In the Fire Herb Manor of the Disputed Lands, Gendry quietly wiped down his warhammer. The dark, heavy head felt icy in his hand. Though forged from fine steel, even it showed wear after so many battles.
Two new weapons now rested in his room. One was the Arakh scimitar taken from a Meereen gladiator, the other a Morningstar left behind by his fallen comrade, "Morningstar." The Arakh scimitar was shaped somewhere between a sword and a sickle, the weapon most beloved by the Dothraki.
Gendry longed for a Valyrian warhammer. Nothing in this world was sharper than Valyrian steel.
[Bloodline: Blood of the Storm (Activated, Awakened 33%)]
He could feel the change. Combat—especially true, high-stakes combat—strengthened his Blood of the Storm. His body was growing tougher, his strength steadily climbing. Only on the edge of life and death, with a drawn bowstring ready to snap, could the Blood of the Storm be fully stirred.
"I was once just as obsessed with my iron necklace," Qyburn said, "until I realized how vast the world truly is, how magnificent magic can be. The people of Westeros sit in a dim room, yet insist on snuffing out the candles lit by magic. Instead of pretending not to hear like a flock of grey sheep, why not seek the truth?"
"Master Qyburn, you seek truth. I seek security—a life that's safe and unburdened."
Gendry set the warhammer down. What he truly wanted was peace and ease, the kind of carefree life only a nobleman's son could afford.
But his identity was too awkward, too close to the center of the storm. The Baratheon dynasty itself stood on shaky ground. Any shift in power would inevitably sweep him up in it. Better to be the one moving the pieces than a piece on the board.
He was older than Joffrey—the king's true firstborn in all but name—while Joffrey was born of adultery. Even as a bastard, Gendry's mere existence was a threat. House Lannister might move against him. Even his own uncles could prove dangerous.
He knew what had become of his bastard brothers and sisters. Aside from the noble bastard Edric, hidden away in Storm's End, the rest would be doomed if the vicious Cersei ever discovered them.
"Royal families are often disasters," Maester Qyburn muttered. "Viserys I, the Fool King, the Mad King—each left behind a tangled mess. King Robert fared no better. Kings ignore their children, queens grow ambitious. That's how calamity begins."
He knew the truth about those legitimate princes. To him, they were powder kegs waiting for a spark.
Gendry knew the stories too. In King's Landing, people still mocked them in whispers. Viserys I mishandled the succession and ignited the Dance of the Dragons. The Fool King indulged his desires recklessly, scattering seeds that would one day grow into the Blackfyre Rebellion. And the Mad King, true to his name, was not only insane but deeply suspicious of his own wife and children.
"So be ready, Master Qyburn. Whether my identity is exposed or not, House Lannister will be our greatest enemy."
House Lannister was powerful and rich. The Westerlands had fewer people than the Reach, but the Reach was divided among many lords, while the Westerlands stood united under Tywin's iron grip. Even Robert, the victorious usurper, had ultimately chosen to bind himself to the lions through marriage.
"The situation is pressing. We need more hands," Qyburn said with a trace of regret. "It's a pity I couldn't experiment on that Meereen gladiator. He would have been perfect—an untiring, invincible warrior."
He still missed the fallen gladiator known as "Rust." Any man who clawed his way through the fighting pits of Meereen possessed extraordinary physical gifts.
"Just like the Kingsguard in King's Landing, you should have protectors like that at your side. An invincible warrior might even surpass a white knight. After all, white knights are still bound by emotion."
"There will be a chance," Gendry said firmly. "Just not now."
At the moment, they were merely sellswords within a Sellsword Company. Conducting such brutal experiments inside the Wolf Pack would only get them thrown out.
"Beyond crafting invincible warriors, I'm also intrigued by those substances that pulse with magical elemental energy," Qyburn went on eagerly. "If we could acquire a dragon egg, that would be even better. Prince, you carry a trace of dragon blood in your Bloodline. You might be able to hatch one."
"If we had a dragon—even a young one—it would greatly aid your cause."
"Dragons." Gendry exhaled softly. "Enough fools have tried to awaken them. It's no simple matter. And we're not the only ones who haven't given up. There's a pair of exiled siblings who are still chasing the same dream."
He knew where the three dragon egg fossils were—held by the fat Magister of Pentos. But fossilized eggs required too many harsh and exacting conditions to hatch.
He would rather search elsewhere. Perhaps there were other dragon eggs—ones still alive with vitality, with a greater chance of hatching.
Dragonstone. King's Landing. Summerhall.
"You mean the Beggar King siblings?" Qyburn considered it for a moment. "Their dragon blood is indeed the purest. But they aren't the only ones in history to have ridden dragons. Take the Sea Snake's children, for example. The Sea Snake himself could not master a dragon, yet his sons and daughters did—even his bastards."
"In truth, we have other ways to gain allies. It comes with risks, but it could serve as a shortcut."
"You mean Daenerys?"
Qyburn nodded. "Yes. Daenerys may well be the most beautiful girl in the world. She carries the dragon Bloodline, the blood of ancient Valyria's gods. Beauty is only the most dazzling of her many qualities. She also represents hidden power. You don't truly believe all the supporters of the Dragonlords have vanished, do you? Think of Dorne. Think of Crackclaw Point."
"Is she really that beautiful? How can you be so sure?" Gendry asked. Given Qyburn's age and experience, he had likely never even seen Daenerys, yet he spoke like an ardent admirer.
"The true dragon house has always been famed for otherworldly beauty. I have never heard of an ugly Targaryen. And while I have not seen the girl, I did once see Prince Rhaegar." Qyburn shook his head, slipping into memory. "Rhaegar was tall and striking, with silver hair and indigo eyes. Those melancholy violet eyes—I assure you, they could make any girl scream. His sister is bound to be a peerless beauty."
Rhaegar's looks had been legendary. Even years after his death, Cersei and the Griffin still spoke of him with lingering attachment. As for Daenerys, her beauty was already considered among the finest in the Known World, beyond compare.
"You may be right, but we…" Gendry hesitated. The plan sounded mad, yet perhaps madness was worth attempting. "We are enemies."
Qyburn shook his head. "Allegiances shift with circumstance. Love and hatred follow interest. Once, Great Lord Orys was fiercely loyal to House Targaryen—he even lost a hand to the Dornish for them. Could Aegon the Conqueror have imagined that the True Dragon Throne would one day be overthrown by the descendants of his dearest friend? Everything changes. Besides, you and she share a common enemy in House Lannister, and the same desire for that Iron Throne."
"I have to admit, you're a persuasive man, Master Qyburn." Gendry smiled faintly. He could not have everything. Aligning with Daenerys to reclaim the throne would inevitably offend many. But if he wished to reach for that crown, he would have to commit fully.
"A girl who has spent her life hiding and fleeing, growing up in fear, with a brother half-mad and obsessed with a crown—what does she need most?" Qyburn said calmly. "She needs strong arms to lean on. A handsome, bold warrior who never loses. Prince, you possess charm and presence, and you lack nothing in strength. What we lack is the influence to approach the Princess. You can be steel, or you can be silk. So long as you stand before her, we have a chance."
Gendry had to admit the logic held. A handsome face was a powerful weapon, especially in an age where appearance carried weight. But how to seize the opportunity before anyone else did would require careful timing. Daenerys's value was not only her beauty. She was also one of the keys to awakening dragons.
"We'll learn of Viserys and Daenerys through the smugglers," Gendry said. "The Disputed Lands have a long coastline. Smugglers and pirates hear everything."
"I would be more than happy to help bring about such a splendid union."