GOT/ASOIAF: Ruler Beyond the Ice

With Tyrion's guidance, Aegor managed to find an old mine owner in King's Landing, someone who had once managed gold mines for the Lannisters. The man had retired to the city to live out his remaining years with his children. After much persuasion and flattery, Aegor convinced the old man and his youngest son to accompany him to Dragonstone to provide advice on dragonglass mining.

With everything prepared, Aegor boarded the rented ship near noon on the third day after arriving in King's Landing. The salty sea breeze accompanied him as he set sail with his two companions, heading toward Dragonstone, the ancient seat of House Targaryen.

---

Dragonstone lies at the mouth of Blackwater Bay. The journey downstream from King's Landing is straightforward, but the daytime sea breeze blows inland, slowing the ship's progress. It wasn't until the sun set and the wind shifted direction that the vessel was able to sail smoothly.

Despite this improvement, the distance from King's Landing to Dragonstone spanned several hundred miles. By nightfall, they had only covered about one-third of the journey. They had no choice but to spend the night aboard the ship. Fortunately, the ship's speed increased after dark, and the captain arranged for sailors to work in shifts, ensuring they didn't waste too much time.

The next morning, Aegor was awoken by the combined effects of the ship's swaying, the rising light, and the shouting of the crew. When he climbed out of his cabin, the ship was already entering Dragonstone's port, maneuvering to dock.

---

One glance at "Dragonstone Port" was enough to understand Stannis Baratheon's bitterness toward Robert for granting him this fiefdom. To call it a port was generous; it was more akin to a small fishing village. Compared to the bustling harbor of King's Landing, Dragonstone's desolation was glaringly obvious. Aegor's ship was the only vessel in motion, the sole source of life in an otherwise eerily quiet harbor.

While Aegor often described the Wall as a "haunted place," much of that sentiment was subjective. Now, far removed from the Wall's cold and isolation, he had no room to complain anymore. The Night's Watch lands were remote, yes, but they were fertile and rich in resources—albeit dangerous. Dragonstone, on the other hand, was a barren island formed by volcanic eruptions, its rocky terrain offering little of value. This was truly a "haunted place."

The fishing village, home to fewer than a hundred residents, was the only settlement of note on the island apart from the castle itself. As far as Aegor knew, the only other significant location was the naval port where the Dragonstone fleet was stationed. This meant that Stannis Baratheon, Duke of Dragonstone, directly controlled little more than this sparse fishing village and the castle.

Aegor couldn't help but sympathize with Stannis. A place like Dragonstone, relying solely on fishing, could barely sustain a knight, let alone a duke. While Stannis was theoretically the overlord of the Lords of the Narrow Sea, these so-called "lords" were nothing more than minor island owners with a combined population of less than 100,000. Such a pitiful number of subjects could hardly provide Stannis with the wealth, troops, or status befitting a great lord.

The injustice was obvious. Robert Baratheon, after losing Lyanna Stark, had once considered remaining unmarried and passing the throne to his younger brother Stannis. If that plan had held, making Stannis the Duke of Dragonstone would have been logical, in line with Targaryen tradition. But Robert eventually married Cersei Lannister, fathered heirs, however dubious their parentage, and Stannis' claim to greater lands was sidelined.

Despite Stannis' numerous requests to be granted control of the Stormlands, Robert ignored him. Storm's End, the ancestral seat of House Baratheon, was instead given to Renly Baratheon, the youngest of the three brothers, who had contributed nothing of note during Robert's Rebellion. Stannis, who had defended Storm's End against the siege by the Tyrells and played a pivotal role in securing victory for Robert, was exiled to this barren island. Even the most stoic man would resent such treatment.

---

As the boat approached the shore, Aegor noted the abundance of seabirds nesting along the cliffs. Their constant movement and cries filled the air, making one thing abundantly clear: Dragonstone was a land ruled by birds rather than people.

When the ship finally docked, several villagers quickly gathered, offering accommodation and food. Despite its prime location at the mouth of the Blackwater River, Dragonstone saw few visitors. Ships passed it daily, sailing to and from King's Landing, but few stopped at the island. Naturally, Aegor and his companions were treated with great enthusiasm.

Not wanting to waste time, Aegor rented three horses and hired a guide to take them directly to the castle. Built on the highest point of the island, Dragonstone Castle appeared majestic and imposing from a distance. But up close, its moss-covered walls and poorly maintained gates told a different story. Two guards stood watch, one so disinterested that he scrambled to his feet when visitors arrived. The castle's neglected state only deepened Aegor's sympathy for Stannis.

---

A guard went inside to announce Aegor's arrival. Unlike Eddard Stark, Stannis Baratheon had no interest in personally meeting a lowly Night's Watchman. After a wait of ten minutes, a young man rode out of the castle, claiming he had been sent to escort them.

This arrangement suited Aegor just fine, he had no intention of meeting Stannis either. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the group left the castle gate and began scouting potential mining sites for dragonglass.

---

"An ancient mine?" The guide, seated on his horse, pondered Aegor's description for a moment before nodding. "There's a place like that. I went inside once, but there was nothing there except some old carvings on the stone walls."

"Carvings on the stone walls?" Aegor's mood lifted. This sounded like exactly what he was looking for. Though Stannis' arrogance had kept him from offering a proper welcome, the guide seemed competent enough. Aegor silently noted that perhaps Robert's meticulous older brother wasn't entirely without redeeming qualities.

"Where is it? Take us there," Aegor said.

"It's at the southern tip of the island, quite far from here. I'm not sure we can make it back before dark…" The guide hesitated.

"Thank you for your trouble. Let's go now. I'll treat you to a good meal when we return." Aegor's tone was confident, he still had some money left, and how expensive could food possibly be on this barren island?

"It's not too much trouble," the guide replied, slightly embarrassed. "It's just that the roads are hard to navigate after dark. But if you're determined, we'd better stop at the village first to pick up some torches."

---

Hours later, after enduring the relentless sea breeze and the rough terrain, Aegor finally stood at the entrance of the ancient mine Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen would later visit, though that moment was far from the present timeline. Without a local guide, the mine would have been impossible to find.

After lighting their torches, the guide led Aegor, the old miner, and his son into the dark cavern.

Inside, the cave was barren. There were murals on the walls, but for Aegor, who had seen the origins of the Night King through the lens of his old world's media, the carvings offered little of practical use.

Still, everything had gone better than expected. This was the place he had been searching for.

***

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