One morning, a King’s Landing soldier named Jeffrey awoke from his sleep.
His comrades were still snoring.
The sounds and smells of the barracks assaulted his senses, but he was used to it.
He yawned, walked to the training yard outside the castle, took a deep breath, and washed his face at the new well.
Thanks to the city’s renovation work, he no longer had to wait for water carriers or go without washing.
Dressed and ready, Jeffrey went to open the castle gate.
He pushed.
It did not move.
He pushed again.
Still nothing.
Strange.
His regular training and full meals had made him stronger than most.
The gate had always opened easily.
Now it was stuck.
More men gathered in the yard as the morning wore on.
Soon everyone was awake and trapped inside the castle.
Ser Roderick Roslyg was furious.
“What is this?
Who locked the gate last night?
Which idiot did this?” Then he smelled it.
Sulfur and flint.
An ominous sign.
“SKAHR!” A roar echoed from above.
The sky darkened.
Roderick looked up, his face blank.
He had heard that sound before, when Prince Daemon was near.
It belonged to the royal house.
To Targaryens.
To dragons.
“SKAHR!” Syrax circled slowly overhead, descending toward the barracks.
First came shock.
Then panic.
Most of the men fled back into the castle.
THUD!
The dragon landed with a heavy impact.
Its horned, terrifying head loomed before them.
Syrax had grown larger of late.
Rhaenyra had sent her to hunt in the sea, wrestling waves and hunting in the depths.
The dragon had rediscovered the pride of a top predator.
Her eyes gleamed with hunger and cruelty.
“SKAHR!” Syrax roared at the men within the castle, warning them.
One wrong move, and flames would erupt from her throat.
“Syrax!
I told you to be gentle!
No terrorizing the locals!” Fortunately, the area had been cleared.
Soldiers had sealed off the streets.
Otherwise, the sight would have terrified the city.
“SKAHR…?” “Never mind, you great beast.” The newcomer descended from the dragon’s back.
She wore light armor and showed no fear of those before her.
Silver hair and violet eyes, along with the dragon at her side, revealed her identity.
The Gold Cloaks set aside their fear and emerged from the castle, bowing to the princess.
Rhaenyra clapped her hands.
“Come in, all of you!” The stubborn gate swung open.
Armed knights and palace guards filed in, followed by men carrying large chests.
Once her protectors were in place, Rhaenyra relaxed slightly.
It had been a risk, making such a dramatic entrance.
But the effect was worth it.
She had cowed these hardened soldiers.
Unless a man had the iron will of a dragonslayer, willing to face fangs, claws, and flame, no one dared provoke a dragon’s fury.
Rhaenyra had Syrax for protection.
She had confirmed there were no scorpion bolts in the castle.
Still, her heart had raced.
It had been reckless.
She would be more cautious in the future.
Pushing aside her regret, she ordered the chests opened.
Golden light blazed in the soldiers’ eyes.
Chests full of gold dragons.
The fist and the glove.
Roderick Roslyg sighed inwardly.
She comes with sword and gold.
Rhaenyra declined the Hightower officer’s invitation to enter the castle.
Not that he would dare harm her with so many witnesses.
Only a madman would try.
But Rhaenyra remained steady, leaning against Syrax’s resting form as she spoke to them.
Roderick Roslyg stood at the front.
He was the acting commander of the Gold Cloaks.
He bowed and offered his respects.
Seeing their anxious faces, Rhaenyra laughed lightly.
“My uncle Daemon entrusted me with the City Watch before he left.
It was his final concern.” “That is why I came today.” “King’s Landing is now under my authority.
I hear some of you have reservations.
I wish to hear them.” Rule by force is the way of kings.
Roderick smiled bitterly.
“Your orders are law, Princess.
We obey.” “Even if I dismiss you and your officers?” A murmur rose behind him.
Roderick held firm.
“Prince Daemon taught us that the Watch exists to serve the crown.
The crown commands.
We obey.” “The crown commands.
We obey!” The soldiers and junior officers behind him roared in unison.
“SKAHR!” The dragon behind them joined in like a hype squad.
Rhaenyra sensed Syrax’s irritation.
The beast had been resting and did not appreciate the noise.
She stroked the dragon’s scaly wing.
Heat radiated from it, but Rhaenyra felt nothing.
She turned to the men.
“Well said.
Your spirit is commendable.
Bring the rewards.” Each soldier received fifty gold dragons.
Junior officers received a hundred.
Senior officers received two hundred.
Roderick himself received five hundred.
Rhaenyra had always been generous with coin.
If she could secure this force, half of King’s Landing was hers.
It was a strategic investment.
The veteran soldiers’ faces lit up.
Daemon had been beloved because he spent gold freely, taking them to taverns and drinking with them like one of their own.
Now Daemon was gone.
The king had placed the city under Rhaenyra’s command.
The soldiers knew that accepting her authority was inevitable.
Stirring conflict between Daemon and his niece was foolish.
Besides, she was family.
He had watched her grow up.
That was the common soldier’s thinking.
They wanted neither to be bitten in half by Caraxes nor burned to ash by Syrax.
Daemon had assumed his niece was too young and soft for King’s Landing.
He wanted her to learn the hard way.
But the soldiers did not know that.
Those who suspected Daemon’s intent saw that the dragon was already here.
Who would be foolish enough to make a stand?
They had families at home.
They would not die for the prince’s pride.
Life went on.
But some knew that the gold did not come free.
“Princess, I urge you to appoint reliable men as commanders.
Remove the corrupt, the idle, and the treacherous.
Only then will the Watch serve you well.” Roderick knew he was Daemon’s man.
He knew the princess would never fully trust him.
If his days were numbered, he would give his final service to the unit he had helped build.
He and Daemon had transformed the Watch from a rabble of street enforcers into a proud garrison.
His eyes were full of regret.
“Ser Roderick, speak freely.
Who should be moved?” He named several noble-born soldiers who refused orders.
Rhaenyra dismissed them on the spot, rewarding them one last time.
He named a few junior officers for promotion, including Jeffrey, the earliest riser, and Harwin Strong.
Rhaenyra nodded.
He was not promoting his own cronies.
The dismissed men cursed Roderick inwardly.
They had been meeting in secret.
Somehow he had learned of it.
But they smiled and thanked the princess, hiding their fury.
Behind them, Ser Galwyn Hightower gritted his teeth.
The men Roderick had named were his newly recruited allies.
Now they were gone.
Roderick would pay for this.
With Roderick gone, Galwyn could rebuild his influence.
But Rhaenyra’s next words shattered his hopes.
“Aside from the changes Ser Roderick has proposed, all other positions remain unchanged.” Rhaenyra announced to the crowd.
A low cheer rose from the Watch.
Rhaenyra wanted balance.
She would keep Roderick for now.
He was a capable commander.
“Ser Roderick, walk with me.
We have much to discuss about the Watch’s future duties and coordination with the city officials.” “At your command, Princess.” Roderick’s expression was resolute.
He would serve.
Rhaenyra had secured her position.
Anyone watching closely would have noticed that she was finally smiling.
If necessary, I will do what that famous emperor of Yi Ti did.
Slowly transfer old commanders away from their loyal troops, give them higher titles, and dilute their power.
Without their men, they can do nothing.
As for her dear uncle Daemon?
Rhaenyra knew him well.
As long as her father lived and held her as heir, Daemon would never rebel.
His love and respect for his brother outweighed his ambition.
He wanted his brother’s approval more than he wanted the throne.
It reminded her of Robert Baratheon and his brother Stannis.