Game of Thrones: The King of Bronze and Fire

The people of the Vale may not welcome him, but Aemon would conquer this land.

After saying that, Aemon glanced at his mother.

As a son, he hoped to gain his mother's support—even if he didn't truly need it.

"You..."

Lady Rhea Royce was troubled, her thoughts a mess. After a long pause, she finally said, "You are my son!"

No further words were needed.

Because a mother's love didn't need elaborate explanations.

"Thank you, Mother."

Aemon smiled warmly and pulled her into a tight hug.

For the first time in his life, he buried his head in his mother's shoulder.

She smelled of fresh grass, with a faint hint of sweat.

Not exactly ladylike—but it was the scent of someone who truly loved him.

"Get off me."

Lady Rhea's expression remained stern, clearly displeased with his sudden affection.

She had raised him freely, without pampering or coddling.

Aemon refused to let go, holding on tightly. "So, about that support you promised?"

It had been too long since he last hugged his mother, and he wasn't about to let the moment pass without savoring it.

After all, a boy with a mother is like a treasured child.

"Runestone will be yours sooner or later," Rhea finally relented, her tone softening.

Despite her words of irritation, her actions betrayed her.

Her calloused hands, toughened from years of drawing a bow, gently patted Aemon's back.

Aemon grinned from ear to ear.

Then Lady Rhea gave him a sideways glance, her voice turning serious. "But you must still marry a girl from the Vale. I'll start looking for candidates immediately."

"What?"

Aemon blinked, taken aback.

"No arguments," Rhea snapped, her expression hardening. "If you refuse, you can get out of the Vale."

Her stance was clear and firm.

She despised the Targaryens' bloodline.

To her, they were selfish, deceitful, and unreliable.

In contrast, the people of the Vale, though conservative and stubborn, were known for keeping their word.

Aemon realized he couldn't argue, so he backed down with a bitter smile.

When his mother got like this, there was no reasoning with her.

Better to wait for the storm to pass.

Three Days Later

Aemon led a caravan from Runestone toward the River Valley.

They traveled with every craftsman available and fifteen hundred laborers, all hastily gathered.

There wasn't time to prepare everything perfectly.

Their priority was to secure the new territory and plant his banner—the divided flag of bronze runes and three red dragon heads.

The distance between Runestone and the Ravenridge pass wasn't too far.

In just three days, they reached their destination.

At the Foot of the Mountains

The group of nearly two thousand set up camp while the craftsmen surveyed the land.

"Are you sure you want to build the city here?"

Ser Steffon, his white-cloaked knight, stood beside him, frowning in concern.

"The mountain is steep, but the plains to the north and south are wide open. It's difficult to defend."

He gestured to the terrain.

Beyond the mountain's base was a vast lake covered with green algae, stretching far and wide.

Building a settlement between the mountains and water would certainly offer beautiful scenery.

But from a defensive standpoint, the location was less than ideal.

Aemon's expression remained confident. "Don't worry. You'll see why I chose this spot soon enough."

"Your Highness, the survey is complete," said Ser William, jogging toward them.

"Good. Let's take a look."

Aemon led the way, his mind already made up.

He had carefully considered everything.

Ravenridge had a coal mine.

Greenridge could host a quarry.

And he possessed a magic card, [Gift of Bronze], which would create a copper vein within the mountain.

His planned city would have easy access to resources:

To the west, they could mine the mountains. To the east, they could fish the lake.

Even if farming took time to develop, the settlement could be self-sufficient in the short term.

At the Survey Site

They arrived at a relatively flat area at the mountain's base.

An elderly craftsman, a former slave, respectfully bowed. "Your Highness, this spot is ideal. The ground is firm and stable, and the slope allows for efficient drainage."

The craftsman explained the advantages in detail, including how they could draw water from the lake.

Aemon nodded as he inspected the terrain—a bed of scattered rocks at a moderate elevation.

The site was nestled between the mountain and the lake.

The surrounding stones and water supply would meet most of their construction needs early on.

"Very well. We'll build here."

Aemon made his decision and began delegating tasks.

Gonsor Royce, his trusted knight and commander, was assigned to lead the Vale's cavalry and secure the perimeter.

"Ser Steffon, you'll oversee the craftsmen."

The white knight's expression grew serious as he bowed. "At your service, my prince."

Aemon was pleased. Steffon's unwavering sense of duty made him invaluable.

"And what about me?"

Ser William, towering and proud, stood expectantly.

Aemon thought for a moment before handing him a task. "You'll guard the Firebrand tribe. Make sure they don't escape."

William's face fell.

Guarding prisoners wasn't exactly a glamorous job.

"Supervising prisoners is important too," Aemon said, patting his shoulder in consolation.

The Firebrand tribe, who had been captured after the recent skirmish, were busy gathering rocks at the construction site.

Aemon stroked his chin, deep in thought. "It's been days, yet there's still no sign of the rest of the Firebrand tribe coming down from the mountains."

Perhaps they were too proud to submit.

Or too stubborn to bow their heads.

"No matter," Aemon muttered. "Let's focus on building the city."

Away from Prying Eyes

"Chirp!"

Golden-Nose, his magical mouse, popped out from Aemon's collar, holding two red cards in its little paws.

Aemon examined them closely:

[Jade Palace] – A wonder card that provides blueprints and materials for constructing a grand palace.

Requirements: Recruit 3,000 laborers to initiate the project.

[Walls of Bronze and Iron] – A wonder card that provides blueprints and materials for building a fortified city wall.

Requirements: Recruit 5,000 laborers to initiate the project.

Both cards shimmered with a fiery red glow, like molten metal.

Aemon carefully studied each card, nodding in satisfaction. "These two wonders will make building the city a breeze."

One card was worth 4,000 essence points, the other 6,000 essence points—practically his entire fortune.

But miracles didn't come cheap.

Without their magic, constructing such massive projects would take decades.

"Let's start with the palace," he decided, storing the wall card for later.

In Westeros, every noble family needed a castle.

He activated the card.

The red glow faded, revealing an architectural blueprint hovering before him.

"Customizable?"

Aemon's eyes lit up as he realized he could modify the design.

Instead of building a traditional castle with thick stone walls, he opted for something more elegant.

He favored the garden-style palaces of the Free Cities or the refined beauty of Highgarden.

Something grand yet comfortable.

After hours of adjustments, he crafted a design—a white marble palace complex with a central hall and surrounding buildings.

A wide road would cut straight through the complex, lined with auxiliary halls on either side.

"Hmm."

Aemon took a step back, admiring his work. "It reminds me of the Forbidden City… or a square version of Highgarden."

It was imposing, majestic, and fit the world's aesthetic.

"William, bring me some parchment!"

Stowing the palace card, Aemon prepared to sketch the blueprints for his craftsmen.

The task required 3,000 laborers, and his reinforcements from Runestone were en route.

"Once they arrive, we'll have enough to start."

However, the wall card required 5,000 people.

"I'll need to find another 2,000 workers."

For now, he focused on the task at hand.

The city of bronze and fire would soon rise.