Ch28. Yara's test and passing of the years.

Yara and Thomas were trekking their way up to the peak of the highest mountain on the Iron Islands. By now, Yara was barely following as Thomas found it annoying that Irene made it so high.

It took them an entire hour while using magic but they finally had only a few meters until they reached the peak. Thomas reached towards Yara and grabbed her hand, lowering the gravity on her and decreasing her weight as she gave him a grateful smile. Grunting, he dragged her forward.

He was annoyed mostly at Irene because she wished no flying to be shown around the mountain. So they had to go on foot.

Finally, the last meters of their journey was behind them and Yara gasped at the amazing sight in front of her.

A majestic pure-white dragon with a fiery crimson red mane and scarlet feathered wings sat in the center of the glittering lake in the clearing, surrounded by hundreds of small calf-sized dragons as the nature around it contrasted with the regal domineering sight of the creature. Yara never thought a dragon could be so big as she gaped at the sight. It was massive.

"That's Irene." Thomas quipped to astonished Yara as her mind promptly froze as she recognized the brown eyes peering at her from behind the dragon's face.

Thomas could understand her reaction. He was also surprised when he saw Irene's dragon form. It was a really beautiful sight in reality. She was also much bigger than he expected. Apparently, getting stronger magically alongside having her body synchronized with humanoid form was making her dragon body grow larger. At least she could always enchant herself to smaller sizes.

"How." Was the only thing Yara was able to spit.

"Irene was always a dragon. She is, however, different than the ones around her." Thomas explained, as he winked at the amused-looking Irene, knowing well she assumed her full-size only to make an impression on Yara.

"Why are you telling me this?" Yara asked, bewildered. "Why even lead me here?"

"Irene did a few rituals depicted in the books of the Old Valyria. You won't find those in the library, mind you, as she promptly destroyed them. Basically, she bound these dragons and their descendants to the Iron Islands as their protectors. While they can still move freely, this will be their home." Thomas continued as he watched Yara stare at him with bated breath. "They won't attack the populous as long as they are not threatened. Yara, your job is to make people feel comfortable near them because any attack will be reciprocated in full. As I said, these dragons are different from Irene. These are mere animals."

Thomas finished and Yara flinched when at his last remark a loud snort left Irene's maw. Chuckling at the mental rebuke Irene sent him. He could feel her frustration. For months now she tried her damnedest to teach these three hundred plus whelps some intelligence but the most she got from them was judging and recognition of intent via the intent wards around the isles. They may be called dragons but she found out they were so different from her, they could be called different species from Irene. Any semblance of motherly instincts she had left her when her mind realized she is not in charge of over three hundred babies but over three hundred puppies. She may have sent the rebuke to Thomas for calling them animals but to her eternal displeasure, she couldn't really find a fault with that statement. She almost felt ashamed to be called a dragon!

"Great." Yara groaned. "Now I have to play mediator!"

"Yes. It is your test, you see." Thomas chuckled.

"Test?" Yara blinked in confusion, slightly frightened when she saw 'Irene's' maw widening and the curious gazes of the baby dragons.

"Yes. After all, we won't be here forever. Quite frankly Bellatrix is quite annoyed with staying here. I also had enough with my government duties." Thomas spat the last words out. "And even Irene, as much as she tries to hide it, stopped enjoying it quite a long ago. But we started and we felt a need to finish it."

"What are you saying, my Lord?" Yara asked for clarification, disturbed out of her wits.

Thomas sighed, and rubbed the back of his head.

"You see, the ruling is not for us. We knew that a month after we took over the Iron Islands. We enjoy traveling and seeing new sights. Adventure, if you will. To be honest, these years felt quite suffocating. Irene wanted to make sure you will be a good leader for the people after we leave. Hence this test."

The more Thomas talked, the more Yara's eyes widened. She may have governed half of the isles by herself but to be actually made into a... into a... what exactly?

"You will be the new Queen." Thomas elaborated, seeing the expression in her face. He bent down, taking a dragon into his embrace and started petting it. "Not right now, of course. This is only the first test for you."

Yara bowed her head in gratitude, never expecting something like this.

"Your second test will be to show us you can govern the Iron Islands by yourself. For the next ten years, the isles are yours to do as you please." Thomas told her but then flippantly added as the dragon in his arm cooed in satisfaction. "We want to see improvement though."

"I will do my best." Yara stated sincerely, trying to discreetly chase a bunch of melon-sized dragons away from her with her feet.

"I am sure you will." Thomas uttered and even the dragon squeaked in agreement.

...

Years passed since that day and Irene's teaching was showing in Yara. Dragons were now accepted by the local population while the dragons were whipped into the shape by Irene into accepting humans. It wouldn't do for them to start snacking on the citizens of Iron Islands, now, would it?

Yara expanded the fleets. Even started piracy along the shores of Essos, stealing merchandise, and freeing slaves. This was, of course, done with different-looking ships than those of Belserion Trade.

She also improved various fields of study, approved new researches, pushed the technology and development forward… All in all, Irene deemed that Yara did well on her test so far.

Irene, Thomas, and Bellatrix during these years raide-, ahem, explored various ruins of Rhoynar cities. All of them were either completely stripped of any valuables or had some insane protections.

The cream of the crop was the city that had a mist-like defense that induced illusions, not unlike the unpalatability ward, misleading the intruders into swamps containing species of MAGICAL alligators, snakes, and various dangerous insects.

Well, at least the city was packed with valuables and books. Bellatrix even acquired her new boots made out of basilisk. Alas... it was not comparable to a basilisk of her own world. But the bragging rights were there. A lot of the creatures they found were brought back to the Iron Islands for breeding because their bodies could be harvested into ingredients. More advanced potions could be brewed while rituals gained a wider range of possibilities.

These raids were conducted not only due to the trio's curiosity but mostly due to the pleading of Prince Oberyn. He wanted the knowledge of his ancestors in Dorne. In the end, Thomas relented and asked only for fifty percent of the loot and copies of all books. And while Prince Doran's and Prince Oberyn's expression were twisted as if they just sucked the sourest lemon in their life, they accepted. Thomas thought he was quite generous to them though.

But the raiding days were eventually over and the trio was heading home. Deciding to take it slow, they didn't apparate or fly home. They wanted to see more of the world while Thomas deemed it was time to see if the little girl wisened up.

Their first stop, Pentos...