The Passion of a Thousand Suns | Aemond Targaryen

Forty one: battle of the gullet

THE GULLET

AEGON THE YOUNGER

Aegon understood what war meant. 

He was a young boy but he acknowledged that he and Viserys had to be separated from their parents and the rest of their siblings. They were the youngest of their mother's children. Everyone thought he was too childish for the truth, but Aegon knew.

That didn't mean he liked any of it. He already missed his muna and kepa, but he had to be strong for his younger brother, who clung onto his dragon egg with tiny hands. He could tell Viserys was frightened, his wide eyes drifting back to Dragonstone, even though their home was past the horizon.

Standing next to them was Hira, who smiled reassuringly, like the type of smile mother gave to them when nights were filled with thunder and storms.

"You'll like Pentos, little pebbles and the prince is kind, if not a little too round on the stomach and bald."

Viserys giggled when Hira tickled his stomach. Aegon chuckled at the sight. He was glad Hira was escorting them to Pentos rather than strangers. He always felt safe with her around, their elder sister in blood and everything in between.

Mandia's ship, the Sapphire Maiden, was large, sturdy and fast. It was busy, packed to the brim with warriors and Hira's closest kin. As always the Sapphire Guards were stationed next to their charge. Their blades sparkled in the sunlight, a threat but also a promise of protection.

Stormcloud and Pilak were curled around their legs like cats, keeping the boys company. 

The seas were rough and Aegon felt only slightly seasick.

"It'll be a long while before we see land again. Why not a tale to pass the time, little ones?" Hira suggested, to which the two boys eagerly agreed. "Well then, our tale begins in Leng Ma, near the mouth of the Leng Ma River ..."

Hira began to falter, staring at something in the distance. Aegon was too small to see, even when he tiptoed. Around them the air tensed before a viscous boom echoed across. The ship rocked violently and Aegon stumbled back, almost stepping on Pilak's tail.

"Krita!" Alarmed, Hira yelled out to her captain as she pushed the boys behind her. More booms erupted, more frantic and louder by the second. Viserys gripped his hand harder, trembling at the sudden blaring noises. "What is happening?"

Krita, in obvious dismay, began shouting across the deck and pressing orders among the crew. 

Sunken ships.

Velaryon flags.

Lengii fleet destroyed.

Aegon whined at the tears that pooled along Hira's eyes, how she shook her head in disbelief. 

Aegon understood death as much as he understood war.

"It's the Triarchy, Empress. They're launching a full scale assault!"

"Guard the princes." She ordered the Sapphires, who were quick to surround them, weapons poised. Then, yelling out, "Ready the cannons."

They were under attack.

Mayhem erupted from all sides, swords were drawn and cannons fired. All the while Aegon kept a desperate hold onto his brother. Up in the skies Zhurong was spitting flames on the enemy ships. The Sapphires had to separate as more than a dozen enemy soldiers leapt onto the deck.

Aegon didn't know what to do in the chaos. He ordered Stormcloud to stay back. More men came barrelling onto the ship like wave after wave. As the crew killed one, five more appeared.