Dragon's flame

Aelyx POV

Volantis

{ ALL CONVERSATION IN VALYRIAN}

Danny and I navigated the crowded streets of Volantis, each step heavy with the tension of being in a city so far from our familiar haunts. We wore worm masks and cloaks to hide our identities, hoping to blend in, but while Danny would attract no attention, I knew my presence would be harder to conceal.

The emotions swirling around us in the city were overwhelming—too many people, too many feelings, each one crashing into me like a wave. My head throbbed painfully, but I knew it was nothing I couldn't handle. Vhagar and Vaxylis circled high in the skies, keeping a watchful eye on us from above, ready to come to our aid should we need them.

"Nervous, being in front of so many people for the first time?" Danny's voice rang clear in my mind.

"Yeah," I replied, my thoughts swirling. "In King's Landing or Dragonstone, I was isolated. I didn't have to interact with anyone. But here, it's... too much."

"Want to go back?" she asked, concern threading through her words.

"No, Danny. We have to continue."

"I sense eyes on us..." I shared, my senses heightened as I scanned our surroundings.

We moved toward a quieter part of the street, hoping to lose whoever might be tailing us.

"It's a man and a woman. They have Valyrian features," Danny noted, her voice quiet but sharp.

The man's voice was neutral, almost too calm. "Our mother, Seara Targaryen, wishes to meet you. As our honored guests."

Danny hesitated, her wariness clear. "What if it's a trap?"

"Then we call our dragons," I replied, my voice steady.

We followed the pair through the winding streets for some time, eventually being led into a large brothel. No one tried to approach us, likely due to the presence of our guides.

"You are here," came a voice, its tone unfamiliar but laced with authority.

I couldn't sense her emotions at all—an unsettling emptiness.

"Who are you?!" Danny demanded, her voice commanding, her hand subtly reaching for her blade.

The woman chuckled, a sound that was more cold than warm. "I am your great-aunt, sister to your grandfather... Seara Targaryen."

Seara Targaryen. The daughter of King Jaherys, now ruling a brothel empire in Volantis... though I could tell her story was far more complicated than it seemed.

"How did you know it was us?" I asked, my voice cautious yet sharp.

"I received word of a large green dragon sighted near Volantis," Seara answered smugly, her voice like a serpent's hiss. "Then two masked children appeared on the streets. Too suspicious to ignore."

I narrowed my eyes, frustration creeping in. "Let me rephrase my question... What do you want?"

"I want my bloodline integrated into the line of dragon riders," Seara said, her tone suddenly serious.

"No!" Danny nearly shouted, her voice rising in indignation. "Neither of us will marry one of your children!"

Seara's smirk deepened, an almost cruel gleam in her eyes. "Oh, look at the feisty little girl. No, I don't want you to marry my children. I already know you are promised to each other... but I didn't know you loved each other."

Suddenly, my heart began to race. Danny felt it too, her pulse quickening in sync with mine.

"It's not the time for this, Aelyx," Danny said in my mind, her voice a reminder to stay focused.

I nodded, forcing myself to clear my mind.

Seara raised her hand, and a woman, no older than Rhaenyra, stepped forward. The energy around her was chilling—something about her felt wrong.

Danny's shock was palpable through our bond.

"What happened?" I asked, sensing her unease.

"She has silver hair... and red eyes..." Danny said, her voice faltering with disbelief.

Red eyes?!

"She is my daughter, Rhelya," Seara said, her voice tinged with authority. "I want your son to marry my granddaughter from Rhelya"

I was speechless. "Son?!" I blurted, my voice incredulous. "I'm only eight years old!"

"What's in it for us?" Danny asked, her voice hardening, her gaze never leaving Seara.

Before I could even think, Seara interrupted, her tone sharp as a dagger. "Whatever you ask."

"Help us find remnants of the old Valyrian order," Danny said without hesitation, her eyes never leaving the older woman.

Seara's eyes widened, clearly intrigued.

"Call him," she ordered.

From the shadows emerged a frail old man, leaning heavily on a cane.

"He is the descendant of one of the caretakers of a young dragonlord, who was killed by a mob after the fall of Valyria," Seara explained.

"Do you know of any place where we might find remnants of old Valyria?" I asked the elderly man.

"Lorthaes..." he replied, his voice barely a whisper.

"Lorthaes," Danny repeated, her voice filled with both curiosity and anticipation. "We should head there right away."

"Do not break our deal," Seara warned, her tone deadly serious.

"Targaryens never break their word," Danny replied, her voice unwavering.

We left the brothel and made our way to an open field, where Vhagar awaited us. We mounted our dragons and prepared for departure, the weight of our bargain hanging heavy in the air.

---

Seara POV

I stood silently, watching the retreating forms of Aelyx and Daenerys. A sense of joy bubbled in my chest, something I hadn't felt in a long time. Since leaving King's Landing, I had mourned the loss of the Targaryen connection to dragons—my children, my blood, were incapable of taming them. But now, my great-grandchildren would have that opportunity.

I would ensure they honored their part of the bargain.

---

Lothares, a small island near the coastline of Braavos

We flew through the skies for a full day, finally coming to rest on the small island of Lothares.

"Do you think we'll find anything here?" Danny asked, her voice laced with hope and uncertainty.

"We won't know until we try," I replied, scanning the horizon with a sense of purpose.

"I see lights... structures," Danny reported, her voice trembling with excitement.

"Land, Vhagar," I commanded, my voice firm.

As soon as we landed, a group of men, women, and children emerged from the shadows, each wielding weapons. They were led by an elderly man, whose emotions glinted a mixture of suspicion and reverence.

"Why are Targaryen dragonlords here?" the old man demanded, his voice laced with both anger and awe.

"We seek those who understand us... those who will support us," I said clearly, my voice carrying authority.

"Why don't you ask those unprogressive, stuck lords of Westeros?" the old man sneered, his anger palpable.

"We want our people," I said, my voice unwavering. "Not hungry hyenas who wish only to spill dragon blood and control the dragons."

"We were once known as the Vezhvenor Rhaenor of Valyria," the old man said proudly, his chest swelling with memories. "We were tasked with caring for dragons, preserving their eggs, training new dragonriders... protecting dragonriders when dragons could not."

"Didn't they fear you might tame their dragons?" Danny asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"No," the old man replied, his voice calm and solemn. "We could get close to dragons, tend to them, but we could never bond with them. That was the restriction placed upon us by the very first dragonlords of Valyria themselves."

"Then it's time you return to your duties..." I said, my voice full of resolve. "With us."