LABYRINTH | JACAERYS VELARYON

ii.

Aelyra skipped into the Dragonpit just in time to see Vermax being brought into the open. She felt her face split into a grin at the sight of her brother's dragon and felt herself hesitate on coming any closer out of fear that she would distract Jace from his current task.

Of course, her footsteps had still been heard and she felt a little bashful as most of the people present turned to look at her. She raised her hand in a meek wave, moving forward when Aegon beckoned for her to join him at his side. She grinned at Jace in encouragement, making him smile back before turning toward his dragon and listen to what the Dragonkeeper was telling him. 

Aelyra kind of tuned him out, which she shouldn't have been doing, but she knew that he would ramble on and on about the seriousness of being in the presence of a dragon and how it was imperative that they treat them as equals in order to earn their dragon's respect. She'd heard it over and over again, and while she wasn't trying to be disrespectful, she could probably recite his entire speech by now. 

Aegon leaned down to whisper in her ear. "You missed seeing me with Sunfyre."

Aelyra frowned at his words, wondering if he was upset with her for being late. She loved seeing him with his dragon. Sunfyre was gorgeous, probably the most beautiful of all the dragons she'd ever seen. Other than Seastar, of course. But that was her being biased, she knew. 

"Sorry," she murmured back. "Mother was introducing me to the baby."

Aegon only shrugged in response. "No matter," he assured her. "It just means I'll have to show off extra the next time."

They smiled at each other, and from the corner of her eye, Aelyra noticed Shaera watching her. The older girl's eyebrows were knitted as she glanced between Aelyra and Aegon, which made a pit appear in Aelyra's stomach. She wondered if she'd upset her aunt, which would be the last thing she ever wanted to do. 

Aegon seemed to notice his sister's gaze as well, and he sent her a questioning look but paid her no other mind. Aelyra shifted a little on her feet and focused her attention back on Jace, who was looking intently at his dragon. Vermax seemed more interested in the sheep in front of him and didn't seem to be paying proper attention as Jace tried to get him to listen.

"Vermax," her brother called out, his voice growing more insistent. "Vermax!"

Vermax tried lunging at the sheep, and growled in anger as he was pulled back from his intended meal. 

The Dragonkeeper looked at Jace with a stern but kind expression.  "You must hold mastery over your dragon, my young Prince. As Prince Aegon has with Sunfyre."

Aegon puffed up with pride at the mention of his remarkably strong bond with his own dragon. Aelyra could only hope that one day, she would be able to connect with Seastar similarly. 

Her dragon was beautiful, but seemed to be as hesitant as Aelyra herself. It was hard for Aelyra to give her dragon orders, out of fear of doing something wrong, and it seemed that Seastar suffered from the same anxiety, leading to her not following direction very well.

Vermax settled once more under the careful words from the Dragonkeepers, staring intently at Jace, who looked excitedly to the man instructing them. "Can I say it?" He asked, practically vibrating with excitement from the idea.

The Dragonkeeper nodded with a hint of a smile touching his mouth, making Jace take another step forward and clear his throat.

"Dracarys, Vermax!"

His dragon was only too happy to obey the order, spraying a wide wall of flame across the sheep in front of him. Aelyra winced slightly at the squeal of the dying animal, but Vermax was upon the carcass before it could suffer too much.