Chapter 3

Father did love hosting feasts. The excuse this time was that Mother was pregnant once again. As was his want, fights to the death were organized. It was nothing I hadn't seen before in TV-shows, but we are children and aren't allowed to watch. They occur quite often at these events and are meant as entertainment. Valyrians sure have a few screws loose.

But I couldn't deny that I looked forward to these events when I was old enough to participate. This time, there was one fighter in particular who caught my interest.

His name was Rhaegor, a legendary combatant in the Bōjurlion, the massive arena where the fiercest and most skilled warriors competed. Rhaegor was known across the Freehold for his unparalleled skill and ferocity in battle. Tales of his exploits had reached even my young ears. They said he fought with the strength of ten men and the agility of a cat, that he had never been defeated, and that he carried the scars of a hundred battles with pride.

I hope he still lives by the time I am allowed to see the fights. But I doubt that.

If you are good in the arena, you are rewarded with luxury, women, and everything you could ever want. Fighters like Rhaegor are treated like superstars here, but it's not a life one would desire. While they have all the comforts imaginable, they are never truly free. Their fate is to fight until the day they die. The only upside is that the better a fighter you are, the less likely you are to be forced into the arena. They want exciting battles, not slaughters.

As the festivities began, the grand hall was filled with the sounds of laughter, music, and the clinking of goblets. The smell of roasted meats and exotic spices wafted through the air, mingling with the perfume of the present ladies. My father, Aelor, sat at the head of the table, a satisfied smile on his face as he watched over the gathered guests. Mother, Lysara, sat beside him, her hand resting gently on her swollen belly.

I sat with Seraphine, both of us eager for the food. The amount of food and diversity was insane, with dishes from all corners of the World. Platters of spiced lamb, roasted pheasant, and exotic fruits were before me, and I couldn't decide which to eat first. Seraphine and I exchanged excited glances as we filled our plates, the aromas making our mouths water.

As we began to eat, Seraphine picked up a piece of fruit and held it up, inspecting it closely. "Do you think this is one of those dragonfruit I've heard about?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

I laughed, shaking my head. "I think it's just a fancy pomegranate. But who knows, maybe it is. I can hardly identify half of the food that is before us."

Seraphine giggled, then leaned in conspiratorially. "Do you think if we eat enough of this, we'll breathe fire too, like Ruby and Ancalagon?"

"Only one way to find out," I said, popping a piece of the fruit into my mouth and pretending to blow out flames. "Nope, just tastes like fruit. No fire yet."

Seraphine grinned and took a bite herself. "Hmm, delicious, but still no flames. Maybe we need to try something spicier."

I pointed to a dish of bright red peppers. "How about those? They look like they could set your mouth on fire."

She eyed the peppers warily. "I don't know... last time I tried something that spicy, I ended up drinking all the water in the jug."

"Well, if you want to be a true dragon, you have to handle the heat," I teased.

Seraphine rolled her eyes but grabbed a small piece of pepper anyway. She hesitated for a moment before popping it into her mouth. Her eyes widened immediately, and she started fanning her mouth.

"Hot, hot, hot!" she exclaimed, reaching for her goblet of water and taking a big gulp. I couldn't help but laugh at her reaction.

"See? You're halfway to being a dragon already," I said, still chuckling.

She gave me a mock glare, and pouted cutly. "Next time, you try it first!"

We continued to eat and joke around, enjoying the feast. At one point, Seraphine nudged me and pointed to a platter of roasted pheasant. "Do you think this pheasant was caught by Uncle Vaelor? He did tell us that he went hunting recently."

I raised an eyebrow, pretending to ponder the question. "Could be. But knowing Uncle Vaelor's hunting skills, I doubt he could even catch a cat."

Seraphine laughed so hard she almost spilled her drink.

"But it's the truth, no?" I said with a wink. "He is getting old."

I loved her; my sister was as silly as I was. And our conversation certainly amused the people around us. I caught my mother looking at us, hiding her smile behind her hand that covered her mouth.

"Do you think Mother is laughing at us or with us?" I whispered to Seraphine, nudging her gently.

"Both, probably," Seraphine whispered back with a grin. "You know she loves it when we have fun, even at these stuffy events."

I nodded, watching as Mother turned her attention back to the conversation she was having with one of the other noble ladies. It was nice to know that our antics could bring a bit of joy to her, especially with all the pressures she faced.

"Do you think Father would join us if he could?" Seraphine asked teasingly.

I imagined our father, the formidable Lord Aelor, trying to keep up with our playful banter. The thought made me chuckle. "I think he'd try, but he'd probably end up getting us into more trouble."

Seraphine giggled. "You're right. Remember the time he tried to show us how to juggle and ended up breaking two vases and a statue?"

I laughed at the memory. "And then he blamed it on the cat! Poor Shadow didn't know what happened."

We both burst into laughter again, earning a few more curious glances from the nearby guests. Mother gave us a quick, affectionate glance, amused at our talks even as she continued her conversation.

At some point after finishing the meal, I tried to strike up a conversation with some of the other boys around my age. Not that they were interesting, but I had to do it. Fucking politics. But as nice as my parents were, they would show me hell if I wouldn't be a proper heir at these feasts, hosted by them or not.

I approached a small group of boys who were talking animatedly near the end of the long table. They fell silent as I drew near, their eyes assessing me with varying degrees of curiosity and wariness. I put on my most charming smile, the one Mother had taught me to use in such situations.

"Good evening," I greeted them, trying to sound more enthusiastic than I felt. "Mind if I join you?"

One of the boys, a tall, lanky lad with silver hair and piercing green eyes, nodded. "Of course, Kaelarys. We were just talking about the upcoming tourney. Are you going to participate?"

"Not this time," I replied, inwardly relieved. "I'm still a bit young for that. But I hear it's going to be quite the spectacle."

Another boy, shorter and stockier with a mop of curly silver hair, chimed in. "My father, Lord Belaerys, says it's going to be the biggest one in years. They're even bringing in fighters from the Summer Isles."

"That sounds impressive," I said, nodding politely. "Do you know who the main competitors are?"

The boys launched into a detailed discussion about the various warriors expected to compete, their strengths and weaknesses, and who they thought would come out on top. I listened attentively, inserting a comment here and there to keep the conversation flowing. It was tedious, but necessary. Father had always stressed the importance of forming alliances and gathering information, even at a young age.

As the conversation dragged on, my mind began to wander. I glanced around the hall, catching sight of Seraphine, who was engaged in a lively conversation with a group of girls. She seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself, her laughter ringing out occasionally. I envied her ability to make friends so easily.

One of the boys, a slightly older and more serious-looking lad with silver hair and sharp blue eyes, turned to me and asked, "What do you think about Rhaegor? Do you think he'll continue to dominate the arena?"

My attention snapped back to the conversation. "Rhaegor? He's a legend. I've heard stories about his skill and bravery. As long as he continues to fight, I don't see anyone defeating him."

The boys nodded in agreement, their respect for Rhaegor not surprising. They are boys, and there are no video Games here, so there is only so much entertainment. The discussion shifted to the recent matches they had seen and their predictions for future fights. I did my best to keep up, though my interest waned quickly.

"By the way, have you met my cousin Vaeryx?" the tall boy asked, pointing to a boy with silver hair and violet eyes who had just joined the group.

"No, I don't think I have," I replied, extending my hand. "Kaelarys, pleasure to meet you."

"Vaeryx," the boy responded with a polite nod, shaking my hand. "I've heard a lot about you. They say you have a keen mind for strategy."

"That's kind of you to say," I replied, feeling a bit more at ease. "I've been learning from the best."

Another boy with darker hair and green eyes, who had been mostly quiet until now, spoke up. "I'm Ghallex, by the way. Do you think Rhaegor will face off against that new fighter from the east?"

"Possibly," I said, trying to remember what I'd heard about the eastern fighters. "If he does, it will definitely be a fight to remember."

The boys continued to discuss the upcoming tourney, and I managed to keep the conversation flowing without too much effort. Despite my initial reluctance, I found that talking to them wasn't as bad as I'd feared.

After what felt like an eternity, the feast began to wind down, and the guests started to disperse. I excused myself from the group, feeling exhaustion already. I made my way back to Seraphine, who was now talking to Mother.

"Fucking politics," I muttered under my breath. "Hate it already."

Seraphine noticed my approach and grinned. "How did the conversation go with the other boys? Make any new friends?"

I rolled my eyes. "Not really. Just did what I had to do. You know how it is."

Mother overheard and gave me a knowing smile. "You're learning, Kaelarys. These connections are important for your future. But I'm proud of you for making the effort."

"Thanks, Mother," I replied, feeling a bit better. "I'll keep trying."

"So," my sister began with a smile, "Want to visit Ancalagon and Ruby before bed?"

I grinned back at her. "Of course! I've been looking forward to seeing them all day."

Ancalagon and Ruby were mine and Seraphine's dragons. Ancalagon, a massive and fearsome beast, had scales that glistened like frozen Ice, while Ruby, though smaller, had a fiery spirit that matched her brilliant crimson hue. Visiting them was always fun. They had grown tremendously in the last years.

"No, you will not."My mother, it seemed, had different plans. She ended our trip before it even began."You will go to bed, or else you stink of dragon again!"

Well, there goes our adventure I guess.

"Yes, mother," we said simultaneously.

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3rd one. Wow, I am as surprised as you are. I thought I would throw it away after the second chapter, but surprise surprise, I am still here.