Valyria.
On the training grounds of Dragonstone, the roars of Young Dragons and the sound of fire breathing rose and fell one after another. Viserys stood on a high platform, simultaneously directing multiple Young Dragons in tactical drills through a mental connection; this had now become a task he performed daily.
Daenerys and the other two girls were also here, accompanying Viserys as they trained their dragons.
Margaery sat under the pillars at the edge of the training ground, holding a manuscript about the habits of Valyrian dragons in her hands, yet she hadn't turned a single page. She now frequently helped the princesses, along with Missandei, to record the habits of the dragons during their growth.
Her gaze swept over the creatures in the field, which could now be described as massive, finally landing on Viserys. His Majesty the Dragonlord's silver hair fluttered, and his purple eyes appeared focused and majestic.
Since arriving here, she had witnessed the power of the Valyrian Empire expanding at an astonishing speed every day. At the same time, she realized more and more clearly how naive her previous plan of becoming the "Sole Queen" had been.
Just then, a light sound of footsteps came from behind. Margaery turned her head and saw Kinvara quietly walking to her side. The High Priestess of the Temple of the Red God was still wearing those dark red robes, but her blue eyes were no longer as calm as before.
"Priestess Kinvara." Margaery nodded slightly to her and closed the book in her hand. She knew Kinvara surely had something she wanted her to convey to Viserys; it had been like this lately, and she knew something must have happened between Kinvara and Viserys.
"Lady Margaery." Kinvara greeted her, then cast her gaze toward Viserys on the training ground, saying softly, "The flames gave me a new revelation last night."
Margaery's heart stirred.
Since that conversation on the terrace, she had been half-skeptical of the priestess's prophetic abilities, but she had never dismissed them. "I am listening."
Kinvara said slowly, "The dragon's talons patrol the waves; they shall bring back a gift for His Majesty—a lost young wolf, with the fire of revenge burning in her grey eyes."
Margaery frowned. "A young wolf? You mean..."
"Stark." Kinvara spoke the name in a very calm tone. "The young wolf of The North lost her way in the chaos, yet unexpectedly fell into the dragon's claws. She will soon arrive in Valyria."
Margaery, however, felt a wave of worry.
The news of Eddard Stark's beheading had long since reached Valyria, as had the news of The North raising troops and her father leading men to support Renly; all of this had come via the ravens trained by Marwyn.
Viserys had previously ordered them to send some of the ravens to Sunspear in Dorne, as well as Highgarden in The Reach and Runestone in The Vale, using each city-state as a relay station to transmit news to Valyria. Now, the time it took for Valyria to receive accurate news from Westeros was much faster than before.
If Kinvara's prophecy was true, then this "young wolf" was very likely the missing youngest daughter of House Stark, Arya Stark. She instinctively looked at Viserys; if this Dragonlord obtained the Stark daughter, regardless of the considerations, he would hold a very important card in any future game with The North.
"Do you think this prophecy is good or bad for His Majesty?" Margaery asked tentatively.
Kinvara turned her head, her blue eyes looking directly at her. "The flames only show fragments; they cannot judge good or bad. However, though the young wolf is small, her fangs have grown. The seeds of hatred buried in her heart might bite back at the one who captured her."
She paused and continued, "Furthermore, black tentacles emerged from the flames, reaching out from the deep sea, attempting to entwine the newborn dragon wings. That is the greedy Kraken, coveting power that should not belong to it."
"A Kraken?" Margaery immediately thought of House Greyjoy of the Iron Islands, whose sigil was a golden Kraken on a black field. Could it be that King Balon had also sent people, and they also wanted to obtain the Targaryen bloodline?
After saying this, Kinvara instructed her to relay the message to Viserys and said no more. She merely bowed slightly, took one last look at Viserys, and turned to leave. Her figure soon disappeared from Margaery's sight.
Margaery stood where she was, her thoughts racing. She had originally come to Valyria for the interests of her family, attempting to rely on her presence to secure a place for House Tyrell in the empire.
However, as time passed, Viserys's unfathomable shrewdness and methods, along with the women surrounding him and their complex relationships, made her initial plan seem very immature and thin.
In fact, she was overthinking it; Viserys was only like this because he knew the plot in advance.
Two weeks later, Salador personally brought Arya back to the Valyrian Peninsula.
Their ship sailed directly into the military port of the Valyrian Peninsula. This port had expanded a bit more since Salador's last visit, and many Imperial Navy warships were moored inside, the Three-headed dragon sigils on their sails fluttering in the sea breeze.
On the docks, the footsteps of the Unsullied soldiers on patrol were in perfect unison, making even these pirates, who were accustomed to the freedom of the sea, instinctively straighten their backs.
The former pirate lord had set aside his usual flamboyance, specifically changing into a relatively formal deep blue coat. Although he still wore several gemstone rings, his demeanor now carried a degree of deliberately maintained dignity.
He walked off the ship with his head held high, while several of his subordinates behind him were guarding a thin little girl.
Arya hadn't seen the sun for many days and was a bit unaccustomed to it when she first came out. Her hair was messy and there was dirt on her face, but after several days of mental preparation, the fear in her grey eyes had vanished, leaving only a look of alertness and tenacity.
She surveyed the dock before her; the black stone buildings were orderly, and the streets were so clean they didn't look like a pirate's den. What shocked her even more was that the soldiers patrolling the dock were strictly disciplined, their armor gleaming in the sunlight.
"This isn't a pirate's den?" she asked in a low voice.
"Of course not, my lady." Salladhor Saan heard her and turned around proudly to answer her question. "This is the Valyrian Empire, and I am the commander of the Imperial Navy Rapid Response Force, Sir Salladhor Saan—well, although the title hasn't been officially granted yet, it will be soon."
Arya's eyes widened instantly. "The Valyrian Empire? Who do you serve?"
"For the true dragon, of course." Salladhor bowed respectfully in the direction of Dragonstone. "For His Majesty Viserys Targaryen, the Dragonlord of Valyria."
Viserys Targaryen.
This name evoked memories in Arya's mind. She had heard her father say that the Targaryen family was the royal family before the Baratheons, overthrown by Robert, but now they were coming back, and they had dragons.
She was taken onto a carriage and driven along the Dragon Kings Road toward the castle, the carriage finally stopping at the foot of the mountain of Dragonstone.
After Arya was bathed and cleaned by the maids in the castle and changed into a new set of clothes, she was finally arranged to see Viserys. When she entered the Council Chamber, she was somewhat surprised.
This hall was simpler than she had imagined, not as luxurious as King's Landing, and more like Winterfell. Red and black banners embroidered with the three-headed dragon hung on the black stone walls, and below the banners hung two crossed swords.
At the end of the long table, a young man with silver hair and purple eyes sat at the head of the table. He was wearing black and red casual attire, and his face was very handsome.
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