| Chapter 07: The Lessons of Kings |

| Author's Note: Am I releasing the chapters too often? |

××××

. . .

. .

.

| The Next Morning - With Aegon Targaryen 1st Person Pov |

.

. .

. . .

The sound of the palace slowly waking echoed through the corridors as I made my way toward Jia's chambers. The air was still heavy with the scent of incense, and the faint rustle of silken robes passed by me as servants hurried about their morning tasks.

The palace seemed almost peaceful at this hour, but beneath that peace lay something more dangerous,— something that had begun to stir within me.

I had risen before dawn, the remnants of another dragon dream still clinging to the edges of my thoughts. The fire that had once been distant now roared through me in waking hours as well, filling me with a restless energy. There was more to be done, more to learn. I could feel the pull of my destiny growing stronger, and yet, I knew I was not ready.

Not yet.

Jia was waiting.

Her chambers were as lavish and serene as ever, but today, there was something different in the air,— an intensity I couldn't quite place. The usual silk curtains swayed gently in the breeze that filtered through the open windows, casting soft shadows across the floor. The scent of jasmine and burning wood still lingered, but there was something else,— something that sent a ripple of unease through me.

Jia stood by the window, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders like a river of night. Her expression was calm, but her eyes gleamed with a sharper edge today, as if something had shifted in her as well.

"Come, Aegon." she said, her voice soft but commanding. "We have much to discuss once again."

I moved to stand beside her, feeling the weight of her presence as always. She was a force, not just of beauty or desire, but of power,— an invisible current that pulled me toward her, whether I wanted it or not.

"You've learned much in these past weeks." she said, her eyes still fixed on the horizon. "Your training with Shen Dao has sharpened your body, and your swordplay improves daily. But that's not enough."

I nodded, though I remained silent. I had heard these words before, or something like them. Jia had always been careful to remind me that brute strength was not enough. Yet today, something in her tone felt different,— deeper, more focused.

She turned then, her gaze locking onto mine, and for a moment, I saw something in her eyes that sent a flicker of unease through me. She wasn't just teaching me today. She was testing me.

"You must focus even more on the art of ruling." she said, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "The Iron Throne will not be won through fire and steel alone as I have been teaching you until now. You must know how to play the game. You must understand the hearts and minds of those who would bend the knee to you,— or those who would seek to destroy you."

Her words sent a shiver down my spine, though I kept my face neutral. I had known this lesson was coming. Ruling wasn't just about battlefields and victories. It was about navigating the intricate webs of power, alliances, and betrayals that had brought down kings and queens before me.

Jia stepped closer, her fingers brushing lightly against my arm as she led me to the low table at the center of the room, where the map of Westeros lay spread out before us.

For a moment, the sight of it sent a jolt of excitement through me. I enjoyed being teached about the Seven Kingdoms after all,— the realm who was so close, yet still so far.

"Let us begin." Jia Niao said, her voice lilting like silk over stone. She gestured to the map, her fingers tracing the borders of the North, then down to the Riverlands, and further south to Dorne. "These lands are yours to claim, but you must be cautious. Each house has its own ambitions, its own secrets."

Her hand hovered over the lion of House Lannister. "Tywin Lannister is perhaps the most dangerous of them all. Ruthless. Calculating. He sees every move on the board, even the ones you haven't made yet."

I frowned, studying the map as she spoke. "Is there something that would make him bend the knee?"

Jia's smile deepened, a hint of something almost predatory in her gaze. "Tywin Lannister bends to no one, not without a cost,— much less a Targaryen. You must offer him something greater than his family pride,— or you must take from him something so valuable that he has no choice but to submit."

Her fingers moved to the Baratheon stag then. "Robert Baratheon is a fat brute, but do not be fooled. He rules through fear and loyalty, and those who follow him do so out of love for the man, not the king. If you wish to take his throne, you must weaken his hold on the people."

I nodded, my mind racing with the possibilities. Robert had taken the throne through rebellion, through the blood of my family. He was strong, but as Jia had taught me, strength alone was not enough to hold power. His weaknesses were there, waiting to be exploited.

"What about the North?" I asked, my gaze shifting to the direwolf of House Stark, a house that had lost much in the revellion, not more than mine own, but much nonetheless.

"The Starks are honorable." Jia Niao said, her voice softening slightly. "But honor can be a weakness as much as a strength. You must show them that you are not just a Targaryen seeking to reclaim a throne they helped undermine,— you must show them that you are a ruler who will bring justice and stability. Appeal to their past sense of loyalty, and they may follow you. But beware, they will not bend easily,— if they will bend at all."

Her words were clear, sharp, and as I absorbed them, I felt the fire inside me shift. This wasn't just about conquest. It was about strategy,— about understanding the people who held the power in Westeros, and how to turn that power to my advantage.

Jia moved closer, her fingers trailing lightly across the edge of the map. "You must learn to read people, Aegon. Their faces, their words, their actions. Everything they do is part of the game. Some will lie. Some will hide their true intentions behind smiles and flattery. Others will seek to manipulate you as surely as they manipulate the men and women around them."

Her gaze met mine, and for a moment, I wondered if her words were meant for me as much as for those I would face in Westeros.

"And how do I tell the difference?" I asked, my voice steady despite the sudden weight of her words.

Her lips curled into a small smile, and she reached out to place her hand over mine. "That comes with time. But you are already learning."

I swallowed, feeling the warmth of her hand against mine. She was right,— I was learning. But the more I learned, the more I realized how dangerous this game truly was.

"Ruling is not just about making decisions." Jia continued, her voice softer now, more intimate. "It is about controlling the narrative. You must shape how people see you. A ruler who appears weak will be devoured by the wolves. But a ruler who is feared and respected,— he can hold power over even the most dangerous of enemies."

She stepped even closer, her fingers now brushing against my cheek, her touch light but deliberate. "You will be that ruler, Aegon. You will not only reclaim the throne, but you will hold it. And when you do, they will fear you as they once feared your Valyrian ancestors."

Her words sent a thrill through me, but there was something beneath the surface of her gaze that I couldn't quite read. She believed in me,— I had no doubt about that. But I had begun to wonder if her belief was tied too closely to her own desires.

Her fingers lingered on my skin for a moment longer before she pulled away, turning back to the map. "Your next lesson will be in understanding alliances. You must learn who can be trusted, and who must be watched carefully. Even the most loyal of allies may turn if the winds of power shift."

She pointed to the rose of House Tyrell. "The Tyrells are ambitious, but they are not fools. They will support whoever can secure their future, and their future lies in their wealth and influence. If you can offer them something Robert Baratheon cannot, they will be swayed to your side."

I nodded, studying the map as she spoke. I had always known that alliances were important, but the way Jia explained it made me realize just how delicate those alliances could be. One wrong move, one false promise, and the entire web could unravel.

"And Dorne?" I asked, my gaze shifting to the sun and spear of House Martell.

Jia's expression softened slightly at the mention of Dorne, though her tone remained steady. "Dorne will support you, for your mother's sake. But do not take their loyalty for granted. The Martells are proud, and their hatred for the Lannisters runs deep. You must honor your mother's memory, but you must also show them that you are not just a young boy seeking revenge,— you are a king who will restore justice to the realm."

Her words struck a chord deep inside me, and I felt the fire flare once again. The thought of Dorne, of my mother, of everything that had been taken from me,— it all burned inside me like a forge. But I had to control that fire. I couldn't let it consume meI couldn't let it consume me, not now, not when I was learning what it truly meant to rule. The lessons Jia had imparted over the weeks were beginning to sharpen into something clearer. Westeros was not just a land of houses and armies; it was a web of ambitions, fears, and loyalties, and I had to learn to navigate that web without getting ensnared.

"Justice..." I said quietly, as my gaze lingered on the sigil of Dorne. The fire in my chest was still hot, but I forced it down. "That's what I want for them. For my father and mother. For my sister."

Jia's fingers traced the map lightly, but she paused at the Martell sigil. "Justice is a powerful word, Aegon. It can unite armies, rally the broken-hearted, and sway even the most steadfast of enemies. But you must remember that justice is only as strong as the one who wields it."

She stepped closer to me again, her eyes fixed on mine. "Your justice must be tempered. Do not ever let vengeance blind you. It is a tool, like any other,— use it when necessary, but never let it dictate your actions."

I swallowed, her words sinking in, though the thought of seeing justice for my family still burned hot in my chest.

The Mountain. Robert Baratheon. Tywin Lannister. They were the ones who had taken everything from me, and one day, I would make them answer for it. But I understood now, at least in part, what Jia was trying to teach me. If I let my anger guide me, I would fail. If I let the fire consume me, I would burn alone.

"Do you understand, Aegon?" she asked softly, her voice gentler now. "You are not just fighting for yourself. You are fighting for a realm,— a realm that will need a ruler, not a conqueror."

I nodded, the weight of her words pressing down on me. It wasn't just about reclaiming the Iron Throne. It wasn't just about vengeance. It was about ruling. Westeros needed more than just the wrath of the dragon,— Westeros needed a king.

Jia smiled, her expression softening for a brief moment as she cupped my cheek. "You will be a great ruler, love. I see it in you. The blood of the dragon, yes, but also the wisdom to know when to strike, and when to hold back."

I held her gaze for a moment, the warmth of her touch grounding me in the moment. The fire still burned within me, but it was more controlled now, more focused. I would not let my emotions guide me. I would let my mind do that.

She then withdrew her hand and turned back to the map, her tone shifting to something more strategic. "The lords of Westeros will expect certain things from you,— promises, oaths, alliances. But you must always keep something in reserve. Never show your hand completely. A king who reveals all his intentions will find himself at the mercy of those who would use them against him."

I nodded again, absorbing her words. "And what do I offer them? How do I gain their loyalty?"

Jia's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, as though I had finally asked the right question. "You offer them what they desire most,— security, prosperity, power. Each lord has his own ambitions, but they all want one thing: stability. They have suffered under Robert's rule, and they will continue to suffer if you do not show them a better future."

She pointed again to House Tyrell. "The Reach, for example, will follow whoever can guarantee their wealth and status. The Tyrells are not fighters,— they are builders. Offer them what they need to maintain their influence, and they will support you."

Her fingers traced the map to House Greyjoy. "The Ironborn, however, are more difficult. They crave power, but they are reckless, chaotic. You will need to handle them carefully,— offer them enough to keep them satisfied, but never trust them fully. They are as likely to turn on you as they are on Robert."

I frowned, studying the map as she spoke. "So I can't rely on them."

"You can rely on no one completely, Aegon," Jia said, her voice like a warning. "That is the nature of power. Everyone has their own interests. But you can create a network of alliances, of loyalty. You can create a kingdom that will follow you because they believe in what you offer. That is how you will win."

I sat back slightly, letting the weight of her words settle over me. It was a complex web I was about to enter, but I could see the shape of it now,— the intricate patterns of power and ambition that stretched across Westeros. Jia's lessons were beginning to take root, and with each passing day, I felt more prepared to step into the role that had been thrust upon me.

But still, there was something that lingered, something unsaid.

"What about you?" I asked, my voice quiet, though the question carried more weight than I had intended. "What do you want?"

Jia's smile widened, though there was a flicker of something in her eyes,— something that seemed almost too quick to catch. "I want what is best for you, Aegon." she said smoothly. "Your success is my success."

I held her gaze, feeling the tension between us shift once more. She was good,— too good. Her words were always measured, always calculated, and though I had come to rely on her guidance, I couldn't help but wonder if I had given her too much. She had shaped me, yes, but to what end? Was I the king she believed in, or the king she was creating?

I pushed the thought away as quickly as it came, focusing instead on the task ahead. There would be time for those questions later.

"Then we'll win." I said, my voice steady.

Jia nodded, her smile softening. "Yes, my love. We will."

.

.

The evening passed in a haze of lessons and discussions, the map of Westeros becoming even more familiar to me with each passing hour. Jia spoke of alliances, of betrayals, of how to navigate the labyrinth of power that stretched from King's Landing to Winterfell.

She taught me how to read people,— their expressions, their words, the subtle shifts in their behavior that could betray their true intentions.

It was a lesson in patience, in control, and as the night wore on, I began to understand the depth of the game I was about to play. Ruling wasn't just about being the strongest or the smartest,— it was about understanding the hearts of men, and how to use that understanding to guide them, to control them.

By the time the moon rose high above the palace, casting its pale light over the city of Xia Quo, I felt the weight of everything Jia had taught me pressing down on me like a mantle. The Iron Throne was closer than ever, but so too were the dangers that came with it.

I stood by the window of Jia's chambers, staring out at the sprawling city below. The fires of the forges flickered in the distance, and the sound of the wind rustling through the silk curtains was the only noise that broke the silence.

Jia stepped up beside me, her presence a constant, though I felt more aware now of the power she held over me. Her hand rested lightly on my arm, her touch both comforting and possessive.

"You are almost ready, Aegon." she said softly, her voice like a promise. "Soon, the time will come for you to leave this place. But when you do, remember everything I have taught you. You will be a great king, and the world will remember our name."

I looked at her, the fire in my chest burning bright once again. I knew what she wanted from me. I knew that she had her own ambitions, her own desires. But for now, those desires aligned with mine. For now, we were on the same path.

And when the time came to reclaim the Iron Throne, I would be ready.

"I will." I said, my voice filled with the certainty I felt growing stronger within me. "I will remember."

Jia smiled, her fingers tracing a slow, deliberate path down my arm. "Good."

× × × ×