Chapter 14

Chapter 14

HEALER GREG HOUSE

The only word to describe the last several weeks would be hectic. Hectic. Hectic. Hectic.

Greg did not know how much longer this could continue. Him and his colleagues had been stuck in this 'laboratory' that Aenys had constructed. It was as large as an expansive manse yet had been designed and built to his specifications. Special rooms, with counters along the edges for them to do their work, lecture halls to seat an audience and even rooms that remained freezing cool by some science he did not understand. All to say it had been extremely expensive to build and the equipment inside. It was even more expensive.

He looked at the counter in front of him, at the specially procured ceramic plates that had a jelly-like material to help grow bacteria. There were instruments commissioned from Myr as well as others made in Qohor, yet Greg knew that it would all pay off eventually. With the manufacture of that 'penicillin' the first antibiotic, he knew that Aenys was going to become richer than all. For that brownish powder-cured the clap, and everyone had the clap.

Everyone.

"DAMN, IT ALL!" came the shout from the adjacent room. The massive hall he was in was a shared site where he worked with his colleagues. Yet Aenys worked in a room attached to the Hall.

CLASH! CRACK! THWACK!THWACK!

There was the sound of cursing and glass breaking, wood clattering and he noticed his colleagues getting perturbed as they all stared at the room the noise was coming from. Though this wasn't the first time this was happening. Aenys had been growing more frustrated with each passing day, with each passing failure.

"All right, everyone, back to work," he said as he stood up and took his cane. Everyone followed his words and busied themselves once more, knowing if Aenys walked out and saw anyone slacking, he would not be forgiving. Everyone was tired and had dark circles. Greg himself had not slept for more than four hours in weeks. Because Aenys was desperate and he was failing.

He took a deep breath and picked up his cane and began to move towards his room. He could still hear some grunts from the inside yet he knocked at the door and walked in not waiting for the reply to come.

"Aenys, I am coming in," he walked in, and his eyes widened as he saw the wreckage in the room. Glass shattered, ceramic destroyed, and other materials wasted. But most of all, Aenys was sitting there pressing a red cloth to his hand, trying to stop a massive bleed. His eyes widened as he rushed forward toward the Prince.

"What the hell, are you trying to kill yourself, you idiot!" he berated the man as he reached for the bag to his side, and took out the bandages from the inside.

"It's nothing. It's just a small cut," said the Prince as he began to bandage it, and Greg wasn't impressed by the Prince. Aenys had dark circles under his eyes, his hair was messy, and he had grown a beard. Greg knew that he needed to intervene before the kid killed himself.

"Aenys, you cannot push yourself like this. Look at what you have done to yourself," he pleaded as he cleaned the cut and looked for any glass fragments, thankfully there were none. Aenys huffed at his words and took a shaky breath as he leaned backward, his face twisting as he cleaned the wound with the special spirit.

"I don't know what to do, Greg. It's all failing. Nothing is working, and I don't have much time," said Aenys with a shaky tone and Greg felt the fragility in his tone. He had seen Lady Maegella before she had boarded her ships, and she had not looked well. Aenys had tried to convince her to not travel yet she had been adamant.

Greg had always been proud of his skills and knowledge as a healer, yet the last month had given him a true glimpse of just how far ahead of them Aenys was. And it was massive. The kid was a revolutionary, and Greg knew that no one thought of things as he did. Yet despite his godly brain, Aenys was a human.

And humans failed. And humans died.

"You are doing everything you can, Aenys. We are pouring a huge amount of resources into this, both monetary and personnel into this. But you must listen to me," he began slowly as he finished bandaging the wound.

"Making a revolutionary cure in such a short time is just not possibl…."

"Don't say it, Greg. Don't," muttered Aenys as he glared at him yet he continued.

"Not possible. Even for you," and there was silence in the room.

"And you must accept that," he finished, but the Prince simply shook his head as he stood up, and walked towards his workplace, and began to straighten things up.

"I don't have to accept anything. I can do this. I have to do this," muttered Aenys desperately, and Greg shook his head, knowing there was no talking him out of it. And before he could speak any further, the door to the room was opened violently. His head snapped towards the intruder, and he watched one of the guards standing there huffing for breath.

"My Prince, you need to go to the manse, it's urgent," and he watched as Aenys frowned as he rushed towards the guard.

"What is it? What happened!" the prince asked, his voice shaky.

"My prince, it's about Lady Maegella," and Greg watched as Aenys face grew pale before he broke into a run rushing out of the room without a single word. Greg walked towards the guard and asked him in a small voice.

"What happened to Lady Maegella?" he asked.

"She has been attacked by pirates," and Greg's heart gave out as he heard those words. He closed his eyes as he prayed for the gentle lady, hoping that she would not die.

0000

DAEMON TARGARYEN

Daemon Targaryen sat in his chambers on Dragonstone as he held the mother of his incoming child in his arms. Both of them were covered with sweat from their nightly activities, and the cool morning air was pleasant for him.

Mysaria was awake, as she usually was due to the child, and her belly was now swollen as she neared the fated day. Daemon couldn't wait to hold the child in his hands. This child would be his legacy. His future.

Daemon pushed himself up as he locked lips with Mysaria. Even after all the time he had spent with her, she still managed to excite him even to this day. But it wasn't time for another round yet, so he pulled apart, much to her disappointment.

"What, you don't want me, my prince," she said seductively as she bit her lip, and he smiled as he controlled his growing desire.

"I do, but I believe I must make preparations for my child to be," and he saw his words register to Mysaria as her eyes widened.

"So, you will write to your brother and ask him to come here to deliver the babe," and he nodded. Aenys was the best healer in the world, and there was no way Daemon was going to risk his legacy. He noticed Mysaria's face twist as her hand went to her swollen belly.

"But will he come?" and that was an important question. And truthfully, he also did not know the answer to the question.

"I don't know. But I have to ask, though I believe he will come. He will be angry, but he will come," and she nodded at that. Though that wasn't the only letter, he was going to write. From what Mysaria had told him, his Bronze Bitch was in the capital.

Quite a surprise and an opportunity for him to end that blasted marriage of his. So, he planned to write to Viserys as well. Perhaps his brother would finally see reason.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

He was broken out of his thoughts by a knock on the door. He frowned, at being disturbed like this in his chambers and spoke in a loud voice.

"Who is it?"

"It's Gerardys, my prince! And I bring urgent news!" and Daemon frowned at being disturbed by the master. But news! At this hour!

"Come in!" he ordered, and the master walked in, his chains clanking. He saw Gerardys's eyes glance a bit at Mysaria as his face flushed, but the man was smart enough to avert his gaze instantly.

"My Prince, this came from one of the ships out at sea," and the master handed him a letter. Daemon saw the broken seal, and it belonged to House Velaryon. So, one of their ships had sent a letter.

Curious, he opened the letter as soon as he skimmed over it, his eyes widened as he lept out of the bed.

"You did good in bringing this to me! Get my horse and armor ready!" he ordered as he began to put on his clothes.

"Yes, my prince!" said the master before he rushed out of the room. Daemon picked up his sword and was about to rush out when he heard Mysaria call out from behind.

"What happened, and where are you going?" she asked, and he turned to face her as he told her of the letter.

"Pirates have attacked my aunt's convoy on her way to Kings Landing, one of the captains was able to send a raven. I need to go," and with that, he rushed out of the room into the great Halls.

Soon Dragonstone would shake due to a deafening roar as the Blood Wyrm took flight in haste.

0000

RHAENYS TARGARYEN

The island of Dragonstone was right in front of her. Rhaenys Targaryen remembered running through the sandy shores of this island in her youth, remembered her father rambling behind her, and her mother watching them both from behind. Those had been simpler times.

She looked to the side at her own brood and smiled, thinking that times had made her the one doing the chasing after Lanena and Laenor now. The Sea Snake was her husband's most prized ship, and there were a number of other ships behind theirs waiting to dock.

Corlys had a grim look on his face as he stared at the vessel ahead of them. The Royal vessel had docked, and a ramp was being prepared for the King and the Queen. On the shores stood one of her cousins, dressed in all black and a small retinue with him. She noticed the missing cousin, Aenys was nowhere to be seen.

Much like everyone, the King and Queen were dressed in all black for mourning as well. She noticed Corlys stiffen slightly as Viserys and Aemma began to descend from their ship, flanked on the sides by the Kingsguard.

"We shouldn't have come here. I don't like how this is going!" said Corlys ominously, and she agreed with him, yet there was little that they could do.

Tragedy had struck their house once again as the rogue pirates had attacked their Aunt Maegella's ships. Both Daemon and Aenys had been too late to react and by the time Daemon had reached her, the last of King Jaehaerys's children had died. The news had been devastating for her as she had been looking forward to seeing her Aunt once again.

Yet her grief was nothing compared to whatever Aenys was going through. She prayed to the Gods to bless him with patience, yet, she knew that losing someone so close scarred you for life.

"I feel the same, but there was no choice. Her last wish was to be buried with her mother and father. Aenys would never budge on that," and Corlys nodded.

"I know, but this is playing into Daemon's hand. This gives him legitimacy!" argued her husband, and she nodded stiffly as she watched Daemon present bread and salt to Viserys.

"You are right, but there was no other choice. And perhaps this could be an opportunity for the three of them to settle their differences," she hoped though even she knew that chances for that were low, especially with Viserys's faithful hand standing right behind him.

Viserys took the bread, and with that, the ceremony was complete, and the Royal vessel began to move once again, making way for their ship.

"Do you know they say Vhagar lives in one of the caves of this castle?" her head whipped towards Laena as she found her talking to her brother excitedly.

"And who told you that?" she questioned her sharply, and Laena did not see the expression on her face and answered nonchalantly.

"One of the dragon keepers told me that. They say Vhagar lives in a cave here," and then she finally turned to face.

"Can I look for her, mother?" Laena asked her excitedly as if she was asking to see a dog.

"NO!" she shut down the notion immediately and saw Laena's smile turn to a frown. But she had learned never to trust the wilfulness of children, so she looked her daughter straight in the eye.

"Laena, you will not go and search for the largest wild dragon. Do you understand?" she spoke sternly, but Laena was not listening to her.

"But you said it yourself. It's the biggest dragon alive!" she said excitedly and she heard Corlys laughing behind her. She turned and gave her husband a glare that shut him up immediately.

"If you can't go search for her alone, maybe I could come with you!" spoke Laenor from the side, and Rhaenys could only scream.

"NO!"

0000

As always, you can read ahead and support me on Patre 0n. Your support helps me out a lot and makes it possible for me to write. So, if possible, have a look and consider dropping whatever you can. I shall be extremely grateful.

www.Patre 0n.com/Drkest

Thanks for reading!