Chapter 204 Rhaegar, the Hungry Dragon
A long teak table had been added to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen's tent. Rhaegar still sat beside his desk, watching the tense negotiations unfold.
Envoys from the Iron Throne and the Triarchy sat on opposite sides. The Iron Throne had dispatched Lord Tywin Lannister, Master of Coin; Ser Steffon Baratheon; Ser Brynden Tully, commander of the Narrow Sea Guard; and Ser Lucerys Velaryon, commander of the Narrow Sea Fleet. The Triarchy's representatives were also from the peace faction: four dovish Magisters.
The chief negotiator Rhaegar had personally chosen was Tywin. Tywin Lannister was a man of almost terrifying rationality. Whether doing good or evil, plundering or destroying cities, he could decide in an instant—but someone capable of restraining him was needed. Tywin's entire life seemed overshadowed by his father, the Laughing Lion, and in response he had chosen to become a cold, iron-faced lion. In King's Landing, although Tywin's talents were exceptional, the fear and dread he inspired far outweighed affection. He was too rational, too cold, like an efficient instrument of ruthless authority.
Limiting the Triarchy's military, reparations, most-favored-nation status, expansion of King's Landing's embassy influence within the Triarchy, returning prisoners and corpses, and extraditing the Blackfyre bloodline. These five terms became increasingly difficult with each one. Even the fourth term required additional payment. The Triarchy envoys felt as if a vicious dragon had opened its jaws, demanding only gold, jewels, and treasure. The Triarchy finally understood the Pentoshi position: after suffering a brutal beating, they had no choice but to compromise and appease.
"Prince Rhaegar, some of these terms are acceptable. But limiting us to thirty warships is simply too harsh. Without warships, how are we supposed to deal with our enemies? The Dothraki Khals and the rulers of Volantis are hardly friendly toward us. The Khals may cross the Rhoyne, and Volantis may seize this chance to strike," said one Triarchy envoy, looking toward Rhaegar with a pained expression. A treaty of humiliation was difficult to accept. But the Triarchy was now in dire straits and had no choice but to endure.
"It's simple. Our fleet from King's Landing can protect you, can't it?" Rhaegar Targaryen replied.
He had already considered this issue. Volantis was one matter. If Volantis expanded toward the Rhoyne, conflict with the Dothraki would eventually resume. The Dothraki Sea stood at the center of countless land trade routes; allowing the Khals to dominate it forever was a waste.
"You're thinking too narrowly. Once this treaty is signed, Westeros and the Triarchy will be friendly neighbors. With my Narrow Sea Fleet guarding your waters, what is there to fear? And I flatter myself that I possess some influence. If the Khals or Volantis refuse to listen, then I shall take my dragon and Orphan-Maker and reason with them."
Rhaegar smiled confidently.
The Triarchy delegation's expressions grew awkward. They naturally knew the fearsome reputation of Orphan-Maker. The Dothraki Khal and Admiral Salazar had both fallen beneath that black blade. The sword was beginning to earn a reputation as a king-slayer, specializing in the deaths of important men.
Negotiations between Westeros and the Triarchy continued. In the end, the disagreements only came down to numbers: fleet limits and compensation amounts.
"These terms are outrageous. Is this Westeros's attitude toward peace?" a Lysene Magister finally shouted.
Negotiations always involved pressure and maneuvering.
"My dear Magister, mind your tone. You began this war. Now all you are paying is some gold. If the dragons arrive at Lys and Myr themselves, you will pay much more." Tywin's voice remained cold and indifferent.
"Then let your dragons come to the Twin Cities! Scorpions, fire, and arrows await them. I would rather see the Twin Cities burn than surrender them to you. We will use scorched-earth tactics, just like our forefathers."
One of the Triarchy Magisters roared furiously.
Rhaegar showed no emotion and quietly ordered Thrimm to summon someone.
Both sides seemed deadlocked, but it was merely another negotiating tactic.
"Who is this?" the Triarchy envoys asked in surprise.
The man Rhaegar summoned appeared to be one of the former slaves from the Twin Cities fleet—one of the slave soldiers who had defected.
He was a dark-skinned former slave from Lys wearing a common Rhaegar shirt and carrying a spear, his gaze fearless.
"State your name."
"Salazar Freeman," the freedman replied without hesitation.
The Triarchy envoys looked as though they had seen a monster. A slave had now taken the former commander's name and called himself Freeman. It was psychological warfare.
"We treated you well! We never mistreated the fleet guards of the Twin Cities!"
The envoys cried out desperately, finally realizing slaves could never be fully trusted.
"Save your nonsense. I will never forget being sold into slavery. Not a single day passed where I didn't dream of crushing you idle nobles—Lyseni and Myrish scum who indulge in every depravity. My name is Freeman now. Not only me—all the freed slaves bear that name. We swore before gods and steel alike that we would fight for Prince Rhaegar and House Targaryen."
The Magisters and envoys of the Triarchy trembled as if hearing a death knell. They suddenly imagined a nightmare scenario. The Triarchy relied heavily on slaves. If these former slaves marched on Lys and Myr under Rhaegar's banner, the streets of the Twin Cities would drown in blood.
The deadlock was broken and negotiations resumed.
No matter what happened, the victor still controlled the initiative.
Rhaegar's Free Army and Volantene reinforcements had not even entered the field yet.
It was the Triarchy that had rashly launched war and now found itself cornered.
The Triarchy envoys would remain several more days while final details were finalized. Tywin likewise remained, taking advantage of the opportunity to visit his son.
Banners stood like forests. Great standards fluttered in the wind.
Royal guards wearing Rhaegar shirts moved in orderly fashion throughout Bloodstone's camp, each carrying out his duty.
Under the black banner bearing the Silver Dragon, Tywin walked through the military camp and quietly admired its discipline and cleanliness. There were no wandering merchants or prostitutes—measures intended to reduce epidemics and disorder.
Rhaegar's military management philosophy was surprisingly advanced, elevated by a broader perspective and by the elite quality of his forces.
Everything had its place: barracks, latrines, stables, training grounds, and exercise areas.
In truth, Rhaegar and Tywin held remarkably similar military ideas. Both preferred centralized standing armies strengthened through economics and logistics. The Westerlands and Crownlands possessed strong populations and wealth; logistics and military pay formed the foundation of power.
Rhaegar and Tywin both relied on economic strength to improve training, equipment, and military quality.
After integrating the Westerlands and removing intermediary power structures, command became more centralized.
By contrast, poorer regions such as the North and Dorne lacked large standing armies and possessed inferior equipment. Their warfare emphasized defensive fighting and breaking enemy lines.
The difference was that Rhaegar thought more flexibly, while Tywin still retained notions of attritional warfare.
But the Westerlands were "thick-blooded" and capable of exhausting enemies through endurance.
Rhaegar's army possessed even more unexpected possibilities because dragons enabled bolder and more diverse strategies.
"Your son's talent with the sword is extraordinary," Rhaegar said.
Jaime Lannister was currently practicing in the training yard, sparring against Jon Connington.
The blond, blue-eyed youth and the red-haired boy exchanged longsword strikes while old soldiers cheered from the sidelines.
Their shields bore the sigils of their houses: the griffin and the lion.
Both boys were reckless and talented.
Comparatively, Jaime's swordsmanship was superior.
Tywin's face immediately brightened with satisfaction.
Praise directed at a child in front of a parent always produced results.
Especially when it came from the most formidable warrior of the age.
Tywin had always envisioned his son becoming a renowned knight and his daughter becoming a queen.
Yet Cersei's chances now seemed slim.
There were already two maidens with dragon blood, not to mention the beautiful Archon of Tyrosh.
Compared to that, Jaime had become more important.
"This is all thanks to Prince Rhaegar's generosity and the guidance of these esteemed knights," Tywin replied sincerely.
Rhaegar's entourage had effectively become Westeros's dream team: Barristan Selmy, Brynden Tully, the Braavosi swordsman Cesar, the one-eyed wildling Thrimm, Bronze Yohn Royce, York Clawman of House Clawber, and many others.
Even Tywin could not assemble such a gathering in the Westerlands.
Rhaegar privately thought Tywin's child-rearing approach had problems.
Tywin himself was ruthless, yet wanted his children to remain pure and untouched.
Unfortunately power corrupted everything.
His daughter became unstable, and his son nearly suffered for it.
Rhaegar thought Tyrion Lannister came closest to inheriting Tywin's legacy.
The boy was clever and compassionate.
Perhaps because he was born a dwarf and constantly scorned, he had learned empathy.
Jaime could still be guided.
Cersei, however, would be far more difficult.
Rhaegar had even thought of a destination for her.
The Motherhouse in Gulltown seemed suitable.
"Once the treaty is finalized, I will return to King's Landing for a time. Your son can also return home and visit his family. I still hold responsibility for roads and transport in King's Landing."
Tywin nodded.
"Speaking of roads, I happen to have an impertinent request."
"I would like to purchase some of Your Highness's black bricks. I wish to improve transportation in the Westerlands."
Tywin was hardly short on money.
If these low-cost Valyrian-style roads could be built in the Westerlands, his control there would strengthen dramatically.
He greatly admired the black paving bricks.
"That can be arranged. But production remains limited, and the price is not cheap."
Rhaegar naturally agreed.
After all, Tywin was a very valuable customer.
As negotiations progressed, the Triarchy ultimately signed the painful treaty and accepted massive reparations.
Among the Triarchy, people began calling Rhaegar a Hungry Dragon.
Always hungry.
Always desiring war.
Never satisfied.
The title reminded Rhaegar of another figure from history: King Theon Stark, the Hungry Wolf.
Both had crossed seas and brought destruction to lands beyond their own.
King Theon Stark had ruled during the Andal invasions.
When Andals landed upon the northern shores, Theon allied with House Bolton and crushed the Andal warlord Argos Sevenstar at the Battle of the Weeping Water.
Then Theon hung Argos's corpse from his flagship, crossed the sea, and invaded Andal lands.
Villages burned.
Hundreds died.
Severed heads were mounted on spears along the shore as warnings to future invaders.
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