Chapter 114: Aegon the Defiant
Clang, clang, clang, clang.
The sound of the bronze bells of the Seven Dragons Sept in Summerhall echoed throughout the city. This domed sept with seven towering spires was one of the four iconic buildings of Summerhall. In terms of luxury, it ranked second only to House Varezes's Purple Summer Palace, and in height it was surpassed only by the great City Hall built upon the high slopes.
As the bells of the Seven Dragons Sept began to ring, the bronze bell atop City Hall also released layer upon layer of majestic sound.
Bishop Corlun put down his bell hammer and carefully squeezed his way out of the narrow bell tower, looking toward the monks he had summoned.
Each monk wore simple brown robes, carried long wooden staffs, and bore seven-pointed stars upon their chests. Nearby, dozens of white-robed septas held copies of the Seven-Pointed Star, silently praying.
"Bishop, we are all prepared."
A handsome young monk stepped forward after seeing Bishop Corlun emerge from the bell tower.
"Very good, Hugo. You are my successor." Bishop Corlun looked with satisfaction at Hugo's shaved head and silver-flecked temples.
The young man was originally from Volantis, carrying traces of old Valyrian blood. Brought back by Prince Draezel, he had originally followed R'hllor, but under Corlun's teachings regarding the Seven Gods, he had become one of the most fanatical believers of the new doctrine and had even changed his name to an Andal one.
"This time, His Highness has placed great expectations upon us. We absolutely cannot disappoint him," Bishop Corlun emphasized again.
Hugo nodded repeatedly.
To prevent the plague from spreading throughout Summerhall, especially to stop dragonpox patients from entering the Borderland Principality by land, after Ray Varezes returned to Dragon's Nest City, Diana Tarly immediately formulated plans with him.
Lord Randal Cafferen immediately ordered the roads sealed.
Lace Town implemented similar restrictions and inspections.
Even Summerhall, contrary to its usual practices, closed its gates.
Evans led his maesters door-to-door confirming whether residents showed signs of sickness.
Corlun likewise organized the monks to provide scripture readings and support to commoners while opening the Faith's facilities to distribute free medicine.
Ray generously provided ample funds to support the Faith.
"Bishop, several brown-robed brothers recently arrived from the North."
Before leaving, Hugo suddenly remembered something and lowered his voice.
"They're spreading stories everywhere. Saying the Dragon King is an incest-born bastard. Saying dragons are demons from hell. Saying His Highness and the princes are unclean eastern devils."
The more Hugo spoke, the angrier he became.
If monks had not required both Bishop Corlun and Dragon's Nest City's approval before taking violent action, he would already have taught those people what true dragon subjects looked like.
"Heretics!"
Bishop Corlun exploded instantly.
"HERETICS!"
"Hugo, go first! I'm heading to City Hall! I absolutely will not allow such blasphemy to appear within my diocese!"
Before he had even finished speaking, Bishop Corlun had already started running.
His speed startled the younger monks.
The others exchanged glances before their expressions gradually darkened.
"Brother Hugo," a septa stepped forward, "we absolutely cannot permit such slander against His Highness and the princes."
Hugo thought briefly.
He immediately dispatched several monks to search for those wandering fanatics.
The rest prepared to rally believers at any moment while continuing their duties.
As the Faith mobilized, bells from City Hall and the Seven Dragons Sept rang continuously.
Soon every district bell throughout Summerhall also began sounding.
Outside a beautiful stone home on Iron Street, blacksmith Hugh hurriedly pulled his wife and daughter indoors.
"What happened?"
Hugh's wife looked at him in confusion.
She had only just returned from prayers with their daughter. Though the bells had startled her, she had no idea what had happened.
Hugh put on his coat and answered seriously:
"Stay home with the children."
"Boil every drop of water before drinking it."
"And don't let rats into the house."
His wife hesitated.
"But firewood costs—"
"City Hall is issuing subsidies."
"Don't worry about the money."
His wife glanced nervously toward their daughter before nodding obediently.
Only then did Hugh leave in relief and hurry toward City Hall.
The ringing gradually faded.
Soon soldiers of the Silverblood Army, wearing silver armor and purple cloaks, together with city guards clad in chainmail and silver cloaks, began deploying throughout the city.
Without exception every one of them wore gloves and face coverings.
They assisted residents in carrying out further disease prevention measures.
At the same time Summerhall and Lace Town launched intensive plague-control efforts.
Far away on Dragonstone, Aegon II Targaryen finally found the creature he had awaited for so long.
The bald king lay beneath rocky shelter, nervously watching a magnificent silver-gray dragon happily devouring a fat sheep.
He did not have enough men.
Otherwise he would rather have directly seized Dragonstone Castle.
Only Ser Marston Waters remained by his side, alongside Larys Strong.
Without a dragon, he lacked the leverage necessary to convince Dragonstone's castellan and garrison.
"Seasmoke."
Aegon silently repeated the dragon's name.
Although obtaining Seasmoke fulfilled his long-held hopes, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable.
After all, Seasmoke had belonged to Laenor Velaryon, Rhaenyra's former husband.
Riding the dragon of a dead rival—and his enemy's former husband at that—was difficult for Aegon to accept.
Yet when he imagined flying before Rhaenyra atop another dragon—especially Laenor's dragon—he almost could not suppress his excitement.
Slowly he crawled from the crevice.
Cautiously.
Step by step.
Seasmoke sensed someone approaching and raised its head.
"Seasmoke. Easy."
Aegon spoke in clumsy High Valyrian.
The dragon sniffed the air.
Glanced toward Aegon.
Then lowered its head and resumed eating.
Aegon slowly approached.
Closer.
Closer.
Until one hand stretched toward the saddle straps.
Suddenly—
Seasmoke turned and roared.
"Seasmoke! Be calm! I command you to obey!"
Aegon growled in High Valyrian.
One hand stretched toward Seasmoke's head.
The other toward the saddle.
Seasmoke erupted in fury.
Its wings beat.
Its body shifted.
Aegon was hurled backward instantly.
"How?!"
Aegon stared in disbelief.
"I am pure Targaryen blood!"
"How could Seasmoke reject me?"
The silver-gray dragon angrily opened its jaws.
Dragonfire exploded outward.
The first blast struck where Aegon had landed.
Still unsatisfied, Seasmoke prepared another.
Then—
A hoarse roar came from the eastern skies.
Caraxes.
The Blood Wyrm burst through clouds.
Seasmoke roared back defiantly before retreating toward Dragonmont.
Caraxes circled several times before descending near scorched earth.
Aegon coughed weakly.
Only when dragonfire engulfed him had realization finally arrived.
Both legs had nearly become charcoal.
Burns covered much of his body.
Ser Marston Waters leapt from hiding.
Larys Strong limped out beside him.
"You win."
Aegon understood he had failed the moment his uncle arrived.
"Aegon."
Daemon looked upon his twisted nephew and sighed.
"Do you regret it?"
Aegon attempted movement.
Pain exploded through him instantly.
Tears rolled down his face.
"I regret it."
"I regret everything."
"Aemond and Vhagar are dead," Daemon said.
"Draezel slew them while riding Vermithor."
"For a crown, you lost your brothers."
"Uncle…"
Aegon clenched his teeth.
"What of Helaena?"
"And the children?"
Daemon shook his head.
"No word from Oldtown yet."
"But Draezel and Valarr are not cruel men."
"Helaena and the children should survive."
"That's good…"
"That's good…"
Aegon finally broke into tears.
"Uncle…"
"Please…"
"Give me a quick death."
"It hurts too much."
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