NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25: Dragon isle
Bloodfort
Aegon sat on a throne of red marble in the grand hall, staring down at an elderly man holding a staff and a rolled piece of parchment sealed with wax bearing a dragon sigil.
"My prince, a missive from the capital," Archmaester Koren said with a knowing smile, clearly expecting Aegon to ask questions.
Aegon sighed, resting his head on his hand. "Did we fail to send our taxes, or did my father neglect to deliver the gold to my uncle?"
Koren chuckled. "We sent Tobias, who merely followed your father's orders."
"Same difference," Aegon replied, crossing his legs. Dressed in black leather riding boots that reached over his knees, tight black pants, and a loose-fitting white silk shirt open at the front to reveal his scaled side and toned torso, Aegon looked every bit the part of a dragonlord. He was now six foot six, with the commanding presence of a man who knew his place in the world.
"If the king has summoned me for something trivial, you may go in my stead," Aegon continued. "Tell him I'm either meeting the Iron Bank or chasing pirates. I'll return to King's Landing for Helaena's next name day; it will be her coming of age, and Bloodfort will finally have a mistress." His lips curled into a sly grin.
"Well, my prince, you have two missives. One from the king and one from your namesake."
"The king is inviting you to Aegon's betrothal to Helae—"
Bang!
The armrest of Aegon's throne shattered as he rose to his full height, his calm demeanor vanishing. He strode toward the maester with an intensity that made Koren's ever-present smile widen.
"Calm yourself," Koren said. "Your namesake is far cleverer than your uncle. The queen also knows where your heart lies. Aegon the Elder's letter advises you to prepare the islands to hide a dragon and a girl for a while. She'll be arriving by nightfall."
Aegon stopped, a smirk replacing his earlier fury. "Prepare the fort and the dragons' rest for our guest," he ordered.
The Dragon Isles
The transformation of the Stepstones into what Aegon called the Dragon Isles was nothing short of extraordinary. Once barren, rocky islands, they had been reshaped through ingenuity and sheer will.
With the support of his grandparents, Aegon's scholars, led by the eccentric Rowan Robar, had surveyed the islands. Rocky stretches became quarries, while sandy expanses were enriched with soil brought from the Reach. Pirate fleets were coerced—often for no more than a single gold dragon per voyage—to haul the soil. The sight of Vhagar, still formidable despite her age, made refusal unthinkable.
The reclaimed land bore grain, primarily to feed Vhagar. The once-mighty dragon now enjoyed a semi-retirement on the isles but still delighted in incinerating pirate ships with Ophiuchus, the prince's infamous dragon, at her side.
Ophiuchus was unlike any other dragon. Long and serpentine, with only front limbs and wings, the beast often battled sharks and whales for sport. The dragon's underwater lair beneath Bloodstone Island housed trophies of its hunts, including a kraken it once dragged ashore to display proudly to its rider.
The serpent-like dragon was already one of the largest in the realm. Its wild, untamed nature was a testament to Aegon's belief: dragons should never be caged. Even Vhagar had her own cave, where she rested in peace.
Aegon's Rule
Life in the Dragon Isles suited Aegon. His presence was felt across the Narrow Sea, where trade routes passed through the Stepstones. Pirates either served his fleet or avoided his waters entirely, knowing the wrath of his dragons awaited those who defied him.
Aegon's reputation as the "Pirate Prince" was a mix of fact and legend. He harassed the Triarchy, much like his father had during the War for the Stepstones. But Aegon's approach was different. Instead of burning cities, he claimed ships, selling them to merchants further east and freeing their crews.
Not all his endeavors were political. Aegon built a grand sept on Bloodstone, improved the castle, and maintained a lively correspondence with his family. His gifts on their name days were extravagant—ships for hid Cousins and two separate fleets for Helaena and his sisters.
Though he called himself a devout man, Aegon was not above pettiness. Once, he deposited a Triarchy flagship outside the gates of Tyrosh as a statement of dominance. His grandmother's chastisement put an end to such theatrics, but his boldness only added to his growing legend.
The Plan
Sitting on his throne, Aegon contemplated the missives and the coming arrival of Helaena. Her letters over the years had been a source of joy, and he often daydreamed of sweeping her off her feet.
"I'll see to it that the House of the Dragon soars higher than ever," he mused. "From my throne in Bloodstone, i will further the Targaryen name . But first, I'll steal my bride from my cousin and give him a proper gift in return. Perhaps a Bravosee courtesan pleasure ship—what man wouldn't love that?"
Aegon's laughter echoed through the hall, a sound full of confidence, ambition, and the unmistakable pride of a dragonlord.