House of The Dragon-A God Amongst Men-Chapter 194: Training II

(Third Person POV)

[King's Landing, A Few Weeks Later]

"What is it, Alysanne?" Jaehaerys asked as he sat down in his chair, "You seem rather worried."

Alysanne was looking to the side, a worried look on her face as her eyes darted around.

"It is Saera." She said softly, "I do not like the idea of her being over there with them....."

Jaehaerys sighed, "If anything, Drakken took a burden off our shoulders." he said, "Saera fits in well with him."

"That is my problem." Alysanne frowned, "She is the perfect match for someone like him. The two of them attract each other like natural disasters. Their only difference is that Saera does not have the powers that Drakken does....but now.....with her feminine charm and her body, she has access to them....it is as he will be a weapon." freeweɓnovel.cøm

"Drakken is not that type of person." Jaehaerys said, "To be wielded around as a weapon."

"Not in the way one would think." The Queen said, "But.....she will fuel his madness. Our Maegelle has influenced him, has restrained him. But now with Saera....I fear those restraints will slowly be undone. I...I cannot see anything good coming from any of this."

"You should relax." He said, "We have greater things to worry about."

"This is one of those things I have an issue with, Jaehaerys." Alysanne said as she stood up, "You carelessly make decisions without me, claiming it is for the sake of the Realm and for our Family, but when I voice my concerns, you say it is nothing to worry about."

The King frowned, "Drakken will not make a move."

"You don't know that!" Alysanne said, "Nobody does! The way he was unusually calm at the Feast, the way he looked at Aemon, Baelon, Alyssa, and Daella. How is there not a scheme?! We have known him for 12 years, Jaehaerys! 12!! It is always something! Always! He schemes and plots and provokes! He seeks nothing but violence and chaos! You know that!!"

Jaehaerys sighed and stood up, "Alright..." He said as he walked up to her, "I am sorry. I understand....but.....whatever it is, we'll get through it."

"I don't want my daughters with him." Alysanne said, "I-I don't...."

Jaehaerys hugged her, "Shh..." He said, "It will be fine. Whatever happens, our House....our Family....they will endure it. We have survived worse..."

"No...." Alysanne said, "We have not. There is nothing worse than this....there is nothing worse than him...."

There was a knock on the door, "Mother!" Alyssa's voice was heard, "Father! May I come in?"

"Come on in." Jaehaerys said before he rubbed his wife's shoulders, "Calm down, wife....it will be fine. I promise you...."

The door opened and Alyssa walked in, holding a letter, with a look of surprise on her face.

"What is it?" Alysanne asked

"I got a letter from Harrenhal..." She said, "It's from Maegelle...."

"She is with child."

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

[Harrenhal]

"Good." Drakken said as he looked at Riktor, "Nice movements."

Before him, several soldiers were surrounding the young lord in a large circle as two of them were holding wooden swords and sparring with him. The boy was blocking and parrying several of their attacks, maneuvering himself around them, and striking them with his wooden greatsword.

Drakken was nodding in approval, impressed by the growth of his son's skills. The past few weeks were nothing but grueling and painful lessons for Riktor.

The boy had nothing but bruises and scrapes all over his body and face, his teeth gritted as the two soldiers kept the assault on him. They swung their swords, and he simply parried, moving out of the way and hitting them in their bodies with his own sword.

Riktor then swung the sword at one of their knees and hit him hard enough to buckle him, spinning around and striking him in the jaw, knocking him unconscious.

Drakken gestured for someone to get the soldier out of the way, and two soldiers quickly ran in and dragged him out. As this happened, Riktor was lunged at by the other soldier, who tried to hit him with a thrust, but the boy was able to block it and push him off, striking him in the stomach with a swift and fierce swing, buckling him.

"Ooogh!" the soldier shouted as he got to his knees

Riktor swung his sword down, striking him on the back of the head and planting him on the ground.

"Hm." Drakken said as he gestured his hand up, holding two fingers up

This was the signal for two soldiers to move in and continue the training, the men rushing in with more speed than the others, nearly taking Riktor off guard. The boy blocked and parried most of the swings as the two soldiers used coordinated attacks to try to overwhelm him.

Despite having pressure put on him, Riktor was still able to keep composure and he was able to parry and block the attacks, pivoting to the side to get space and counter with his sword.

Drakken then gestured for a nearby soldier to draw his bow.

The soldier took aim and nocked a specially-made arrow which had no sharp point, only a blunt end. The archer fired off the arrow right at the boy who was in the middle of getting space from the two soldiers, and Riktor was barely able to dodge the projectile.

"W-Wha...." the boy said as he kept parrying and blocking attacks, "Arrows...?"

Drakken then gestured for all of the soldiers to get in there as two more archers began to fire arrows. As the arrows narrowly missed Riktor, the boy was overwhelmed by all of the soldiers who lunged at him with serious ferocity.

He was able to block, parry, and dodge some attacks but was struck with several blows he could not keep up. He hit some of them hard and managed to push away but an arrow struck him in the back of the head and caused him to stumble, leaving him open.

One of the soldiers swung his sword hard at his face and struck him above the eye, flinging him backwards and causing him to fall hard on his back.

"Aghh...." He groaned in pain as blood began to pour out of his wound

The soldiers stopped as they stood around them, glancing at each other, taken aback by their actions.

Ser Jon, who was standing next to Drakken, cleared his throat, "Stand back." He said, "Clear the way."

The soldiers stepped back as Riktor slowly got up to his knee, clutching his wound as blood poured through his fingers.

"Oh...." He said as he blinked

"My Lord." Jon said to Drakken, "Should we bring this to an end? The boy is young....and that was 10 men he could not keep up with."

Drakken nodded, "I suppose so." He said, "If we keep this up for several days straight, there will be notable results."

"I don't doubt it." Jon said, "But he's been at it for 12 hours today. He needs rest."

"That is right." Drakken began to walk over to his son, "You. Will you live?"

Riktor looked up at him, "Y-Yes..." he panted, "I am sorry, Father."

"For what?" Drakken tilted his head

"For failing." Riktor said

"Hm." Drakken blinked, "Your body needs to be prepared for what will happen to you. This is the best way to prepare you and your brother."

"W-What will happen to me?" Riktor asked him

Drakken smirked slightly, "Power." He said, "Unbelievable power."

"Oh...." He looked down, "How do I deserve that when I cannot even wield a sword properly."

"A few weeks ago, you could barely keep up with one of these soldiers." He said, "But now....it takes ten to bring you down."

He reached down and patted his head, the wound on Riktor's face instantly closed and the blood disappeared. He then reached for his shoulder and pulled him up.

"Come on." Drakken said, "Go and get bathed. You reek of sweat and blood."

He patted his son's back as the boy began to walk away. He then looked to the side to see Daranne standing at the edge of the yard, Saera sitting next to her as she was under a shade while a servant had a fan with her, keeping her cool.

He noticed that Sylas was next to Daranne as well, holding a practice spear in his hand as he looked at this.

Drakken walked over to them, "Sylas." He said, "You are expecting the same training?"

Sylas nodded, "Yes."

"Not yet. You are too young." He said, "With time, you and Riktor will be receiving the same type of training. Worry not. Patience is key, it is what you should inherit from your Father."

Sylas nodded again, "Alright..."

"Your sons are quite eager to learn combat, My Love." Saera said as she had a cup of wine in her hand, "They are truly Sons of Drakken."

Drakken looked at her, "Is that so?"

Daranne chuckled, "Yes." She said, "Might I speak with you, My Lord?"

"It is quite important."