Chapter 131: Viserys: The Seven Are a Teasing Bastard
Above the Red Mountains, clouds rolled like waves, and a giant blue-horned dragon broke through the layers of clouds, flying forward with all its might as if escaping.
It was indeed escaping, because just as it pierced through the sea of clouds, another black lightning bolt shot towards Stormcloud, accompanied by pale white flames.
It was clear that the scrawny black dragon had held back its power; otherwise, that dragonfire just now would have definitely scorched Stormcloud.
Aegon let out a sigh of relief, looked at the sky, and thought today's practical training should be enough.
The young king began to pray in his heart that Ray wouldn't get carried away on his dragon and keep chasing him.
Just as Stormcloud also looked around nervously, Shadow Nightmare suddenly flew out from Stormcloud's side, making Aegon break out in a cold sweat.
If that had been a dragon fight just now, Shadow Nightmare could have easily used that opening to bite Stormcloud's neck.
"Alright, let's go home." Ray saw the panic on Aegon's face. "Dragon fighting requires long-term training.
You've only been practicing for a few days, so it's normal."
Aegon nodded, controlling Stormcloud to prepare to return to Dragon Nest Tower.
Just then, both dragons and their riders saw a dark green giant dragon take off from Dragon Nest Tower, flying towards a valley near the Red Mountains.
"Vermax is so punctual, going out at this time every day," Aegon exclaimed.
Shadow Nightmare slowed down, flying beside Stormcloud.
Ray let go of one hand and loudly replied, "Vermax is clever.
Ago's Dothraki khalasar's herds are grazing in the valley at this time, and that kid specifically releases a few sheep or horses for the dragon to enjoy."
"Ago." Aegon remembered the young barbarian who always went shirtless.
He was Dragonzel's Bloodsworn Brother and had previously been Dragonzel's personal guard.
When he first arrived at Dragon Nest Tower, he was rewarded with a large valley north of Summerhall for his khalasar, a settlement built across various valleys.
Unlike their nomadic kin in Essos, this tribe now, like House Martell in the south, was responsible for breeding warhorses.
However, the difference was that Oberyn Martell was responsible for breeding sand steeds, while Ago was responsible for crossbred horses that were taller and more robust, combining the advantages of Stormlands warhorses, Riverlands horses, Marcher mountain warhorses, and Volantene tiger-striped horses.
These were also the main mounts of the Silver Blood Army cavalry.
After Dragonzel's and Valarr's nameday, Dragonzel would also go to the settlement to preside over Ago's wedding.
He was marrying a silver-haired woman, one of the Valyrian-blooded immigrants brought by Dragonzel, a former wild dragonrider.
"I remember now. By the way, Uncle Ray, after the nameday feast, can we go to Ago's wedding together?" Aegon asked.
Ray thought for a moment. "It is Ago's honor for the King to personally attend his wedding.
However, although Ago and his people no longer have much connection with the Dothraki, they still follow many Dothraki customs, so Your Majesty must respect their traditions."
"Of course, I'm also very curious about Dothraki wedding customs." Aegon smiled happily.
As they spoke, the two giant dragons landed in Dragon Nest Tower, one after the other.
Dragonzel, with Hofa, was smiling as he watched them dismount from their dragons and systematically clean their giant dragons with the help of the Silver Guards.
Lingor and Samantha had already been taken back to rest by Diana; after all, they were still too young.
However, Viserys, in a hurry, ran down the frighteningly long stone steps again, returning to Dragon Nest Tower.
"Uncle Dragonzel, have you seen Vermax?"
Dragonzel looked at Viserys in surprise.
Had this child finally realized it?
When Rhaenyra's Dawn successfully hatched, Viserys was in a state of despondency.
For a long time afterward, Viserys would sleep holding his dragon egg in the greenhouse.
But it still didn't hatch, to the point where Viserys had lost confidence in his dragon egg.
It seemed this child had realized that besides hatching his own dragon egg, there was also the path of taming dragons.
However, taming a non-bonded dragon carried risks.
How should the Varezes Family act when their own children faced similar problems in the future?
This was also an important issue for Dragonzel to solve with a strategy that was as foolproof as possible.
"Vermax has flown out and won't be back until around dusk," Dragonzel looked at the sky outside and replied. "Do you want to tame Vermax?"
Viserys nodded.
"Yes, my dragon egg hasn't hatched for a long time, and I think I can try my elder brother's dragon."
"When Vermax returns, I'll take you to tame the dragon." Dragonzel thought it was worth a try.
When he and Valarr first tamed dragons, they had no experience at all, relying solely on brute force and magic to subdue Vermithor and Silverwing.
Thinking about it now, it was quite terrifying.
However, if there had been a dragonrider nearby at that time, the outcome might have been very different.
Well, he could try it on Viserys first.
If it worked well, and if any dragon eggs at home hatched early, then the children could follow the same method when taming dragons later.
Viserys bowed gratefully.
Meanwhile, Aegon and Ray, shirtless and carrying dirty clothes, emerged from their respective dragon lairs.
Dragonzel smiled and went to meet them.
"Hurry up and put on your clothes. Don't get sick."
Ray nodded, quickly changing into fresh silk clothes with Aegon.
"Viserys?" Aegon looked at the excited Viserys with some suspicion.
He remembered Viserys didn't have that expression when he took off, did he?
But it didn't matter.
After practicing dragonriding for so long, Aegon just wanted to take a good hot spring bath, eat something delicious, and get a good night's sleep.
Viserys exchanged a glance with Dragonzel and followed his brother.
They walked onto the elevator platform with the Silver Guards, leaving Ray watching Dragonzel and Hofa.
"How was it?" Dragonzel patiently helped his brother tie his clothes.
"Your Majesty is very talented." Ray straightened his collar. "His dragonriding skills have improved a lot."
Dragonzel hummed.
"And yours?"
Ray shrugged.
"Mine? Good enough will do.
Big Brother, there won't be any wars for a while, will there?"
"There won't be a war on the scale of the Dance of the Dragons," Dragonzel said, "but there are still some unstable places.
The Red Kraken has occupied Tyrosh, and his Iron Fleet is plundering Myr and Lys.
I'm sure these two city-states will come to Westeros to request mediation."
Dragonzel whistled, and Vermithor lazily poked his head out of his lair, allowing Dragonzel to lean against his head, stroking his scales and listening to the sounds within his body.
"The Red Kraken isn't full yet." Ray put on his outer coat.
"They won't retreat easily, Big Brother.
I'm worried that the Red Kraken will occupy the Stepstones.
The Ironborn are more bloodthirsty, amoral, and volatile than those pirates.
If we let them occupy the Stepstones, then not only the Narrow Sea shipping lanes but the entire Summer Sea trade routes will be affected.
Moreover, our family has businesses in Lys; we can't just let the Red Kraken affect our profits, can we?"
"Vermithor says he feels the surge of flames," Dragonzel suddenly changed the subject.
"It seems the magical springs in the Red Mountains are becoming active.
We might be welcoming new dragons."
"Big Brother, we're talking about serious matters." Ray quickly interrupted Dragonzel's sudden tangent.
Dragonzel, however, smiled and didn't refute him, instead explaining:
"Dalton's matter is not something for us to eagerly worry about.
The navies of Lys and Myr are stronger than Tyrosh's, and they also have enough territory to sustain a war.
At least they can hold on, and Dalton's Ironborn wouldn't dare clash head-on with the Silver Fleet.
We just need to wait and see."
Dragonzel continued:
"When the time is ripe, that's when we'll make our move."
"Time, ah, time." Ray smiled and shook his head.
"I understand, Big Brother. Let's first take care of our own affairs."
Dragonzel gently tapped Ray's head.
"You, you finally realized it, didn't you?
Right now, whether it's the Stepstones, Lys, Myr, or Dalton, none of them are particularly relevant to us for the time being.
Only when they truly come knocking and give us a proper reason can we solve the problem without any qualms."
The two brothers discussed the kingdom's situation for a while.
Overall, the post-war kingdom was still very stable, especially after winter arrived. Many nobles were busy trying to survive the potential long winter and had no energy for troublemaking.
Only a few places might be unstable.
Firstly, the Vale.
Lady Jeyne Arryn fell seriously ill last year, which caused ambitious individuals coveting her inheritance to stir.
Secondly, Dorne, specifically the Storm River Principality.
Problems had also arisen within House Dayne.
The nominal Prince of Storm River, King Albin Dayne, was inferior to Obara Sand, who actually ruled High Hermitage, in terms of ability, military strength, and political acumen.
If it weren't for the female knight's devotion to Dawn and swordsmanship, the lordship of High Hermitage would likely have belonged to Obara long ago rather than the young lord Quentyn Dayne.
The power struggle had created a rift between the siblings.
Undercurrents surged, and House Martell was not idle either.
Daolang Gargalen, Lord of Salt Shore, led his army to wipe out the last remnants of House Yronwood, completely burying that family in the deserts of Dorne.
However, he did not immediately disband his army but stationed them along the Sulfur River, constantly monitoring the situation in the Storm River Principality.
When the two brothers had discussed enough, Hofa slowly said:
"Your Highness, a message came from Prince Regent Daemon some time ago, saying he wants to select new Kingsguard for His Majesty.
What have you decided?"
Dragonzel certainly hadn't forgotten this matter.
"When will Ser Steffon Darklyn arrive?
I'm already prepared; I just need him to determine the final selection method."
"Ser Steffon's ship has already reached Tarth; he will change ships there to arrive at Lace Town," Hofa said.
"Calculating the time, it's at least another five days' journey."
Dragonzel thought for a moment.
"There's enough time, Hofa.
Go tell Sebastian to notify all candidates to prepare to assemble."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Just then, Grand Steward Ammor ran down the stairs with a strange expression, whispering a few unbelievable words into Dragonzel's ear.
Dragonzel's eyes widened instantly.
"What happened, Big Brother?" Ray looked strangely at the discomposed Dragonzel.
"The dragon eggs hatched," Dragonzel explained, then eagerly asked, "Which two dragon eggs?"
The Grand Steward replied:
"One is the dragon egg Prince Viserys brought, and the other is the blue dragon egg brought from the ruins."
Dragonzel took a deep breath.
"Take us to see."
Greenhouse, Dragon Nest Tower
Viserys stared blankly at his dragon egg, which had cracked open, not knowing where to put his hands, on the verge of tears.
By the Seven Gods, he had just made up his mind to tame his elder brother's dragon, and his own dragon egg hatched.
What kind of situation was this!
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