Maegor's Holdfast, The Red Keep.
Inside the balcony of the chamber, Aegon froze. His expression shifted through a complex range of emotions before he finally let out a long sigh.
"A monster for a freak, then..."
Even if Vhagar were to die, with the terrifying growth rate Morghul was displaying, his own dragon, Sunfyre, would hardly stand a chance.
Suddenly, Grand Maester Noren spoke in a low voice:
"Your Grace, the Prince commands two dragons. I have scoured countless ancient texts in the Citadel, Valyrian, Essosi, from the Freehold... there is no record of anyone ever being able to command two dragons simultaneously."
He paused for emphasis. "Prince Aemond... he is the first, and perhaps the only one..."
Aegon's face darkened. "What are you implying?"
Grand Maester Noren did not answer directly.
He said, "Your Grace, Prince Aemond is a genius of his generation, single-mindedly devoted to the Targaryen Royal Family. That is the most common praise I have heard since arriving in King's Landing."
He paused. "But I have also heard other things."
Aegon looked at him. "What things?"
Noren raised his hand. He extended a single finger and placed it against his lips.
Shh.
Aegon II was stunned. Beside him, Queen Aelyn was equally taken aback. Noren pointed toward the wall behind them.
Aegon's expression was one of total confusion. Grand Maester Noren lowered his voice to a whisper to enlighten him.
"Your Grace, do you know why Maegor's Holdfast is called Maegor's Holdfast?"
Aegon said nothing. Noren continued in a whisper:
"When Maegor built this tower, he had secret passages constructed within the walls. He could hide anywhere, eavesdropping on anyone's conversation."
Noren watched Aegon's discomfort grow, the resentment and indignation clear on his face. After a moment, he whispered, "Your Grace, all these years later, those secret passages are still there."
Aegon's fingers tightened around the balcony railing.
He had already mentally accepted his status as a puppet King, but the idea that his own younger brother, Aemond, had people monitoring him at every moment...
'Did he never trust his own elder brother?'
Aegon shook his head, feeling a pang of sorrow. He turned and asked in a low voice, "I heard my mother mention the secret passages... is he monitoring me at all times now?"
Grand Maester Noren gave a slight, subtle nod.
Internally, he sighed; King Aegon was truly a fool. But then again, a fool was better than a madman.
One could say he was a fool who listened to advice, and that was exactly the kind of King the people of the Seven Kingdoms needed.
A fool, but at least one who wouldn't act recklessly or treat the people like cattle, as Aemond and Daemon did.
Looking at the silent Royal couple, Noren continued to whisper, "Your Grace, every word you and Queen Aelyn say here, every action you take, may be under the surveillance and eavesdropping of the people Prince Aemond has arranged."
Queen Aelyn's face turned white. She instinctively hugged Jaehaera tighter and took a step back.
She knew nothing of the passages in Maegor's Holdfast; Queen Mother Alicent had never told her, nor had Aegon. Even the handmaids around her might be Aemond's spies.
Since marrying Aegon, she had been carefully trying to win over some loyalists for the King, but now it seemed her efforts were no different from a clown's performance in Aemond's eyes.
Aegon stood rooted to the spot, his mind in a turmoil. He looked at Noren.
This new Grand Maester was as thin as a bamboo pole and as ugly as the raven on his shoulder, but there was something in his eyes that Aegon couldn't quite read.
"You..." he started.
Noren interrupted him.
"Your Grace, today I have merely come to take over the office of Grand Maester. Now that I have your approval, I shall take my leave."
He bowed deeply. Then, he stepped forward and took Aegon's hand. Aegon felt something in the man's palm, a piece of paper. A very small one.
Noren released his hand, turned, and walked toward the door.
At the threshold, he paused. Without turning back, he said:
"Take care, Your Grace. May the Seven protect you."
He pushed open the door and walked out.
A heavy silence filled the balcony. Aelyn held Jaehaera and watched Aegon. Aegon stood with his back to her, clutching the slip of paper in his palm.
He looked down, stole a glance at it, then looked up at the distant spire of the Starry Sept.
King's Landing spread out beneath his feet, intersecting streets, dense housing, crowds like ants.
He was the King, yet he felt he was worse off than those commoners. At least those ants weren't being eavesdropped upon.
His brother held all the power; was that not enough? To even arrange for people to monitor him in secret... His leg injury had healed long ago, a fact Aemond surely knew.
Queen Aelyn walked to his side. She said nothing, just stood there quietly. Aegon opened his hand. On the paper were only a few lines:
I hope Your Grace can endure the current humiliation; the Seven Kingdoms shall find light in the darkness. Both the Faith and the Citadel support Your Grace. We hope Your Grace will visit the Sept in King's Landing for a discussion
Aelyn's face changed as she finished reading.
"This is..." her voice was barely audible.
"They support you?"
Aegon II nodded. He crumpled the paper tightly.
"What do we do?" Queen Aelyn asked.
Aegon did not speak for a long time, staring at the cathedral spire.
Finally, he said, "I will give the note to Aemond."
Aelyn was bewildered.
"What?"
Aegon turned to her and whispered, "Give this to Aemond. We aren't getting involved in this."
"How can you be so resigned?" Aelyn asked softly, her eyes filled with anger, frustration, and disappointment.
Aegon sighed. "Aelyn, perhaps doing nothing is the right move. I know my brother. He wants to hold all the power. But as long as I am the King, he remains a Prince."
He paused. "We don't need to take this risk. Let him hoard the power; the worst that happens is I remain a puppet."
Aelyn's lips moved. "But... he is a kinslayer already. Jacaerys and his brothers..."
Aegon shook his head. "Jacaerys was our enemy. I am his blood brother. He would be a true fool to kill me."
He looked at his wife.
"Besides, we are brothers. I believe he wouldn't actually strike me down."
Queen Aelyn remained silent. She looked at Aegon, her husband, her King. A young man of only twenty, forced to comfort himself with the hope that his own brother wouldn't kill him. She felt a sudden, profound sadness.
"I think..." she said softly, "you should go and see them."
Aegon said nothing. Aelyn continued to whisper, "It is the Faith and the Citadel, after all. Let's meet them and hear what they have to say. If they truly intend to harm your brother Aemond, then we won't cooperate."
Aegon remained silent until Aelyn took his hand. He looked at her, seeing the pleading and the worry in her eyes. He sighed.
"Very well."
"The day after tomorrow is the Feast of the Father," Aelyn whispered.
"It is perfect. As King, no one will suspect you of going to the Sept."
Aegon nodded in agreement.
-----
A/N:
If you are enjoying the start of the story.
Drop some stones to help this book reach higher.
You can read upto 20+ Chapters. + Images
You can also read "+2 Free Chapters".
patreon/
LastDreamer