-
Since the prince had set out with the princess, neither the "dull and tedious" journey nor the insincere social niceties exchanged among nobles had ever compromised his "noble" character.
He had never been an arrogant, domineering royal, much less someone who would slaughter innocents over some trivial matter. Ordinarily, he would even have his attendants treat an injured farmer encountered by the roadside. He had been willing to take in even Alyn of Claw Isle, whose unusual status had left him ostracized by his family.
For him to summon them in the dead of night without the princess's knowledge, something momentous must have happened.
After all, the brothers knew perfectly well just how "merciful and kind" Prince Aegon was. He always thought of others, and as his personal guards throughout their journey, they understood better than most that the prince would never want to kill a bastard merely because he disliked him.
Besides, leaving aside the commoners and penniless hedge knights the prince had met along the way, had he not recently taken in that unusual bastard, Alyn Celtigar, on Claw Isle?
As Alek rose, his gaze fell on the lingering chill in Aegon's eyes. His concerned expression even held a hint of heartache as he said quietly, "Your Highness, the princess has retired. I have stationed our two most trusted guards outside her door. No one will disturb her. Whatever your orders, simply give them. My brother and I will carry them out, even at the cost of our lives."
Erryk nodded as well, wearing the same expression. His hand remained on his sword hilt, his wary gaze fixed on the door like a silent bulwark. They were Kingsguard, White Knights appointed by the king himself. Protecting the princess and prince was a duty etched into their very bones.
Leaning on his cane, Larys withdrew into the shadows beside the fireplace like a soundless shade. A knowing smile lingered in his gray eyes as he waited quietly. He knew that the young prince himself must speak of what came next.
The silence in the room did not last long.
Soft footsteps sounded outside again, followed by Garwin's deliberately hushed yet urgent voice. "Quickly, hurry! His Highness is still waiting for us. Remember to keep quiet. We must not disturb the princess!"
The door opened again, and Garwin Hightower strode inside, urgency and excitement still lingering on his face. Two people followed him, one behind the other, wearing utterly different expressions.
The first was Viry Fell. The young second son of a Stormlands noble still wore the linen shirt he had changed into for bed, his coat thrown haphazardly over his shoulders. His hair was tousled from sleep, his face filled with bewilderment and shock. He looked as though he had yet to fully wake-or as though the news he had heard when Garwin hurriedly dragged him out had frightened him out of his wits.
Alyn Celtigar, who followed behind him, looked entirely different.
The boy had formally dressed once more in his faded black dress clothes, and had even combed his hair neatly. A short sword hung at his waist, his hand resting constantly on its hilt. His steps were steady, without a trace of panic.
Only his purple eyes betrayed an excitement and ardor he could scarcely conceal. Like a wolf cub that had finally caught the scent of blood, he fixed his gaze on Aegon beside the fireplace, filled with fervent loyalty.
Six people stood together in the room, all their gazes resting on the small figure in the Oak Chair. Candlelight cast wavering shadows over the dragonglass walls, while the flames in the fireplace flickered across Aegon's young face, alternately lighting and darkening it: half the softness of a child, half the cold hardness of a true dragon.
Viry Fell could finally contain himself no longer. He took half a step forward and opened his mouth, his voice filled with incredulous shock. "Your Highness, what... what is going on? Ser Garwin said... said you wanted to kill someone? What exactly..."
Before he could finish, Alyn seized his arm and gave it a hard tug. Without so much as looking at him, Alyn stepped forward first and dropped heavily to one knee on the cold dragonglass floor. He pressed his right hand to his left breast and bowed his head deeply, his voice brimming with fervent respect. "Your Highness, whatever you intend to do, Alyn Celtigar will brave fire and water for you, even at the cost of my life!"
His kneeling seemed to trigger something. Garwin immediately followed him onto one knee. The Cargyll Brothers exchanged a glance, then knelt in salute once more. Larys leaned on his cane and bowed slightly, offering a nobleman's courtesy.
Only Viry Fell remained standing where he was, staring in utter bewilderment at the room full of men kneeling in salute.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
He wanted to ask who could possibly warrant His Highness summoning so many people in the dead of night to take their life.
He wanted to ask how His Highness, always so merciful, had suddenly come to harbor murderous intent.
He wanted to ask why, even if someone had to be killed, there should not be a reason. Surely they could not take another person's life over some vague, unsubstantiated words. That was not what a knight should do, much less a Targaryen prince.
But as his gaze swept across the room, he immediately swallowed every word on the tip of his tongue.
Garwin Hightower, the prince's own uncle, wore an expression of fierce, protective urgency and resolve, as though a single command from Aegon would send him turning all of Dragonstone upside down;
Larys Strong, the ever-inscrutable clubfooted lord, had gray eyes filled with understanding and respect, without the slightest doubt;
The Cargyll Brothers, those honorable White Knights of the Kingsguard who had instructed him ever since he began following the prince, showed not even a trace of surprise. There was only solemnity and loyalty, as though they would carry out any command Aegon gave without hesitation.
Even Alyn, who had joined His Highness only a few days ago, knelt with his back perfectly straight, his eyes burning with a fervent willingness to die.
Only he stood there like an outsider, utterly at a loss.
Just then, Aegon finally spoke.
He slowly raised his hand, just as he had earlier with Garwin and Larys, and gently pressed it downward, palm facing the floor, signaling for them to rise. His young voice rang out in the quiet room, reaching every ear clearly. It held none of a child's softness, only a steadiness and authority far beyond his years.
"Rise, all of you. I summoned you tonight because there is something momentous I must tell you, something concerning the Targaryen bloodline, the future of the Seven Kingdoms, and the lives of members of the Targaryen royal family."
At those words, the atmosphere in the room froze.
Garwin jerked his head up, his expression changing instantly, his voice filled with urgency. "Your Highness? The lives of the royal family? Who is it? What sort of madman would dare threaten you-or the princess?!"
The Cargyll Brothers instantly tensed as well, both pressing their hands to the sword hilts at their waists, their eyes filled with vigilance and murderous intent. They were the prince and princess's personal guards. If anyone dared threaten either of them, they would tear that person to pieces, even at the cost of their own lives.
Aegon did not answer immediately.
He slowly rose from his chair and walked into the center of the room. Sunfyre immediately followed, his huge body shielding Aegon's side, his golden eyes scanning everyone warily. A low warning rumbled in his throat, and he quieted only when Aegon stroked his nose.
Aegon raised his head, his purple eyes sweeping over everyone present. His gaze held a compassion and coldness beyond his years, as though he saw through everything, and he spoke each word distinctly.
"I had a dream."
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