Chapter 6.6- The Seadragon's Roar

I wrote the letter, and then another, before moving to the Maester’s tower. One of them to the Red Keep, and the other to High Tide.

—108 AC— RHAENYS TARGARYEN

She watched her cousin as he dismounted his dragon, the cancacterous Blood wyrm, her father’s dragon. Claimed in revenge for her decision to clam his mother’s, she knew. She and Viserys might have been able to rescue a cordial relationship from the pressures of court and the competition for the throne but Daemon was far from that. He was vengeful and prideful like no one she had ever seen, so why was he here now? When Laenor’s letter had arrived all those weeks ago, they had expected his gambit to fail, but now the Rogue Prince was at their gates, was he here to spit on Laenor’s offer by declining to their faces, or was he here to accept it?

“Your son wrote me a letter, cousin” Daemon said, walking towards her and almost entirely ignoring Corlys.

“Yes, our son wrote you a letter with our leave” Corlys said, making sure to show no offense a being disregarded. Daemon was the kind of man to go out of his way to get on your nerves so showing hon that he had succeeded wa sone way to make sure he did it again.

“He said the Stepstones would be mine to deal with if I joined this conquest of yours”

“Pacification. The Velaryon fleet shall only be moving to pacify the islands. However, we recognise that when we do so then there will be a vacuum in the island. A vacuum we can not fill, and it would only be fitting” He said.

“So you would give me a Kingdom?” Daemon asked, brow quirked.

“No. We would help you take a Kingdom. Your involvement in the pacification would be necessary.” Corlys said.

“I see. And what’s the other boot?”

“Like Laenor said, good trade deals, profitable terms for Velaryon ships crossing the stepsons, and less merciful terms for those who would garner our mutual ire.” Corlys said.

“That’s all well and good. But your Son did not do something which I see as necessary for any deal to begin”

“Which is?”

“An apology. He insulted both Viserys and I during that speech of his.”

“Six years ago? She asked, not completely shocked that he’d bring it up.

“Old wounds run deep and fester” He said, stepping back and giving them a significant look, as if to say if you want me then show how much you do so.

“We won’t apologise.” Corlys said.

“Laenor said what he felt he needed to, and if you would smash this deal into pieces for actions half a decade in the past and from a boy yet to see his tenth nameday at the time, then I struggle to imagine what kind of ally you would be” Corlys challenged, narrowed eyes. The Blood wyrm behind Daemon roared like it could recognise its rider had been insulted. Meleys matched it, and a second later so did Vhagar from a few steps away.

If Daemon tried something stupid then he would find himself more than matched. It was clear he knew that as he looked from Meleys to Vhagar, looking like he’d swallowed a lemon before his face smoothed out.

“Just a test to see your resolve, Velaryon. We have a deal” He said.