Chapter 40:"He is just being himself."

Just as Vahaemorys and Athenna were beginning to enjoy a moment together, one of the elder dwarves rushed to Vahaemorys's room and urgently called from outside the door, "My Liege!" This abrupt interruption disrupted the pleasant atmosphere Vahaemorys had been trying to create.

Athenna, wiping her eyes, looked at Vahaemorys, waiting for his instructions. Vahaemorys sighed and said, "Go to my mother's side. I will call for you when I need you. Take the tray with you, and make sure to eat your fill without wasting any." Athenna followed Vahaemorys's orders diligently. She left behind a portion of food for Vahaemorys, as he had requested, and then departed the room. Before leaving, she cast a curious glance at the dwarf elder who had arrived.

The dwarf elder returned her gaze for a moment before turning his attention to the matter that had brought him there.

Vahaemorys took his seat and fixed his gaze on the elder dwarf, waiting for him to explain the issue with the pure water canal construction. The dwarf elder, hesitant but determined, began, "My Liege, there is an issue with the pure water canal construction."

Vahaemorys gestured for him to continue, pouring himself a glass of wine in the process. The elder went on, "I had proposed connecting our pure water canal with the little Rhoyne river, as you had instructed, but Pentos did not grant us permission. They questioned how Athens could undertake such endeavors in their domain without their consent."

Vahaemorys, clearly annoyed, asked, "Didn't you inform them that you were representing both House Narnareon and Valyria?" The elder hesitated for a moment before responding.

The room's atmosphere grew tense as Vahaemorys pressed, "Am I not clear in my question?" The elder finally explained, "My Liege, we did inform them of your representation, but... the Prince of Pentos informed us that House Narnareon no longer represents Valyria."

Vahaemorys's brow furrowed at this revelation, and his demeanor turned cold. He probed further, "And?"

The elder continued, his voice strained, "They captured a couple of hundred of our slaves and even attempted to seize some of our men as compensation for our actions regarding their river. They demanded a ransom for the captives, but we resisted."

As the room's atmosphere grew heavier, Vahaemorys pressed again, "And?"

With visible difficulty, the elder confessed, "The men and slaves we lost were not warriors. They were taken as prisoners."

Vahaemorys's expression darkened, and he ordered the elder, "Bring Ragnar here," his voice cold.

The elder dwarf hurriedly ran outside after bowing, urgently called for Ragnar. Moments later, he returned with Ragnar, who was visibly sweating, filled with self-doubt for what he believed was his carelessness in not providing enough protection for the workers and slaves.

Vahaemorys stared at Ragnar with cold eyes and demanded, "What am I hearing?" Ragnar, sensing the gravity of the situation, immediately knelt and pleaded, "My Lord, forgive me. I have been careless."

Vahaemorys asked if Ragnar had anything else to report. Ragnar knew his master well and understood that one wrong word could determine his fate, even though Vahaemorys considered him a friend. Ragnar cautiously revealed, "There are rumors circulating among the Freehold cities."

Vahaemorys inquired, "And what are these rumors?"

Ragnar reluctantly replied, "They say House Narnareon has been exiled from Valyria."

Vahaemorys smiled with a hint of amusement and instructed, "Prepare 100,000 strong soldiers and seven dragons by nightfall. Establish communication with other dragon lords through the glass candle before nightfall as well. Send some spies into the inner city of Pentos."

Despite the rumors and the audacious claims, Vahaemorys didn't complain. He was well aware that outside Valyria, few understood the vast difference in strength between House Narnareon and other dragon lord families. He was determined to show the newly appointed, arrogant prince of Pentos what it meant to offend him.

Ragnar hastily carried out Vahaemorys's orders before informing the other dragon lords about Vahaemorys's request for communication. As Vahaemorys observed the assembly of dragon lords in Valyria's council hall through the glass candle, an elder dragon lord addressed him, wearing a puzzled expression. "Lord Vahaemorys, I wonder why you have contacted us at this late hour?" he inquired.

Vahaemorys's response was composed and measured, "Pentos has openly rebelled against Valyria." The dragon lords looked taken aback, with one of them interjecting, "But we were not informed of this. We had only heard of some disturbances near Little Rhoyne." Vahaemorys probed, "So, you're suggesting you are not informed about the extent of their actions?"

Another dragon lord suggested a potential solution, "Lord Vahaemorys, the current prince of Pentos is rather reckless. We can appoint a new prince there." Vahaemorys, however, dismissed the idea with a touch of mockery. "There's no need for such complexity to handle such a minor matter," he retorted. His demeanor then shifted to one of cold determination as he stated, "I have also learned of rumors circulating through freehold cities."

The expressions of the other dragon lords visibly changed, and Vahaemorys declared firmly, "Since Pentos has chosen to target me and even dared to challenge my heritage, I must respond." Urgently, another dragon lord proposed, "Lord Vahaemorys, we can negotiate." But Vahaemorys responded resolutely, "There's no room for negotiation when they have dared to capture my men over a small piece of land we granted them. Since they have taken from me, I will take from them as well."

  The dragon lords were visibly shaken by the implications of Jay's words, but none dared to voice further objections. Before ending the communication with the dragon lords, Vahaemorys declared, "There is no longer a Pentos; only Athens remains." The vision in the magic candle faded, leaving the council members with much to contemplate. A young dragon lord, newly appointed after his father's passing, questioned, "Isn't Lord Vahaemorys being overbearing?" To this, another dragon lord replied, "You've arrived a bit late to the council to understand who you're talking about. He is just being himself—the devil of House Narnareon."