Chapter 202: Bow Down
The Dragon soared high above Bloodstone. Below, the black flag bearing a Silver Dragon on Bloodstone fluttered in the wind, the Dragon seeming ready to break free from the scene. Passing merchant ships cautiously avoided the fragments of shattered warships and the corpses of the drowned. It was said some of the bodies had already drifted to Winds Fury Point.
Now, the Stepstones—this desolate, storm-prone chain of islands—had become a popular location. Rhaegar Targaryen was on the flatlands of Bloodstone, where he had ordered a comfortable, custom-made chair so he could enjoy the sun.
The news of the Battle of Bloodstone spread across both shores of the Narrow Sea. The Triarchy suffered a humiliating and devastating defeat, losing troops and disgracing the nation, while the Westerosi achieved an unprecedented great victory, annihilating the vast majority of the invading enemy. The news returning to the Seven Kingdoms naturally led to nationwide rejoicing. The Westerosi generally held attitudes of contempt and resentment toward the Free Cities, especially the Third Daughter, their prejudices sharp as swords and long-held in their hearts. Of course, sometimes the Third Daughter did act atrociously; they colluded with pirates, long allowing them to charge tolls in the Stepstones or even abduct people into slavery. Sometimes the Third Daughter Navy would personally participate in slave raids. When the news returned via a few battered warships, the Triarchy immediately fell into panic and arguments. The Council of Governors was now a chaotic mess, with everyone debating how to shirk responsibility for the defeat. The wails and anger of the widows sent shivers down the spines of the governors. In the Game of Thrones, failure means death.
Nobles and wealthy merchants from across the Narrow Sea flocked to Bloodstone to meet the Guardian of the Narrow Sea, Prince Rhaegar of the House Targaryen. The Triarchy's colossal failure was already a foregone conclusion. While the Triarchy was still arguing over scapegoats and who would sign the treaty of shame, the rich merchants across the Narrow Sea had already moved ahead. Merchants prioritize profit over loyalty, and as the situation became clear, they naturally sought to curry favor with the Dragon King, who now controlled the Stepstones and the waterways and possessed strong military power on both sides of the Narrow Sea. The Triarchy was powerless; the one controlling the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones was the increasingly powerful Dragon King.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis of Pentos led his delegation downstream directly to Bloodstone. Because he was one of Prince Rhaegar's friends, his journey was smooth. Due to the lingering effects of the Bloodstone War, pirates and bandits rarely appeared on the waterways along the Narrow Sea, making it temporarily peaceful.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis secretly traveled aboard a luxurious, flat-bottomed merchant ship of extremely fine craftsmanship. He saw traces of many ship fragments near Bloodstone, demonstrating the grandeur and ruthlessness of the war. Magister Illyrio Mopatis also saw the Narrow Sea Fleet swaying on the water, salvaging debris blocking the navigation channels and the bodies of the fallen. Magister Illyrio Mopatis pondered, considering another possibility: if the Dragon King's army was so powerful, was Pentos truly safe?
However, Magister Illyrio Mopatis quickly dismissed that thought. After all, there was still Braavos; if the sky fell, Braavos would bear the weight. If the Dragon King wanted to annex Pentos, he would first have to defeat the Sealord, but Braavos had deep foundations. Magister Illyrio Mopatis did not believe Rhaegar would become that arrogant. Based on his understanding of Rhaegar, Prince Rhaegar was very clear-headed and focused on practical gains when waging war. Although he employed unconventional tactics, they were built upon a foundation of orthodoxy; he was a soldier who combined prudence and cunning, not a fanatical lunatic. What benefit would there be in attacking Braavos right now? Better to first digest the Triarchy's crushing defeat.
The merchant ship docked at the Bloodstone pier, and Magister Illyrio Mopatis stepped onto Bloodstone, the Isle of Fire and Blood. Magister Illyrio Mopatis saw the ugly black palisades standing everywhere. A fortress had sprung up on the flat ground; the wooden fences dominated the beach, topped with high platforms for firing Scorpion Crossbows and standing archers—truly an impregnable fortress. This was just Bloodstone's first line of defense. Magister Illyrio Mopatis saw that some of the wooden fences were even stained dark red with blood, seemingly from the vengeful spirits and lamentations of the war.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis passed through the wooden palisade gate, dusty from travel. Magister Illyrio Mopatis first saw the red dragon on a black field banner flying above Dragons Roar Fortress in the center of Bloodstone. Blood and Fire, it represented the Dragon King's pride, flight, and invincibility.
Continuing downward, Magister Illyrio Mopatis soon saw that the flat ground in the middle of Bloodstone had become a sea of tents. Over a hundred tents had sprung up. Since Bloodstone didn't have enough room, some soldiers simply pitched tents wherever they could. In the area surrounded by tents, there was also level ground prepared for a tourney where knights could gallop. These were the reinforcements who had joined Prince Rhaegar for the Bloodstone War, including soldiers from the Lords of the Stormlands, Dorne, and Kings Landing, as well as the Dragon Guards personally led by Prince Rhaegar and the crabfeeders men.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis's eyes were met with a sea of color. He saw shining armor, vivid banners fluttering in the wind, and arrogant knights looking down on everything. The center of Bloodstone had become a knight's paradise, where they galloped freely, holding a small tourney on the island. Horses thundered, and the knights shouted excitedly.
A tall White Knight wearing milk-colored scale armor rode forward. His cloak was as white as fresh snow. Magister Illyrio Mopatis knew this man: Prince Rhaegar's right-hand man, the Light of the Seven Kingdoms, Barristan the Bold.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis followed Barristan forward. He saw many royal escort soldiers, some holding spears, some holding swords, as well as archers, stable hands, messengers, and squires. There were Prince Rhaegar's official elite Dragon Guards, and the slightly less formidable Narrow Sea Garrison, formed by undefeated nobles and bastards. Magister Illyrio Mopatis also saw the savage crabfeeders men wielding Warhammers and battle-axes. Magister Illyrio Mopatis particularly noticed the Free Army Unit, speaking with different accents and having different skin colors. It was said these people were slaves of the Triarchy and were now Rhaegar's Free Army Unit.
Rhaegar Targaryen sat on a temporarily constructed high platform, watching the knights compete below. Behind Rhaegar were many famous Lords and knights of Westeros. These knightly Lords gathered around Rhaegar like clouds. In the bloodshed and cruelty of war, Prince Rhaegar always won beautifully and greatly; no one could refuse a victorious Dragon King.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis saw the dazzling Dragon King. Rhaegar's handsomeness and elegance made Magister Illyrio Mopatis sigh in admiration. The beautiful black and red steel circlet on Rhaegar's forehead suited him perfectly—a dark gold circlet crossed with rubies, the adornment of Aegon the Conqueror. Rhaegar wore a simple Rhaegar's Round-Neck Shirt, embroidered with symmetrical Three-Headed Dragons in silver and red-gold thread, representing Rhaegar himself and the House Targaryen colors. Rhaegar's vigorous and handsome physique seemed to contain endless power, like the embodiment of strength and beauty. People often said the Prince possessed the power of the Dragon, a sentiment frequently voiced by defeated knights. He also had smooth, shining silver hair and indigo-blue violet eyes. Prince Rhaegar was kind and warm, often wearing a slight smile, yet the resolute ambition and controlling spirit in his eyes were unmatched. The name of the victorious had already echoed across both shores of the Narrow Sea.
"My Fat Friend! I am very happy to see you here!" Magister Illyrio Mopatis was led by Ser Barristan the Bold to Rhaegar Targaryen. Rhaegar Targaryen stood up and shook hands with the fat man. Truthfully, the fat man had always been very considerate toward him. The one-armed Thrimm placed a chair for Magister Illyrio Mopatis beside Rhaegar. Magister Illyrio Mopatis knew who this One-Armed Guard was: he must be Prince Rhaegar's Gatekeeper, the One-Eared, One-Armed Savage Thrimm.
"My Little Friend, I am truly delighted to see you again. The renown of the Silver Dragon King has spread across both shores of the Narrow Sea, and the nobles around me are constantly asking me to finalize marriage contracts between the Prince and their beautiful young ladies," Magister Illyrio Mopatis respectfully replied. Pentos was indeed militarily weak; they couldn't afford to offend even a Khal, much less the far more ferocious Dragon. Magister Illyrio Mopatis knew who the knightly Lords behind Prince Rhaegar were, because the Westerosi liked these flamboyant things, believing they gained a soul just like their sigils. Magister Illyrio Mopatis saw the Stag, the Pebble, the Wheat, the Trout, and the Seahorse.
"My Fat Friend, you must be joking. Come, let's watch the competition below!" Rhaegar said to Magister Illyrio Mopatis. With stunning beauties already at his side, why would he need to look in Pentos? Rhaegar was also arrogant, but certainly not like Aegon IV, starving to find women all over the world.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis suppressed his internal emotions. He was here to discuss cooperation, and for now, he could only accompany Rhaegar in watching the match. The current situation was clear: the Triarchy had collapsed utterly and failed miserably. Few people on either side of the Narrow Sea dared to challenge the Dragon and the Dragon King. Even within Braavos, Magister Illyrio Mopatis knew many wealthy merchants would seek contact with the Dragon King, as they also favored peace.
"However, we are still missing a few friends to watch the tourney with us. It would be even better if they could come!" Rhaegar said.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis gave a dry laugh and remained silent. He knew who Rhaegar was referring to: the unlucky members of the Triarchy. It was rumored that the Council of Governors was currently arguing among themselves, settling scores with War Criminals, after which they might finally achieve a humiliating peace. Magister Illyrio Mopatis felt a sense of sorrow even for his rivals.
Below the Bloodstone fortress, in the very center of the sea of tents, the ground had been cleared, a track built, stands erected, and protective barriers repaired. With no battles currently raging, the soldiers still enjoyed spilling blood in the tourney. The warriors fought excitedly, leaving behind broken armor and shattered spears on the field. Rhaegar instructed that blunt weapons be used as much as possible during the duels to minimize unnecessary losses among the warriors. He was considering importing rubber to make the tourney grounds safer.
The current contest had reached its climax: a Foot Combat. The two combatants were Lords among the crabfeeders men, a duel between House Brune and House Clowber. Although House Clowber did not reside in Whisperwind Keep, they still had a place to live. Rhaegar intended to promote House Clowber, not just because of the gift of Runes, but also because the crabfeeders men were staunch loyalists of the Dragonlords. Although the Crabs Claw Peninsula was poor and harsh, they were truly the Founding Stake.
The two knights became entangled in combat. A dark brown long-handled battle-axe and a red Warhammer swung fiercely, shattering shields. In the comparison of strength, the man from House Clowber had the edge.
York Clowber raised his battle-axe and bowed to Rhaegar. Rhaegar happily waved his hand and gave the knight a reward. Rhaegar had now become extremely wealthy, not just because of the splendid results of the war, but also because merchants across the Narrow Sea, seeking to please him, had gifted him extra gold, gems, and weaponry. If Rhaegar hadn't yet considered asking for women, Bloodstone would probably be a Perfume Garden right now.
"The victor has appeared! It's York of House Clowber," Lord Steffon shouted loudly. Rhaegar finally understood where Robert's love for tourneys came from: the House Stag of the Stormlands inherently possessed warlike blood and enjoyed boisterous tourneys.
"I'll take him!" The tall Bronze Yohn walked down from the high platform to challenge York.
The next combatants in the arena were York Clowber, a master among the crabfeeders men, and Bronze Yohn. Bronze Yohn wore a set of Bronze Armor. This armor was not the Millennial Heirloom set, but it still had a considerably long history. Although Clowber's armor was slightly inferior, Clowber's ferocity and courage were enough to put up a fight. Bronze Yohn did not draw lament but instead fought York Clowber with an ordinary longsword. The two exchanged blows, and the spectators cheered continuously.
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