Aegon said it lightly, but Hugh’s heart slammed against his ribs.
“I will, my prince!” Hugh dropped to one knee without a second thought.
“Good.” Aegon drew his sword and laid it on Hugh’s shoulder.
“I accept your oath.
You may offer your loyalty and enter my service.”
Aegon had known Hugh was ambitious from the first moment he saw him.
He did not care.
Power lived in want.
A man with ambition and desire was useful.
A man who wanted nothing was impossible to control.
Aegon told Hugh to go home and pack.
He would arrange men and a ship to bring him to King’s Landing.
At the thought of returning to King’s Landing, Aegon’s mouth twitched.
Dreamfyre’s belly wound could not be hidden.
He was probably in for another beating.
“When am I going to grow up?
Being this young makes everything inconvenient.” Aegon sighed.
If he had been given a choice, he would rather have started as Laenor Velaryon.
Even that would have been easier to work with than Aegon Targaryen the Second.
But he had not chosen.
He had woken up as Aegon.
Viserys was still in his prime.
Otto Hightower had been sent back to Oldtown.
And Aegon was only seven.
There was very little he could do.
Still, he was not in a hurry.
Under his guidance, Helaena had not withdrawn into herself the way she did in the original story.
Dreamfyre was, barely, a fighting asset in his hands.
When 120 AC arrived, the Year of the Red Spring, Laena and Daemon’s son would be born and die within days.
Laena would follow three days later.
Laenor would be killed in a quarrel.
The blacks would lose two dragonriders capable of battle.
A heavy blow.
And Vhagar, the largest living dragon, ridden by Laena, would most likely be claimed by Aemond.
That was when Aegon would truly begin to move.
By evening, Alek arrived at Dragonstone with a squad of guards.
He rushed straight to Aegon.
“My prince, are you hurt?
“Relax.
They are in Aegon’s Garden.
They have been playing all day.”
Aegon tried to deflect.
He did not want word of the Cannibal getting out.
As long as no one had absolute proof, he would deny everything.
Avoiding a beating was best.
If he got beaten anyway, at least he had tried.
“One more thing.
I am leaving tomorrow, and you need to bring a few people with me.” Aegon changed the subject quickly.
“A few people?” Alek looked confused.
“My prince, you came to Dragonstone to find someone?”
“Never mind that.
He will come tonight.
I will have him find you later.
Make the arrangements.”
“Very well.” Alek agreed.
That evening, Hugh brought his wife to the Stone Drum.
“Sir, my name is Hugh.
The prince sent for me.”
Hugh stood before the Stone Drum’s doors and explained himself humbly.
The guard’s expression did not change.
Aegon had already given word.
“Come with me.
I will take you to Ser Alek.
He will bring you to King’s Landing.”
The guard glanced at Hugh and added, “You are fortunate.
Prince Aegon has taken notice of you.
The Seven must be watching over you.”
The guard’s words weighed on Hugh.
The more Aegon valued him, the heavier the pressure.
He feared he would fail and waste this chance.
Hugh let out a long breath and met Alek.
Seeing the man in polished armor with a white cloak at his back, Hugh stiffened.
His nerves spiked.
“Sir, I am Hugh.
This is my wife, Martha.”
Martha looked deeply nervous.
When Hugh had come home ecstatic, saying she would become a lady, she thought he was joking.
Now he had brought her straight to the Stone Drum.
“Do not worry.
The prince thinks highly of you.
We leave for King’s Landing first thing tomorrow.”
Alek arranged a room for Hugh and Martha, and assigned two maids to attend her.
Once Alek left, Hugh shut the door and helped his wife into bed.
“Hugh, I am afraid.” Martha gripped his hand.
Hugh kissed the back of her hand.
“I know what worries you.
But the chance is right in front of us.
I have to try.”
“Were we not fine with the smithy?” Martha asked.
“We were.
The forge puts food on the table.
But what about our child?”
Ambition burned in Hugh’s eyes.
“If it is a son, I want him to become a knight.
Even a baron or a count.”
Hugh gently touched Martha’s swollen belly.
His face held hope and longing.
Nobility.
Even a landed knight at the lowest rung lived a life no blacksmith could match.
And Prince Aegon had promised that if Hugh earned it, he would be granted a title, land, and a castle.
Martha sighed.
She knew her husband carried resentment in his heart.
Hugh kissed her forehead one last time.
“Rest easy.
Do you remember what my mother used to say?”
Martha quickly covered his mouth and lowered her voice.
“The prince may favor you, but do not lose your head.
Understand?”
“I understand.” Hugh nodded firmly.