The bracelet was a little too big for Edric, but that was hardly a concern. At Doran's prompting, Edric knelt on one knee and graciously accepted the dragon-scale bracelet from Viserys' hands.
At that moment, everyone noticed another bracelet lying before Viserys—similar in appearance to the one he had just gifted to Edric. As Edric returned to his seat, clearly honored, Viserys stood and addressed the crowd.
"There will be no singing or dancing tonight, and no musicians. Instead, we will hold a simple competition, and this bracelet will be the prize for the winner!"
The room buzzed with excitement as the nobles of Dorne stirred in their seats. Viserys had wisely set an age limit for the competitors, meaning only their attendants or sons could participate. Since the younger men were not yet masters of swordsmanship, it was unlikely the contest would lead to serious harm or any unintended consequences.
While the competition took place, Doran found a quiet moment to pull Quentyn aside. "Why are you riding a dragon?" he asked, unable to suppress his curiosity.
"Actually, I haven't been recognized by the dragon," Quentyn admitted.
"No?" Doran felt a pang of disappointment.
"All the dragons seem to listen to Your Grace and the Princess," Quentyn continued. "It was His Grace who commanded Vyrgion to carry me."
At that, Doran realized what had been nagging at him. Normally, dragons without a bonded rider were considered "wild dragons," and their behavior could be unpredictable, even dangerous. In the heat of war, such creatures were liabilities unless properly tamed. But the fact that Viserys and Daenerys were able to command not just one, but seven dragons, meant Viserys wielded power greater than any Targaryen Dragonlord in recent memory.
Though Doran still felt some regret that Quentyn had not yet bonded with a dragon, he was deeply pleased with the alliance. He now fully understood that the Targaryens he faced were stronger than any Prince of Dorne had ever been. After careful reflection, Doran lowered his ambitions. If he could secure the independence of Sunspear in the coming years, that would be enough.
The competition came to an end, and the winner was crowned—one of the bannerman from House Fowler of Skyreach, Garrison. Overjoyed, he accepted the bracelet from Viserys, who smiled and added, "If you perform meritorious service in the battles to come, there will be further rewards."
This promise reignited the fighting spirit in the young nobles who had missed out on the bracelet, filling them with renewed determination.
The next morning, Viserys personally oversaw the funeral of the fallen soldiers, using dragonfire to ignite their pyres. This meeting with the Dornish nobility had been a resounding success, boosting morale and solidifying the Targaryens' influence in Dorne.
With the Dornish army now prepared to march on Storm's End, Viserys set his sights on Bitterbridge, where he planned to meet with Lord Puff Fish. He wasn't expecting Mace Tyrell to capture King's Landing, but as long as Tyrell's forces could hold off the Crownlands' army, Viserys would have a secure flank for his planned assault on Harrenhal.
Quentyn was overjoyed to learn that he could still accompany Viserys. He had thought his ride on the dragon from Highgarden would be his last, never imagining he'd get another chance. Despite the dream he'd had the previous night—where he fell from the dragon's back—he was determined not to miss any opportunity to ride again.
From Doran, Quentyn learned that the Stormlands army was likely converging on Summerhall by now. On a whim, Viserys decided to head to Summerhall himself. Unlike a fortress, Summerhall was built as a Targaryen palace. Viserys reasoned that if he and Dany arrived on their dragons, they wouldn't cause any casualties but would dramatically weaken the enemy's morale—like shadows from the sky. It would clear obstacles for the Dornish army in the battles to come.
However, when Doran heard of Viserys' plan, he strongly discouraged him. Summerhall was a place of deep sorrow for the Targaryens.
"About forty years ago," Doran began, "there was an accident there—the Tragedy at Summerhall. Aegon V and his eldest son Duncan died in the flames. If not for that event, Aerys might never have taken the throne. And if Aerys had not been king, perhaps the rebellion that followed would not have happened either."
Doran paused, his tone grave. "Rhaegar was born at the same time as the Tragedy at Summerhall. He often visited the place alone, playing his harp. Then came the War of the Usurper, when the royalist army planned to gather at Summerhall but was outmaneuvered by Robert. It's a place that has seen two tragedies for the Targaryens. It is cursed."
But Viserys was resolute. He believed it was time to break that curse.
He turned to Doran and said, "Does the Prince of Sunspear know how our dragons hatched?"
Doran, of course, had heard of it. The rebellion had been sparked by nobles in the Disputed Lands, unhappy with being ruled by Viserys. They smuggled wildfire into the royal palace in Tyrosh, intending to destroy him. Instead, they had unwittingly revived the dragons.
Back then, Aegon V had gathered dragon eggs and tried to hatch them with the help of pyromancers, but he failed.
He glanced toward the horizon. 'I had seven dragon eggs. And I succeeded.'
The difference in their fates was clear.
"I don't want our descendants to be haunted by this small piece of ruin. I will break this damned 'curse' for House Targaryen!" Viserys declared, his voice resolute.
Seeing Viserys' unwavering determination, Doran knew there was no point in trying to dissuade him further. Instead, he turned to Quentyn, urging, "Protect them both."
Quentyn nodded solemnly. "Your Grace, was Rhaegar truly haunted by the shadows of Summerhall for so long?"
Viserys hesitated for a moment. "I'm not certain. I was very young, and I only recall my mother whispering about it. But when you think of all he endured, it's not hard to believe."
Viserys had always suspected that the tensions between Aerys and Rhaegar may have been manipulated. 'The Pyromancer that Aegon V hired back then... I doubt he was innocent in all of this. That may have been murder. As a Targaryen, Aegon V would have understood the dangers of wildfire better than anyone. Why would he not take precautions?'
His thoughts drifted to Jenny of Oldstones. That woman... something about her never sat right with me. Viserys frowned, reflecting on the rumors that had surrounded her. 'Jenny of Oldstones was suspicious. How could a woman, considered mad by most, enchant Jaehaerys II's son, Duncan Targaryen, like that? Could it have been a love potion? She even convinced the king to allow Aerys to marry Rhaella, all in the hope of fulfilling that prophecy—the so-called savior of the world. Utter nonsense.'
He shook his head in disbelief. 'How could a woman of such mysterious origins charm not only a prince but also make a king bend to her will? The tragedy of the Targaryens was seeded at that very moment.'
Viserys' eyes narrowed with resolve. Whether it was to weaken the morale of the Stormlands army or to break the so-called curse, he was determined to go to Summerhall himself—and emerge victorious.