Fredo left looking very pleased with himself. Twenty ships from the Iron Throne plus control of the lower Narrow Sea trade routes was more than enough to rebuild House Rogare, as long as he didn't screw it up.
Daeron sent Jaehaerys to see him out. Pulling Fredo toward King's Landing instead of leaving him as a local spy had been a good move. It kept things clean. Offering a man a seat on the Small Council was respect. Leaving him behind to rat out his own people would have been an insult, and nobles cared about their dignity, at least on the surface.
Daeron watched his brother return and gave him a knowing look. "You like her?"
Jaehaerys's face went red, but he didn't bother denying it. He just gave a small, honest nod. "Yeah."
Daeron didn't drag it out. "Once you're Prince of Myr, I'll handle the betrothal myself."
It was a clean arrangement. Marana Rogare had strong Valyrian blood and a quiet, bookish nature that seemed to suit Jaehaerys. Pairing him with her would give the family another solid connection in the east, the same way Viserys marrying Diana Pojiali would help settle Tyrosh. The more Valyrian-blooded matches they secured now, the better their options would be for the next generation.
Jaehaerys looked quietly happy, almost like Viserys for a second.
The next morning Daeron went to Rhaegar's residence as agreed. Two Silver Guard escorted him through the gardens and up to the second-floor hall.
Rhaegar was already waiting. He gave a small nod. "Your Grace."
Daeron raised an eyebrow at the formal title but didn't comment on it. He simply walked past and took the main seat without being offered.
Rhaegar glanced toward the window where Jaehaerys was standing with Rhaenys. Something tired and distant passed across his face. "You always looked after them, even when we were young. I could see it then."
Daeron didn't soften. "It was your job. I was just cleaning up after you."
Rhaegar didn't argue. He only said, "We're more like strangers now."
Daeron gave a short, cold laugh. "Then stop acting like you get to feel sentimental about it. You walked away from all of them. I didn't."
Rhaegar's face went pale, but he stayed on his feet.
Daeron cut straight to the point. "You wanted to talk. Talk."
Rhaegar took a slow breath. "I brought two dragon eggs back from the Smoking Sea. I intend to—"
"Stop," Daeron said flatly. "You can keep them. You can even try to hatch them. But they get registered. After you're gone, they come back to the family for the next generation that can claim them."
Rhaegar went quiet. He had clearly expected a harder demand, maybe even to lose the eggs outright. Being allowed to keep them for his lifetime was already more than he had hoped for.
Daeron continued without waiting. "I'm sending Alliser Thorne to Lys as your Lord Steward. He'll handle the city's defenses."
Rhaegar nodded slowly. "I know him. He's capable. He can keep the city guard in order."
Daeron studied him for a moment. Rhaegar was being strangely cooperative. That only made him more suspicious.
Rhaegar spoke again. "On the way back from the Smoking Sea I saw the storm and the volcanic eruption. My scouts say the fog is starting to thin. I want to go back."
Daeron frowned. "You should wait."
The Valyrian peninsula might actually be reappearing. That would make it one of the most contested pieces of land in the world. Right now the Smoking Sea was still extremely dangerous.
"I have reasons to go," Rhaegar said stubbornly.
Daeron already knew what those reasons were. "You saw the wild dragon."
Rhaegar didn't deny it.
Daeron leaned forward. "What happened to the other four eggs on the Laughing Lion? You only brought back two."
Rhaegar's mouth tightened. "Lyn Corbray took two during the chaos. The other four… I think one went to Slaver's Bay, one to Volantis, and the last two were taken by an ironborn. Greyjoy banners."
"Euron," Daeron muttered. That explained a lot.
He didn't like any of it. Dragon eggs were already hard enough to track. Once they scattered, they became nearly impossible to recover without burning entire cities.
Rhaegar looked out the window. "When the fog clears enough, I want to search the Valyrian peninsula. The Fourteen Flames."
Daeron stood up. He was done here. "Come to King's Landing for the victory feast. Mother and Elia will want to see you. If something comes up, send Rhaenys in your place."
He didn't wait for an answer. He walked out.
On the way back he was already making plans. The Smoking Sea was still too dangerous to explore properly. He would leave that to Victarion and the ironborn for now. His focus stayed on the Triarchy cities and the Disputed Lands.
But the wild dragon was a different problem.
If it was still alive, it couldn't be allowed to stay free.
As soon as he returned to King's Landing, he would push Varys harder. They needed to find that dragon before someone else did.