Chapter 31.1- The Seadragon's Roar

XXXXX- GRAND MAESTER RUNCITER (109 AC)

Valyrian steel would struggle to cut the tension in the room. The Small Council’s meeting room, larger than its name would ordinarily have suggested felt much smaller than it ever had. Perhaps it was because they had essentially divided it into two halves. Perhaps it was because of the woman who sat on the other end of it.

“Shall we begin then?” The woman was the one to break the silence. If the desire was for her to seem the supplicant, then that had failed thoroughly. Rheanys Targaryen, the Queen who never was, an insult meant to demean her had turned to an invisible crown atop her brow. The only kind of crown she would ever wear, yes. But one she wore better than any other he had ever seen. She dominated the room with her presence. To her left, her daughter— so beautiful a maiden that more than a few men of the council had done double takes.

If the reports he had received about Lord Corlys’ final intentions were true, then she was easily the most desirable maiden in the realm bar one. A dragon, more gold than half the realm had, ships made in the best shipyard the realm could boast, and then so beautiful that it felt like comparing her to the Maiden was no blasphemy— it was fitting. Only a crown could compare.

And then to the Queen who never was’ other side sat the man of the hour. The future Lord of Driftmark, the rider of the fastest growing Dragon in records, already shaping to be a warrior of renown, and easily the most eligible young lord of them all.

“We shall. The King will not be joining us today”

“Understandable” She said, saying nothing else. No one needed say anything else. The King’s wails had echoed through Maegor’s Holdfast for much of the last night, it was said.

“So you must wonder why we have summoned you here”

“Naturally” She said. One word replies seeming to be her chosen tactic— making it seem like The Hand was the one reporting to her and not the other way around. Like Runciter thought, she wore a crown well.

“We are to discuss what shall be done with the Stepstones now that the Islands have been consolidated”

“Are we?” She asked, titling her head.

“Do you have some issue with that, Lady Rhaenys?” He said. There was a hiss of indignation from the daughter. The Son and his mother bore the quiet insult with grace and silence. It was a wise tactic from the Hand. On whether Princess or Lady was the right from of address for a woman who married out of the royal family to a Lordly one was not a matter that had been conclusively answered one way or the other. If pushed, he would claim ignorance, apologise, and allow them seem unreasonable. If not pushed, then he would maintain whatever advantage it gave him.

“Only the issue that the matter has been litigated quite thoroughly, and a decision had been reached months before my husband and son set sail”.