Aethon made his way across the stone causeway leading toward the dragonpit with an unhurried stride, a leather satchel tucked beneath one arm.
The afternoon sun hung low enough to cast long shadows over Driftmark, while the distant cries of gulls blended with the crashing of waves below the cliffs.
For the first time all day, he found himself looking forward to something.
His dragon had been left rather dissatisfied after their morning training.
There were still several maneuvers he wished to test, along with an idea concerning tighter banking turns during steep descents.
Smaug was growing quickly, and with each passing year the dragon’s sheer size demanded subtle adjustments to their flying.
Unfortunately, those thoughts were interrupted when he heard a sweet voice beside him saying “My lord!”
Aethon stopped and turned as a servant hurried toward him, slightly out of breath, then she gently bowed with a smile saying “Lord Corlys requests your presence at once.”
Aethon raised an eyebrow saying “Immediately?
Im kind of busy right now.”
“Immediately, my lord!
He wishes to see you at once!”
He looked toward the distant dragonpit before letting out a quiet sigh.
“…Very well.”
Whatever Corlys wanted, it was apparently important enough to interrupt him and it ought to be worth it.
He turned on his heel and headed back toward High Tide specifically after the young servant pointed out his location.
The study doors stood open swiftly as Aethon entered without ceremony, only to pause upon seeing who awaited him.
Corlys sat behind his great oak desk, fingers interlocked before him.
Beside one of the windows stood Rhaenys Targaryen, Lady of Driftmark through her marriage to Corlys.
She remained silent, though the tension written across her face was impossible to miss.
Aethon’s eyes lingered on her for only a heartbeat before returning to Corlys, and she did the sane too.
Fortunately he didn’t really regard her in a bad light because they had a good enough relationship.
He closed the door behind him saying “You wished to see me?”
Corlys gestured toward the chair opposite him saying “Sit.”
Aethon did as told and sat silently awaiting whatever may come, but things become abit awkward especially when Aethon looked at his father who seemed to be searching for the right words.
He already had a bad feeling about this summoning, especially when Rhaenys was present and they both looked serious, he knew he wasn’t going to like what he’s about to hear.
Finally, he smiled saying to Aethon “You’ve done remarkable work these past years.”
But before he could continue, Aethon blinked quickly saying “…Have I?
Father?
“You know you have.
The fleet has never been stronger and the treasury continues to grow.
Our influence throughout the Narrow Sea has become the envy of every great house because of you and I.
You’ve exceeded every expectation I once had for you and even went beyond.”
Aethon listened quietly, it was clear he wasn’t flattered by his father’s words, he already knew this and has already been praised many times for his efforts, so this wasn’t news to him.
Aethon sighed saying “Father, If you continue praising me like this without context, I’ll begin believing I’ve committed some unforgivable crime.
Why am I here, don’t you grow tired of stating the obvious?”
Rhaenys lips twitched ever so slightly hearing her good-son speak, this attitude was something she didn’t understand why Corlys tolerated, but alas she had no say, as long as they didn’t cross each other, she was satisfied with their current relationship.
Corlys frowned hearing this, but it didn’t remain on his face for long because Aethon was right, and what he was doing was a waste of time and stalling the inevitable.
Before he could responded Aethon continued saying “You’ve never begun a conversation with compliments unless you intended to soften whatever followed, I may be young but I know your ways father.
I shall ask again politely, what is the matter for this urgent summoning.”
Neither answered immediately as they embraced his bluntness, in fact they were relieved and appreciated Aethons straightforward-ness so they can now abandon the careful approach to this matter.
Corlys exchanged a glance with Rhaenys before exhaling saying “…Very well son.
I have reached a decision regarding the succession of Driftmark.
You are my son, you have served this house faithfully, no man could deny your achievements.”
“But…House Velaryon has customs older than either of us.
It pains me to say this but you were born a bastard Aethon, I legitimized you because you deserved my name through your merit alone and exceptional conduct.
But legitimacy does not erase the circumstances of one’s birth.”
Rhaenys finally spoke as if this was her que, either that or she was trying to take the burden of Corlys, regardless she said “My son, Corly’s lawful heir, shall inherit Driftmark Aethon.”
The room became quiet after the hard part was finally uttered, during this, Corlys watched Aethon closely saying “I know what this means to you and I’m sure you have worked tirelessly.
I do not wish for you to think your efforts have gone unnoticed for the title of heir…..no father could ask for a finer son like you my beloved Aethon…”
The words continued as Corlys kept voicing his carefully structured words in a soft tone, yet to Aethon his words gradually faded into indistinct noise.
His gaze drifted toward the window overlooking the sea.
‘So…
today’s the day, it seems they mustered the courage just recently, or it has been brewing for awhile’
He had expected it for years.
Perhaps even from the moment Corlys had first legitimized him, he had already anticipated this day purely because he knew what Rhaenys was up to, it was obvious that she wouldn’t allow a bastard to inherit Driftmark over her own children.
So it’s only natural she urged Corlys to make this decision once and for all.
Sure a bastard could become a lord and earn titles, respect, honor.
But inheritance was another matter entirely.
Especially now, Rhaenys position within House Velaryon made the matter politically impossible for Aethon to be the heir.
If Corlys named Aethon heir over Laenor’s legitimate line, it would be seen as an insult to Rhaenys herself, and by extension to the royal house.
This outcome had always been the most likely no matter what he does, which was precisely why he had never relied upon inheritance.
That is why he built influence instead in House Velaryon, he knew that he wouldn’t become the heir anytime soon.
Five years ago he had reorganized maritime contracts into something no lord in Westeros had imagined, the very concept of insurance.