Chapter 15: Court of Shadows
In the opulent halls of King's Landing, Corlys Velaryon stood before King Viserys I, seeking to clarify the intentions of House Velaryon in the wake of the new dragonlord's emergence in the Stepstones. The air was tense as Corlys spoke, detailing the visit from the dragonlord and the singular request made—to abstain from interfering in the attacks on pirates.
As Corlys presented his case, Hand of the King Ser Otto Hightower sought to cast shadows of doubt. He questioned the motives of House Velaryon, insinuating collusion with the enigmatic dragonlord. The court, a stage for political intrigue, became a battleground of words and accusations.
The back-and-forth between Corlys and Ser Otto reached a fever pitch, threatening to unravel into a full-blown confrontation. King Viserys, sensing the impending escalation, intervened with a commanding voice.
"Enough!" the king declared. "This bickering serves no purpose. House Velaryon shall remain neutral in this conflict between the dragonlord and the pirates. We will not be drawn into the chaos of the Stepstones."
As the echoes of the court's turmoil subsided, King Viserys's decree hung in the air—a decision born from the necessity of maintaining neutrality in the face of the evolving power dynamics.
Meanwhile, in a dark room far from the courts of Westeros, a clandestine gathering of fat men in expensive attire convened. They discussed the recent attacks by the dragonlord on pirates—attacks that had disrupted the delicate balance of power orchestrated by the shadowy figures in the Triarchy.
The implications of the dragonlord's actions reverberated through the room, unsettling the plans of the Triarchy. In the shadows, where manipulation and intrigue thrived, the unforeseen actions of the new player in the Stepstones threatened to unravel schemes woven in secrecy.
As the chapter concluded, the court in King's Landing grappled with the consequences of the dragonlord's presence, and in the distant shadows, the Triarchy faced the unsettling reality that their carefully laid plans might be in jeopardy. The dance of power continued, guided by the unseen hands that sought to shape the fate of the Stepstones and beyond.