NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: The Black Dread
(Third Person POV)
Balerion let out a deep growl, loud enough that everyone present felt it through their skins and in their bones. The Goldcloaks were nervous and intimidated, as was Lord Corlys, but they braced themselves. Daemon Targaryen was also a bit nervous, fully aware of Balerion's legendary status. If the Dragons were thought as Gods by the people, then Balerion was the most powerful of gods.
The only one who was calm was Baelon Targaryen, the Heir to the Iron Throne. He merely sat there, looking at the criminals he had brought before the Black Dread.
The Ratcatchers were crying in fear, piss filling their pants and pooling around them.
The goldcloak next to them stepped back, "Fucking hells." He said
Lord Corlys gulped, "Balerion.." He whispered
"As horrifying as ever, eh, the old brute." Daemon smirked as he looked at the Black Dread, a glint of admiration in his eyes
Balerion lifted his head, letting out a deep rumble as he opened his maw, the sound was extremely terrifying. His glare was piercing right through the two ratcatchers, but despite this, everyone was intimidated.
The Black Dread was the largest dragon in the world, even larger than Vhagar herself. Balerion could occasionally be seen outside the walls, his lying body taller than the city walls. Both him and Vhagar are too large to be constantly moving in and out of the Dragonpit, prompting for them to be stationed outside the walls, with their own stationed sections built.
Right now, he is merely reaching his head towards his rider, responding to Baelon's ire. His entire body was hidden from sight, in the shadows but the full magnitude of Balerion's size could be seen as an entire mountain atop a hill.
Both Vhagar and Vermithor, two veteran and old dragons, show their age through their saggy hide under their necks. This was a sign of their age, for whatever reason. But Balerion did not show this, his hide and scales were large, yes but they were hardened and honed.
This made him more terrifying; the largest dragon in the world, seemingly unaffected by the aging of its kind. His scales were black and the deep shade of red looked healthy, full of life and power. His teeth, which were exposed
Baelon stood up as he reached and patted Balerion under his chin, "I don't need to tell you who this one is, do I?" He said as he looked at Balerion who kept rumbling loudly, "Everyone in this Realm knows. From every old crone to every newborn babe knows it; This Is Power Incarnate."
One of the Ratcatchers looked down and began to mumble prayers under his breath, the other one just wept loudly as he looked at the Dragon.
Baelon then looked at the Ratcatchers, "There is nothing that'll save you." He said, "Except for Fate."
He flung the gold coin towards them, the light of the torches reflecting off it as it flew towards them, landing in the dirt in front of them.
One of them looked at it, "W-What?"
Daemon chuckled, "This has gotten interesting. I'm glad I came here."
"Yes, but why am I here?" Corlys said, "I-"
"Silence." Baelon said seriously
Balerion lowered his head next to Baelon and growled.
Corlys cleared his throat and didn't say a word. He knew that there was a deeper reason for him to be here, it wouldn't be for nothing.
Baelon looked at the ratcatchers, "Flip a coin." He said, "If it's heads, I'll spare you death by The Black Dread. If it's Dragon....well, you know."
The Goldcloaks reached down and cut their ropes, freeing their limbs and giving them movement.
"W-What?" one of them said
"Pick the coin and flip it." the goldcloak spat, "Now."
The one that was praying picked it up and flipped it, watching as the gold coin glowed from the light of the torches in the air.
It landed on the ground, revealing the face of King Jaehaerys.
"Y-Yes!" the ratcatcher cried in relief, "T-Thank you, my Prince! Thank you!"
Baelon nodded, "Uncle."
Suddenly, a blade plunged through the back of the ratcatcher's mouth, his eyes widened in shock as blood poured down the tip of Dark Sister and to the ground.
The other Ratcatcher crawled away, "W-What?!" He cried before two Gold Cloaks caught him and punched him in the face and stomach
"Stay!" one of them warned
Daemon pulled his blade out of the head of the ratcatcher, the dead body plopping down to the ground as the Rogue Prince wiped the blood off the famed Valyrian Steel blade.
"Mm." he said as he looked at the ratcatcher who was crying
Baelon looked at the other ratcatcher, and leaned forward as Balerion let out a rumble, "I am a man of my word. He didn't die by Balerion...." He said, "But who the fuck said he was going to walk out of this alive? No. Your Fate was decided the moment you acted with malintent on my Helaena. I will invoke my Wrath upon anyone who dares harm her!"
Daemon smiled as he picked the gold dragon up, "Flip the coin." he said as he tossed it to the ratcatcher, "My Nephew awaits."
The ratcatcher shook his head, "Mercy, Prince! Please!"
The goldcloak pulled dagger out, "Shut the fuck up." he said as he cut his cheek with it
"Ah!" he cried in pain as blood ran down the cut, "S-Stop....."
"Flip the fucking coin!" the other one said as he punched him on the stomach, "That's what you get for laying your hands on the Princess! Nobody does something like that and gets away with it!! Now flip the coin!"
The Ratcatcher slowly picked the coin up as he sobbed, blood pouring down from the cut. He then weakly flipped the coin and it landed on the ground in front of him. The light of the torches illuminated a dragon engraved on the coin.
"Ah..." Daemon said, "Poor bastard."
The Goldcloaks picked him up and dragged him towards Baelon and Balerion.
Balerion opened his maw and let out a rumble, slowly moving forward, his gargantuan wings coming into view, covering the entire area. As the goldcloaks dragged the ratcatcher to them, Balerion lifted his head up, towering high over them.
The goldcloaks threw the man into the ground and quickly walked away as he got up to his feet.
"Mercy!" He cried as he looked at Prince Baelon, "My Prince!"
"No." Baelon simply said with a serious look
Balerion then quickly swooped down and in a terrifyingly swift motion, took the man into his mouth along with a piece of the ground, causing a light shockwave and throwing dirt everywhere. He raised his head as he quickly gulped, swallowing the man whole.
Baelon showed no reaction, merley looking at Balerion who shook his neck, looking down at the rest of the crowd present.
Lord Corlys watched this with his eyes widened, in complete shock, "P-Prince Baelon...."
"Lord Corlys." Daemon said as he looked at him, "You saw it, right?"
Lord Corlys looked at him, "What?"
"You see that my Nephew is not someone to cross, right?" Daemon asked as he walked up to him, "Best keep that in mind...when you constantly whine about my cousin who was supposed to be Queen, when you complain that my brother refused your proposal to marry Laena to Baelon back then. Tell the Lords who whisper behind my brother's back..."
"Do not piss Prince Baelon off."
[Read my Novel: Cursed As A Dragon God.
https://www.webnovel.com/book/30681650400196305]