Queen Rhaenyra's entire body jolted, as if she'd heard a hallucination.
She shot up from her throne and rushed down the steps, etiquette forgotten.
When she saw the little boy bursting through the doors really was Viserys, tears flooded her eyes.
"Viserys! My child! You're really back!"
She crushed him in a fierce hug, holding on like he might vanish if she let go. Her tears soaked his hair. "You're safe… that's all that matters!"
Viserys sobbed in her arms, crying out, "Mother! Lord Logar saved me! He brought me back from Lys!"
Rhaenyra looked up and saw Logar leap gracefully down from the Cannibal's back. He approached and gave a slight bow.
"Your Majesty, mission accomplished. I've brought Prince Viserys back safely from Essos."
Every eye turned to Logar. His armor was still stained with blood, but he stood tall and resolute.
The ministers erupted in joy, their earlier anxiety wiped away.
Baela stepped forward, tears of relief shining in her eyes as she gazed at Logar.
It had been so long since she'd seen him. His face seemed harder now, etched with new lines from whatever he'd endured. She had a thousand things to say, but in that moment words failed her.
After a choked silence, she simply nodded at him. Everything unsaid hung between them.
After all they'd been through—especially losing Prince Jacaerys—she had grown up overnight. She was no longer the wild, untamed princess. She'd learned to read the room, to know when and how to act.
"Well done, Sea Burner. Who knew he'd quietly slip off to Essos and rescue the missing Prince Viserys? Now the queen can finally breathe easy!"
Lord Corlys the Sea Snake nodded vigorously from the crowd. Logar hadn't just saved Viserys—he'd steadied the entire Black cause.
His actions proved his loyalty, standing in sharp contrast to the arrogant dragonriders lurking nearby.
Hugh Hammer and Ulf the White stood off to the side. Their smirks had vanished, replaced by shock and jealousy.
They hadn't expected Logar to actually pull off the rescue. Worse, this Sea Burner's devotion to Rhaenyra was making them look bad.
Rhaenyra held Viserys close, tears streaming as she looked at Logar with raw gratitude and trust.
"Logar, thank you! You didn't just save my son—you saved the entire Black cause! From this day forward, you are a true pillar of our faction, a benefactor to House Targaryen!"
The ministers echoed her praise, shouting accolades for Logar's heroism and loyalty.
The square's heavy grief lifted, replaced by wild celebration. Logar stood at the center, his figure towering in everyone's eyes—the shining hero of Dragonstone.
Ser Lorent Marbrand, captain of the Queensguard, watched from afar in his silver armor. Admiration—and a touch of envy—filled his gaze.
This man had started as a mere sellsword, yet he'd single-handedly rescued Prince Viserys from Essos. A miracle. His honor could rival the greatest knights!
As a man who lived by the chivalric code, Lorent almost regretted not joining Logar on the mission. Fighting alongside someone like him would have been legendary.
Once the initial wave of joy and relief settled, Queen Rhaenyra returned to her throne, cradling both Viserys and little Joffrey like she feared they'd vanish too.
Then she turned to Logar with a smile. "Sea Burner Logar, my brave flying horse—tell us how you rescued Viserys."
Everyone leaned in, eager for the tale. Even Ulf and Hugh couldn't hide their curiosity.
Logar stayed composed under the spotlight. In a steady voice, he began:
"Your Majesty, after the Battle of the Gullet, I interrogated prisoners to learn Prince Viserys's fate.
A Lysene sailor revealed that Admiral Sharako Lohar had sent the prince back to Lys, into the hands of Archon Bambarro Bazanne…
The moment I heard, I took Nettles and flew straight there on our dragons."
"In Lys, we burned their harbor to force them to hand him over. But the enemy was cunning—they deployed an Unsullied phalanx with arrows tipped in the deadly poison Strangler.
In the end, the gods favored us. House Rogare provided key intelligence, helping Nettles and me eliminate the Archon and rescue the prince."
Logar kept the story brief, downplaying his own role while crediting Nettles and the Rogares.
Still, the crowd could sense the heart-pounding danger. Lys was a massive city of over a hundred thousand people!
Just two riders and two dragons had killed an Archon and saved a prince. It was nothing short of miraculous!
"Viserys, my poor little one… do you know the risks Logar and Nettles took to save you?"
Rhaenyra wiped her tears and gently pushed Viserys forward half a step.
"Thank your rescuers. Without them, we might never have seen each other again."
The boy obeyed, bowing deeply to Logar and Nettles with sincere, childish gratitude.
"Thank you, Lord Logar. Thank you, Lady Nettles."
The crowd watched enviously. This kind of royal honor was priceless.
But it belonged to the ones who had earned it.
"Your Majesty, with Prince Viserys safely returned, we have no more worries holding us back…"
Lord Celtigar stepped forward again, addressing the queen.
"We now have five dragonriders on Dragonstone—six dragons ready for battle, including yours! It's time to strike the Greens!"
"Aye, time to attack!"
Lord Corlys chimed in agreement.
Robert Quince, Grand Maester Gerardys, Alfred Broome, and the other Black lords nodded vigorously.
Prince Daemon was rallying armies at Harrenhal, pinning down the Greens. The window for victory was closing fast. They'd hidden on Dragonstone long enough—it was time to move.
Seeing her ministers united, Rhaenyra drew a deep breath and gazed out over the Narrow Sea. She knew they were right. It was time to reclaim King's Landing.
So, under the expectant stares of her court, she rose from the throne and declared loudly:
"Very well! Since we are all in agreement, I hereby order: in three days, assemble all dragonriders and our vassal armies. We march on King's Landing together!
Furthermore, I name Sea Burner Logar as vanguard of this campaign! He will lead his World Devourers to the capital and hold authority to command the other dragonriders.
In my absence, he speaks with my voice and may issue orders to the riders as needed!"
The hall exploded in shock.
Every eye turned enviously to Logar, now the center of attention. By rescuing Viserys, he had become Queen Rhaenyra's most trusted lieutenant!
Hugh Hammer and Ulf the White went pale. This wasn't good.
They knew their recent arrogance had forced the queen's hand—she was reining them in, making sure they couldn't run wild anymore.
In that moment, the two exchanged glances. Watching Logar bask in triumph, they both felt the heavy weight of pressure settling over them.