"Rhaenyra, you are truly generous," Laena said, her mind racing with thoughts about the fate of her children.
If possible, she wanted to renew the alliance between the Targaryens and Velaryons. After all, her mother, husband, and children were all Targaryens.
Rhaenyra smiled and said, "Think about it. You still have a few days before you return to King's Landing."
She knew Laena to be sensitive and intelligent, and she trusted that Laena would make the right choice to avoid potential conflicts between the two Houses.
Their conversation served as a good diversion. The banquet had lost its lively atmosphere, and everyone present seed disillusioned. Aegon looked around, amazed, as he cut into the roasted at on his plate. Laenor snorted and rose to raise his glass, trying to lighten the mood, but no one paid him any mind. Most people were lost in their own thoughts, considering their interests.
It was getting late, and the banquet was nearing its end. Daemon held his two daughters in his arms, lost in thought. He was only snapped out of it when one of the babies cried.
"Laena, the baby seems to be hungry," Daemon said, frowning as he handed the swaddled infant to his wife.
Laena was quick to pick up the baby and hand her over to the nursemaid behind her. Her corseted dress made it difficult for her to breastfeed.
Like Daemon, Rhaegar remained silent, leaning back in his chair, chin resting on his hands, his eyes scanning the room. Daemon noticed his nephew's unease, and irritation welled up inside him as he walked over to Rhaegar.
Daemon walked over to Rhaegar, putting one hand on the tabletop as he went. "How is my brother?" he asked.
Viserys had often been cut by the Iron Throne, and after all these years, Daemon wanted to know how he was doing.
"No one has angered him. Father is doing well," Rhaegar replied slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"And what about Alicent? That woman hasn't been rejected yet? Daemon's eyes twinkled with curiosity as he brought up his old adversary.
"She's fine, too. She has father another son to look after," Rhaegar responded.
"None of the Hightower won are any good, just trouble for the n," Daemon said with disgust. "She's given you a lot of trouble, hasn't she?"
Rhaegar remained silent.
"What, did I guess right?" Daemon leaned closer, trying to get a better look at his nephew.
"Uncle, do you rember what I told you when you first ca in?" Rhaegar asked, his head hanging low, hair ssy around his ears.
Daemon was slightly stunned, not understanding what he ant. Suddenly, realization dawned on him, and he followed Rhaegar's line of sight to the gold-plated clock on the wall.
Tick-tock, tick-tock...
The second hand of the clock completed its revolution, and the minute and hour hands jumped to 12:00.
Tick-tock...
The clock struck midnight, marking the start of a new day.
"A new day has begun, Uncle." Rhaegar said.
As the clock chid, Rhaegar jumped up and hit Daemon's head against the table. There was a crunching sound as the impact broke Daemon's nose.
"My good uncle, you haven't learned your lesson from seven years ago!" Rhaegar's pupils narrowed with rage as he grabbed a table knife and plunged it into Daemon's left hand, pinning it to the tabletop.
Rhaenys had said there would be no accidents last night, and he would honor that. He'd been waiting patiently for midnight.
Pfft.
Blood splattered as the silver dinner knife stabbed through Daemon's palm and nailed it to the tabletop.
"Ah!..." Daemon let out a cry of pain as soon as he felt the knife pierce his palm.
...
Outside the castle.
"Roar..."
A sharp roar pierced the night as Caraxes revealed himself, sensing his master's danger.
Without hesitation, it dove towards the castle.
"Roar..."
Cannibal, more prepared and faster, burst from the castle with a flap of its wings.
Its coal-black body slamd into Caraxes, and it had been waiting for this mont for a long ti.
This ti, it was decided to tear this slim red worm apart.
When attacked, Caraxes scread in terror, slashing with its claws and opening its jaws to unleash scarlet dragonfire at Cannibal.
"Roar..."
Cannibal dodged the flas and bit down on one of Caraxes' wings, shaking its head and tearing the wing apart.
After Rhaegar's training, Cannibal was really skilled at dragon combat. Destroying the wing first would make the opponent an easy target.
As his flesh and blood were torn apart, Caraxes twisted his body frantically, using his long neck to bite Cannibal's neck.
Stab...
Sharp teeth pierced scales, and Cannibal roared with rage as blood spilled.
It tore off a piece of flesh with one bite, and its huge dragon head swung around, smashing into Caraxes' head.
With a thud, Caraxes was montarily blinded, his sharp teeth yanking off more flesh.
Cannibal wasn't fazed by the minor wound and beca even more ferocious.
The dragon aid for Caraxes' head and shot green dragonfire like a fountain.
"Roar..."
The flas bombarded Caraxes' face, causing him to scream as his sharp claws frantically tore at Cannibal's belly, desperately seeking a chance of survival.
Inside the castle.
Daemon's screams echoed terrifyingly through the halls.
"Rhaegar!" Rhaenyra's eyes widened, not expecting Rhaegar to strike so suddenly.
"Uncle, I told you, you have to leave sothing behind!" Rhaegar's smile grew wilder as he nimbly pulled out his Dark Sister and slashed at Daemon's pinned palm.
"Get off!"
At the critical mont, Daemon reacted quickly, kicking Rhaegar in the abdon. The force of the kick made Rhaegar stagger, and the sword he was swinging struck Daemon's shoulder.
"Ah! Damn it!" Daemon, his spirit tense from the intense pain, quickly pulled the table knife from his left hand and threw it at Rhaegar's chest.
Clang—
Rhaegar's quick reflexes allowed him to block the dinner knife with the spine of his sword.
"Go to hell!"
Seizing the opportunity to turn the tables, Daemon picked up dinner plates from the table and threw them at Rhaegar, getting in the way of his sword swings.
He then grabbed a chair and slamd it down on Rhaegar's face.
"You're the one who deserves to die!" Rhaegar raised his sword to block the chair and then kicked Daemon in the chest.
Wham...
The Dark Sister couldn't block the blow, and the wooden chair shattered on Rhaegar's head, blood oozing from the wound. Almost simultaneously, Daemon was kicked in the chest, spitting blood as he flew backward.
"Rhaegar!"
"Daemon!"
The uncle and nephew were too quick for anyone to intervene until it was too late.
Rhaenyra, standing next to Rhaegar, was hit by the broken pieces of the chair, cutting her face and neck. In the ergency, she rushed to support the swaying Rhaegar.
On the other hand, Laena sprang from her seat and ran to her husband's side.
She was well-read in poetry and had so knowledge of dicine, so she knew the fight between uncle and nephew had been deadly and aid at vital points.
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