New chapter is live.
Settle in, take your time, and let’s see what waits in the dark 🖤 ✦ “Those two old dried-up vultures are murdering a young prince.” The moment the subject came up, Aelor felt his head ache.
He wanted to crack open the two old maesters’ skulls and see whether anything sat inside besides dust and doctrine.
Erryk only smiled.
He had no desire to comment on the king’s arrangements for his son’s education.
Since the Kingswood hunt half a year earlier, he and Aelor had not had much contact.
Only a few days earlier, after learning that Rhaenyra was ending her royal progress, Viserys had assigned Erryk to Aelor’s side.
The knight was sworn to protect the king’s eldest son and carry out any instructions given.
Aelor did not know his father’s purpose.
But having a reliable white cloak near him was hardly a bad thing.
After what they had survived together, they got along well.
Even a stern knight like Erryk would sometimes trade a harmless joke or two with him.
“I am tired, Ser.” After sitting for a while, Aelor lost patience and returned to his room with Erryk following behind.
The Kingsguard guarded the king and those the king designated.
Unless something required it, a white cloak did not enter a prince’s chamber.
Erryk remained outside the door.
Once Aelor was back in his little den, he went first to the hearth.
Beside it sat a furnace-like vessel.
He lifted the lid, and a wave of heat rushed over his face.
Aelor faced it without discomfort.
Inside lay a dragon egg, black from end to end and covered in diamond-shaped patterns.
His dragon egg.
He touched the scorching shell, and disappointment flickered in his eyes.
“Still nothing.
When are you going to hatch for me?” Perhaps his luck had been poor.
His egg had shown no sign of life in six years.
It sat in the vessel like a stone.
Out of habit, Aelor stroked it and spoke to it for a while.
He believed conversation might help it hatch.
When he grew thirsty, he closed the vessel and ended the day’s talk with the egg.
Pouring himself hot water, he muttered, “At least that fool Aegon’s egg has not hatched either.
That would be humiliating.” The thought of his foolish little brother also having an unhatched egg improved Aelor’s mood.
It was regrettable that his own egg had not hatched.
But if his brother’s had, that would have hurt even more.
Days rose and fell.
At last, Rhaenyra returned to King’s Landing.
Viserys cared too much for appearances to welcome her in person.
Alicent, as queen, led the nobles and ministers outside the city to receive her.
The two women looked like close friends reunited after years apart.
Arm in arm, they spoke and smiled before the watching people.
Such harmony naturally drew cheers.
Aelor’s confinement ended on its own, and he joined the welcoming procession.
Walking behind the two women, he watched them exchange gentle smiles and could not say why the sight made his skin prickle.
He tugged at Erryk’s white cloak and whispered, “Do women always behave like that with each other?” Erryk looked left and right.
Seeing no one paying attention, he lowered his voice.
“Most of them.
With both the queen and the princess under one roof, it is simply more dangerous.” “Because of power?
But my sister is already the heir.” “Speaking carelessly of members of the royal family is a dangerous habit,” Erryk said.
“I can only say this: you should be careful.” “Will I be hurt as well?
I do not intend to get involved with the throne.” “I do not know.
But old wisdom says a guarded heart is no bad thing.” Aelor smiled.
“Then I will trust you to guard me well, Ser.” “It is my duty.” There were too many eyes around them to say more.
They followed the day’s two central figures until evening, when the procession finally passed through the gates of the Red Keep.
Viserys was angry that Rhaenyra had returned without permission, but he did not humiliate his daughter.
He held a grand feast to welcome her home.
Aelor disliked loud, chaotic gatherings.
He ate a few pastries and dishes, then withdrew with the gifts Rhaenyra had brought him.
Rhaenyra’s return benefited him most of all.
Not only could he walk beyond the Red Keep again, his lessons were cut down sharply.
No more eight-hour days.
He would study for three hours in the morning and have the rest of the day free.
Even the exercises were canceled.
Aelor cheered as if he had won a war.
When Rhaenyra came to see him, he kissed her twice in gratitude.
That happy arrangement lasted for a time.
Then the Red Keep grew lively again.
The fifth anniversary of King Viserys’s marriage to Queen Alicent had arrived.
To thank Alicent for five years at his side, Viserys waved his hand and decided to hold a grand tourney.
Nobles and knights from across the realm would be invited to compete.
A rich prize was prepared for the champion.
It would stir all those hot-blooded young men to come and give him a proper spectacle of blood, iron, and glory.
Whether Alicent wanted it or not, Viserys dearly loved this sort of tourney.
Thanks to his grandfather, the late King Jaehaerys, Viserys had inherited a treasury heavy with wealth.
Viserys could afford feasts and tourneys.
The servants of the Red Keep were used to it.
Alicent oversaw the preparations, and the event was splendid.
Before long, the fifth anniversary arrived.
The tourney was as grand as expected.
Inns throughout King’s Landing filled with visitors.
It was said the city’s brothels also did excellent business, and that some lords fought as hard in silk sheets as any knight in the lists.
That day, Alicent prepared a lavish feast.
Guests watched the brutal competitions with Viserys.
When they tired of blood and shouting, they went to the nearby feast grounds to eat and drink.
Aelor and Rhaenyra sat below Viserys’s place of honor and watched the field.
The current round was the joust.
Two armored knights, lances lowered, charged each other on horseback.
As they crossed, the knight in black armor raised his lance and struck his opponent squarely in the shoulder.
The impact threw the other knight from the saddle.
His body arced through the air and slammed into the muddy field.
When he landed, the knight screamed.
One leg was twisted beneath him at an ugly angle.
As he rolled and cried out, Aelor noticed only one arm flailing.
The other hung limp from the shoulder that had been struck.
“Most likely a shattered shoulder blade,” Erryk murmured behind him.
“If he is not treated quickly, he may carry the injury for life.” Aelor had never seen anything like it.
He winced.
“Even if he is treated quickly, he will be crippled.
That leg is ruined.” “Such is the tourney,” Erryk said.
“What matters is victory.” He meant to help Aelor accept the cruelty of it.
“It is difficult to understand,” Aelor said.
“So many strong young men with skill at arms, and they insist on joining tourneys.
How many go home whole?” “The realm is at peace.
Young men with hot blood have nowhere to spend it.
Many also wish to catch the king’s eye.” ✦ ✦ ✦ Want to keep going?
I hope this chapter gave you another reason to stay with the story.
There’s still plenty ahead, and things are only starting to unfold.