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Jace pulled his cloak tighter against his body. The damp fabric barely did its job keeping his body warm and repelling the water that had started to soaked his clothes.
Vermax let out an annoyed trill. The rain must have finally started to affect the she-dragon. She wasn’t used to flying through a storm, like the one they had found themselves caught in.
Jace squinted his eyes and tried to make out any familiar shapes. A cliff, a sail, something to let the two travelers know they were on the right path.
He reached up to pull the hood back onto his head and hunched his shoulders trying to stay warm. His mind wandered back to the meeting that had been held the night before.
~*~
Jace glanced around the council chambers staring at the gathered faces. His mother somehow had the strength to not only stand but to lead the meeting herself.
“We need to send messages to the Lords. Remind them of their oaths. To rid these lands of the traitors who stole my throne.” Mother had never looked more like a dragon than at this moment.
“We will deliver the letters ourselves. It will be faster than ravens.” Jace had spoken up.
He didn’t know what had caused him to do so. He glanced to his right to see Luke shoot him a nervous look, before he turned towards their mother and nodded his head.
Mother had looked weary, but Daemon just smirked.
“Yes, remind those cowards that they are dealing with dragons, not common dogs.”
The gathered men traded ideas and thoughts too quickly for Jace to keep track.
“Luke, you will go to the Stormlands and speak with Baratheon. It is a short flight and you will be treated with respect and safety.” Mother said, turning towards his younger brother.
She turned towards Jace. As she opened her mouth to speak she was cut off.
“No.” Daemon broke in. “Baratheon is a coward, let Rhaenys deal with him. Send Lucerys to the Vale, the Arryns. Then on to Winterfell to meet with Stark.”
Mother pursed her lips. “The flight is too long for a young dragon. And I will not send my Omega child to the North alone. Lord Stark has no wife. It would be improper.”
She glanced at them before turning back to face her husband. “I wanted Jace to go to the North to treat with Stark. They are close in age and I believe a friendship could blossom between the two. It's past time for Jace to create these types of bonds with the Lords he will one day rule.”
Rhaenys and Daemon shared a look.
“I agree with my cousin. Borros is a coward. He may have Omega daughters. But he has no respect for anyone who is not an Alpha Male. The ‘respect’ Luke will get will be fleeting and half hearted. I will deal with him myself. It’s past time he remembers that he was the second choice to rule our house. Send Luke somewhere else for his own safety and good.”
Mother held her hands together behind her back and paced along the painted table. The glowing candles and lands painted shapes across her dress.
“Stark isn’t the only Lord close in age to Jacaerys.” Daemon spoke again.
He waited till Rhaenyra looked his way. “The Red Kraken. Lord Greyjoy.”
“That monster?”
“No, my Queen, we must not trust that devil.”
“He would turn traitor for a chance of his own crown.”
Other voices raised their own concern and disagreement.
Daemon waited till it had quieted down before speaking again. “We need ships and men. Corlys is still weak. If we have the Kraken and Ironmen on our side the sea is ours. They have proven their power many times in battle on and off the Step Stones. We could send a raven. But if those Green Cunts send their own. Whose bird will be victorious? Who can write the prettier words? Dragons can eat birds. The rewards outweigh the risk.”
Mother stared into the flames that lit the table.
“After Jace gains Greyjoy’s alliance send him to the North. There he can guard his brother and earn a companion. Lord Stark also has a bastard sister he holds close. A wolf for each boy to tame.”
Mother nodded her head as she took in the opinions of those she trusted most.
“Tho I may have my fears. My sons are men half grown. If they believe they can undertake these tasks then they may do so. Luke will travel to the Vale then to the North. Jace will follow after Pyke.” She sent them a shaky smile.
Her eyes held pleas for them to disagree. But neither Jace or Luke backed down.
As the room emptied, Jace was ordered to remain.
“Mother?”
“Lord Greyjoy is a ruthless man. He may only be a year younger than you. But he has been victorious in battle and taken countless lives. He is feared and respected by many. Do not be fooled by him.”
Jace nodded along to his mother’s words. Rhaenyra slowly walked towards him and cupped his face in her palms.
“Promise me you will be safe. One day you will rule when I am gone. It’ll be up to you to protect your brothers and sisters.”
“I promise Mother. I won't let you down.”
A gentle kiss was placed on his forehead. “You could never let me down. I will always be proud of you. Now go. Pack your bags.”
~*~
A roar from Vermax shook Jace from the memory. He glanced up to see the rain had started to slow. Large rocky islands were beginning to make themselves known in the horizon.
“Finally we are close. Just a bit more, Vermax.” He shouted to his companion as he rubbed her neck.
A bellowing roar was her response as she seemed to pick up speed.
Before long they landed on Pyke’s rocky and muddy soil. Unlike most men who met a dragon, the Ironmen did not shrink but instead raised spears.
“I come in the name of the Queen. I wish to speak to Lord Greyjoy.” Jace spoke loudly and clearly to the men surrounding him.
The leather clad men didn’t show any signs of backing down. But a man to his right took a step forward.
“I’ll take you to our Lord. But that Dragon will remain here.”
“Agreed. She will remain and no harm will come to any as long as she is kept safe. I give my word as the heir to the Iron Throne.”
The man nodded. “No harm will come to it. Now come, Lord Greyjoy awaits.”
Jace patted his companion's side before following the man. The walk to the castle was long and he almost slid a couple of times from the loose ground. But finally they arrived at the gates.
His guide did not stop to rest or to welcome him to the castle. Instead he kept up his fast paced march till they came to large wooden doors that had a Kraken carved into them. The Kraken’s tentacles were wrapped around a rock that rose from the sea. Upon the rock sat a mermaid, her hair flowing in the breeze.
The doors were thrown open before he could take in more of the details.
“My Lord, a Dragon has arrived.”
As Jace walked into the throne room, there on a stone throne carved into the shape of a Kraken was Dalton Greyjoy.
“I, Jacaerys Velaryon, bring you a letter Lord Greyjoy from my mother. The rightful Queen of Westeros, Rhaenyra Targaryen.”
Greyjoy studied him from his throne. His dark eyes revealed nothing from where they partially hid under black hair. But the growing smirk on his face did not look to be in his favor.
“A Black Queen and a Green King. The Throne has no shortage of asses who wish to warm it.”
The men in the hall laughed. Jace tried to keep his composure. He would not let his mother down. She needed allies or their lives would be at stake.
“My Lord. My mother is the rightful heir. The Greens hid the fact my grandfather had passed to usurp the throne.”
Greyjoy only smirked. “Such a sorrowful tale. The heir should have done more to secure her ‘rightful’ place than.”
Jace gripped the scroll tighter in his hand. He didn’t know how to respond to such disrespect thrown at his mother.
“My Lord. I do not know what you have been promised. Or what whispers have been spoken. But I came with an offer from the true Queen, delivered in person and not by Raven.”
A flash of lightning from outside lit up the room. Greyjoy’s eyes and teeth seemed to glow for a moment. His hand was then held out and his fingers fell loosely open.
“Bring the scroll here then little Messenger.”
Jace quickly closed the gap between them and laid the scroll in his open hand. He watched as it was unrolled and quickly read.
“Freedom. As if our ships and the seas don't already grant us that.”
The young Lord looked up to make eye contact with him before tossing the paper behind him.
“Is that all she offers? Is there nothing more you can offer on her behalf, ‘my Prince’?”
“I can only offer what the Queen has commanded me. I may not know what the Greens have said, but my mother will keep her word.”
Dalton leaned backwards and rubbed his chin with his hand. “Mhmmm. Gold, riches and the Title of Master of Ships. Or Freedom to do as I please.” He looked around the room at his men. “Oh what would the Drowned God have us do?”
More lightning flashed across the room.
Jace’s mind raced. The Green’s had offered his grandfather’s title, which was rightfully Luke’s. As well as riches that his mother could not afford to give away at this time, war was costly and she did not have extra coin to bribe or grease palms.
“My Lord. Your father swore an oath to my mother. It is your duty as his heir to honor his word.”
“Aye but what has your mother done to keep that oath fresh in the mouths of all the other heirs?”
A man standing to Greyjoy’s right came up to the throne and whispered in his ear. Jace did not trust what was happening.
“I have heard tales of Driftmark’s treasure. A delicate Pearl hidden behind shiny white walls. With Dragons guarding every tower with fearsome fangs and deadly fire. Tell me, is there any truth to that fisherman’s tale?”
Jace's thoughts froze. Luke. Why was he asking about Lucerys? What could this monster want with his baby brother?
“Driftmark holds many treasures that the Sea Snake has found over the years.” Jace replied carefully.
“I think you know exactly which treasure I have described. But if you need more of a hint.” Dalton lazily waved his hand in the air, while the other still held his chin. “The rare male Omega. Your own baby brother.”
Jace held his silence. Nothing good could come out of this line of questioning. He promised his mother he would protect his siblings, he would not fail.
“From the nervous flutter of your fingers I know that I am right. So tell me, has he been promised to anyone?”
“Why would that be any concern of yours?” Jace tried to keep the anger out of his voice, but he had partially failed. If the smile on Greyjoy’s face proved anything.
“I’ve been told many times I need to find my Rock Wife. With all of my voyages and battles, the Drowned God has many reasons to claim my life. I am in need of a rightful heir.”
Greyjoy pushed himself up from his throne and walked towards him. Jace had to tilt his head backwards to maintain eye contact. The Lord was only a year younger than him, but easily towered over him. He could possibly be the same height as Aemond, if not a few inches taller. His height and muscles made him more intimidating up close. No wonder so many feared him. Jace would not want to face him on the battlefield.
“Your mother promises me freedom. But I can easily do what I please, because everyone else will be too busy fighting each other. They will be too weak to defend themselves. Open for the taking. No one to stop us.” Greyjoy opened his arms as he circled Jace. “I propose a deal. Your brother’s hand for my men. A marriage binding the Sea together for all eternity.”
Greyjoy stopped in front of him and leaned down so they were face to face. “ What do you say? Will the Queen grant me this boon to secure an alliance? Or will I need to join the Greens to get what I want?”
“I cannot agree to new terms without my Queen’s permission, Lord Greyjoy. But under these circumstances I can say my brother is still free to marry. I am unsure who, if anyone, my family is looking at to form a betrothal with him.”
The young Lord only stood back up and shook his head. “Wrong answer. Run along now. Tell your mother you failed, boy.”
Jace froze. His heart pounded in his ears. Laughter of the men bounced off the stone walls around him.
Failed. Failure. ‘You could never let me down.’
No! He promised he wouldnt fail. As his mother’s heir he will do anything to protect his family.
“I did not know the Red Kraken would give in so easily. Turn tail because of a refusal.” He prayed his plan didn't fail him.
“Oh? And why should I give you any more of my time?”
“Someone who gives in so easily if not worthy of my brother.”
The Lord just gave him an uninterested look from his throne. But his eyes betrayed him. He could see hunger swirling inside them.
“Swear fealty to the rightful Queen and join her side. When our victory is obtained she will grant you any boon as a show of grateful thanks. But only then will you prove yourself worthy of an Omega Dragon.”
A cruel smile curled at the edges of the other’s lips.
“You hear that men? The Black Queen offers us freedom and a chance to win a Dragon. Should we show those men on the shores how powerless they are compared to our Drowned God?”
Cheers echoed around the room. With that Greyjoy made his way towards Jace once more and held out his hand.
“You have your answer my Prince. We will serve the Black Queen.”
Jace shook the offered hand.
“Thank you, My Lord. The Queen will be glad to hear it.”
“You may call me Dalton. We will be brothers once this war is over. I plan on claiming my Dragon Bride.”
As Jace was led to his chambers that night to get cleaned up and rest before the next day’s journey. He wondered if he had done the right thing. And most importantly.
Would Luke forgive him for giving him to the Red Kraken?