Two days later.
Daeron still hadn't heard from Rhaegar. No word on any rebellion brewing among the Reach lords either.
Instead, the red priestess paid him a visit with good news.
Melisandre said, "This is the amulet. I followed the Lord of Light's guidance and added a few gems and special materials. It turned out quite well."
She held out a flame-red heart-shaped amulet with a ruby set in the center. It radiated fire magic.
Daeron took it. At first it burned hot against his palm, then settled into a comfortable warmth as the fire magic sank into the ruby.
A panel notification appeared:
[You obtained the Dark Talisman. It flickers with dark flame——]
Daeron felt a spark of excitement and quietly opened the panel.
[Farmer: Daeron Targaryen]
Farming: Level 10 (Tiller, Artisan)
Mining: Level 10 (Miner, Prospector)
Foraging: Level 10 (Forester, Lumberjack)
Fishing: Level 10 (Fisher, Pirate)
Combat: Level 10 (Fighter, Defender)
Five Masteries: [6089/15000]
He opened the Special Abilities & Items tab. After Forest Magic and the Skull Key, a new entry appeared: Dark Talisman.
Its appearance had changed into a purple, bat-like demonic shape with glowing red eyes.
Daeron thought, The Dark Talisman combined with the one Melisandre made. That explains the look.
Lucky for him, it worked.
He quickly checked the rest of the tab. It had grown since the early days.
Besides the three main items, he now had the Animal Catalogue, Monster Compendium, Logging Secrets, Sea Gem, and Crab Catching Guide.
They came from the shipping box, monster drops, logging, fishing treasure chests, and the Squid Festival reward.
Only the Animal Catalogue and Monster Compendium were truly useful—one let him buy animals anytime and understand their needs, the other gave a chance at double loot.
"There's also magic ink," Melisandre added with deliberate regret. "The materials are extremely demanding. I can't make it yet."
Daeron asked, "What do you need?"
"One fruit from the desert. One source of water from the desert."
Melisandre gave her usual witchy vagueness. "The water is easy. Ginger Island coconuts will do in a pinch, even without proper desert sunlight. But the desert fruit has no substitute."
Desert fruit?
That had to be cactus fruit.
Daeron confirmed, "You need a special forage item?"
"Exactly," Melisandre admitted.
Nothing but special crops or forage carried enough life force and magic to make special items.
The Lord of Light's guidance had been clear.
Daeron ran the numbers in his head and said, "We leave now. We'll hit the desert oasis you saw in the flames and handle everything at once."
Varys worked fast.
He'd been watching the Reach lords. After reporting their secret meeting, they had each returned to their own lands.
For now, they needed time.
Everything moved slowly in the Middle Ages. Not everyone could fly on a dragon like the Dragon King.
"King's Landing to Dorne and back takes about half a month by dragon."
Daeron decided to visit the desert oasis first.
He could open the Skull Cavern, mine some iridium, sacrifice the rainbow shards for the Galaxy Sword, and collect the materials for the magic ink all in one trip.
"I'll prepare the other ingredients," Melisandre said. "Once we have the desert fruit, I'll craft the magic ink immediately."
She didn't waste time. She matched the prince's decisive pace.
After she left, Daeron thought aloud, "Rhaegar wants to attack the Stepstones. He'll definitely try to bring House Martell on board. Perfect time to visit Dorne and see how the nobles there feel."
Dorne wasn't a monolith.
Winning over a few lords there would help keep things peaceful while he grew stronger.
"I just don't know if Rhaegar is still in Lys or already in Dorne."
Daeron stretched and headed for the Dragonpit.
---
Lys – Governor's Palace
A lavish banquet filled the grand hall. A world-famous singer performed lively island melodies full of salt air and freedom.
Nobles and wealthy merchants danced and drank beneath the music, surrounded by beautiful women and fine wine.
Up in the private gallery, the mood was just as pleasant.
Sig Ormollen raised his cup with a wide smile. "Thanks to Prince Daeron, the Battle of Grey Gallows and the Battle of the Narrow Sea crushed the Tyroshi and the pirates of the Summer Sea. Lys came out filthy rich."
"Exactly! All thanks to the Dragon Prince!"
Two merchant governors lifted their cups in agreement.
The Triarchy's fight for the Stepstones had left them holding only Grey Gallows after heavy losses. Then every pirate, slaver, and smuggler in the Summer Sea had swarmed them.
Lys's archons had planned to court Prince Daeron and bring his dragons into the fight.
They never expected him to ally with Myr first and sack Tyrosh.
At that point the Lyseni were simply terrified.
Then Daeron destroyed the Tyroshi garrison on Grey Gallows and scared the Lyseni garrison off the island.
The archons still felt a little greedy.
Not long after, a storm unlike any other swept the Narrow Sea. Most of the Stepstones suffered.
The pirates on Bloodstone were hammered—nearly wiped out.
Grey Gallows fared slightly better, but only slightly.
The Lyseni garrison had already pulled out, so they escaped unscathed.
Soon news of the "Battle of the Narrow Sea" reached them. Prince Daeron had used the storm to destroy thousands of pursuing pirates and broken the chaos in the Stepstones once and for all.
Now Lys and Myr shared Grey Gallows. They also held a garrison on Bloodstone and were moving to claim the gem veins nearby.
Pure profit. Pure luck.
How could the Lyseni archons not be thrilled?
"Hahaha! With Grey Gallows and Bloodstone, we're finally rich!"
Sig Ormollen laughed heartily.
Valarr shot him a look but stayed quiet.
The Stepstones pirates had lost more than half their numbers, but plenty remained. They were still dangerous.
Lys needed to digest its gains, not choke on greed.
"I think we got more than one blessing," Governor Natalya said, cheeks flushed as she swirled her wine. "Rhaegar Targaryen isn't going back to Westeros. He's staying in the manse we gave him and has taken another wife. By Andal custom, he plans to settle in Lys for good."
Valarr's interest sharpened. "Rhaegar left behind an heir. A son. Black-haired, but the dragon blood is pure."
If Rhaegar truly rooted himself in Lys, that boy would make an excellent marriage alliance.
Valarr had several wives and plenty of children—boys and girls both.
"Just like 'Brightflame' Aerion once did. Stay in Lys and sire more children."
Sig Ormollen grinned.
Natalya shook her head. "Aerion stayed for a while, but all his children were bastards with weak blood. Nothing like Rhaegar's legitimate son."
Back then, Brightflame Aerion had caused the Trial of the Seven, accidentally killed Baelor Breakspear, and was exiled by a disappointed Maekar I.
Aerion had been mad, but his fighting skill was real—second only to Ser Duncan the Tall in overall ability.
He had thrived in Essos, even joined the Second Sons and made powerful friends.
During the Second Blackfyre Rebellion he abandoned his mistresses and bastards, led the Second Sons back to Westeros, and helped the Iron Throne win.
If he hadn't gone mad and drunk wildfire trying to become a dragon, burning himself alive, he might have been a lesser version of the Rogue Prince Daemon Targaryen.
Back to the point.
Aerion's bastards were many but mostly worthless. No one knew where most of them ended up.
Rhaegar's legitimate son, by contrast, was far more valuable.
"Rhaegar didn't attend tonight's banquet," one merchant governor noted.
Valarr's brow creased. "We attended his wedding. We gave him gold and property. We invited him and he didn't come?"
A fallen prince should know better than to be rude.
The others shook their heads. They didn't know.
Sig Ormollen's smile froze. He looked slightly embarrassed.
Valarr noticed. "What is it?"
"Well——"
Sig hesitated. "My spies say Rhaegar hasn't been in the manse for ten days. He quietly left Lys and sailed for Dorne."
Valarr's face darkened. He immediately sent men to investigate.
They had courted Rhaegar hard—money, housing, women—because they wanted his true dragon blood.
They couldn't let him slip away without a word.
Half an hour later the messenger slave returned.
Ten days ago Rhaegar had left the manse. He had sailed quietly for Dorne.
Bang!
Valarr slammed his hand on the table. "Are you all useless? How do you lose track of a man that size?"
Sig's face soured, but he didn't argue. Valarr's power and bloodline were too strong.
The past few weeks Lys had been busy counting its profits. Surveillance on Rhaegar had naturally loosened.
A newly married man—why would anyone watch him too closely?
Valarr demanded, "Rhaegar left. What about his family?"
The slave trembled. "Lady Lyanna is still here. She takes the child to the gardens every day. Nothing unusual."
Valarr's expression eased. He dropped back into his seat.
As long as the family stayed, everything was fine.
Rhaegar wouldn't abandon his wife and son.
Sig called for one of his men to fetch someone from House Rogare.
Moments later Fleck Rogare hurried in.
Sig kept his temper in check. "When did Rhaegar leave? Your sister was living in his manse. Why didn't you report it?"
Fleck pretended confusion. "Marana hasn't sent me any messages in a long time."
"What does that mean?"
Sig didn't understand.
Fleck hinted that Marana and Rhaegar had become intimate. He had stopped worrying and let his sister handle things.
Then he thumped his chest and promised to send someone to check immediately.
When the messenger returned, he reported that Lady Marana was no longer in the manse. She had left with Rhaegar.
"Well now. The silver prince really is a romantic."
Natalya gave a knowing auntie smile. "Rhaegar left his wife and child behind but took Marana with him. That works out perfectly for us, doesn't it?"
They had sent Marana Rogare to Rhaegar to win him over and, hopefully, to have her bear a child of pure Valyrian blood.
House Rogare's bloodline matched the Targaryens far better than House Stark's.
Back when Aerys II wanted a Valyrian-blooded wife for his eldest son, he had even caused Lord Steffon Baratheon and his wife to die at sea.
Even then, Steffon couldn't find a suitable match.
Pure Valyrian blood was that rare.
Rhaegar wouldn't refuse.
"The right people stayed. The right person left. Not bad at all."
Valarr was fully relaxed now. He reassured the nervous Fleck. "House Rogare did well. Lys will remember your service."
Fleck bowed deeply. "It was our duty."
Valarr gave Sig a look. Sig understood at once.
Sig said, "Wait here. I'll have the gold sent to your house. Enough to buy a proper ocean-going ship."
"Thank you, my lords."
Fleck bowed again and again.
The archons smiled and saw him out.
Once he was gone, Valarr spoke. "While we have peace, build more scorpions and the high towers. Targaryen dragons are too strong. Lys needs ways to defend itself."
Sig nodded. "Agreed. I've already hired a group of alchemists. They know how to make poisons, wildfire, and all kinds of clever devices. They'll be useful."
The group kept talking, planning how to guard against dragons that ruled the sky.
---
At the same time, the man the Lyseni were so worried about—Rhaegar—stepped out of the Tower of the Sun in Sunspear.
"Prince! Prince——"
The moment he appeared, Myles Mouton and Richard Morrigen hurried forward.
Both were old friends of Rhaegar. After the four-kingdom rebellion they had been placed under house arrest or sent to fight.
When they heard Rhaegar was calling in his followers, they traveled all the way to Dorne.
Ser Arthur Dayne leaned against the wall, then pushed off and walked over. "Did Prince Doran agree, my prince?"
Rhaegar's face stayed calm. "No. Prince Doran refused."
Myles and Richard fell silent, then said, "Prince Doran has no vision. Don't be discouraged, my prince."
Ser Arthur said nothing, but disappointment flickered in his eyes.
Prince Rhaegar had finally slipped out of Lys and come to Dorne seeking House Martell's help.
But he had failed the Martells too many times. His credit was gone.
"Prince Doran was polite. He didn't make things difficult."
Rhaegar continued, "He refused, but he left the door open. Once I take the Stepstones, he'll send troops to help me take Lys."
His real target had always been Lys.
Prince Doran hadn't closed the door completely. He wanted to see Rhaegar's results first.
As long as Rhaegar captured the Stepstones, House Martell would still be his in-laws and allies.
Better that than letting Rhaegar make another mistake that dragged the Martells down with him.
Myles smiled. "The Second Sons and the Windblown are already in position. Add your own men and we can take the pirates on the Stepstones easily."
The Second Sons and Windblown together numbered about three thousand.
Rhaegar had once commanded three hundred Dragon Guards and four hundred stoneborn on Dragonstone.
He and Richard had each brought a dozen sworn knights and sellswords, plus followers from across the Seven Kingdoms—another two hundred men.
Nearly four thousand. Enough to take Bloodstone and then move slowly from there.
Rhaegar thought for a moment. "Oberyn is on his way back. I asked him to find news of the Golden Company. If we can recruit them, the Stepstones are ours."
He had that much confidence.
As he spoke, he touched the sword at his hip.
It was a new blade. The sheathed steel felt light and deadly sharp.
But the real treasure wasn't the sword. It was the yellowed map in his pocket.
Ser Arthur Dayne had given it to him.
Arthur had taken it from Simon Toyne after wiping out the Kingswood Brotherhood. It looked like a treasure map.
Rhaegar had matched the locations. Part of it pointed to the Stepstones.
He was short on coin. He wanted to see what was there.
Maybe he could find some pirate treasure and ease his immediate problems.
Ser Arthur hesitated, then said, "Prince, I may not be able to go with you to the Stepstones."
Myles and Richard stared at him in surprise.
Rhaegar stayed silent for a moment, already guessing. "You're going back to King's Landing?"
Ser Arthur nodded. "Ser Gerold has called me back to the Kingsguard. I'm your friend, but I'm also a Kingsguard. I can't break my oath or my honor."
On top of that, Ser Gerold had told him Prince Daeron had released the next stage of the Life Knight training method.
Arthur had some insights and had made improvements of his own.
Returning to King's Landing would let him compare notes.
Rhaegar didn't try to stop him. He said calmly, "Then go. Ser."
Ser Arthur's expression was complicated. He sighed softly. "Take care of yourself, my prince."
The two men looked at each other in silence. Ser Arthur went to fetch his horse and rode out of Sunspear alone.
He had followed Prince Rhaegar from Dragonstone to Lys, then from Lys to Dorne.
He had seen a lot. Felt a lot.
He only hoped the prince would learn from his hardships and grow steadier. No more reckless choices.
Leaving felt right.
"I should go home and see Ashara too. She's almost nineteen."
Ser Arthur led his warhorse away, back turned to the three men watching him. He thought of his sister's face and voice.
In her letters, Ashara had begged him to come home.
Rhaegar watched until the rider vanished into the heat-shimmered air, then looked away.
"Prince——"
Myles could see the prince's reluctance and wanted to comfort him, but the words wouldn't come.
Blame Ser Arthur?
The man was a Kingsguard. He had duties.
Following the prince this far and keeping him safe out of Lys had already gone beyond simple friendship.
Rhaegar's face didn't change. He said quietly, "It's fine. Let's go."