14. "Embar"

Laenor POV

I lounged on my couch, absentmindedly popping grapes into my mouth as my gaze drifted toward the seashore. There, Embaryx and Veltharys played in the sand, their powerful forms contrasting against the endless blue of the waves. Laena stood nearby, watching over them with an eager glint in her eyes.

Embaryx, my dragon, was a striking mix of black and grey, the latter blending along his underbelly like the shifting tides. His neck was slightly longer than most dragons—though not to the extreme of Caraxes. He was fiercely protective, tolerating only our family in his presence. Even Uncle Vaemond dared not get too close, lest he find himself at the mercy of sharp snapping fangs.

Veltharys, on the other hand, was a vision of vibrant colors—a deep purple base with streaks of brilliant hues woven into her bulky frame. Mother once told me that dragons do not have fixed genders at birth, instead choosing one early in life and maintaining it unless something monumental happens to them or their rider. Veltharys had chosen to be female, and she was easily the most dazzling of the Velaryon dragons.

She was also the most energetic. While Embaryx carried an intense, guarded nature, Veltharys was pure, untamed liveliness, mirroring Laena’s boundless spirit. She was built similarly to Drogon from the show, though I knew she—like Embaryx—would be something entirely different from the dragons of House Targaryen.

For the past six moons, I had kept careful records of every difference I noticed between our dragons and the ones belonging to my mother’s family.

The first major difference was their rapid growth. Embaryx and Veltharys consumed far more food than Targaryen hatchlings, a necessity to sustain their unnatural development. In just half a year, both had reached the size of a growing horse.

The second difference lay in their scales. Unlike the smooth, warm texture of the Targaryen dragons, Embaryx and Veltharys had rough, hardened scales—almost akin to tempered steel. Given the sheer amount of life force I had infused into them, this was somewhat expected. But I had anticipated something… more. Some kind of powerful magical ability that would set them apart.

For five moons, nothing out of the ordinary manifested—except for the fact that, according to Mother, their fire burned far hotter than it should for their age. But this moon, I witnessed something truly unexpected.

One night, while the hatchlings slept within the cave alongside Meleys—who had taken on the role of their surrogate mother—I noticed something strange. The charred earth, blackened by Meleys’ dragonfire, had transformed overnight. In its place, fresh grass, taller than my fingers, had sprouted.

It wasn’t an isolated incident.

I began conducting small tests, making them rest in barren areas where not a single blade of greenery could be found. Yet each time, by morning, life had bloomed in abundance. Wherever they slept, flora flourished.

It wasn’t a trait that would aid them in battle or war, but it was still an ability of immense potential. If this power developed further, could they turn ordinary plants into something… magical? The possibilities were endless.

Laena, of course, was ecstatic when she discovered this ability, proclaiming to our parents that our dragons could do more than destroy—they could create. Mother, initially skeptical, soon found herself enamored with the idea. She began doting on the dragons even more, asking that they rest in her gardens so they could enhance its beauty.

As for their names, I had chosen Embaryx from the High Valyrian word Embar, meaning "sea," while Laena had named her dragon Veltharys simply because she liked the way it sounded—and because it was a homage to our House.

Six moons had passed in the blink of an eye, much like the two weeks leading up to their hatching. In that time, my swordsmanship had improved leaps and bounds, as expected. My hydrokinesis had also grown stronger—I could now manipulate vast amounts of water, shaping it effortlessly into intricate forms.

At that moment, I was practicing just that. Water floated around the chamber, swirling into graceful shapes of land and sea creatures before seamlessly shifting into something new. A knock at the door broke my concentration, and with a simple thought, the water obeyed, flowing back into its containers.

"Come in," I called.

The heavy doors swung open, revealing my mother, regal as ever. She wore a flowing black and red dress of the finest silk, her presence as commanding as the sea itself.

She approached gracefully, taking a seat across from me. "Are you ready?" she asked, her gaze briefly flickering toward the dragons playing in the sand. A barely noticeable smile tugged at her lips.

"Yes," I replied, nodding toward the neatly arranged belongings on my bed. "I’ve prepared everything we’ll need for our stay."

"And what of them?" I gestured toward Embaryx and Veltharys. "Who will look after them while we’re away?"

The tourney celebrating King Viserys' ascension would be held in Maidenpool, and Father had insisted we attend. If we didn’t, the King’s council would no doubt use it as fuel to cast doubt on House Velaryon’s loyalty.

"I will travel to Dragonstone after this meeting and bring two dragonkeepers," she answered. "They will watch over them in our absence."

I nodded but remained unconvinced. Could dragonkeepers truly handle them? "Are you sure they’ll be enough?"

Mother, seeing my doubt, reassured me. "Do not worry, my son. I will return to Driftmark every two days to check on them."

"You don’t need to do that," I countered. "It would only exhaust you needlessly."

Embaryx and Veltharys were large enough to hunt small fish from the sea. Additionally, Father had assigned guards to watch over them at all times.

Speaking of Father… "What excuse did he give to the court?" I asked.

House Targaryen had undoubtedly taken note of our dragons. If there had been only one new hatchling, there wouldn’t have been much cause for concern—Laena had a dragon egg of her own, after all. But two? That was impossible to explain away, given that the dragonkeepers kept meticulous records of every existing egg.

"He told them he acquired both eggs from Asshai," Mother said, though a frown crept onto her face at the mention of my father’s journey to that distant, shadowed land. "He claimed they had been petrified and only woke from the stone after years of careful incubation over heated coals."

I hummed in thought. "And do you think they believed him?"

She sighed. "I doubt even my cousin is so naïve. They will likely question you and Laena in private when your father and I aren’t around. You must convince them the eggs simply… hatched on their own."

I gave her a firm nod. "We won’t mess it up."

My gaze drifted toward Laena, who looked weary from playing with Veltharys, no doubt eager to return to the keep.

"Are you sure it’s wise not to bring them with us?" I asked cautiously. "The King explicitly requested to see them."

The court was far more treacherous than the books and shows ever portrayed. If they couldn’t harm us physically, they would find other ways—sabotaging Father's influence within the council, for instance. With pirate activity in the Stepstones increasing, that could spell disaster.

"I admit it is not the wisest choice," she said. "But their age and fragility will be reason enough for the King to understand. Even a Targaryen knows dragons are at their weakest in their first year—just as men are."

With that, she stood, her commanding presence returning in full force. "Enough speculation. Go say your farewells to Embaryx and Veltharys. You, Laena, and your father depart today."

She strode out, barking orders at the servants scurrying through the halls to finish packing my things.

I sighed and pushed myself up, making my way toward the shore. It would be moons before I saw Embaryx again.