Breakbones and the Dragonrider

Chapter 32

"I've said no, Alicent, and that's my final word," Viserys said tiredly, wishing for nothing more than peace and quiet. He looked out over his model of Old Valyria, and his mind wandered to a time when Alicent sat there with him, and they confided in one another. He had thought back then that they might have done each other some good. Now Alicent seemed intent on being his sole source of worry as king.

"But Viserys, imagine how this looks, with Jacaerys's cradle egg hatching, and your own son does not have a cradle egg at all," Alicent said, her face burning.

Viserys sighed, turning over the very dragon figurine that Alicent had given him all those years ago. He looked up from the carved dragon to his wife, dressed in emerald green, now having donned a seven-pointed star pendant. That was a recent development. She was now a constant reminder of Otto Hightower's influence, and for that he would never forgive himself for not choosing his own Hand as soon as he became king.

"I have heard some troubling rumors are being spread around court," Viserys said, looking his wife in the eyes.

"Oh?" Alicent asked, playing ignorant. She blinked unevenly, and that gave her away.

Viserys set the dragon figurine down with some force. "I'll not have Westeros questioning the line of succession," he said simply. "And a dragon hatched to Rhaenyra's heir should be enough for those rumors to stop." He warned Alicent with his eyes.

She struggled to keep her composure. "It takes nothing away from Rhaenyra and Jacaerys for Daeron to also have a cradle egg—"

"Enough, Alicent," Viserys said, struggling to stand. He couldn't bear to be in her presence any longer. "Enough... The boys, and Helaena, will all claim dragons when they are ready. The way I did with Balerion. The way Rhaenyra did with Syrax, and Daemon with Caraxes... The way it's always been done. I need you to let this go... please, Alicent. Please..."

Ser Harrold stepped forward as Viserys moved his chair back. As soon as Viserys had his footing, Harrold followed his king out of the room, leaving Alicent behind to stew.

She stood rooted to the spot she stood for some time after Viserys left. She warred with her thoughts, and just as she was about to talk herself out of what she was about to do, the door opened again, and a governess walked through with Alicent's three older children.

"Oh, your grace," she said, bowing slightly as the smile faded from her face. "I was just taking the children to their—"

"Gwynn," Alicent said, drawing herself up as her eyes fixed on Aegon, now a boy of seven. "Prince Aegon will come with me this afternoon. You may take Aemond and Heleana to their play room."

"My queen, I—" Gwynne started to object, hoisting Helaena higher on her hip.

"That will be all, Gwynne," Alicent said, holding her hand out for Aegon. After a pause, Aegon walked quietly to his mother and took her hand. Alicent gave Gwynne a nod, and without a word the governess hurried the children to their play room, leaving Alicent and Aegon alone.

"Aegon," Alicent said, kneeling down to Aegon's level. She looked into his lavender eyes, so similar to his father's. "Would you like to help mommy do something very important?"

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Rhaenyra drew the eyes of the members of court as she walked through the courtyard with Vermax in her arms. The baby dragon chittered softly as he curled his tail around Rhaenyra's neck. His claws dug into her skin as he climbed onto her shoulders, but she didn't care. She was walking her son's dragon down to the dragonpit, past people who either listened to, or spread gossip about Jacaerys. And now they were choking on those words. The whole issue was so absurd to her—of course Jacaerys's dragon hatched. Jacaerys would have been no more Targaryen if he were Laenor's son than if he were Harwin's. He was still the blood of the dragon.