Chapter 98: Binding Spells and Dragons
The Gods Eye lay like a vast blue mirror hammered flat by the sun, covering a great stretch of the world.
Its tranquil surface shimmered, resembling a sheet of polished blue copper.
Today, however, the Gods Eye was unusually lively.
Numerous boats sailed upon the lake, each fitted with scorpion bolt-throwers. This had been arranged by Rhaegar himself—to test both his own strength and that of his dragons against the realm's most feared anti-dragon weapon, and to judge just how dangerous scorpions truly were.
The scorpion bolts were blunted, yet even so they remained deadly.
On a concealed shore near the Gods Eye, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen faced his dragon—the Silver Emperor.
Above them, Balerion the black dragon and Vhagar the purple-scaled dragon circled low, maintaining watch.
The great wyrm's leathery wings spread wide, casting an enormous shadow across sky and shore.
Flame bloomed at Rhaegar's fingertips.
Black, blue, gold, bronze, and dark iron hues flickered and flowed, blending like a living rainbow. Runes danced within the fire—at times shaping themselves into ancient shields, longswords, and warhammers, at times becoming fish, three-headed eagles, or rising springs of water.
It was a living blossom of fire.
Confusion flickered in the Silver Emperor's molten-gold eyes. He did not yet understand what his rider intended.
Rhaegar raised the flame toward him.
"Breathe your true fire," he said calmly. "Young one."
The Silver Emperor hesitated, then obeyed.
Heat gathered in his throat, coiling like a serpent. A compact sphere of radiant silver fire burst forth, wrapped in a faint golden halo. His scales glowed, shining like molten silver jade.
The silver flame was so hot that the air itself warped. Enhanced by the Dragon Nest of Fire and multiple runes, the Silver Emperor's dragonflame was dense, heavy, and abundant.
The two fires met—Rhaegar's multicolored flame and the Silver Emperor's silver-gold dragonflame.
They collided.
Rivers of fire crashed together, bathing both man and dragon in searing light. Yet the flames resisted one another, refusing to fully merge.
The Silver Emperor carefully controlled the output of his fire, sensing his rider's intent.
At the proper moment, Rhaegar cut his palm and let his blood drip into his flame.
The dragon followed instinctively.
Dragon's blood—silver-bright, burning-hot—flowed into the fire. It did not burn away. Instead, it was cradled within the flame itself, the essence of a true dragon preserved by fire.
Ordinary vows require ink and parchment.
The Mind Rune required fire to meet fire, blood to meet blood, and heart to meet heart.
The two flames raged, Rhaegar's fire and the Silver Emperor's dragonflame strengthening each other until identical points of light appeared upon the brows of both man and dragon.
Rhaegar swayed, face pale with exhaustion. Producing such power strained even him.
At last, both flames ceased.
The two fire clusters interlocked like links of a chain, pulsing once—as though acknowledging their bond—then slowly dissolved. A single, indistinguishable orb of multicolored fire split into two and flowed back into Rhaegar and the Silver Emperor.
Twin points of light glimmered on their brows.
The Heart Binding had taken hold.
The Heart Binding is the foundation of all true dragon-binding spells. Lesser dragonlords rely on whips, spikes, or pain. The highest Valyrian dragonlords relied on binding spells and blood-pacts.
The deeper the bond between dragon and rider, the greater the power of the binding.
Binding Spell (Heart Binding): Perfect.
Blood and fire merge and grow together.
When riding a great dragon, rider and dragon act as one—half man, half dragon.
"Dragonflame," Rhaegar commanded silently.
The Silver Emperor answered at once, unleashing a torrent of silver fire into the lake. The water boiled and evaporated in a roaring cloud of steam.
"Low-altitude flight."
The Silver Emperor skimmed the surface of the Gods Eye, shadow sweeping across the waves.
"High-altitude concealment. Protect yourself."
The dragon surged skyward, shrinking to a distant point of light.
Balerion and Vhagar sensed the bond instantly and joined in, their movements harmonizing with the Silver Emperor's.
Brilliant dragonflame lit the sky. The roars of dragons echoed across the lake. Their scales gleamed like living gemstones.
This was not the roar of war or kinslaying, but of joy and mastery.
At present, Rhaegar could only form a full Heart Binding with the Silver Emperor. Through the Blood and Fire Chain, however, Balerion and Vhagar could still sense his intent and emotions. Their coordination was not perfect—but it was already far beyond ordinary dragonriders.
The dragons preferred to stay together.
The Silver Emperor led as the primary attacker, with Balerion and Vhagar acting as support. Though they competed at times, they fought as a single force.
Rhaegar felt exhilaration surge through him.
This was the true legacy of Old Valyria—man and dragon moving as one, as naturally as limbs obey the mind.
Many Targaryens of later generations, riding young or unruly dragons, failed to master this bond. That failure had led to countless tragedies.
As for magical horns, Rhaegar knew of two: the dragon horn and the Horn of Winter. The dragon horn was likely still lost within the ruins of Valyria itself. For now, the Smoking Sea was far too dangerous to enter.
He would return when he was stronger.
Rhaegar opened his status panel:
Rhaegar Targaryen
Identity:
Last Dragonlord of Westeros, Blood of Fire (High Valyrian Grade; exceptional even among ancient Dragonlords).
Heart Binding active—Man and Dragon as One.
Fire resistance and fire vitality continuously strengthening.
Titles:
Born at Summerhall, Silver Prince, Victor of the Stepstones, Spearbreaker, The Unburnt, Father of Dragons, Silver Dragon Prince.
Aptitudes:
Dragonlord Potential, Sword Heart, Harp Mind, Dragon Dreamer.
Charisma:
Beloved Prince of the Realm, Friend of Dragons, Natural Commander.
Achievements:
Heart Binding, Rune Mastery (Shield, Sword, Hammer), Blood and Fire Chain, Dragon Pact.
Equipment:
Bronze Dragonlord's Ring (Unsealed), Dragon Nest of Fire.
Rhaegar was satisfied.
Among all the heirs he had encountered, only the Sealord of Braavos's chosen heir had ever made him cautious. The wealth and foundations of Braavos rivaled even the ancient Freehold.
Still, that heir's vitality was damaged. Rhaegar sensed illness in his future.
Rhaegar mounted the Silver Emperor and rose with the wind, circling the Gods Eye.
Below, Ser Barristan Selmy, standing at the prow of a ship, looked troubled.
"Your Grace," the White Knight called, "this experiment borders on madness."
Rhaegar smiled faintly.
"I am fully prepared. Let them fire—slowly. This is only the first test."
The scorpion crews readied their weapons.
Above the lake, the Silver Prince raised the red-and-black banner of House Targaryen.
The trial was about to begin.
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