AN:
He wasn’t perfectly sure if Smaug would really harm him, the only thing he could rely on was their close bond and reliance on each other.
Aethon stepped back saying “…I took you flying once you scoundrel!
Your tired after one adventure?
Have you grown fat and satiated to the point where your too lazy!?”
Smaug shook his head and replied as though the matter had now become perfectly obvious saying “The frequency is becoming alarming young master, I remember when you used to let me sleep for months.”
Aethon’s eye twitched hearing this, he genuinely couldn’t tell whether the dragon believed what he was saying or simply enjoyed provoking him.
Smaug continued before he could respond saying “When I first accepted you as my rider, I envisioned glorious campaigns.
Cities trembling beneath my mighty shadow.
Armies breaking formation at the mere sight of my wings.
Songs celebrating mountains of treasure gathered through conquest at our feet!”
Smaug glanced lazily around the dragonpit saying “Instead I spend my days consuming sheep provided by polite shepherds while listening to you explain shipping contracts, a new soup business your inventing, this that blah blah BLAH!”
His voice carried unmistakable disappointment and expectations that were flopped hard, Aethon rubbed his temple hearing him, knowing Smaugs personality this was bound to happen, so he had tried his best to form a plan to handle him, the plan didn’t work so he’s stuck with this nagging dragon, this made him say “You are aware that marching through Westeros burning castles and people for glory and triumph tends to attract unwanted attention, even if it’s pirates and enemies!”
“It attracts exactly the attention I desire young master, give me all the trouble that entails my wraith, I will crush it!
Hahaha”
Aethon chose not to refute, instead he said “Oh my fuckin god…okay look, I originally I didnt wanna say this but…we’re looking for pirates too on a specific trade route I’m trying to secure. This chapter was taken from novelping(.)com without permission.
Maybe we can—”
Smaug looked at him sternly while he spoke then he quickly interrupted him saying “—No, we are not.
You are lying, you always mention pirates whenever you’re attempting to disguise your true intentions.”
The dragon leaned forward slightly, his enormous head stopping just before Aethon’s face, it was so close that Aethons hair lifted from each inhale and exhale the dragon made as it said “I may spend much of my time sleeping, little lord, but I have not slept through fifteen years of knowing you.
Remember that.”
Aethon sighed, the problem with attempting to deceive a creature nearly as intelligent as himself was that it was nigh difficult, Smaug wasn’t merely clever, he observed everything.
There wasn’t the slightest point continuing the argument for Aethon, instead he muttered saying “Very well, Remain here and continue your heroic battle against boredom.
And enjoy your sheep since you like it so much, I feel so fuckin betrayed right now.”
“I shall indeed confide and enjoy my sleep Aethon!
It possess considerably fewer hidden motives than most particular men!”
Aethon waved his hand dismissively over his shoulder and left the dragonpit, he’s had enough of Smaug right now.
By the time he emerged into the cool sea air, his frustration had shifted away from the Smaug entirely.
Smaug had refused because he simply didn’t wish to join him, so he either accepted it or cry about it.
His personal knight, Ser Alester Waters, noticed his expression almost immediately and approached without delay saying “My lord, is everything well?”
“I’ll survive ser Alester, Prepare twelve ships for sea.
I want trusted crews only, enough provisions for several weeks, and men who know how to keep their mouths shut.”
“Lys.”
The knight hesitated only long enough to nod then proclaimed “It shall be done.”
As Ser Alester departed to carry out the orders, Aethon remained standing upon the cliffs overlooking the harbor.
His wealth within Driftmark was already beyond what most noble houses possessed.
Thanks to years of careful reforms, trade monopolies, and financial innovations, he personally controlled enough coin to live ten lavish lifetimes without concern.
Yet all of it ultimately existed beneath Corlys’ authority.
His father had never threatened to seize it though.
In truth, Aethon doubted he ever would.
But experience, both from this life and the last, had taught him never to mistake trust for certainty.
Power was safest when it rested in your own hands.
Lys would be the beginning of this philosophy, he wasn’t necessarily abandoning Driftmark.
With those thoughts lingering in his mind, Aethon returned to his chambers, where servants were already drawing a steaming bath for him, this made him finally relax and smile as he removed his riding clothes, he caught the lingering scent of smoke and dragon clinging stubbornly to the fabric though.
He frowned faintly before dropping the tunic into a waiting basket saying “For a creature so obsessed with treasure, he is remarkably unconcerned with smelling presentable hehe.”
A few minutes later he sank into the warm water, allowing the tension to slowly drain from his shoulders while the rest of world was shut out, after working so hard all day, he atleast deserved this much rest.
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