Baelon looked at Rhaenyra and smiled.
“Ser Cole has watched me grow up. I’m most familiar with him. I just don’t know if my sister agrees?”
He had two reasons for choosing Criston Cole.
First, the man who would one day become the Kingmaker.
Because of the choices Rhaenyra would make later, he would turn into an enemy of the Blacks.
Second, the man could actually fight.
Even Daemon had lost to him in the tourney, and he possessed real command talent.
In this era of Westeros, he counted as one of the truly capable men.
If Baelon could bind Cole to his side, he would not only secure his own safety but also keep the knight from spending too much time around Rhaenyra—preventing the man from “blackening” completely.
And if the Dance of the Dragons still came to pass, Cole’s loyalty to Baelon would weaken the Greens and reduce the losses the Blacks would suffer.
This was the first time since arriving in this world that Baelon had actively tried to change the future.
After Queen Aemma’s death, Rhaenyra had poured every drop of her love and energy into Baelon.
How could she possibly refuse him over something so small?
She answered at once.
“Of course. As long as it keeps you safe, I’m willing to do anything.”
Baelon turned to Cole and spoke clearly in front of Viserys.
“Ser Cole, swear to me. Swear on the white cloak you wear. From this day forward, you are loyal to me alone. You will do anything I ask of you.”
Cole glanced at the king, then at Baelon.
He dropped to one knee and gave the oath in a steady voice.
When it was done, Baelon looked at Viserys with satisfaction.
“Father, I still have some things I’d like to say to you alone.”
Viserys ruffled his hair and told Rhaenyra and Cole, “You two go on.”
Once the doors to the royal chambers had closed, Baelon spoke.
“Father, how has Uncle Daemon been lately? Has Hand Otto been attacking him again in Small Council meetings?”
Viserys met his son’s eyes.
He understood exactly what the boy was really asking.
“I haven’t seen Daemon in a long time either. He’s running the City Watch well, though. King’s Landing feels as safe as it did when my grandmother was alive.”
“As for Otto… you know how he is. He’s never been able to stand Daemon.”
Because Baelon had lived, Daemon had never been exiled over that foolish “one-day heir” remark.
He still remained in King’s Landing as commander of the City Watch.
Baelon chose his next words carefully.
“Father, do you love me and my sister?”
“Of course. You’re my children. You’re the continuation of your mother’s life.”
Baelon stared into Viserys’s eyes, searching for any sign the words were not sincere.
There was none.
Viserys truly loved these two children with everything he had left.
He still loved the dead Queen Aemma as well, even now that he had a new queen and a new son.
“If that’s true,” Baelon said, “then please dismiss Otto Hightower as Hand. His ambitions are plain for anyone to see. As long as he remains in King’s Landing, my sister and I will never be truly safe.”
Viserys’s face grew thoughtful, as though he were actually weighing the idea.
But after a moment he shook his head.
“He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t dare.”
Baelon looked at his father and thought, The weak king’s cowardice lives up to its reputation.
He pressed on anyway.
“Father, there are many ways to harm someone. We all have moments when our guard is down.”
Viserys reached out and stroked Baelon’s hair with tired affection.
“I’ll think seriously about what you’ve said. But changing the Hand of the King isn’t as simple as you think.”
“Was there anything else?”
Baelon shook his head.
“No.”
“Child, I actually have two things I want to say to you.”
“First… I want to name your sister as my heir. But she refuses. She insists the position belongs to you.”
“What do you think?”
Baelon patted his own thin legs.
“I understand. I’ll talk to her.”
Sadness and regret filled Viserys’s face.
“You’re so clever. So excellent. If only you could stand—even if you could never hold a sword—what a fine king you would make.”
“I’ve been searching the world for the best scholars to teach you. The moment you can stand, this throne will be yours.”
Baelon squeezed his father’s hand with what little strength he had, trying to offer comfort.
“Father, what’s the second thing?”
“Ignir has grown. He’s entering his rapid-growth phase. He’s no longer suited to stay inside the Red Keep. You should send him to the Dragonpit.”
Baelon’s hand stilled.
He lifted pleading eyes to Viserys.
“Father, Ignir is my most loyal companion. My strongest protector. Can’t he stay with me? Even if you won’t let him in my rooms, could he at least stay in the courtyard where I can see him from the window?”
Viserys looked at his son’s face and found he could not refuse.
He sighed.
“Very well. As you wish. But you must control him. He is not to fly in through your window, and he must not harm anyone.”
Baelon nodded hard.
“I promise, Father. Ignir listens to me.”
When the conversation ended, Viserys stood and moved to call Cole back in.
Baelon hesitated, then spoke again.
“Father, you’ve put on a little weight lately. When you have time, you should exercise. It would be good for your health.”
Viserys laughed and lifted Baelon into his arms.
“Good boy. I will. Thank you for worrying about me.”
Back in his own rooms, Baelon told Cole to wait outside and kept only Rhaenyra with him.
“Sister, Father spoke to me about the succession. You should accept.”
Rhaenyra’s expression turned stubborn.
“No. That place is yours. I won’t take it from you.”
Baelon took her hand.
“Sister, we share the same mother and father. We are blood and fire from the same source. My body isn’t going to improve anytime soon, but leaving the heir’s position undecided for so long puts enormous pressure on Father. You should take it. Better it goes to you than to anyone from House Hightower. And if the day ever comes when I can stand again, you can give it back to me.”
Rhaenyra looked at her little brother’s steady, far-too-adult face and felt her heart twist with fresh pain.
“Brother, you were born to be king. You will stand one day.”
Baelon smiled and nodded.
“I’ll keep trying. In the meantime, play the part of heir properly. I’ll leave my safety in Cole’s hands. If anything troubles you, or if you have to make a hard choice, come to me first. We’re the closest people in the world to each other.”
Rhaenyra nodded hard.
“Rest now. I’ll go find Father.”
Baelon let go of her hand and lowered his voice.
“Sister… when you have the chance, ask Uncle Daemon to come see me. Quietly. Best if no one else knows.”
Rhaenyra gave him a puzzled look.
Baelon continued.
“I need his help to make Otto Hightower leave King’s Landing.”
Her eyes lit up.
“You have a plan?”
“I do. But we can’t do it alone. Right now, the only person we can truly trust is Uncle Daemon.”