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"Ah, Prince Oberyn." The eunuch glided forward in soft silk robes.
Prince Oberyn raised his eyebrows slightly and frowned. "Eunuch." His expression immediately transformed into a smile. "Do you truly possess eight legs?"
Varys smiled. "Is not the viper's tail similarly concealed?"
"A viper conceals its fangs, not its tail," the prince replied, his lips curling into a slight smile. "They say you know all the secrets of the Seven Kingdoms."
"My dear prince, these are merely misunderstandings that others harbor."
"With such a formidable reputation... I recall you served as a eunuch in the Red Keep during the reign of King Aerys the Mad. Without certain... attributes, how do you manage with women?" the prince asked, curiosity plain on his face.
"I never aspire beyond my capabilities," said the eunuch.
The prince burst into laughter. When his mirth subsided, he asked, "Were you present in this castle when my sister died?"
"Princess Elia?" The eunuch spoke deliberately. "After the Hand's soldiers breached the castle, I was arrested and imprisoned. Yet I heard certain things."
"Did you indeed?" The prince narrowed his eyes.
"I grieve deeply for what befell the Princess, your sister." Immeasurable sadness flashed in the eunuch's eyes, as though no greater sorrow existed in the world. "She was kind and graceful. Even to one such as me, my lord, she offered smiles freely. Our little princess inherited that same smile. Such a sweet babe she was, with her little black kitten."
"The little princess believed it was Balerion and named it so. Just days ago, Lord Snow and I spotted that cat in the yard. It has grown quite old. Our kind Lord Cole appears to have taken it in."
"Perhaps I should ask this cat who bears responsibility for the deaths of Elia, young Aegon, and Rhaenys?"
The eunuch chuckled softly. "Ser Amory Lorch seems to have paid the price for his vicious crimes."
"Who commanded that fat swine?" demanded the prince. "And that brainless mountain of a man?"
"Well, my dear prince, chaos reigned in the castle—I could scarcely protect myself. Yet our Hand did present the bodies of the princess and prince wrapped in crimson cloaks."
"I shall make the murderers speak for themselves." Prince Oberyn turned to leave.
The eunuch's dulcet voice drifted after him. "Your Highness, your sister exchanged letters with a certain maester of the Night's Watch."
Prince Oberyn paused.
The voice continued, "I am aware of your recent activities. I have a letter I would ask you to deliver."
Soft slippers whispered against stone as the eunuch withdrew a letter from his sleeve. "Please convey this to Lord Cole."
Oberyn accepted the letter, recognizing the seal—the Citadel.
He had studied there once, even forged several links of a maester's chain before growing weary of that tedious existence and departing.
"This is a letter from a Night's Watch maester intended for Lord Snow. It was held by a Grand Maester in the city." Varys explained. "It seems Maester Aemon wishes Lord Snow to assume his position and has written a letter of recommendation."
Oberyn noted the broken seal, indicating the letter had been opened, and glanced questioningly at Varys.
The eunuch shrugged innocently. "Someone sent that recommendation to the Citadel first."
Oberyn nodded. "I shall deliver it."
"Perhaps Your Highness might find the contents of interest." The eunuch smiled enigmatically, tucked his hands into his sleeves, bowed slightly, and turned away.
Oberyn drew the letter from its envelope.
"Aemon Targaryen." Oberyn studied the signature. The name Aemon originated with the renowned Targaryen knight, Aemon the Dragonknight.
During the three centuries of Targaryen rule in Westeros, few of their line became knights. The Dragonknight Aemon was not literally a knight who rode dragons—indeed, history recorded few knights who actually mounted the great beasts.
If any Targaryen embodied the title literally, it would be Prince Daemon Targaryen, a true "Dragon Knight."
Of course, knighthood conferred considerable honor, though Targaryens hardly required the status to elevate themselves. The relationship between House Targaryen and the Faith had always been delicate.
Aegon the Conqueror had embraced the Faith of the Seven, securing the support of the Sept. Yet after Aegon's death, the Faith shifted its allegiance to nobles who resisted Targaryen rule, creating tangled conflicts that spawned countless tales.
True knights kept vigil in septs, received sacred oils, swore solemn vows, and finally gained their spurs from another knight under the witness of the Faith.
Aemon the Dragonknight was born after the last dragons perished. He earned his title from the three-headed platinum dragon adorning his helm.
Songs celebrated Prince Aemon's love for Queen Naerys, praising him as the noblest knight who ever lived, unrivaled in swordplay and jousting among his contemporaries.
By comparison, Maester Aemon of the Wall featured less prominently in the singers' tales.
Oberyn mused that this old man must be a century old at least.
"Little Egg, when you open this letter, you will have understood this world's true nature. When I bid farewell to my brother, he was thirty-three. I told him, 'You must kill the boy in your heart. Only men can rule. You must be Aegon, not Egg.' When you choose this path, you surrender everything—love, family, honor."
"Egg?" Oberyn read softly.
"Forgive my silence. When your letter and your mother's reached me, my heart waged a terrible battle. The Night's Watch vows stood between us like a wall. It was Commander Jeor who resolved to take you in. He said, 'The Wall welcomes all, Maester. I have accepted this boy, and he shall be called Snow.'"
The prince's heart quickened as he recalled Varys's words: "Your sister exchanged letters with the maesters of the Night's Watch."
"I have seen Egg's shadow in your face countless times and called you by that name in my thoughts. You possess the same innocent nature, and you bear the same name—Aegon Targaryen."
As he suspected!
Prince Oberyn couldn't suppress a shake of his head, followed by laughter that reached toward the heavens.
He read no further. This revelation was enough.