Baelon’s rooms were quiet.
He sat close to his father the way any normal eight-year-old boy might, but the conversation between them would shape the fate of the entire realm and decide the lives and deaths of thousands.
“I can’t go back to King’s Landing with you yet, Father,” Baelon said calmly.
“Since I’ve been on Dragonstone I’ve found too many problems that need fixing.”
“Dragonstone is my sister’s seat. It’s one of the foundations of our house, but it’s gone too long without proper rule. It’s rotting from the inside.”
“Only the dragon guards have stayed professional because their work involves the dragons. Everyone else has problems—some small, some serious.”
“Give me time. I want to clean this place up and turn it into the strongest rear base our family has.”
Viserys turned to look at his eldest son.
“You’ve always had your own mind. Once you’ve decided something, I know you won’t change it. Do what you think is right.”
“If you need anything, tell me directly. I’ll support you however I can. There’s no need to keep troubling your sister—she has more important matters to handle now.”
“The marriage alliance?”
Viserys didn’t try to hide it.
He nodded.
“It’s the most urgent issue facing the family and the realm right now.”
A modern soul and a ruler of this era would never see eye to eye on this subject.
Baelon didn’t waste breath arguing the principle.
He simply followed the thread.
“You’re planning to marry my sister to our cousin Laenor Velaryon?”
“Why didn’t she come with you?”
Viserys’s voice carried weary frustration.
“She had a terrible fight with me and refused outright.”
“House Velaryon is the crown’s most loyal and powerful ally. They command the strongest fleet in the Seven Kingdoms. Their support would be invaluable to your sister and to you.”
“The rift between our houses has grown too wide. This marriage is the cleanest way to mend it.”
“What did Uncle Daemon say?”
Viserys rubbed his temples.
“Daemon wants me to annul his own marriage and give your sister to him instead. I refused. After that he stopped pushing, but he also stopped helping.”
“Alicent wanted your sister to marry Aegon. Your sister would never agree, and I knew you wouldn’t either, so I refused her too.”
“In the end the Small Council and I agreed that Laenor is the best choice.”
Baelon was quiet for a moment, then a plan formed.
“Father, send my sister to Dragonstone. Let me speak with her. She’ll agree.”
Viserys stared at him in surprise.
“You support the match?”
“Of course. It’s the right decision. I just wonder what terms you’ve offered the Velaryons. Will they accept?”
The situation now was very different from the one Baelon remembered.
Daemon had never gone to fight in the Stepstones, the Velaryons’ relationship with the crown had deteriorated further, and they had been fighting the Triarchy alone for years.
Baelon couldn’t recall ever seeing a single member of House Velaryon since he was old enough to remember.
Viserys sighed.
“I’m prepared to let Laenor and Rhaenyra’s eldest son take the Velaryon name but inherit the Iron Throne. I’ll also send troops to reinforce the Stepstones.”
“With that level of commitment, I believe Corlys will agree.”
Baelon had already worked out the next part in his head.
“Father, your decision is wise, but the war in the Stepstones needs to change.”
“Instead of simple reinforcement, we should take the offensive. Seize control of the islands completely, station a permanent garrison, and secure the Narrow Sea.”
“The Stepstones are too important. They can serve as a forward base against Essos, block any invasion by the Triarchy, bring in heavy customs revenue, and keep Dorne in check.”
Viserys had long since grown used to his son’s frightening foresight.
“You never mentioned any of this before. What exactly do you have in mind?”
“Before now the crown and House Velaryon were too estranged over the succession to get involved. But everything changes once my sister reaches marriageable age. One marriage contract can repair the relationship completely. The timing is perfect.”
“When you reach High Tide, propose that the Velaryon fleet return to defend Blackwater Bay. Let the royal fleet take the lead in the Stepstones. Corlys has been bleeding men and ships for five years with nothing to show for it. He’ll agree.”
Viserys frowned. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
“If Corlys couldn’t finish it in five years, why would the royal fleet succeed?”
“It’s not the same, Father. Corlys’s influence can’t compare to the crown’s. The Velaryons only have ships and their supply lines are stretched thin. The crown can raise large numbers of foot soldiers to land and fight, and logistics won’t be a problem.”
“The coin we spend will be recovered within a year or two once we hold the islands.”
“Who would lead?”
“My sister’s future husband—Laenor. He’s the perfect choice. Let him ride Seasmoke and wash the islands in dragonfire.”
“But we must be patient. Take each island methodically, hold what we gain, and never give the Triarchy room to counterattack.”
“I’ve studied the maps. Aside from the caves on Bloodstone, there are no strong defensive positions. Once we control the surrounding islands we can finish them on Bloodstone.”
“All of this, of course, comes after my sister’s wedding.”
Viserys looked at his son with open admiration.
“You never waste a moment. I don’t know when you even found time to learn all of this.”
“We’ll do it your way. I’ll handle the negotiations with the Velaryons and move the troops. You convince your sister.”
Baelon thought about the situation on Dragonstone and felt the pressure increase.
If he couldn’t finish cleaning house here quickly, all his later plans would stall.
He turned back to Viserys.
“Before that happens, I need your help here as well.”
“Anything you need, my son. You have every right to it as a prince of the realm.”
“Thank you, Father. Tomorrow I need you to summon every member of the island guard to the castle. As king, offer them comfort and then meet privately with the entire leadership. Once they’re gathered, have Ignir burn them all for treason.”
Viserys’s eyes widened.
“You mean to—”
“Father, you don’t know yet. The managers at the Dragon’s Tail mine killed five Gold Cloaks while the guard stood by and did nothing. I’ve already executed every manager involved.”
“If you hadn’t arrived today, the guard’s leadership would have tried to flee tonight.”
“Baelon, that’s dozens of lives. Are you sure this isn’t too hasty?”
“Father, war is coming. There’s too much to do. Neither the crown nor I have time to waste on a slow investigation here. If we try to sort the guilty from the innocent one by one, some will escape. In an avalanche, no snowflake is innocent.”
“When you landed you saw Ignir circling above the castle. That was because I was already prepared for the guard to storm Black Stone Castle. I was ready to wipe them out completely.”