Breakbones and the Dragonrider

Chapter 4

Harwin waited for the hour it took Rhaenyra and Laenor to finish their ride. Syrax and Seasmoke landed, and the two dragonriders dismounted with smiles on their faces that almost rivaled the ones they had the night of their wedding, before it all went to Seven Hells. Harwin felt a tug in his chest as Rhaenyra ran her gloved hand lovingly over Syrax's yellow scales. How could he not? He told himself it was just the impressive nature of the dragon itself, but he knew that was a lie.

Laenor and Rhaenyra walked toward Harwin and Jerold, Laenor's guard, looking contented. It was as if the act of riding a dragon, for a Targaryen and Velaryon, might have some sort of restorative properties. They shared a quiet laugh, which faded to only a knowing smile once they reached their guardians.

Once they reached a crossroads in the alleyway of the Red Keep, Laenor turned to Rhaenyra and kissed her sweetly on the cheek.

"See you this evening," he said quietly, and glanced from Rhaenyra, to Harwin, and then made his way down another corridor with Jerold trailing behind. That left Rhaenyra and Harwin alone again.

"Ser Harwin, I'm not quite ready yet to retire for the evening, I wonder if you might spare a few moments before the changing of my guard?" Rhaenyra asked quietly in a leading tone.

"For you, princess, anything," Harwin said, inclining his head.

"Excellent," she said, leading the way through the corridors. Harwin followed, and became confused when Rhaenyra passed several of the entrances that lead to the royal quarters.

They finally paused at the mouth of an alleyway staircase, and Rhaenyra looked around for a moment.

"Did you know, Ser Harwin, that when King Maegor built the Red Keep, he had many secret passages built?" Rhaenyra asked, and began walking up the steps.

"Of course, princess, it is common lore," he said gently, following behind.

"And I'm sure you've heard then that Maegor had all of those involved in the construction of the Red Keep killed to keep its secrets?"

"They didn't call him Maegor the Cruel for nothing, princess," Harwin reasoned. Rhaenyra stopped climbing the stairs when they reached a landing and a ninety-degree turn in the stairwell. The two of them stood in front of one another.

"An interesting stairwell," Rhaenyra said, looking at the wall beside her.

"Like any normal stairwell," Harwin said, playing along.

"Is it?" Rhaenyra asked, pressing on the wall beside her. It gave way, and revealed a short, but dark tunnel, the end of which was illuminated by the low entrance on the other end of the tunnel. Rhaenyra stepped inside the tunnel, and waited for Harwin to follow.

When he followed, Rhaenyra placed her hand on the stone masonry that hung on metal hinges.

"When I was young, my mother showed me several passages," she said quietly, closing the stone passageway behind her. They were now almost completely in the dark. "She showed me these passageways in case there was ever an incursion and I needed to escape. She said it was a Targaryen's birthright to know these passages, but over the years so many have been forgotten..."

The tunnel was deafeningly quiet. They stood a breath away from each other, and Harwin could make out the faint features of Rhaenyra's face. Before the silence grew too heavy, Rhaenyra turned on her heel, and walked quietly down the corridor. When they reached the end, she fit through easily, and waited for Harwin on the other end.

After crouching, Harwin made it through. When he emerged, he stood where Rhaenyra waited for him, and looked back. The hole was hidden when one stepped far enough away. Harwin hummed in amusement. Rhaenyra cocked her head to the side, showing the narrow catwalk hidden in the sidewall of the Red Keep. As Harwin followed, he felt awestruck at the sheer genius of the Red Keep. He made mental note of the turns they took, the small staircases of six or ten steps each, until they reached a turret that shouldn't exist. It was too short to matter in terms of defense, and overlooked almost nothing but a rocky cliff off the coast.