“Your Grace, forgive my ignorance, but I don’t understand what you mean.”
Baelon started to explain, then stopped himself.
Without five thousand years of layered history or the weight of old sayings behind it, the phrase would mean nothing to Cole.
It would just be wasted breath.
“You don’t need to understand. Just do as I say. No need to wait—send the Gold Cloaks out to investigate right now.”
“Teams of ten. Start with personnel records, move to finances, then work quality, and finish with direct questioning. Every detail, no matter how small.”
“Begin with the groups least likely to have problems—the dragon guards and the miners. Then the craftsmen and servants. Save the Dragonstone guard for last. Be firm with them, but do not start any open confrontations.”
“When you reach the Dragonstone guard, I’ll be there myself. They won’t need to worry about that part.”
“If you uncover problems in the early stages, punish them to the full extent of the law. The heavier the penalty, the better. Let everyone see exactly how seriously we’re taking this.”
“But any issues involving the Dragonstone guard will be handled by me personally.”
“As for timing—give the dragon guards and miners a full month to complete their investigation. That will also give the guard time to try and fix their own problems. By the end, the only issues left will be the ones they could never solve on their own.”
“That way we can clear out the truly bold and lawless ones. Anyone left, even if they still have problems, can be put to reasonable use.”
“Pay special attention to the ravens flying in and out of the island. Assign a dedicated team to watch them. Ideally we block the messages entirely. If that’s impossible, at least find out exactly who is sending and receiving them.”
Cole nodded as he wrote everything down, then asked, “Your Grace, we have plenty of time. Do we really need to move this fast? I’m worried that if we press too hard, something might break loose.”
“No. Our time is shorter than you think. Do it exactly as I said.”
“Also, write to my sister. Ask her to send a chest of gold dragons. I promised the Gold Cloaks double pay and I won’t go back on it. Daily rewards can’t be stingy either.”
“Fifty men with doubled salaries isn’t a fortune, but it isn’t small change either. Luckily I had my sister set aside funds during the King’s Landing renovations.”
Cole nodded and turned to leave.
A sudden, piercing scream from Auris’s room stopped him cold.
“Your Grace… what do we do with him?”
Baelon glanced at the hourglass and confirmed they were only just into the Stranger’s hour.
He shrugged.
“Leave him for now. When the Stranger’s hour is halfway done, go feed him the egg custard. Once he’s calmed down, bring him here. For now, go write that letter to my sister.”
Auris’s screams lasted a full hour before they finally stopped.
When Baelon saw him again, the man looked like he had been dragged out of deep water—shaking, soaked in sweat, and barely able to stand.
Auris didn’t even have the strength to lift his head.
“Ser Cole, untie him. I want to speak with him alone. With this beside me, I’ll be safe enough.”
Baelon tapped the repeating crossbow resting on his lap.
Cole cut the ropes with rough efficiency, then said, “Your Grace, I’ll be right outside the door. If you need me, just call. I’ll come in and finish him.”
Baelon nodded with a small smile.
He waited until the door closed before he spoke.
“Scholar Auris, that must have been unpleasant. I hope it helped you think clearly.”
All the rage and resentment had drained out of Auris.
Only raw, naked fear remained in his eyes.
He struggled to push himself up, then dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead to the floor in complete submission.
“Your Grace, I’m just a lowborn physician from Valantis. I truly came only to help you!”
“I swear it—on everything I have. I have done nothing to harm you or your dragon. Nothing!”
“At first I was foolish. I tried to hide how the blood magic would affect the dragon. But the moment you discovered it, I gave you the solution right away!”
“Please… spare me. I don’t want anything anymore. I’ll do whatever you ask. Just please don’t hurt me again!”
Baelon looked down at the snot and tears staining the floor and spoke softly.
“Scholar Auris, lift your head. Sit in that chair over there. Answer my questions honestly and you won’t be harmed again.”
Auris climbed to his feet with difficulty, dragged a chair as far from Baelon as the room allowed, and sat down.
He clutched the hem of his tunic with both hands and watched Baelon’s calm face with wide, terrified eyes.
“Relax, Scholar Auris. As long as you have no ill intentions toward me, I won’t hurt you again.”
“Now tell me everything. Who is left in your family? Who did you meet before you came to Westeros? And how exactly did you learn about my situation?”
“I have two sisters. One married inside the Black Walls. The other married me. My parents are long dead.”
“I have two sons and four daughters. Two of my daughters married nobles inside the Black Walls. The other two married my sons.”
“Before I came to Westeros, I was treating a group of merchants. They spoke of your deeds. I remembered my family’s blood magic and I saw an opportunity.” Follow the newest chapters on novelping . com.
“I knew the royal family would never trust me, but I thought you might give me a chance. So I came here.”
Auris poured out the answers without hesitation.
Baelon caught the gaps immediately and pressed on.
“If your family preserved the blood magic, why didn’t the dragon-riding methods survive as well?”
“Your family has married into the nobles inside the Black Walls for generations. Why are you still living in such misery?”
Auris’s face twisted with old, bitter hatred.
“My ancestors only took the spellbooks they needed to hide. They never brought dragons with them. They never imagined the Freehold would fall. It was cruel fate.”
“As for why we live like this…” The hatred in his voice thickened.
“Because it was never marriage. It was bloodline theft.”
“They kept us outside the Black Walls and used us as tools to purify their own blood. We received nothing in return.”
“Whenever a child was born in my family, they would come for us. Boys were kept. Girls were taken inside. When the boys grew older, the girls were sent back to us.”
“My wife and daughters have all been inside the Black Walls. They came back broken. We could barely survive.”
“I tried to stop having children, to end the cycle. They wouldn’t allow it. They tortured me until I begged for death and they still wouldn’t let me die.”
“I risked everything to reach Westeros because I hoped strength—your strength—could finally end my family’s suffering.”
Baelon studied Auris’s face and believed him.
That kind of hatred couldn’t be faked.
“Poor Scholar Auris. I’m sorry for what you’ve endured. And I’m sorry for what I did to you. You understand—my dragon and my life are too important. I had to be sure.”
“Serve me well and I’ll give you everything you want. Even an army and dragons to help you take revenge, if that’s what you desire. All I ask in return is that you restore my health and help me claim the throne that should be mine.”
“To prove my good faith, I’ll keep my word right now. I’m giving you the dragon-riding methods. And once I can stand again, I’ll give you an adult dragon of your own.”
He picked up a small ledger from the table and tossed it to Auris.
Auris stared at him in disbelief, then snatched the book and began flipping through the pages with shaking hands.
Every line was written in clear Valyrian script, detailing exactly how to bond with a dragon and how to command one.
What he didn’t know was that every word was a lie Baelon had invented on the spot.
House Targaryen had no secret dragon-taming art.
There was only the mutual bond between rider and dragon—and nothing more.