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…..SOME TIME LATER.
Night had long settled over the estate.
The grand halls that bustled with guest merchants and servants throughout the day had finally grown quiet, leaving only the soft glow of oil lamps to illuminate the endless corridors.
Outside, the wind carried the distant sound of waves crashing against the rocky shoreline, while somewhere deeper within the manor, servants hurried to complete the last of their nightly duties.
Near one of the intersections, two young maids stood whispering amongst themselves, saying “…I’m telling you, Lady Alice has been smiling ever since she left from that day.”
“Nonsense.”
“I’m serious!
Didn’t you notice?
Truly, Lord Aethon is charming to leave her that flustered.”
Before the second maid could answer, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the corridor so the two women immediately straightened, their backs pressed against the wall as they lowered their heads respectfully.
Aethon walked past without slowing, fastening the clasp of his cloak as Ser Alester followed only a step behind him.
Aethon muttered with an exhausted sigh “…I’m beginning to believe every wealthy merchant in Lys has collectively decided that sleep is an unnecessary luxury, If one more contract appears on my desk tomorrow, I may simply purchase the man presenting it so he’ll stop bothering me.”
Ser Alester allowed himself a faint smile saying “I imagine most merchants would consider that an acceptable business outcome.”
“I have no doubt they would.”
Aethon shook his head adding, “They’re vultures, I admire them.
But they’re still vultures.”
Neither of the maids dared move until both men had disappeared around the corner.
Only when the 2 were gone did they continue their usual gossip since everything else was boring, it was the norm amoung maids to whisper about the day with their co-workers especially if they saw something interesting.
A short while later, two horses trotted through the estate gates and onto the moonlit road beyond.
The night air was cool, carrying the scent of the sea with every passing breeze.
Above them, thousands of stars stretched across a cloudless sky, while the silver moon reflected brilliantly across the waters surrounding Lys.
For some time, neither man spoke.
Eventually, Aethon broke the silence saying “You’ve served my household for several years now, haven’t you?”
“I have, my lord.”
“And before that?”
“I served House Velaryon.”
“For my father?”
“For the household, yes.”
Aethon nodded thoughtfully saying “What of your family?”
“They still reside on Driftmark.”
“Parents?”
“My mother lives yet my father passed several winters ago.”
“Mhhh, what about siblings?”
The knight found these sudden questions and interrogation odd, but he brushed it of as the young Lord being curious about him saying “Two younger sisters.”
The questions continued still even though he answered to the best of his ability, none seemed particularly important on their own though, Aethon asked about Ser Alester’s childhood, his years as a squire, his first battle, ambitions and lastly his regrets.
The knight answered every question honestly, though he couldn’t help noticing how unusually personal the conversation had become.
Aethon had at one point already asked these questions, but that was a long time ago back when he was 5.
So he saw this as the young lad already forgotten about him.
Still…He thought little of it, perhaps his lord simply wished to know the men who served him better which was good for morale.
By the time they reached the coast, the sound of crashing waves had grown loud enough to drown out the silence between them.
Ahead, where the moonlight failed to reach beyond the treeline, an enormous shape rested upon the earth.
Even lying down It resembled a hill more than a living creature.
Ser Alester instinctively tightened his grip upon the reins saying “My lord…”
Aethon simply smiled, he dismounted without hesitation and walked toward the massive silhouette saying “We’re here.”
As they drew nearer, torchlight danced across familiar brown-gold scales and it was clear what this sleeping creature was.
Later they came back and confirmed it took rest near the beach, and even now he still sleeps.
‘Mhh he must be tired, had he landed near the castle I would of fed him, why come all the way out here?’
The dragon barely reacted to thier presence, one golden eye lazily opened before narrowing again as though deciding whether the interruption deserved his attention.
Aethon reached the enormous head and placed a hand against the rough scales lining the dragon’s cheek saying “It took you long enough.”
A low rumble escaped Smaug’s throat.
Despite the dragon’s typically aloof demeanor, he leaned ever so slightly into Aethon’s hand affectionately.
Aethon noticed this so he said, “So…You did miss me.”
Aethon chuckled quietly.
Truthfully, he had missed the dragon as well.
Far more than he’d expected, the comfortable silence lasted only a few moments before Aethon’s expression gradually lost its warmth.
Without turning around, he still stroked Smaugs chin saying “Tell me something, Alester.
Why did you betray me?”
The knight frowned saying “…I don’t understand.”
Aethon continued stroking Smaug’s scales almost absentmindedly, still he knew what he was saying, so he wasn’t really absentminded, in fact he was secretly communicating with his dragon while saying “You’ve been reporting my movements to my father.”
Ser Alester’s face stiffened hearing this, still he urged himself to say “My lord, I—”
“You may deny it if you wish.
It won’t change anything.”
The knight opened his mouth again but Aethon interrupted him saying “The servants who watched you meet Corlys’ courier would tell a rather different story.”
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AN:
LINK IN PROFILE
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