Chapter 73: The Wheel of Time Turns
The team competition was almost without suspense; the Varezes team of seven cooperated seamlessly, crushing all opponents like a decaying force. Only the Northmen and the Dornish held on for a bit longer. But as Lord Mormont was cut down by "Battleaxe" Samwell, a newly joined knight of the Bloodsworn Brothers, and Obara Sand was defeated by Lynn Valtaken, eventually, only the Varezes family's team remained on the field.
The archery competition also quickly came to an end. Red Robb Rivers, the bastard of House Blackwood, won the championship without suspense, and the mysterious knight took off his helmet after finishing third.
Lord Samwell Blackwood was instantly aghast. It was his daughter, Alysanne Blackwood—a contestant who did not meet the eligibility criteria—yet had successfully participated. However, all the knights present acknowledged the little girl's archery skills. Lord Cregan Stark even showed a rare smile when Alysanne struck the bullseye.
Although the rewards were distributed as normal, afterward, a group of children, including Daeron and Jacaerys, regretted it immensely before being caught and spanked by their parents. They wished they had disguised themselves as the mysterious knight.
Dragon Nest City, the corridor of the Twin Towers. Moros, the steward of Dorne, who had waited a long time in Dragon Nest City, finally met Dragonzel. The silver-haired prince leaned against the bronze gate of the Silver Blood Tower, and Moros had been bowing here for a while.
"A guest from Sunspear." Dragonzel straightened up. Although he had divided Dorne by instigating internal strife, he still greatly respected such a terrifyingly persistent opponent. "I know why you've come. The words of House Nymeros Martell are 'Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken,' so you used King Aegon the Conqueror's wars to unite those wavering lords and resist the fury of the True Dragon—but at what cost?"
Moros did not shy away from Dragonzel's gaze; instead, he answered truthfully: "Your Highness, the cost was decades of destruction. Rhaenys's fall enraged Aegon and Visenya. Every castle, every town, every farm in Dorne was burned, and almost every family was destroyed. Your Highness, even so, we never yielded."
"This is foolishness," Dragonzel said unceremoniously. "Your pride brought disaster. The people, suffering from Aegon's actions, stood by you. But when Aegon the Conqueror brings not suffering but bread, meat, and ale, only those lords will remain by your side. Look at Dorne now. I believe Prince Corwin, who has always hoped not to expand the war, is a wise man—but what about your lords? I only promised crowns and gold, and they immediately rebelled against the sun."
"You also admitted that this was your doing," Moros replied with a faint smile. "Your Highness, Dorne has no king, just as Princess Meria once said. Dorne is bound by blood to the ancient Rhoynar. We are unbowed, unbent, unbroken. Blood and fire do not belong to Dorne—nor do you."
"If I am not mistaken, the Iron Throne's demands are very simple, are they not?" Dragonzel said, both troubled and impressed by Moros's resolve. "Nominal submission, retention of the title Prince of Dorne, and the Dornish need only acknowledge the King on the Iron Throne as the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms."
Moros nodded. "These are indeed the terms King Viserys offered us. He, like his grandfather, is a benevolent monarch—but my prince desires a unified and unconstrained Dorne."
"Prince Corwin thinks too highly of himself," Dragonzel interrupted coldly. "Lord Steward, do not forget—it is you who are losing the war. The Greenblood has changed hands three times in the past four months, yet not once has the banner of the sun and spear been raised. Godsgrace has even flown the iron gate sigil of House Yronwood twice in succession. What cannot be won on the battlefield cannot be gained at the negotiating table."
Dragonzel stepped closer. His personal guards—the Dothraki youth Ago and the black-haired, golden-eyed Hofa—immediately followed, their gazes fixed on the Dornish envoy.
"The High King of Dorne may prove more reasonable than the proud Prince of Dorne," Dragonzel continued. "As for the King of the Torrentine—"
He gestured toward the distant camp, where the falling star and sword of House Dayne flew high.
"Moreover, envoy, the longer this drags on, the worse it will be for you. House Yronwood has taken my gold; they have ample coin to replenish their forces across the Narrow Sea. They will soon take Skyreach, whose supplies are cut off, and their armies are already eyeing Godsgrace and Hellholt. Even Princess Nymeria would not have underestimated a full-strength Yronwood—let alone now, when they control nearly half of Dorne."
"Your Highness, I am but an envoy," Moros lowered his head. "My mission is to persuade you to cease supporting the rebels—and I ask you not to underestimate House Martell. We remained unbowed under Aegon the Conqueror's dragonfire, and we can do so again under yours."
"Is that so?" Dragonzel raised a hand, stopping Hofa and Ago, as Ago had already drawn his arakh. "Perhaps you do not yet understand me."
Dragonzel reached out and gently brushed Moros's eyes.
Moros froze.
He saw the sun swallowed by a sea of blood. Corwin and Alexandra struggled within it before being devoured. He saw Sunspear engulfed in flames. He saw every member of House Martell—even bastards hidden in brothels—wailing as they drowned in crimson tides.
He saw a howling cold wind. The desert turned to frozen wasteland. Blue eyes flashed in the darkness.
"Seven Hells!" Moros gasped, collapsing to the ground, staring at Dragonzel in horror. "Devil… devil…"
"I merely showed you a possible future, my lord," Dragonzel said softly, leaning closer. "First, I am a blood mage—this is no longer a secret. Second, while erasing a great house is difficult, with enough bloodshed, it becomes possible. You would not wish House Martell to vanish into the sands of Dorne, would you? As for the last part… that is a secret."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Dorne rarely sees winter—but the legend of endless winter is known not only to the Andals, but to the Rhoynar as well. Remember—this is why Aegon the Conqueror sought to unite the Seven Kingdoms. Ambition was only part of it… the rest…"
His quiet laugh sent chills down Moros's spine.
That very night, the Dornish envoy departed Dragon Nest City at full gallop.
The wheel of time continued to turn.
Skyreach, in the Prince's Pass, finally fell at the end of 123 AC. A bolt of lightning ignited the wooden structures within the inner walls, and the fire raged through the night. At dawn, Lord Lewyn Yronwood stepped into the ruined castle and personally beheaded his charred foe, Lord Fowler.
But Lord Lewyn's triumph was short-lived. His forces on the southeastern frontier were attacked by House Martell. The young Lord Daolang Gargalen distinguished himself, leading two hundred sand riders in a raid on the Yronwood camp, slaying Lord Jordayne and Lewyn's bastard brother, and reclaiming Godsgrace.
Enraged, Lord Lewyn marched south, entering a prolonged stalemate with Lord Daolang and Prince Corwin. None could explain how Prince Corwin, once in decline, had so quickly rallied a formidable force to oppose the rising power of House Yronwood.
Dragon Nest City was officially completed at the beginning of 124 AC, and Summerhall continued to expand steadily. In November of that year, the magnificent Varezes Summer Palace was completed. Located in the Prince's Quarter, it was built entirely of marble, adorned with purple and silver tiles, surrounded by lush groves, eastern-style gardens, winding corridors, and countless fountains and statues. The Faith district and the Summer Market were completed alongside it.
In 125 AC, the great walls of Summerhall were finished, and the City Hall was finally constructed. The city as a whole remained under steady development. By the end of the year, the Liquor Castle in Lace Town was completed, along with its port. The massive military harbor of Silver Dragon Port was officially put into use at the beginning of 126 AC.
At this moment, however, Dragonzel stood anxiously outside the cleanest chamber in all of Dragon Nest City. Valarr and the now taller, more mature Ray also stared at the door with concern, and Ray even clutched his brother's hand, softly muttering something under his breath.
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