It's the crafting of a person for matters of state; a name is ultimately meaningless. A boy is ambition, a tool. A daughter can be a man's child. He's always wondered what he'd do with a child, fully his to cosset or teach. He'll only find out when he has one.
But either would be good. Ideally, he'd like twins. Those are always favorable omens.
"I already know that." Teeth meet her neck once more, breaking the skin. He wants to hear her scream.
But either would be good. Ideally, he'd like twins. Those are always favorable omens.
"I already know that." Teeth meet her neck once more, breaking the skin. He wants to hear her scream.
He moans into the ruin of her neck, plunging forward until he feels too much, and then nothing at all. His blood rushes, then weighs him down. It's always as though he's about to take off, and then the world remembers he has no wings.
For himself, he tends to forget.
"Daemion," he murmurs into her hair, "I like that one."
For himself, he tends to forget.
"Daemion," he murmurs into her hair, "I like that one."
"We're not taking Mushroom to the Driftmark," Daemon says, flatly. "I like Shandy." His favorite fool, a beautiful woman if not for a face disfigured either by poor genetics or childhood injury-- no one knows, and she refuses to tell.
"I promised I'd find her a dragonseed husband. You can't throw a stone in the Narrow Sea without hitting at least twelve dragonseeds. It's," he yawns, "it's a safe thing to promise."
As a reward for loyalty, he means. He assumes Alicent can fill in the rest. Ronda's grandchildren need husbands and wives. Several of Daemon's favorites do as well. Daemon's own penchant for trusting and favoring blood above all else-- he doesn't think to question his logic.
"I promised I'd find her a dragonseed husband. You can't throw a stone in the Narrow Sea without hitting at least twelve dragonseeds. It's," he yawns, "it's a safe thing to promise."
As a reward for loyalty, he means. He assumes Alicent can fill in the rest. Ronda's grandchildren need husbands and wives. Several of Daemon's favorites do as well. Daemon's own penchant for trusting and favoring blood above all else-- he doesn't think to question his logic.
It is hard, when trust is gone.
Can you do something to rebuild it?
Can you do something to rebuild it?
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