With Dreamfyre and the three hatchlings visiting so often, not a blade of grass remained within half a kilometer of the spot where Nila fed the dragons each day.
The huge boulder where Dreamfyre had first settled had also been scorched pitch-black by their dragonfire.
To keep more fruit trees from suffering, Danyla had ordered a blackstone wall over ten meters high built around the area.
For more than a month, the savage Great Dragon Cannibal had remained quiet. Daemon, who had already exhausted all the amusements Fisherman's Village and White Sheep Town had to offer, could no longer bear the boredom.
He often slipped away on his Great Dragon to seek pleasure and excitement in Spicetown on Driftmark, or across the Narrow Sea in Pentos and Tyrosh.
The Gold Dragons Danyla had lent him seemed to have given him even more means to indulge in wine, women, and lavish living.
He seemed utterly unaware that everything gained without effort would only come with a steeper price.
The weather was rather muggy that day, and the dim, stuffy rooms in Dragonstone Castle left Aemma and Viserys feeling particularly restless.
Yet the sunlight in Aegon's Garden was too glaring, and the sea wind was especially strong. So Danyla rode Dreamfyre to the orchard on New Dragonstone Island to enjoy the cool shade, happily bringing along the Pink Hatchling Myracis, who could now fly, Viserys and his family, and her personal maids.
Dreamfyre was enormous, with a back broad enough to carry dozens of people without trouble. Lately, Danyla had often taken her maids and personal guards flying on dragonback.
They were thrilled. After all, they were among the few nobles outside House Targaryen ever to climb onto a dragon's back.
At least in recorded history, only a former Duke of the Vale had been taken onto Vhagar's back by Princess Visenya when he was still a child.
The orchard offered thick shade and gentle, cool breezes. It was certainly far more comfortable than staying in Dragonstone Castle.
Dreamfyre and Syrax rested amicably side by side on the enormous, pitch-black boulder.
After years of Danyla's training, Dreamfyre's temperament and intelligence had changed greatly. She had become more tolerant of other Great Dragons and people who showed no hostility.
During their time together, she had also formed something of a friendship with the naturally gentle Syrax, so the two Great Dragons got along reasonably well.
Occasionally, Dreamfyre even took Syrax and the three hatchlings hunting over the Narrow Sea.
With Dreamfyre protecting them, the three hatchlings, whom Cannibal had previously terrified out of their wits, slowly regained their natural Great Dragon courage.
Their figures could often be seen soaring freely above New Dragonstone Island.
Danyla had brought plenty of desserts, fine food, and wine when she left. Her maids had also packed everything they needed for a picnic, along with basic washing supplies.
As soon as they reached the orchard, they found a picturesque spot where they could enjoy a delicious afternoon tea while admiring the beautiful scenery.
Meanwhile, the Pink Hatchling Myracis, who had now grown to two meters in size, pestered Danyla to feed her.
Myracis really was extraordinary. Delicate and pink though she looked, she had an enormous appetite, already eating over a hundred kilograms of roast meat each day. Her size changed by the day.
There was no record in the Targaryen histories of a hatchling growing as quickly as Myracis. Danyla reasoned that it might have a great deal to do with her.
Danyla's dragon dreams were also very different from those recorded by her family. According to those records, dragonriders only occasionally experienced such dreams when a Great Dragon was about to hatch.
At first, Danyla had thought she might possess the rare gift of a dreamwalker found in House Targaryen. Later, however, she became increasingly convinced that her Dragon Dream Realm was far more than that.
Every night, Danyla could enter that wondrous dragon dream. Besides Dreamfyre and Myracis, Vhagar occasionally intruded as well.
Recently, the three hatchlings had inexplicably begun appearing in her dragon dreams too.
In the Dragon Dream Realm, their bodies were vastly different from those in reality. They were much more imposing and fearsome.
Danyla reasoned that this might be what they would look like at their peak. Or perhaps her dragon dream realm could help them grow and evolve more effectively?
Considering the pale pinkish-purple flame mark between her brows, that was not impossible. Perhaps this mark was a special transmigration boon Danyla had yet to unlock?
Half an hour after Danyla and the others arrived, her Dragonkeepers Guard reached the orchard as well, driving several dozen fat sheep before them.
Danyla had long since provided dedicated roasting racks here, so the Skinning Warriors immediately began slaughtering and skinning the sheep, seasoning the meat, and deftly setting up the racks.
Danyla had discovered that mutton roasted over pruned fruit-tree branches tasted even better.
A great many dry fruit-tree branches had therefore been stockpiled near the clearing. At their current rate of consumption, they would not run out even after a year or two.
Whether the three hatchlings had exceptionally keen noses or Danyla's thoughts were too powerful, their cheerful Dragon Roars sounded in the distance just as she was wondering how to summon them.
Since Danyla kept the Pink Hatchling Myracis beside her almost every day, Myracis had already become very familiar with the three hatchlings and played quite happily with them.
Though the three hatchlings were brothers, they showed no mercy when competing for food and sometimes even fought fiercely over it. Yet all of them were especially affectionate toward the Pink Hatchling Myracis.
They never competed with Myracis and would even offer her their food.
Hearing the three hatchlings' cries, Myracis hurriedly swallowed the meat in her mouth, then beat her wings and happily rose into the air to meet them.
Their close bond once again changed everyone's understanding of House Targaryen's Great Dragons.
Just as everyone was happily watching the hatchlings interact so affectionately, it happened.
"Skree!"
A low, ill-timed Dragon Roar came from the direction of Dragonstone.
Looking toward the sound, everyone paled at the sight of the coal-black Great Dragon that blotted out the sky.
"Rhaenyra, take Syrax and get away from here! Don't try to be brave!"
Danyla gave Rhaenyra those stern instructions, then sprinted toward Dreamfyre, who had already risen and was roaring in fury.
The three hatchlings wisely led Myracis in flight toward the cave behind the volcano where they were now living.
The cave was extremely narrow. The hatchlings could pass through easily, but a Great Dragon as enormous as Cannibal could never enter.
The stretch between them and the cave, however, was the most dangerous part. With Cannibal's speed, he could easily cut them off before they reached the entrance.
Danyla hurriedly mounted Dreamfyre, then swiftly took to the air and flew out to meet Cannibal, buying the hatchlings enough time to escape.
With Dreamfyre's current strength, even if she could not defeat Cannibal, she could at least hold her own against him for a while.
Facing Cannibal, Dreamfyre finally regained the bearing of a Great Dragon queen. Her high, furious Dragon Roar rang across the entire island.
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