While Jon and his entourage were on their march, Viserys Targaryen was becoming increasingly impatient and angry in Pentos because Illyrio had been stalling him from contacting Rhaenys and Viserys' patience was running thin. He was seeking another audience with the Pentosi Merchant.
"Illyrio," he said, barely holding himself back from lashing out at the fat merchant. "It has been days since we learned of the dragons. I have asked you to let me write a letter, but you have consistently made excuse after excuse."
"I do not understand why you are stopping me," he questioned. "I have a claim on those dragons, and unlike her, I am not a fool."
"What is she even doing in Essos? If she had that much power, she should have flown directly to Westeros. To King's Landing. To Storm's End. To Winterfell. To Casterly Rock. All those traitorous bastards should be burnt alive."
"I will take those dragons and march straight for King's Landing. What is the purpose of her holing herself up in Qohor? We need to take the throne!"
Illyrio sighed in frustration. Keeping Viserys from doing foolish things was getting harder each day. He had developed this weird confidence that the lady was Rhaenys Targaryen. Only then he will have claim to those dragons. And another confidence that as if the dragons were waiting for him to arrive and simply claim them. As if he already was a dragon rider.
Illyrio would not dismiss the claim. Given that there were four dragons who did not have riders, it was very possible that Viserys might be able to claim one for himself. But then was it really going to be that easy? Will that lady allow anyone else to claim those dragons? He had a lot of doubts and Illyrio, or better to say Varys, was not willing to bet everything on possibilities. He wanted surety and Viserys could not be allowed to act imprudently.
"Your Grace," he replied. "I am not prohibiting you from doing anything. I am only asking you not to act in haste. Please, have some patience. We do not want to make mistakes because of impatience. You have waited for years, what harm a few more days might do?"
Viserys snorted but did not say anything.
"We do not know for sure what intentions this lady has," Illyrio continued.
"Your Grace," he decided, seeing few other options, to drop some truth for Viserys to consider. "Unlike Lady Rhaenys, you and Princess Daenerys were not living in secret. Both of you were well known. If Lady Rhaenys really wished to have anything to do with the both of you, she would have tried to contact you. Yet, she has made no effort."
"And there is also the matter of whether she really is who she claims to be," Illyrio added.
Viserys snorted again.
"Do you think I am a fool?" he said. "I know these things. And even if she does not wish to kneel before me, it does not matter."
Another of his fascinations, that Rhaenys will kneel before him. What little he could guess of her, Illyrio was sure, Rhaenys would not kneel before anyone. At least not before Viserys.
"What matters is that she has dragons, and once I meet them, I am going to claim them," he continued. Confidence.
"Anyway, I have heard that she does not ride the biggest or the most powerful of the three dragons. She instead rides one of the smaller ones."
"And she would do this only because she could not control the biggest dragons. I can claim the biggest dragon," he added confidently. "I am the true dragon. She is not."
"Your Grace," Illyrio replied. "I would not stop you from writing a letter to Lady Rhaenys, but there is one suggestion which you must heed."
"Speak," Viserys replied.
"You may write to Lady Rhaenys, but do not mention things like submitting or kneeling to you," he said and he continued before Viserys could interrupt. "Write to her as you would a relative."
"Enquire about her well being. Talk about the ties of the family. The Targaryen Blood. Reminisce how close you had been to her father who had been your brother. Describe how much you had mourned when you had heard about the brutality against Lady Elia Martell."'
"Ask subtly, but also obviously, if she really is Rhaenys. Where she had been hidden all these years, and why she did not contact you. Congratulate her on her victory and mention the dragons, but do not allow your intentions regarding the creatures to appear in the letter."
This was exactly what Varys had suggested. This method would allow them to accomplish two goals.
Firstly, it would temper Viserys's growing impatience, which was threatening to spiral out of control. They needed to maintain a firm control on him and every uncertain thing that was popping out of nowhere in Essos, it was becoming more difficult and difficult.
Secondly, it would allow them to gain insight into Rhaenys Targaryen's mindset. They would learn her thoughts and intentions regarding Westeros, her feelings about her uncle Viserys, and perhaps discover how and where she had acquired her dragons. Most importantly, they might identify her allies.
Varys was confident that there had to be someone supporting Rhaenys from the shadows. She could not have done it all alone.
"Fine," Viserys agreed after a moment of contemplation. "We will do as you say. Let us build a familial bond with her."
A grin spread across his face; he was clearly pleased. Illyrio was certain that Viserys was already imagining himself mounted upon the largest of the black dragons.
"What of Lord Aeos's army?" Viserys asked suddenly. "Have you any idea which city he will attack first?"
"Tyrosh, Myr, or Lys," Illyrio replied. "These cities seem the most probable targets for now. Pentos is safe, for now, they are not marching northward."
"Lord Aeos is such a fool," Viserys said out of nowhere. "I am not questioning what he has achieved, but who is foolish enough to appoint a woman as the leader of their army? Is he a coward himself? Why not lead the army himself?"
"Sylvia," he added. "That is her name, is it not?"
Illyrio nodded. "General Sylvia, she is called."
Viserys scoffed.
Illyrio internally cursed Viserys. Here was a man who had conquered three powerful cities, developed them to an incredible extent, dispatched an army of fifty thousand toward the Free Cities, and utilized a mind boggling strategy involving animals to repulse an unprecedented attack. And yet, he was being called a fool by someone who lacked the ability to lead even ten men.
Not to mention, Lord Aeos himself was like a crack of thunder in battle. It was all but certain that he would take over the Free Cities. No city had the strength to defend itself against him.
If such a man had appointed someone to such a high position, even if it had been a five-year-old toddler, Illyrio would not have taken the decision lightly. Lord Aeos was no fool. He had proved that over and over again.
#
#
#
[Add the book to your collection. Send it some power stones. Leave a rating and a review.]
[Access advanced chapter on P@treon. Replace @ with a. One additional advanced chapter each week on P@treon. ]
[email protected]/imaginarywriter