Chapter 10 Part 2

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Early 102 AC, Lys

The rocky coast of Lys approached, a coastline that was hugged by the walls of Lys as far as the eye can see. It was marvellous.

Lys was no small island, trice the size of Dragonstone, and yet its high walls, which looked be at least thirty feet tall, was said to envelop all of the main island of Lys. 

It could easily fit in millions of people yet there were less than half a million within those walls. A tale that he mused was similar to many other Free Cities…and much of Essos in truth.

"It is impressive" Aegon admitted as he spared a glance towards Prince Jalla before returning his gaze towards one of the main ports they were sailing to.

"Yes." Prince Jalla said before adding "And within the walls it is just as impressive…in different ways"

'An island almost as beautiful as its people. Lush weather that remains even during the middle of night and foods and drink that make the leisurely climate and people even better' was what Corlys had once described Lys, a description that Prince Jalla had confirmed.

"But make no mistake, Prince Aegon. There is much to be wary of in this city. Cloaked with the breeches of fine women are those who use subtle guile and deception to get what they want."

"No different from any other Free City." Ser Galaenys remarked from beside him.

Jalla turned towards Ser Galaenys. "True but none do it better than Lys." 

As they neared, he reached out to Mīsaragorn to come and herald their arrival and Mīsaragorn's roar overhead their ships was deafening and it was impossible that it was not heard by the harbour masters…or the magisters of the Lysian conclave.

He could've kept a low profile and use Lys as it was intended, a stop to restock, but Aegon had little intentions of letting go of the opportunity that was in front of him. 

He'd already begun to buy slaves from Lys with the income of his trade but the numbers were trifling and expensive. He expected his income to grow substantially in the coming years, especially when the glassmaking plants were completed and producing, but he needed to come an arrangement with the Lyseni.

And he wouldn't do so without a fully armed nuke.

After all…

This city had a habit of killing dragonlords.

As they arrived and docked and descended down the plank, Ser Galaenys and the men-at-arms he'd brought with him formed rank and order behind and in front of him, Aegon noted the three men in different but all brightly coloured robes who stood in front of far more armed soldiers than there should be.

Aegon took a closer look at the magisters. They all shared the high cheekbones and pale skin that Valyrians were known to have, though their eyes varied from deep ocean blue to pale blue that was a few shades away from being lilac.

And as he neared, he was greeted with placid faces expertly worn. Yet the eyes told everything and none of these eyes were friendly.

'Mīsaragorn, I may need you to show yourself once more'

Whilst he could not communicate with Mīsaragorn through their bond with words, he could well enough with his emotions and desires.

"Welcome to Lys, Prince Aegon" the magister to the right greeted with a smile. 

He wasn't surprised he was recognised. His distinctive mismatching eyes easily made him recognisable. The fact they knew what to look out for was a little curious though. It meant that the affairs of Westeros mattered a great deal to Lys…and the Triarchy. 

And given the number of ships that crawled through the Stepstones, ships that had to be dissuaded from approaching his ships by a timely appearance of Mīsaragorn, it wouldn't surprise him at all that things were going to be a lot more…tense in the coming years.

"It has been some time since one of Old Valyria's finest has set foot on our home."

"Have you already forgotten Lysiros?" the magister on the far left said "It was only four or five years ago that the lovely Godsworn Maiden left our shores" the magister turned towards Aegon, a look that appeared to be curious worn on his face.

"She was your aunt, was she not?"

Aegon offered a placid smile and waited for a few seconds, seconds that seemed to raise tensions, and it was tensions that was broken by the distant roar of Mīsaragorn, a roar that startled the soldiers and the magisters before him alike.

"My apologies, magisters." Aegon said with a faint smile on his still placid face. "Dragon bonds are a queer thing. Mine own in particular. Mīsaragorn can sense what I sense and he can feel what I feel. As if he were present in mine own thoughts."

Before any of the magisters could react, Aegon turned towards the offending magister, his face darkening like clouds on the onset of a brewing storm. 

Mīsaragorn roared once more, unsettling the magisters even more. 

God, he loved that dragon. "The Godsworn Maiden of Lys is indeed my aunt." Aegon said sharply with a piercing gaze that bore into the magister who looked far from eager to test him like he'd seemed before.

"Of course" Aegon's expression shifted into a friendlier expression "As…unconventional her route into wealth was, it is a credit to your city that even a woman can rise to the top of social hierarchy despite coming with nothing."

Getting offended by facts was pointless and counterproductive especially since he possibly wanted to extract concessions from some of these magisters. Saerra had made her choices and it seemed like she was content enough with them.

The comment visibly surprised the magisters and they seemed eager to move past the tense interaction.

"Yes, that's quite right. Lys is a place of opportunity and we are proud of our city." The lead magister said with an incline of the head before he gestured to himself and to the two men beside him. "I am Magister Aeresso Rogare, and these are my fellow Magisters Tychidos Dynaar and Lysiros Mopanar."

Aegon acknowledged them with a nod before introducing his own men after which he informed him that they were to stay only for four or five days or so before they would depart and after that, the interactions with the magisters was a lot smoother.

They offered him a mansion that once belonged to one of the extinct dragonlord families which boasted a dragon enclosure as an official guest of the city, an offer he took, though he informed him that Mīsaragorn would remain outside of the city halls as he could call him at any time, a point he made sure they picked up on. 

Refusing the offer and staying anywhere in the city would likely not have changed anything anyway for he would have attention on him for the entirety of his stay.

Lysiros Mopanar and a few of his soldiers led them to the manse and waiting in the manse' reception were about two dozen beautiful Valyrian women dressed in nothing but see-through beige or white silk robes that might as well be scarves.

Aegon eyed the magister who smiled at Aegon accommodatingly before speaking "These are our gifts for you and your men."

"Thank you magister and please thank your fellow magisters as well." Aegon turned his gaze back towards the women and his gaze trailed across them for a moment. He caught a look at one of them and he was surprised at what he was seeing.

Behind a demure face, behind beauty and grace, there was sharpness in her eyes that he didn't think belonged to common whores. He glanced away from her look and took to look at the others. They seemed more common, compared to her, but he knew then that this was no ordinary entertainment.

Hmm…

What to do…

He decided after a split moment of consideration and he returned his gaze to the magister "This is a fine gift, one that we will remember fondly every day as they travel with us on our journeys."

The magister's smile fell off "You misunderstand. They are only for the duration of your stay."

"Ah, I see. So they are not a gift then? Merely a loan?" Aegon asked with a tilted head. "Very well. It seems the meaning of gifts differs very much in Lys than it does in other parts of the known world. If this is the furthest extent of Lyseni hospitality and the deepest the famed wealth of the famed magisters of the famed Lyseni conclave can reach, then who I am to judge." Aegon said with careful disappointment on his face before dismissively gesturing towards the women.

"You may take them with you when you leave. Loaned women do not interest us, not when the pillowhouses of Lys can offer the same experience."

The magister's expression grew fixed before he forcefully relaxed and answered "There is no need for that" Mopanar eyed the women for a moment before adding.

"You may keep them."

"Truly? I do not wish to gravely affect nor insult you by taking them." Aegon stated with a sincere note in his voice to the magister.

The magister shook his head and gave a placid half smile though it was clear he meant none of it. "No insult was given. Please accept our gift" and Aegon also knew that he meant none of his words either.

Aegon's smile grew before he inclined his head graciously "Your hospitality shall be known to all those I shall meet, magister." 

Soon enough the magister and his guards departed and Aegon watched the man go.

"Was that wise?" Ser Galaenys asked concerned after the magister had departed.

"We'll see." Aegon said to his companion with a faint smile. 

"I may be able to soothe the issue away in the coming days." You don't become magister without becoming exceedingly wealthy and you don't become exceedingly wealthy in Lys without partaking in the slave trade.

And this loss would aggravate this kind of man for days to come and given that he was to be invited in one of the noble gatherings in two days' time, he'd have an opportunity to 'make it up' to Mopanar.

He already intended to find a main supplier – God, doesn't that sound wrong – and he'd give the man an opportunity to be that source.

Aegon returned to the reception hall where the women were still waiting.

Aegon stepped to the two dozen women. "You understand what has happened?"

One of the women stepped forward, a pale violet eyed blonde haired beauty who looked to be in her late twenties. "If you are asking if we know that we now belong to you…yes" she said with a coy and seductive smile. 

Though that was not what interested him…nor the way she moved, or more like sauntered, towards him. No, what was interesting was the way her eyes seemed to be assessing, behind that demure seductive face.

Aegon hummed silently. "What is your name?" 

"Selysse." The now named Selysse said easily.

"Selysse." Aegon acknowledged before continuing "And you would be wrong." Aegon said firmly as he took a glance at the other women. "You do not belong to me, you belong to yourselves…now."

It surprised them and Aegon looked back at Selysse whose assessing eyes grew sharper. God, she really was an analogue to a Russian seductress, wasn't she?

"What that means…is up to you. I do not doubt that you understand that this newly freedom is…tenuous should you leave our manse and our presence."

"Lysiros would like us to return." Selysse agreed before she paused and looked back at the rest of the women. A few moments passed before she turned back to Aegon.

"You would protect us?" Selysse asked with those assessing eyes.

"I would. You could stay with us until we returned to Westeros or should you wish, you may go your separate ways at our next destination."

Selysse pondered it for a moment before she answered. "We would like to stay with you and…leave when you return to the Sunset Kingdoms."

Aegon nodded his understanding.

Aegon turned his attentions to his men who were eying the women keenly. "Men." 

Aegon's voice was sharp and it cut through the room and refocused attention on him. "We have things to do." Aegon said firmly and pointedly before he relaxed when he spoke next "However you may use the coin I have given you to visit the pillowhouses" this pleased the men.

Aegon continued "These are free women." Aegon told them with a piercing look. "They are free to choose to accept your advances. However…should they refuse and you don't heed it…" Aegon's eyes grew cold and he let the warning hang in the air.

Warning they'd know about what would befall them should they defy him.

As castellan of Dragonstone and as the Prince on Dragonstone, it fell to him to cast judgment. With the increased number of men-at-arms and knights on Dragonstone not seen since the early days of the Conquest, it meant that there were more

One of the guardsmen had taken liberties with a fisher's daughter and the girl's father had petitioned for justice. After finding guilt, Aegon had personally overseen the guardsman being gelded and sent to the wall, a clear warning he sent to the rest of his men.

He'd suffer no rapists amongst his men, cowards that chased after a feeling of power over helpless others, especially when needs could be satiated with the whorehouses of Dragonstone…or in this case the abundant pillowhouses of Lys.

After getting acknowledgement from his men, some of them left to gather much supplies to the Summer Isles, a journey that would be one and a half moon's journey long, just over half that of the journey to Dragonstone from Lys whilst the others were scoping the manse and so he was left alone with the women and only a few of his guards, guards who he would have sent out to search a little blindly for a number of things.

However, these women may be able to save them a whole of time.

"These men were to go find a few things of interest to me in this city." Aegon told Selysse. "It would be helpful if you and your friends could assist." Given that he didn't plan on the women leaving unescorted, he'd take the risk of why they'd search for the more…odd things becoming known.

Selysse turned around and nodded to another of the women, this one being younger and silver haired who stepped up "This is Seresa. She knows almost as much as I do about Lys and what you may find here."

After leaving his men to be acquainted with the women, he was alone with Selysse.

"Mopanar will not be happy with our loss." Selysse stated to him rather bluntly as she looked at him questioningly. "You may be a dragonlord but he is also a powerful man."

"And why would I seek to anger him, you wonder?" Aegon posed with a faint smile before he lost it "Because of you." Aegon said pointedly with a piercing gaze.

"Me?" the tone of innocent in her voice almost made him laugh.

Definitely a Russian seductress analogue.

"You, the other women. All of you." Aegon said easily "It's not hard to figure out that you're not the ordinary kind of entertainers."

"Entertainers?" Selysse questioned with faint amusement though the point he was making didn't escape her.

"Whores and bed slaves are crass words." 

"Yet they are also far more truthful than entertainers." Selysse pointed out with a smile.

Aegon nodded. "Just as it is far more truthful that you are spies for Mopanar and the other magisters." Aegon smiled faintly "Taking you and your friends away from him seemed only right."

Selysse gave an uncharacteristic snort and for the first time he was seeing more of her true self than the mask she'd hidden behind. "He won't forget this."

"I don't suspect he will. But he'll be cautious" besides he intended to alleviate the anger by presenting a lucrative deal with the man. Speaking of which…

"Why don't you tell me more about him?" 

"And this what you prefer to do instead of…me?" Selysse eyed him lustfully.

God, she was beautiful. Her hips, her delicate curves, her toned stomach, her perky…

And yet…she didn't compare at all.

Aegon looked at her appreciatively but said firmly. "I am happily married to my wife. I have sworn oaths to her. I will not betray them. Not even for a beautiful woman such as yourself"

It surprised Selysse, no doubt hardly familiar with rejection.

It made her look at him oddly "You would remain true to your wife? Even if she would not know?"

"I would know." 

"An honest man. A rare thing." 

"I'm honest to those who are loyal to me." Aegon said to Selysse as he met her gaze unblinkingly "Loyalty, to me, is one that goes both ways. Stick with me and you will never regret it." Aegon told her with a hint of fervour in his voice.

He wasn't sure when he'd decided that he wanted her to be incorporated into some of his schemes, perhaps it might have been when he'd seen that glint of intelligence in her eyes, but nevertheless, a woman of her experiences and intelligence may well prove to be invaluable in the long run.

Perhaps more than Joanna Swann ever could be.

Selysse' expression turned graver, more serious as she took a long look at him before finally nodding. "I might well do so." Selysse said to him. Neither a yes or a no.

Good. He would not have trusted an immediate yes. A considerate answer like that meant that he'd have to earn her trust and it meant that she was being honest with him.

Aegon smiled at her.

After spending a bit of time with her, he sent half dozen men to search out for Joanna Swann amongst the many, many pillowhouses.

A task that no doubt they'll enjoy.

Because if the women in the pillowhouses are at least anything as the women he'd seen throughout his exploration of the city, at the manse, then Aegon expected most of the men to be without any coin by the time they left Lys.

He left the manse with Ser Galaenys and a few of his men, his chainmail and lizard-lion skin 'shirt' adorned beneath his casual attire, and simply took to see the city.

Truly, Lys was a beautiful city. 

Not only in its architecture, domed circular beige and white buildings that bore sharp linear features that grabbed the attentions in a stark yet soft manner, but also most definitely in the people.

And as he travelled through the city, it seemed like seventy to eighty percent of the population were of Valyrian descent.

Dragonstone was the closest to this experience yet it paled in comparison to this, for this was a city with close to half a million people and Dragonstone only could boast twenty to twenty two thousand now with the town and the port.

Aegon could lose his armour and don the Lysene clothing and he would not stand out at all. It was a strange experience, to see so many people of the same ethnicity, the same ethereal beauty his family was known for.

Yet despite all of the beauty, despite the odd kind of ancestral belonging he felt, behind the face of this city lay an ugly centre. Three quarters of the population were slaves, and many of whom have been born into slavery for untold generations.

As much as Lys was known for…breeding…bed slaves, it also simply bred slaves. From scribes to craftsmen to tutors to soldiers to cooks, any function of life, slaves were born and depending on their aptitude, made to fit into the Lysene structure.

It was easier, after all, to maintain the culture of slavery when you could train them from infancy rather than import newly made slaves who have tasted freedom.

Who would yearn to be free again.

It was a sobering thing to see, and dismal, to see the difficulties that would arise in even trying to free a majority of people who didn't have a contextual understanding of what it meant to be free, that wouldn't make it easy to slide back into slavery.

To be able to make choices for yourself, with whom you lay, to be able to raise your own child instead of losing the child as soon as it was born to the same slavery you were born into.

He'd seen enough of the difficulties of adjusting the thousand or so former slaves had to know that getting the people to rise up without consistent external impetus would be impossible.

And even if you could get their support, the magisters and the supporting nobility were all too heavily ingrained in all facets of the economy and governance so uprooting them completely would only leave behind a destabilised city that imported a far too significant amount of its food and so you'd need their support too.

Which…would be unlikely and given the flagrant production of poisons in the city…

And he expected it to be a similar enough tale across the rest of the Free Cities, bar Braavos, when it came to such problems.

The sad part? Lys along with most of the Free Cities, all things considered, were far better places to be a slave in compared to the cities of Slaver's Bay or Volantis based on the interviews he's had with Lysene slaves that he'd purchased the freedoms of.

It was practically Roman, the way slaves were integrated into all facets of life in Lys. 

Hmm…

He'd at times wondered what he could do, playing in what-ifs and so on, to create change. 

To move the Free Cities away from slavery with conquest would invite pressures and intrigue from too many different sources to ever be successful. 

Not without the backing of a massive empire, its resources and its people.

Conquering and defeating the Free Cities, particularly the Triarchy would not be difficult. Holding them and more importantly be able to deal with the Faceless Men? 

Those were the problems that stopped any ideas of conquering the Triarchy, just as the fact that the power structures in Essos were honestly disadvantageous than they'd had been for his namesake the Conqueror who'd slotted into the power and religious structures of Westeros seamlessly…for the most part.

Creating a force of tens of thousands of soldiers, spies, administrators and gold, which would be needed to hold the cities, was achievable but the Faceless Men, a complete bullshit of an Assassin's Order that was one of the main gatekeepers of stagnation, that'd inevitably be sent after him or any other would-be conqueror?

An Assassin's Order that might well have a literal connection to some Death Deity and may well be spread in every single city so as to make destroying the House of Black and White utterly and completely pointless and would probably result in a certain death?

No, he'd need another solution that drove internal demand for change if he wanted to address the slavery problem, and it didn't matter if it was by the slave population or not. Internal demand for change was the only way it could work long term. 

He had historical context for how economies that employed slavery moved away from the practice and both instances…

Both instances would be difficult to say the least.

The economic incentive had come from industrialisation, large scale manufacturing that drastically reduced workforce needed to farm or produce and it was nigh on impossible that he'd live to see it succeed to make slavery obsolete.

And not only that, with large scale manufacturing from industrial revolution, came ideas and technologies that he did not want to release into the world, at least not without ensuring his family's new home dominance over their region.

It also doesn't help that he didn't think economic and technological incentives would truly work to end the practice of slavery, not when it was so deeply embedded in the culture and society of Essos.

It is practiced in their very cities, in their very homes, much like how Rome, the Assyrians and some other Empires in the antiquities had done.

Completely different to Colonial Empires that had practiced slavery away from their homelands and had sought to feed their homelands, in foodstuffs, in precious metals and in products, in distant lands.

A means to an end. An incredibly profitable end.

And it was these nations, the British Empire in particular, that either forced or encouraged the slave trade and slavery to end in the New World once slavery was somewhat losing its economic appeal…and its general appeal.

Which brought him to the second trigger to ending slavery which was religious.

Rome and then later the Colonial European powers, had abolished slavery, in truth, largely because of religious moral reasons and the pressures from society. 

Of course, the economic incentives of keeping up slavery had been drying up a little and the pressure put by the British Empire to end the slave trade was significant, but religious morality and politics played the key role in ending the practice.

Slavery was no longer sexy

Yet this was also incredibly unlikely to succeed since the factors and the circumstances that led to the end of slavery wouldn't work here. It would require time and effort and honestly a kind of resonance that happened at the right time, at the right moment, with the right people.

Whilst none of the Triarchy Cities particularly cared about religion, there was a good reason why the Faith of the Seven was completely absent from Essos and why the faith of the fire-devil worshipping lunatics was amongst the most popular amongst the slaves…a faith that literally urged its followers to obey their masters.

Any religion, south of Braavos, that even hinted towards emancipation or anything like it, 'slavery is bad, don't do it', would get strangled in the crib…and at the dinner table as well. 

So if conquest, industrialisation and religion were all out, if he wanted it to last more than a generation…then how does one set in motion emancipation movements?

Movements that could withstand hostile culture and societal pressures?

One of the more extreme considerations was to simply go the Mongol route.

Sack and destroy many slaving cities and let rivers of freedmen and noble blood flow so as to let something else grow from its ashes, even at the cost of the death of a large chunk of slaves.

And then remove cultural influences by committing mass genocide against the Dothraki and the Ghiscari and rid Essos of their cultures and peoples since they were two of the main pressures of the slave trade.

Change through brutality and death

A route that would probably descend Essos into a dark age far, far worse than the 'Century of Blood' and likely end in his premature death and leave a stain on the Targaryen name for generations to come and probably herald the end of his family's rule and maybe his family as a whole a lot sooner than in the original timeline.

A consideration that swiftly came and went.

Much like his other considerations.

And out of all of the considerations he had, the only one that minimised risk to family and optimised success was allowing time to do his bidding…beyond his grave.

By building up his new nation, with a population of Valyrians who mostly owe their freedoms, their wealth and their society to him, and who'd be made to learn the societal values and doctrines he wanted, generations after his death, he could see the nation he would build exact his vision of a better world through campaigns of conquest and liberation that could resist the pressures that would be against it.

A Manifesto of Freedom and Destiny that would sing through Time.

There was, of course, no guarantee that it would even happen. Anything could happen. His descendants could upend everything. His nation could be destroyed. 

It was also quite likely that the nation he'd built would also diverge from the roots in which he'd found it on, much like how Valyria went from fighting against the slaving Ghiscaris to adopting their practices and mastering it to an obscene degree.

Yet…shouldn't he try?

Everything he was doing, was for his sons and for Gael and for his people. 

Everything.

To build a home that would see his family and his people prosper and rule together, that could govern without being built on a tenuously built house of cards, that would not create circumstances that'd see brother kill brother, uncle kill nephew, yet…

What kind of home would it be?

This world has stagnated for untold thousands of years, in technology and in society. 

There was no driving force, no innovation, no need for progress.

Was that something he wanted, to build a home that fitted in well in Essos or in the Far East? 

That would trickle along for hundreds if not thousands of years like a never ending flame of a candle light yet never grow and feed from its surroundings to become an engulfing fire that would spark an inferno of change…of progress?

No, it was not something he wanted…that he wished for. And perhaps he would never see it realised, perhaps it would all go to shit in a generation after his death.

Yet…he would work to build something, a home, a people, with fortitude, with zeal not only for progress but also for change beyond their homes, beyond their nation.

Aegon glanced around as he stood on the balcony of the manse, his eyes gazing across the cityscape, his mind coming to a slow crawl as he simply looked.

Hmm…

It was odd to think how helpless he really was…in the grand scheme of things. 

Being a dragonrider, a Prince, someone who had all of this powerful knowledge, much of it useless trivia in the context of the era he was in and the technology available, yet all of it meant nothing against a system that turned and turned for thousands of years.

Aegon shook his head and turned to go back into the manse. 

He'd only be able to do a little for these people for now…for only a select few lucky ones but…he hoped…he hoped that in time, with time, his and their descendants would grasp the baton he would be leaving them to take.

Days later…

Soon enough, the day of the noble gathering at Innos Maratis, the patriarch of an old Lyseni noble family arrived and it didn't disappoint. Splendid decorations of silks woven with silver and gold and gems hung from everywhere.

Lavish food and drink and wine were present and circulated around yet Aegon was far too leery to drink or eat any of it and had kept the same untouched glass of wine since he'd arrived.

He was tempted to drink it, the constant drinking of hot water or tea that had been boiled for ages was wearing a little thin amidst a sea of plenty of tasty looking – and smelling – drink in Lys, but this was the capital of poisons for a reason.

A place where there were slow acting poisons that would make it seem as if he'd fallen ill before keeling over. Whilst he did not know for certain that the likes of the Tears of Lys would get neutralised or rendered harmless through boiling water, it was the best option he had available to him…just as the unholy concoction of…purgative substances were the only other way he knew to cleanse his system.

In all honesty, it served largely to soothe his paranoia more than anything.

If they wanted him dead…

He'd have no defences against fast acting poisons and the only reason why they wouldn't act this way would be because they had little motive and even if they did inexplicably have one, it would put Lys in the limelight of his blatant assassination.

As much as he didn't think his brothers would avenge his death, the Lyseni didn't know that for certain. A thin shield…but a shield nonetheless.

He spoke and charmed and conversed with the Lyseni nobility as and when he needed to, questions about his family and his reasons for visiting were plentiful 'I couldn't resist the opportunity to visit the jewel of the Known World', 'Yes, it is a shame such a distance between my family and those of Lys has been made' and on and on it went.

In truth, there was little different between a gathering like this and a gathering in Kings Landing, the only difference being that he was a novelty here and someone to consider there yet in both instances words meant nothing and intent was exploitative…and more than a few times he had to resist the urge to run a blade in someone's neck. 

Power was power, he grimly thought to himself…just as the hunt for more power was universal…however flowery or sing-songy your tongue was.

Finally though…he got to why he was here in the first place.

"Magister Mopanar" Aegon acknowledged with a dip of the head as he singled out the man. He gestured the man to walk with him. 

The magister set his keen eyes on Aegon as he considered it. He eyed Ser Galaenys too but in the end, he acceded with a slight nod and they walked, Ser Galaenys his ever shadow.

"How are the women? To your liking?" the magister asked with a shown hint of curiosity…and a hint of well-hidden anger. No man who got into the kind of position Mopanar has been in liked to be bested in any way or form.

He relied on that.

"They are indeed to my liking." Aegon said to Mopanar and it was even truthful. 

These past few days, he'd gotten to know them better.

They were rather well educated for…enslaved entertainers and he supposed they had to be. They were the kind of women they gave to dignitaries or visitors of high interest to squeeze out information during…intimate moments.

"And to my men." Aegon said with a gracious smile though inside he was grimacing. God, he'd rather spend a thousand evenings with the likes of Darklyn then utter and insinuate what he was doing now.

"I am glad." Mopanar said with an incline of the head "and not unexpected. They were some of my best slaves" he said as they walked into the gardens.

Aegon nodded "You've done well to train them." Aegon came to a stop and gave the magister an apologetic look who eyed him carefully. "Magister…I wish to compensate you for the loss of these slaves." 

Mopanar hid it well but there was a glint in his eyes.

"There is no need." Mopanar said graciously before adding. "They were a gift and a pittance to give away. We Lyseni are not the Braavosi."

Aegon smiled at the magister before he nodded reassuringly "And to insult you so is not my intent." Aegon sighed heavily "Yet I feel that I must still compensate you in some fashion." Aegon eyed Mopanar deliberately.

"You are aware of my purchases from Lys?"

"We are aware." Mopanar confirmed with a more curious expression and Aegon expected no less. Hmm, it was even likely after his stunt he might have found difficulty purchasing slaves from Lys if he were not addressing the issue now.

Aegon nodded before he began to walk again. Mopanar walked with him. "Then you know that I have been purchasing from rather…unreliable businesspersons."

Mopanar smiled and this time it was with faint amusement. "The Hotaris family are little more than fishwives at the market." Mopanar lost his smile and eyed Aegon intently "You wished to resolve the…need to compensate me through purchasing slaves?" 

"I do."

Mopanar, for the first time seemed to be genuinely thoughtful before he eyed Aegon once more "I hear you free the slaves as soon as they set foot on Dragonstone."

"I do." Aegon said with a careless expression. "You know the distaste the Andals have for slavery despite the fact that the commonfolk are all but slaves anyway. Lords…Masters…what difference is there?" Aegon gave a twisted smile. 

"Though I have to admit…the illusion of freedom they have is quite entertaining"

Mopanar eyed him a lot keener now before he nodded and Aegon knew that he passed an assessment. Mopanar spoke up once more "I do not sell the common rabble. My slaves are pristine." Mopanar said before adding "As you well know." 

'Of course I know, you won't stop digging at it, you arrogant little…'

"I do know…which is why I am here speaking with you." Aegon said with an easy smile and Mopanar looked amused at that, understanding what Aegon was inferring.

'Scratch that…I'd rather deal with ten thousand Darklyns than this prick'

"And though quality slaves are of significant interest to me…I am also interested in quantity." Aegon told Mopanar. 

He continued "You are connected throughout Lys. I have only been here a few days yet I have heard the name Mopanar throughout the city." 

Mopanar hardly reacted to the flattery, as if it was expected his name was known throughout the city yet he got the feeling that such flattery coming from himself was working on the prickly man.

"And this is what I propose…" Aegon outlined to the man, praise and flattery interspersed to his reasoning why it would be a lucrative deal for Mopanar to be his go-to man when it came to providing Aegon with Valyrian slaves.

He hated every moment of it.

"It could work" Mopanar said with a scrutinizing look after Aegon had finished explaining. "It will not be cheap nor can I guarantee quality."

Aegon choked his distaste and irk to death before he spoke.

"I didn't expect so." Aegon said with a thin smile meeting the gaze of the magister. 

"And even if they are of poorer quality than expected, I am sure reasonable men such as us can get to an agreement when it comes to price. After all, I can make use of…unsightly children in some form or another. There are plenty of empty mines that can use a few extra hands." 

Mopanar smiled at his words "We do the same though we offload our aging slaves and the unsightly ones, the ones who look strong enough and aren't killed, to the Disputed Lands so they may be of some use." 

Aegon said nothing though gave a smile and waited for Mopanar to speak again.

Mopanar eyed him before he probed. 

"I'm curious…why do you seek this? Untrained slaves of lesser stock or even your own commonfolk surely could suffice for your needs?" Aegon inclined his head.

"I'm sure there are plenty of Andals that I can press into working for me." Aegon said with dismissive gesture. "But they are Andal." Aegon gave a light sneer.

"I see enough of them in Kings Landing. I have no wishes to see the filth on Dragonstone, a land that should only be for those of…suitable descent."

The magister chuckled seemingly more at ease with Aegon with every passing moment. "I see" the magister said with an appraising look. "I wouldn't have thought you had such a poor opinion of the people your family rules."

"They are barbarians, magister. Much like the Empire of old ruled over the rabble in central Essos, they are only fit to be ruled. My ancestor, the Conqueror knew this, just as my ancestor knew to act with respect and friendship with your own ancestors to beat back the grasping Volantene. There a is difference between us and they." Aegon said to Mopanar and he saw his words please the foul ….

After that, their conversation faded away and they returned to the gathering at large though the magister agreed to a meeting the next day to 'discuss it further'.

Aegon knew he had the man.

And he felt like he needed to bathe in Mīsaragorn's flames to cleanse the foulness from his body and spirit.

The next day, after long negotiations, terms and prices were set. He'd pay through the Iron Bank, the Iron Bank had representatives in Lys, and prices were at a fixed rate for the next eight years. 

A male child between the ages of eight to sixteen was set at three-fifths the price of an adult male, and a female child of those same age ranges was set at four-fifths the price of an adult female. 

Children under the age of six were set at two-fifths the price with price-breaks for to be one-fifth should he purchase the entire stock of children at any given time.

Average or below average looking slaves would be of equivalent ratios yet they'd be forty percent of the price of the 'good quality slaves'.

He'd learnt a little more about the way the slave market worked in Lys, and how many slaves actually passed through its ports and it was astounding. Whilst the city was less than half a million in size, its fortresses and controlled lands in the Disputed Lands accounted for thrice the number of people within Lys' control.

…and where most of the slaves that produced goods and foodstuffs for Lys were born…and bred.

The entire affair made him feel absolutely filthy and he'd beaten Ser Galaenys almost into the ground after it was done.

"My apologies, Ser Galaenys" Aegon said as he breathed heavily, sweat dripping from his brow. He extended a hand out to the down man. Ser Galaenys took it.

"My Prince. I understand." Ser Galaenys said with a stoic but understanding expression. "It has been...unsettling." Aegon snorted and gave the man a look.

"I would have expected more colourful words."

Ser Galaenys gave Aegon a faint almost amused smile "I have overheard some of Vareo's teachings." Despite himself, Aegon's lips twitched.

Vareo was one of the Pentoshi scribes he'd bought the freedom of, and also the oldest former slave, who was one of more popular teachers on Dragonstone. The man was rather interesting…and had interesting perspectives.

There was a kind of wisdom about him that makes one gravitate to him. A fascinating man who has lived long enough to has many pearls of wisdom.

One of them being that being expressive can have its disadvantages and that equally being restrained in your reactions have a greater impact, or rather greater gravitas.

Aegon lost his amusement and turned sombre for a moment as he looked to the distance. After a while he spoke up. "What a legacy of Valyria, Ser Galaenys" he said before he turned towards the man. 

"Many of the few and last descendants of Old Valyria in the Known World reside in this city and all they are good for in the eyes of many is to be bred to be more beautiful."

And ironically, Lys…Volantis…all of the rest where there are a few strong pockets of strong Valyrian footprint…all of them were nothing but a remnant.

A poor remnant that was fortunate enough to remain when the vast majority of their people were burnt to a crisp and blown away.

Valyria deserved to be destroyed, for certain, yet the idea of the majority of the last remaining descendants of the Lands of the Long Summer, those who'd dominated the world with unrivalled power and strength, being nothing but whores and slaves was devastating…and deeply ironic in a certain way.

Ser Galaenys turned grim before he answered. "A travesty, I agree, my Prince. And I know that you will change that" the knight said with utmost certainty, his voice ringing with loyalty.

Aegon looked at the man and the corners of his mouth curled upward slightly as a sign of approval though inwardly... 'I will do far less than you think I will, my friend.' 

Aegon said nothing else to the knight.

Soon enough, it was time for them to go and fight Jalla's war for him and Aegon was never more glad to leave to go and fight.

----------------------------------------------Break----------------------------------------------

103 AC, Dragonstone

Viserys POV

He watched as ship upon ship were being loaded from atop the battlements of the castle. Supplies. Gold. Knights and men-at-arms. And most of all, commonfolk.

It was leaving him dizzy, to see so many people choosing to leave. People who had been on Dragonstone since the Doom itself now chose to leave with Aegon.

"Viserys." Aemma's concerned voice broke him out his reverie.

He turned towards her and smiled fondly. She was beautiful, his better half.

She'd soothed his nerves when no one else knew he had them. She believed in him to be a worthy successor to their grandsire, who passed not but a moon ago.

'Where would I be without her…' he thought himself before he shook those thoughts away. "I know, I know." Viserys said as he took his wife's hand and led her down the steps towards the Docks.

Docks that were overfilled with Carracks that numbered well over five dozen. Huge Carracks oddly had more sails than he'd seen on a ship before.

"Could I have prevented this?" Viserys asked Aemma as they were followed by the Kings Guard. Aemma looked to consider it before she shook her head, answering what he already known in his hearts of heart.

"Aegon always dreamed of adventure" she answered.

"But he has a family now" Viserys said frustrated. 

"Adventure is no place for a child."

"Which is why they leaving for the Summer Isles" Aemma pointed out before looking towards the ships "And you know that your brother and your nephews will be fine there." Of course he knew, Viserys thought wearily.

It was the talk of Kings Landing, when Aegon returned. Winning back a kingdom was no easy feat nor a feat to ignore, even if it was by queer means like the Summer Islanders used. No one would deny their home to a man who made that possible.

"And yet he would have a greater place here, by my side." Viserys said disappointed and frustrated. He offered anything and everything when Aegon announced that he was leaving seven days after the funeral of their grandsire.

Any seat on the council, any land that he wished to make his own.

Nothing satisfied him and he was stubborn in his desires to leave.

"Would he?" Aemma said quietly and Viserys looked at her surprised.

"Of course!" Viserys said insulted.

"Viserys, I love you but you ignore who Aegon is. What he wants." Aemma said to him. Viserys frowned at that.

"And who is he?" Viserys asked.

Aemma seemed to struggle somewhat before she responded. "It is not adventure that he seeks." Aemma said, confusing Viserys. She gestured around.

"Look around you. Look at the town. What do you see?"

Viserys looked as they made their way down towards the Docks but the town was clear to see still. He'd been surprised to see it so developed and so much larger.

It wasn't long ago that it was naught but a fishing town with just a few stone homes with the rest being built out of wood.

Aemma continued "He doesn't truly seek adventure. Not in a literal sense, I do not think. He seeks a place of his own, Viserys. One he can have" And Viserys turned back towards her. She looked solemn. "The only place here he's felt at home has been Dragonstone and it is not a home that can be granted to him. So…"

"He denied land greater than Dragonstone." Viserys pointed out.

"Land that he cares little for? Land that possess none of the features that made it home? Or the people?" Aemma said pointedly. She nodded towards the ships.

"So many people that are leaving are commonfolk. Commonfolk that he's gotten to know like no other Prince or Lord has done, at least in recent times. Part of his home"

Aemma shook her head. "No, I think that Aegon would not have stayed short of receiving Dragonstone itself." Aemma sighed as she stared at the ships.

"A shame too. Dragonstone always felt dreary before it changed to liveliness. Before the town. I'm saddened to see it become dreary once more" Aemma finished.

Viserys said nothing as his thoughts consumed him. Ser Otto had advised him that he should prevent it from happening, that too many were leaving.

The town would fail and his grandsire's and his father's work to make Dragonstone a worthy seat of an heir would be undone.

He'd almost agreed had it not been for Aemma's sage advice. 

He'd already given Aegon some choice words that he regretted and to make such a decree would have embittered the brothers towards one another, Aemma had said.

And she would have been right. As she so oft was.

The men and women at the Docks paid their respects due to him as he walked amongst them, flanked as he was with his Kings Guard and made his way towards the largest ship in the fleet.

It was a monstrosity, to say the truth. Made out of Ironwood and almost twice as tall as ordinary carracks from dock to copper-plated hull with sails larger than he'd seen before, it was a formidable ship. Worthy of a flagship. 

It was a shame that the shipwrights were all leaving with Aegon.

It was there that he saw Aegon and Gael with their children close by, conversing and directing men here or there. They saw Viserys and Aemma and made their way towards them.

"Seeing us off brother?" Aegon said with a smile after he gave Aemma a warm hug who was also hugged by Gael before leading his wife slightly away from the two brothers.

Viserys gave his brother a weak smile before looking towards the ship. "When do you depart?" he instead asked.

"On the morrow." Aegon answered calmly.

So soon…

Viserys turned around and looked at all of the activity that was happening. 

It seemed as if the entire town was leaving.

"Do you have a head count?" Viserys questioned.

"Eleven thousand and four hundred and twelve common folk. Some three thousand men-at-arms." Aegon answered and Viserys turned around to face Aegon in shock.

"That's more than half of the entire island population."

Aegon smiled though Viserys thought it resembled a half grin. One of victory.

"Slightly under half though most that remain are formerly of Kings Landing." Aegon said to Viserys. Viserys shook his head. What a headache.

He'd have to task Otto to see to it that more people move to Dragonstone.

There would be plenty of abandoned homes to fill.

"Viserys." Aegon's voice returned back to the present and he looked at his brother.

Aegon's eyes were searching Viserys' face though he couldn't say what Aegon's expression was meant to be. "Why are you here? Truly? You've barely said a word since you arrived yesterday."

Viserys remained silent for a moment before he couldn't help but ask.

"Is there nothing I can give to make you stay? I could use your guile and your mind." Viserys stated earnestly. It was true, Aegon was someone who could do much to help his reign. He'd helped his grandfather plenty over the past four years.

Kings Landing had markedly improved with the renovations of Flea Bottom that Aegon reportedly had been directly charged with. Renovations that were still in work with the Pentoshi builders at work to build the city's plumbing. Aegon also worked with father to institute building laws and the buildings since built have been far better built.

The smell was not nearly as bad as well, the Grandmaester had told him.

Should he unleash Aegon completely to Kings Landing, he wondered what wonders his little brother could come up with in concert with that half-maester of his.

"There is nothing you can say that can make me stay." Aegon said apologetically before placing his hands onto Viserys' shoulder. Viserys stared in his brother's mismatching eyes.

"But do me a favour…elder brother." Aegon voice shifted into solemnity.

"Of course." Viserys said with a defeated sigh.

Aegon's expression broke slightly as he spoke. "Chose to be like father. Like grandfather." Aegon said seriously. "Their life was duty. You are King now. Your duty comes before everything else."

Viserys shook off his brother's hands and looked at him irritated.

Who was his little brother to lecture him, Viserys on duty? When he had served his father and then his grandfather above all else? Who learned from the two best men the realm had ever seen directly? 

Viserys knew duty, and he knew better than his little brother.

"You speak of duty as if you've ever cared for it, little brother." Viserys said sternly. 

"You ran from yours and look where it nearly got you."

"Three sons and a wife? All of whom I love more than anyone or anything else?" Aegon said quietly but there was a hint of steel in his voice and challenge in his eyes.

Viserys met his little brother's gaze sternly. 

Aegon broke the stare and shook his head.

"I'm not fighting with you, brother. I've said what I needed to say." Aegon turned but not before glancing at him. "I've given you warnings. It's more than what grandfather or father did." Aegon said finally before leaving. 

Viserys frowned in confusion as he watched Aegon go to Gael and Aemma.

'Warnings?'

The dinner that Aemma cajoled out of Aegon and Gael was quiet though Aemma and Gael did their best to make it less so. They talked about the hatchlings that hatched for Castorys and Valarr and how Gael hoped Polaerys' egg would soon hatch.

Grandsire had allowed dragon eggs to be granted to the boys, a right he'd extended to Daemon's own son, both decisions that surprised Viserys given the infamous strictness with which grandsire was known to have when it came to dragons. 

Two of the three eggs had hatched for Aegon's boys whilst for…Baelon the Younger, his own egg was still yet to hatch.

Daemon dismissed talk of unworthiness, saying that he preferred his son to bond with a dragon like Vermithor, fit for a King Consort, instead of having a younger dragon.

The next day, Viserys watched his youngest brother leave Dragonstone with sixty-two carracks and two huge barges large enough for dragons and Viserys wondered if he'd ever see his younger brother and his family ever again.