u/Anxious_Garden4027

There is no evidence to support this really; it's just a theory of mine but... Obviously, Aerion is mentally ill (he thinks he is a literal dragon), but do you think it's possible that Aerion treated Egg *in particular* so cruelly because he was desperate for his father's respect, and it came across like Egg was Maekar's favourite?

I know later in the books it is mentioned that Egg is the favourite son, and Maekar seems to have spent a lot of time with Egg because of how much he brings his father up in conversation. I think Maekar loves all of his children but may have been closer with Egg, and it caused friction between Aerion and Egg.