The afternoon was bleeding into the soft gold of early evening by the time they stood within the cavernous maw of the Dragonpit. The air hung thick with the dust of reconstruction, and the rhythmic clang of hammers on stone echoed from a small distance away, a constant reminder of their last escapade.
A handful of guards, Ser Ryon among them, had accompanied them from the Red Keep and stood behind them. The two brothers were flanked by four grim-faced dragonkeepers, their expressions making it clear that another fiasco would not be tolerated. The wound was still fresh; the great hole in the dome's wall was barely halfway rebuilt, a jagged scar against the sky.
All of them waited as Dreamfyre was fitted with her saddle. While most only accommodated up to one person, the family did possess a few that were a larger model, one of the few designed for two riders, with high-backed seats and heavy leather straps.
After a short while, the great she-dragon, now properly saddled, crawled forward. She was a magnificent creature of pale blue and silver, and she stopped a dozen metres before them, her intelligent, sapphire eyes fixed on her rider.
Viserys, who had been fidgeting with excitement the entire time beside his brother, practically bounced on his feet. He paced towards her, his earlier nervousness at breakfast replaced by a confident swagger. As he neared her colossal form, he raised a hand. Dreamfyre lowered her long, elegant neck, allowing his fingers to brush against the scales of her face.
"Rytsas, Skoroso syt?" Viserys murmured in High Valyrian, his voice filled with affection. Hello, how are you? The dragon responded with a low, pleased rumble that vibrated through the stone floor.
Rhaegar watched the spectacle for a moment, then, seeing the others were preoccupied, discreetly gestured his knight aside. He spoke barely above a whisper, his voice lost in the vastness of the dome. "Are you sure of the location?"
Ser Ryon's reply was just as quiet. "Yes, my prince. As the map showed. You must head west of the city."
"How far?"
"You will find a large stone cliffside that resembles a ship's sail," Ryon explained, his voice low and steady. "It is quite distinct from its surroundings; you should be able to see it clearly even from the sky. It is an hour's walk from the city gates, so you will reach it much quicker on dragonback."
Rhaegar gave a single, sharp nod. Ryon watched him for a moment, his gaze unwavering, before he asked hesitantly, "Are you sure of this, my prince? Meeting with… such people?"
Rhaegar did not answer immediately. Because he was not. But he had no other choice other than to address the matter immediately lest it spiral out of his hands. So, after a few moments, he met his knight's gaze. "I am."
Just then, Viserys called out, his voice echoing. "Rhaegar! Come on!" He was already clambering up the dragon's side. "We'll lose the light!"
Rhaegar started towards the dragon but stopped after five paces. He turned back to his knight. His face gave nothing away, but his tone was suddenly solemn, stripped of all childishness. "If we do not return within two hours at most, Ryon. Find us." He felt the warning was necessary. He was dealing with uncharted territory here. Facing something he barely understood. Caution was necessary.
The knight, who always stood straight, seemed to grow straighter still. He understood the implication perfectly. And while he did not completely agree with the prince's decision, he answered still. "I will, my prince," he vowed.
Hearing that, Rhaegar turned and strode towards Dreamfyre. A dragonkeeper helped him up, steadying him as he climbed. "Kirimvose sōvī, ñuha dārilaros." Enjoy the ride, my prince, the keeper said in High Valyrian, a warm smile on his face.
Rhaegar looked down at the man, a faint, knowing smirk touching his lips. "Issa, se sagon." I am sure I will, he replied in the same tongue. Soon, he settled into the saddle behind Viserys, quickly fastening the leather straps and bracing himself. As Dreamfyre crawled towards the opening, he noticed the lack of a whip in his brother's hand.
"Where is your riding whip?" he asked quickly.
Viserys glanced back, confused for a moment. "Oh. Father doesn't let me or Rhaenys use one. Says it will limit our future growth as riders."
Rhaegar felt a flicker of unease at that. But he had no other option but to trust his brother. "Try not to kill us, will you," he said in only half-jest.
"We will be fine, brother!" Viserys assured him with a laugh.
Dreamfyre, by now, had brought herself into the open, the evening sky stretching before them. Rhaegar took a deep breath. "Let's go."
"Soves!" Viserys shouted, and the dragon took a running leap, her powerful wings catching the air. The ground fell away with breathtaking speed. And soon they were soaring high above King's Landing, the Red Keep looking small below, small stray clouds passing by them.
"What now?" Viserys yelled, his voice battling the roar of the wind.
"For now, circle the city and Blackwater Bay!" Rhaegar shouted back.
"But you said we were going somewhere!"
"We are! But we cannot leave immediately!"
"Why not?" Viserys yelled, his face a mask of confusion.
"Because it would draw suspicion, you fool!" Rhaegar retorted, his patience already wearing thin.
Viserys's face cleared with dawning realisation. "Okay!"
So, they circled over the city for several minutes, a blue dragon painting lazy arcs against the twilight sky. Finally, Rhaegar tapped his brother on the shoulder. "Let's go."
"Which way?" Viserys shouted, his excitement returning.
"Head west!"
That was all the prompting Viserys needed. He confidently yanked the reins, compelling Dreamfyre into a sudden, sharp turn that nearly sent Rhaegar's stomach into his boots.
The dragon banked hard and shot off in a new direction. Rhaegar, having just recovered his equilibrium, looked past his brother and realised their trajectory. He should have known. Viserys couldn't even find his way back from the kitchens without getting lost twice.
"That is north, you imbecile!" he roared in fury.
"What?" Viserys yelled back, baffled.
"We are heading north! We have to go west!"
"Which way is west, then?"
"To our left!"
Without warning, Viserys banked the dragon sharply to the left again. The world tilted violently, and Rhaegar's stomach plummeted once more. He clenched his teeth as a single, silent scream echoed in his mind. 'FUCKME.'
Down on the safe, solid ground of the Dragonpit, Ser Ryon watched the blue speck in the sky head north. For a moment, he thought the prince had forgotten his directions. He let out a sigh of relief as he saw the dragon correct its course, finally streaking towards the west.
Now steadily on path, they flew for fifteen minutes at a consistent pace, the fields and forests of the Crownlands a blur below. By Rhaegar's estimate, they had covered the distance that Ryon had mentioned. He scanned the landscape, and after a few minutes of Viserys circling the area at his command, he found it.
A sail-shaped rock cliffside, just as the knight had described. The evening sun caught its edge, making it glow. And more importantly, two small specks dotted the grassy plains atop it. They were in the right place.
"There," Rhaegar said, pointing. "Get us down on top of that hill."
Viserys nodded and aimed for the cliff. "Ninkiot," he commanded, and Dreamfyre descended. The landing was surprisingly smooth, the dragon coming to a halt on the slightly sloped ground, the scent of dry grass rising from the cliffside.
Rhaegar undid his straps and dismounted first. Viserys followed, patting Dreamfyre's neck in thanks. He turned, and it was only then that he noticed they were not alone.
Two figures were approaching them from afar. Both appeared to be female. And as they drew closer, Viserys could make out their strange attire. One was clad in robes of bright orange and pale yellow, her face covered in markings that seemed to resemble flickering flames.
But it was the other woman who truly unnerved him. She was adorned in robes of dark, blood-red, and even her hair was the colour of wine. She did not have any markings on her, but something about her did not put Viserys at ease.
"Rha... Rhaegar?" he stammered. Nervousness and building panic starting to take a hold of him.
Rhaegar turned to face his brother, and the expression on his face did not better anything that Viserys was feeling. Never had he seen his brother more serious and solemn than he currently looked.
Rhaegar held his brother's shoulders tightly, his gaze intense.
"Viserys. No one can know of what happens here. Not a word. To anyone. Nothing. Promise me."
Startled by his brother's seriousness and already unnerved by the approaching strangers, Viserys could only nod.
"Promise me," Rhaegar repeated, his grip tightening.
"I… I promise," Viserys finally said.
Rhaegar looked deep into his eyes for a few moments and nodded. He turned his face towards the approaching duo, his hand still resting on his brother's shoulder. He had seen his brother's creeping fear of them and tightened his grip on Viserys's shoulder.
"Trust me. Do not be afraid of them," he said, his voice low and firm. "Do not falter when they near us. Do not forget who you are."
A small moment passed. Rhaegar turned his head to look at his brother one last time. And this time, a smirk that Viserys recognized well played on his lips. "They may have striking robes and fancy markings on their face," he said. "But remember," he pointed behind them with his thumb. "You have a dragon at your back."
Something in Viserys shifted. The words seemed to work as his posture straightened, and a flicker of his pride ignited in his eyes.
The two women were only a few dozen metres away when Dreamfyre, who had been calm until now, suddenly whipped her head towards them. She rose to her full height, a deep, angry rumble leaving her throat as she began to crawl towards the strangers, her light blue scales glinting menacingly.
Rhaegar felt a prickle on his skin. It was their magic. The dragon could sense it, a foreign, intrusive power that it recognized as a threat. The two women staggered back, their composure broken.
"Lykiri! Lykiri! Dreamfyre, lykiri!" Viserys commanded urgently.
The dragon eventually obeyed, backing away and settling down, though her eyes remained fixed on the women. They, in turn, seemed hesitant to approach any closer.
So it was Rhaegar who took a few steps forward. "Forgive us," he said, his tone flat but respectful. "Our dragons are ever temperamental, I am afraid. They are not fond of strangers."
The two recovered quickly. It was the red-haired woman who spoke first, her voice and smile almost too sweet. A practiced, political sweetness. "No apologies are necessary, my prince. It is we who must apologize for startling your magnificent beast." She gave a low, graceful bow. "I am Lyssaria, and this is Aeryna. We come from the temple of the Great Red God in Volantis. It is our honour to make the acquaintance of the sons of the dragon."
She rose, that same cloying smile fixed on her face. Viserys was utterly lost, staring blankly at the bizarre scene unfolding before him.
Rhaegar met her false smile and offered a deceptively sweet one of his own. All the while, he scoffed in his head.
'Ha, "Lyssaria".'