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"Damn that Sea Burner—thinks he can boss us around just because he's got a little talent! Who the hell does he think we are?"
On the flight back to Dragonstone, Hugh Hammer was still fuming over what had just happened.
It wasn't really Logar's questioning that pissed him off—it was the fact that, for a split second, he had actually felt intimidated.
That realization made his mood even worse.
He had tamed Vermithor, the Bronze Fury, yet he still couldn't measure up to the Sea Burner?
"Hahaha, you're absolutely right. I can't stand that guy either," Ulf the White called out, catching up on Silverwing. "If those Stepstones weren't his turf, I would've backed you up back there."
"Hmph." Hugh knew exactly what kind of spineless drunkard his so-called ally was and didn't bother replying.
Ulf kept talking anyway. "Still… Prince Jacaerys dying is a real pain in the ass. You think Queen Rhaenyra will punish us and take back all the rewards she gave us?"
"Punish us? Fuck that," Hugh snarled. "The Greens still hold King's Landing. The Blacks aren't guaranteed to win this war.
We've got dragons now. We can go anywhere we want. Why the hell should we keep kissing that Black queen's ass?"
"Hahaha, you're reading my mind!" Ulf laughed. "I've been thinking the exact same thing. Bottom line: whoever sits the Iron Throne—Black or Green—is going to need us dragonriders. They'll have to suck up to us.
They used to look down on us bastards. Now they treat us like treasures. It's hilarious when you think about it!
But who cares? We can just play both sides. Whichever one offers the better deal gets our dragons."
Hugh didn't fully agree with Ulf's plan.
He stroked Vermithor's bronze scales, a far bigger ambition burning in his chest.
If the Blacks and Greens were fighting over the right to be king… why couldn't the Iron Throne belong to him?
Everyone on Dragonstone said the only reason he had tamed Vermithor was because he looked like old King Jaehaerys.
If that was true, then why couldn't he use Jaehaerys's own dragon to claim the crown and rule the entire Targaryen realm?
Besides, when they had watched Jacaerys get mortally wounded, both men had felt a twisted thrill beneath their shock.
Deep down, they knew the prince and the queen only respected them because of their dragons. Behind closed doors, they still saw them as lowborn trash.
Watching the proud prince die had actually satisfied something ugly inside them.
Who told that high-and-mighty prince to treat the Sea Burner like a brother while looking down on them?
...
After Hugh and Ulf flew off, Addam approached Logar with a heavy heart.
"The Triarchy fleet has retreated. I have to bring Prince Jacaerys's body back to Dragonstone and deliver it to Queen Rhaenyra myself."
Logar nodded silently.
Rhaenyra probably never imagined things would turn out like this. After the Sowing of the Seeds, she had six dragons in the sky and thought victory was certain.
Yet the moment they were ready to storm King's Landing, her heir was dead.
She had already lost one son, Lucerys. Now Jacaerys was gone and Viserys was missing.
Maybe this was why, in the stories, she would later change so drastically and treat everyone around her with cruelty.
"We'll meet again on Dragonstone," Addam said.
Logar raised a hand in farewell. As a Black dragonrider he would answer any summons, but right now the Triarchy fleet had just been driven off and the Stepstones needed his attention.
Besides, he hadn't forgotten Jacaerys's dying wish.
He couldn't imagine how devastated Baela would be when she saw her brother's body. He had to do something about it.
"You're really going to honor Prince Jacaerys's last request and search for Prince Viserys?" Nettles asked softly, walking up beside him once Addam had flown away.
"Yes." Logar's answer was firm. "Not just for Jacaerys—for Baela too.
She's already lost one brother and one little brother. She can't lose another."
Hearing the protectiveness in his voice when he spoke of Baela, Nettles's eyes dimmed for a brief moment. But she quickly recovered and forced a bright smile. "I see. You really do care about Princess Baela."
Logar didn't explain.
Taming the Cannibal would have been impossible without Baela's help that day in the cave. And the fact that she had defied her mother's arranged marriage to be with him—back when he was still just a sellsword—proved how much she trusted him.
They had faced death together. So right now, his first thought was how to keep her from breaking when she learned of Jacaerys's death.
"Fine. If Lord Sea Burner is determined to find Prince Viserys, then I'll go with you," Nettles said, her voice suddenly serious, as if she had just made up her mind about something important.
"Besides, the Blacks will probably pause all major operations after losing their heir. Queen Rhaenyra won't be summoning us anytime soon.
The road to find Prince Viserys could be long and dangerous—let me come with you."
"You want to come with me to search for Viserys?" Logar looked surprised, studying her earnest face. "He might have been captured and taken to Essos. That's enemy territory, and the people there hate Valyrian dragons with a passion. The journey will be extremely dangerous. Aren't you afraid?"
Nettles gave him a gentle smile. "As long as Lord Sea Burner is with me, I'm not afraid of anything."
Seeing the absolute certainty in her eyes, Logar was momentarily speechless.
Waves rolled in from the sea and crashed against the beach with a rhythmic roar. For the first time, the sound that had become so familiar suddenly felt different—deeper, almost meaningful.
Nettles stole a quick glance at him, then lowered her head and spoke softly.
"Actually… back when I was trying to tame Sheepstealer, it was your words that kept me going. You told me anyone could be the hero of their own life if they were brave enough to reach for it.
Every time I remember that moment, I still get scared thinking how close I came to giving up. I never imagined I would actually succeed. It still feels like a dream—until the moment I climbed onto Sheepstealer's back and finally woke up.
She looked up at him again, eyes sparkling with playful warmth. "That's when I realized… everything that happened was a miracle you brought me, Lord Sea Burner."