"Lord Renly was a great man in some respects," Gendry said.
He felt no regret over Brienne's departure. She was a woman who kept her promises. If she were to serve him, she would first have to repay the debt she owed Renly.
Gendry admitted that Renly had many admirable qualities. Everyone fought their own kind of battle. Renly had simply chosen to fight his on the field of fashion and noble display, busy with colorful pageantry while others sweated in the training yards.
Yet Renly was approachable and handsome, strikingly similar to the king in his youth. That alone still worked remarkably well on the dissatisfied men of the Reach and the Stormlands.
"If we're talking about dancing and noble bearing, then Lord Renly truly has no equal in that regard," Qyburn said, pursing his lips.
"Charm cannot win a real war. Sooner or later, Lord Renly will understand that," Jorah said with clear disdain. With his own extensive experience in battle, he had little respect for men who relied on appearance and ceremony.
"But charm and kindness have won Great Lord Renly many allies and much devotion," the Handsome Man said in a deep voice.
That was absolutely true.
Take Brienne, for example. At the welcoming feast on the Isle of Tarth years ago, the elegant and composed Renly had treated her with impeccable courtesy, as though she were a normal and beautiful maiden. He had even danced with her. In the circle of his arms, Brienne felt graceful and noble, her feet gliding smoothly across the floor.
Inspired by the Great Lord's example, others soon began inviting her to dance as well.
From that day on, Brienne never forgot Renly's kindness.
"Renly is one of our major enemies," Qyburn analyzed coldly. "He has his own ambitions for that Iron Throne. Renly is the lord of the Stormlands, and he has also drawn the wealthy Reach to his side. The Reach was once quite loose in its alliances, but the old matriarch of House Tyrell coordinated an alliance between House Tyrell, House Redwyne, and House Hightower, making House Tyrell stronger than ever."
"Indeed. House Hightower, House Rowan, House Redwyne, and House Tyrell. These four great houses possess the greatest wealth and manpower. After them come houses like Florent and Tarly. Slightly less powerful, but still wealthy by any measure."
"The situation isn't quite as frightening as you describe," Jorah replied. "Renly's potential strength looks impressive, but it isn't a solid block. The Reach has always been full of powerful lords. Those larger bannermen may not necessarily obey House Tyrell's commands. Even House Hightower, though tied to the Tyrells by marriage, prefers its quiet prosperity these days and has little interest in war."
Jorah had once married a woman from House Hightower, so he understood the Reach quite well.
"Even so, if we attempt a landing by sea, Renly could call upon the Redwyne fleet to resist us. And Storm's End itself is a fortress that is nearly impossible to overcome."
"Leaving aside the alliance between the Reach and the Stormlands, I have already prepared a new landing route for the future," Gendry said mysteriously.
A moment later, Anguy knocked on the door of the map room.
"My lord, your guest is about to arrive."
"Very well. I'll excuse myself for a moment."
Gendry rose to his feet. The others understood that any guest who required the Lord Governor to receive personally must be someone extraordinary.
...
Gendry and Daenerys met their visitor in a quiet garden.
He was a weather-beaten middle-aged man, a brown-haired knight already beginning to show his age. His leather armor looked worn and battered. Only the sword at his side appeared carefully maintained.
"I am glad to know that even in distant lands, there are still people willing to fight for Dany," Gendry said, studying the down-at-heel knight before him.
Ser Mortimer Boggs, lord of House Boggs of Crackclaw Point.
"I fight for you as well, my lord. For the shared honor of you and the true dragon," Mortimer replied cautiously.
He knew that the fool Viserys was not part of the plan, but he was perfectly willing to accept that.
The brave and the reckless had already died on the battlefield.
And he was still alive.
"I am glad to meet you, ser. I've heard that you fought beside my brother on the battlefield of the Trident," Dany said.
With better living conditions and a brighter mood, Daenerys had grown a little more. She no longer looked as small and fragile as she once had.
Ser Mortimer Boggs noticed the four-colored badge pinned to Daenerys's chest. The girl was a proud heir of the true dragon, yet all her hopes rested on the man she loved. Even if they one day returned, it would simply mark the birth of a new dynasty, the dragon and the stag together.
But that was enough. At least he had not completely failed the prince's trust.
"Yes. Not only me. At the Trident, those who fought beside Prince Rhaegar included Crabb, Brune, and Boggs. Even among the Kingsguard there had once been men from House Crabb. There was a Hardy, a Keff, a Pyne, and three Crabbs: Ser Clement, Ser Rupert, and Ser Clarence the Short," Mortimer Boggs said quietly, his thoughts drifting back to Ruby Ford.
The bells of the Trident had tolled for everyone.
For Prince Rhaegar, and for the loyalists who fought for the crown that day.
Mortimer Boggs did not continue speaking about the war of the usurper. Fate had a strange way of working. The bastard of House Baratheon and the surviving blood of House Targaryen had been brought together, stirring up a new vengeance against that cursed Iron Throne.
"I'm glad to meet you. You are a loyal man, just like Ser Darry," Daenerys said softly.
In truth, her ties to Westeros were not deep. Ser Darry remained one of the few warm memories she still carried.
She asked only a few more questions and then let the subject drop. Though she was still fascinated by the stories of her brother Rhaegar, she knew she had to look forward. A new crown awaited her. She could not remain trapped in the hatred of the past.
"I have waited many years," Mortimer Boggs said. "At last, I see a glimmer of hope."
"After the new dynasty was established, the punishment for your people was quite severe, wasn't it?" Gendry asked.
"Yes, my lord. It was crippling," Mortimer sighed. "Some were exiled. Some lost their titles, lands, and tax rights. Those of Crackclaw Point were fortunate enough to keep their titles, but everyone paid an enormous ransom in golden dragons. It was not out of Great Lord Jon's kindness. It was simply because outsiders could never truly gain a foothold in Crackclaw Point."
"Lord Gendry, Princess Daenerys, if you raise your banners on Crackclaw Point, the peninsula will fight for you once more. I do not speak only for House Boggs, but for countless people of Crackclaw Point. We wait. We remember. We remain loyal."
Mortimer Boggs chose to reveal what made Crackclaw Point most valuable: its loyalty.
"Crackclaw Point may be poor. The people of King's Landing mock us as half-wild savages and country fools. But the men of the Point do not fear death. And we lie close to King's Landing."
"Good," Gendry said with a faint smile. "Those loyal beyond King's Landing should not act yet. Now is not the best time. But I promise you will not have to wait long."
"I am willing to kill the traitors of House Lannister to prove my loyalty. King Robert won his throne with warhammer and courage. The Lannisters hold their power only through gold and deceit. I hate the Lannisters. Crackclaw Point hates the Lannisters."
Mortimer Boggs spoke with bitterness.
He hated that war, hated that the rightful king had died. But he hated House Lannister even more. The deceitful Lannisters. The kingslaying Lannisters.
Daenerys was very satisfied with Mortimer Boggs's answer. The Lannisters were also the enemies who had harmed her the most. Her brother had repeated those stories countless times until they were burned into her memory.
This attitude was common throughout Westeros.
If victory came through open battle, most people had little to say. But when victory was won through betrayal and treachery, it left a bitter taste and an infamous reputation.
And the Lannisters' conduct during the war had been particularly ugly: betrayal, kingslaying, smashing a child's head against a wall, dishonoring women, and sacking King's Landing.
"Wait for my orders," Gendry said. "I will send people to deliver grain, armor, and weapons. I know Crackclaw Point has coastlines suitable for smuggling."
Morosh was also skilled in smuggling and could locate the proper routes.
"Yes, my lord. I will make preparations in secret," Mortimer Boggs replied with a nod.
"My love, don't forget House Darry either," Daenerys reminded him.
"I won't forget."
Gendry tightened his grip on Dany's hand, sensing the unrest in her heart.
"They once cared for you. I will repay that kindness."
From Crackclaw Point to Maidenpool and Darry Castle, beyond King's Landing lay a region that served as the stronghold of Targaryen loyalists, the arc of loyalists.
This northeastern stretch outside the capital would become a wedge driven into the chaos of Westeros.
Yet it also lay dangerously close to the royal fleet stationed at Dragonstone.
Careful planning would be essential.