"This… this worked just like that?" Daeron stared in surprise as Silverwing took flight again, circling Dragon's Nest Towers several times in the company of the other dragons before slowly returning to its rooftop.
The boys were all stunned by what they saw. Only Viserys clenched his jaw in silence and let out a long, quiet sigh. The moment Valar chose his final flight, Silverwing had already found a new "rider". It proved the Vaelarys family had never truly let go of Vermithor and Silverwing.
Troublesome. Truly troublesome.
Queen Sammantha had been right—he was still too impatient. Viserys took a deep breath, suppressing the thoughts swirling in his heart, and focused on the scene of the dragons dancing through the skies.
"According to the records, Silverwing has a gentle nature," Aemon limped over to Daeron's side, patiently explaining to his younger cousin. "As Queen Alysanne's mount, Silverwing was known to be as kind and beautiful as the Good Queen herself. Even though Prince Valar was her second rider, a dragon's nature rarely changes. That's likely why she could be tamed so easily."
Daeron clearly wasn't satisfied with that explanation.
"Aemon, how long until your leg is fully healed?"
"Soon," Aemon quickly understood what Daeron was getting at.
He suddenly grew excited.
"Grand Maester Munkun and Maester Orwyle both say it's actually already healed, but wearing the brace a bit longer will ensure no lingering issues."
"Good. When we're back in King's Landing, the two of us—no, the three of us," Daeron paused to think, "we'll take Aegon with us to Dragonstone. We're going to tame the Sheepstealer and Grey Ghost."
"Daeron!" Jeyne frowned deeply. She didn't care for dragons, but she wasn't ignorant of them either. "Those two are wild and uncontrollable. Grey Ghost maybe, but Sheepstealer has never been tamed." She sneaked a glance at King Aegon, who stood by the battlements, full of sorrow. "What do you expect Their Majesties to think of this?"
Daeron lowered his voice, "Relax. Uncle Joffrey is on High Tide. We can go ask for his protection first. You know me—I never go into a fight unprepared."
Jeyne didn't know what to say. How could he be so sure Joffrey's first reaction upon seeing them wouldn't be to punch them both, drag them onto Tyraxes, and fly them straight back to King's Landing?
"If you're really set on taming wild dragons, I suggest speaking with His Majesty first," Jeyne said softly. "No—better yet, speak with Prince Viserys. He'll support you."
She knew very well that King Aegon's stance on children taming dragons was ambiguous at best—no one could say whether he would support or oppose it. But Viserys would surely back Daeron's efforts. If Daeron could get Viserys on board, he could then get to Aegon through him.
"Thank you, Jeyne!" Only then did Daeron realize the depth of her advice. He decided to speak with Viserys that evening.
Jeyne turned her head away again, watching Silverwing's final circling flight, unable to help herself. Her husband, so excited he looked like a child, and Aemon, silent and composed—they couldn't be more different.
Silverwing landed smoothly on the rooftop of Dragon's Nest Tower. Only then did Valenna loosen her trembling grip, fumbling to undo the buckles, and shakily climbed down from the dragon's back.
The young Vaelarys gathered around her all at once, voices overlapping with who-knew-what being said.
It was Rhaegor who restored order. He pulled the loudest one, Jacaerys, aside. With a glance, he signaled Seryna to take Orion, then tugged Dan aside himself. Daenyra rushed over and looked Valenna up and down anxiously.
"Well done, Valenna. Father would be proud of you."
Valenna wiped her eyes roughly.
"Sister, Dan… the wind up there is so strong. Look—it blew out all these tears."
Dan didn't know what to say. After Rhaegor let go, he slowly approached Valenna, unsure of what to do.
Jacaerys and Seryna, pulled aside earlier, twitched with awkward expressions.
"Father would be proud of you. Listen—Silverwing is calling your name," Daenyra said gently.
"You liar." Valenna suddenly smiled. "Silverwing clearly said, 'You ride worse than your father did.'"
"What?" Daenyra, seeing her sister no longer so heartbroken, joined in the joke with a trace of sadness. "Silverwing's nothing like my Zarafax. He only ever praises me."
But the girls' sobs didn't stop—instead, they grew clearer amidst the laughter.
Rey stood silently, watching the children comfort Daenyra and Valenna. Even Rhaena and Diana joined them.
As mothers.
He turned to his equally quiet brother.
"Brother, if I go before you…" Rey said softly, "please treat my remains the same way."
"Rey… you're still as sharp as when you were a boy," Draezell replied just as quietly.
"All for the family," Rey said. "That's how you see it too, isn't it, brother?"
Draezell nodded.
He spoke only one word.
"All right."
The dragons dispersed. Draezell and Rey took the children to the Flame Tower, where they would keep vigil for Valar. The Targaryens returned to their guest chambers.
Prince Aegon sat uneasily, glancing at his father.
"That's enough," Viserys said, unable to bear the sight of his son like that. "I never said I blamed you. Go on, get some rest."
Only when he saw his father truly held no blame did Aegon quietly breathe a sigh of relief.
Just then, Daeron slipped in quietly.
One glance.
"Oh? Why is everyone here?"
Viserys was seated in a chair, his face expressionless as he watched Daeron hunch through the door. Prince Aegon stood beside him, and Illyon was fast asleep on the bed.
The scene made Daeron scratch his head in mild embarrassment, and Aemon behind him lowered his head awkwardly.
"Prince, why aren't you resting? What brings you to me?" Viserys looked at Daeron, and despite himself, a faint flicker of hope stirred in his heart.
"Ah, well…" Daeron thought for a moment and decided to be honest. "Uncle, I want to take Cousin Aemon—and Cousin Aegon—to Dragonstone."
"Dragonstone is your domain, Your Highness," Viserys said, immediately realizing what Daeron was planning. He suppressed a smile and furrowed his brow. "You can go whenever you wish. There's no need to tell me."
"No, no, no." Daeron quickly waved his hands. "We're going to… tame dragons."
"There are plenty of dragons in the Dragonpit here in King's Landing. Apart from Dreamfyre and Caraxes, the rest are quite docile," said Viserys. "But I must remind you, the two wild dragons on Dragonstone—Grey Ghost and Sheepstealer—are unruly beasts. The last man who tried to tame Grey Ghost was Aegon the Usurper. You know what became of him. Aegon, tell them."
Prince Aegon hadn't expected his father to pull him into the conversation, but he wasn't just a mindless womanizer. He was a principled and learned one. In fact, it was precisely because he had some talent that Aegon had received a full knight's education. He was a capable swordsman, wrote poetry, played the harp exceptionally well, and combined with his good looks, it was no wonder so many girls willingly slipped into his bed.
"Father, the Usurper tried and failed to tame Grey Ghost. The dragon scorched his legs, and he ultimately died under the flames of Grandfather's Caraxes."
"As for Sheepstealer," Viserys said solemnly, "ever since the day the Dragonkeepers recorded its name, it has never been tamed. Have you seen it before?"
Daeron shook his head.
"I have." Viserys recalled the one time he had seen Sheepstealer. Though it was only a fleeting glimpse, the dragon's savagery had left a deep impression.
It was a true giant. Perhaps thirty years ago, it wasn't especially notable among Westeros's dragons. After the death of Glutton, it had even gone into hiding for a long time. But now, it was one of the largest wild dragons under Targaryen surveillance—second in size only to Dreamfyre and comparable to Caraxes. But no one truly knew its strength, as it had never been witnessed in any dragon duel.
After years of silence, Sheepstealer had become active again in Blackwater Bay. It was cunning, carefully avoiding the areas frequented by Caraxes and Dreamfyre, and steering clear of direct conflict with other dragons. With this cautious approach, it would suddenly attack ships or burn and feast on sheep grazing on the Vale's islands and shores.
Even after all these years, it still adored mutton.
Lord Joffrey of the Vale had once tried to drive Sheepstealer away when it came scavenging in his lands. He laid traps, set up scorpions and other weapons, and deployed hundreds of heavily armed men. But after dozens of deaths, the Lord had no choice but to buy peace.
He arranged for herds of sheep to be placed in areas where Sheepstealer often appeared.
It worked. Once Sheepstealer realized sheep would regularly be left in that area unattended, it happily feasted and no longer ravaged the rest of the Vale.
The dragon's threat to the Vale greatly diminished.
No one noticed that Grey Ghost, the wild dragon long overlooked by everyone, had once again slipped beneath the Targaryens' radar.
Viserys didn't even remember that Grey Ghost was still living on Dragonstone.
The prince gave a detailed account of both Sheepstealer and Grey Ghost.
He thought Daeron and Aemon would be shaken.
They were shaken, all right.
But why did the two boys look more excited the more they listened?
"So, do you two still want to tame these wild dragons?" Viserys asked in the end, helpless.
"Of course," Daeron said without hesitation.
"A Targaryen is still a true dragon. If Vaelarys could do it, there's no reason we can't."