With Danyla there, Myracis was as docile as a large dog, letting the Merryweather children stroke her with cautious excitement.
For the children of Westeros, a Great Dragon was almost universally a childhood dream. Now that he had gotten so close to one, chubby little Mark was already planning how to brag to his friends.
Earl Merryweather and Countess Merryweather watched the Great Dragons feast, looking as though they shared in the honor, though inwardly they still winced at the livestock being devoured. Longtable Hall was wealthy, but Lord and Lady Merryweather usually lived rather frugally.
Dreamfyre and the others ate more than a hundred black pigs, forty or fifty goats, and ten head of cattle in that single meal. That was almost half a month's normal consumption at Longtable Hall.
Earl Merryweather could not help swallowing as he thought to himself,
Great Dragons may be powerful, but their appetites really aren't something an ordinary house can afford!
Once the Great Dragons had eaten their fill and rested for another two hours, Danyla said her farewells and left. Heading north along the Mander River, they finally reached King's Landing before nightfall.
Maria was both excited and nervous about her first ride on a Great Dragon. By the time Danyla helped her down from Dreamfyre's back, the little girl's face had gone deathly pale.
Although she was terribly dizzy, she still managed to maintain the bearing of a noble lady. Danyla could not help admiring her all the more.
Since Danyla had landed the Great Dragons directly in the gardens of the Red Keep, Shirei and Bethany, who had stayed behind, soon came out to greet her.
Danyla had the guards take Earl Hightower away, then instructed Bethany,
"Bethany, Shirei, this is Miss Maria of House Merryweather from Longtable Hall. She'll