Chapter 117: A Visit to Sunspear
A noisy island, roaring dragons, and the fluttering banner of the black dragon on a red field.
People thronged near the negotiating table, the sound of steel clashing echoed, along with bright swords. The temperature rose as the crowd thickened, and roaring soldiers formed many circles, surrounding the area.
Three dragons circled repeatedly high above the negotiating table, roaring out silver, purple, and black fireballs and flames, their sound like thunder.
Rhaegar sat firmly at the negotiating table, but the four envoys and delegation members opposite him were far from calm. The four-nation delegation was too small; surrounded by layers of tumultuous troops, they were merely a boat in the vast ocean.
Bloodstone was already occupied by clamor and unrest.
"We will obtain the peace we desire today!"
"That's right, we want permanent peace!" The Westerosi royal escort soldiers and knights roared. They used to be the most warlike people, but at this moment, they all became devout believers in peace.
This peace was founded upon three dragons, ninety warships, and tens of thousands of fanatical soldiers and retainers.
"We are also entitled to guest right, Prince Rhaegar. If you betray this, you will be cursed!" The envoys of Lys and Myr were afraid. Reckless youths often did outrageous things when driven by passion, just like the Young Dragon and Alyn Velaryon back then, sacrificing tens of thousands of soldiers for honor. If this silver-haired boy were blinded by the honor of defeating the Two Daughters, it was highly possible he might kill the envoys and subsequently crush the two fleets.
Young men were always like this: loving honor, loving women, impulsive and quick to anger. The two envoys felt a chill of fear. It would have been best to negotiate in neutral territory; negotiating on the Bloodstone battlefield had turned them into sheep entering a tiger's mouth, effectively making them hostages.
Rhaegar looked at the two envoys, who were trying to bind him with honor and oaths, but Westeros was indeed very superstitious. Violating guest right and kinslaying would both incur wicked curses.
"Prince Rhaegar, your hospitality is not very friendly! We are all friendly neighbors, and for the sake of peace, we can discuss anything!" The Archon of Tyrosh sensed the timing was right and began to smile, his purple beard making him look especially bright. He was happy to play the role of peacemaker. Tyrosh was currently sitting comfortably, offending neither side, especially the Westerosi. The people of Lys and Myr feared that the Tyroshi might turn and embrace the Iron Throne in anger, while the Westerosi needed Tyroshi warship support to continue their leverage.
"Since the Archon says so, we can begin peace negotiations, but I cannot restrain these soldiers. At most, I can tell them not to strike." Rhaegar said.
"Then let us continue the negotiations! Prince Rhaegar, you must make sure your royal escort soldiers keep their weapons in check. Swords and blades have no eyes, and if anyone is injured and war ignites, the Prince will be a sinner of House Targaryen. Across the Narrow Sea, everyone knows Prince Rhaegar is unstoppable in battle, crushing the vanguard and breaking the sharp edge. The soldiers are willing to die for you, earning the nickname Rhaegar's Mules. The Prince does not need to put on an act here." Fergo snorted coldly.
The tension eased, and the negotiations proceeded amidst high temperatures, hunger, intimidation, and the chaotic display of weapons.
The Archon of Tyrosh played the red face, Rhaegar played the white face, and the Braavosi willingly vouched for the peace talks. The envoys of Lys and Myr began negotiating with trembling legs. The envoys endured hunger and fear, but they dared not appear too weak, or else they would be the first to be killed and sacrificed upon their return.
Blood had constantly flowed in the sea for the Stepstones, a place where chaos and opportunity coexisted. Between the Broken Arm and the Disputed Lands, the Third Daughter often went to war to seize sovereignty, and the Iron Throne occasionally intervened in the melee. The two envoys dared not easily surrender their power.
The negotiations involved consulting and coordinating word by word; changing every single word on the document would provoke dissatisfied opposition. The envoys of Lys and Myr sometimes claimed the treaty was too harsh, and sometimes that Tyrosh was too biased towards Westeros. Rhaegar occasionally joined the shouting match. Rhaegar and the Archon of Tyrosh opposed Lys and Myr, while Braavos was responsible for pulling the four horses running in different directions back to the negotiating table.
For the sake of this island, battered by storms and made only of earth and stone, the envoys argued fiercely until dusk. Rhaegar sent for the trio again, especially Lord Tywin Lannister, whose coldness and professionalism were perfect for negotiations. Enduring the high temperature and clamor, the delegations argued from morning until afternoon, and the agreement was finally settled before sunset.
First, the four nations and four cities would cease the sovereignty debate, and the Stepstones would be temporarily administered by the Iron Throne of Westeros. The discussion would resume at a conference held ten years later.
Second, Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh collectively received low-cost passage fees, non-discriminatory treatment, and enjoyed the same treatment as Westerosi citizens. The Iron Throne guaranteed to treat all Free Cities equally.
Third, the Iron Throne borrowed a low-interest loan from the Iron Bank of Braavos. Braavos served as the inspector and guarantor, supervising the friendly execution of the alliance.
Fourth, the Iron Throne would send the remains of the Lysene fugitives to the Lysene fleet. These people had died, killed by pirates in infighting, which served to demonstrate the generosity of the Magister of Lys, as the dead were more useful than the living.
Regarding the temporary administration, Rhaegar felt it was merely a formality of the agreement. Without military force and Bloodstone customs, the Stepstones would be difficult to hold. The pirates of the Third Daughter would still grow restless and return, instigated by Lys and Myr.
The agreement was finalized and sealed with the wax seals of five powers: the three-headed dragon of House Targaryen of King's Landing, the Titan of Braavos, the Lady of Lys, the triple-headed god of Tyrosh, and the crossbow of Myr.
Prince Aerys, looking triumphant, and the noble and arrogant Son of the Sealord, Fergo, stood in the center. They held the hands of the glum-faced envoys of Lys and Myr, and the Myr envoy in turn held the hand of the Archon of Tyrosh. The five people held hands and raised them, symbolizing the arrival of peace. Prince Aerys loved to show off like this, and Rhaegar giving him this honor was fitting.
"Peace in the Narrow Sea has arrived permanently! Let us move forward hand in hand and welcome the years of peace." The Archon of Tyrosh shouted dramatically, his purple hair making him particularly dazzling.
"Peace in the Narrow Sea! Peace in the Stepstones!"
"Peace in the Narrow Sea! Peace in the Stepstones!" The representatives of the five powers all shouted, though the smiles of the Myrish and Lysene people were somewhat strained.
Rhaegar directed the soldiers below to cheer loudly. Everyone needed to play a different role on the stage of power, wearing an actor's mask.
"Long live King's Landing!"
"Long live the Three Daughters!"
"Long live the Titan of Braavos!"
"Long live peace!" The soldiers cheered happily, their swords dancing wildly. It was as if a thousand years had passed in a glance, and peace had arrived permanently.
On the surface, Lys and Myr gained relatively low taxes and avoided war. Westeros gained territory and time to recuperate. Braavos lent money and gained a good reputation.
Everyone had a bright future.
However, everyone knew this was not peace; it was merely a truce lasting a few years, and everyone's smiles were equally false.
"Permanent peace? I see it as a non-aggression pact for a few years!" A Lysene man quipped to his companion.
"It's simply too difficult to criticize those who have the ability to defeat you." A Tyroshi noble retorted bluntly.
The delegations of the four nations were all preparing to leave. The Lysene and Myrish were the most anxious; they didn't stay on the island for dinner or pleasantries. As soon as the agreement was signed, they rushed back to their warships with the remains and the treaty, leaving this sorrowful place.
Rhaegar did not try to keep them, instead bidding farewell to another esteemed guest: Fergo of Braavos.
"I will remember your friendship, Young Master Fergo!" Rhaegar said on the shore.
"The rigid break easily, Prince. The Lysene and Myrish people will not forget today's humiliation. Their gifts will surely be poisonous, so you should be careful!" Fergo glanced at Rhaegar and spoke plainly.
"Then I suppose I have no good options! I plan to seek refuge with you when the time comes. With the protection of the Sealord of Braavos, the Lysene people surely can't run into the Sealord's Palace to assassinate me!" Rhaegar smiled.
"Take care of yourself!" Fergo boarded the ship and left, not looking back.
Two warships cannot sail in one channel, and a realm can only have one king.
Rhaegar and Prince Aerys, representing the Targaryen Iron Throne, then bid farewell to the Archon of Tyrosh. "I greatly respect Prince Rhaegar's goodwill, and I hope the Prince respects mine as well."
In a private moment, the Archon of Tyrosh quietly pointed to his purple-haired son. "The dragon has three heads, and I too hope to have a few friends and a few nests. I don't worry about his sister, but I worry about this ambitious but untalented son. While I am alive, this child can live comfortably, but when I grow old, he might have to beg everywhere. If there is a future, I ask the Prince to look after the son of an old friend."
Ambitious but untalented. Rhaegar glanced at Aerys, who was surrounded by flattery not far away, and realized the Archon's son and the Prince were quite similar. Rhaegar hesitated, then reluctantly agreed to the request.
After bidding farewell to the four-nation delegations, the Iron Throne army began a fervent feast.
They had defeated the so-called King of the Narrow Sea, occupied the Stepstones, and effectively forced the Two Daughters to kneel—this was a great victory.
Roasted pig, grilled steak, roasted sea fish, lemon bread, baked bread, mead, wine, and fruits were all laid out.
When life goes well, drink wine and sing wildly.
In the night, Prince Lewyn Martell and Prince Aerys announced even more exciting news.
At the invitation of the Princess of Dorne, Prince Aerys would lead a delegation to visit Sunspear.
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