Chapter 455

“Allow me to ask first, Your Grace.” Seeing Daenerys distracted and absent-minded, Aegor realized he couldn’t count on her to lead the meeting and took the initiative after sitting down. “The soldiers should be able to bring Drogon into the castle before nightfall. If necessary, we can work overnight to construct his lair. But what I need to know now is—how serious are Drogon’s injuries, and how long will it take for him to recover and fly again?”

“No one can say for sure,” Melisandre replied on the queen’s behalf. “The tears in the membrane of his wings are minor issues. The real problem is that the bone in his left wing was fractured by the Others’ attacks. While both I and Machiro know magic that can accelerate healing, the effects are less pronounced on magical creatures compared to humans. Moreover, Drogon is simply too massive—even magic capable of raising a man from the dead feels like a mere scratch on a dragon. On top of that, his abdomen was also wounded, and some internal organs are damaged. Our abilities are limited—we can only stabilize his condition and preserve his life. For anything beyond that, he’ll have to rely on his own recovery.”

“According to records, dragons have far greater vitality and regenerative capabilities than humans. Drogon’s life is not in immediate danger. Unfortunately, everyone with experience caring for injured dragons is long dead, and the queen herself has never dealt with such a situation.” Machiro took over, continuing in a calm tone. “We can only estimate that he will need at least a month to recover, and even then, we can’t guarantee he’ll return to his previous strength. Commander, I suggest you prepare for both possibilities.”

This wasn’t as bad as Aegor had feared. He’d braced himself for a recovery period of several months, so a month or so sounded manageable. Keeping his expression steady, he nodded. “What about the other dragon, Rhaegal? Can Your Grace ride him?”

This time, Daenerys herself answered after some thought. “If you’re asking whether I can physically mount him, the answer is yes. But if you’re asking whether I can ride him into battle or on a long journey, the answer is no. The bond between a dragon and its rider is not something that can be ignored. Even though I am their mother, I cannot break this fundamental rule.”

Though Aegor didn’t fully understand, he knew better than to question Daenerys’s expertise on the matter and accepted her explanation without argument.

“That complicates things, Your Grace,” he said with a frown. “Given your love for Drogon, I suspect you won’t leave his side until he’s fully healed. If the other dragon can’t be ridden, then it’s clear that you’ll be staying here at Last Hearth for an extended period. That brings two significant challenges.”

“First,” he continued, “your inability to return to the southern battlefield means we must consider how other factions will react. While the North couldn’t muster its full strength for the Battle of Long Lake, there were still three to four thousand survivors. As these soldiers return home, and with trade between the Gift and Northern residents ongoing—not to mention the Night’s Watch carrying out various tasks—the details of the battle will soon spread throughout the North. On the one hand, the truth might sway public opinion in our favor. After all, it would be difficult for the Northern lords to justify waging war against someone who sacrificed so much to protect them. But on the other hand, once word of your dragons’ injuries—one dead, two wounded—reaches the Riverlands, the Vale, or especially King’s Landing, will your southern forces be able to withstand the challenges they’ll face in your absence?”

“Stannis is a formidable opponent,” Daenerys said after a moment of silence. “Without dragons, even if I were present, I couldn’t guarantee victory.”

“I’m glad you understand that,” Aegor replied, relieved that the queen had a pragmatic view of the situation. “In that case, the most pressing priority is to immediately send word to your forces surrounding King’s Landing. Order them to lift the siege and withdraw to nearby strongholds to adopt defensive positions. We cannot risk Stannis leading a counterattack.”

“Does this castle have ravens capable of reaching the South?” Daenerys asked.

“Not at Last Hearth, but there are plenty in Crown Town. I’ve already sent scouts back to the Gift to retrieve some. They should arrive by tomorrow at the latest. Once the ravens are here, you can personally write orders for your armies. Aside from lifting the siege, I also have a personal request: station some of your troops at the Night’s Watch’s industrial site to prevent Stannis from seizing it and claiming it for the Iron Throne. While Blackwall Keep is no fortress, its proximity to the Blackwater Rush makes it strategically important. With your navy and Unsullied controlling Blackwater Bay and the northern bank of the river, and the Golden Company and Reachmen holding the southern bank, it would be risky for Stannis to launch an assault. I assure you, that small black castle is critical to your future rule over the Seven Kingdoms.”

Though Aegor refrained from explaining the full significance of the site, he knew that Blackwall Keep likely held several tons of refined saltpeter—a crucial resource that could not fall into Stannis’s hands. The real treasure, however, was the skilled workers and technicians operating there. Until he secured a reliable supply of raw materials, the site’s preservation was non-negotiable.

Daenerys, trusting Aegor’s judgment, agreed without questioning his reasoning. “That’s not difficult. And the other issue?”

“The time required for Drogon’s recovery means we’ll be staying at Last Hearth for a while. This prolonged occupation will undoubtedly deepen Northern suspicions. If we remain here for too long, accusations of us coveting Northern land will spread, further escalating tensions. Conflict may become inevitable,” Aegor said grimly. “Additionally, I must admit that the White Walkers were far more brutal and cunning than I had anticipated, which led to the Gift suffering greater losses than expected.”

Between the initial defeats at the Gorge and Shadow Tower, the near loss at Eastwatch, and the final battle at Crown Town, the Gift had lost close to ten thousand soldiers—double Aegor’s original projections. Even with the high mobilization rate of the Gift’s populace, bolstered by the hill tribes’ warrior culture, their military strength had been severely diminished.

Where once Aegor had planned to use Daenerys as a stepping stone, now he realized they would have to depend on each other for survival.

“The Night’s Watch alone cannot guarantee your safety, and you may find its men unsuited to your needs. I recommend summoning reinforcements from the South via the sea to serve as your personal guard.”
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And so, with new plans set in motion, Aegor braced himself for the challenges ahead.