In the king’s chambers, Baelon sat propped against the headboard while Rhaenyra sat beside him.
Daemon lounged in a chair nearby.
Rhaenyra’s face was tight with worry.
“Brother, the plan is finished. Will Otto really lose the Handship?”
Daemon gave a wicked little smile.
“Maybe your father will just kill him outright.”
Baelon looked faintly regretful.
“If I’d had a little more time, I might have managed that. But my sister and I have too few people we can trust inside the Red Keep. We couldn’t plant real evidence in Otto’s rooms.”
“While the lords are flooding into King’s Landing, Otto won’t die without solid proof. A frame is still just a frame.”
“Even if Father truly wanted to execute him, I would have stopped it. That kind of thing damages the whole royal family’s reputation.”
Rhaenyra looked as if she only half understood.
Daemon, however, grasped exactly what Baelon meant.
“So what’s our next move?” Daemon asked.
“Alicent? Little Aegon? Or his dragon?”
Baelon shook his head.
“Alicent is the queen. Aegon is a prince. Sunfyre is a precious dragon of the blood. None of them are targets.”
“Once Otto is gone from King’s Landing, we stop with the schemes. We just do what we’re supposed to do.”
“Sister, stay close to Father. Learn how to govern and how to deal with the lords.”
“Uncle Daemon, you need to plant loyal men inside the City Watch so that even when you’re not there, it still answers to us.”
Daemon grinned with easy confidence.
“That’s already done. I could do it right now if I wanted. Talk about something else.”
Baelon believed him.
Daemon’s personal charm had already won over most of the Gold Cloaks.
Even during the Dance of the Dragons, some of them had still answered his call.
Three extra years in the City Watch had only made his influence stronger.
“If that’s settled,” Baelon said, “then your most important task right now, Uncle, is to be a good little brother.”
Daemon stared at him, clearly lost.
Baelon explained.
“Uncle, I’m certain Father has always loved you deeply. I’m also certain you miss the days when the two of you were boys together. But neither of you has ever been willing to say it out loud, so the distance between you just kept growing.”
“If you can make Father believe you’re still that adventurous little boy who depends on him, you’ll get everything you want.”
Daemon went very still.
“You know what I want?”
Baelon smiled.
“Power. Power second only to the king’s. You’ve always believed it was yours by right.”
“My father refused you again and again!”
“No. It wasn’t my father who refused you. It was you. And it was Otto, who was simply better suited for the role at the time.”
“Do what I told you. Trust me. You’ll get what you want.”
Daemon’s gaze flicked toward Rhaenyra for a heartbeat.
Baelon continued calmly.
“As for your marriage, you shouldn’t make Father deal with that. You can handle it yourself. There are plenty of ways to end a marriage, after all.”
Daemon pointed a finger at him across the space between them.
“You really are a crazy little bastard.”
“Maybe the Iron Throne should go to you even with that weak body of yours. I believe you could have every lord in the Seven Kingdoms dancing on strings.”
Baelon gave a small shrug.
“A cripple still can’t sit the Iron Throne. But right now, with Father having more than one possible heir, you and he truly have no reason to be at odds. You should be the model of what brothers ought to be—like Prince Aemon and our grandfather.”
Daemon nodded slowly.
“I understand. I’ll do as you say.”
Before he could say anything else, the door opened and Viserys walked in, followed by a still-talking Lyonel Strong.
“Your Grace, please believe me—I only ever spoke for the good of you and the royal family. I never meant any disrespect.”
Viserys turned to him with weary patience.
“Lyonel, you’ve said the same thing the entire walk here. I believe in your loyalty. You did well. The Small Council needs men willing to speak their minds. I’m not angry with you. Stop worrying.”
He gestured toward the three people already in the room.
“Right now I want to comfort my children and spend time with my family. All right?”
Lyonel bowed.
“Of course, Your Grace. Thank you for your understanding.”
Viserys closed the door and turned to the three people he trusted most.
“Daemon. What did the search turn up?”
Daemon had already risen.
He remembered Baelon’s earlier advice, chose his words carefully, and answered.
“Brother, we’ve searched everywhere except Queen Alicent’s apartments. There’s no direct evidence pointing to Otto.”
“It’s possible someone from House Hightower acted on their own, trying to curry favor and gain power.” This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Viserys rubbed his temples, exhausted.
“Then replace anyone in the Red Keep who might have ties to House Hightower.”
Daemon hesitated for only a moment, then stepped close and laid a hand on Viserys’s shoulder.
“Brother, you’re too tired. You don’t have to carry everything alone. You still have me. I’ll always stand beside you.”
The slightly sentimental words made Viserys lift his head in surprise.
When he saw the sincerity in Daemon’s eyes, he reached up and patted the back of his brother’s hand with quiet relief.
“My little brother. I’m glad to see you’ve finally grown up enough to share my burdens.”
“In these uncertain times, you’re the only one I can truly trust.”
Rhaenyra couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Father, if there’s no evidence, what happens to Otto?”
Viserys didn’t hesitate.
“I’ve already stripped him of the Handship and thrown him in the black cells.”
“If this truly wasn’t his doing, I’ll send him back to Oldtown for the years of service he gave the crown.”
“But if I find proof, I will kill him.”
Baelon and Daemon exchanged a quick glance.
Then Baelon spoke.
“Father, the realm and the crown both need a Hand. Who are you thinking of for the position?”
Viserys fell silent.
The question had clearly caught him off guard.
Baelon continued.
“Father, Sister is about to be confirmed as heir. The arriving lords may raise objections. You’ll need strength at your side.”
“Right now the only people we can truly trust are family. Why not give Uncle Daemon a chance?”
“It would help secure Sister’s position as heir and give you one less thing to worry about.”
Viserys turned from Daemon to Baelon, eyebrows raised.
“When did the two of you become so close?”
“Father, Daemon is our uncle. He’s always cared for us. Our relationship has always been good.”
Viserys nodded.
Meeting Daemon’s carefully controlled hopeful expression, he clapped a hand on his brother’s shoulder.
“My brother, Baelon may be young, but what he says makes sense.”
“Go hand the City Watch over to someone reliable and prepare to take the Handship.”
Happiness arrived so suddenly that Daemon stood straighter, almost at attention.
“Brother, I won’t let you down.”