| Chapter 19: Aegon’s Escape |

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| Aegon Targaryen - 1st Person Pov |

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The streets of Xia Quo were alive with chaos.

The city, once the beating heart of the Yi Ti Empire, now trembled under the weight of rebellion. Distant sounds of shouting and steel on steel echoed through the narrow streets, mixing with the scent of burning wood and incense that clung to the night air.

But for me, the sounds were distant,— muffled by the pounding of my own heart and the whirlwind of emotions tearing through me.

Jia was dead.

Her blood was still on my hands, though I had tried wiping it away. But no matter how much I scrubbed at it, the stain remained,— on my skin, in my mind. It felt like a brand, a reminder of the woman who had shaped so much of my life in Yi Ti, and whose life had been stolen in front of me.

Every heartbeat was a painful reminder of her final breath, her soft and yet twisted words, and the kiss that had carried more sorrow than passion.

I wanted to feel anger.

I should have felt anger.

But as I fled through the darkened streets with General Wei at my side, all I could feel was a deep, gnawing sense of loss.

"You need to move faster, Aegon." Wei urged, his voice low but urgent, as we slipped through the shadows of an alleyway.

His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, eyes sharp and vigilant as he scanned the streets. "They're coming for you..."

I barely heard him, my mind still clouded by the weight of everything that had happened.

I had been betrayed,— fooled by Shen Dao, by the very man I would've trusted with my life once. He had trained me, shaped me, and all the while he had been playing a game I hadn't seen until it was too late.

I clenched my fists, my breath coming in short, ragged bursts as we moved. The city was suffocating tonight,— every alley, every street corner felt like a trap waiting to snap shut around me. And yet, the greatest trap of all had been the one Jia had laid, binding me to her with threads I hadn't even realized were there until they had snapped, leaving me raw and untethered.

"We can't stay in the open..." Wei continued, his voice pulling me back to the present.

"The Empress's guards will be searching every inch of this city for you. We need to reach the docks."

I nodded, though the movement felt mechanical. The docks.

The ship that I had arranged days ago was still there, waiting for me, but it felt like another world now.

Old Valyria had seemed like an abstract idea,— a destination to chase, a place to discover. But now it was my only option. My only way out.

I glanced back toward the palace, its grand spires rising above the city like silent sentinels. Jia had ruled from there, commanded the empire with unwavering power. And now, it was no longer hers. It was a tomb.

The thought of her lying there, her body cold and lifeless, sent a chill through me. Her final moments had been filled with regret, her voice trembling with the weight of everything we had never said to each other. Could I have saved her?

No, I reminded myself. Shen Dao had made sure of that.

He had betrayed her, betrayed me, all for the True Empress orders. That thought stirred something inside me,— an ember of anger, of defiance. Shen Dao may have let me live, but the woman he served clearly did not seem to want the same.

"We need to move." Wei repeated, a little more urgently this time.

I shook myself out of the haze, focusing on the general at my side. He had helped me escape the palace, risking his own life to get me out of there. I owed him my life, but there was no time for gratitude now. There was only survival.

"Where do we go?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

Xun's eyes flickered to the rooftops, where shadows moved against the night sky. "The guards are sweeping the streets." he said, "But they won't expect us to take the narrow paths. Follow me."

Without waiting for a response, he took off down the alleyway, his movements swift and sure. I followed close behind, my heart pounding in my chest as I forced my mind to focus on the present.

The city was falling apart. It was as though every stone in Xia Quo had been pulled loose, and now the entire empire teetered on the edge of collapse. Jia's rule had been fragile, built on fear and control, and now that she was gone, the cracks had burst wide open. The rebels were inside the city walls, their banners flying high, and it wouldn't be long before they overran the palace itself, all for the True Empress.

But I wasn't thinking about the rebellion. Not really.

My mind kept circling back to Jia,— to her voice, to the way her fingers had clutched mine in her final moments, her eyes filled with something I couldn't name. Sorrow? Regret? Perhaps, I would like to think that in her own way, she had loved me.

Or perhaps it had been something else,— something darker. A desire to control, to bind me to her forever.

I'll never know.

As we made our way through the narrow streets, I caught more glimpses of Xia Quo in turmoil. The once proud city had been thrown into chaos,— buildings smoldered in the distance, the air thick with smoke. The streets were filled with panicked citizens, some fleeing the advancing rebels, others watching with grim fascination as the empire crumbled around them.

My heart ached as I watched it all unfold. I had lived here for years,— trained, fought, and learned under Jia's guidance. I had been part of this world, a learning player in its politics, a student of its power. And now I was running from it, leaving it all behind.

But as much as the city's collapse saddened me, I knew it was time to go. Yi Ti was not my home. It had never been. My place was in Westeros, on the Iron Throne. The dreams had shown me that much.

And now I had to survive, if I was to ever see it.

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As we moved further through the maze of streets, Wei led me down a side road that twisted between crumbling buildings. The sound of boots on cobblestone echoed in the distance,— the Empress's guards were still searching for me.

"How long until we reach the docks?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder, my mind already picturing the soldiers closing in on us.

"They are not very far from here..." Xun replied, his voice calm despite the tension in the air. "We just need to get through the market square. Once we're past there, the path to the harbor is clear."

I nodded, though anxiety gnawed at the edges of my mind. The market square was one of the most open areas in Xia Quo,— a wide space where hundreds of stalls sold everything from spices to silks. It was the worst possible place to be if we were trying to move unseen.

But we had no choice. The docks were my only way out, and the square was the only way to reach them.

We slipped into a narrow passage between two buildings, emerging on the edge of the marketplace. As expected, it was filled with people,— most of them rushing to gather their belongings or find shelter from the violence that was sweeping through the city. But scattered among the crowd were guards,— men in the black-and-gold armor of the new rulling Empress, their eyes scanning the throngs of people for any sign of me.

My heart pounded in my chest as we ducked into the shadows of a nearby stall, crouching low to avoid detection. Wei's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene, his jaw set in grim determination.

"They're still looking for you..." he murmured, his voice barely audible over the noise of the crowd.

"I know." I replied, my throat tight with tension. "How do we get past them?"

Wei considered for a moment, his brow furrowed. "We'll have to move with the crowd." he said finally. "Keep your head down, stay close. They won't expect us to slip through the middle of it."

I wasn't sure I shared his confidence, but there was no time to argue. The guards were closing in, and we had to move.

With a deep breath, we stepped out from the shadows and into the throng of people. I kept my head low, my heart racing as we weaved through the crowd, my eyes darting from side to side, watching for any sign of the guards. The marketplace was filled with noise,— people shouting, merchants packing up their wares, the distant clang of metal as soldiers moved through the city.

We were almost halfway across when I heard it,— a shout, followed by the unmistakable sound of running boots.

"They've spotted us." Xun hissed, grabbing my arm and pulling me forward. "Run!"

I didn't need to be told twice. My legs burned as I sprinted through the crowd, Wei leading the way as we dodged between the stalls.

The guards were closing in, their shouts growing louder as they pushed through the panicked civilians. I could hear the clatter of their armor, the stomp of their boots on the cobblestones.

My heart thundered in my chest, fear driving me forward. If they caught me now, it was over. The Empress's guards wouldn't hesitate,— they'd cut me down without a second thought. I pushed through the crowd, my breath coming in ragged bursts as I tried to keep up with Wei. The noise of the market faded into the background, drowned out by the relentless pounding of my pulse in my ears.

We turned sharply down another alleyway, the narrow space between buildings barely wide enough for us to move through. The sound of the guards' boots was still behind us, echoing like a death knell. Every footstep felt closer, the shadows of the alley seeming to stretch and twist around me, a maze of stone that threatened to close in.

"Keep moving!" Wei called over his shoulder, his voice low but insistent. He led me through the twisting streets, navigating the chaos like someone who had known these paths his entire life. His hand never left the hilt of his sword, always prepared for a fight, though we both knew it was a fight we couldn't afford.

As we reached the end of the alley, I could see the marketplace opening up once again in front of us. The crowd had thinned now, the panic spreading further as the rebellion consumed more of the city. The night sky above us was streaked with smoke, the glow of fires burning in the distance casting an eerie light over the scene.

"They're getting closer." I muttered, glancing back. I could see the shadows of the guards moving through the narrow streets behind us, their armor gleaming faintly in the firelight.

Wei nodded, his face grim. "We're almost there. The docks are just beyond this square. If we can reach them, we have a chance."

We broke into a run, my legs aching as I pushed myself to keep pace. The square was larger than the alleyways, a wide-open space that left us exposed. I could see the docks in the distance, the masts of ships swaying gently in the harbor. Freedom was so close I could almost taste the salt in the air.

But the guards were relentless.

I heard another shout, and before I could react, an arrow flew past my head, embedding itself in the wall beside me. I cursed under my breath, my heart racing as I ducked low, using the scattered stalls as cover. Wei was beside me in an instant, his hand gripping my arm tightly.

"We need to split up..." he said, his voice urgent. "They're closing in, and if we stay together, they'll corner us. You head for the ship. I'll hold them off."

I shook my head, panic rising in my chest. "No. I'm not leaving you here."

Wei gave me a hard look, his eyes filled with steely resolve. "Aegon, you have to. This is your only chance to get out of here. I'll be right behind you."

I wanted to argue, but the look in his eyes told me there was no point. He had made up his mind. He was going to give me a chance to escape, even if it meant sacrificing himself.

I swallowed hard, my throat tight with emotion. "I won't forget this, Wei. I swear it."

He gave me a small, tight smile. "Just survive, Aegon. You've got more to do in this world than die here."

With that, he turned and sprinted toward the approaching guards, drawing his sword as he went. I watched for a moment as he disappeared into the chaos, his figure lost among the smoke and the flickering shadows.

Then I ran.

The docks were almost within reach. My feet pounded against the cobblestones, the cold night air burning in my lungs as I pushed myself harder, faster. Every step brought me closer to the ship, to freedom, but it also brought me closer to the sound of pursuing guards,— closer to the inevitable clash that awaited me.

As I reached the edge of the docks, I could see the ship that was supposed to be my escape. Its sails were furled, the faint glow of lanterns illuminating the deck as the crew prepared for departure. But the sight of the ship brought no relief. It only made the panic rise further in my chest, because standing between me and the ship were more guards.

They hadn't seen me yet, but it was only a matter of time. I had no choice now. I had to reach that ship or die trying.

I ducked behind a stack of crates, my mind racing.

I couldn't fight my way through them,— there were too many. But I didn't have time to wait for an opening. The guards that Wei was fighting would soon be upon me, and I couldn't rely on him to hold them off forever.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. This was it. The final gamble.

Without thinking, I broke cover and sprinted toward the ship, my heart pounding in my chest. The guards shouted, their swords gleaming in the moonlight as they moved to intercept me. I could feel the weight of every step, the distance between us closing fast.

One of the guards lunged at me, his blade flashing toward my throat. I ducked low, dodging the blow just in time. With a swift motion, I drew my sword and slashed at his leg, sending him tumbling to the ground. But there was no time to stop. I kept running, my eyes locked on the ship, my only chance at escape.

Another guard moved to block my path, his sword raised high. I feinted to the left, then drove my shoulder into his chest, knocking him off balance. He stumbled back, giving me just enough room to slip past him.

The gangplank was just ahead. I was almost there.

But just as I reached the edge of the docks, I heard a voice,— a voice that froze me in place.

"Aegon!"

I turned, my breath catching in my throat.

Shen Dao stood at the far end of the dock, his face illuminated by the flickering light of the nearby lanterns. His expression was calm, but there was something dark in his eyes,— a coldness I hadn't seen before.

"You don't have to run." Shen Dao said, his voice low and measured. "The Empress doesn't want you dead. She wants you to join her."

I stared at him, my heart racing. "Join her? After what she did to Jia?"

"Jia was a necessary sacrifice." Shen Dao replied, taking a step closer. "But you… you are different. The Empress sees your potential. She knows what you're capable of. Together, you could rule."

I shook my head, anger flaring in my chest. "Rule? With her? After everything you've done?"

Shen Dao sighed, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You're letting your emotions cloud your judgment, Aegon. This isn't about Jia anymore. This is about your future. You can still have power, still have a throne. You just have to make the right choice."

For a moment, I hesitated. The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of everything that had happened. I could join the True Empress, take the power she offered. But then I thought of Jia's blood on my hands, the way her body had gone limp in my arms. I thought of Westeros, of the Iron Throne, of my family's legacy.

"No." I said firmly, my voice steady. "I'm not like you, Shen. I won't sell my soul for power,— not anymore."

Shen Dao's face hardened, the coldness in his eyes growing sharper. "Then you'll die for nothing, boy."

Without another word, I turned and sprinted up the gangplank, the sound of Shen Dao's footsteps fading behind me. I didn't look back.

As I reached the deck of the ship, the crew shouted orders, their voices barely audible over the roar of the waves. The sails were unfurled, and the ship began to move, the wind carrying us away from the docks, away from Yi Ti.

I stood at the edge of the deck, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I watched the city fade into the distance. Xia Quo, the empire, everything I had known for so long,— it was all behind me now.

I was free.

But as the ship sailed into the night, the weight of everything that had happened settled over me like a shroud. Jia was dead. Shen Dao had betrayed me. The empire was in flames.

And yet, there was still a fire burning inside me,— a fire that would not be extinguished.

Old Valyria was calling, and I would answer.

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