New chapter is live.
Settle in, take your time, and let’s see what waits in the dark 🖤 ✦ “The realm is not at war,” Rhaenyra said coldly.
“My father is still discussing the matter.” “The king refuses to admit it,” another noblewoman said, “but the war has already begun.
Your uncle and the Sea Snake saw to that.” Rhaenyra looked at the pug in Lady Redwyne’s arms.
The little dog was chewing a biscuit with more enthusiasm than grace.
“And how have you served the realm lately, Lady Redwyne?” Rhaenyra asked.
“By feeding biscuits to your dog?” The pavilion fell silent.
Aelor laughed before he could stop himself.
Lady Redwyne’s face darkened.
Her eyes moved from Rhaenyra to him.
“Is this the prince, then?” Rhaenyra wanted to say more, but her patience gave way to disgust.
She turned sharply and left the gathering.
Aelor did not follow at once.
He stepped forward instead and gave the ladies a polite little bow.
“I am Aelor Targaryen,” he said.
“King Viserys the First is my father, and I am his eldest son.
I have been frail since birth, so I rarely appear at court.” He looked at Lady Redwyne.
“Does Lady Biscuit remember my name now?” Someone laughed.
It was a thin man with brown curls, a cane, and one twisted foot resting awkwardly beneath him.
He stood among the women as though he belonged nowhere and everywhere at once.
Larys Strong.
Aelor recognized him from the books of court heraldry and the whispers he had heard from servants.
A younger son of House Strong, and not a man many people bothered to look at twice.
Larys inclined his head.
“Prince Aelor.” “Lord Lyonel’s son?” Aelor asked.
“His younger son, Your Grace.” “Your father is an honest lord.” “He will be honored by the prince’s praise.” Aelor turned back to the ladies.
“As for the Stepstones, the Triarchy did not merely offend my uncle.
It invaded waters that belong under my father’s protection.
It plundered ships, murdered sailors, and sold men loyal to the Iron Throne into chains.” No one interrupted him now.
His voice was still a child’s voice, but it was clear, steady, and sharper than anyone expected.
“Prince Daemon took up arms without the king’s leave.
That was his fault.
But he did not sail east to steal sheep or burn villages.
He went because his brother’s realm was being challenged and because a Targaryen prince has duties.” Aelor looked at the faces around him one by one.
“The war did not begin because House Targaryen desired it.
It began because the Triarchy overreached and forgot who rules these shores.” Lady Redwyne gripped her pug more tightly.
“My father will soon make a hard decision,” Aelor continued.
“He will endure criticism for entering the war, send men and ships to the Stepstones, and put down that foreign invader, the Crabfeeder.” He smiled faintly.
“Matters of the realm are for the king and his lords to decide.
They are not made clearer by Lady Redwyne’s biscuits.” This time, the silence was heavier.
Alicent stared at Aelor as if she had only just noticed he was standing there.
Lady Redwyne flushed red.
She set the pug down with more force than kindness and turned toward the queen.
“Your Grace, surely the king’s child requires some discipline.” Aelor bowed again.
“If my childish speech failed to persuade you, I apologize.” Then he walked out of the pavilion, his small chest rising and falling too quickly.
Only when he reached the open air did he let himself breathe properly.
He needed to find Rhaenyra.
His sister was proud, but she was also young, lonely, and far more wounded than the adults around her cared to see.
If she hid somewhere to cry, he would not leave her there alone.
“Prince Aelor.” The voice came from behind him.
Aelor turned.
Larys Strong approached slowly, leaning on his cane.
“Do you need something, Lord Larys?” “Nothing urgent.
I only wished to meet you properly.” Larys smiled with soft courtesy.
“I enjoy hearing news of all kinds, and the court has carried very little news of Prince Aelor.” “Because Prince Aelor has spent most of his life in bed.” “Then I am glad to see Your Grace walking today.” Aelor watched him carefully.
Larys Strong looked harmless.
That alone made him dangerous.
“You spoke well in there,” Larys said.
“Many grown men would not have said half as much.” “When one cannot run, spar, or play, one reads.” “History, perhaps?” “History, law, poetry, anything within reach.” Aelor’s eyes cooled.
“History teaches later generations how to guard their honor.
It also teaches them how to recognize schemers before the knife is already out.” Larys’s smile did not change.
Aelor had no patience to keep fencing with him.
“Excuse me.” He turned and left.
Behind him, Larys watched the small silver-haired prince vanish into the crowd.
“An interesting little prince,” he murmured.
“The tides are shifting, but it is still too soon to make a move.” Aelor searched the camp for a long while.
He passed servants carrying wine, knights comparing spears, squires dragging saddlecloths through the grass, and noble children chasing one another between tents.
Rhaenyra was nowhere to be seen.
His worry deepened.
She would not let the ladies see her tears.
She would find a place where no one could watch her break.
“Prince Aelor.” A white cloak stepped into his path.
Aelor looked up.
“Ser Erryk?” The knight bowed.
“Ser Erryk Cargyll, Your Grace.” The Cargyll twins were easy to confuse at first glance.
Both wore white, both were tall, both had the same clean-featured face.
But Aelor had made a habit of telling people apart.
This one was Erryk.
“My father is looking for me?” “Yes, Your Grace.” Erryk hesitated, then lowered his voice.
“The king and Princess Rhaenyra argued.” Aelor’s heart sank.
“About what?” “Marriage.
Lord Jason Lannister made his interest clear.
Lord of Casterly Rock, Warden of the West, head of House Lannister…” Erryk’s mouth tightened.
“He seemed to think those titles were enough to win the princess.” Aelor’s expression sharpened.
“And Rhaenyra?” “Refused him.
Then argued with the king over whether her marriage should be decided for her.” Erryk glanced toward the trees.
“She left the pavilion in tears, Your Grace.
Ser Criston Cole followed her.” ✦ ✦ ✦ 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.