Volantis lay in ruins, smoke choking the skies as the siege dragged on. The people's faith wavered, their cries rising like ghosts in the night.
Kaerys stood atop the battered walls, eyes scanning the horizon. "We need a miracle," she murmured.
A Dangerous Alliance
In the shadowed corners of the city, Kaerys met with an unexpected ally — a surviving member of an ancient Valyrian bloodline thought extinct.
"You seek dragons," the stranger said, voice low and gravelly. "But power like that demands a price no one is ready to pay."
Kaerys's eyes narrowed. "I am ready."
Betrayal's Sting
Neron confronted a faction of nobles plotting to abandon the city.
"You will stand and fight," he growled. "Or you will be swept away with the rest."
The nobles sneered, but fear flickered in their eyes.
The Dragon's Omen
Serenthis roared above, her fiery breath a warning to friend and foe alike. The dragon sensed the city's fragile balance — and the storm to come.
A Whispered Promise
That night, Kaerys whispered to the stars, "I will not let Valyria's flame die in darkness."
End of Chapter 45