Chapter 48 – Bronze Bitch, Chaos in the Valley
The shadows of Caraxes and Vhagar swept over Bloodgate, and the defenders blew their horns in alarm.
Bloodgate stood on the only road that wound from the Moon Mountains toward the Eyrie: two gray-white watchtowers wedged into the sheer rocks, linked by a weathered stone arch bridge. Beneath it hung a massive red stone gate, stained like dried blood. The fortress had never fallen to an army on foot. Riverland hosts had broken upon its walls in the Age of Heroes, just as enemies broke upon Moat Cailin or the Golden Tooth.
Rhea Royce—daughter of Bronze Yohn, heir to Runestone—wore bronze plate etched with ancient runes. Flat-chested, thick-browed, and sharp-eyed, she stared up at Vhagar's bulk, several times the size of Bloodgate itself.
Vhagar landed first, forcing even the highest battlements to crane upwards. Caraxes settled beside her, serpentine and snarling. Defenders in sky-blue cloaks and silver armor bore the falcon of Arryn; a few wore the runic pebble of Royce.
Rhea cleared her throat.
"Who seeks passage through Bloodgate?"
Daemon laughed atop Caraxes.
"That is the question travelers usually hear. Has Lady Jeyne Arryn, all of three years old, named a woman as Bloodgate Knight?"
"My name is Rhea Royce," she replied proudly. "Ser Andar Grafton has taken ill. My father, Bronze Yohn Royce, Regent of the Vale, has entrusted the gate to me."
Prince Baelon, high on Vhagar's back, inclined his head.
"Lady Rhea Royce of Runestone, I am Prince Baelon of Dragonstone."
"I know," she said. "Vhagar makes introductions unnecessary."
Then her eyes flicked to Daemon.
"And this must be Prince Daemon?"
Daemon smirked. "If you intend to act as Bloodgate Knight, you should know the realm's lords by sight. We came on dragons, and still you asked."
Rhea held his gaze calmly.
"Formality. Even if King Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne came riding dragons, they would accept a Bloodgate Knight's question."
Daemon shrugged.
"Did Queen Visenya ask permission when she brought Vhagar here? Dragons fly where they please."
The dragons soared over Bloodgate regardless; Rhea ordered the gate opened. Baelon's Kingsguard, Dragon Guard, Alys Rivers, and the others entered.
Inside, mountains of mutton and goat had been laid for the dragons. Once the princes dismounted, Vhagar and Caraxes crawled toward the feast.
Vale knights brought roasted lamb, beef, bread, and Hot Pie to the royal party. Baelon ordered his own wine and cheese shared with the defenders.
Rhea stood by, asking, "Was your journey smooth?"
Baelon frowned. "Our tour of the Riverlands went well. But on our first night in the Vale, we were attacked by the Burned Men. We lost a few—but they lost more."
Rhea sighed.
"Since Duke Artys Arryn died, the mountain clans raid freely. The Painted Dogs burned a village near Ninestars only days ago. I urged my father to send the Canyon Knight to sweep the clans from the Moon Mountains—but he refused."
She spoke with the boldness of any knight.
A flock of geese crossed the sky; Vhagar loosed a blast of flame. The geese fell roasted, and Vale soldiers stared in awe. Rhea however smiled.
"With dragons here, surely the mountain clans can be wiped out entirely."
Daemon shook his head.
"They hide in caves. Dragons cannot chase shadows into stone."
Rhea's bronze armor caught his eye.
"Is that the ancestral bronze of House Royce? I thought only your father wore it."
"We have several sets," she replied. "Each passed down for thousands of years since the Age of Heroes."
Daemon remembered Archmaester Elysar's lectures, doubting that age. Yet he ran a finger over the runes.
"It is said they protect the wearer from all harm?"
"Of course. As Valyria mastered forging Valyrian steel, so House Royce mastered rune-craft. Our armor is impervious to blade or spear. We Remember."
Daemon, unimpressed, said,
"Then let us test it. My Dark Sister, your bronze runes. Stand still and let me strike twice."
Rhea recoiled.
"I will not risk ancient armor for your amusement."
"As I thought," Daemon said, sheathing the blade.
Her pride flared.
"I am not afraid. I hunt, ride, and joust better than most men."
"I do not duel women," Daemon replied. "There is no glory in it."
Rhea's tone turned cold.
"The Rogue Prince. I have heard of your whoring. When Queen Alysanne suggested a marriage between us, I refused."
Daemon smiled smugly.
"You needn't worry. I am married to Princess Gael now—and will soon be a father—while you remain Runestone's old maid. Though considering how often you ride, your maidenhead may not exist."
"You are intolerable," she snapped.
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When Caraxes finished feeding, he took to the skies again. Daemon could not resist boasting.
"My marriage to Gael is happy, Lady Rhea. You should find a husband before your chance slips away."
"I do not lack suitors," she replied icily. "Vaemond Velaryon himself proposed. I refused."
Daemon chuckled, thinking the Sea Snake had pushed his brother into it.
The royal procession continued through Bloodgate and up the mountain path toward the Eyrie. Caraxes and Vhagar soared overhead.
The Moon Mountains rose like jagged teeth. Deep green valleys lay below, the fertile plain ringed by peaks where the Andals first landed, guided—so the Faith claims—by the Seven's light shining upon King Hugo of Andalos.
Daemon and Baelon reached the Moon Gate first. Beyond it loomed the Giant's Lance, the tallest peak in the Vale, crowned by clouds. High on its shoulder perched the Eyrie—seven slender white towers circling like arrows in a quiver, poised above the world.
Alesa's Tears cascaded nearby, the tallest waterfall in Westeros, its waters turning to mist long before reaching ground. Legend claimed Queen Alesa Arryn wept it into existence as punishment from the gods.
The Moon Gate itself bristled with ballistae, scorpions, and catapults. Any army attempting the Eyrie would have to break this fortress first—then survive the narrow path through Skyreach, Snow Castle, and Stone Castle. No host had ever succeeded.
Ser Andar Corbray welcomed the princes, trying—and failing—to hide his fear of Vhagar.
Prince Baelon declined to rest.
"We'll fly straight to the Eyrie."
Vhagar and Caraxes climbed into the cold winds, cloaks snapping like torn banners as the fortresses shrank below.
They circled the Giant's Lance, then descended into the Eyrie's courtyard.
Bronze Yohn Royce, Regent of the Vale, waited with Eyrie knights in sky-blue cloaks and Runestone knights in bronze. The old lord bore his wounds proudly—arrows had pierced him during the Stone Crows' ambush, yet he claimed his armor saved his life.
Beside him stood Maester Jaime, the dwarf; the wet nurse and septas attending young Lady Jeyne Arryn; and Ser Andar Grafton, pale and ill from the diarrhea Rhea had mentioned.
As the dragons took wing again, circling the waterfall, Yohn Royce bowed deeply.
"Princes, welcome. With your dragons—and Princess Rhaenys on Meleys at the Five Fingers Peninsula—the Vale has not seen such power in generations. The clansmen and Sistermen will tremble."
Jeyne Arryn gazed up, awestruck.
"The grey-white dragon looks like a castle in the sky! And the red one is beautiful."
She tugged Daemon's hand.
"Will you take me flying?"
"Of course," Daemon said warmly. "Your aunt Aemma is my brother Viserys's wife. We are family. I'll take you to King's Landing one day—there are even more dragons there."
Jeyne squealed with delight.
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Later, Vale lords assembled to elect the Regency Council. Bronze Yohn Royce and Lord Leo Grafton claimed the first seats. Lady Catelyn Redfort, Ser Stephen Templeton, Lord Gavin Corbray, Lord George Waynwood, and young Lord Peres Belmore followed.
Daemon intended to use the growing rift between Royce and Grafton to strengthen his own influence. If Gael bore him sons, he meant to marry them to young Jeyne Arryn.
He summoned Maester Jaime.
"You are a Knight of the Mind," Daemon told him. "Write to Lord Manderly in White Harbor. Tell him to send warships to aid against the Sistermen. I do not trust the Sea Snake's fleet..."
(The chapter ends here.)
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