After comforting Lyanna, Rhaegar went out to speak privately with Ser Arthur.
Ser Arthur's eyes were bright and spirited as he reported, "Following the information you gave me, I sent men to investigate whether Governor Illyrio of Pentos is connected to the House Blackfyre, and I've found an unexpected surprise."
Illyrio is not only connected to the House Blackfyre but also has close ties with the Golden Company.
The Golden Company is suspected of possessing 'Blackfyre,' one of the two lost ancestral swords of the House Targaryen.
During the investigation, they actually discovered a large ship from Asshai carrying three Dragon Eggs.
"Genuine Dragon Eggs!"
Ser Arthur knew the Prince had been collecting intelligence on Dragon Eggs recently and had rushed over without pause to report.
Rhaegar's decadence vanished as he asked in a deep voice, "Three Dragon Eggs, are you certain?"
"When Illyrio opened the chest for inspection, the scout caught a glimpse."
Ser Arthur, always rigorous, added, "However, those three Dragon Eggs are hidden in a secret room in Illyrio's estate. According to the scout's description, the shells are covered in a stony skin, as if they've petrified."
"Petrified Dragon Eggs—"
Rhaegar murmured to himself.
He thought back to the origins of Daeron's three dragons.
That cobalt blue young dragon must have hatched from the egg returned by House Hightower.
The origin of the Red Dragon's egg is unknown, and the origin of the black young dragon's egg is also unknown.
Preliminary judgment suggested that the three Dragon Eggs Daeron hatched were most likely all viable eggs.
"Hatching Dragon Eggs from stone?"
Rhaegar weighed the pros and cons, considering whether it was worth making a move.
Ser Arthur pondered for a moment and offered a suggestion: "Prince, if you are unsure, why not ask Prince Daeron?"
He had heard from his sister Ashara that Daeron was a very sunny and generous person.
The other had even once told Prince Rhaegar that Dragon Eggs might exist on the island of Skagos.
Although no Dragon Eggs were found after landing on the island, they did subdue a group of Cragmen.
"I will consider it."
Rhaegar felt a bit tired.
He planned to look through some books to see if there were any lessons to be learned from his great-grandfather Aegon V's attempt to hatch seven Dragon Eggs at Summerhall.
Stoney Sept.
This was a border town with no proper lord, famous throughout the Riverlands for the various bronze bells of all sizes found within the town.
Rumble!
Tywin arrived leading a massive army, their horses' hooves trampling the lush green grass as they completely surrounded Stoney Sept.
Stoney Sept had few guards; under the encirclement of the Royalist Army, it instantly lost its ability to resist, becoming a plaything to be shaped at will.
"Where is Robert Baratheon hiding!?"
Tywin sent men to seize an innkeeper's wife to interrogate her about Robert's whereabouts.
"I don't know, I don't know—"
The plump innkeeper's wife was terrified.
Tywin's expression darkened, and his men seized even more people, interrogating them one by one for Robert's hiding place.
However, during the months Robert had spent recovering in Stoney Sept, he had already won over the local residents with his personal charisma; no one betrayed his location.
"Hmph, refusing the easy way only to take the hard way."
Tywin let out a cold sneer.
He was not the Jon Connington of the original story, who cared about the lives of the common people.
"Search for me! Kill anyone who dares to stand in your way!!"
With murderous intent, Tywin gave the order, and the Royalist Army stormed into the town, conducting a house-to-house search.
Without additional orders of restraint, the soldiers engaged in a spree of smashing, looting, and pillaging.
The soldiers of House Lannister, in particular, used the skills they had honed during the sacking of Tumbleton, breaking into homes, stealing property, and raping women—
They were capable of any evil deed.
"Ah!!"
"Help—"
For a time, Stoney Sept was filled with cries and wails, turning into a living hell on earth.
This inhumane conduct continued until dawn the next day.
Tywin's face was as dark as water as he questioned his subordinates: "A bunch of useless trash, why haven't you dragged Robert out yet?"
"My Lord, we have searched all the cellars and sewers in town, but found no one."
A Lannister officer was scolded so harshly he didn't dare raise his head.
"Then keep searching. Robert must be hiding in Stoney Sept; those low-born peasants must be concealing him."
Tywin would not rest until Robert was found.
Rumble!
Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly, and a thick cloud of dust rose from the distant horizon.
Tywin was startled and immediately mounted his horse.
From a higher vantage point, several banners could be seen fluttering in the dust.
Trout, Crescent Moon and Falcon, Direwolf—
"Damn it, that old fool Hoster Tully has come to reinforce them."
Tywin's expression changed as his anger flared even higher.
When we were discussing a marriage alliance, you, Hoster Tully, were still someone in my eyes.
Now you are a traitor and I am the Hand of the King; you, Hoster Tully, are nothing but dog shit to me.
"Prepare for battle!"
Tywin was not one to be easily intimidated; he immediately commanded his army to meet the enemy.
"Charge!!"
The two armies clashed instantly, and a fierce battle erupted inside and outside Stoney Sept.
The chaotic forces fought their way into the town, engaging in melee in every street and alley, even climbing onto rooftops to slaughter one another.
The bronze bells of the town shook violently, letting out an endless, mournful tolling.
"Die for me!"
Within the Lannister army, a tall monster clad in heavy armor held a greatsword, his voice sounding like a stone mill grinding sand as he hacked several Northmen attacking him into cripples.
He always wore that pitch-black helmet twisted by fire, his face completely hidden, revealing only a pair of bloodshot eyes filled with vicious murderous intent.
And it was right beneath the eaves where he was slaughtering his opponents.
Robert emerged from a hidden room in the brothel. Seeing the wicked, tall monster, he was instantly enraged and charged out.
"Damned monster, die!"
Robert wore no armor; he picked up a sword from the ground and charged straight ahead.
Hiding in Stoney Sept for a day and a night, he had heard the wails and weeping of the local residents.
The allied forces had arrived; it was time for his revenge.
"Robert!!"
Outside the crowd, Tywin recognized Robert at a glance, his face contorting with rage.
The time for his revenge had also come.
Several days later.
News of the Royalist defeat reached King's Landing. Because of the simultaneous tolling of the bells in Stoney Sept, it was called the "Battle of the Bells."
Red Keep, the King's chambers.
"Useless!!"
—
Aerys was beyond furious, smashing his favorite wine cup with a bang.
Tywin had led 10,000 Royalist troops and encountered 10,000 rebels at Stoney Sept. Both sides had fought to a bloody stalemate and retreated.
Robert was seriously injured in this battle and was carried away by his good brother Ned.
Hoster Tully had taken the field personally and was also significantly injured, returning to Riverrun to recover.
On the Royalist side, 'The Mountain' Gregor Clegane had died.
Gregor had faced Robert in a one-on-one duel and was stabbed through the neck with a longsword by Robert, who then hacked off his head.
Robert was wounded in the process, and his injuries worsened during the subsequent chaos.
"Go call Barristan Selmy, his King wishes to see him!"
Aerys was nearly falling into madness, screaming at the door.
Ser Gerold held back the young Jaime and went personally to find Barristan.
"Father lost again?"
Jaime's forehead was lined with frustration.
In fact, strictly speaking, the Battle of the Bells could not be considered a defeat.
Both the Royalists and the rebels had their victories and losses, eventually retreating in a mutual understanding.
The only real loss was that Tywin had sacked Stoney Sept in advance but failed to drag out the hidden Robert.
He allowed Robert to wait for reinforcements and be rescued.
From a military standpoint, it was undoubtedly a failure.
The news quickly spread to every corner of the Red Keep, including Daeron's ears.
"Tywin's military capability is truly mediocre!"
Daeron stayed in Shaena's room, lamenting Tywin's incompetence in leading troops.
It was said that Stoney Sept had been ravaged by him.
First was the city-wide search, then the chaotic battle; half the town had been burned down.
"Harboring rebels is essentially asking for trouble."
Daeron shook his head, feeling no extra sympathy for the residents of Stoney Sept.
Unlike Tumbleton, the residents of Stoney Sept were not wronged at all.
In the original story, if Jon Connington had Tywin's ruthlessness, he might have actually caught the Robert hidden by the residents before the rebels arrived with reinforcements.
Tywin was quite unlucky.
It was possible that Daeron's pacification of the Stormlands had significantly provoked Lord Hoster and the others; they noticed the movement of the Royalist Army and immediately launched a rescue for Robert.
They didn't give more time for searching and interrogation.
"Shaena, do you want a bottle?"
Daeron took out a bottle of Ancient Fruit Wine and handed it to Shaena, who was focused on her embroidery.
He had been thinking about how to retrieve the Dragon Eggs from Pentos these past few days, hoping to get some inspiration from Shaena.
"I dreamed of it."
Shaena stopped her movements and spoke abruptly.
Daeron was startled and asked, "What did you dream of?"
"young dragons hatching from stone."
Shaena looked nervous, her hands tightly clutching the tapestry as if she had seen something terrifying.
Daeron quickly stood up and comforted her gently: "Don't be afraid, recall it slowly, don't force yourself."
"Watch out for that Red Priestess, do not believe her words."
Shaena took Daeron's hand and warned him seriously.
Daeron gently held her, slowly stroking her soft long hair: "Don't worry, don't be afraid."
Shaena gradually calmed down, nesting in Daeron's arms, her hands clutching his sleeve, her purple eyes staring at the only remaining greyish-white petrified Dragon Egg in the room.
She saw it; she saw two different paths.
One filled with blood and fire, one natural and peaceful.
Daeron accompanied her carefully. To prevent Shaena from having nightmares, he even called Jaehaerys and Viserys over to liven things up together.
He thought that perhaps he should brave the mines to find a suitable item for Shaena.
The Dreamwalker talent was a mixed blessing; sometimes it would frighten her.
"Watch out for Melisandre, is she playing small tricks behind my back?"
Daeron's gaze darkened slightly.
He truly felt that Melisandre had designs on him, wanting to spread the word of the Rhllor she believed in.
Being well-behaved now didn't mean she would be well-behaved in the future.
"This kind of person who knows witchcraft cannot be killed off all at once; I still need to keep her to use her."
Daeron pulled up the'Special Items & Abilities' at the top of his inventory; among them, Magic Ink and the Dark Amulet both required a witch character.
"Second Brother, can I have this Dragon Egg later?"
Watching his close brother and sister, Jaehaerys walked to the incubator, staring enviously at the greyish-white petrified Dragon Egg.
He also wanted a Dragon Egg.
"If you are obedient, I will give it to you in the future."
Daeron spoke with hidden meaning.
Jaehaerys patted his chest and shouted formally, "I am the most obedient, Second Brother!"
Viserys nodded vigorously: "Me too."
"You two idiots."
Daeron was amused.
They were, after all, the younger brothers he had raised himself; he still trusted them.
Shaena remained quiet, her gaze shifting back and forth between the greyish-white petrified Dragon Egg and Jaehaerys, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.