Chapter 31: Dany's Heartwarming Moment

"Dragons, such wonderful creatures. Look at these bones, how beautiful they are."

Viserys played with a piece of dragon bone in his hand, speaking to Daenerys in the Common Tongue, as if everything were normal.

"Can I touch these dragon bones?"

Daenerys asked bravely.

She tried hard not to look at the maid Annie, who was standing respectfully nearby, and forced herself to act as usual.

"Of course you can, my dear sister," Viserys replied, which was exactly what he wanted.

Daenerys reached out to touch the dragon bones, starting with the nearest piece.

This bone fragment was somewhat broken, heavily weathered with various scratches, and was unpolished raw material.

She carefully explored the piece. It felt cold and rough, the scratches bearing the marks of time. She couldn't see anything special about it.

She quickly moved on to the next one.

Her brother did not stop her.

One by one, she handled the raw dragon bone materials, the ones that clearly had the lowest value. Daenerys found that, apart from their dark color, they seemed no different from ordinary stones.

She then moved on to the pieces adorned with jewels, carefully savoring the feel in her hands and examining them closely with her eyes.

She couldn't feel or see anything special. But she said, "These are so beautiful. Are they really for us?"

"They're borrowed. I borrowed them from Illyrio," Viserys said. "We'll have to return them someday. You must be wondering why I borrowed these."

'Can I say it?'

Daenerys tried her best to act normal and responded, "Why?"

"These things would only gather dust in someone else's hands," Viserys said in Valyrian. "I tell you, dear sister, dragon bones contain magic, just like dragon eggs. We are the true dragon descendants. If we can unlock this magic, our goal of reclaiming the throne is within reach."

There was a hint of fanaticism in Viserys' eyes as he said this.

But Daenerys wasn't sure if what he was saying in front of the maid was true or false.

Daenerys replied in Valyrian, "Really?" She couldn't help but look seriously at Viserys' expression.

Viserys continued in Valyrian, "They say in the shadow lands of Asshai, there is magic to hatch dragons. If only we had dragon eggs. Dragon bones are easy to come by, but dragon eggs are hard to find." As he spoke, he casually handed over the dragon bones Daenerys was playing with.

Daenerys received two pieces in her hands, feeling a faint warmth.

Was it Viserys' warmth that heated them, or were they different from the rest?

Daenerys remained silent. She often fell silent when she didn't know what to do.

Viserys looked at her expectantly, "Do you also think I'm delusional?"

"No, I just—" Daenerys racked her brain, unsure what to say at that moment, and finally said, "I don't know."

Daenerys didn't know what to say, but there was a surge of boldness within her. She casually put down the dragon bone item Viserys handed her and reached for a sharpened dragon bone arrowhead.

Viserys didn't stop her.

She tested the sharpness of the arrowhead with the pad of her thumb. "Ah." Carelessly, she pricked her skin, and a bead of blood oozed out.

"How careless." Viserys quickly came forward, concerned, and grabbed Daenerys' hand. Without thinking, he put her thumb in his mouth.

Daenerys felt her finger enveloped in warmth and moisture.

A moment later, Viserys stopped and said with concern, "You are too delicate, Daenerys, that's not good. It lacks royal demeanor." He frowned in thought, "Hmm, let me think. Alright, from today onwards, you need to come to me every day." He casually picked up a short dragon bone bow. "I'll teach you how to handle a bow, just as a form of exercise."

Daenerys couldn't hide her joy, "Really?"

Viserys answered with a serious expression, "When has your brother ever lied to you?"

Daenerys pretended not to hear this.

"Don't underestimate handling a bow." As he spoke, Viserys stood up and started demonstrating.

Viserys held the bow handle with his left hand, gripped the bowstring with his right hand, spread his feet slightly apart, and leaned his body slightly forward. He stared sharply in one direction, then raised the bow and drew the string.

In a daze, Daenerys watched her brother standing there with the bow, his whole demeanor exuding a sense of lethal intent, as if he had become a different person.

"Did you see clearly?" Viserys slowly lowered the bow, relaxing. "Now, your turn."

Daenerys stood up as instructed and took the short bow that Viserys solemnly handed over. For a moment, Daenerys thought of the stories about Aegon the Conqueror.

Viserys said to her, "First, learn to stand. Keep your body straight, feet shoulder-width apart."

He placed his hands on her shoulders, correcting her habitual slouch.

He lightly tapped her feet apart, making sure she didn't stand too close together, which made her appear timid and unsteady.

"Lean your back slightly forward, relax your shoulders and back. Lift your head slightly. Don't look directly at me, look over there, at that painting on the wall. Do you see it? Don't stare at it, use your peripheral vision."

Viserys corrected her posture, gradually making Daenerys look more like an archer.

Next, he placed his hands over hers, indicating that he would guide her step by step.

"Control your breathing. Don't tense your body, are you very nervous?"

Daenerys' heart was pounding.

"I..." She was trying hard to control it.

Viserys' voice whispered in her ear, "Don't answer, control your breathing. Follow me, inhale—exhale—inhale—exhale—"

With a few consciously controlled breaths, Daenerys' heart rate gradually stabilized.

He guided her hands to the bow.

"Grip the bow. Use your thumbs and index fingers to hold the bow, while the other fingers should rest on the bowstring. Don't grip the bow tightly; you should hold it lightly."

Daenerys followed his guidance, trying her best to imitate him.

Viserys adjusted her arm posture, instructing her, "Good, now start drawing the bow."

As Daenerys' fingers, guided by Viserys, gently grasped the bowstring and pulled it back slowly, she found the bowstring heavier than she had imagined.

Most of the strength came from Viserys' hands.

Daenerys tried hard to control her breathing, remembering to focus on the target.

Together, they drew the bow into a strong and powerful arc.

Viserys continued instructing her, "Yes, just like that. When you aim, focus your gaze on the tip of the arrow. Since there is no arrow now, focus on your hand holding the bow and imagine an arrow there. Use your peripheral vision. Don't let your hand shake."

The action of drawing the bow lasted for seven or eight breaths until Daenerys' eyes almost distorted the target and her hand into a single vision.

"Remember this feeling. Now, release the bow." Viserys continued, "Remember, Daenerys, since there are no arrows, you must slowly ease the tension when releasing the bowstring. Dry firing a bowstring is very dangerous and can injure yourself and others, and it can also damage the bow significantly. You must keep this in mind."

Daenerys' response was brief, "Yes."

Viserys hummed in satisfaction, "Good."

When the warm hand covering hers left, Daenerys couldn't help but feel a bit of wistfulness. She had tried hard to listen and learn, but her mind couldn't stop simultaneously wandering to other thoughts.

She wondered if Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, ever had such tender moments in their stories.

Before a blush could rise on her cheeks, Viserys's stern voice interrupted her thoughts, "Good, now you practice on your own. Start with your stance."

...

So much had happened today.

When it came time to extract information from the day's scattered events, Annie found herself at a loss.

She felt that apart from the beggar king's Valyrian lie about dragon bones, dragon eggs, and magic, the rest was mundane, all within expectations.

She would have to think carefully about how to report tonight.

The beggar king's reaction while eavesdropping on the garden conversation was worth mentioning.

Her master would certainly be most interested in that, but the beggar king had hidden his emotions well and said too little about it.

The beggar king's unusual fervor for dragon bones and dragon eggs was no longer news, but perhaps today's Valyrian lie might intrigue her master. She wasn't sure, but she would definitely mention it.

The beggar king teaching his sister to use a bow was new, though her master might not care about such things.

The growing bond between the beggar king and his foolish sister seemed noteworthy, but what did it signify? The girl seemed to adore her brother, while her brother was a man seldom truthful.

Annie's master and Anni were both deciphering the riddles the beggar king threw out, speculating on his grandiose behavior, and probing his depths.

The beggar king was full of lies.

That was Annie's impression. Among the people she had secretly spied on, this king was one of the most scheming.

This time, she might even be sent by her master to serve him.

It was just that the whore Doria from Lys was bought for a bargain. Annie didn't know what the master and the Beggar King talked about in secret, but she heard that Doria was placed in the master's side room when she came out. The bed slave was supposed to be the Beggar King's maid, and the master bought the whore for this.

But now Annie has become the beggar king's maid.

Annie knew very well that if the Beggar King asked for something, her master would not refuse.

Annie couldn't help thinking about what she might encounter in the future, and could only comfort herself that at least the beggar king was not bad looking, and as long as he was not particularly perverted, she could tolerate it. Her master bought her and taught her to read just for this day.

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