Volantis groaned under the relentless siege. Arrows rained like deadly hail, and the enemy's battering rams shook the great gates. Inside, Kaerys paced the command hall, the weight of countless lives pressing down on her.
"Send the riders to the Ashen Hills," she ordered. "We need allies—or this city falls."
Fractures Within
Not all shared her resolve. Lord Daven's men muttered dissent, and whispers of rebellion stirred among the nobles.
"We fight our own more than the enemy," Neron warned. "If we don't act, the city will fall from within."
The Dragon's Shadow
Serenthis circled overhead, her flames illuminating the night sky. Yet even the dragon's fury could not quell the growing unrest.
Kaerys watched from the walls, her heart torn. "Power is a double-edged sword," she murmured.
A Betrayal Revealed
Jaro uncovered proof of treachery—a noble secretly communicating with the Targaron heir.
"She sells our people's lives for gold," Jaro said, fury burning in his eyes.
Kaerys's voice was cold steel. "Then she must pay the price."
The Cost of War
As the city burned, Kaerys confronted the harsh truth — victory demands sacrifice, and even the strongest hearts can break.
End of Chapter 44