AN:
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Yes the favour is a hinderance because they might exploit the favour and ask for ridiculous stuff, but Aethon placed strict terms, only something within House Velaryon’s reach was to be asked, nothing to outrageous.
In fact he placed these terms because one elite merchant asked for a dragon to permanently protect their city in exchange for their shipyard, they also asked for a defense pact for 10 years, this in Aethons opinion was ridiculous, even if it’s temporary he still wouldn’t entertain it.
Corlys remained silent for several moments, he had to admit it was brilliant, annoyingly so, but as expected of the genius Aethon.
Yet something about it troubled him so he said “Aethon you’ve already transformed this house, our fleet has grown beyond anything I imagined and….and our coffers overflow.
Trade already favors our banners across half the Narrow Sea.
When will enough become enough?”
“Must every profitable venture belong to us?
Must every danm advantage be mmonopolizd by you!
There are times…..when I wonder whether you’re chasing security…
or simply more power, and for what I don’t know.”
Aethon looked back toward the sea but he thought the question deserved an honest answer, he found no reason to lie, still this made him say “You think I’m greedy.”
“I think, that you’ve forgotten how powerful we already are.
The king himself is troubled by our growth!
He is troubled by your insatiable ambition, and I allowed it because I wanted you to be free and spread your talent and glory, but this….why Aethon, what do you seek?”
A faint smile crossed Aethon’s face as he said “Because complacency kills empires father.
I’ve spent years studying kingdoms, and noble houses.
They rise, they prosper, and eventually they convince themselves their position can never be threatened, hubris is a sickness that infects the most powerful and leaves them crippled in the end.”
He gestured toward the waiting fleet saying “Tomorrow will not always resemble today, in order to stay one step ahead we must remain innovative.
I care not how many sleepless nights the crown has because of me, I’m more concerned for us. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
All I want is for our descendants to inherit advantages so overwhelming that even incompetence would struggle to squander them.”
A small smile returned to Aethon’s face after he vented, so this made him lower his vioce saying “So don’t worry.
You’ll thank me for this one day once…..again.”
Corlys couldn’t help but laugh quietly hearing that last word, that single word carried fifteen years of history between them because how many times had he doubted one of Aethon’s strange ideas?
The insurance contracts was one of them, he doubted Aethon yet he indeed thanked him when it beard fruit, still sometimes doubt was a good thing, one cannot be overconfident, this conclusion made him release a small breath saying “I still believe you overreach son.
But I also suspect you won’t listen to my heed.
All I can say is return to me safely….I might tear through the seas myself if I don’t hear from you in 2 moons.”
“I’ll do my best old man.
Without another word, father and son clasped forearms briefly before separating.
As darkness settled across the harbor, Aethon boarded the lead vessel and moments later, horns echoed across the docks.
One by one, the twelve Velaryon ships unfurled their sails and slipped into the open sea.
FIVE DAYS LATER…
The sea had become unrecognizable at this point, rain lashed against the fleet with relentless fury while thunder rolled overhead with enough force to shake the deck beneath Aethon’s feet.
Towering waves rose like black mountains before crashing down around the convoy, sending walls of freezing water across the ships.
Visibility had become almost nonexistent as the storm had swallowed the horizon entirely.
At some point during the chaos, three of the 12 escort vessels disappeared in a large wave, hidden somewhere beyond the curtain of rain.
Fortunately, Ser Alester had selected seasoned sailors rather than inexperienced recruits.
Every man aboard understood his duty, and despite the violence of the storm, panic never gained a foothold.
The room groaned with every violent swell as shelves rattled and chairs slid inches across the floor before crashing back against the walls.
The candle beside him flickered wildly as he continued writing, seemingly unconcerned by the chaos surrounding the ship.
His quill never paused and only after finishing the final line did he sprinkle sand across the ink, roll the parchment neatly, and press his seal into warm wax.
“Aleisterrrr!”
The door opened almost immediately as the knight stepped inside, water dripping steadily from his cloak, he inclined his head saying “My lord?”
Aethon handed him the sealed letter saying “I need this sent ahead to Lys.
Make us of the raven.”
Ser Alester glanced toward the ceiling as another clap of thunder echoed above them.
The knight accepted the letter without question saying “It will be done.”
Once he departed, Aethon leaned back in his chair, stretching the stiffness from his shoulders before making his own way above deck so this chaos for himself.
The storm greeted him without mercy as rain struck his face like thrown pebbles, while powerful winds tugged relentlessly at his cloak.
Around him, the crew moved with practiced precision despite the conditions.
Sailors hauled desperately on soaked ropes, others secured loose cargo before another wave could wash it overboard, while the helmsmen fought constantly to keep the ship’s bow pointed into the mountainous swells.
No one shouted in panic in fact, only disciplined orders rose above the roar of wind and thunder.
Aethon gripped the railing as another colossal wave lifted the ship so high it seemed to climb the face of a mountain before plunging violently down the other side in the pitch black darkness of the sea.
His eyes searched the darkness for the other ships, but he saw nothing, there was no lantern or sail.
Not even the outline of another Velaryon ship.
Only rain and endless darkness that could install fear in one.
He exhaled slowly, the three missing ships were somewhere beyond the storm probably.
Whether they found the fleet again tomorrow, or arrived at Lys weeks later, would now depend entirely upon the sea.