"Oh, they're not welcome."
Aemon couldn't help but laugh as he left his companions and walked to the front of the group.
"You like to watch. Then let them see it clearly."
Jeyne smiled faintly, politely entertaining Rhaenyra and the others while turning a blind eye to the situation.
The people of the Vale are no less xenophobic than those of the North. Laena's eyes flickered, and she winked at her brother.
Laenor received the signal and moved to follow his little cousin.
Unexpectedly, Aemon waved his hand, sending him back to the women.
There was no need for help in the Eyrie's hall.
The nobles of the Vale looked around, their expressions silent and unfriendly.
"Look at you all," Aemon exclaimed, raising a hand and gesturing in a circle. "Seeing the crown prince and the prince has made you as dumb as sheep?"
Bang!
Someone immediately slammed a table and shouted angrily, "Arrogant!"
Personal attacks are one thing, but bringing up old jokes about sheep? This was intolerable.
That single sentence instantly ignited the anger of those present.
With the sound of swords being drawn, many nobles and knights of the Vale stood up.
The scene was intimidating, but His Royal Highness was not afraid.
"Just you?"
Aemon's eyes flashed with amusement as he stared at a round table where no one had moved.
A dozen people sat around the table with an unusual calmness.
The sturdy man leading them wore a family emblem depicting "three black ravens on a white background, each holding a blood-red heart in its claws."
Aemon became interested.
There are many nobles in the Vale, but only a few can be ranked.
The Royce family of Runestone has always been one of the most powerful vassals of the Arryn family. The only other old noble family that can rival them is the Corbray family of "Heart's Home."
They believe in the Seven Gods and produce many excellent knights. They are the perfect material for "killing a chicken to scare the monkeys."
Upon seeing Lord Orion Corbray, Aemon walked over step by step, his smile fading. "Corbray, are you deaf?"
"You are very rude."
Orion, who was in his twenties and in the prime of his youth, could not bear it and stood up.
Without a word, Aemon grabbed Orion's black, curly hair and slammed his head hard onto the wooden table.
With a dull thud, the table nearly overturned.
"Bold!"
"Let go of Lord Orion!"
The Corbray people and the Vale nobles beside him were furious and surrounded His Royal Highness.
In an instant, tables, chairs, and benches flew through the narrow hall.
"Are you deaf!?"
Aemon pulled an arrow from the corner of his mouth and held Orion's head tightly.
"Let me go."
Orion's face was distorted by the pressure, and he struggled in humiliation.
Aemon rubbed his face and looked around at the aggressive nobles of the Vale. He said coldly, "Try to take another step forward!"
Of course, these people didn't dare to step forward.
Not only did he have a hostage, but he was also a Targaryen.
"Why don't you show me any respect?"
Aemon sneered and turned his attention back to Orion, his subordinate.
"Peace? A guest's treaty? To hell with that."
Isn't this the opportunity he had been waiting for?
He was only a guest when the nobles of the Vale smiled at him.
If they were about to drive him away, they couldn't blame him for being a bad guest.
"Your Highness, what are you going to do?"
Orion's eyes were red, and he was breathing heavily while speaking. He had never been so humiliated.
Hearing this, Aemon pushed him out and clapped his hands. "Wouldn't it have been better if you had called for help earlier? Are the nobles of the Vale of Arryn so rude?"
Orion staggered after being pushed and stood stunned.
"What do you mean by rude? You almost pressed me into the crack of the table!"
"Prince, you are violating the guest treaty by doing this."
Jeyne walked over with a cold face. The guards at the door heard the commotion and rushed in.
Aemon remained calm and asked, "Is there something I can help you with?"
He turned around and chose a seat in the hall.
His long, silver-gold hair draped over his shoulders and swayed against his black robe.
Everyone could only see his back and didn't know what he was up to.
Boom!
Suddenly, it was as if a Force 10 gale had hit, and a fierce wind broke out.
Jeyne's face changed drastically, and she swayed and couldn't stand steadily.
A shadow enveloped the entire Maiden Tower, which began to shake.
Aemon opened his hands, and his silver-gold hair blew slightly in the wind.
The next second—
"Hiss—"
A thunderous roar resounded through the Giant's Spear as if the king above were angry and issuing a roar of judgment.
The nobles of the Vale didn't have time to dodge and saw a bronze dragon shadow emerge from the open door.
The majestic dragon revealed its true form, hovering over the narrow Eagle's Nest, its huge brown wings covering all the courtyard towers.
The Maiden Tower, the tallest of the seven towers, was hundreds of feet high.
At that moment, in front of the bronze dragon, it seemed like a building block that could easily be knocked over by the wind and rain.
The Eagle's Nest, known as the strongest city in the Seven Kingdoms, seemed pale and powerless compared to the dragon dominating the sky.
"Back off, Vermithor!"
After just a few breaths, Aemon shouted without turning his head.
"Hiss—"
Vermithor stared at the seven white towers with cold eyes for a while, then flapped his wings and disappeared into the clouds below the mountaintop.
The man and the dragon understood each other perfectly and knew when to stop.
Bang!
The bronze dragon disappeared, and its thick tail stirred up a strong wind that shut the tower door heavily.
"Ah!"
The noble ladies and young ladies caught their breath and screamed.
Seeing and facing a dragon directly creates a sense of oppression unlike anything else.
If you don't wet your pants out of fear, you're considered young and naive.
Jeyne felt dizzy as she stared at the silver-haired figure in front of her. Her questions came out hesitantly.
She finally understood why her father had treated her half-sister, Queen Emma, with respect and kindness while he was alive.
She also understood that before Lord John Royce died, he had told her to guard the Eagle's Nest and not to provoke his cousin.
Targaryens are human.
However, a Targaryen who can control a dragon is a god above the world.
She knew how quickly the Arryns had surrendered during the Conqueror's War, as she was familiar with the history books.
The texts only record that Queen Visenya rode the dragon Vhagar to the back garden of the Eagle's Nest and coaxed the young Lord Arryn to play.
However, it did not mention the dragon's death threat of crossing the blood gate, which could stop thousands of troops, and breaking into the Eagle's Nest, where the garrison strength was no more than 500 people.
"Quiet!"
Jeyne summoned her courage and shouted over the commotion in the hall.
The nobles of the Vale immediately fell silent but did not dare draw their swords again.
The noble ladies and young ladies covered their mouths and stared at the doors and windows in fear.
"If I had known, I wouldn't have come."
After acting cool, His Royal Highness walked to a round wooden table below the main seat in the hall.
People were sitting there, both men and women, young and old.
Aemon glanced at the table and saw the family emblem of "three candles with red flames on a silver tray with a gray background and black lining" on someone's clothes.
The Waxley family of "Candle Cave."
Located on the coast of Crab Bay, south of the Red Keep, the family is famous for making scented beeswax candles.
Half an old neighbor rounded off.
"Your Highness, Camon Waxley sends you his sincere greetings."
Lord Camon stood up tremblingly. He was over fifty years old, and his beard was completely white.
Seeing that he had family with him, Aemon smiled slightly and said gently, "Excuse me, could you give me this table?"
"Of course."
Lord Camon retreated to the corner with his family, as if he had been pardoned.
"Thank you."
His Highness is as polite as always.
At that moment, Jeyne stopped the riot and looked for the culprit.
The wind was too strong; the chandelier shook and went out, dimming the light in the hall.
Aemon sat alone at a round table, sniffing the fragrant beeswax candles. He turned his head as if he had noticed something.
The candlelight illuminated a group of people.
His handsome face was open, and his purple eyes were as sharp as a hawk's. Light and shadow intertwined under the candlelight.
At first glance, he resembled a noble dragon.
Jeyne's pupils dilated, and she couldn't help but take a half step back.
When she came to her senses, she noticed that her palms were sweaty and her thin lips were trembling nervously.
Aemon noticed Jeyne's embarrassment, averted his gaze, and raised the corners of his mouth.
But what he thought in his heart was:
"Isn't this charming, little guy?"
His Royal Highness had never been timid since childhood and had carried the word "pretend" with him until now.
The nobility cultivated by fine clothes and food, the majesty cultivated by a high position, and the purple card gave him the King's Demeanor.
Not to mention, even if Aegon the Conqueror were resurrected, he would not be able to overwhelm the little Duchess of the Eagle's Nest in momentum.
Uncle Viserys said he was more like a king than he was.
Jeyne could see this, so the nobles of the Vale were not blind.
They saw His Royal Highness sitting there as if nothing had happened, his silver-gold hair hanging down his chest as he nonchalantly fiddled with the candlelight.
The nobles of the Vale did not dare disturb him. There was no scrutiny or hostility in their eyes, only deep awe.
Aemon was used to this.
If you want people to respect you, you must first make them fear you.
There is no point in playing tricks on a stubborn group of sheep from the Vale. It's enough to find an opportunity to show your strength.
Acting like a pig to eat a tiger is foolish.
A real dragon doesn't need to hide.
The atmosphere froze for a moment.
Servants bent down and picked up the tables, chairs, and benches that had blown over.
Jeyne looked solemn and stood there in a dilemma.
Bang! At that moment, the door opened from the outside.
Two flags, one belonging to River Valley Town and the other to Runestone, came into view, moving forward with the flow of people.
Lady Rhea walked into the hall and sensed something was amiss at once.
Her eyes found her eldest son, who was sitting upright. A hint of doubt flashed in her eyes.
Aemon shook his head, indicating that it was not his responsibility.
"I knew it."
Lady Rhea did not show any expression on her face, but she rolled her eyes fiercely inside.
Wherever her son is, there is no peace.
Behind her, Gunthor, Holden, and others poured into the hall.
"Lady Jeyne, I'm sorry I'm late."
Lady Rhea found the pale-faced duchess, looked her over carefully, and saluted neatly.
Her attitude was neither humble nor arrogant; not cold nor enthusiastic.
Jeyne forced a smile to maintain her dignity. "Welcome."
The sound of hurried footsteps came from the second floor, and a beautiful figure appeared.
"Lady Rhea!"
Jansif shouted in surprise and pounced on her like a young swallow returning to its nest.
Lady Rhea did not react, merely letting the other party hug her waist.
Wearing copper-studded leather armor, she didn't feel anything.
Jansif raised her little head, reddish curls framing her face. Her brown eyes were like a little deer's, and she smiled. "It's great to see you again."
"Yeah."
Lady Rhea nodded gently, still very happy.
With the arrival of this mother-daughter pair, warmth filled the hall.
Jeyne looked from Lady Rhea to Aemon and finally went upstairs to her room in silence.
Today is just the first gathering, and some of the nobles of the Vale have not yet arrived.
It's not time to show anger, nor is there any reason to do so.
Aemon played with the candlelight, revealing a dangerous atmosphere in his deep eyes.
This killing of chickens to scare the monkeys is, on the surface, an attempt to use the Corbray family to intimidate the nobles of the Vale.
At its core, it is meant to shake the prestige of the Eagle's Nest and show the nobles of the Vale its fangs.
Smart people should line up in advance.
"Select reliable allies?"
Aemon murmured to himself, looking at the beeswax candle in his hand.
Isn't this a good candidate?
The Next Day
The morning sun rose over the Giant's Spear, dispelling the clouds and mist on the hillside and bringing a hint of warmth.
The Tears of Alyssa were in the Arryn Valley.
This giant waterfall irrigates the entire valley.
"Roar!"
Vhagar crawled on the ground. He listened to the sound of rushing water nearby and closed his eyelids to take a nap.
Nearby, there is a flat grassland located between the valleys.
This beautiful area, with lush grass and flying birds, is ideal for picnics.
Aemon was lying on the ground with a book covering his face.
"Get up."
Laena came over, lifted her skirt, and said, "Laenor caught a fish. Let's grill it."
"Hoo, hoo, hoo..."
Aemon was indifferent, even snoring.
Laena asked with a smile, "Weren't you very noisy last night?"
Aemon didn't answer; he just snored.
As long as he was sleeping, no one could wake him up.
After a while, Rhaenyra and Jansif came in, holding hands.
The Eagle's Nest is too small, and new nobles from the Vale arrive every day.
Jansif was ordered to act as a guide and took several dragon riders out to see the scenery.
"Hiss!"
Seasmoke lay on the edge of the waterfall. Laenor and his lover went into the water to fish.
Above their heads, Syrax slowly circled.
Except for Vermithor, the other three dragons left the Eagle's Nest.
It was almost noon.
Several people sat in a circle, lit a bonfire, and grilled fish.
Laenor smiled as he handed the grilled fish to those present.
Too virtuous.
Aemon stopped pretending to be dead and quietly observed everyone.
Joffrey lowered his head, unable to blend in.
Laenor had dragged him there.
Laena smiled, looking gentle.
Rhaenyra and Jansif sat next to each other as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other in a while.
They knew each other well and were both veterans and contributors to Riverdale.
Aemon retracted his gaze and took a bite of the grilled fish, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
For the time being, he was quite satisfied with this trip to the Eagle's Nest.
One aspect was intimidating the nobles of the Vale.
More importantly, he came to win over his cousin and brother-in-law, Laenor.
In the previous generation, there were only two dragon riders: Daemon and Aunt Rhaenys.
In their generation, the number doubled to four.
Laena and Rhaenyra were his partners.
Despite their differences, they were still a family.
Laenor was embarrassed.
He did not become the king's husband, and he lost a sister as well.
There was a faint sign of isolation among the new generation of dragon riders.
Aemon asked, "How could that be possible?"
Every dragon rider is a precious treasure before the little green radishes grow up.
Laenor has excellent character and ability, except for his sexual orientation.
Seasmoke is an exceptional young dragon among the four generations of dragons.
"Cousin, you can come to the Vale more often when you're free. It's more interesting than being alone on Driftmark Island."
Aemon dared to think and act, playing a straight ball.
Laenor was stunned for a moment and smiled wider. "No problem. We should get together more often."
See? This kid is not stupid!
The back door that the sword stabbed is not the head.
Aemon smiled.
The affairs of the previous generation do not involve the next.
The quarrel between the Sea Snake and Daemon has little to do with them.
There is no longer an irreconcilable conflict over the succession to the throne between the black and green parties.
The confrontation between the royal family and the people of Driftmark Island does not mean they will never have contact with each other again.
One day, when the sea snake dies, Laenor may become the new lord of the tide.
By then, making dumplings will put an end to the matter.
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