The Plan Begins

For the next few moons Kael managed to paint most of the beautiful views of the entire Freehold. From Oros to Tyria. He also took his time to paint a picturesque art of Mantarys since he knew it would be partially swallowed by the disaster and its beauty would be forever lost as well.

Life in Planetos wasn't that hard if you had the right position in society, his house is rich and they own two full Volcanoes on the Freehold, the only other house that owns two of the fourteen flames is the first family, the Belaerys.

When he heard about the first family, he researched a lot to discover why they were so powerful. Then he discovered that they didn't really have any gift like the other four, no, they were purely about numbers. Their family traditions created their standing, they were the only one of the sacred five families that had more riders than dragons, and considering that Regallyon had around 30 dragons and was considered the second, it paints an image of how many Belaerys exists, all of their riders are actual family members.

Kaelarys also low key started to move his pieces. He gradually started buying more slaves and putting all of them inside the sixteen mines that his family owned, his goal was to gather as much mineral as possible in the upcoming decade.

He also started buying Valyrian steel ingots, those were much rarer and more expensive, so he couldn't really buy them in bulk considering that he was trying to be low key. One might ask why buy Valyrian steel ingots instead of forging them, the reason is simple, it takes way too long for him to forge a single ingot, time that could be better used to research and practice his magic and rituals. Money was meant to be used to save time, and considering he was on a countdown, he needed to be efficient.

On the fourth moon he went to the third family, the Talaeryen family, they were the people that pretty much invented Valyrian steel. They could forge that metal like no one in the Freehold, to the point where no one could even fight their quality and quantity. That day he placed an order for a Valyrian steel breastplate with shoulder guards, and arm and shin guards. He could probably do it himself but it would take over a year to do it alone, and he wasn't the best option for forging, he'd rather leave it to the family that has been doing this for over 5 thousand years.

On the sixth moon was when his plans would start officially, right now he was on the Western Water Gate, overseeing five big ships, capable of carrying over 250 men in each.

"Raise the crane!" one of them shouted in the background, moving supplies and all necessities inside one of the ships.

Kael was overseeing everything from a distance with Valanar and Vaela by his side, sadly this place wasn't big enough for both Neltharion and Vaeneron to land here. He decided to go with the name Neltharion because he considered Ashardalon a mouthful and for some reason the big flying lizard seemed excited with the prospect of having the name related to a dragon that had the title of "Death Wing", Kael laughed a lot that day.

"Are you sure we shouldn't have waited a bit longer to start moving, Kael?" asked his sister by his side.

"The talks about the Targaryens already died down, people barely talk about them anymore… they haven't forgotten but I'm sure they won't relate our movements with theirs" Answered Kael.

"I still think that the place you are targeting is not right my Lord, it's too close to Westeros, it's even considered a part of their land, and those Northerners are thick-skulled." Said Valanar.

Kael chuckled. "Aye I know that, believe me if I had better options in the future I would consider other options, honestly I'm still partially interested in the Summer Isles, but the truth is… that Wall is magical, and I'm afraid that once our time here ends… that will be the magical point of Planetos."

Kael still remembered that once in the books Melisandre said how her magic was more powerful the closer she was to the Wall. He also knew for sure that the Doom of Valyria would signal the end of the magic era of Planetos, beggars can't be choosers, but even so, the five ships are only a recon party, they are there to settle a simple outpost and protect it from the barbarians of Skagos. Even if the natives had the advantage in numbers, his Valyrian soldiers had top quality equipment and weapons, numbers alone don't win battles.

If he sees that there's no way to settle on that island, he would no doubt spend his following years preparing an attack and conquest of Summer Isles.

"What if they request aid from the King in the North?" asked Vaela, she spent her months learning magic with Kael but also Westerosi history.

Valanar chuckled "Don't worry my Lady, those dumb savages will never call for aid. They hate the Starks and never followed their rules. It's ironic that they are considered part of the North when even their own King doesn't give two shits about what they do on that island, not even tax is collected because there's no need for it, Skagosi has no money."

Vaela nodded "But I still can't believe you are considering taking us… dragons… people made of FIRE … to the coldest place in the world, it sounds like a bad joke, I won't lie." She had a little scorn in her voice.

Kael laughed "hahaha… yes I understand your point of view, but again… that place is close to so many interesting things, the Wall is just one of them, what is beyond it also attracts my attention… a LOT…"

Vaela raised her eyebrows "Are you talking about the legends beyond the wall or are you into ice spiders?" she had a sarcastic smirk on her face when she finished her question.

Kael shuddered "I want no deal with spiders." After collecting himself he continued "But those legends are interesting, I want to know more about it… from heart trees to the others, everything that is magical deserves attention."

Valanar raised his eyebrow "… Do you believe in those legends of the others?..."

"Oh, you can bet that I do dear friend."

"But.. my Lord.. according to the legends they are ruthless and merciless creatures, they attack without provocation," Valanar said passionately.

"Wouldn't you know better, Valanar? You are a descendant of the first men, aren't you?" Kael asked.

Valanar nodded reluctantly "Aye my Lord, my father was Valyrian through and through, but my mother was a noblewoman from some minor northern house very closely related to the Starks."

"I see no problem with that Valanar, in my opinion you have a rather unique bloodline, the blood of the first men is said to be magical, and gives them unnatural abilities." Replied Kael.

"My Lord you didn.." The sworn sword tried to speak about the topic of the others, but Kael interrupted him instantly.

"The legend of the 13th Commander of the Night's Watch is what intrigues me… and about that northern sorceress that he brought from beyond the wall… deathly pale skin and hair, glowing blue eyes... yet beautiful beyond words… sounds familiar?"

Both Vaela and Valanar's eyes went wide.

"If... and remember only if… it was who I think it was… it means that they are able to communicate, they both were said to get married after all. But again, it's just a theory and a big IF"

Kael wasn't sure that the Others or as the show named them "White Walkers" were a purely evil force that existed for the sake of destruction and Death, he did read all books from that damn author and if there's one thing that the man was known for was writing complex grey characters, to have a tale about grey characters following their own schemes and desires… just to end it with a battle between good and evil?

'I don't buy it, those showrunners simplified too much, and removed the nuance and morally ambiguous tone of the books… Night King was not even an enemy in the books, he was a Lord Commander of the Night's Watch that married a possible Other sorceress and then got killed for claiming to be the King in the North… he was never the source of the Others, neither he was the first Other… he was a human… at most he would've been turned into a Wight.'

"If the others can communicate to the point of actually getting married… doesn't that mean that there is something else there?"

"But.. Kael.. what if they are merely creatures that hate the living and can't communicate just like the legends says?" asked Vaela quite nervous.

"Then we are lucky, because we are stockpiling Valyrian Steel and we have a squadron of 10 Dragonriders… worst case scenario we run away, I'm not risking our lives for this… but I can't just ignore it, those creatures have magic, and they know how to use it… that's enough of a reason to check it out."

As the ships were preparing to sail away from the docks, a small host approached Kael's location.

They wore mostly white and purple tunics with many gold assets, they would look quite rich and important, if this wasn't Valyria of course. Gold here was currency, but a sign of wealth in Valyria was on the steel, not on gold, compared to Kaelarys and Vaela's robes that were adorned with Valyrian steel buttons, chains, hooks, and little brooches, gold was nothing.

"Ah, Lord and Lady Regallyon, how pleasant to find you around these parts" said a young man, around 20 name days old and with hair pretty similar to Kael's.

Kael stopped and looked at him with an indifferent gaze. "… And you are?..."

"Oh, I apologize for not introducing myself, I'm Aurion Valiarys, Lord of the Dragonlord family of Valiarys, the eleventh of the Freehold." He said while bowing slightly, but he never said the words that Kael was expecting, which instantly made him narrow his eyes.

"I see, well you seem to know who I am, so I believe introductions on our part are unnecessary, how can I help you, Lord Valiarys?"

"Oh, nothing at all Lord Regallyon, I just saw you here with five ships leaving the Western Water Gate and I thought that you would be following the Targaryen's footsteps, leaving the Freehold." Aurion said with an easy smile on his face.

Kael chuckled "You really believe that five big ships and over one thousand soldiers is all of my host? Lord Valiarys, that's not even one-tenth of the numbers, but I forgive you for your mistake, it's not like you know how powerful the sacred five families are."

Aurion's mouth twitched a little bit but he covered it well "You are right, I don't know how powerful the sacred five are, they are so mysterious. The Belaerys have unprecedented numbers, the Malgaeron have the strongest dragons and best breeders, the Telaeryen are the best crafters in the hold, and the Celdaerys have the strongest combatants, so I apologize to you, for I don't know what the Regallyon have, all I know is that there's only two…" he had a small mocking smirk on his lips.

Kael laughed out loud "Oh I understand, I really understand. I forgive you for your ignorance Lord Valiarys, but I can shine some light on your doubts if you want."

"Sure, it would be an honor to receive knowledge from the Lord of Regallyon."

"The Regallyon have me…" Kael said while staring at him with an easy-going smile.

Aurion waited for a few seconds for the continuation but got nothing.

".. and…?" he gave a smirk and proceeded with his mockery.

Kaelarys eyes glowed a bright purple light.

"There's no "and" Lord Valiarys... I alone am enough"

As he completed his words, Kael hit the ground with his cane and a ring of fire came out of it, going through the small host of Valiarys, including Aurion himself. All of them fell on the ground, some with slightly burned skin, some with just burned clothes such as Aurion.

Kaelarys then walked past him with his sister and Valanar.

"You should be careful Lord of Valiarys, you know what they say about people who play with fire…and in the end… I'm not the only Regallyon in my family" he said as he pointed to his sister proudly.

As the Regallyon party walked further from the other Dragonlord family, Kael turned to Valanar and spoke with a solemn face "Send a couple of riders to protect the ship, and let the soldiers know that they have to contact me as soon as they step on that island, no delays." Which prompted Valanar to nod instantly and pull out a Glass Candle from his robes and proceeded to do what he was commanded.

"Kael…"

"Don't worry Vae, they are just some leeches, nothing that can't be burned… but it bothers me to be watched and followed… that fool was just a test… someone is eyeing us, someone from the top…"