*
After receiving Prince Viserys's tacit approval, Daeron happily went to King Aegon with Aemon.
It went very smoothly. King Aegon did not object, merely watching Daeron and Aemon return to their respective guest rooms, arm in arm.
It wasn't until the two boys had left the room that Samantha, dressed in a light silk gown, walked over to King Aegon.
"You shouldn't have tacitly agreed, my dear." Samantha quietly looked at King Aegon: "In the Dragonpit of King's Landing, with the two of us guarding them, and Caraxes, whether they want to tame Syrax or Dreamfyre, we are confident we can protect them. But the wild dragons of Dragonstone..."
Samantha recalled the wild dragons on Dragonstone. "Seasmoke and Sheepstealer both have records of injuring people. Grey Ghost... I don't think they'll find Grey Ghost."
"My dear, I couldn't stop them either." King Aegon naturally understood this very well. "Aemon's failure to tame Caraxes was something neither of us expected. Rhaegar is also growing up, and the girls need dragons... More importantly, the Targaryen family needs dragons."
"I understand." Samantha calmly sat on the bed: "When we return to King's Landing, I will take them to Dragonstone."
King Aegon's hand, which was about to pour a cup of hot wine, suddenly paused.
"They need at least one dragon to guard them," Samantha explained. "Tyraxes isn't big enough. The wild dragons are all cunning and timid. They will fear Candlelight because Candlelight is big, strange, and strong enough. But if there's only Tyraxes, the children still won't be safe."
"I'll go too." King Aegon thought for a moment, then took a small sip of hot wine.
"You can't go." Samantha's answer was even faster than King Aegon's: "You are the King. Your battlefield is King's Landing. Besides, Stormcloud is also a large dragon."
Samantha analyzed carefully: "If Stormcloud, Candlelight, and Tyraxes are all present, according to the information sent back by the Dragon Guard of Dragonstone, Sheepstealer, that cunning dragon, will definitely avoid us. Seasmoke will also not choose to entangle with the three dragons. As for Grey Ghost, I believe it would have already hidden far away when our dragons took off from King's Landing and Tide Stone."
"Alright..." King Aegon thought for a moment; it was indeed true. He sincerely said, "Thank you for your hard work, Samantha."
Samantha nodded and slowly lay down on the bed.
Time passed quickly. As the royal family members left Dragon Nest City, the Borderland Principality returned to peace once more. When they left, Prince Aegon and Prince Aemon did not follow Viserys westward back to Oldtown, but instead followed the King and Queen's entourage north to King's Landing.
Tide Stone.
Candlelight quietly passed through the waves and clouds of Blackwater Bay, circling the clouds that enveloped Tide Stone.
Outside High Tide Castle, Tyraxes, residing in the High Tide Castle stables, suddenly lifted its head.
It smelled the scent of its own kind, not Seasmoke, who frequently visited Tide Stone, but another dragon.
Tyraxes stretched its neck, and its long dragon roar awakened the pristine white castle. The first to react was Adam, who was training with his children in the courtyard. Not long after he married into House Velaryon, he and his wife had a lively boy. Fortunately, this boy had the standard House Velaryon appearance, which also silenced the remaining coveters of House Velaryon.
Of course, it wasn't just because he had a child with the standard House Velaryon appearance, but also because of his and Elin's military achievements. In the Baratheon family's war to conquer the Stepstones, Adam and Elin performed exceptionally. Adam earned the nickname "Destroyer of Pirates," while Elin was known as "Oak Fist" for his daring act of leading his flagship to smash enemy ships.
After the frequent naval battles in the Stepstones, the Royal Fleet completely transformed into an experienced and battle-hardened army. Adam and Elin, holding important positions in the Royal Fleet, naturally gained many supporters.
This even included several collateral branches of House Velaryon. They wholeheartedly supported Adam and his children's right of inheritance, and of course, it wasn't just because of Adam's military achievements and abilities.
It was also due to a widely spread rumor.
Adam and Elin were the Serpent's bastards, though it was also possible they were Lord Joffrey's father, Ser Laenor's.
Surprisingly, Lord Joffrey did not intervene in the spread of this rumor, seemingly acquiescing to it. However, it was precisely because of Lord Joffrey's ambiguous attitude, and his dragon,
that people ultimately did not allow this "rumor" to fester.
Elin also married shortly after Adam's marriage.
It was none other than the daughter of Ser Hugh, the "Iron Hammer," his childhood playmate and Adam's.
The gradually aging Hugh no longer held positions in the Summerhall Blacksmiths' Guild and the City Guard. Instead, he drew his salary from Dragon Nest City and peacefully spent his twilight years in Summerhall.
"Tyraxes, what's wrong?" Adam asked in High Valyrian. He and his brother learned this language from their stepfather; although they didn't speak it perfectly and had a thick accent, they were quite fluent.
Adam actually knew about that rumor. He had asked his mother, but she hadn't answered him directly. After marrying his wife, he also asked Lord Joffrey, who was several years younger than him.
Joffrey also didn't answer him directly, but Adam knew that often, no answer was a form of tacit agreement.
Especially when he was with Tyraxes, and on those occasions when Seasmoke flew to Tide Stone, Adam could clearly feel the dragon's friendliness towards him.
From that time, he probably guessed the whole story, so Adam's affection for his young wife, who was even old enough to be his daughter, was well-known throughout Tide Stone.
His strictness with his son was also well-known.
Tyraxes stared at the sky, ignoring Adam. Adam immediately realized what was happening.
"Reg, go find your grandfather and tell him there's a strange dragon at Tide Stone." Adam motioned for his son, Reg Velaryon, to go find Joffrey, while he loudly summoned the High Tide Castle guards training in the drill ground.
"Archers, prepare! Scorpion crossbows, prepare!"
It seemed they were no strangers to dragon visits. The High Tide Castle guards moved very quickly; even as Adam was just gesturing, the archers and crossbowmen had already prepared their arrows, and the guards on duty on the city walls, having received the signal, began operating the scorpion crossbows.
Reg had only run a few steps when he stopped. The boy turned around and said somewhat helplessly, "Father, Grandfather is here."
Joffrey strode over to Tyraxes, stroked the purple dragon's body, and spoke.
"Adam, don't be impulsive." He motioned for the poised archers and crossbowmen to lower their weapons. "It's the Queen and Candlelight."
"What is the Queen doing at Tide Stone?"
Adam's attitude changed instantly. He had always been very respectful of the Varezes family, and upon hearing the phrase "the Queen," Adam visibly relaxed.
"Dragon taming."
Adam looked at his father-in-law somewhat strangely. Dragon taming? Taming what dragon? Doesn't the Queen have her own dragon?
"It's the three princes." Joffrey looked at the sky and said calmly, "Crown Prince and Prince Aegon, Prince Aemon plan to tame the wild dragons on Dragonstone. They need to confirm if Seasmoke is staying on Tide Stone."
"No, I can confirm that." Adam said decisively.
No sooner had he spoken than Candlelight pierced through the clouds and slowly descended into the courtyard of High Tide Castle.
Tyraxes watched Candlelight, who buffered its landing with its tentacles and slowly descended, couldn't help but take a deep breath, then turned its head and tightly hugged itself.
On Candlelight was a three-person dragon saddle. Samantha sat in the front, with Prince Daeron and Prince Aemon in the back.
The two princes were the first to climb down the gangway.
"Didn't Prince Aegon come?" Joffrey asked, puzzled.
Daeron was about to say something but was stopped by Aemon. "Uncle, my brother chose to select and tame a dragon in King's Landing. Father is accompanying him in dragon taming."
"Oh." Joffrey nodded. His attitude towards Prince Aegon was neither fond nor disliking. What he primarily disliked about Prince Aegon was his womanizing, but apart from that, Prince Aegon didn't have many flaws.
So Joffrey couldn't bring himself to dislike him.
But the optimistic, impulsive Daeron, and the steady, chivalrous, and courteous Aemon, made Joffrey praise the Seven from the bottom of his heart for giving his brothers such excellent children.
"Are you sure you want to tame Sheepstealer and Seasmoke?"
Daeron nodded: "I'm sure, Uncle. These two adult dragons, who should belong to the Targaryen, have been wild for too long. We need to bring them back to the dragon flock, and we also need to let people know."
"The Targaryen are also true dragons." Aemon took over Daeron's words: "We can also tame true dragons."
"Good." Joffrey clapped his hands: "These are good children of the family. Queen, you..."
"I will follow them." Samantha said calmly: "Joffrey, I also hope to invite you to come with us." "Good." Joffrey agreed without hesitation.
"Seasmoke is not on Tide Stone, Your Majesty." Adam said at the appropriate moment: "Its activity range is usually near the cliffs on the west side of Dragonstone, if it doesn't come to Tide Stone."
"Thank you, Adam." Samantha still remembered Adam, which pleasantly surprised the Governor of the Royal Fleet.
However, the surprise was short-lived.
The group had no intention of staying in High Tide Castle. After learning that Seasmoke was not on Tide Stone, the two dragons immediately took off for Dragonstone.
They were very lucky.
"Mother, is that Seasmoke?"
Daeron was the first to spot Seasmoke hunting stingrays on the sea. As the Prince discovered the magnificent beast, it almost simultaneously smelled the scent of its own kind.
"Roar!"
Seasmoke dropped the stingray it had just caught in its mouth and let out a deafening roar. Just as it was about to meet them, it realized that it was being met by two dragons.
Tyraxes descended from the sky. Under normal circumstances, to deal with a dragon much smaller than itself, Seasmoke wouldn't even need any extra movements; it could easily tear Tyraxes's wings.
But now it was different; facing it was Candlelight, who had already spread its tentacles.
Grey dragonfire left a long trail in the dark blue sky. Seasmoke dodged Candlelight's dragonfire but was severely struck by a tentacle.
Seasmoke was enraged. But it could only cautiously flap its wings a few times, quickly increasing the distance from Candlelight.
It also feared being entangled by Candlelight's tentacles.
However, Tyraxes above made it impossible for it to calmly deal with Candlelight. It could only roar with hatred and turn to fly towards Dragonstone.
Boom.
The dragon landed, and Tyraxes and Candlelight landed almost simultaneously. Daeron and Aemon didn't delay for a moment, sliding directly down Candlelight's back along its wings before it had even fully stopped.
"Seasmoke, we mean you no harm."
Samantha's High Valyrian was gentle, but everyone, even the dragons, could hear the coldness within the gentleness.
"Kin... leave or burn." Seasmoke roared, conveying a meaning only dragons, as fellow dragons, could understand.
But unfortunately, with Candlelight present, it was useless.
Candlelight roared back in response. Tyraxes leaned against Candlelight and also roared loudly, golden-red light flashing in the purple dragon's throat.
Although it didn't have the size of Candlelight and Seasmoke, with Candlelight present, it could also show off a bit.
"Seasmoke, calm down." Samantha continued. "You need a companion. True dragons need partners."
Daeron motioned for Aemon to try.
Aemon nodded, straightened his back, and walked over step by step. He looked at Seasmoke without fear.
Fire was already visible in the enraged Seasmoke's throat, and it had even breathed out a stream of dragonfire, but it seemed Seasmoke also knew that if this dragonfire truly hit Aemon, it wouldn't end well for it.
So this dragonfire ultimately did not harm Aemon.
"Seasmoke, look at me."
Aemon looked at Seasmoke and walked up step by step.
Seasmoke finally looked directly at this tiny human.
"Roar!"
Seasmoke let out another threatening roar.
But Aemon seemed not to hear it, continuing to walk towards Seasmoke.
Seasmoke ultimately did not breathe fire. It lowered its head slightly, looking at Aemon, who had already reached its side.
Aemon looked up at the silver-gray dragon, whose head was lowered.
"Seasmoke." Aemon said in High Valyrian: "Do you accept me?"
Seasmoke seemed to understand what Aemon was saying. It gave Aemon a cold look, then scanned Candlelight and Tyraxes, snorted, and slowly brought its massive dragon head closer to Aemon.
Hot air rushed over, but Aemon remained motionless.
He seemed to hear Seasmoke's response.
What virtue and ability do you possess to be my friend?
Aemon gazed into Seasmoke's eyes: "I am Aemon, Seasmoke. My dream is to become a true knight." He slowly extended his hand and placed it on Seasmoke's nose.
"Loyalty."
His hand slowly moved down Seasmoke's nose, then slowly moved backward. "Compassion."
Seasmoke did not move; its head slowly turned in the direction Aemon's hand moved.
"Humility, honor, spirituality."
Aemon grabbed the iron chain hanging from Seasmoke's dilapidated dragon saddle.
A normal dragon saddle is made from dragon bones, shed dragon scales, and the remains of deceased dragons, making it almost indestructible. However, House Velaryon of that era did not have such resources and could only settle for inferior materials.
Therefore, Seasmoke's dragon saddle was of poor quality, but it was still sufficient for riding.
"Justice, honesty, bravery."
Aemon grabbed the iron chain and leaped onto Seasmoke's back.
The dragon's eyes coldly watched Aemon. It did not struggle, nor did the light of dragonfire ignite in its throat.
Daeron and Joffrey simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. Only Samantha remained somewhat uneasy, pressing on Candlelight, ready to rescue Aemon at any moment.
"This is my answer to you, Seasmoke."
Aemon calmly closed his eyes.
Seasmoke gazed at Aemon, then slowly turned its dragon head and roared at Candlelight and Tyraxes.
Samantha finally smiled and released her hand from Candlelight.
After nearly forty years, the magnificent silver-gray beast rejoined the Targaryen family's dragon flock.
Seasmoke welcomed its second rider.
Aemon Targaryen.
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