The morning sun spilled into the house, and Rhaegar could still feel the moist, fresh air.
Rhaegar walked out of the room, and Arthur Dayne was already waiting outside the door.
This was not stinginess, but a sign of respect and courtesy.
Although Dawn is not a valyrian steel sword, its legendary status and preciousness even surpass ordinary valyrian steel swords, and it is also the heirloom of House Dayne. Treasures stir the heart. Rhaegar knew that Lord Tywin had repeatedly approached impoverished families in the Seven Kingdoms, offering huge sums to buy their valyrian steel swords, but was consistently refused.
The two exchanged weapons. Rhaegar took back his shadow cleaver, and Arthur Dayne retrieved the Sword Dawn.
Although Rhaegar was a little reluctant to part with Dawn, he felt that the course of history would not change significantly. Arthur Dayne would still carry Dawn to King's Landing and become the White Knight, giving Rhaegar time to contemplate it later.
The Kingsguard was Arthur Dayne's dream, and the greatest knight in the Seven Kingdoms was none other than the White Knight.
Furthermore, Arthur Dayne was the second son of his house, not required to inherit the family estate or marry and have children. The White Knight was one of the best destinations for a second son like him. In this regard, he saw eye-to-eye with Oswell Haigh, the younger brother of Earl Haigh. It was extremely rare for someone like Ser Barristan, the heir of Harvest Hall, to choose to join the White Knight, showing an extreme dedication to honor. Barristan gave up his family inheritance and a girl he was preparing to be engaged to, who eventually married his cousin.
Arthur Dayne looked at Rhaegar and felt that the Prince, after only a day apart, seemed to have undergone a new change, as if he had been reborn in fire, possessing a mysterious, esoteric aura, and Rhaegar's martial skills were even more unfathomable.
Rhaegar and Arthur Dayne hit it off immediately, and the two headed together to the dining hall at the Water Gardens.
Rhaegar felt that Arthur Dayne possessed the qualities of a great knight, and they were indeed quite compatible. If Rhaegar were with Oberyn The Red Viper, Rhaegar would not feel this way. The Red Viper was too arrogant, quick-tempered, and fierce; Rhaegar even felt he was sometimes sinister.
Rhaegar's breakfast at the Water Gardens consisted of a plate of premium blood oranges, a plate of seagull eggs fried with ham and fire pepper powder, and a cup of fine milk.
He still shared this breakfast with members of House Martell, sitting at the main table. Princess Elia sat in the head seat, flanked by Rhaegar, Doran, Elia, and Oberyn. Everyone was talking and laughing, and the atmosphere was very harmonious. Even the Princess's sickly eldest daughter, Elia, now seemed quite spirited. However, Oberyn maintained his usual attitude, looking askance at Rhaegar.
"According to the message from your father, you have been appointed Supervisor of Bloodstone Customs, and after the main structure of the Bloodstone Customs is completed, you will also be formally invested by King's Landing as Guardian of the Narrow Sea and Stepstones?" Princess Elia suddenly asked.
"Yes," Rhaegar nodded, not denying the news. Rhaegar had changed into a new outfit today, still black shirt and black pants, but today his black shirt was embroidered with the Silver Dragon, Rhaegar's personal symbol, making him appear even more brilliant, as if glowing. Rhaegar ignored all the covetous gazes, regardless of gender; even handsome men have their troubles.
Rhaegar was somewhat helpless. This news could have been suppressed for a while to avoid overly provoking the Kingdom of the Daughters and Braavos. But there was nothing to be done; Prince Aerys was truly a blabbermouth who could hardly keep a secret. Prince Aerys had already spread the information.
Twelve years old, and already the Guardian of the Narrow Sea and Stepstones.
Rhaegar did not explain much. Although he was young, it was not unprecedented. It simply meant Rhaegar was more dazzling and outstanding.
Maegor the Cruel was also a born warrior; at sixteen, Maegor defeated three Kingsguard consecutively and then won a mounted tourney, being knighted by his father, The Conqueror. Daemon the Black Dragon knocked down all the squires in a melee tourney on his twelfth birthday, and The Unworthy King acknowledged his son's status.
Upon hearing this, the Lords of Dorne immediately pricked up their ears. Bloodstone Customs represented financial power. Guardian of the Narrow Sea represented military power. Now the Iron Throne granting these two important authorities to the Prince not only showed the importance placed on the Crown's current foremost fighting force, but also indicated that the Iron Throne would not easily withdraw its troops from the Narrow Sea, but intended to cultivate the region deeply. If this were the case, how could the Daughters and Braavos, especially Lys and Myr, let the matter rest?
The King on the Iron Throne can appoint the highest military commanders in various regions and grant the title of "Guardian" to defend against any foreign invasion in that area. Traditionally, the four most important Guardians of the Four Realms are hereditary: Guardian of the North: the Wolf of Winterfell. Guardian of the East: the Falcon of The Eyrie. Guardian of the West: the Lion of Casterly Rock. Guardian of the South: the rose of Highgarden. Besides these, there are secondary guardians, such as the Guardian of the Prince's Pass, Guardian of the Stone Way in Dorne, and Guardian of the White Knife in the North.
The conferral of the Guardian of the Narrow Sea was a major event.
Once the Guardian of the Narrow Sea and Stepstones is established, the position will be comparable to the traditional Four Guardians. Although inferior in population and military strength, it controls vital waterways. The establishment of the Guardian of the Narrow Sea means the war continues, and the flames of war in the Narrow Sea will not be extinguished. Prince Rhaegar, who controls the Stepstones, will also command considerable financial resources and military strength.
The Lords of Dorne looked at Prince Rhaegar with even more fervent eyes. This was the Silver Prince who controlled the sea lanes. In the future, imports and exports for Dorne, and even other kingdoms and Free Cities, would require his cooperation and liaison.
Daemon the Rogue Prince once crowned himself King of the Narrow Sea and Stepstones, but later grew tired of the region. Rhaegar would effectively be the King of the Narrow Sea, merely taking the title of Guardian to show deference to the Iron Throne.
The Lords of Dorne were already formulating various ideas. The Prince was surrounded by beauties like a painting, so charming him with beauty might not work easily. Perhaps the prettiest person present was Ashara of House Dayne. It was said that Miss Shireen, the Pearl of Tyrosh, and Miss Roberta, the Light of the Stormlands, who were infatuated with Prince Rhaegar, were top-tier beauties. Even their own Dorne rose might seem slightly sickly by comparison, and ordinary, mediocre women likely wouldn't even make the list. However, Prince Rhaegar was a born warrior, and his Three Great Camps of Dragon's Den were renowned as a strong army. Now that he occupied the Stepstones, expanding his army was an inevitable choice, and many Dornish people entertained the idea of sending their children into his army to gain favor.
"Prince Rhaegar is only a teenager, yet he is already a Guardian. Young and accomplished," Princess Elia exclaimed.
Rhaegar was so young, yet his position was so prominent. This reminded the Lords of Dorne of a famous figure, the Baby General who conquered Dorne back then, Oakfist. Yet, no one seemed to object to Rhaegar's appointment. Prince Rhaegar had earned people's respect through blood and fire, sword and blade. From Mountains of the Moon, Duskendale, to the Stepstones, victory continued, and songs of triumph were always heard.
"It's only temporary, temporary. Everyone knows that according to the agreement, the Stepstones are only managed by the Iron Throne on behalf of others. Maybe ten years from now, we will return them to the Kingdom of the Daughters. The Iron Throne's contracts still have legal effect," Rhaegar explained with a slight smile to the crowd.
But the Lords of Dorne were not fools, and many of them almost laughed out loud. Who would believe that statement?
The Iron Throne building a fortress and establishing customs on Bloodstone, coupled with the conferral of the Guardian title—financial power in one hand, military power in the other—made it even clearer that they would not withdraw from the Stepstones. Once the Iron Throne and its army were fattened by customs duties, how could they willingly give up this land? It would inevitably lead to a bloody war with the Daughters. But seeing Prince Rhaegar's earnest expression, the Dornish Lords felt awkward laughing. Not only was the Prince unmatched in war, but he also seemed adept in the Game of Thrones, having learned such shrewdness at a young age. In comparison, Rhaegar's father was indeed far too lacking.
The Treaty of Amity between King's Landing and the Daughters, spearheaded by Braavos, had effectively become a dead letter.
The breakfast continued in a lively and increasingly harmonious atmosphere.
Today, no one came forward to challenge Rhaegar again; yesterday's battle had truly convinced everyone.
A continuous wheel fight that lasted the entire session, featuring the best knights of all Dorne, yet none were his match.
The brave men of Dorne were as numerous as sand, but their defeat sadly caused them to lose face.
After Rhaegar finished breakfast, he began strolling with the Lords of Dorne in the Water Gardens. Actually, he currently wished more to visit the Greenblood River and Plank Town to see if he could find any traces of Water Magic.
According to what Rhaegar had seen in his dreams and what was written in history books, Water Magic was heavily restricted by casting conditions and location. The rhoynar people displayed great power several times, flooding Valyria, relying on the water of the great river, utilizing Water Spouts and Water Walls, summoning the river water, and calling upon Mother Rhoyne River.
In terms of casting conditions, the rhoynar people were also not a match for the Old Valyria people. The Old Valyria people not only had their own magic but also Dragons capable of fighting in almost any terrain. The Old Valyria people won more times than the rhoynar people.
However, looking at the Ruling Princess of Dorne and her children, Rhaegar was certain they possessed no magic whatsoever.
Even Nymeria, their maternal ancestor in Dorne, was famous as a warrior and was never rumored to be a Water Sorcerer. Instead, she burned her ships to avoid pursuit, and the Dornish people subsequently became somewhat distant from the sea. Furthermore, Dorne and the Iron Throne had fought many wars, and Dorne employed endless conspiracies and tricks, yet there were never any traces of Water Magic.
Given the chance, Rhaegar thought, he still needed to visit Plank Town, or even the Greenblood River.
When Nymeria crossed the sea with ten thousand ships to Dorne, she burned the entire fleet on the day of her wedding to the Martell Patriarch, signaling her commitment never to turn back.
However, some descendants of the rhoynar people refused to integrate into Dornish culture. When they first arrived in Dorne, they hammered down the burnt ship hulls and nailed them into rafts. These rhoynar people mourned the loss of their distant homeland on Essos, and they adhered to ancient river traditions to commemorate the Rhoyne River, their Mother River. Having left the Mother River, the rest of their lives were spent as orphans.
Perhaps traces of the Water Magic Rhaegar was looking for could still be found on the Greenblood River.