Chapter 127: The Order of Dragonmont
Time could heal wounds and ease pain.
Time also swept away autumn's gentle rain and replaced it with bitter winter winds.
The Small Council, led by Prince Daemon, struggled to maintain King's Landing.
The reconstruction of King's Landing began with the major structures upon its three great hills, and the work might continue for decades.
Meanwhile, the indignant Lord Corlys Velaryon, after failing to find support, sadly returned to Driftmark, spending the last years of his life within the Ninth Voyage Hall of High Tide, surrounded by the countless treasures gathered during his nine legendary voyages.
In 131 AC, two years after the Dance of the Dragons ended, the Sea Snake finally boarded his flagship, now renamed The Uncrowned Queen, and sailed toward the final voyage of his legendary life.
After handling the Sea Snake's funeral, Joffrey Velaryon flew to Dragonmont City to visit his younger brother, before flying onward to Sunspear to see his disobedient betrothed, Alysanne Martell.
Although Alysanne disliked being unable to decide her own marriage, Joffrey's handsome appearance and gentle, proper bearing still captivated the young girl.
Eventually, she agreed to accompany her fiancé to High Tide until their marriage.
It was also during these two years, while the Seven Kingdoms gradually recovered from war's suffering, that the Three Daughters suffered a devastating calamity.
The "Red Kraken," Dalton Greyjoy, led three hundred longships around Dorne and, after resupplying at Silver Crown City, launched a direct assault on the Stepstones.
The self-proclaimed Lord of Bloodstone and King of the Narrow Sea, Racallio Ryndoon, decisively joined Dalton's Iron Fleet.
This great reaving fleet repeatedly defeated the fleets of the Three Daughters throughout the Stepstones.
Curiously, Dalton deliberately allowed the Tyroshi fleet to escape.
As a result, after the Iron Fleet plundered Tyroshi towns and ports, the alliance of the Three Daughters collapsed.
Myr, fearing attack from an untouched Lys, voluntarily withdrew its fleet.
Lys feared becoming trapped between the others and concentrated all its strength for defense.
Thus Dalton happily smashed through Tyrosh.
The Ironborn plundered Tyrosh for three entire months.
The Archons of Tyrosh were drowned one after another beneath the sea by the Red Kraken.
Satisfied Ironborn then used Tyrosh as a base from which to strike Myr and Lys.
While Westeros healed its wounds, the Disputed Lands suffered endless raids from longships, and every month ships laden with treasure and salt wives returned to the Iron Islands.
Dalton did not keep all spoils for himself.
After Tyrosh fell, he loaded fifteen longships with gold and pearls and sent them to King's Landing as:
"A coronation gift for King Aegon—and an apology for failing to fight for the realm in time."
Daemon gladly accepted the tribute, tacitly approving Dalton's plundering of the Three Daughters.
As Corlys Velaryon returned to the sea, white ravens—symbols of winter's arrival—also flew from Raven Tower in Silver Crown City throughout the realm.
This had become the new center for raven studies and the home of half the Citadel.
Westeros's greatest institution of learning had been torn apart.
Fortunately, thousands of years of accumulated knowledge had survived.
The Citadel still possessed a future.
Maester Visery forcibly intervened in administration of this Silver Crown branch.
Over the past two years, nearly all high-ranking positions had gradually been replaced by maesters loyal to House Varezes.
Draezell had firmly secured control over part of this once "neutral" institution.
Winter had arrived.
Ice and snow swept southward from the Wall.
Last Hearth became the first stronghold to light its fires amid snowfall, and Winter Town beneath Winterfell soon followed.
Before long, the North disappeared beneath snow.
Then came the Vale.
The Riverlands.
The Westerlands.
The Crownlands.
Yet within Dragonmont City, winter merely meant colder weather and longer crop cycles.
"ROOOAR—"
Vermithor's colossal body soared above crimson mountains.
His roar stretched endlessly through the skies, followed by a burst of laughter.
Draezell laughed heartily while holding Diana in his arms.
Her face had gone pale.
Eyes tightly shut, she curled herself against the saddle, not daring to move.
Draezell comfortably held his slightly pregnant wife with one arm while controlling Vermithor with the other.
The rushing wind howled around his ears.
"Draezell! Bring me down right now!"
Diana's voice nearly sounded tearful.
Draezell signaled Vermithor to slow down.
The old dragon happily roared, stopped beating his wings, and gradually slowed.
"Didn't you say flying was exciting last time?" Draezell teased.
Facing the wind, his short silver hair whipped wildly.
As he aged, a neatly trimmed mustache had appeared, giving him a more commanding appearance.
"How did you fly last time?"
Diana felt Vermithor gradually stabilizing and protested:
"You didn't turn in midair before! And you definitely didn't make Vermithor fly this fast—ah—wait—no!"
Draezell smiled and lightly touched the dragon saddle's controls.
Vermithor immediately seemed to sense something and released a series of cheerful growls.
"Look at Leira," Draezell laughed.
"She wasn't nearly this frightened flying with Valarr."
Diana also laughed.
"That's because Leira carries Valyrian blood too."
"You belong to the skies."
"I belong to forests."
"No."
Draezell gently pulled the reins.
Vermithor roared skyward before ascending steadily and gliding toward Dragonmont.
"You know, Diana…"
Draezell gently stroked her slightly swollen belly.
"Have you thought of a name for the child?"
"If it's a girl... Serena."
Diana smiled.
"I read Valyrian Dragonlord Bloodlines. Apparently there once was a Serena who served among the Archons of Valyria and was also a Dragonlord."
She blinked curiously.
"By the way… what exactly is a Dragonlord?"
Draezell guided Vermithor down onto Dragonmont's landing platform and carefully helped Diana from the saddle.
"During the days of the Valyrian Freehold, every great family possessed at least one Dragonlord."
"They either held magical artifacts capable of summoning dragons…"
"Or they possessed the greatest dragon of their house, through which they commanded all the others."
"Oh."
Diana nodded.
"Then if it's a girl, Serena."
"If it's a boy…"
"Jacaerys."
The name suddenly surfaced in Draezell's mind.
He sighed softly.
Diana froze.
Then, after a long pause, she quietly nodded.
Within Dragonmont, Vermithor released a deep roar and slowly crawled toward his vast nest.
Vermax immediately emerged from his cavern and gave a low growl.
Vermithor looked toward the dragon peeking out from above and nodded.
Similar growls soon echoed.
Shadow Nightmare and Stormcloud emerged from darkness.
Stormcloud cautiously hid behind Shadow Nightmare.
Without hesitation, Shadow Nightmare rubbed affectionately against Vermithor's wing.
Vermithor helplessly growled in response.
The black dragon withdrew contentedly and turned toward Stormcloud.
Stormcloud immediately shrank backward.
Shadow Nightmare growled in annoyance and forcefully shoved Stormcloud forward.
Stormcloud reluctantly crept ahead and lowered his head.
Vermithor glanced between both dragons before snorting and nudging Stormcloud with his enormous head.
Stormcloud immediately collapsed.
After struggling several times, he still failed to rise.
Only after Vermax and Shadow Nightmare approached to help did he regain balance.
Shadow Nightmare growled several scolding noises.
Stormcloud looked utterly aggrieved but obediently followed her away.
On the opposite side lay three younger dragons.
Starsong blocked the cavern entrance and stared motionlessly at Vermithor.
Only when the old dragon glanced over did she roar.
Vermithor stared silently at this rapidly growing young dragon.
Starsong had already reached Arrax's size.
Starsong hesitated and continued blocking the entrance until Silverwing roared.
Only then did she retreat and allow Morning and Torchfire to peek out and offer low growls.
Satisfied, Vermithor finally entered his nest.
"Every time I see this," Diana said softly, "I feel dragons are real living creatures—not merely terrifying weapons from stories."
She roughly understood the scene.
Vermithor ruled Dragonmont.
Silverwing naturally served as queen.
Shadow Nightmare held a favored place.
Vermax and Stormcloud resembled children or vassals.
Starsong and the others were hatchlings needing protection.
"They're living beings of flesh and blood."
Draezell handed his gloves to the Silver Guards.
Several silver-haired guards immediately moved to clean Vermithor.
Adult dragons could hunt independently.
Vermithor especially favored whales from the Sea of Dorne.
But Dragonmont's sheep and pigs still remained essential food.
"Where's Valarr?"
Draezell was unconcerned about Ray.
His younger brother loved only two places:
Dragonmont and Laurel Library.
He could spend entire days reading or sitting beside Shadow Nightmare talking endlessly.
No one knew what he discussed with the dragon.
A Silver Guard thought briefly.
"Prince Valarr came this morning to clean Silverwing."
"He also collected dragon eggs."
"Silverwing laid three eggs this month."
"They've already been sent to the greenhouse."
"Afterward, he likely went to Crystal Tower."
"Lord Aslan arranged to teach His Grace Aegon swordsmanship today."
Draezell nodded.
"What about the children?"
"Have you seen them?"
The guard shook his head.
"They never came to Dragonmont."
"We don't know where they went."
Draezell frowned deeply.
"Today was Aegon and Lingor's dragon-bonding day."
"What exactly are they doing?"
Just as Draezell wondered where the children had gone—
Summerhall.
Aegon and Viserys had wrapped scarves around their silver hair.
Behind them followed two similarly dressed children.
Lingor wore a miserable expression while being dragged along by his sister.
"Your Grace, skipping lessons is wrong."
"Shh!"
Aegon immediately hushed him.
"Lingor, you agreed to help buy Uncle Draezell a nameday gift."
"No tattling."
"Yeah, yeah."
Samantha also covered her brother's mouth.
"No tattling."
"Tattlers aren't good brothers."
Lingor muttered miserably:
"You never said we'd skip lessons."
"And Dragonmont isn't even connected to Summerhall."
"We're definitely getting caught."
"It's over."
"If Maester Hofa finds out…"
"Shh."
This time it was Viserys.
"Let's hurry."
"If Maester Hofa asks, we'll just say we visited Dragonmont."
He grinned mischievously.
"Besides, Maester Hofa always tells us to spend more time with dragons."
"But you don't even have a dragon."
Lingor muttered.
Viserys immediately puffed his cheeks.
"I will!"
"I will in the future!"
"Children ahead."
A deep voice suddenly sounded.
"Where are your parents?"
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