Game of Thrones: Second Son of House Targaryen

Chapter 206: Red Dragon Egg II

"I'll give you this armor for free," Viserys said nonchalantly.

Alios, who had braced himself for a steep price, was stunned by Viserys' generosity. He had never expected such a valuable gift—this was Valyrian steel armor, far more precious than a Valyrian steel sword.

However, as one of the three Triarchs, Alios knew better than to believe in a 'free lunch.' He understood that Viserys must have an ulterior motive.

"Prince, your generosity is beyond words, but I am truly unworthy of such a gift," Alios responded, still trying to comprehend the situation.

Viserys smiled, recognizing Alios’ sharp instincts. "Lord Alios, you’re too modest. In fact, I do have a favor to ask."

Alios felt a wave of relief. This made more sense.

"I’ve discovered a route to the ruins of Valyria," Viserys began, "which allowed me to obtain this set of Valyrian steel armor. I recovered it from the bones of a Dragonlord. In truth, we found at least a dozen Dragonlords wearing such armor, but they were all surrounded by monsters..."

"Monsters?" Alios echoed, recalling the strange remains he had seen on Viserys's ship.

Viserys had previously described to Alios the terrifying visions from his Dragon Dreams, embellishing them with vivid details from his imagination. The physical evidence of the armor gave his story credibility, even if he had stretched the truth.

"I plan to explore the ruins of Valyria on a larger scale," Viserys continued, "but now isn’t the right time."

"Is there anything I can do?" Alios asked eagerly. The people of Volantis, who proudly called themselves Valyria’s eldest daughter, held those who returned from the ruins in high esteem. Any venture into those cursed lands was met with reverence and support.

If there was even the slightest chance to join Viserys on such an expedition, Alios was determined not to miss it.

"For now, I’m postponing any exploration of the ruins," Viserys said, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

"Why? Is it a lack of manpower or supplies? Volantis can provide whatever you need!" Alios offered.

"Neither," Viserys replied, shaking his head. "We’re currently facing an invasion by the Dothraki, so the exploration of Valyria will have to wait until that crisis is resolved."

Viserys’ words struck a chord with Alios, though the people of Volantis had not taken the Dothraki threat seriously. They had grown accustomed to paying off the Dothraki as they always had. Recently, however, the frequency of Dothraki raids on Volantis' borders had increased, and the city’s leaders had begun to collect 'protection money.'

But Viserys had other plans—he was ready for war.

"Isn’t it a disgrace, Lord Alios, that the proud remnants of Valyria are being extorted by a band of barbarians?" Viserys' words stirred a flicker of anger in Alios, but thoughts of the Dothraki's lightning-fast cavalry cooled his enthusiasm.

"Prince, you can't say that..." Alios began, though his tone lacked conviction.

"Lord Alios," Viserys said, pressing his advantage, "I promise to share the route to the ruins of Valyria with you in the future, but in return, I ask that Volantis support me in my battle against the Dothraki."

Alios was about to respond, but Viserys cut him off. "I don’t need Volantis to send troops. I just need some supplies to support my efforts."

Alios considered this for a moment before replying, "I can’t make this decision on my own, but I will do everything in my power to help you."

"Understood," Viserys nodded. "But I’ll be taking this set of Valyrian steel armor with me. It’s heavy, and I’ll need it for the coming battles."

Alios had no objections. After all, Viserys was preparing for war, and he had promised to share the route to the Ruins of Valyria—a treasure far more valuable than any single piece of armor. Alios knew how to prioritize.

In addition, Viserys promised to promote a "non-aggression" agreement between the "Four Daughters Confederation" and Volantis. The credit for brokering such an agreement would be substantial, a gesture that clearly demonstrated Viserys' sincerity.

As a Triarch of the Elephant Party, representing the interests of those who despised war, Alios was overjoyed. In gratitude, he immediately handed over the red dragon egg that had been a cherished heirloom in his family to Viserys.

In Alios' eyes, the route to the Doom, the Valyrian steel armor, and the political favor were worth far more than the dragon egg, making it a fair trade. Viserys, however, didn’t linger in Volantis for long.

That very night, he had his fleet replenish fresh water, make minor repairs to the warships, and set sail the following morning.

During the voyage, Viserys received a letter—a message from the Red Viper in King’s Landing. More than six months earlier, the Red Viper had taken up a position as an "adviser on foreign affairs" in the capital. The messenger raven carrying the letter had been specially trained by Viserys, enhanced with blood magic to ensure it could find its intended recipient no matter where they were, not just specific locations. This was why Viserys received the letter even while at sea.

After removing the envelope from the raven's foot, Viserys read the first sentence, which struck him like a bombshell: Jon Arryn is dead.

According to the Red Viper’s account, Jon Arryn had died suddenly, most likely poisoned by his wife, as had been suspected before. The plot that followed held little surprise. With Jon Arryn out of the way, Robert Baratheon was eager to set out for the North to retrieve his old friend.

The Red Viper likely accompanied Robert on his journey to Winterfell. However, he also warned Viserys that Robert was becoming increasingly suspicious of the Free Cities.

The other Stag, through the 'Onion Knight' Ser Davos Seaworth, quickly reached a conclusion that contradicts Varys's reports. Although the Iron Throne currently has no plans to move against Tyrosh, Stannis Baratheon has tightened his grip on Driftmark and Crackclaw Point. He has taken the heirs of House Velaryon and House Celtigar to Dragonstone, treating them more like hostages than lords.

House Velaryon and House Celtigar have long been staunch allies of the Targaryens, with House Velaryon even intermarrying with them on several occasions. Their family lineage is notable, having even produced dragon riders, making them a point of interest.

The Baratheons fear that Viserys's growing influence could inspire these houses to rekindle their old loyalties, so they are taking precautions. The Red Viper cautions Viserys to be vigilant, warning that once Robert Baratheon returns with Ned Stark, he may well turn his attention—and his army—toward Tyrosh.