Heir of the Dragon

Epiphany

Jessica followed Jace up to meet the newest dragonriders who were introduced as Hugh Hammer and Ulf White. Both gentlemen were seated around the painted table.

Ulf smiled up at Hugh. "This is more like it Hugh, don't you think?"

Hugh huffed, he was standing with his arms crossed. "We're meant to be at the training yards leanin' the commands."

Ulf chuckled, "Yeah I will go, but surely they'd not deny me my pleasure after so long. I may never eat fish again."

Jessica cleared her throat, both of the men jumped. "Gentlemen."

Jace narrowed his eyes at Ulf. "What are you doing here? Remove your feet from the table."

Ulf grinned lazily. "I'd rather not."

Jessica pinched the bridge of her nose and Hugh quickly intervened. "Ulf."

Jace move forward, but Jessica reached out and caught his hand. Jace looked back at her but then turned his attention to Ulf. "It's not up to you...Ulf."

The grin on Ulf's face only seemed to grow. "Who's it up to then...boy?"

Hugh haggard a glance to Jessica then to Ulf. "He is the prince, Ulf. Prince Jacaerys Velaryon."

Ulf removed his feet from the table and stood. "Prince Jacaerys Velaryon. Right here." Ulf began chuckling. "Who’d have thought it?"

Hugh and Jessica had the same dumbfounded expression. It was Jessica who spoke. "He lives here."

Jace reached up and kissed Jessica's hand before addressing Ulf. "I'll have an apology from you."

Before Jessica or Jace could react, Ulf rose from his seat and tightly embraced Jace. "Ah! The young prince!"

Ulf then reached up and tussled Jace's hair. "And look at that hair. As dark as they say. Let them tell us we don’t have Targaryen blood, eh?"

Jessica squeezed Jace's hand, in any attempt to soothe him. He glanced back at her before turning back to Ulf. "My mother is the queen..."

"Dragonsriders both." Ulf interrupted. "You and I...cut from the same cloth."

Jace was becoming visibly upset. "It is a sacred inheritance of which you know nothing."

Jessica turned to stand between Jace and Ulf. Jessica reached up and cupped his cheek. "Nephew." She warned gently.

Hugh stepped foward and intervened. "Forgive him, my prince. He is not much used to the manners of court."

Jace took Jessica's other hand in his and looked back to Hugh. "Or any manners at all, I'd say."

Jace let go of Jessica and closed the space between himself and Ulf. "Do you know what has happened this last hour, hm? The so-called prince regent has burned Sharp Point down to its stones. Thousands of its folk dead or lost. Its harbor in ashes. Will you prepare to face such an enemy? Or will you stay here and make yourself easy? If you hinder our efforts through sloth or unreadiness, I will see you hanged, and your body fed to the dogs in the street."

Ulf gulped then gave a bow. "I-I meant no disrespect, my prince."

Jessica leaned back onto the painted table, beginning to hyperventilate. "By the Gods, that's all my fault...."

"Jess..." Jace quickly turned and was by her side.

Jessica could only shake her head no. "Aemond doesn't know I'm here. And now he's burning villages down one by one..."