Dragonstone
Laenor was standing at the side with Embaryx as they watched Rhaenyra pamper Syrax. They had just returned from an hour-long flight session where Rhaenyra had futilely tried to prove that Syrax was faster than Embaryx. Laenor scoffed inwardly—as if any dragon could beat Embaryx. His dragon was the best in the whole world, and the boy wasn't even much more than a decade old. Wait until Embaryx surprised the whole world with the intelligence hidden behind those reptilian eyes. Even Velathrys was nowhere near the level of consciousness Embaryx possessed. And Embaryx might be massive, but he was by no means slow. He had surpassed Meleys in size and speed long ago, and Syrax still wasn't anywhere near Meleys' pace.
Rhaenyra turned toward him, but not before ordering the dragonkeepers to give Syrax as much food as she wanted and let her rest afterward. As soon as she came close, Laenor spoke his mind.
"You spoil her too much. You treat her like some pet meant to be pampered. But she isn't. Your actions are only making her weaker as the days go by. I can say for certain that there will come a day when she won't even be able to hunt. And I cannot imagine a worse fate for an apex predator than forgetting how to hunt."
Laenor spoke bluntly. Even her sister isn't this dumb and Laena adored Velathrys, cared for her more than she cared for herself, but even she knew not to stuff her dragon every day and turn her into a winged horse, who can only eat when you give them rather than the hunting for their own foof that the dragon should be doing.
"You think I didn't try?" Rhaenyra replied, almost defensive. "My nuncle said the same, so I ordered the dragonkeepers not to give her any goats or sheep for days. Do you know what she did? She didn't get up and hunt like Caraxes—she stayed curled in her cave until I finally had to change the order." Rhaenyra cast a last, helpless glance at the yellow-gold dragon as Syrax obediently followed the keepers inside.
"And may I ask how long it took for you to change that decision?" Laenor asked, eyeing the princess.
"Two days," came the meek reply. The softness in her voice told Laenor she already knew where the fault lay.
"Dragons can go two days without eating if they've had their fill beforehand. You, of all people, should know that." Rhaenyra suddenly found her own boots very interesting. "And the fact she did not fly out to hunt even once in those two days is proof enough of how lazy and dependent Syrax has already become."
"I know, but—"
"You don't need to explain your reasons to me," Laenor cut in. "I only pointed out the mistake. Whether you fix it or not is up to you."
She was his betrothed, yes, but this was her choice now—keep her dragon soft and lazy, or correct her own error.
Rhaenyra stayed silent the entire walk back until they reached the keep's entrance, where a white cloak of the Kingsguard waited. One of the twins—Laenor never bothered figuring out which was Erryk and which was Arryk—so he left that task to Rhaenyra.
"Ser Arryk," Rhaenyra greeted.
"Princess." Ser Arryk bowed. "Lord Laenor." Laenor nodded back. "His Grace has summoned you both. Please, if you would follow me."
"We've only just returned from flying, ser. Surely my father wouldn't want us reeking of dragon stink," Rhaenyra said, trying to gauge the urgency.
"I'm afraid the matter is of utmost importance, princess. His Grace explicitly said to bring Lord Laenor and yourself the moment you returned from your ride."
Rhaenyra sighed. "Very well. Lead the way, ser."
Ser Arryk nodded and led them toward the Lord's solar of Dragonstone. Ser Criston Cole stood guard at the door alone, his face carved into its usual stone-hard mask as he opened the door for them.
Laenor let Rhaenyra enter first and followed after her, the door shutting behind them as Cole resumed his post. Inside, Viserys and Daemon were seated with grave, contemplative expressions—so unlike the usual air that lingered around the two that Laenor immediately sensed something had finally shifted.
Viserys spotted them first and motioned for them to take a seat, and once Laenor and Rhaenyra had settled, the King finally spoke.
"Daemon was able to make contact and speak with Rhaenys Belaerys—an hour ago."
The words even made Laenor raise a brow, surprise clear on his face. The woman had practically forgotten her candle for an entire week during Laenor's stay; he had little hope she would touch it within the moon, let alone respond this quickly.
"So what did she say? Were you able to converse with her, too?" Laenor asked. Daemon and Viserys exchanged a look before recounting the entire conversation.
So Viserys hadn't spoken to her personally—that much made sense. Rhaenys Belaerys had instead invited the entire Targaryen family to Valyria as soon as possible.
Laenor nodded slowly as Daemon finished and turned his curious gaze toward him.
"Well… I don't know how my father will react to that, Daemon. Maybe he won't care, or maybe he did not intend to meet the Velaryon head of Valyria this soon. Not even a week has passed since I told him that the main branch of Velaryon is alive and breathing in Valyria. You'll have to tell him this yourself and see what he thinks. And judging by your expression, I assume you both have already decided to go to Valyria?" Laenor asked.
"Yes," Viserys answered. "We intend to meet and speak with Rhaenys in person as soon as we can. But not without you and your sister. My cousin"—he glanced briefly at the window outside —"can decide if she wishes to come or not. But you two are coming. I would have preferred if Corlys chose to join us as well. That way, we could count on the Velaryon branch in Valyria to support us openly."
Laenor nearly snorted. If truth be told, his father would never deny a chance to set foot in Valyria—if he could avoid riding Meleys. The dragon alone was enough reason for Corlys Velaryon to hesitate.
"I have no objection to accompanying you all," Laenor said. "But as for Laena—she'll decide for herself whether she wants to come or not." Viserys may have wished for both Embaryx and Veltharys at his side when they reached Valyria, but the final choice belonged to Laena alone. "So, when are we leaving?"
"On the morrow at this time. Midday," Daemon replied. "We'll stop at Bloodstone and Lys for a long rest. Perhaps Volantis too, if the dragons grow tired."
"In Lys," Laenor said mildly, "I presume we'll be guests of the Valarrs?"
"Lady Daena Valarr will be coming with us," Daemon answered, the corner of his mouth quirking into a smirk. "She'll ride with me on Caraxes' back."
Laenor returned his smirk with one of his own.
Valyria
Rhaenys Belaerys, who had been trapped in grief for near a fortnight, now moved with a new sharpness behind every gesture. Her hands trembled less, her spine straightened more—purpose filling the hollow where her son had once stood. After Argon's death, she had fallen almost entirely alone. With her little brother's family gone for over a decade, her son had been the only person she could truly call kin.
There was her sister, aye—but she rarely visited, always too consumed with her husband, her children, and all the meaningless politics of court. And to Rhaenys, it seemed Daena had almost forgotten entirely that she was of Targaryen blood.
But that mattered little now. Rhaenys had already contacted the current Velaryon head, and he agreed to come to Blackfyre Tower the moment any Velaryon set foot in Valyria. If this Laenor was even half as charismatic and powerful as her nephew Daemon claimed, then they would have the backing of the wealthiest Freehold house. Still, they would need one of the Five—without a powerful ally, a swarm of dragonlord families would descend on the Targaryens, demanding brides, alliances, blood ties, and every other chain they could forge.
And though the Belaerys family stood among the top five, Rhaenys herself had little say in family matters. The current head, elected by the family laws and elders, harbored no affection for her. Aerra Belaerys might be sister to her son, but she was no daughter of Rhaenys.
Which meant Rhaenys needed to reach out carefully, strategically to another powerful family. Fortunately, marriage into House Belaerys had ensured that she gathered more than a few friends in the high circles. And one of them—now the wife of the current lord—was not merely an acquaintance but a dear and trusted friend from her youth.
If you're interested in reading up to fifteen chapters ahead of this one, you can find them on my Patreon:
Patreon.com/c/Daeranyx_Drakonar
Your support on Patreon helps me continue writing, but rest assured, I won't be locking chapters behind a paywall. They will be available for free over time. If you enjoy the story and would like to support my work, your contribution would be greatly appreciated!