Chapter 22: News Travels Fast
The small council chamber in the Red Keep was unusually quiet that morning.
King Jaehaerys sat at the head of the table, fingers steepled as he studied a scroll. The usual low murmur of discussion had faded into silence. Prince Aemon watched his father with quiet concern. Septon Barth stared down at his papers, unusually withdrawn. Lord Daemon Velaryon's gaze drifted toward the windows, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.
Jaehaerys finally broke the silence.
"Barth, my friend. Why so quiet today? Do you have news from the Citadel? Or any reports from Essos about that healer who went into Valyria?"
The question carried both curiosity and a thread of worry.
Prince Aemon glanced at his father, brow furrowed. He had heard the rumors that the Lyseni healer's medicines had already begun to change how some maesters treated certain ailments. The other council members stirred with interest, especially Daemon Velaryon. His son had sailed toward Valyria but turned back before the worst of the Smoking Sea. He had returned with riches… and would be home soon. Daemon remembered how the boy had once courted Princess Rhaenys at court. That interest had cooled, but Daemon suspected it had been replaced by something more ambitious.
Septon Barth cleared his throat and looked up, his expression grim.
"From what I can gather, Your Grace, he returned with three ships laden with goods. Books. Valyrian steel. Clumps of gold mixed with jewelry and other relics. But that is not the most interesting part." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "They have begun calling him the Sorcerer. Not only for what he did on the ship during the voyage, but because he gave the crew some kind of plant or mixture that allowed them to breathe in the Smoking Sea without being overcome."
Princess Rhaenys, serving as cupbearer, paused mid-pour. She let out a short, disbelieving snort.
"Magic. Really?"
Her father shot her a sharp look. Rhaenys lowered her eyes and continued pouring, though the corner of her mouth still twitched.
Septon Barth continued. "My informant was aboard during the expedition, as you requested, Your Grace. He saw many terrible things. Men infected by fire worms. Walking stonemen that behaved like the dead. And he swears the healer used real sorcery to protect them. I can bring the man in. He has already been checked thoroughly for greyscale and any other contagion."
Prince Aemon immediately gestured for his daughter to come stand beside him. He was taking no chances.
King Jaehaerys's face darkened. Memories of his granddaughter Aerea returned unbidden the horror of what had come back from Valyria with her. He raised a hand before the room could descend into anxious whispers.
"Enough. Calm yourselves." His voice was quiet but carried the full weight of command. The chamber fell silent. He turned to Septon Barth. "Bring the man in. He will stand at a distance. He will not approach anyone. And he will tell us everything."
Septon Barth bowed. "Yes, Your Grace."
A few minutes later, a healthy-looking man was ushered into the chamber. He stopped well short of the table and bowed deeply.
"I am Willem Harlaw, Your Grace. Prince. My lords."
King Jaehaerys nodded. "Speak."
Willem swallowed, then began.
"He gave us crude masks soaked in some herbal mixture. We had to change them every hour or the smoke would start burning our lungs. Ghost nettle, ashleaf, and saltroot, from what the more learned men among us could identify."
He reached carefully into his satchel watched closely by the Kingsguard and laid one of the masks on a side table.
"The first night was quiet. Then… something changed. We heard it outside. Something massive. The sorcerer warned us there was something watching us. Something big. I was on the main ship when it came. I saw him use a spell a great shimmering dome that wrapped around the whole ship. It protected us while we escaped into the fog. Without it, we would all be dead."
He fell silent, clearly still shaken by the memory.
King Jaehaerys leaned back in his chair, studying the man.
"From what you have said, this healer is most certainly a sorcerer. Young. Valyrian-blooded. And it seems very likely he went searching for a dragon egg."
He looked at his son. "I want to know more about this man. Why would anyone risk Valyria for a dragon egg when every tale says they have all turned to stone?"
Lord Daemon Velaryon spoke up, his voice thoughtful.
"He obviously went there to get one. It makes sense to think he may actually know how to bring them back."
Lord Lyman Beesbury, the Master of Coin, shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"If he truly returned with that much gold and Valyrian steel… the man is now dangerously wealthy. And if he has magic on top of it…"
Ser Ryam Redwyne, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, .
"A Valyrian sorcerer with a dragon and enough gold to buy half the Free Cities. That is not a man we can afford to ignore, Your Grace."
Princess Rhaenys glanced between the men, her earlier amusement gone. She said nothing, but her fingers tightened slightly around the wine pitcher.
King Jaehaerys remained silent for a long moment, staring at the mask on the table.
At last he spoke.
"Find out everything you can about this Vaelros. Where he is now. What he plans to do with that dragon egg. And whether he truly succeeded."
He looked around the table.
"Because if he did… the world just became a great deal more dangerous."