Chương 26: 26. The true wild Dragon
Volantis, The first daughter of Old Valyria
The three dragons soared into the Volantis sky with a grace that defied their massive stature. It made me wonder how they could have nurtured such colossal dragons without the world catching wind of their existence. Moreover, they seemed not to have reached a century in age, as they appeared youthful and vigorous, judging by their robust flight and the power in their wings.
I could ensure Anarion surpasses the green and cream-colored ones, but for the black one, there are no words other than 'monstrosity' to describe it. It seems the world has its favorites when it comes to dragons. Even in the books or shows, Drogon grew faster and stronger than any dragon ever seen before. I could make Anarion stronger and even larger than him, but it would depend on time; without it, I would need many sacrifices. And I'm talking about human sacrifices as animals' blood doesn't have much needed magic to do something extraordinary.
I'm convinced that the hatching of these dragons' eggs involved blood magic; otherwise, their immense size would be inexplicable. Indeed, as previously mentioned, within the dragon race, some are significantly stronger than others, similar to how some humans are more talented than their peers. However, just as an ordinary human can outdo a naturally talented individual through sheer hard work, dragons too can surpass their inherently gifted kin with the aid of sufficient magic, particularly blood magic. In this instance, their chances are doubled, as the dragons are not only innately powerful but also possess the crucial blood magic necessary for their formidable growth.
Thanks to the Valyrian gods, Anarion is uniquely gifted, yet his hatching did not involve blood magic. You might wonder why a family renowned for breeding war dragons wouldn't use blood magic to enhance their already formidable creatures. The reason is simple: shortcuts come with a price. My rituals are no exception, though their cost is too negligible for me to concern myself with. However, blood magic lacks this advantage, as it is typically performed under duress. Blood magic, when conducted willingly, could surpass most other magics in power and offer unparalleled benefits.
Few possess the selflessness to sacrifice for the benefit of their family or loved ones. When blood magic is used in the hatching of a dragon egg, it renders the dragons even more violent, bloodthirsty, and untamed than they naturally are. The more violent and bloodthirsty the dragons become, the harder they are to control. There have been instances where dragons have devoured their bonded riders. This particular case is extraordinary, as the dragon bond operates on a level of magic that eludes even my extensive understanding.
Very few Valyrian Dragon riders have attempted to study the nature of their bond with their trusted companions, adhering to the adage of not looking a gift horse in the mouth. However, when Dragons consume their bonded rider, they revert to their true wild nature. These wild Dragons are far more untamed than those here, as they begin to prey on their own kind following the loss of their riders. Consequently, it becomes a priority for the family to which the Dragon belonged to take it down, as a wild Dragon could provoke a war between families—a risk they cannot afford if they are not top of the hierarchy in Old Valyria.
To defeat such a true wild dragon requires more than one Dragon, as they are as wild as they are cunning. These dragons have begun to evolve in ways distinct from each other. Valyria has yet to discover a common link between them and how they specifically evolve after consuming their riders. Families whose dragons have gone rogue often withhold information, as they become the subject of ridicule following their dragon's antics. Every family knows the consequences of hatching dragons using blood magic, and if a family still engages in it, they likely consider themselves above those with greater mastery over their dragons. The Valyrian Dragon lords ensure they remember the price of their inflated arrogance.
The cannibal might be a true wild dragon that has eluded the family to which he once belonged before devouring his rider. Alternatively, he could be as ordinary as any cannibal. One can never be certain until witnessing their combat, for it is then that their sly and untamed nature becomes apparent. And indeed, the time for such revelation is imminent, for after two moons, his fate—whether at the hands of Caraxes or Anarion—will be sealed, contingent upon his true identity.
Upon witnessing the size of these dragons, I doubt the Dragonlords, whoever they may be, would negotiate with the Targaryens. And why should they, when the Targaryens are not their equals in strength? Dragons of such magnitude could easily overpower most of the Targaryen dragons without any difficulty. Only a few Targaryen dragons could present a challenge to them, and some don't even have riders to lead them into battle. It seems if the situation escalates, I might have to resort to using the Dragon Horn to take control of all untamed Targaryen dragons to balance the odds for us to engage in combat.
However, it all hinges on the number of dragons of such size present in their family. My vision, enhanced by the rituals, has allowed me to observe the dragon riders; they have not soared high from the ground. From my vantage point, I have spotted two males and one female. I may be mistaken about the two being male, as some Valyrian females prefer short hairs on their head. Nonetheless, whether the dragon riders are male or female, they are equally devastating with their dragons.
I must find a way to render the cost of Blood magic, which fuels the Dragon's growth, inconsequential. Blood magic seems to be the only viable option in my predicament. It appears I must adjust my moral boundaries to suit the situation. However, I am not fearful of this change, for I am the most disciplined man in the world with my mindscape, capable of resisting the greed that follows the use of darker Blood magics. Anarion must get as many advantages as possible to combat the black monstrosity. Since no Dragon-rider has been able to face the black Dragon more than once, it is also beneficial for Anarion, as Dragons can only improve by battling their own kind.
I needed to test my "Bloodflame mode" magic to see if it could inflict more damage, which would be valuable in aiding Anarion during the fight. Having seen what I needed in Volantis, I decided to return to the Red Keep to warn Viserys about the impending threat to his house. I would need allies in this Dance to defeat the dragons. Just as I was about to leave, I prepared to apparate to the Red Keep, my gaze fixed on the Black Dragon.
In the split second I used magic to apparate to the Red Keep, the black dragon's gaze fixed on me. I wasn't mistaken in believing that blood magic was used to hatch its egg, as I saw the same wild ferocity in its eyes as Caraxes, but even more intense than the Dragon of Daemon. Had I lingered in Volantis for even a second longer, it would have come for me, as I clearly saw the desire to reduce me to ashes in its reptilian stare. But before he could even take turn I was gone with crack to the Red Keep.
The Red Keep
103 AC
I apparated into my chambers within the keep. I discarded the clock I had been using and concealed my wand in the holster crafted from Sheepstealer's hide. I inquired of the servants outside whether anyone had been seeking me. However, the response was negative, as not much time had elapsed since I departed the keep for Volantis.
I inquired about Viserys' whereabouts and was informed that the king would typically be in his study chambers at this time. I requested to be escorted there. As we navigated through numerous corridors, I recognized many familiar faces engaged in their daily tasks. Our brief journey came to a stop upon reaching the room guarded by the King's guards, who stood firmly before the doors to bar entry.
"I wish to meet King Viserys. It is a matter of great importance concerning House Targaryen," I said to the Lord Commander of the King's Guard. He regarded me intently before entering the chambers to seek King Viserys' permission for my audience. After three to four minutes, he returned and opened the chamber doors wide, allowing me to enter.
"Forgive the delay, Lord Drakonar. I had intended to show you my work after a final touch-up, which I prefer to do after a few days. However, it appears the matter you wish to discuss is more pressing than my work. So, what information do you possess that concerns the entirety of House Targaryen?" Viserys's mood shifted from jovial to serious as he inquired about the information pertaining to his house.
"I harbored concerns when you spoke of the dragons soaring through Volantis' skies. I know of no other house but yours that has evaded doom and possesses the patience to conceal their dragon without dangerous intent. It is the only reason I can fathom for such secrecy. There are few circumstances that necessitate preparation, and war is one of them. Thus, I employed my magic to discern if I could glimpse their dragons, to gauge their size, so we might ready ourselves for the conflict they seek." I paused, allowing my words to permeate Viserys' thoughts.
"So, tell me, what did you see?" Viserys inquired, desperation and hope gleaming in his eyes. He harbored a hope that the situation wasn't dire and was desperate to learn all he could about his alleged enemies.
"I doubt they would parley with your House, as every Dragonlord family is as prideful as the creatures they ride, and their dragons are larger and more powerful than those of your house. Considering the number of dragon-riders in your house, I think they would refuse to parley. Even if they did consider it, all of Westeros would have to pay a price far greater than you'd be willing to. The smallest dragon in Volantis is larger than your current mightiest dragon, Vhagar," I replied to Viserys, dashing all his hopes of allying with another Dragonlord house in this world.
"That's impossible. Vhagar is nearly as large as Balerion, who was the greatest dragon alive after the Doom," Viserys said in denial, leaning on the table for support to stand upright. His entire demeanor was one of refusal to accept that another Dragonlord family could possess larger dragons and more dragon-riders than his own, especially during his reign.
"Then brace for a clash with a Dragon larger than your mightiest, Balerion. The greatest Dragon on their side is the black one, far more powerful and larger than the cream-colored one, which is already larger than Vhagar. I know you have heard and did not believe because it was not confirmed by you. But trust me, King Viserys, begin your preparations, for if they attack, you wouldn't want your house to be unprepared simply because you were in denial that there could be Dragons greater than your Balerion," I said, foregoing any courtesy, as Viserys is someone who likes to preserve the peace passed down to him by his predecessor. He would choose ignorance if it meant maintaining that peace. However, I am reassured that Daemon and Rhaenys will comprehend the threat posed by the Dragons of Volantis after learning of their sizes from me.
I turened to leave as I had done what I had come to do. Just as I was to get out of the chambers. "Did you use Valyrian glass candle to see the Dragons of Volantis Lord Drakonar? If so, then I would like to request that you would bring that with you on this supper. I would not ask the knowledge of how to use it, but my family and I like to see the Dragons. Not that I trust you but seeing the threat with our own eyes would speed the process of preparation if nothing else." Viserys said with sigh of defeat. It seems as he has accepted that there would be high probability that war is going to happen.
And then his word hit me like Dragon would. Valyrian glass candle I had completely forgotten about this damn thing. And the feeling that I got from the first time I came to the Red Keep. The other family at Volantis is using Valyrian glass candle to spy on me. Fuck this, I ignored Viserys and started to walk toward my chambers as this was the only place that I has warded from anti-spy wards.
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