The Great Hall

The household of Dragonstone, seat of Prince Aegon, watched in surprise and mild concern as one of the wild dragons descended out of the sky. It was unusual to see the Ghost at all, and even more unusual to see him willingly approach human settlement. At first they did not see the girl on his back - the dragon was immense, and did not bear a saddle. Vira only became visible when Aegerys descended as low as the tree line, before gently landing in the front courtyard of the castle.

Vira looked around the castle yard, as men-at-arms and various pot boys stared back at her. "I seek an audience with the Prince," she said, not knowing that Prince Aegon was away at war. "Or with...whoever runs this castle in his absence." She had no knowledge of what a castle household was like, or what a castellan was.

"Thank you," Vira said, jumping to the ground. She wondered what a castellan was, but anyone with a "ser" before his name, and a surname for that matter, was likely someone who had authority. She entered the great hall, and looked around for the knight. When she saw him, she bowed low. "Ser Clarence. I am called Vira, lately of the village of Lower Crinkley in the crownlands. I managed to tame the Ghost today, and wish to place myself in service to the crown. But I require a saddle and reins, and did not know who to ask. And in order to make myself useful to the King, I had thought to ask the maester of Dragonstone to help me learn the ways of dragons. The ones that fly, I mean. Not the Targaryens."

Vira bowed. "Dake will suit me just fine, and I will find a saddler in the town. Thank you, ser." And with that she strode out of the great hall, mounted Aegerys (with a wince - the scales were starting to chafe against her leg), and flew him in the direction of the town beneath the castle walls.

She is obliged to wait a short while before being shown to meet Ser Clarence Chyttering, who bows politely but without warmth. "My lady. How can I assist you?"

"Did you? That is most honourable, though you will forgive me, I'm sure if I say that I would not normally approve of a woman entering battle. The dragons make all the difference, I find. Prince Aegon is not at home, unfortunately."

"Of course you may stay here. But may I ask what kind of purpose you have in mind. I am not accustomed to finding employment for Targaryens, as you may have guessed. And particularly not for ladies."

He smiled politey. "You may certainly help with the ravens. I have no need of messages being delivered but if you would like to train with the squires, you are free to ask them. Though some may think it improper to train with a lady, so you must not be too disappointed if any say nay."

"Of course. Our castle smith will be able to assist you, though he does plain work. If you desire something fancier and have time to visit Driftmark, both Hull and Spicetown have smiths aplenty. Any one of those might oblige you," Ser Clarence advised.

"Will tends the ravens since our good maester died, some years ago. The war with Oldtown meant we never got a new maester, of course, and now the order is all but gone."

"We will. It will be for the crown to decide if the surviving maesters may rebuild their order. But in the meantime, Will does well with the ravens. He's tended them for near a dozen years now. They like him well enough, it seems. He's even managed to train the chicks to carry messages, which is something usually only the Citadel teaches. Though we've not got many birds, it has to be said. The loss of the Citadel is a great blow."

Elseyris found Ser Clarence in the Great Hall, and approached him quietly, a roll of parchment held gently in one hand.

"Ser Clarence," she said numbly, holding out the letter. "News from King's Landing."

"Long live King Aegon," Elsey echoed quietly, wondering why the news didn't make her feel the relief she thought it would. After a few silent moments, she spoke again;

"Ser? May I ask you a question?"