As opposed to the very bad night that anyone else might be having... King Viserys expects a good day on this very day.
For it is his second child's second nameday.
For Aegon, the nth to have the name, Targaryen.
And like the many guests that were present here for the feast in the boy's honor... Viserys can't help but shower the little lad with his attention, together with his young queen, who is with another babe in belly.
"He has your hair, Your Grace." Suddenly said a nearby courtier, and even though it was quite obvious... the King was more than happy to say. "He does have my hair."
Eliciting the laughs of the plenty that gathered around.
And after seeing that such a simple statement worked wonders, another lord then uttered. "He has your eyes, Your Grace."
"Yes, he does." Viserys obliged then again. To the chuckle of many.
"And you have my nose, don't you?" He also added in jest, touching the boy's smeller. For it is a joyous occasion, so it is to be enjoyed as such.
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Watching all this from a relative distance was Otto Hightower...
Together with his older brother, Hobert Hightower... the Lord of Oldtown and the head of the Hightower House.
"Two years old and already our boy has a kingly presence." Hobert praised as he gazed at his grand-nephew.
"He may yet, brother..." Otto supplementingly corrected. "...but this morning he insisted on eating porridge with his hands."
"He will grow." Hobert was sure of it as he looked around the room. "We're quite a party assembled in his honor. And surely by the end of this hunt... we shall have more to celebrate."
Despite knowing what is insinuated, Otto still pondered. "And what is that, pray tell?"
"It is Aegon's second name day. His infancy's behind him." Hobert intoned. "It only remains for Viserys to name him heir to the throne."
"I wouldn't be so sure." Otto muttered while Hobert countered. "But he's the King's firstborn son."
"I don't know that His Grace sees it so clearly." Otto said, knowing he had his work cut out for him. If his prior attempts were any indication.
"Then it lies with you to make him see it..." Hobert ordered... sarcastically asking. "You are his Lord Hand, are you not?"
Then the Lord of Oldtown added. "Don't dally any longer with this, Otto... especially when we are so close at hand."
"For our father's hopes and our forefathers' pride. A Hightower on that Throne will make us paramount over all... just as it should be." These parts were, of course, whispered in Otto's ears… lest anyone else overhear the ambition they've been nursing.
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Of course, to put a damper on both joyous and scheming huddles… was the new Master of Ships.
Tyland Lannister, who bowed to say. "Your Grace... I bring urgent news from the Stepstones!"
And dutifully, he reported. "The Crabfeeder has dug in for seige on Bloodstone while his men sabotage our fleet under the cover of dark."
"Not today, Tyland." Viserys was not in that mood, however.
"The matter of the Stepstones... is regrettably urgent." The Lannister could only say.
"It's been three years. It can wait another three days." Viserys insisted, and as he headed towards the table, he ordered. "Come, eat. Fortify yourselves for the journey. Please..."
And when approaching the Master of Laws, Viserys asked. "Is the baggage train ready?"
"It is presently massing at the River Gate." Lord Lyonel informingly replied. "Lord Jason expects us in the Kingswood before midday."
And at the trailing of the twin and the mention of Lord Jason, Viserys suddenly wondered. "Have you seen Rhaenyra?"
To which, Lord Lyonel could only say. "I have not, Your Grace."
Of course, taking this chance, Tyland had to be the bearer of more unwanted news. "With the Triarchy now sheltering in Bloodstone's caves, the threat of the dragons is blunted."
So, even the reluctant King had to wonder. "They don't have foot soldiers?"
"But... their sellswords have been withdrawing in droves, Your Grace." The Lannister expounded. "Even the mercenaries can see that it is a losing effort."
Alas, Viserys had already toned that out as he approached Ser Criston Cole to ask. "Where's Rhaenyra?"
"I cannot be sure at present, Your Grace." Was what the Kingsguard replied.
Still, persistent in doing his task, Tyland interjected all that he could. "The Velaryon forces have suffered heavy attrition, Your Grace. The seeds of dissent are sown amongst the rank and file. Prince Daemon has driven the men hard... and they have begun to question his command. If the crown were ever to intervene..."
"Tyland!" The King interjected, this time, his tone more forceful.
And to truly cut off Tyland's callous remarks, the Hand opportunely chimed in to say. "Daemon and the Sea Snake started their war without His Grace's leave... were he to intervene now after so long, it would make the crown appear weak."
Yet despite these powerful men's insistence, Tyland could only persevere forward to say. "But it is said that the Prince Daemon has just been wounded... Your Grace..."
Something that actually stalled Viserys in thought... with everyone else not wanting to interrupt a sibling's reaction to his brother's plight.
Except perhaps for Tyland Lannister once again, who could very well not know how to read the room.
In any case, the Master of Ships continued. "The Grandmaester has also tasked upon me, Your Grace... to tell you of the unrest that is happening in the Vale. For their ravens over-flocked the one carrying the message from the Stepstones."
Which stopped Viserys's pause as he hesitantly questioned. "What unrest?"
"Apparently, the famous Santa Ma-Rhea has finally returned from its bold journeys... with 3 more of it anchored in Runesport." The Lannister enunciated.
With many perking up to listen.
But such news only further complicated the feelings of the supposedly joyous Viserys... for it meant that his estranged nephew was finally back!
Back from his travels that sent everyone reeling. With Viserys himself still processing it all.
Nevertheless, this new fact stunned even the eavesdropping courtiers and Council masters... and might have infected the whole crowd into silence.
The mention of anything related to the Bold Bronze just has that effect. Except perhaps for little Aegon, who was babbling in confusion.
Then again, Tyland made himself dull to their reactions and had more to say. So, he said. "The happening unrest is, of course, not just because of Ser Royce's surprising return, Your Grace. It is actually because of the beast corpse he's dragged behind his grand ships."
"What manner of beast is it? To disturb the Vale and make them send so many ravens?" Viserys asked, as representative of the curious crowd.
Granted that he also prepared his nerves by humorously guessing that it could very well be. "A Leviathan the size of an island?"
"Well... no... because from what the many missives wrote... it is a dead beast of ice that is freezing seawater still. So many attest that it is that other legend of the Shivering Sea, Your Grace..."
"An actual Ice Dragon..."
"And the Bold Bronze must have slain one... with an intact corpse as proof of it."
Tyland reported what he should... but even he could be seen swallowing... perhaps in his own effort to try and understand the words he's spat out.
Just as everyone else tried to do...
For the returned Bold Bronze could very well have committed literal dragonslaying. On a type of dragon that is only rumored to have existed.