Chapter 146: Aegon's Kingsguard
The turmoil in King's Landing did not significantly affect the daily operations of Dragon Nest City. At least, Dragonzel quickly calmed down after learning about Meral Targaryen's Dragon egg hatching. He wasn't worried about any strange effects the hatching of that Dragon might cause. As long as Meral remained on Grey Gallows Island, even if that Dragon ultimately belonged to the Usurper's son, the Varezes Family could crush him as easily as an ant. What's more, Dragonzel was one hundred percent certain that the hatched hatchling had no relation to Meral, because the bloodline resonance method for Dragon egg hatching has significant limitations. From such a distance, the newborn hatchling could be completely confirmed as a pure wild Dragon.
Dragonzel was now more concerned with matters of his territory, King Aegon's Kingsguard selection, and the child in Diana's womb. He had made up his mind that after Aegon finished selecting the Kingsguard and Ago's wedding was over, they would tour a few major cities in their territory and inspect the Silver Blood Army manors in various places. Finally, they would make a trip to Oldtown, the Oldtown that had completely declined.
Dragon Nest City, Twin Towers, Aegon's room.
As King, Aegon enjoyed the largest room in the Twin Towers. This place was once Ray and Valarr's indoor training ground, spacious, bright, and with excellent lighting. Now, it was covered with expensive solid-wood flooring and Myrish carpets. On the walls hung the Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre, the Targaryen Family's black-and-red three-headed Dragon banner, maps of Westeros and the known world, and seven tapestries depicting history. The fire in the fireplace burned brightly, bringing warmth to the room, and a bookshelf stood by the comfortable velvet bed, allowing the young King to read anytime, anywhere.
There was also a dedicated bathroom inside this room; of course, hot water was prepared by servants. Before coming to Dragon Nest City, Aegon and Viserys had no habit of bathing, but after arriving at Dragon Nest City, both teenagers developed the daily habit of taking a hot bath. After all, taking a bath after training or taming a Dragon was a very comfortable thing, especially since they didn't have to travel far to the hot springs at the base of Laurel Leaf Tower. For the young King brothers, it was incredibly comfortable.
Aegon emerged from the bathroom in a loose wool bathrobe, wringing out his silver hair. He walked to the bed and threw himself onto it, relieving the day's fatigue.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
The young King hurriedly sat up and tidied his clothes.
"Come in."
Aegon was very curious who it could be. Dragonzel rarely interfered with his daily life. Ray had become more fond of the great library in Laurel Leaf Tower after Lucerys's death. Only Valarr would come to him when he had nothing to do, but lately, he had been quite miserable under Leira's care, with most of his energy devoted to his daughter Daniela.
The thought of Daniela made Aegon feel a bit regretful. He had originally thought Daniela would marry Viserys, but Dragonzel and Valarr's final decision was for Lingor to marry Daniela, with the wedding to take place after Daniela's first flowering.
The one who opened the door was Dragonzel's attendant, and his newly appointed Bloodsworn Brother, Reville Highton. Although he was often reprimanded by Aslan on the training ground, everyone knew that Reville's martial prowess was very strong, just not as abnormal as Aslan's and Hofa's.
"Your Majesty, His Highness informs you that Ser Steffon and Ser Erryk have arrived in Dragon Nest City. The Kingsguard tournament can begin tomorrow morning."
"The two Sers have arrived?"
Aegon hurriedly stood up.
Reville nodded and stepped aside.
The moment the two Knights in white cloaks and white armor saw the young King, they both knelt on one knee.
Ser Steffon Darklyn had aged a lot. His head was bald, and his beard had turned white.
Ser Erryk Cargyll, who had lost his twin brother, had, however, pulled himself together. He was now a rare master swordsman in the Realm and no longer had to worry about people mistaking him for his brother.
Ha! What a joke from the Seven Hells.
Erryk had grown a long beard, his reddish-brown whiskers hanging down to his chest, and his long hair was tied in a knot at the back of his head. People in the Red Keep said that Erryk was commemorating his brother who disappeared in the war. Although Arryk betrayed the legitimate King, he was still a respected White Sword—after all, some still considered Aegon II and Rhaenyra to be the legitimate rulers of that mad year.
"Your Majesty."
Ser Steffon Darklyn stood up.
"It is our greatest honor to see you grow so vigorously."
The aged Lord Commander looked happily at the King, who had grown much taller and matured considerably.
"We bring news from King's Landing."
Steffon motioned for Erryk to speak.
As the only two remaining Kingsguard from the Dance of the Dragons, Ser Steffon Darklyn realized he might not live much longer, while Erryk, not yet forty, was not only an excellent swordsman but also loyal and honorable, valuing his vows.
In fact, to this day, Erryk still considered himself fortunate that he didn't have to face his brother directly. He still didn't know what would have happened if he had drawn his sword against his twin brother in the war.
Therefore, with his knightly virtues, he was the best candidate for Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
Steffon hoped to use this opportunity to allow Erryk to make a stronger impression on the King.
Aegon nodded, his pale violet eyes looking at Ser Erryk.
"Ser, please speak."
Erryk looked up and slowly recounted to the King everything that had happened in King's Landing during this period.
The recovered treasury gold, the Westerlands reparations, and House Hightower's coffers had refilled the treasury. At the same time, Dalton Greyjoy's tribute further enriched it.
Daemon took the opportunity to begin large-scale construction.
The Jacaerys Grand Cathedral broke ground on Visenya's Hill, and new roads slowly began to spread out from the three hills as their core. Wildly growing neighborhoods were redivided by newly planned streets.
Daemon swore to make his title of "Prince of Flea Bottom," which he acquired in his youth, a thing of the past, though this was unlikely.
And two Dragons had hatched.
The Targaryen Family had new hatchlings, though one of them, in Daemon's view, belonged to Meral Targaryen.
But this also proved that Targaryen Dragon blood still boiled.
"I see."
Aegon didn't find it strange.
After all, the Varezes Family had also hatched several Dragons in the past two years, and even Viserys's Dragon egg, which had shown no signs of life for so long, had finally hatched. Though the hatchling was somewhat amusing, it had hatched nonetheless.
Seeing that Aegon could remain calm even with such joyous news, Ser Steffon was even more pleased.
The aged man secretly thanked the Father for blessing the Targaryen dynasty with two wise rulers and silently prayed to the Mother and the Crone that Aegon would live as long as King Jaehaerys I.
It was Aegon, however, who couldn't help but feel a little awkward seeing the Kingsguard Lord Commander suddenly tearing up.
He could only comfort the aged knight, signaling with his eyes for Ser Erryk to take Steffon back to his room to rest.
Only then did he send off the inexplicably emotional old knight.
The Kingsguard tournament on the second day was actually quite "gentle."
Aegon refused to include mounted combat in the competition; everyone fought on foot.
After all, three of the candidate knights possessed Valyrian steel swords and were themselves outstanding swordsmen, which was enough to reserve their final spots.
Some did come forward to challenge these three knights.
A sellsword tried to challenge the aged Ser Tyr Templeton, but the former Knight of Ninestars, wielding Star Mirror, severed his weapon with a single sword stroke. If the old knight hadn't held back, it would likely have been the sellsword's arm that was severed.
To be honest, quite a few people tried to bully Tyr Templeton because of his age, but every single one of them was defeated miserably.
Ser Cole Derry had his weapon severed.
Ser Dickon Baratheon was nearly cut in half.
Ser Rickard Florent didn't even last one round before the old knight first severed his weapon and then kicked him aside.
In the end, it was two young knights from the Vale, Galon Belmore and Will Hunter, who couldn't bear to watch any longer and voluntarily helped the old knight deal with a few opponents.
The battle lasted a full day, from sunrise to dusk, and in the end, only eight knights remained in the arena:
William Royce,
Brandon Tarly,
Tyr Templeton,
Will Hunter of Longbow Hall,
William Blackwood of Raventree Hall,
Adrian Redfort of Redfort,
Harrold Darke of Duskendale,
and Gailyn Dayne of Dorne.
King Aegon called a halt to the contest, as Ser Steffon Darklyn and Ser Tyr Templeton were both over sixty years old, and no one could guarantee when the Stranger would claim these two old men.
So the young King, impressed by the martial prowess of these knights, decisively chose:
"I want them all."
Including all eight remaining knights on the Kingsguard roster.
However, the young Will Hunter and Gailyn Dayne would temporarily serve as squires to Ser Steffon Darklyn, awaiting openings in the Kingsguard.
Ray was still in the library. He was recently engrossed in the family's collection of books on Dragon husbandry.
When Dragonzel learned of Ray's intentions, he gladly dispatched a silver-haired assistant scholar, Haggen, to assist him.
His background was quite interesting.
Haggen was the grandson of Cleorius's bastard brother.
Yes, besides the three Dragonzel brothers, the Varezes Family also had many silver-haired collateral relatives and bastard descendants.
Dragonzel had integrated them when he was in Volantis.
Some of these people remained in Volantis permanently.
Some loyal and reliable ones became the backbone of the Silver Blood Army.
A few became important assets to the family.
The studious Haggen was one of them.
He was now Scholar Evans's apprentice, learning knowledge from him.
Only Dragonzel and Valarr watched the entire tournament with little interest.
Just as the sun was gradually setting, Dragonzel suddenly looked up to the south.
He sensed a scorching magical presence surging from the south, a very familiar aura.
"A red priestess?"
Dragonzel frowned.
"No, although it's the scent of R'hllor, it isn't so pure. Who could it be?"
Dragonzel muttered to himself in a voice no one else could hear.
Lace Town.
The large ship Maiden of Merriment from Lys slowly sailed into the harbor under the guidance of tugboats.
Governor Lisandro Rogare of Lys looked at the brightly lit, bustling city before him with a worried expression.
He had received news on the way that Dalton Greyjoy's Iron Fleet had defeated Lys's fleet.
The Ironborn had captured a subsidiary town of Lys, plundering it clean, and now the massive Iron Fleet could strike Lys itself at any moment.
This made Lisandro very distressed.
Just then, a dangerously beautiful woman emerged from the ship's cabin.
On her heart-shaped face, her red eyes seemed to burn with an unquenchable flame, and her copper-colored hair cascaded to her waist.
She wore a red robe, yet it could not conceal her fine figure.
A golden necklace adorned with rubies swayed gently on her long, swan-like neck.
The woman closed her eyes and tilted her head back.
The ruby on her neck emitted a faint glow.
But Drazenko Rogare, standing beside her, looked at the woman with a horrified expression.
She seemed to be burning, radiating astonishing heat, but this heat was fleeting.
As she opened her red eyes, the heat lingering around her subsided.
"The land blessed by the Lord of Light and His chosen one... I have finally found it."
The Red Priestess bowed her head devoutly.
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