On the last day of the fifth moon, late in the morning, thousands of children and women were standing on the walls, overlooking the port and the beautiful blue sea.
Soon, they spotted four large vessels, and on them, they found massive red cloths covering the decks.
The soldiers had not revealed to them what the vessels were bringing, but the announcements promised that they would not want to miss this event.
Unfortunately for men, none of them were allowed on the walls, so, a lot of them had gathered at the port, outside the walls.
A couple of hours later, when the sun was at its peak, the ships were anchored and secured. Large rafts were brought close to the vessels, tied to ropes that the men at the port were holding.
The red cloths were suddenly removed, and as a hundred Kharziks, atop their hippogriffs, circled the ships, bipedal creatures, with two small hands, long-curved claws, and two big legs with even longer curved claws on their feet, almost scythe-like, started jumping off the decks and onto the rafts.
These creatures were around thirteen feet in length, with long tails, and there were stripes on their dark brown, green, and grey skins. Massive jaws, and they resembled lizards...
"Tattooed lizards!" Someone at the port shouted the name, and soon everyone learned what these creatures were.
Exactly a hundred tattooed lizards were pulled to the port, and the people were amazed at how they created a line and obediently followed two Kharzik warriors, atop their horses, who guided them away from the place, leading them to the forested beach in the north of the island.
However, before their shock could wear off, creatures that resembled the apes, specifically the silverbacks of the Summer Islands, jumped off the ships and onto the massive rafts.
Their sheer size, which dwarfed the elephants, struck terror and awe in the hearts of people, and when the four gigantic apes, standing over twenty feet tall, hammered their chests and let out their battle cries, the children covered their eyes in fear, the thunderous roars vibrating through the air like distant storm drums.
When those who had turned their eyes away looked back at the creatures, they found a beast master sitting on the shoulder of each of these gigantic apes. The creatures seemed very obedient as they walked on their hind legs, almost like men, glanced at the crowd as they passed through them, and were led to the forest of the southern beach.
Once the beasts were led away, announcements were made, informing the people of Dragonport that these creatures had been brought here for the security of the island at night. More such creatures were going to be brought to the island in the coming moons, and also to the neighbouring island of Egg and parts of Ghaen.
The citizens of Dragonport were forbidden from venturing outside the walls after sunset, and they were warned that despite how docile these creatures may have seemed, they were more than capable of killing adult warriors.
No one doubted their words, not even the children. They had seen how terrifying the claws of tattooed lizards were and how massive the canines of the giant apes were. Those big apes could eat a kid whole.
There were also birds of prey that flew up from the ships. These included owls, eagles, and falcons, and there were even ravens, some even white.
Additionally, beautiful and colourful birds, whom they had never seen before, were brought into the city, perched on the shoulders of Kharziks.
Hundreds of goats, deer, and cattle were offloaded from the ships as well.
Finally, the carcasses of a hundred dead basilisks were brought into the city and were taken to the Dark Pyramid.
It was truly a spectacle that the citizens and visitors were glad that they witnessed. When the crowds were dispersed, children on the streets could be heard expressing their excitement about the beasts that they had seen today.
However, there was a certain lady, who was pacing on the top-most platform of the Pyramid of Pride.
She was not allowed to leave the pyramid, so she had not witnessed the spectacle at the port.
However, she stopped and grinned when she finally saw the four giant apes appear on the southern beach, where the shipyard was under construction.
These were the only creatures she cared about, and she was amazed at their size.
She finally understood why Azaerys wanted to bring them to the island of Dragonport.
They were a deadly force under the command of the Kharziks. And if armoured, and a warg took control over them, their rampage would instil fear in the hearts of the enemies.
Lyanna turned around when she heard the sweet cry of a hippogriff and grinned as she watched the Targaryen King land on the platform.
As soon as he jumped off the beast, he opened his arms to her, and she lunged into his embrace.
Overwhelmed by her emotions, she started kissing all over his face and then captured his lips in a seething kiss.
"Tell me about it." She demanded.
"What?"
"Sothoryos!"
"Later." He smiled and grabbed her hand as he led her inside the pyramid.
"Now!" She insisted, and he shook his head.
"Later, Lya."
She pouted, a little upset, but when he took her to his chambers and locked the door, her face burned up in a blush.
Azaerys did not waste any time as he quickly freed her and himself from the confines of their clothes, and then he picked her up in his arms and gently dropped her on his soft bed.
He climbed on top of her, his manhood brushing against her flower, and then without any foreplay, he pushed into her, hurting her.
Lyanna, however, did not complain even one bit, and she let out a gratifying moan when he filled her up to the brim, the sharp sting giving way to a deep, fulfilling warmth that spread through her core.
Their bodies moved with familiarity, and in a passion that made her eyes grow misty, the rhythm building with each thrust, her skin flushed and slick against his, the air thick with their shared breaths and the subtle scent of their arousal.
Her moans filled the chambers, echoing back to them, and it took well over an hour for their passion to subside, leaving them both spent and entangled in a tender aftermath.
"Stay..." She pleaded when she watched him get up.
"There are things I need to deal with." He leaned in and planted a kiss on her forehead, which she loved a lot. "Get some sleep. I will see you in the evening."
She obediently nodded her head to him and hugged his pillow as she closed her eyes under the silk sheets.
After Azaerys took a bath, he arrived inside the great hall, where his sister was sitting on the throne, hearing a report from the Kharzik commanders.
They all bowed to him, and Rhaenys stood up and curtsied to him when he climbed up the stairs.
As soon as he smiled at her, she stepped forward and entered his arms. The princess felt very proud when he cupped her cheeks and told her that she had managed things brilliantly in his absence.
He handed her a pouch, and when she opened it, she found it filled with very beautiful jadeites of all colours. Pure jadeites, semi-transparent, smooth, and enchanting, cut into beautiful shapes with magic.
It was the gift he had brought for her from Sothoryos.
Rhaenys did not care about the reports anymore and tightly hugged him to thank him for the gifts, and then the Targaryen King pulled her to sit with him on the throne.
The two then listened to reports for the next hour.
After the Kharziks finished their reports and left, Aegon rushed inside the hall and hugged Azaerys.
"Have Rhaegal and Lyrax left Sothoryos?" He urgently asked.
"Yes. They followed Silvexis and Arthur back to Siren." He smiled. "I heard that you like spending your days with Desmera Redwyne."
His words flustered the prince, who embarrassedly averted his eyes.
"What's your scheming mind cooking, little brother?"
Rhaenys grinned when she heard the question and watched her little brother blush a little.
"She's sweet and kind. I like her company."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes."
"And?"
Hearing the gentleness in his brother's voice, he felt comfortable to share his thoughts.
"I want the Reach as my kingdom in the future, Brother."
Rhaenys' eyes widened in surprise, but the Targaryen King did not have any reaction to his little brother's request.
"And?"
"I want to go to Westeros..."
"No! You..." Rhaenys shouted, but Azaerys raised his hand and she kept her words to herself.
"And?" He asked his little brother.
"I plan on taking some high-born maidens from influential houses as my... maids."
"Maids?" He smiled.
"Lovers..."
"Lovers?"
Aegon nodded his head.
"None of them are magical, my blood."
"Yes. I have already decided whom I want to marry," the prince revealed, and Rhaenys' brows furrowed at his words.
"Who?" Azaerys knowingly asked. "Is it little Missandei?"
As soon as Aegon heard his words, he raised his head and looked at his brother in shock.
"How..." he wanted to ask how he knew about it, but then embarrassedly lowered his head.
Nothing could stay hidden from his brother.
"Yes."
"And?" Azaerys asked, and his brother confusedly looked at him, so he elaborated his question. "Why do you want high-born maidens as your maids and lovers?"
Aegon blushed and lowered his eyes.
"I like the idea of them serving me..." He meekly said.
Rhaenys really wanted to smack some sense into her little brother, fearing the worst.
The last thing they wanted in their family was a prince serving under the peony skirts of high-born ladies of the Reach...
"You can not go to Westeros, Aegon. You will fall under the Three Eyes." Azaerys cryptically said. "Stay by my side, my blood. I wish to train you into a proper king."
The prince obediently nodded his head and kept his head lowered.
"As for the Reach, it will be yours." He promised, and Aegon raised his head and brightly smiled at him.
"Thank you, Brother."
"You're welcome." He smiled and then patted his little brother's shoulder. "As for the high-born maidens you want as your lovers, they can be arranged here. However, I need you to promise me something."
"Anything, Brother!" He excitedly said.
Azaerys smiled at him.
"You will only ever bed eight women in your life. Doesn't matter if they are slaves, paramours, concubines or wives to you. Only eight. And you will have no more than two queens, whom I will approve for you."
"Who?" Aegon frowned, but Azaerys did not answer his question and continued talking.
"I will choose five of the eight ladies for you. The other three will be of your choice. Of the five I choose for you, four will be high-born maidens. You will not discard any of the ladies chosen by me unless they betray you. Should you have a child from any of your women, you will acknowledge them as, at least, your concubines and marry them in Valyrian tradition before they give birth. All your children will bear your name." He seriously said, and the young prince frowned some more. "Your first lover has already been chosen by me. She may not be high-born in your eyes, but she is in mine. You can not discard her and must never disrespect her either. So, think carefully before you make any promises. I will need a vow from you."
"Should they all die?" He tried searching for loopholes, and Azaerys dangerously narrowed his eyes.
"Then you must remain celibate for the rest of your life."
"Brother..."
"No," the Targaryen King shook his head. "The number is final."
Aegon lowered his head.
"Who will be my first lover?" He lightly asked.
"A widowed young lady, not maiden, but chaste. Has only been touched by her husband. Has no children. Her father is a merchant from Myr, a follower of the Lord of Light, who has submitted to me."
Aegon nodded his head but did not look at him. He felt very uncomfortable with the arrangement.
"Do you not trust me, my blood? Do you doubt that the ladies I will choose for you will not be to your liking?" He gently asked, and his little brother guiltily raised his head and met his eyes.
"I promise, Brother. I will do as you say."
Azaerys smiled and leaned in to plant a kiss on his head.
"Be kind to them."
"I will." He promised again.
"Good." Azaerys glanced at the golden guard who was waiting at the door of the great hall. "Send them in." He ordered.
Rhaenys and Aegon curiously looked at the door, and before the prince could react, his brother removed his glamour.
Azaerys removed his own glamour as well, revealing his real hair.
A moment later, a tall old man, probably in his fifties, but healthy and mighty, dressed in the finest of silk and gems, entered the great hall. He had a thick and well-kempt moustache, which he had dyed red, and a small but thick white beard. The hair on his head was pale blonde, not quite unlike that of the Valyrians, and he had a fair complexion.
Behind him, on the right, was a girl, around twenty years old. Tall with pale blonde hair, which had pretty soft curls in them, and dressed in a gorgeous blue silk gown, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
When the father and his daughter stopped under the steps, both of them went down on their knees and lowered their heads to Azaerys.
"Rise, Master Zorreo Rain, Lady Mrymadora Rain."
At his command, the two stood up again and then they reverently raised their heads to look at him and his siblings.
Aegon, when he looked into the sapphire eyes of Mrymadora, was left stunned by her beauty.
The girl could almost rival Ashara in beauty, and she was just as beautiful as Allyria and Arianne. His own mother paled in front of her beauty, and Elia was gorgeous.
"You called for me, my lord. I have come here to hand you my daughter, whom you have asked for your brother." The man spoke in High Valyrian with a Myrish accent.
Azaerys slowly climbed down the stairs, stopped in front of the man, and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"My brother will not mistreat your daughter, Zorreo. It's my promise to you."
The old man had tears in his eyes after his words and happily nodded his head.
"You don't need to promise this lowly servant anything, my lord. My life, my family, my wealth... It's all yours."
"I know."
Azaerys smiled at the older girl, who kept her head lowered, and then turned to look at Aegon.
"Would you like to show your Mrymadora around the pyramid, my blood?"
Hearing his words, the young prince fought hard to stay calm and slowly climbed down the stairs.
"Master Zorreo. I promise you, I will cherish your child." He solemnly said to the old man, who bowed and happily smiled at his words and then glanced at his daughter.
When Aegon drew his hand to her, Mrymadora bowed to Azaerys and then curtsied to the prince before placing her hand in his.
The father proudly watched them leave and then knelt to his lord.
"Thank you, my lord. You have honoured this lowly servant."
"Enough, Zorreo. You are not my lowly servant. You are my trusted servant."
The man prostrated to him, and Azaerys sighed and helped him back to his feet with his own hands.
The Targaryen King asked Zorreo to accompany him on a walk inside the pyramid, and the two discussed the plans for the Triarchy, especially Myr and Tyrosh.
These plans would only start bearing results after five to seven years, but they were crucial for the ultimate conquest of the Triarchy.