The Passion of a Thousand Suns | Aemond Targaryen

Forty: of sweet embraces

DUSKENDALE 

130 AC

DAERON

The soliders started calling him Daeron the Daring when he descended from the skies with Aegon in his arms, like a shining knight rescuing a maiden.

He arrived at Duskendale too late. He had watched his brother's dead - supposedly dead, because he and everyone in the damn Keep saw Vhagar burn her body to ashes - ladywife climb higher than any dragonrider had ever flown, Aegon closing in remarkably fast. Witnessed the Lengii woman his brother was far too enamoured with (butchered a few men in his act of revenge, honestly, was Daeron the only sane brother?), manoeuvre her mount in a perfect arc before spewing black flames at his eldest brother.

Daring, they called him. Stupid more like, as he flew up on Tessarion, lacking all hesitation and smart thinking he was known for.

Sunfyre had taken the brunt of the flames, but managed to protect his rider at the last second. Aegon, for all his smarts, released himself from the saddle and flung from his dragon. Tessarion caught the idiot king. Despite the lucky save, and lucky it was, half of Aegon's body was burnt.

Just above the clouds, he caught Hira making her escape in the direction of Dragonstone. He could only assume the worst for the runaway wife, but even he had heard of their famed notorious love affair (because wasn't she betrothed to their nephew? Matters not, he supposed, if Aemond had wed her secret). Daeron knew Hira loved his brother, so why fake her own death? What does she gain from all this?

A day had passed since the Sacking of Duskendale. Daeron, on top of Tessarion had led the remaining host to Rook's Rest, with Cole commanding the army. He sent Aegon back to King's Landing so the new Grand Maester could tend to his wounds, most likely bringing his mother to another heart attack once she sees what becomes of her eldest at the hands of her other son's dead lover.

By the Seven, wasn't their family a catastrophe?

He surveyed the skies at a distance. It wasn't long before another dragon emerged from the shadows of the clouds. Aemond had answered their call.

Walking towards his brother who had demounted from Vhagar, he noticed the dark circles and the manic snarl.

"Aegon is dead?" He asked.

Daeron shook his head. "Wounded." But who knows if he will live?  Was left unsaid. "Staunton has closed his gates. Our scouts caught Meleys flying above. Cole wants to burn the field and livestock to lure Rhaenys."

Aegon had already sacked Rosby, then Duskendale. Rook's Rest was their final place of mayhem, a show of hand to Rhaenyra's loyalists.

They both knew against two dragons, especially one being Vhagar, Meleys would either have to surrender or her rider would risk death.

He continued. "It's a solid plan. Aegon needs this win. It's up to us now"

Daeron had a purpose here. His mother had begged for him to stay in the Red Keep, but his gut told him otherwise. He was needed.

The look in Aemond's eye worried Daeron. It was rage, the colour of Meley's scales. It was also desperation.

"Tell Cole to light the fires." Aemond ordered. "Once Meleys shows, we attack together."

On the tip of his tongue Daeron was close to revealing the truth. Almost reached out to grasp at his brother's cloak, but Cole's words prevented such from happening.

We need your brother more than ever. If Aegon dies, the throne goes to his son Jaehaerys but Aemond will take the regency. If he knows the truth, he'll abandon his post and everyone, your mother, your sister, niece and nephews will die. The Whore of Dragonstone will not let them live another day.