Chapter 383: Viserys’ Dream of Going to War


    Noon, with the sun in full bloom


    King''s Landing


    The streets and alleys were packed with people, blocking the main path from the Red Keep to the River Gate.


    Five shiny ck warhorses pulled a cart, draped in a ck veil, inside whichy the enormous ck and silver dragon head.


    In just a few short days, news of Rhaegar''s glorious victory over Lys and the liberation of over 100,000 ves had spread throughout King''s Landing.


    The people were filled with pride and excitement, eager to witness the triumphal procession with their own eyes.


    They hoped that the Heir Prince would soon capture the entire Triarchy.


    ...


    Red Keep, Council Hall


    Viserys sat at the head of the table, his elbows propped on the tabletop, smiling with the weariness of old age.


    Hand of the King Lyonel Strong rose to report, "Your Grace, Morghul''s dragon head has been transported from the harbor. Shall it be paraded?"


    Lyman, seated at the end, nodded and looked at the king inquisitively.


    The ferocity of the Lys attack had been widely rumored back to the Red Keep, and they had all heard of the difficulties involved. Hundreds of well-equipped mercenaries had driven warships, and tens of thousands of defenders had died defending the harbor. Lys had even tamed the wild dragon Morghul, forcing a dragon battle.


    Thanks to Prince Rhaegar''s valor, he defeated Morghul with his Cannibal, crushing thest hope of Lys. The Battle of the Dragons was rumored to be the "Battle of the Mad Dragons" both inside and outside of the Narrow Sea.


    The names of Rhaegar and Cannibal were now renowned, and the titles of Ruin Maker and Deathwing could stop a child from crying.


    Viserys listened quietly and then solemnly said, "Don''t parade it. Morghul is a Targaryen dragon. Transport it back to the Red Keep for proper disposal and keep it in the cer."


    Lyonel, with a straight face, replied, "The artisans are ready, just waiting for the dragon''s head."


    Viserys nodded, a hint of pity in his eyes. Morghul was a wild dragon of the Smoking Sea, not originally belonging to the Targaryens. Its nature was like an unimed treasure. The Targaryens had lost it, and it had fallen into the hands of the vile Lys.


    As ast resort, Morghul perished. A dragon that should have belonged to the Targaryens had be a meal for Cannibal. This way of feeding a dragon to another was very heartbreaking to Viserys.


    "It''s a good thing the dragon didn''t stray, and Rhaegar is safe," Viserys thought, suddenly feeling relieved. In his heart, his eldest son was his most precious asset, with his own dragoning in second.


    Otto Hightower, spoke next, his face solemn. "Your Grace, in the Battle of the Narrow Sea, we have upied Myr and Lys. Many wealthy individuals have been ughtered, and civilians and ves now make up the majority of the city-states'' poptions. To appease these people, the kingdom will need to supply an astronomical amount of food."


    This was not rmist talk but based on actual experience from the attack on Myr. There was plenty of food in the two city-states, yet much of it had been shipped off by the rich ahead of time for hoarding. As the city-states were overrun, the wealthy either fled or were massacred, leaving the remaining food supplies insufficient.


    Myr and Lys, not counting the civilians, had hundreds of thousands of ves to feed. The fastest and most convenient way was to buy food from other free trade city-states. However, in a war of aggression, other city-states would refuse to provide food.


    Even Pentos and Vntis, valued as allies, demanded outrageous prices, more than a dozen times the usual amount, driven by greed and Braavos''s influence using the Iron Bank.


    Viserys hesitated for a moment and asked, "Approximately how much grain is needed, and can the Rivends and the Reach be taxed topensate it?"


    Hundreds of thousands of mouths sounded like a lot, but it was actually half as many as the resident poption of King''s Landing.


    The two regions were the high grain-producing areas of Westeros, and temporarily requisitioning 100,000 army rations could be done, ensuring that hundreds of thousands of ves would have enough to eat and drink.


    Otto frowned and muttered, "Your Grace, Braavos has set the price of grain too high, and the nobles may be more inclined to sell to the Iron Bank at such prices."


    Braavos and Pentos were the free trade city-states that had the most interaction with Westeros. The great nobles often befriended them to promote mutual trade. Many second and bastard sons of minor nobles traveled to these city-states to be high-priced mercenaries.


    Nobles in financial trouble often borrowed money from the Iron Bank. During the reign of Jaehaerys I, arge sum of money was borrowed from the Iron Bank to build the King''s Road, which connected King''s Landing to various locations. The Iron Bank''s influence on the treasury was considerable.


    Viserys'' face instantly turned stern, his stance firm. "The kingdom is at war. The two regions must be requisitioned for food withoutpensation. This is not open to discussion."


    His children were on the battlefield, and he would never allow anything to go wrong at home.


    "I will find a way. Please ask Lord Ormund Hightower to hold a tax meeting in Oldtown." Otto agreed after a moment''s thought.


    Lyman, who had been silent until now, frowned slightly and interrupted, "Lord Otto, Lord Tyrell of Highgarden is the bannerman. Don''t overstep your bounds in the tax meeting."


    This old man was born in the Honeyholt of the Reach and was himself the Lord of Honeyholt. In theory, Honeyholt was a direct bannerman of Hightower and should support Otto. However, Lyman, who had been loyal to the royal family for many years, had his own judgment and remembered the word loyalty.


    Viserys noted the exchange, looked around at Otto and Lyonel, and reminded them, "Notify Lord Tyrell and Lord Tully as soon as possible, so as not to dy the battle at the front line."


    "Yes, Your Grace," Otto replied, grimacing.


    Lyman hummed in satisfaction and sat back.


    Ever since the king married Otto''s daughter as his queen, House Hightower had be increasingly audacious. Meanwhile, the House Tyrell in Highgarden was thin, and the old lord was mediocre. The Hightowers in Oldtown had gained an inexplicable control over the Reach.


    Bang! Bang!


    Just then, two dull knocks rang out.


    Viserys looked up in surprise and saw Tormund, dressed in ck and white robes, enter hurriedly with a grave expression.


    "What happened?" Viserys inquired.


    Tormund walked around the conference table and approached, his eyes heavy. "Your Grace, Dorne has struck, crossing Cape Wrath to besiege Stonehelm Castle."


    Storm’s End was some distance from King''s Landing, so the ravens had taken longer to deliver the message. It had just reached the Crow Tower in the Red Keep.


    Aemond exined the situation and delivered the letter.


    A storm of thoughts erupted in the council chamber as the gravity of the news sank in.


    Lyonel''s face tightened as he spoke first, "I propose that a group of King''s Landing troops be called up immediately and put on standby."


    "The one under siege is Stonehelm; we should mobilize troops from Storm''s End," Master of Law Jasper suggested casually.


    Lyonel remained calm and replied, "Dorne''s invasion of the Stornds could trigger a shift in the Narrow Sea War. King''s Landing needs to have a readily avable army for emergencies."


    Either to pacify the war or to support the Narrow Sea beyond.


    Jasper paused, realizing the gravity of the problem.


    Viserys nodded in agreement, "I will order a force of three thousand men to be assembledter."


    Otto continued, "The Dornish areing in strong. The army surrounding the city alone is 10,000 men. Storm''s End must send troops as soon as possible.


    Stonehelm was only a Lord''s territory, with no more than 500 knights and no more than 3,000 infantry, horsemen, and archers under itsmand. Given the urgency of the Dornish siege, the food within the castle would not necessarilyst long.


    The Small Council was highly efficient and quickly discussed a detailed response n. At the start of the Narrow Sea War, Rhaegar had anticipated that the Dornish would send troops and had a pre-nned strategy.


    Tormund''s face rxed slightly as he hesitantly said, "Your Grace, Prince Aemond also sent a letter requesting permission to ride the dragon for battle."


    "Aemond?" Viserys froze at the words and said with a headache, "How old is he? He''s not as calm as Hena. He should stay at Storm’s End Castle."


    Hena''s deed of riding the dragon to aid Gulltown had spread widely, and her poprity in the Crownds and the Vale was only second to Rhaegar. Viserys was impressed with his previously unappreciated daughter.


    Tormund sighed and smiled bitterly, "I''m afraid it''s a bit difficult. The prince''s letter states that he has already gathered the army of the Stornds to prepare for a counterattack."


    As the son-inw of House Baratheon, Aemond had the authority to do this with Lady Elenda''s cooperation.


    "Damned boy!" Viserys exploded in anger, saying indignantly, "He hasn''t even been on the battlefield. He has nomand ability."


    In the two Battles of the Stepstones Inds and the Narrow Sea War, only three people showedmand abilities: the Sea Snake, Daemon, and Rhaegar. Even Rhaenys, known as the Queen Who Never Was, couldn''tmand the army and could only cooperate with the three in war.


    Tormund remained silent, as he was only in charge of intelligence within the royal family.


    Viserys''s chest rose and fell in anger, his violet eyes darting around as he proposed, "I will ride Vermithor into the Stornds and use the power of the dragons to drive the Dornishmen back."


    "No!"


    As soon as the words left his mouth, Lyonel objected.


    Otto raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Your Grace, you are king of a country. It is better not to be in danger."


    The rest of the advisors nodded in agreement.


    Viserys'' cheeks flushed with frustration. "Just because I''m the king, that''s all the more reason to fight for the peace of the realm."


    He wasn''t the same man he had been a few years ago; he had inherited his grandfather''s dragon the "Bronze Fury."


    Lyonel persisted in his objection. "With all due respect, you are more worrisome than the young and inexperienced Prince Aemond."


    "You are not a warrior," Lyman added from the sidelines.


    Jasper nodded thoughtfully. "The Dornish are vile and cunning. Their every move affects the entire realm. It is better not to put yourself at risk."


    The advisors spoke one by one, disliking the idea of the king going on the expedition.


    Viserys'' face reddened further, and he snapped, "Fine, I won''t!!"


    With that, he stormed out, leaving behind a group of stunned advisors.


    The king''s outburst hade out of nowhere, and the counselors looked at each other in surprise.


    After a while, Lyman asked slowly, "Do we still want Prince Aemond to go to war?"


    "Of course. Even a young Targaryen is still a Targaryen, and he has tamed a dragon," Jasper hastened to answer, voting in favor. His house was in the Stornds as well.


    Lyonel and Otto exchanged nces, remembering the image of the king storming out, and silently agreed. It was better for a prince to go to war than for the king himself to march.


    Before Rhaegar had traveled farther to the Narrow Sea, he had given Prince Aemond permission to ride his dragon and go to war.


    "s, I''ll write a letter to requisition provisions," Lyonel sighed and got up from his seat.


    Rubbing his balding curls, he felt the bare spot in the center growingrger, with a tendency to continue spreading. Mentally, he murmured, "I will do my best."