In the secret estate outside Wolf's Den, the Pear Garden was home to all kinds of plants, most notably Tyrosh pear trees and Myr fire herbs. It was a lovely estate, tightly guarded by Unsullied guards.
The young dragons were playing in the garden as well. Beneath the largest pear tree, an exquisite tapestry had been spread out. Gendry, Daenerys, Qyburn, Anguy, Fletcher Dick, and Greywolf all sat on the Myr tapestry, watching the dragons wheel and dance overhead. The tapestry was covered with every kind of fruit, along with drinks and pastries, as though they were enjoying a woodland picnic.
The young dragons still could not fly very high, but they could already take to the air. Balerion, Vhagar, and Viserion were each about the size of cats, though Balerion was a little larger than his companions. Even so, cats were heavier than dragons, because a dragon's body was made up mostly of neck, tail, and wings, making it lighter than it looked.
But the most terrifying thing about dragons was their potential for growth. They could devour several times their own weight in meat every day and thrive on it.
Balerion's coloring was the most ancient of all, black and red. He was the largest of the three and the wildest, always hungry. His body was covered in black scales, while his eyes, horns, and the scales along his spine were blood-red, as if embodying Fire and Blood.
Vhagar was made of summer green and autumn bronze, while Viserion's scales were a fresh milky white. His horns, wing bones, and spine were dark gold, like metal gleaming under sunlight.
Vhagar and Viserion circled near the pear trees, spiraling higher and higher as they competed with each other. Balerion was flying too, but he went higher and farther than the other two. The black dragon was bolder than his companions. He was the first to charge into the clouds, and he would also be the first to try hunting and killing.
Dragons liked to attack from above. When they climbed between their opponent and the sun, they would fold their wings and dive with a shrill cry. Then the two dragons would lock together, tangling into a ball of scales as they tumbled through the sky, clawing and lashing with their tails.
The first time they fought, both Gendry and Daenerys were afraid they might hurt each other, but it turned out the little dragons were only stretching their muscles. Just before hitting the ground, they broke apart at once, screamed, then beat their wings and rose again.
"My condolences regarding King Robert," said Qyburn.
"The dead are gone. We have to face the future. What matters now is avenging the king. Under our banner, the Lannisters will spit back up every bit of land and wealth they stole," Gendry said calmly.
Truth be told, he had only met King Robert a few times. If Gendry had not been lucky enough to remain undiscovered all those years, he might have been assassinated by the Lannisters long ago. It was like a biological father he had never known suddenly leaving him a vast inheritance, enough to stir up all kinds of complicated feelings.
Gendry thought again of that plump face, that foolish king who laughed, cursed, and raged in equal measure. "Boy, I know you don't want to accept this gift. But this is the last thing I can give you. Avenge me." It might have been nothing more than posture and performance, but it made it easier for him to climb to the very top of power.
Daenerys studied Gendry's face. His hair was as black as endless night. There was sorrow in him, and joy too, and perhaps a trace of melancholy. People said Robert had once been as strong as a bull, only to die by a boar's tusks.
Daenerys herself could not quite sort out what she felt about Robert's death. The history of the War of the Usurper was clearly not what her brother Viserys had claimed it was. Aside from the vile Lannisters, her father Aerys seemed to have done things just as terrifying.
From Gendry, Ser Jorah, Maester Qyburn, Fletcher, and even the old knight Barristan Selmy, who had only briefly appeared to offer his greetings before leaving, Daenerys had learned more and more about the past. Perhaps Gendry was right. Reconciliation, tolerance, facing the future, and defeating the damned Lannisters. That was the way forward.
After circling through the sky, Balerion returned to the ground and landed in his master Gendry's arms. Perhaps it was a bond forged in Fire and Blood, or perhaps he could sense the violent power inside Gendry, but Balerion seemed quite satisfied with his master.
Dany watched the scene with open curiosity, utterly captivated by the mystery of dragons.
"That's incredible. You've become a dragon rider," Anguy said, clicking his tongue in amazement as he looked at the black dragon. He had once been both curious and afraid of dragons, but now he felt a strange, fierce pride in the Lord Commander's dragon. This was the only black dragon in the world, the rebirth of Black Dread.
"To behold a dragon is a joy. Dragons truly are the most wondrous creatures in the world," Greywolf said in praise. "This servant is truly fortunate."
"Not 'This servant.' You are not my slave. You are my subordinate, my friend." Gendry corrected Greywolf's wording. Greywolf was the commander of the Free Company.
"Yes. Lord." Greywolf straightened his chest. The Unsullied were no longer his past. The reality now was that he was a free man of the new realm.
"They're so hot," Daenerys said, touching the black dragon's scales. They were so scorching that they were almost impossible to touch, like armor left baking beneath the blazing sun. The black dragon seemed displeased, but he did not resist her touch. All three dragons were very affectionate toward Gendry as well.
"The flesh and blood of dragons are made of Fire and Blood," Maester Qyburn said. Dragons were creatures of magic, beings of power beyond human imagination.
"How big can it grow?" Daenerys asked. "Do you know, old Maester?"
"Legend says that in the Seven Kingdoms, some dragons could snatch giant monsters from the sea," Qyburn said. "But that is only legend. Judging from what they have shown on the battlefield, the greatest dragon, the Conqueror's Balerion, had wings whose shadow could cover a thriving town."
"And how long can they live?" The other two dragons, seeing their companion land, swept down past the pear trees as well, beating their wings lightly before settling onto the tapestry.
"Dragons live far longer than men, or so the songs say. But according to my research at the Citadel, dragons with reliable records lived for around two hundred years. That lifespan already far exceeds that of ordinary humans," Qyburn said. "Still, if you ask whether that is the absolute limit of a dragon's life, I would say not necessarily."
"What do you mean by that?" Daenerys asked curiously. She was quite fond of the two old men. They reminded her of the old Ser who had once raised her.
"Before its death, Balerion may have visited the ancient ruins of Valyria, where it suffered terrible harm that likely shortened its lifespan. As for the other dragons, most were born for war, so very few lived long. There is one more thing. The Dragonlords of the Valyrian Freehold possessed powerful sorcery. If that is true, then their dragons may have grown larger and lived longer as well."
"Old Maester, all those uncanny tales of yours are going to scare the Princess," Fletcher said, unable to hold back. "Magic is a sword without a hilt. It cannot be controlled."
"That may be true, but magic is born of blood and fire. It is not some absurd fantasy. Look at that red comet in the sky. I guarantee that before long, you will witness the wonder of magic," Qyburn said. After all, aside from Dany, ancient power also flowed in Gendry's blood, and one day it would astonish the world.
"Setting magic aside, I've been thinking about the dragon eggs and Dragonstone," Gendry said. "Dragon eggs are already worth a fortune. Once word spreads that Dragons have hatched, they will become priceless." Gendry understood that the hatching of the three dragons had come through magic, but once the tide of magic rose, he had no way of knowing whether other dragon eggs might also have a chance to hatch, or whether they would still require a living sacrifice. In any case, he needed control of the dragon eggs.
"Mm," Qyburn said. "Unfortunately, dragon eggs have vanished without a trace. I have not even heard of any fossilized dragon eggs. Still, I have considered several places where clues may remain. Dragonstone, the Red Keep, Summerhall, and a few other hiding places for dragon eggs. But rest assured, even if the eggs are at the ends of the earth, I will find the relevant intelligence."
Qyburn's secret organization was now both hidden and formidable, handling all manner of tasks. Beyond gathering intelligence and supporting Qyburn's magical research, it now also had a dedicated dragon seeking group.
"Good." Gendry's fingers brushed across Balerion. Dragon eggs might allow the number of Dragons to keep growing, and Dragonstone could help them grow well. Neither could be done without. "Still, I'm not worried about Lord Stannis. Lord Renly, on the other hand, will definitely crown himself king."
"Renly is the one with truly boundless ambition. He is nothing but a second son who gained the Stormlands through the king's favor, yet he has been entangled with House Tyrell all along. And now he means to defy the king's will?" Fletcher could not help complaining.
Gendry currently had several groups operating in secret. There was the leaflet group made up of Jon Snow and Barristan Selmy, Qyburn's magic group, his intelligence group, and Gendry's own inside group in Westeros. Those loyal men, those loyal warriors, would build his cause.
"Is there going to be another war?" Daenerys asked. She knew Dragonstone was the seat of one of her betrothed's uncles, and he was unlikely to let it go easily.
"Yes, my Princess," Gendry said to Daenerys, kissing her finger. "A realm where people can live happy lives is guarded by blood and fire."
"Then I pray that the gods above will bless you, bless my sun and stars, bless my lover and my comrade."
"Princess, they will. After all, no man dislikes the thought of having children with a beautiful princess," Fletcher said with a loud laugh.
"These are troubled times, and everyone has worked hard." Gendry looked around at the others. Great undertakings were born from hardship.
"To your cause," Qyburn said, raising his cup.
The others raised their cups as well. "Prince, Princess, to your cause. Long live the Warhammer."
Then Fletcher rose and sang for them.
"The brothers of the Kingswood,
they were an outlaw band.
The forest was their castle,
but they roamed across the land.
No man's gold was safe from them,
nor any maiden's hand.
Oh, the brothers of the Kingswood,
that fearsome outlaw band..."
Fletcher felt an indescribable sorrow. Those were his friends, his past.
He wanted to return to Kingswood and see those old places again.