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160th year of the Conquest Era.
The long summer still hadn't ended. Granaries everywhere were filled with heavy grains, and the abundant harvest had driven prices to an astonishingly low level. Even in the North, the price of a pound of grain was less than half of what it was twenty years ago. The older generation was slowly passing away, while the new generation was slowly growing up. With the passing of Lord Commander of the Great Wall, Jason Lannister, and Boros Baratheon, who closed his eyes in honor of the conquest of the Stepstones, only Lord Cregan Stark of the North and Dalton Greyjoy of the Iron Islands remained among the older generation of great lords who had participated in the Dance of the Dragons.
This year, Dragonzel was fifty-four, Rhaegor was thirty-four, King Aegon was forty, and Prince Viserys was thirty-eight.
Two years ago, King Aegon recalled Viserys and appointed him as his Hand of the King. Viserys then returned to King's Landing with his eldest son, Aegon, who was already twenty-one. This wasn't because he loved his eldest son so much, but simply because this child was suspected of being a bit too fond of the activity of "procreation." At twenty-one, he had already left at least three bastards in Oldtown. Although Viserys's private attitude towards this was quite ambiguous, he publicly tried his best to cover for his son. It was also that year that Aegon became engaged to eight-year-old Rhaenyra Targaryen. Although Queen Samantha was privately unhappy with this decision, preferring to marry Rhaenyra to her younger brothers Jacaerys Valareus or Dan Valareus, she did not publicly object. Thus, the engagement ceremony proceeded smoothly.
It was also that year that Queen Samantha gave birth to a very beautiful girl. This girl, named Ilena Targaryen, grew up to be extremely beautiful, so much so that Serena Valareus, who came to visit her sister, couldn't stop praising her. This third daughter of the Varezes family, known as the "Light of the Borderlands," couldn't even take her eyes off Ilena when she saw her. Ilena had a pair of beautiful violet eyes, and a strand of pure golden hair was mixed in her platinum blonde hair, which, combined with her fair skin, made the child very beautiful even as a baby.
By the 160th year of the Conquest Era, the children of the Varezes family also gradually began their major life events.
Dragonzel's second son, twenty-one-year-old Jacaerys Valareus, had effortlessly tamed the dragon Skyfire, which responded to his birth, three years prior. In the same year he mounted the dragon, Dragonzel chose a spouse for him: Aslan Rondell's daughter, a brave, agile silver-haired girl named Helena Longder. However, although Helena, who loved riding, archery, and hunting, had developed a deep friendship—or rather, love—with Jacaerys, they had yet to produce an heir for the family.
Dragonzel's second daughter, the twenty-eight-year-old Light of the Borderlands Serena Valareus, married Ray's eldest son, nineteen-year-old Orion Valareus. In the 158th year of the Conquest Era, they bore the Varezes family's second child of the third generation. This time, Serena's honey-colored hair did not affect her child. Her and Orion's eldest son was named Sebastian Blaze, after the Varezes family's important minister, the Lord of Star Shuttle City, the "Golden Finger." Orion Valareus tamed his dragon, Hovendes, the year his child was born.
Sebastian Valareus, the first boy of the third generation of the Varezes family, was born with a weaker constitution than Legan. Had it not been for Dragonzel's protection, the child might have died prematurely.
Dr. Evans, who inherited the roles of Maester Visari and Zesar Weaver, who had both passed away in the Year of Sorrow, speculated that the overly rich dragon blood might have weakened the child, but without sufficient evidence, it remained only a conjecture.
Dragonzel's third son, nineteen-year-old Dan Valareus, became engaged to fifteen-year-old Valenna Valareus. Dan planned to officially marry his beloved after he tamed Syrax. That fierce dragon was not as gentle as its siblings; when Dan was sixteen and preparing to tame it, this irritable dragon even attacked Dan.
Of course, Syrax was stopped by Arrax and Shadow Nightmare, who were supervising, before it could even breathe fire, but the dragon taming was forced to halt.
This delay dragged on for several years.
Sixteen-year-old Jane Valareus married Prince Daeron Targaryen two years ago. At King Aegon's insistence, despite Viserys's objections, Daeron Targaryen came to Dragon Nest City to serve as Dragonzel's adopted son and Rhaegor's squire concurrently.
Dragon Nest City gladly accepted this.
However, Viserys was privately displeased with this marriage, especially since Jane Valareus had no dragon! Rhaegor had prepared two options for his sister: Blood Princess and a dragon egg.
But Jane chose neither. Although she liked to visit the Dragonpit and Dragon Hatchery to see dragons, she had no interest in taming or riding them.
Dragon Nest City in the 160th year of the Conquest Era.
This second-largest castle in the Seven Kingdoms now appeared even more magnificent with the passage of time, and its facilities were increasingly perfected, ensuring the Varezes family members lived comfortably.
Summerhall had also truly become the third-largest city in the Seven Kingdoms—King's Landing remained the largest, Silver Crown City the second, while Oldtown, despite regaining its former prosperity, could only rank fourth.
Children came and went in the Varezes Purple Palace, but what remained constant was that all the children in the palace would become important ministers of the Varezes family in the future.
Dragon Nest City, Silver Blood Tower, Shadow Hall.
This hall is dark and enclosed, a room specifically arranged for the Shadow Finger among the Five Fingers. Normally, the Shadow Finger handles the Varezes family's vast intelligence network here, providing Dragonzel with a thousand and one eyes.
"Long time no see, Hagen. How is Lord Tigaro?" Reigen Kaawen sat smiling beside Hagen Dagareon. Dragonzel now rarely handled government affairs, with the matters of the territory largely transferred to Rhaegor. His Five Fingers also gradually retreated behind the scenes, with only Sebastian Blaze and Hofa the Law-Holder active in the Council of Five Fingers.
The current Five Fingers of the Varezes family are: Jacaerys Valareus, the "Blood Finger," with Ailarion Horth as Jacaerys's assistant; Sebastian Blaze, the "Golden Finger"; Hagen Dagareon, the "Shadow Finger"—he is Lord Tigaro's eldest son and heir, having taken over his father's position after his father fell ill three years ago from a failed poison experiment; Hofa the Law-Holder, the "Steel Finger"; and Reigen Kaawen, the "Silver Finger."
"He's alright," Hagen said softly. "Father's health has not improved. Even with Prince's magic, that poison was too potent. The Scholar said it damaged Father's lungs and liver, keeping his bodily fluids constantly imbalanced."
The heir of Tearfort sighed deeply. He was not optimistic about his father's health. Otherwise, his father would never have allowed him to take over the intelligence network he had built himself.
And that admonition, repeated countless times:
"Before Your Highness, there are no secrets."
"By the way, Legan, why are you here instead of handling government affairs at Laurel Leaf Tower?"
"To invite you," Legan coughed, then said seriously, "King and the Hand of the King will visit Dragon Nest City in three days. They will bring members of the Targaryen royal family, and we must attend as well."
Hagen looked at Legan with an expression as if he were looking at an idiot.
Please, I am the "Shadow Finger"; my job is intelligence.
Legan, how could you think I don't know about the King's visit? Or do you think I can't arrange everything properly?
Legan realized Hagen had misunderstood him and quickly leaned in to whisper, "Your Highness wants you to keep an eye on Prince Aegon. Don't let him get close to the princesses, and don't let him leave any seeds in Dragon Nest City or Summerhall."
Hagen again gave him a look as if he were looking at an idiot.
Although Viserys had been covering for Aegon, paper couldn't hide fire forever. Aegon's ill repute had long circulated among the nobility. This was even the reason Queen Samantha initially didn't want Rhaenyra to be engaged to Aegon. However, persuaded by King Aegon and Viserys, she eventually compromised.
"Don't worry, my people will keep an eye on him the whole time, and Lord Sage is also here," Hagen reassured him. "There won't be any problems."
Legan nodded, finally relieved, and left the Shadow Hall.
He had other things to prepare.
At this moment, in the Dragonpit.
Rhaegor held Daenerys, standing on a high ground with Daniela, while Arrax and Dawn lay on either side of them.
Arrax was now a true dragon in every sense, so large in size that it could even contain Dawn.
Jacaerys, mounted on Skyfire's back, nervously watched the depths of the Dragonpit. This young man had a rugged face; unlike Rhaegor, who kept his beard clean-shaven, he had grown a beard at a young age, making him appear somewhat unique.
Sarafasas and Hovendes slowly crawled out of their respective caves, their partners on their backs.
To help Dan and Valenna tame the dragons, all the dragon knights of the Varezes family, except for Dragonzel and his companions, had come this time. No, Dragonzel and his companions had also come; they were in Vermithor's cave, which overlooked the entire Dragonpit, but the youngsters didn't know it.
Vermithor now preferred to sleep soundly. Unless Dragonzel summoned it, or it needed to eat, or the dragons in the Dragonpit got into a heated fight, Vermithor would not stop its slumber. Its body had grown increasingly massive, causing the Dragonpit to extend further into the mountain.
"Valarr, you'll be the death of yourself." Ray snatched the wine glass from his brother's hand. "Have you forgotten Evans's diagnosis? Diabetes! And you're still drinking so recklessly?"
He looked at Valarr, whose figure had completely gone out of shape, with an expression of disappointment. Of the three brothers, Ray and Dragonzel, who once had slight differences in appearance, now looked more like twins. However, Dragonzel kept a long beard, while Ray would shave his clean.
Valarr looked at his older brother's and younger brother's expressions, daring not to speak much. He had to admit, his body was in very poor condition now.
But he still couldn't quite control himself. Especially after Lady Leila's death in the 158th year of the Conquest Era, he became even more addicted to alcohol, roasted meat, and eel pies. Even Daniela and Valenna crying and begging their father to stop binge eating and drinking was of no avail.
"Enough," Dragonzel said, gritting his teeth and shaking his head at Ray. A flicker of panic crossed Ray's eyes.
He understood his brother's meaning.
Even if Valarr stopped drinking and reduced his diet now,
He could not be saved from the Stranger.
"Haha, brother, Ray, why think so much?" Valarr forced a smile. "Look, the children have grown up, and the war has completely subsided."
He suddenly said in a voice only he could hear:
"They don't need me anymore."
After speaking, he continued to look down.
"Brother, Ray, it's their era now."
Valarr patted his stomach, awkwardly changing the subject.
Dan Valareus was a handsome young man. Unlike his brother, he didn't have Jacaerys's tall stature; compared to his brother, he was slender and lanky, but also very agile.
It was his agility that allowed him to dodge Syrax's pounce back then, buying time for Arrax and Shadow Nightmare's support.
"Go, Dan!" Serena shouted in High Valyrian. "Your sister is right behind you."
Sarafasas also let out roars.
"Wood... do not attack dragonflame, otherwise the thorn bird will sing... attack."
Hovendes and Skyfire also let out roars with the same meaning. Hovendes even crawled a step forward, and Orion silently pressed his hand on the scales in front of the dragon saddle. A pale purple light glowed in Hovendes's throat.
This indicated that Hovendes was ready to use dragonflame at any moment.
Blue light also flickered in Skyfire's throat.
Dan nodded firmly, gently releasing Valenna's worried hand, and nodded to his fiancée: "Don't worry, Valenna, I will definitely tame Syrax this time."
The young man walked steadily into the depths of the Dragonpit, saying in High Valyrian:
"Syrax, come!"
Responding to him and the roars of the dragons was a deep growl, clearly indicating cruelty and ferocity.
First appeared the huge dragon horns, resembling both moose antlers and two weirwood trees.
Then came Syrax's massive head, and its dark green, scaly body. Its tail, tipped with a bone hammer, swept violently, yet carefully avoided the stone walls of the Dragonpit.
The dragon looked coldly at Dan.
As if to say.
Dan could sense the dragon's disdain.
But what did it matter?
He was here to tame it this time.
The Varezes family tree is listed as follows:
Dragonzel (Vermithor):
Eldest Son: Rhaegor (Arrax) [Eldest Daughter: Daenerys]
Eldest Daughter: Samantha (Candlelight)
Second Daughter: Serena (Sarafasas)
Second Son: Jacaerys (Skyfire)
Third Son: Dan
Third Daughter: Jane
Fourth Son: Legan
Valarr (Silverwing):
Eldest Daughter: Daniela (Dawn)
Second Daughter: Valenna
Ray (Shadow Nightmare):
Eldest Son: Orion (Hovendes)
[Eldest Son: Sebastian]
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