The Master of Dragons - A new Mystery. (Patreon)

Alicent Hightower, Lord Potter's Solar – the Red Keep.

"Lizzy told me about your request, you wish to become part of my household, correct?" Lord Potter asked from behind his desk, looking directly at Gwayne, her beloved brother.

Alicent sat to Lord Potter's right, somewhat worried and hopeful that her brother would be able to impress the handsome Lord. Very few new Noble Houses were born in Westeros, and it was the perfect opportunity for Gwayne to earn a place within the newly founded family.

Alicent still felt a bitter taste in her mouth whenever she thought about it. Harry... her Harry, would marry Rhaenyra, beautiful Rhaenyra, who always obtained everything she desired.

So King Viserys had decreed, and thanks to the influence of Alicent's Lord, little remained of the agreeable and kind-hearted king Alicent remembered from a few months ago.

The King, after all, was a Targaryen, and his word was law. Rhaenyra would become Rhaenyra Potter, and there was nothing Alicent could do about it.

Even so, Alicent remained at Lord Potter's side with pride. She knew it was improper, but she truly did not care. With the exception of her beloved brother, her Harry was the only person with whom she truly felt valued, listened to, and seen.

Alicent loved the simple afternoons in which Harry took the time to have tea with her, sitting together peacefully in the gardens of the Keep and talking about any subject.

Poetry, history, or even fantasy. Alicent had always adored reading, but she was fully aware that it was not something that truly interested many men, who saw it as something foolish and unnecessary.

But not Harry, Alicent thought proudly.

Whenever Alicent spoke about history, Lord Potter listened attentively, asking precise and interesting questions, offering points of view she had never imagined, and he had also made Alicent do something she had never dared to do in her life.

Question things.

Harry had made her question written history, stating that what we read in most books are merely points of view influenced by the author's own perspective. He had made her question her own Faith, causing Alicent to ask herself uncomfortable questions she had never asked before, for some strange reason.

The young Hightower could talk for hours without stopping with Harry, genuinely fascinated by his intelligence and cleverness, although that did not change the fact that Alicent was hopelessly attracted to his... delicious physique.

The young Hightower had gladly given him her virginity, and ever since that magical night, Alicent simply could not stop thinking about Harry. All her life, the Septas had warned her about what to expect the first time a man took her. Pain, nothing but pain, and enduring it was her duty as a good woman.

But with Harry... Gods, that pain they had warned her about never came. When Harry buried himself inside her, Alicent felt only one thing.

Absolute pleasure.

That faint burning sensation as Lord Potter's thick manhood slowly entered her, the way he caressed and kissed specific places on her body that made her tremble and melt with pleasure, or even the precise angle at which he entered her womanhood, touching a particular spot deep inside her that made Alicent cry out in delight... bathing Lord Potter's manhood with her love juices.

Was it really any surprise that Alicent had fallen completely in love with Harry? He was... the man of every one of the young Hightower's fantasies, an intellectual with whom she could speak for hours, a man who desire her as a woman every night and brought her to ecstasy, and a warrior who protected her.

Because if Alicent had ever harbored any doubts regarding Lord Potter's martial prowess, they had been completely dispelled a few days ago in the Sun Tower, when Prince Daemon challenged Harry to a duel, without magic.

Flashback.

"So... where you come from, are there many dragons?" Prince Daemon asked, dressed in a simple tunic, one entirely unworthy of his status as a prince. He was covered in sweat and stained with dirt, perspiration, and ash.

Something common among the Dragon Keepers, Alicent thought, watching as her beloved Harry nodded gently, moving his wand around Meleys with elegance and causing the Red Queen to purr with pleasure as enormous brushes stroked her scales.

Off to one side, Lady Laena struggled with her small and mischievous hatchling. The young Velaryon had been tasked with weighing and measuring Wave Breaker, the name Laena had given to her dragon.

Rhaenyra and Princess Rhaenys watched the struggle between the young Lady and the restless she-dragon with obvious amusement on their faces, letting out loud laughter as Laena finally sat down on the floor in exhaustion while Wave Breaker perched atop her head, looking down at Laena expectantly, waiting to continue the obvious game between the two.

"So, you thought working with dragons would be easy, little brat? They are intelligent creatures, and Wave Breaker is just a baby exploring the world. The bond between the two of you exists, and it is powerful. She will be a wonderful companion throughout your life," Lord Potter said with a smile as he raised his arm and let out a... peculiar whistle, causing Wave Breaker to fly from Laena's head straight to Harry's shoulder, clearly waiting for her reward.

Lord Potter merely rolled his eyes, but he took out the treat and handed it to the little dragoness, who devoured it within seconds before flying from Harry's shoulder toward the relaxed Meleys and beginning to play around the Red Queen's horns, while the Dragon Keepers carefully sketched every detail of Meleys' anatomy down to the smallest feature.

Harry made a movement with his wand, causing all the sweat and dirt to simply vanish from a grateful Laena before shifting his gaze toward Prince Daemon and answering.

"And to answer your question, yes, there are at least ten species of dragons in my homeland, all with different sizes and characteristics. Some are fast, small, and venomous, such as the Vipertooth," Harry said as he used his wand to... create a sort of image of a small and seemingly harmless dragon.

It was barely three or four meters long, its body was built for speed, and it possessed terrifying teeth, along with a sort of... stinger upon its tail.

"They are great hunters, and they move in packs. The venom in their tails is extremely potent, capable of bringing down much larger dragons with ease," Harry said with obvious respect for the small creatures.

Something that, evidently, none of the Targaryens or Velaryons present shared.

"Those... dragons, are great hunters? They look like bloody hunting dogs," Prince Daemon asked, the mockery and disbelief in his eyes evident to both Alicent and Harry, an opinion that, apparently, Laena and Rhaenys also shared for some strange reason.

The young Hightower frowned at the disrespect, but Harry did not even react. He merely shrugged and lowered his wand, causing the image of the strange dragon to disappear.

"I do not really care whether you believe me or not. What I do care about is that you have to collect Syrax's shit and take it to the composters for the fields," the young Lord ordered with complete calm, causing Daemon to make a grimace of agony, Rhaenyra to burst into laughter, and the Velaryon Ladies to watch the interaction in silence.

"Bloody hell, Harry, that job is for commoners. What does that have to do with taking care of dragons?" the prince said, indignation written across his face, trying with all his might to escape the frankly humiliating task.

Lord Potter merely rolled his eyes and replied.

"It wasn't a question. Besides, dragon dung is actually excellent for crops. The people who grow the food you eat need it, and as Prince of the Realm, you will be the one delivering it to them," the Lord ordered firmly, while beginning to walk out of the Tower, followed closely by both Targaryens and Velaryons alike.

Alas, it seemed Prince Daemon had no intention of giving up, and would seek to avoid such humiliation by any means possible.

"I have a proposition for you, my Lord. I know you can force me to obey your orders with your magic, but... how capable are you without it?" the prince challenged loudly, undoubtedly drawing the attention of the Dragon Keepers, as well as the Velaryon and Targaryen soldiers waiting for them to return to the castle.

Alicent watched as Lord Potter let out a heavy sigh before looking at Daemon with resignation, waiting for his next words.

"Say what you have to say, Daemon. I still have to go put the City Watch in order at your brother's request," the handsome black-haired man said, causing the prince to step forward and spread his arms, the challenge more than clear.

"Let us measure ourselves in a fistfight. No magic, no swords, hand to hand. If I defeat you, you exempt me from the undignified task of collecting dung from the nests," the prince said, causing the men around them to begin whispering among themselves with interest.

Lord Harry, for his part, did not seem worried. He simply analyzed Daemon the same way a man looked at a spoiled child.

"Very well, but when I defeat you, you will not only be responsible for Syrax's dung, but for every dragon in the Dragonpit for an entire Moon," Harry warned, causing all the soldiers to begin talking amongst themselves, undoubtedly excited by what they believed would be an interesting fight.

Alicent would never admit it, but she was somewhat worried. Harry was a magnificent man, intelligent and brilliant, but she had never actually seen him fight. He rarely visited the training yard and usually spent his time with the dragons, his books, or with Alicent and Rhaenyra.

The prince looked ecstatic at the opportunity to strike Lord Potter, and therefore did not waste a single second before throwing himself at Harry, launching a punch aimed directly at the black-haired man's face.

For an instant, Alicent feared the worst. Daemon's punch looked true, and so sudden that she feared Harry would not be able to avoid it in time.

Alas, it seemed the young Hightower had nothing to worry about.

Harry evaded the blow, moving his body at precisely the right moment so that the prince's fist passed harmlessly by, but not only that, with astonishing speed, Lord Potter seized the prince's arm and somehow caused Daemon's entire body to flip over his back, crashing against the cold ground with a heavy thud and making the prince let out a groan of pain.

Without waiting, Harry seized Daemon's vulnerable arm and... twisted it in a strange manner, forcing the prince's arm into a completely unnatural angle and causing the prince to let out a scream of agony.

"BLOODY HELL, MY ARM! AHHHG!" Daemon screamed, completely at the black-haired man's mercy.

A humiliating position that silenced both soldiers and nobles alike. Lady Rhaenys looked at Lord Potter with surprise and respect in her eyes, while Laena looked at him with something akin to admiration.

However, the most obvious reaction belonged to the princess, who looked at Lord Potter with only one emotion in her eyes.

Pure lust.

"Make sure every nest is clean. If you fail to do so, I will know," Harry warned, releasing the humiliated prince's arm before continuing on his way toward the Red Keep.

Alicent watched as the prince massaged his arm before following Harry, still astonished by the... alarming ease with which Daemon Targaryen had been defeated.

Flashback End.

"The King has asked me to put the City Watch in order. You will accompany me throughout the process, and I will judge both your character and your skill. After the Tournament, I will give you my final answer, understood? We will evaluate the prospective candidates tomorrow morning. I want you awake and ready by dawn," Lord Potter said, bringing Alicent back to the present.

"Yes, my Lord. I am grateful for the opportunity," said her beloved brother with a smile as he rose to his feet and prepared to leave.

"That will be all for now, Gwayne. Do me one last favor, inform your father that we shall pay him a visit tomorrow morning to discuss... matters of the utmost importance. He will know what I mean," Lord Potter ordered, surprising her brother, who merely nodded before taking his leave, leaving Alicent alone with her beloved Lord.

The silence was... somewhat uncomfortable, and apparently, Harry noticed it immediately.

"Is something wrong, Lizzy? You seem... distracted," he said calmly, while finishing the drafting of several letters, undoubtedly concerning his future Fortress.

For an instant, the young Hightower hesitated, unsure whether to answer, but after giving it some thought, she gathered her courage and replied, her expression resolute.

"I... I have learned about... about your betrothal to the Princess, my Lord," Alicent said as she looked away, unable to bear the weight of those emerald eyes.

For several seconds, there was complete silence.

"I see, but the day I took your virginity and made you mine, I made it perfectly clear that you would remain my woman forever. Do you not trust my word?" Harry asked, while rising to his feet and slowly walking toward the now trembling young woman.

The moment Alicent felt Harry's strong arms wrap around her from behind, she simply melted against the imposing Lord's chest and let out a heavy sigh, inhaling that delicious scent of wood and cinnamon that Harry always favored.

Cologne, he called it.

"The King has spoken... you will marry Rhaenyra, and I... I..." the young woman tried to say, but Lord Potter interrupted her firmly.

"You will come with me, with us. I shall raise a palace that touches the heavens, I shall make the fields bloom and nourish the rivers. I shall build a paradise for the three of us, far away from foolishness and intrigues, where I will make love to both of you everyday and night for the rest of your lives," Harry said, filled with determination and resolve, filling Alicent with profound relief.

But there was something the young Hightower wished to make clear.

"I... I do not want to be only your whore, Harry. In bed I will satisfy every desire you have, but... but I wish to be married. I wish to be respected, and I wish to bear your name. I wish to be your Lady, not merely your... toy" Alicent said hesitantly, but her eyes shone with determination.

Harry's response?

To take Alicent by the waist and pull her closer to him, a simple gesture, yet one that was extraordinarily attractive and protective to the young Hightower.

Immediately afterward, Harry raised his hand, showing Alicent the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. It was beautiful and simple at the same time, an elegant golden band with the image of a dragon carved into it. The beautiful jewel glowed softly, betraying its magical nature.

"This... is the ring of House Potter, a symbol of our power and our bloodline. Magical by nature, bound to it are the oldest and most esoteric magical secrets of my lineage. The day I die, the ring shall pass to its next bearer, the son or daughter that Rhaenyra will soon give me. The legacy of House Potter," Harry said solemnly, causing Alicent to stare at the jewel with deep longing and resignation. She had understood the message. That ring... the title of Lady Potter... would never be hers. That right belonged to Rhaenyra alone, and to no one else. The realization struck the young woman like a dagger through the heart.

However, before Alicent could respond, another ring appeared in Harry's hand. This one was... different. A silver band adorned with black gemstones, with a pair of twin ravens carved into it.

"You will not bear the Potter name. Family magic dictates that I may possess only one Lady bearing that name, but fortunately for us, I am also the Heir to a second magical family, one with its own magic and its own bloodline. That shall be your place. Rhaenyra will be my Lady Potter, but you, my beautiful Lizzy, shall be my Lady Black," Harry said to an overwhelmed Alicent, while placing his hand upon her belly.

"And from this womb... shall be born the next generation of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black," Harry said with determination, with such certainty that Alicent did not doubt him for even a moment. She simply threw herself into Harry's arms in complete desperation, devouring Harry's lips with unrestrained passion, while her hands began undoing the fastenings of his robe.

Her Harry had not forgotten about her. She was not merely his whore. Alicent would be Harry's woman, one of his Ladies, and she would do the very best job possible to please her future husband and bring this House Black to the very top.

However, just as Alicent was about to kneel and begin pleasing her Lord with her mouth, as was customary...

Something... happened.

"UHU! UHU!"

"AH?" Harry asked, looking in alarm as an... owl flew in from the dark night toward Harry's desk, landing gracefully and staring at the Lord with complete apathy.

At first, Alicent paid it little attention, but the longer she observed the owl, the more... unsettling she found it.

It was... well cared for, with an elegant appearance and wearing what appeared to be a small and refined leather breastplate bearing a particular engraved symbol.

A Heart Tree, upon whose trunk something... familiar to Alicent had been engraved at its center.

The... Hightower, the symbol of her family.

And attached to the creature's leg was a message, as though it were a raven.

Harry gave the animal his full attention, practically rushing toward his desk, leaving Alicent kneeling on the floor and utterly bewildered by her beloved's reaction.

"Is everything alright, my love?" Alicent asked as she rose to her feet and quickly walked over to Harry, who stood silently reading a long and formal letter.

Driven by curiosity, Alicent leaned over Harry's shoulder and began reading, growing paler and paler with every passing line.

The Arcane Council of WesterosOffice of Noble Bloodlines and Arcane SuccessionOldtown, The Reach

To Lord Harry of House Black,

By decree of the Arcane Council of Westeros, and pursuant to the Ancient Covenants governing the noble bloodlines of the Realm, this Office hereby acknowledges the manifestation of powerful and unmistakable arcane signatures identifying the lawful Ascension of the Lordship of House Black.

The ancestral wards, blood-bound enchantments, and hereditary seals tied to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black have recognized you as their rightful bearer. Such an occurrence is exceedingly rare and cannot be disputed by mundane inheritance nor by noble decree, for the old magics answer only to blood, legacy, and destiny.

In accordance with the Codex of Arcane Succession, you are therefore required to present yourself before the Chamber of Union, within the Hall of the Arcane Council in Oldtown, no later than the first full moon following receipt of this notice.

There, before the assembled Archmages and Keepers of the Ancient Laws, the Rite of Ascension shall be performed. Upon its completion, your claim shall be formally recognized by the magical institutions of Westeros, your ancestral protections shall be bound to your person, and the ancient rights, duties, and privileges attendant to the Lordship of House Black shall pass to you under the authority of the Council.

Failure to appear without just cause may delay the binding of your inheritance and leave certain ancestral wards and magical estates dormant until such time as the Rite is lawfully completed.

May wisdom guide your steps, and may the ancient blood remember its own.

By Order of the Arcane Council of Westeros

Archmage Alester HightowerHigh Keeper of Noble BloodlinesWarden of the Ancient SealsSpeaker for the Chamber of Union

"The old blood endures where memory fails."

Alicent began to tremble without truly knowing why, recognizing neither the titles, nor the places, nor this Alester Hightower.

And the young Lady had only one thought on her mind...

Shit.