The rebuilding of Eyriehold was in full swing, yet the Seven Kingdoms had fallen into an eerie silence. Apart from the trading caravans of the great houses, which continued their usual journeys, almost all activity between the nobles had temporarily ceased.
Neither the Prince of Dorne nor King Jaehaerys made any statement about Danyla's occupation of Eyriehold. The Dornish, who had never been quick to admit defeat or compromise, gave no response at all this time. Whether they had lost their nerve or were waiting for an opportunity remained unclear.
As a result, Danyla still had to ride her great dragons to the various castles of the Dornish Marches every day to cadge provisions. After more than a month, the dragons had nearly eaten all the cattle and sheep in those lands.
Of course, the great dragons also hunted frequently in the nearby Red Mountains. The plentiful water around Eyriehold naturally attracted large numbers of wild animals.
The most numerous among them were the red rock bighorn sheep that lived in the Red Mountains. These wild goats had reddish horns that spiraled backward and sandy-brown coats, and they could leap and run nimbly across steep rock faces.
Accustomed to being waited on, Dreamfyre and the others always brought the red rock bighorn sheep back to Eyriehold and had the guards season and roast them before eating. This also allowed the sheep's valuable hides to be preserved.
Within the Red Keep, Vaegon continued tirelessly lobbying King Jaehaerys, hoping to persuade him to punish Danyla. Eventually, King Jaehaerys grew so tired of listening that he sent Vaegon and his lover to live in the Maidenvault behind Maegor's Holdfast. Without the king's orders, they were forbidden to leave, and no one was allowed to visit them.
Aegon and his four siblings, however, remained