Today, it was brother beating brother.
Prince Daemon not only had a bruised face, but even his hair and clothes, soaked by Viserys's dragonflame wine, were not changed before he returned to the banquet hall with a face full of guilt.
However, everyone present pretended not to notice, maintaining their elegant movements and kind faces, chatting and laughing.
But the schadenfreude in their eyes could not be hidden.
"Daenerys, congratulations! To be able to gain an advantage in a fight with Glutton, that's truly remarkable!"
Daemon, who had always been unrestrained, naturally didn't care about others' opinions.
He directly pulled a chair over and sat next to Viserys, who was at the head of the table.
Then, rather smugly, he took out two Valyrian steel necklaces from his in my arms.
He said to Rhaenyra and Daenerys, "These are small gifts I brought back for you from Pentos. Princesses of House Targaryen should wear these Valyrian steel accessories!"
"Originally, I wanted to give them to you on your birthdays, but since such a big thing happened today, consider them an early gift to calm your nerves!"
Valyrian steel is a magical alloy forged by the Ancient Valyrians. The raw material for Valyrian steel is not some magical or rare substance; it's just ordinary steel.
Its magic lies in its special manufacturing process. During the smelting process, magic and spells are added, and Dragonflame assists in the forging, making the steel special, lighter, and tougher than ordinary steel.
It is precisely because the magic of Valyrian steel lies in its refining process that after the Doom of Valyria, due to the loss of Valyrian steel refining techniques, no one in the world can forge new steel.
Weapons made of Valyrian steel are lighter, harder, and sharper than the best tempered steel weapons forged in castles.
The surface of Valyrian steel shows a wavy pattern, similar to Damascus steel in the real world. Because the smelting technology has been lost, existing Valyrian steel has become extremely precious and rare.
There are probably a few thousand valyrian steel swords in existence today, about 300 of which are in Westeros. Most valyrian steel swords in Westeros are preserved in the hands of ancient noble families, and each has its own name and story.
As for tableware and ornaments played with by the wealthy, there are even more made of Valyrian steel.
As the only surviving Dragon-riding family from the Free Trade Cities of Ancient Valyria, House Targaryen possesses only two valyrian steel swords, Blackfyre and dark sister, as well as a Valyrian steel dagger and a ruby crown made of Valyrian steel.
Therefore, Daemon being able to present two Valyrian steel necklaces to Rhaenyra and Daenerys was indeed a rare and precious gift.
This finally brought a satisfied smile to Viserys's face, who had already given Daemon a good beating.
And he automatically made up an explanation for Daemon, saying,
"Were you frequently traveling between Dragonstone and the Free Trade Cities just to forge these two Valyrian necklaces?"
"But even so, it's not enough to atone for your sins! If the gods hadn't intervened today, with the help of two Dragons, who knows what the consequences would have been?"
"If you continue to be so unreliable in the future, I will personally break your restless dog legs."
Although Viserys was still speaking harshly, those familiar with him knew that his anger had completely dissipated.
Although Valyrian steel necklaces are precious, for most people present, they are merely rare.
Although not many people attended the banquet today, almost all of them were from great noble families, and almost all families had Valyrian steel weapons at their side.
House Celtigar of Crab Island, to which Ser Samwell Celtigar, the tax collector of White Sheep Town, belongs, not only possesses numerous Valyrian steel ornaments but also a Valyrian steel battle-axe.
Even Daenerys's two personal guards, Cameron of House Tarth from Tarth Island and Harold of Dalkin, have Valyrian weapons treasured in their homes, though they are not famous.
Even the families of Daenerys's four personal maidservants all had some Valyrian steel items.
And as House Velaryon, currently the wealthiest family in Westeros, their treasury contained a large number of Valyrian steel items.
A very small portion was brought over when they fled the Ancient Valyria City States, while the majority were continuously collected by Lord Corlys, the Sea Snake, during his nine great voyages.
Princess Rhaenys, as the mistress of House Valyrian, naturally frequented the House Velaryon treasury, so she merely glanced up casually before continuing to enjoy the delicious food in front of her.
Only her sister Rhaenyra showed extreme excitement. She directly rose from her seat and went to her uncle Daemon, happily saying,
"Thank you, Uncle Daemon!"
"Then please put it on for me yourself!"
Just as Daemon was putting the Valyrian necklace on Rhaenyra, Daenerys gestured with her eyes to her personal maid, Anne.
Anne immediately understood, rose, picked up a tray from a maid nearby, spread her silk handkerchief over it, and then elegantly carried the tray, walking gracefully to Daemon.
Daemon, who had just put the Valyrian necklace on Rhaenyra with a smiling face, instantly darkened. With one hand, he casually dropped the remaining one onto the tray Anne was holding.
When Anne returned to Daenerys's side with the tray holding the Valyrian necklace, Daenerys put down her knife and fork and said to her uncle Daemon with a smile.
"Thank you, Cousin Daemon!"
"This necklace is very unique, I like it very much!"
"Then I will reluctantly give Cousin Daemon a chance to make amends!"
Daenerys's words made everyone stop what they were doing and look at her curiously, wondering what she was going to do.
Daenerys continued unhurriedly,
"The King His Majesty left you at Dragonstone precisely hoping that your Giant Dragon Crackclaw, along with Dreamfire, would drive away Glutton and protect the three Dragons."
"But when the incident happened today, you just happened to be absent. Fortunately, the gods protected us, and the matter of Glutton was resolved satisfactorily! However, it's a pity that Cousin missed out and did not participate."
"So, to some extent, Cousin was derelict in his duty!"
"Therefore, I support your million gold Dragons, and you must repay them quickly. Because now Dragonstone no longer needs Caraxes's protection."
Upon hearing this, Daemon's face grew even darker, while the schadenfreude of those present grew even more intense.
"Of course, we can also do it another way!"
Daenerys's tone shifted as she continued to propose,
"To make up for your regret of not participating in this Dragon battle, I have a suggestion, or rather, I only need a promise from Cousin."
"Not only can we forget about the million gold Dragons, but all of Cousin's future expenses when he comes to Dragonstone can also be borne by me!"
Daemon's gloomy face improved slightly at this, but he still said coldly,
"Speak!"
Daenerys looked directly into Cousin Daemon's eyes. She said firmly,
"Daenerys only needs Cousin to promise me that in the future, he can unconditionally command a Giant Dragon to act for me five times."
Everyone thought Daenerys would propose some other condition, but it was just this?!
They all habitually thought Daenerys was asking Daemon to command Caraxes to deal with other Dragons with her.
Now the most ferocious wild Dragon on Dragonstone, Glutton, has been restrained. With Viserys's Vhagar and Daenerys's Dreamfire, where would Caraxes be needed?
Xiao Bellerion