Post by voice on Sept 13, 2017 0:21:50 GMT
The Sons of the Dragon is being released next month, as part of the Book of Swords anthology.
It's been around for a while and GRRM has read versions of it at a few cons.
If you don't feel like ordering it, here is a plot summary:
Notes and reading are in the video below.
It's been around for a while and GRRM has read versions of it at a few cons.
If you don't feel like ordering it, here is a plot summary:
Sons of the Dragon, as written by arch-maester Gyldayn:
"he was a strongly opinionated and pedantic old fart, so remember that it's him speaking"
Aegon the conquerors two sister-wives had the classic looks and beauty of true Targaryens and each gave the conqueor a son, but otherwise were very different people. Rhaenys birthed Aenys in 7AC, he was a weak and sickly child. Rumours circulated that because Aenys was so unlike Aegon, he might be a bastard child from another father. When he was given Quicksilver, a baby dragon born on dragonstone, he grew stronger. When he was three, Rhaenys and her dragon were killed in Dorne. He regressed and became weak again.
Visenya became pregnant, and birthed Maegor, a strong child who immediately seemed an opposite of Aenys. Maegor stayed with his mother on Dragonstone, and the title 'prince of Dragonstone' was given. He was rumoured to have slain a cat at the age of three.
Aenys became a reasonable fighter, occasionally wielding Aegon's Blackfyre. However, his real gifts were elsewhere: an attractive, clever, likeable young man. He was a good rider, and loved to mount Quicksilver. Maegor wasnt't such a good rider, he didn't like animals and was kicked by a horse at the age of eight. Maegor sought revenge by cutting the stable boys face and killed the horse. This kind of behaviour left him with few friends. Despite being unpopular, Maegor was a promising warrior from a young age; jousting, melee and so forth. Visenya gave him Dark Sister in 25 AC, aged 13.
So far we see how unalike the two half brothers are. (this theme of opposing siblings is not new to AsoIaF – Daemon Blackfyre and Daeron II being a close parallel. The rumours of Aenys being a bastard might be countered by the fact the gossips were comparing him to Aegon – perhaps Rhaenys was fond of animals and charismatic as Aenys seems to have been.)
The Targaryens interbred as was tradition among many families in Valyria “particularly those who bred and rode dragons – the blood of the dragon must remain pure, the wisdom went.”
The Faith despised incest – the friction between a Targaryen rule was inevitable. Aegon was a great diplomat, and worked with the Faith to maintain a functional relationship. With no sisters, in 22AC, Aenys married Alyssa Valyron, they were both fifteen. They were happy times, the realm welcomed Rhaena into the world. This pushed Maegor down the succession order, and the Faith suggested he took Ceryse Hightower as a wife to avoid any incest.
In 25AC Maegor married Ceryse with Aegon's diplomatic blessing. Maegor, aged 13, boasted of consummating the marriage a dozen time on their bedding night, his bride was 23. Ceryse couldn’t conceive, however, and Aenys fathered another Aegon in that time. In 29 AC Alyssa birthed Viserys, in 34AC – Jaehaerys, in 36AC Alysanne. Maegor was slipping down the line. At sixteen he became the youngest knight (by Blackfyre), and was proving to be a warrior. He rooted out a pirate king Sargasso Saan, but wasn't a dragon rider at that point, perhaps afraid.
King Aegon was aging, and in 35 AC he ordered his hand, Alan Stokeworth, to build a new castle with Visenya. Aegon died in 37AC, cremated with Blackfyre – which didnt melt due to being Valyrian Steel - “no common fire can harm Valyrian Steel”.
Aenys was crowned, and offered Maegor the chance to rule the kingdoms together, giving him Blackfyre as he was the better warrior (perhaps aenys was diplomatic like Aegon was). The new king was challenged immediately, as bandits arose. (remember Targs had not ruled for very long). Harren the Red, a Vulture King, King Logos, and Jonos Arryn caused trouble. Aenys did not deal with the rebels effectively. (for extensive details on these rebels, listen to our podcast).
Maegor dealt with Jonos Arryn when he finally mounted Balerion. (so Maegor takes on Aegon's warrior side and Aenys has Aegons diplomatic traits. Put these two together and there's a good king there, but both half-brothers have weaknesses Aegon did not). Maegor scored more victories against rebels, and Aenys named him hand of the king.
Aenys veered away from battle, and was somewhat bohemian, again contrasting with Maegor. With Alyssa birthing six children, Maegor abandoned his wife and wed Alys Harroway. This was polygamous and shocked the kingdoms, Faith and everyone else – akin to incest. Aenys ordered him to give up his wife, fearing the Faith's reaction, but Maegor chose five years of exile in Pentos instead.
Aeyns became inspired and worked hard to finish the Red Keep. In this time he contemplated the Targaryen traditions, and thinking of the thousand year legacy he planned for the Red Keep, made the disastrous decision to wed son and daughter – Aegon and Rhaena – aged eighteen and fifteen. (full details of why Aenys did this are unknown).
With Maegor gone, The Faith sensed weakness and stood up to Aenys, who didn't understand how his popularity has diminished. Aenys was a thinker and philosopher and wasn't ready for this degree of confrontation. The likeable man was now a hated king, and the Faith dubbed him 'king abomination' for his part in the incestuous marriage. At this point Aenys was very naïve as a leader, power was slipping. The Faith grew very strong, and many saw it as a holy war, denouncing the Targaryen rule.
Aenys became frail and retreated to Dragonstone - Visenya was present. He had problems with his bowels and became very sick. When the maesters could no longer care for him, Visenya took over. Three days later Aenys was dead. (the implication could be Aeyns was poisoned with tears of Lys – the bowels – by Visenya. Regardless Aenys struggled with pressure, remembering he was a weak child.)
Visenya flew straight to Pentos on Vaegar within hours of Aenys' death, and returned with Maegor riding Balerion (the possibility Visenya murdered Aenys now looks even more intriguing).
"he was a strongly opinionated and pedantic old fart, so remember that it's him speaking"
Aegon the conquerors two sister-wives had the classic looks and beauty of true Targaryens and each gave the conqueor a son, but otherwise were very different people. Rhaenys birthed Aenys in 7AC, he was a weak and sickly child. Rumours circulated that because Aenys was so unlike Aegon, he might be a bastard child from another father. When he was given Quicksilver, a baby dragon born on dragonstone, he grew stronger. When he was three, Rhaenys and her dragon were killed in Dorne. He regressed and became weak again.
Visenya became pregnant, and birthed Maegor, a strong child who immediately seemed an opposite of Aenys. Maegor stayed with his mother on Dragonstone, and the title 'prince of Dragonstone' was given. He was rumoured to have slain a cat at the age of three.
Aenys became a reasonable fighter, occasionally wielding Aegon's Blackfyre. However, his real gifts were elsewhere: an attractive, clever, likeable young man. He was a good rider, and loved to mount Quicksilver. Maegor wasnt't such a good rider, he didn't like animals and was kicked by a horse at the age of eight. Maegor sought revenge by cutting the stable boys face and killed the horse. This kind of behaviour left him with few friends. Despite being unpopular, Maegor was a promising warrior from a young age; jousting, melee and so forth. Visenya gave him Dark Sister in 25 AC, aged 13.
So far we see how unalike the two half brothers are. (this theme of opposing siblings is not new to AsoIaF – Daemon Blackfyre and Daeron II being a close parallel. The rumours of Aenys being a bastard might be countered by the fact the gossips were comparing him to Aegon – perhaps Rhaenys was fond of animals and charismatic as Aenys seems to have been.)
The Targaryens interbred as was tradition among many families in Valyria “particularly those who bred and rode dragons – the blood of the dragon must remain pure, the wisdom went.”
The Faith despised incest – the friction between a Targaryen rule was inevitable. Aegon was a great diplomat, and worked with the Faith to maintain a functional relationship. With no sisters, in 22AC, Aenys married Alyssa Valyron, they were both fifteen. They were happy times, the realm welcomed Rhaena into the world. This pushed Maegor down the succession order, and the Faith suggested he took Ceryse Hightower as a wife to avoid any incest.
In 25AC Maegor married Ceryse with Aegon's diplomatic blessing. Maegor, aged 13, boasted of consummating the marriage a dozen time on their bedding night, his bride was 23. Ceryse couldn’t conceive, however, and Aenys fathered another Aegon in that time. In 29 AC Alyssa birthed Viserys, in 34AC – Jaehaerys, in 36AC Alysanne. Maegor was slipping down the line. At sixteen he became the youngest knight (by Blackfyre), and was proving to be a warrior. He rooted out a pirate king Sargasso Saan, but wasn't a dragon rider at that point, perhaps afraid.
King Aegon was aging, and in 35 AC he ordered his hand, Alan Stokeworth, to build a new castle with Visenya. Aegon died in 37AC, cremated with Blackfyre – which didnt melt due to being Valyrian Steel - “no common fire can harm Valyrian Steel”.
Aenys was crowned, and offered Maegor the chance to rule the kingdoms together, giving him Blackfyre as he was the better warrior (perhaps aenys was diplomatic like Aegon was). The new king was challenged immediately, as bandits arose. (remember Targs had not ruled for very long). Harren the Red, a Vulture King, King Logos, and Jonos Arryn caused trouble. Aenys did not deal with the rebels effectively. (for extensive details on these rebels, listen to our podcast).
Maegor dealt with Jonos Arryn when he finally mounted Balerion. (so Maegor takes on Aegon's warrior side and Aenys has Aegons diplomatic traits. Put these two together and there's a good king there, but both half-brothers have weaknesses Aegon did not). Maegor scored more victories against rebels, and Aenys named him hand of the king.
Aenys veered away from battle, and was somewhat bohemian, again contrasting with Maegor. With Alyssa birthing six children, Maegor abandoned his wife and wed Alys Harroway. This was polygamous and shocked the kingdoms, Faith and everyone else – akin to incest. Aenys ordered him to give up his wife, fearing the Faith's reaction, but Maegor chose five years of exile in Pentos instead.
Aeyns became inspired and worked hard to finish the Red Keep. In this time he contemplated the Targaryen traditions, and thinking of the thousand year legacy he planned for the Red Keep, made the disastrous decision to wed son and daughter – Aegon and Rhaena – aged eighteen and fifteen. (full details of why Aenys did this are unknown).
With Maegor gone, The Faith sensed weakness and stood up to Aenys, who didn't understand how his popularity has diminished. Aenys was a thinker and philosopher and wasn't ready for this degree of confrontation. The likeable man was now a hated king, and the Faith dubbed him 'king abomination' for his part in the incestuous marriage. At this point Aenys was very naïve as a leader, power was slipping. The Faith grew very strong, and many saw it as a holy war, denouncing the Targaryen rule.
Aenys became frail and retreated to Dragonstone - Visenya was present. He had problems with his bowels and became very sick. When the maesters could no longer care for him, Visenya took over. Three days later Aenys was dead. (the implication could be Aeyns was poisoned with tears of Lys – the bowels – by Visenya. Regardless Aenys struggled with pressure, remembering he was a weak child.)
Visenya flew straight to Pentos on Vaegar within hours of Aenys' death, and returned with Maegor riding Balerion (the possibility Visenya murdered Aenys now looks even more intriguing).
Notes and reading are in the video below.