Coming into close contact with a wild dragon, Viserys squinted his eyes and blurted out, **"Sheep thief!"**
Judging by the dragon's muddy brown scales and emaciated, fierce appearance, he immediately identified its name.
**"Your Majesty, this is a completely untamed wild dragon. We should stay away,"** Leonor warned, his eyes filled with caution, as he moved to enforce his advice.
The three members of the king's council stepped forward together, trying to shield the king and escort him safely past the long stairway.
Meanwhile, the **Sheep Thief** stretched its long neck, chewed twice, and swallowed the entire goat whole.
**"Screeech..."**
Satisfied with the thrill of poaching, the dragon shook its head, flapped its wings, and soared into the sky.
Its claws, covered in coarse, scaly skin, tightly gripped two goat carcasses. The thick stench of blood filled the air as it dripped from the lifeless bodies.
Viserys, standing directly beneath the **Mud Dragon**, was caught off guard as the sheep's blood rained down on him. He scrambled to dodge the crimson downpour.
Noticing the movement below, the **Sheep Thief** twitched its sunken nose. Its dark brown vertical pupils lingered on the group standing on the stone bridge's long staircase.
This was a free and untamed wild dragon. Aside from stealing livestock and attacking shepherd dogs, it had little else for amusement.
At this moment, Viserys lifted his cloak over his head and got a clear look at the **Mud Dragon's** true form.
Its body was covered in muddy brown scales, with broad brown wings. Its shriveled dragon head was slightly rounded, lacking any horns, and covered in irregular, diamond-shaped keratinous growths.
It was large, with a skeletal frame so pronounced that it seemed as if only a thin layer of scales covered its robust bone structure. Its feet bore sharp, lethal claws.
Amazed by the dragon's structure, Viserys couldn't help but remark, **"Truly ugly."**
**"Screeech..."**
The **Sheep Thief** flapped its wings and circled overhead, its narrow, elongated neck emitting a sinister screech.
Before Viserys and his group could react, the dragon suddenly loosened one of its stone-like claws, releasing a half-dead goat corpse.
**"Dodge!"**
Having kept a close watch on the **Mud Dragon's** movements, Viserys grabbed his cloak and lunged toward his wife and young son.
**Thud—**
The goat's corpse crashed to the ground among them, splattering warm blood mixed with bits of tender flesh.
Viserys pressed himself against the parapet, his cloak shielding his head, holding Alicent and Daeron tightly beneath him.
On the other side, Leonor and the other three failed to dodge in time. Even though they had thrown themselves onto the stone ground, they were still drenched in blood and gore.
**"Are you all right?"**
Hearing no immediate response, Viserys lifted his cloak anxiously, checking on his wife and son.
Alicent, pale-faced, clutched the dazed Daeron tightly, her voice trembling. **"I'm fine... but check on my father and the others!"**
At her words, Viserys looked up. Leonor and the others lay motionless on the ground, a shattered goat carcass sprawled across the long staircase.
Its white wool was soaked in blood, its lifeless body twitching slightly, one front leg still intact.
Looking further up, thin clouds drifted across the sky as sunlight scattered down in shimmering rays.
The **Sheep Thief** was gone.
Not far behind them, the rest of their group had fallen into chaos.
Upon hearing an unfamiliar dragon's cry, Rhaegar released Rhaena's small hand, intending to rush to his father's side.
**"Screeech..."**
A salty sea breeze swept through, carrying a faint scent of mutton along with the dragon's triumphant, mischievous screech.
Rhaegar stopped in his tracks, looking up in astonishment.
The dragons of Dragonstone usually nested and roamed near Dragonmont and rarely ventured into the castle or onto the stone bridge stairway.
**"Screeech..."**
A gust of wind swept by as the **Sheep Thief** emerged from the mountainside beside the stone bridge stairway, flapping its wings as it soared above Rhaegar and his group.
Its long neck arched high, and its ugly dragon head gazed down at the people below.
Having just played a trick on one group, it now had another audience to display its mighty presence.
**"Be careful. That's one of the island's wild dragons."**
Recognizing the dragon's muddy brown scales, Rhaegar immediately became wary, pulling Rhaenyra and Helaena behind him.
The dragons of Dragonstone typically avoided human settlements and rarely caused trouble for residents.
Vermithor and Silverwing slumbered deep in Dragonmont, while The Glutton and Grey Ghost had mostly relocated.
Of the remaining wild dragons, only the **Sheep Thief** frequently appeared, stealing livestock and killing shepherds' dogs.
Glancing up and down, Rhaegar noticed the fresh blood dripping from the dragon's claws, realizing it had just made a successful hunt.
As Rhaegar observed the **Sheep Thief**, the dragon, in turn, scrutinized the group below.
Its cunning vertical pupils swept over Rhaegar, Daemon, Rhaenyra, and Helaena, a flicker of hesitation flashing in its eyes.
It had detected the scent of its own kind.
The dragon's eyes lingered on Rhaegar, standing tall and composed. Suddenly, a look of utter disgust appeared in its gaze.
On this human, it smelled the stench of that **Dragon-Eater's** putrid scent.
**"Father..."**
Feeling the **Mud Dragon's** scrutinizing gaze, Baela and Rhaena were terrified, clinging to Daemon's legs—one on each side.
Daemon's brows furrowed into a deep knot, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword as he carefully observed the dragon's every move.
He remained calm. He knew that this **Mud Dragon** had just returned from a hunt and was unlikely to attack humans without reason.
By contrast, the four Stormborn children—without their father beside them—were screaming in fright, huddling together behind Aemond.
**"Hmph, childish."**
Aemond had no patience for them. Standing on his toes, his eyes burned with excitement as he stared at the massive dragon overhead.
Looking it over, it was indeed a large dragon—bigger than **Blood Wyrm Caraxes**, though slightly smaller than **Dreamfyre**.
His eyes lit up with excitement, and he jumped in place. **"A dragon! A massive wild dragon!"**
However, as soon as he got a good look at the **Sheep Thief's** face, his excitement turned into disappointment.
**"What an ugly dragon!"**
He wanted to tame a dragon—a dragon strong enough to prove himself.
This mud-covered dragon was certainly big, but it was also incredibly ugly.
And so, Aemond stared intently at the Sheep Stealer, his expression shifting between excitement and disappointment—more conflicted than when deciding between pie or jam for breakfast.
"Hiss… caw…"
Sheep Stealer tilted its head, its vertical pupils glancing at the silver-haired boy who had been staring at it. It seemed to be wondering whether the boy was mesmerized by its grandeur.
As it pondered, it flapped its wings, hovering in midair while gripping the now-cold carcass of a goat.
Noticing the subtle movement, Rhaegar took an imperceptible step back and warned, "Stay back. Sheep Stealer isn't exactly trustworthy."
Everyone obeyed, pressing against the parapets on either side and spreading out.
Seeing this, Rhaegar felt slightly relieved.
Since they were on Dragonstone, Devourer and the other dragons hadn't landed immediately, instead lingering over the nearby sea.
The moment Sheep Stealer let out a roar, Devourer sensed his intent and swiftly returned.
"Hiss—caw—"
As if responding to an unspoken call, a deep, bell-like growl came from the direction of the beach, startling a flock of seabirds nesting on the cliffs.
Hearing the familiar dragon roar, Sheep Stealer twisted its head in panic, its vertical pupils flashing with fear.
That dragon-eater was back!
Memories of its past flooded in—not just of being hunted as a hatchling but also of being put in its place even after reaching adulthood. Just the thought made its spine tingle, as if sharp, coal-black talons were piercing its flesh.
Glancing once more at the people below, Sheep Stealer flapped its wings and took off, stealing one last look at the silver-haired boy.
With a flick of its claws, it dropped the goat carcass.
"Watch out!"
Rhaegar's expression tightened as he turned to shield Rhaenyra and Helaena.
Thud!
The goat's body crashed onto the stone floor with precision, sending blood and flesh splattering while tufts of wool scattered into the air.
Aemond, crouched closest to the fallen carcass, was splattered with a streak of blood across his fair face.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Sheep Stealer turned and fled. Before leaving, it snatched another goat right in front of the wailing shepherd.
The moment it disappeared, Devourer arrived.
Its massive black wings spread wide, its mountainous body tearing through the clouds with ease.
Seeing his dragon arrive, Rhaegar finally exhaled in relief and released the two sisters from his embrace.
Devourer's strength was undeniable—its size nearly rivaled that of the legendary Vhagar, and its emerald-green flames, combined with its unmatched speed, made for an extraordinary battle advantage.
From the fragmented accounts of Daenelyra and Balerion's lineage, it was clear that every dragon had different breeds, forms, and talents.
Though Devourer's origins were unknown, its noble lineage was evident—otherwise, it wouldn't have grown so rapidly or to such a massive size.
For the wild dragons of Dragonstone, Devourer was like an emperor; Sheep Stealer and Grey Ghost dared not provoke or challenge it.
"Is everyone alright?"
Rhaegar stepped over the mangled goat remains, checking on the Four Storms and Aemond.
The Four Storms were ashen-faced, huddled together in fear. The third and fourth sisters, squeezed in the middle, were nearly crushed by their elder siblings.
Aemond remained frozen, crouched on the ground, absentmindedly wiping the blood trickling down his forehead from his left eye.
"Are you okay?" Rhaegar knelt slightly, looking him in the eye.
"I'm great!"
Aemond suddenly sprang to his feet, his eyes shining with excitement as he shouted, "Brother, take me to tame a dragon! I want to tame the strongest one!"
Every dragon he had ever seen was either trapped in the Dragonpit or already claimed by his siblings.
This was his first encounter with a wild dragon, and it had awakened a deep, primal instinct within him.
He wouldn't just tame any dragon—he would tame the most powerful one!
Watching Aemond practically jump three feet into the air, Rhaegar patted his head and sighed, "Stop dreaming. Taming a dragon is all about luck."
People choose dragons, but dragons also choose their riders.
It wasn't as simple as picking one and claiming it.
Confirming that everyone was unharmed, Rhaegar quickly hurried toward where their father was waiting.
Sheep Stealer had likely already startled him before coming here.
Fortunately, the dragon's cowardly nature meant that as long as no one interfered with its sheep-stealing, it rarely attacked humans.
---
**Stone Drum Tower**
After the Sheep Stealer incident, the group safely entered the castle.
"Viserys, I'm not feeling well. I'm going to rest," Alicent murmured before wearily ascending the stairs.
She was still shaken by the encounter, her body weak from the fright.
Watching his wife disappear upstairs, Viserys glanced discreetly at Laenor and the others, then joked, "Women are always fragile—not as strong as men."
Before the gathered lords could respond, Rhaenyra, who had been trailing slightly behind, immediately spoke up.
She marched up to her father, cheeks puffed in frustration. "You're absolutely right, Father."
With that, she took the hands of her two foster sisters and followed Alicent upstairs.
"My dear, you know I didn't mean it like that," Viserys called after her, rubbing his temples in frustration.
He had forgotten how much Rhaenyra detested remarks about male superiority.
Rhaegar caught his father's outstretched hand and chuckled. "Rhaenyra is just tired. She's not actually upset."
"By the Seven, it really was just a slip of the tongue," Viserys sighed.
Rhaegar only smiled, saying nothing, then signaled for the handmaidens to escort the younger siblings and the Four Storms to their quarters.
Just as he was about to head upstairs to check on Rhaenyra, his father called him back.
Viserys didn't just summon his eldest son—he also gathered Daemon, Laenor, and the three members of the Small Council.
"Your Grace, how may I assist you?" Laenor asked, his large frame standing firm with a solemn expression.
"Relax. This isn't about state affairs, just a personal matter."
Viserys smiled, setting the tone before continuing. "My son Aemond wants to tame a dragon. I happen to share that thought as well."
"What do you all think?"
(End of Chapter)