Aemon Targaryen

-Chapter 128-

-POV Johanna Swann-

I watched, with a pounding heart, the last ship of the fleet of mercenaries and pirates we had paid to set fire to and devastate the Stepstones leaving the port of Lys.

I kept asking myself inwardly if I had just secured my future and Baelon's or if I had condemned us both.

'Whatever happens now, I can only hope you know what you're doing, Aemon,' I thought, silently praying for the success of this mission.

Even though my doubts were deep and legitimate because this was a risky operation we were conducting, I never once considered betraying or even leaving Aemon's camp, as I already knew what I could expect from Daemon.

'Absolutely nothing.'

"Are you completely sure this will work?" Drakerio Rogare asked me, visibly tense.

I had failed to convince all the other contacts I had made, as they all believed attacking the Stepstones was too dangerous with just a fleet of mercenaries.

'Surprisingly, despite the Rogare family being a family of bankers and owning several pleasure houses, he was the only one who agreed to share the risks of such an endeavor,' I thought.

"You can be certain that the Prince…"

"I wasn't talking to you!" he said, clearly strained by the situation and probably regretting rushing into it.

He added, venting his frustration:

"You're nothing more than a pathetic knight and a bloody messenger."

I slipped my arm into his and softly whispered in his ear:

"Don't get angry at him. I've known Ser Willem since childhood. He's a knight who earned his place at Prince Aemon's court and a man of integrity. If he says the Prince will come, then he will come."

"He better be there," Drakerio said, growing increasingly agitated as he realized what he had done.

"He will be there. Trust me when I tell you he has every reason to be here when the time comes, perhaps even more than we do," I said, trying to reassure him as best as I could.

Seeing that my words didn't calm him, I searched my memory for something that might. Then I said:

"I've heard his dragon has now surpassed Balerion in size."

"Are you sure?" he asked, slightly worried.

'No,' I thought, but I still nodded.

Even though I didn't know the exact current size of Aemon's dragon, the mere fact that it was being compared in size to Vhagar by Ser Willem gave me an idea of its magnitude.

'It's not entirely a lie. Caraxes isn't even half the size of his dragon,' I thought, as I knew Daemon's dragon hadn't grown significantly.

'Not even at all,' I mused.

"I wouldn't have embarked on such madness without assurances," I said, placing a hand on his cheek to make him look into my eyes.

It had the desired effect as he calmed down and said:

"Hmm, you're right."

"Don't worry. Everything will go well. Trust me, soon we'll rule this world," I said, briefly turning my gaze to the city of Lys behind us.

Drakerio turned and, switching to High Valyrian, a smile spreading across his face, said:

"If you hadn't personally vouched for this affair, I wouldn't have even listened to that stray dog."

I smiled, then replied:

"I know, my dear, and I am grateful for your unwavering support. You're a true friend."

"Grateful to what extent?" he teased, wrapping an arm around my waist.

He leaned in for a kiss, but I turned my head and, with a fluid motion, reached his ear to softly whisper:

"Join me in my chambers tonight. The guards will let you in."

His smile broadened, and then he stepped back, saying:

"I'll go prepare myself then."

I nodded, watching him walk away while maintaining a fake smile.

Once he was out of sight, my face tightened suddenly, and I said coldly:

"Aemon better do what he said, or you'll never leave this island. I hope you're aware of that."

"The Prince will do as he said," Willem responded with unshakable confidence.

"I've heard your relationship with him isn't as clear as it seems," I said to this knight who was far from ordinary, before adding:

"Knowing Aemon, he might very well be using me to vex his father while ridding himself of you."

'Without dirtying his hands,' I concluded inwardly.

"I stand by what I said. I have complete faith in my prince. He will do as he promised," Ser Willem replied with the same steadfast conviction.

His blind trust irritated me.

I had learned the hard way, and was still learning even now, that no matter what promises a man makes, you can never be sure he will honor his word when the time comes.

How many of these admirals, patriarchs of Lys's greatest fortunes, had promised me the moon just to share my bed?

'Too many,' I thought, recalling the countless events they had invited me to.

But how many had truly kept their promises?

'Only one so far,' I reflected, recalling all the doors I'd knocked on to secure another partner.

'A scapegoat if things were to go awry,' I thought, trying to safeguard myself as best I could in case of failure.

"Are you ready to stake your life on this? Because in case you haven't realized, what we're doing is risking everything we have, everything we are. If we're unfortunate enough to fail, we'll likely be sacrificed by the higher powers of Lys and the Triarchy, who want no part of another war with the Seven Kingdoms to sate Daemon's thirst for vengeance," I said, exasperated.

"Without hesitation," he replied instantly, unwavering.

I shook my head and said sarcastically:

"Ah, love is a beautiful thing."

"You said it," Ser Willem replied with absolute seriousness, making me roll my eyes as I headed toward our carriage.

---

-POV Saabhos Saan-

"This won't be a walk in the park, Captain," said my second, Ferdinio.

'That's an understatement,' I thought.

'Even if we receive the help we're expecting on time, we'll still have to fight to take down, in less than a week, the forts of Seahorse Island, Snake Island, Grey Gallows, Upside-Down Foot Island, and the most fortified and defended of all: Bloodstone, home to 3,000 armed men,' I mused.

I dreaded the moment we'd engage in combat because we'd find ourselves at a point of no return, with victory as our only way out.

Shaking my head, I replied: "That's what they sold me, supposedly."

"But you don't believe in the dragonrider's attack, do you?" Ferdinio asked, clearly reading my doubts.

I shrugged and said: "I don't know the Targaryens well… not even personally. But they can't be much different from other wealthy families. Riches and power often lead to fratricidal wars."

"But?" Ferdinio probed, urging me to spill my deeper thoughts.

"But I can't leave anything to chance," I admitted.

"You're right, Captain," Ferdinio agreed.

"You're still calling me Captain even though you're my best friend. When are you going to drop that habit?" I asked the former slave my father had freed and recruited into his crew.

"Because on this ship…"

"You're my captain. Yes, I know the song," I said mockingly, rolling my eyes before adding:

"But if you insist on being formal, Ferdinio, start calling me Commander, as I'm now the commander of this fleet."

"So, you're going through with it… Commander," he said, subtly mocking me.

'Anyone else might have missed that,' I thought, amused.

"Hmm, it sounds so good. Say it again."

"Commander…" he began, clearly trying to shift the conversation.

"Hmm. Just one more time…" I teased, pretending to shiver with delight, finding it amusing to poke fun at my best friend this way.

"Commander!" Ferdinio said, clearly irritated by my antics.

Raising my eyebrows, I responded:

"Can't even joke around anymore, for Yndros' sake."

"And so?" Ferdinio pressed, his tone serious now.

I let out a long sigh, then sat down in my chair, twisting the cap off a fine Dornish wine.

"Ferdinio, how long have you known me?"

"Almost thirty years, Commander," he said, just as I finally managed to unscrew the cap of that stubborn bottle.

"Have you ever seen me turn down a contract?" I asked, pouring the wine into a goblet.

"Of course," he replied, surprising me.

'And he's not wrong,' I thought, as I always thoroughly inspected contracts before accepting them. This one was an exception because even in failure, half the payment would be enough for me to live out my days in luxury.

"I mean contracts I had already agreed to honor," I clarified, savoring the aroma of the wine.

"None," Ferdinio admitted.

Spreading my arms, I stated the obvious:

"Then, what do you think I'm going to do?"

"Honor it," Ferdinio replied, his tone tinged with disappointment.

Noticing his gaze drop to the floor, I asked:

"You're disappointed?"

"No…" he started, holding back from saying more.

"But?" I pressed, sensing he hadn't voiced what was truly on his mind.

"But if we fail to complete our mission, regardless of the obstacles we face, we'll never be able to sail these waters again for the rest of our lives," he finally confessed.

'You're thinking in the wrong order, my friend,' I thought, finding his worry endearing.

"We'd have to still be alive by then," I quipped, laughing heartily before motioning for him to leave.