House of The Dragon-A God Amongst Men

Chapter 239 - Cultists II

(Third Person POV)

"Here..." Alyssa said to Viserra as she placed the bag down in front of her, "This is dangerous, Viserra. I almost got caught."

They were in the city, behind an alley, and Viserra was wearing a cloak and hood. The two princesses were awaiting Ezra, the Trinity Priest.

Viserra opened the bag and looked at the eggs, "But you did not." She said, "Well done. This will prove to be the best choice. To protect our Family...."

"Are you sure?" Alyssa asked, "Is this for our family and not the Trinity?"

"Both." She said softly as she picked an egg up, "This will benefit both. The cultists need to pay for what they've done. Drakken has returned from Essos, a brief yet impactful trip to Asshai...."

"I heard Father say that it was destroyed." Alyssa told her, "Where is he? We should not be here, what if they find out?"

Viserra placed the egg back down, "Nothing will be traced back to us." She said, "Trust me."

They then heard footsteps and they turned to see a cloaked individual approaching them. As the person reached them, he pulled his hood down revealing to be Ezra, his serious dark eyes scanning Alyssa.

"Princess Alyssa...." He said, "I have heard from Lord Drakken himself that you are one of us. I never expected for you to be so willing to aid us."

Alyssa frowned, "I don't want to do this..." She said, "As long as my Family nor the Faith discovers the truth."

Erza extended his hand, "Worry not." He said as Viserra handed him the bag, "This is all for the sake of the Trinity and House Targaryen. Your Father was manipulated by a false god through the words of a Priestess who charmed him. As a result, the Vale has suffered great destruction. Even your Mother lost her dragon because Our Lord was angry. Rightfully so, I might add."

"Was Daranne Drakkengard that important to him?" Alyssa asked

"How do you think your husband Baelon Targaryen would react if you were so unjustly killed?" Ezra said seriously, "Would he not be angry and take his anger out on someone? Using the power of the Black Dread, he would raze the land in flames. Do not think you Targaryens are above anger, because you are."

Alyssa looked down, "I see...." She said, "Does Drakken speak about me?"

"No." Ezra said, "But he knows that you are acting on behalf of the Trinity, so worry not. Viserra, well done. We'll proceed to the next stage, and we'll go on and apprehend the Priestess."

"What?" Alyssa looked at Viserra, "They're in the dungeons."

"They are responsible for Lady Daranne's death." Viserra said, "It is only right that they are handed over to Lord Drakken."

"But...." Alyssa said, "How would you get them out?"

"Let us worry about that." Ezra said, "Within a few days, I will inform the King that I hold the dragon eggs. The two of you should return now..."

"Lest you be suspected."

********************

"How could this had happened?" Aemon asked Baelon, "Dreamfyre's eggs were taken??"

Daella looked at him, "This is not good...."

They were in the Queen's Bedchambers as Alysanne was sitting in her bed, her hair a mess and had bags under her eyes.

Baelon sighed, "Whatever happened, it is either the cultists or the Trinity fanatics." He said, "Nevertheless, we have our men scouring the entire city to search for them. We cannot allow this to slide."

Alysanne slowly looked up, "This is an insult....to our Family..." She said softly, "Those responsible should pay."

The door opened and Alyssa walked in with Viserra following behind. "What happened?" She asked, "I heard from Father that someone stole dragon eggs...."

Aemon looked at her, "You heard right." He said as Daella held his hand, "Someone snuck in and stole the eggs during Father confronted the cultists. He believes that they were responsible but they deny any involvement."

"Just what we need." Alyssa said as she crossed her arms, glancing at Baelon, who merely stared at her without saying anything, "Mother, how are you feeling?"

Viserra stood quietly next to Alyssa, glancing at Aemon and Daella, noticing that they were holding hands. She said nothing to this but made a mental note to herself, looking over at her mother, who was on the bed.

"I am fine." Alysanne said, "Just....tired....."

"You should get some exercise." Baelon told her, "Walk around the Keep. We should go to the Dragonpit so you can try to claim Dreamfyre. I felt the same when Vhagar was killed and it's no use sulking about, Mother."

"He is right." Aemon told her, "You should not be lying in bed all the time."

"Please.....leave me be..." Alysanne said, "I am tired, so tired....that man is a monster, who would even want to worship a self-proclaimed god like that? He's capable of such horror.....such torment....? Why?"

Viserra blinked, glancing at Alyssa, who gave her a warning look, silently telling her not to say a word. Baelon noticed this and before he could react to it, he saw that Daella was looking away awkwardly and that Aemon was squeezing her hand a bit firmer.

Aemon sighed, "Fine, Mother." He said, "But if I see that spending time in bed is too much, I will have you walk around. Worry not, I will not leave your side."

"So much despair...." Alysanne said softly, "For what?"

"What do you think we will do?" Daella asked softly

"Whatever it is we do...." Alyssa said, "We'll stick together, as a Family."

Baelon cleared his throat, "Yea....." He said as he gave his wife a warning look, "We will."

"Those cultists." Viserra spoke up, "What will happen to them?"

Aemon looked at her, "What do you mean?"

"I heard some guards speaking, they are in the dungeons." She said, "Will Father keep them imprisoned or will he execute them?"

"We don't know." Aemon said, "Why are you so worried about this? Not even Vaegon is this invested in the affairs of cultists and the Trinity."

"Yes.....it is rather strange." Baelon said as he looked at Viserra, "What is the reason, sister?"

Viserra raised an eyebrow, "Am I not allowed to be invested in the affairs of my family?" She asked, "Especially when they could affect me. You have angered an individual with so much power that he could come and destroy our city with ease at any given moment. Obviously, I will be interested in anything related to that."

"Yes, but so young and so interested in Drakken...." Aemon said as he narrowed his eyes, "Don't tell me you're interested like Saera was."

"Of course not." Viserra shook her head, "I am not. Say, Aemon.....I could not help but notice that you and Daella are quite close. So you've finally managed to move on from Lady Jocelyn....? Are the two of you sharing beds again?"

Alyssa smacked her arm, "Viserra!"

Daella looked down, flustered, "I...."

Aemon cleared his throat, "That is no business of yours." He said seriously, "What Daella and I do should not concern you."

"I don't mean any disrespect...." Viserra said with a smile, "I am happy for you."

"Enough." Alysanne said, "You are my children."

"You should not fight."