From Flames to Fury (Part 2)

Chapter 8: The Price of Blood

I swallowed hard, my throat dry as the realization of what was about to happen settled over me like a lead weight. This wasn't a plan—it was madness. But it was Rhaenyra. And if anyone could pull this off in the face of madness, it was her.

The Cannibal's wings shifted, and with a sharp tilt, we began to even out. The world around us blurred—burning ships, flashes of steel, screams rising from the battlefield below—but my focus wasn't on that, it was on Rhaenyra who was climbing down the ladder, her knuckles white with every movement, as she made her way down the Cannibals side.

This was the woman I had fallen in love with. Unyielding. Unstoppable. Willing to face down a fleet of enemies, a storm of fire and blood, just to save her son.

My gaze snapped back to the ship, noticing the deck of the Triarchy ship was in chaos. Soldiers rushed around, scrambling to pull on levees and ropes. They hadn't noticed us yet, hadn't realized that Rhaenyra was about to bring the full force of Targaryen fury down on them.

The moment we got close enough, I looked back down, and I saw Rhaenyra shift, she was at the end now, positioning herself on the ropes. Her gaze snapped up to me one last time—a look of raw, fierce determination that sent a shiver down my spine.

And then the Cannibal pulled up over the ship, nearly stopping on the dime in the air with a huge flap of his wings, and then without hesitation—Rhaenyra let go.

I watched in disbelief as she fell, my heart lurching into my throat. Everything around me slowed, as though the world was holding its breath. The wind roared in my ears, drowning out everything but the sight of Rhaenyra plunging toward the deck below. For a moment, I thought I was about to witness the unthinkable—her body hitting the deck with a sickening crack.

But then Rhaenyra's feet hit the planks of the ship, her knees bending into a roll, and then, with a fluid grace that defied belief, she sprang to her feet. Her sword was in her hand before I even realized she had drawn it, the silver gleaming in the harsh light of the battle—and she was coming for her son.

The Triarchy soldiers stopped dead in their tracks, their mouths agape as they turned to face her. The shock rippled through the air, freezing them where they stood. It was as if time had halted again, and for a split second, all eyes were on her.

Rhaenyra Targaryen, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, descended from the sky like an avenging god, her silver-white hair whipping violently around her, a halo of fire and fury. Her violet eyes were ablaze, burning with a rage so fierce it seemed to crack the very air around her. There was no hesitation, no mercy—only the cold, unyielding determination of a mother ready to tear the world apart to reclaim her son.

The soldiers faltered, but only for a moment. Reality came crashing back, and they surged toward her, swords drawn, ready to defend their ship.

Without a word, Rhaenyra launched herself into the fray. She was a whirlwind of steel and flame, her sword cutting through the air with lethal precision. The first soldier didn't even have time to scream before her blade sliced through him, sending him crashing to the deck in a pool of blood. Another lunged at her from behind, but she spun with the grace of a dancer, her blade cutting through his throat in one clean motion.

I couldn't tear my eyes away. It was terrifying, watching her fight—terrifying and awe-inspiring. She wasn't just a queen; she was a warrior, a force of nature, cutting through the enemy with the precision and ferocity of a dragon on the hunt. Every move was deliberate, calculated, her blade a blur as it met flesh and steel with deadly efficiency.

The Cannibal had to pull away into the sky, and I looked back at her. 

"Circle above," I ordered him, my voice tight as I craned my neck, trying to keep track of her through the chaos. For a moment, I lost sight of her—my heart skipping a beat as the massive upper deck of the ship blocked my view—but then the Cannibal tilted, and there she was.