"Hiss!"
Sunfyre landed in the center of the fishing village, stirring up a gust of wind and sand.
"Who knows a blacksmith named Hugh, a bastard?" Aegon asked from the dragon's back.
"I, I know him," an old man said tremblingly.
Aegon took out a gold dragon from his chest and threw it to the old man.
"Is he the only one named Hugh?"
"Yes, Prince."
"Very good. Tell him to come find me at Stone Drum Tower. When he arrives, tell them Prince Aegon summoned him."
After speaking, Aegon rode Sunfyre, taking off from the dry ground, and disappeared from the fishermen's sight.
Returning to Stone Drum Tower, Sunfyre did not return to the Dragonpit but coiled directly in front of the Stone Drum Tower's entrance.
"Prince." The guard saluted.
"A blacksmith named Hugh will come later. Just bring him directly to see me."
"Understood."
Stone Drum Tower is the main keep of Dragonstone. Whenever a storm approaches, its ancient walls rumble and echo inside, hence its name.
Dragonstone was built with advanced Valyria masonry techniques, which were lost in the Doom, making this place unique among the keeps of Westeros.
Dragonstone castle is built of black stone, its towers carved in the likeness of dragons, and numerous gargoyles of various shapes along the walls serve as battlements.
Most of the designs within the castle are related to dragons.
Smaller dragons decorate the door frames, dragon claws extending from the walls are torch holders, massive stone wings contain the blacksmith's forge and armory, and dragon tails form arches, bridges, and outdoor stairs.
Helena and Aemond went to Aegon's Garden. Aegon did not go to find them but stayed inside Stone Drum Tower, waiting for Hugh to arrive.
Due to his identity, and because Aegon had gone to find him on a dragon, Hugh was quickly brought before Aegon.
Aegon specifically chose the Map Room to summon Hugh.
The Map Room is located at the top of Stone Drum Tower. It is a circular room with four tall, narrow windows facing the four cardinal directions.
Inside the hall is a massive wooden table and chairs. The table is carved with a detailed map of Westeros, which Aegon the Conqueror used to plan military campaigns during the Conquest.
The "Map Table" is over fifty feet long, its widest point about half its length, and its narrowest less than four feet.
The position corresponding to Dragonstone was carefully designed to align perfectly with a chair on a raised platform, allowing a clear view of everything on the table.
Aegon sat in the chair, while Hugh stood below, feeling uneasy.
He was at home packing his belongings, preparing to take his pregnant wife to King's Landing.
In King's Landing, he firmly believed that with his craftsmanship, he could provide a better life for his wife and unborn child.
"I heard you can bend iron bars with your bare hands?"
Aegon looked Hugh up and down.
As described in the original novel, he was tall, estimated to be close to two meters.
He had a broad back and thick waist, clearly a man of strength.
But the original novel's description of him being able to bend iron bars with his bare hands was a bit exaggerated.
Hugh was also confused, unable to figure out why Aegon was asking this.
Furthermore, although he often heard passing merchants and bards praise the young Prince, it seemed he had no connection with this seven-year-old Prince.
"It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness, but I have never tried to bend an iron bar."
Hugh answered truthfully, without boasting about his extraordinary strength.
Aegon's eyes narrowed. If he hadn't tried, it meant whether he could bend an iron bar with his bare hands was still unknown.
Interesting.
"I happened to hear about you from a merchant. He said you were very strong, could bend iron bars with your bare hands, and were honest and simple," Aegon casually lied.
Hugh didn't speak, just looked at Aegon with confusion, thinking to himself, "Surely this child didn't really come to see if I can bend an iron bar with my bare hands?"
One could only say, truly a Prince!
Unlike him, although he also had Targaryen blood, he could only live by blacksmithing every day; if he stopped, his whole family would starve.
"I am truly sorry, Your Highness, but my pregnant wife is waiting for me to return home.
I don't know what Your Highness needs me to do, but as long as I can do it, I will give it my all!"
Hugh didn't know what Aegon wanted him for.
He could only pray that Aegon was truly as benevolent and kind as the bards and passing merchants sang about!
What if he was asked to perform bending an iron bar with his bare hands, and he couldn't do it? He desperately hoped Aegon wouldn't get angry and punish him for it.
His wife was already six months pregnant. His wife and the child in her belly absolutely could not lose him as their support!
Aegon had strong mental power, so his ability to read people was naturally not weak.
He saw Hugh's worry at a glance and couldn't help but raise a smile at the corner of his lips.
He worries about his wife, good!
His wife is pregnant, even better!
"Let me see how strong you are. I'm very curious."
Saying this, Aegon had a guard fetch an iron bar as thick as a finger.
"Give it a try. It's okay if you can't do it, but I tell you, for you, this is an opportunity.
Whether your wife can become a noble lady in this lifetime depends on you. Seize this chance."
Hugh suddenly looked up, staring at Aegon in disbelief.
Swallowing, Hugh took the iron bar and immediately began bending it with his bare hands.
Hugh's muscles bulged all over his body, and the iron bar was visibly bent, making the nearby guards' eyelids twitch wildly.
At this moment, the guard couldn't help but imagine if the man in front of him suddenly attacked Prince Aegon, whether he would be able to stop him.
Clang—
The bent iron bar fell to the ground. Aegon clapped his hands excitedly.
"Good, good!" He looked delighted.
"Are you interested in serving as my guard?"
"When your child is born, whether a boy or a girl, they will serve as my attendant."
"Merits will be counted separately. Land, castles, titles – as long as you perform well enough, these will be within your grasp."
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