On the balcony of the chambers, Aegon was stunned for a moment, his expression complex. After a while, he sighed.
"He truly is a monster... a freak..."
Even if Vhagar died, with Lothron's terrifying rate of growth, his own Sunfyre would simply not compare...
Suddenly, Grand Maester Norren said quietly:
"Your Grace, the Prince commands twin dragons. I have read countless ancient texts in the Citadel—Valyrian, from the eastern continent, from the Freehold itself. There is no record of anyone ever commanding two dragons at once."
He paused.
"Prince Aemond... he is the first. Perhaps the only one..."
Aegon's face darkened.
"What do you mean?"
Maester Norren did not answer directly. He simply said:
"Your Grace, Prince Aemond is gifted and devoted to House Targaryen. That is the assessment I have heard most often since arriving in King's Landing."
He paused.
"But I have heard something else as well."
Aegon looked at him.
"What?"
Maester Norren raised his hand. He extended a finger and pressed it to his lips.
Shh.
Aegon the Second was stunned. Queen Aelinor beside him was also stunned.
Maester Norren pointed to the wall behind them.
Aegon the Second looked confused.
Grand Maester Norren lowered his voice and whispered to him.
"Your Grace, do you know why Maegor's Holdfast is called Maegor's Holdfast?"
Aegon did not speak.
Maester Norren continued whispering.
"When Maegor built this tower, he ordered secret passages built into the walls. He could hide anywhere and eavesdrop on anyone."
Grand Maester Norren looked at the uneasy expression on Aegon the Second's face—clear discontent and resentment—paused, and said quietly.
"Your Grace, after all these years, those secret passages still exist."
Aegon the Second's fingers were already gripping the balcony railing.
He had already accepted his identity as a puppet king in his heart. But his own brother Aemond also had people constantly watching him... Did he never trust his own brother?
Aegon shook his head, feeling sorrow.
He turned his head and asked quietly.
"I heard from Mother that she told you about the secret passages..."
"Is he always watching me now?"
Grand Maester Norren looked at His Grace Aegon and nodded slightly.
He sighed inwardly. This King Aegon is truly a fool, but that is fine. A fool is better than a madman. At least he is a fool who listens to counsel. He is the king the people of the Seven Kingdoms need. Foolish, but at least he will not run wild and treat the people of the Seven Kingdoms like cattle and sheep, the way Aemond and Daemon do.
Grand Maester Norren, looking at the silent king and his queen, continued whispering.
"Your Grace, everything you and Queen Aelinor say and do here may be watched and controlled by men Prince Aemond has placed."
Queen Aelinor's face also went pale, and she instinctively held Jaehaera tighter, stepping back a pace.
She had not known about the secret passages of Maegor's Holdfast. Queen Alicent had not told her, and Aegon had not told her. The handmaidens around her were also Aemond's spies. After marrying Aegon, she had carefully cultivated some loyal men to support Aegon. But now it seemed her behavior was no different from a clown performing before Aemond.
Aegon stood still, troubled.
He looked at Maester Norren.
This new maester was thin as a bamboo pole, and as ugly as the raven on his shoulder. But there was something in his eyes. Aegon did not know how to read it.
"You..." he said.
Maester Norren interrupted him.
"Your Grace, I only came today to assume the post of maester. Now that I have your approval, I shall take my leave."
He bowed deeply.
Then he stepped forward and took Aegon's hand.
Aegon felt something in his palm. A piece of paper. Very small.
Maester Norren released his hand. He turned and walked toward the door. When he reached the door, he stopped. He did not turn back.
"Your Grace, take care. May the Seven Gods bless you."
He pushed the door open and left.
Silence fell on the balcony.
Aelinor held Jaehaera and looked at Aegon.
Aegon stood at the balcony, his back to her. He held the note in his palm. He lowered his head and glanced at it. Then he raised his eyes to the spire of the Great Sept in the distance.
King's Landing lay at his feet—crisscrossing streets, dense houses, crowds like ants.
He was the king.
But he felt worse than those commoners. At least those ants were not eavesdropped upon. This younger brother of his had all the power—was that not enough? He still had people secretly watching him. His leg injury had long since healed; Aemond must know that.
Queen Aelinor came to him. She did not speak. Simply stood quietly.
Aegon opened his palm.
The note had only a few lines:
"I hope Your Grace will endure humiliation for a time. The Seven Kingdoms shall be restored to light. The Faith and the Citadel support Your Grace. I hope Your Grace will come to the Great Sept to speak."
After reading it, Queen Aelinor's face changed.
"This is..." Her voice was barely audible. "They support you?"
Aegon the Second nodded.
He crumpled the note tightly in his hand.
"What will you do?" Queen Aelinor asked.
Aegon did not speak. He stood at the balcony, looking at the sept's spire. A long silence.
Then he said:
"I will give the note to Aemond."
Queen Aelinor was taken aback.
"What?"
Aegon turned. He looked at his wife Aelinor and whispered.
"Give it to Aemond. We do not meddle in such things."
Queen Aelinor asked him softly, "Are you willing to do that?"
Aegon looked at her.
In her eyes he saw anger, reluctance, incomprehension. And disappointment.
Aegon sighed and whispered.
"Aelinor, perhaps it is better to do nothing. I know my brother. He wants all the power. But as long as I am king, he will always be the prince."
He paused and whispered.
"We need not take risks. Let him seize power. The important thing is to be a puppet."
Aelinor's lips moved.
"But... he has already killed his kin. The three brothers—Jacaerys..."
Aegon shook his head.
"Jacaerys was our enemy. I am his brother. If he wanted to kill me, he would truly be a fool."
He looked at his wife Aelinor.
"Besides, we are brothers. I believe he will not harm a kinslayer."
Queen Aelinor was silent.
She looked at Aegon.
Her husband. The king. A young man of only twenty, forced to try to comfort himself with the belief that his brother would not kill him.
Suddenly she felt very sad.
"I think..." she said quietly, "you could go and meet them."
Aegon was silent.
Aelinor continued whispering.
"After all, it is the Faith and the Citadel. Let us meet and hear what they have to say. If they truly want to kill your brother Aemond, we will not cooperate with them."
Aegon was silent.
Aelinor took his hand.
Aegon looked at her.
In her eyes were pleading and worry.
Aegon sighed.
"Very well."
Queen Aelinor whispered, "The day after tomorrow, just in time—the Father's Day. No one will suspect you if you go to the sept as king."
Aegon nodded in agreement.