Chapter 56: Dragonzel in Thought
The chamber prepared by Lord Tarly for Dragonzel was not particularly large, but it was comfortable.
's room was directly next door, and the knights of House Tarly guarded the corridor throughout the night to prevent any young ladies from sneaking in and causing trouble.
Dragonzel opened the intelligence documents provided by House Tarly. After a brief scan, he discovered that they were not significantly different from the intelligence gathered by his own family—only far more detailed.
The core of the conflict between the Princess and the Queen still revolved around the issue of succession.
had formally confirmed the right of to inherit the Iron Throne and had required every lord in the realm to swear an oath to her.
When Dragonzel had traveled to , he too had sworn that same oath.
One line from the oath that the king required him to recite still remained vivid in his memory:
"I acknowledge the right of Princess Rhaenyra of Dragonstone to inherit the Iron Throne, and I shall offer my loyalty to her as my queen in the future."
After the oath was recited, King Viserys publicly declared that Prince Jacaerys and Prince would serve as squires to Dragonzel and his brother.
Dragonzel could still clearly remember the expressions of the nobles present when he and Valarr finished reciting their oaths.
looked solemn.
Lord Jasper Wylde and Ser remained expressionless.
Lord Lyman Beesbury smiled and applauded enthusiastically.
Ser Tyland Lannister's expression changed repeatedly.
pressed her lips together as though she wished to speak, but ultimately remained silent.
buried his head in the gifts before him and did not look up.
Meanwhile, maintained a cold, unwavering expression. Dragonzel could sense deep ambition and indifference hidden within that child.
To outsiders, the two princes serving as squires was effectively the same as becoming hostages.
Many believed this to be Princess Rhaenyra's attempt to secure Dragonzel's support.
Dragonzel naturally understood the reasoning.
But as long as Viserys still lived, the question of succession had not yet exploded. There was still room for maneuver.
What made Lord Tarly's intelligence truly valuable was the detail. Through the careful listing of political relationships, Dragonzel could clearly see the complexity of the situation.
King Viserys's decision effectively challenged the traditional Andal inheritance customs of Westeros.
Many vassals who swore loyalty to the princess did not truly accept that oath in their hearts.
They questioned the parentage of the three dark-haired princes.
And through that doubt, they also questioned the princess's authority.
Although all three princes possessed dragons, rumors continued to spread quietly in the shadows.
Within the Reach, House Hightower openly leaned toward supporting Aegon the Elder's claim over Princess Rhaenyra.
House Tyrell remained neutral.
However, under the immense influence of House Hightower, many lords of the Reach quietly supported the same view—especially Lord Unwin Peake of House Peake.
This powerful lord, who controlled three castles and whose lands stretched across both the Reach and the Dornish Marches, had even publicly declared:
"How can a woman rule men?"
The were much the same.
Lord Borros Baratheon was opportunistic and cared little for sworn oaths.
Dragonzel still remembered how Borros had written to him after House Tarth transferred allegiance, demanding compensation for "the loss of Stormlands vassals."
His demand was simple.
Dragonzel or Valarr should marry one of his daughters and reside permanently at .
Dragonzel had naturally refused.
Such attitudes among the great lords of the realm ensured endless political undercurrents.
As for Princess Rhaenyra, Dragonzel truly did not know what to say about her choices.
He could not understand why had not warned her that leaving the political center of King's Landing had been a disastrous decision.
He had already learned from Jacaerys why Rhaenyra's family left the capital and what misfortunes followed afterward.
"A foolish princess," Dragonzel muttered after finishing the report.
"Does she believe an oath alone will allow her to sit securely on the throne after the king's death?"
"She has dragons. The queen's children also have dragons."
"Does she think I will automatically ride into battle for her?"
Dragonzel sat cross-legged on the bed while absentmindedly rubbing the silk bedsheets.
It was an old habit of his when thinking.
He always liked to rub something—a sword hilt, a bedsheet, a chair armrest—anything within reach.
After so many years, he had long since given up trying to change it.
"But the fact that she sent Jacaerys and Lucerys to my side shows that she understands the impact our arrival has on the situation."
Dragonzel continued speaking softly to himself.
"But if Jacaerys acted first and informed her afterward, then it means his judgment surpasses that of his mother."
"He is the one who truly realized the princess's fatal weakness."
Dragonzel leaned back onto the bed.
His mind continued racing.
Lord Tarly's intelligence mentioned something else interesting: the ambitions of .
Unlike Dragonzel's own intelligence network, Tarly's information suggested that Corlys had never abandoned his ambitions.
He supported the princess.
But the deeper reason was simple.
The three princes were officially Velaryons.
Jacaerys and Lucerys were betrothed to the true Valyrian bloodlines of Baela and Rhaena Targaryen.
As long as the Iron Throne passed peacefully through that line, the immense prestige of Valyrian blood would continue to dominate the realm.
Dragonzel pulled the quilt over himself.
"From that perspective, Corlys actually supports male succession at heart."
"It is simply that Rhaenyra's victory benefits him more."
Dragonzel looked up at the mural painted across the ceiling and smiled faintly.
No wonder House Tarly had carefully chosen this chamber.
The ceiling painting depicted rather intimate scenes between men and women.
Dragonzel had seen similar things long ago.
The openness of Volantis had exposed him to such imagery at a very young age.
His father had even occasionally made casual remarks while examining similar murals in their own palace.
He quickly dismissed the distraction and returned to his thoughts.
"House Hightower bringing Prince Daeron to Highgarden…"
"I assume the first purpose is to win the prince's favor."
"And secondly to strengthen their relationship—especially with Ser Monde about to become my brother-in-law."
Dragonzel sighed quietly.
Such arrangements were simply the price of power.
Although House Tarly was not among the greatest houses of the Reach, it was one of the most powerful among the marcher lords.
By securing House Tarly's loyalty, Dragonzel had effectively gained control over more than half of the Dornish Marches.
And with it, a formidable army.
Viserys was still alive.
The royal factions had not yet openly broken apart.
Dragonzel swallowed the curses he wanted to speak aloud.
Was Viserys planning to make him a mediator between the factions?
The thought irritated him.
Still, the king had permitted the princes to serve as squires and had supported the marriage alliances Dragonzel was arranging.
Sooner or later, a Targaryen princess would marry into his house—or into that of his brother.
Whether she came from Rhaenyra's faction or Alicent's.
Once that happened, neutrality would no longer be possible.
Especially when the realm already believed Dragonzel belonged firmly to Rhaenyra's camp.
Still, Rhaenyra's victory would bring certain advantages.
If a woman successfully inherited the throne, the status of female inheritance throughout Westeros would inevitably rise.
And with it, the possibility of matrilineal succession.
Dragonzel sighed.
No need to think that far ahead.
For now, the priorities were simple.
Investigate the situation throughout Westeros.
Find allies.
And complete the conquest of Dorne.
"And then there is Oldtown…"
Dragonzel suddenly remembered something important.
"If House Hightower has sent Monde to Highgarden, then there must be a reason they do not want me traveling to Oldtown."
"The only reason someone has no reason to visit a place… is that something is being hidden there."
"The Faith?"
"Or the Citadel?"
Dragonzel's eyes widened.
"The Citadel."
He suddenly realized something he had overlooked.
His scholars—Maester Viserys and Evans—had left the Citadel long ago and served exclusively under his family.
But what would happen after Maester Viserys died?
As his lands expanded and more castles were built, new maesters would inevitably be assigned to his holdings.
But to whom would they truly be loyal?
Connecting that thought with Lord Tarly's choice to use literate household knights rather than maesters to deliver intelligence…
Dragonzel felt he had found the answer.
"Perhaps the Citadel is not as harmless as it appears."
His use of magic would eventually become known throughout the realm.
And the Citadel…
Dragonzel remembered the words Maester Viserys had once spoken:
"The Citadel fears magic. The Citadel hates magic."
Viserys himself had not returned to Oldtown for decades after leaving.
Even though he had many students.
That alone revealed how complicated his feelings toward the Citadel truly were.
Dragonzel frowned.
Should he cultivate new scholars personally?
Perhaps using the Wine of Contract?
No.
That magic was slow, exhausting, and temporary.
What about the ritual used on Friar Corlen—now Bishop Ke'erlun?
No.
That spell created a direct connection between Dragonzel and the target.
It required fanatical devotion.
Without Corlen's absolute faith in the Seven, the ritual would never have succeeded.
If Corlen had possessed no faith at all, things would have been far easier.
In the end, there was only one option.
Dragonzel would have to cultivate his own scholars.
"Monde Hightower," Dragonzel murmured.
"I hope you can offer a price that satisfies me."
He lifted one hand and made a slow grasping motion in the air.
Suddenly—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Soft knocking sounded on the door.
Dragonzel frowned.
From the familiar aura outside, he immediately recognized the visitor.
It was Jacaerys.
"Come in."
The same moon shone over the towers of Dragon Nest City.
Valarr led a guest down a long spiral staircase into a storeroom.
"Lord Cafferen, inside are the spoils taken from the previous wars."
Valarr set his torch into a wall bracket and pushed open the heavy wooden door.
Earlier that evening, he had accepted the fealty of Lord Randal Cafferen of Fawnton on behalf of Dragonzel.
Lord Randal had immediately requested to see the spoils captured from House Weel.
Valarr had agreed.
Only during dinner had he learned the reason.
The Cafferen family carried a blood feud against House Weel.
In the twelfth year after Aegon's Conquest, Ser Jon Cafferen—the heir of Fawnton—had been ambushed by Lord Weel during his own wedding feast.
Most of the guests were slaughtered.
Ser Jon had been brutally castrated.
His bride had been abducted.
The Cafferen family had carved the story into the walls of their castle.
Today, they could finally erase that humiliation.
Lord Randal immediately recognized the skull of Waylan Weel.
The head had been pickled and stripped of flesh, leaving only the skull.
"We would recognize that Weel bastard even if he turned to ashes," Randal said through clenched teeth as he picked it up.
"Your Highness, I ask permission to take this head."
"The Cafferen family will pay any price."
Valarr considered what his brother might say.
"You have already sworn loyalty to House Varezes."
"That is payment enough."
"Your Highness," Randal said quietly while staring at the skull.
"The Cafferen family will forever draw its bow for House Varezes."
"It is a pity the Weel bastards burned to ashes."
"They died too easily."
Valarr hesitated.
"You intend to…"
"I will make it into a chamber pot."
Randal's voice was cold.
"It is time for the Weel bastard to pay his debt."
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