Chapter 14.3- The Seadragon's Roar

Just as expected he turned to leave the room with a nod. Before he seemed to change his mind and turn around. “There is anther matter I wished to discuss, Nephew”

“Yes, Uncle”

“You are not yet of age. There must be a regency” I amended my previous thought. This man seemed to have some hidden ambition to him. How cute.

“What regency? Is my father dead?” I asked, giving him the chance to step back and act like nothing had happened. The look I gave him should have been significant enough— warning sign enough that continuing would be nothing short of unwise.

“Let us be honest with ourselves, Laenor. I am a Knight. I’ve seen that wound a hundred times on a hundred men. None lived past three days. You are a genius without compare and have managed to keep him for four more. But that will not— can not last enough. My brother— your father—will die. Only the gods know why they have chosen to call him at this time, but we must move forward as a family” He said, I nodded his point. I was no idiot. I knew there was no chance of saving him at this point, but caring for him gave me the chance and space to both think and plan. Plus I knew how much Rhaenys loved this man. She would say goodbye. I would make sure she got to say goodbye.

Heedless to any warning signs or signals, Vaemond plowed on ahead like a captain heading into a storm with no competent navigators on his ship. “House Velaryon will be weaker than ever with my brother gone. While I have nothing but the highest respect for your mother, she is a woman. A woman can not lead the captains or sailors of House Velaryon. Not when war comes.”

“What would you ask of me, Uncle?”

“I would ask that you make it known to the King that you intend for me to act as your regent so he can make the appointment. Your mother would never dispute an appointment made by the—“ he faded off as I turned to look at him. I guessed he could finally see just what I thought of the idea,

“You served my father loyally, admittedly without distinction but loyally nonetheless. So I will take this foolish attempt at treason as a lapse in judgement brought on by grief and nothing else. I will not have your line purged to the last man even if Igneel would like it very much, and I will not have my mother feed you to Meleys. This will be the last bit of mercy you get from me, Vaemond. Go forth and do my will. If you fail, then I just might see myself making a different choice” I said, and resisted the urge to chuckle as the full grown man scurried from the room like the rats that famously called his ship home.