The morning sun poured into the great hall of Meereen's pyramid, staining its marbled floors golden. Incense curled lazily from the sconces, but even its perfume couldn't mask the tension in the room.
Aelya stood beside the throne — not behind it, not at Daenerys's feet, but beside her, equal in height and in power. She wore her usual dark leathers, clean and plain, but the sapphire-and-copper ring on her right hand gleamed when it caught the sun. That ring had been with her since Vaedron's egg — and she never took it off.
Daenerys sat in the carved obsidian chair, regal and silent. Missandei stood to the side, scroll in hand, prepared to translate if needed. Barristan was stationed just behind the throne with Grey Worm and Jorah flanking the room.
The court was open to the people.
Petitions, disputes, grievances — it was the same each day. And like each day, some came with lies.
The first petitioner was an older man, draped in linens that looked borrowed from nobler cloth. He limped forward with exaggerated pain, casting glances at the crowd to make sure they were watching.
"Your Grace," he wheezed, bowing too deeply, "I am but a humble trader, robbed by your soldiers. They took my cart, my goods, even my shoes."
Daenerys's brows furrowed. "My soldiers?"
He nodded gravely. "Yes, Unsullied. They beat me when I protested."
Grey Worm blinked slowly, unamused. "None of our soldiers are allowed to seize goods."
"And you filed no report," Jorah added.
"Perhaps it was another group," Missandei translated carefully.
But Aelya was already moving. She stepped off the dais slowly, her boots clicking against the polished stone as the room quieted. Her expression didn't shift, but the air changed.
The man noticed. "I only ask for justice, noble queens."
"You ask for coin," Aelya said, her voice soft. "And you think this performance earns it."
"I speak truth!" he cried, backing slightly.
Aelya turned slightly. "Vaedron."
A heavy thud echoed through the chamber. The far doors opened — not by the guards, but by the dragon himself.
Vaedron entered, wings folded, his massive body forcing silence upon the court. He was larger than any creature they had seen. His steps cracked stone, but he made no sound with his breath. He didn't need to roar.
The man's voice failed him as he dropped to his knees, trembling.
"I find liars insulting," Aelya said. "And so does he."
With a flick of her hand, Vaedron surged forward and snapped his maw over the man before he could scream. It was quick. Too quick for blood to even mark the stone.
Gasps filled the chamber. Several in the crowd took steps back. But no one protested.
Daenerys didn't look away. She remained still, lips pressed together.
"Next," Aelya called.
The line shortened after that.
Another man came with an accusation of a neighbor hoarding grain. He stammered when pressed for proof, eyes darting. Nyxarys, perched on the upper balcony with her violet wings tucked neatly, gave a sharp cry that echoed.
The man fell silent, then confessed to lying.
Sorynth and Tiraxes were in the upper shadows, nearly invisible, but they descended together, landing beside Vaedron like arrows from the sky. The trio moved in perfect sync, their bond to Aelya clear in their coordinated actions.
The liars were fed to them as well.
Not one petition that day slipped past untruthfully.
By midday, the hall was nearly empty. A few legitimate cases were resolved quickly and fairly — a stolen goat returned, a property line dispute mediated.
Daenerys finally stood and looked to her sister.
"You've made your point."
"They made mine for me," Aelya said. "I'm only the reminder."
"You know they'll fear us."
"They already do. It's how you keep your city safe."
Outside, the dragons rested near the pyramid's eastern slope. Vaedron curled beside the sunbaked stone, eyes half-closed. The trio hatchlings sprawled lazily across the courtyard, wings twitching as they dreamt.
Aelya sat on the steps alone for a while as the court closed. Barristan passed her on his way down and paused.
"You rule with fire."
"I rule with consequence."
He nodded once. "That's a sharp line. Best not to slip."
"I haven't yet."
He walked on.
As the day cooled, Aelya looked over her city — dragons resting, guards vigilant, and no more falsehoods lingering in the hall.
Tomorrow would be quieter.
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