Published: December 18th 2024, 4:02:32 pm
Willas thought this was folly and a waste of his time. His father was also against his grandmother’s wishes to send him and Margaery to Dorne. It was not often that he found himself in total agreement with his father, but this was one of those rare occasions.
Unfortunately for both of them, his grandmother was persuasive and had the presence of mind to see her wishes come true. For decades, his grandmother had been the true power in Highgarden, and that never changed, even when his father assumed the lordship after his grandfather’s passing. So, when his grandmother made her wish known that he and Margaery make a trip to Sunspear, they did just that.
But he stayed well away from the deserts of Dorne. Though he was brave, Willas was in no rush to measure his bravery by crossing the treacherous deserts of Dorne to reach Sunspear. No Reachmen with a sense would cross the Marches without an army on their back. Therefore., he took a ship from the Mander and sailed around Hightower and the coasts of Dorne to reach Sunspear.
It was a tiring journey, as the heat alone was almost unbearable. The Summer Sea was as taxing as the Dornish desert, but Willas was certain it was the better option. The treacherous Marcher passes along the Dornish border were ripe with danger, and he was unwilling to test their fortune by traversing those passes.
Willas’ eyes fell on the two Redwyne ships escorting them. His grandmother had insisted on keeping their travel plans a secret, but his uncle was not so easily beguiled. Lord Paxtor insisted not to sail the Summer Sea without escorts as there was a sudden uptake in pirate activities.
“It was nice of Lord Redwyne to send us escorts.” Margaery said as she sauntered over to his side.
“The last thing he wants is for the pair of us to be taken hostage by pirates or worse. We are already stepping into a pit of vipers as it is.” Willas said with a snort, adjusting himself so that he could see his sister properly.
“I thought you’d be happy to meet Prince Oberyn. I was led to believe you have built a good rapport with the Red Viper.”
“You know as well as I do that words have little meaning when it comes to the dealings of Great Houses. The Martells and Targaryens are not good partners, and I don’t want to see you suffer for the ambitions of few.” Willas said, his brows furrowed while eyeing his sister with concern.
“We have never been this strong in the Reach, but the Florents have gained more power in the last three years than they have ever had. Our position in Highgarden will be under threat if the Florents continue to wield this influence over the Iron Throne.”
“The Florents are no threat to us so long as we do not pick sides. Stannis Baratheon is many things, but he is not so petty as to favour his wife’s family and let them claim Highgarden.” Willas said confidently.
Despite the rumours and mad preachings brought by the poor fellows from the Crownlands, he was confident of King Stannis’ impartiality. Though King’s Landing was currently embroiled in a religious conflict, he was confident Stannis Baratheon would address the issue impartially.
“You remember our lessons when the Hightowers married into House Targaryen. House Tyrell was left powerless in the Reach if not for the Dance of Dragons dislodging the Hightowers from their position of influence in King’s Landing.”
“I do, sister.” Willas rolled his eyes. “The Florents are not the Hightowers.”
“They’re not. They’re much worse.” Margaery said firmly. “They have already taken control of Lannisport. Do you think it was a coincidence they were granted the Lannister city after the Lannister rebellion was suppressed?”
“They were granted the city to check Lannisters in the future.”
“You know as well as I do that’s not the only intention behind that decision. The Florents are now positioned to challenge the Redwyne fleet in a few decades.” Margaery said with a huff.
Willas turned away from his sister with a thoughtful frown. The Florents taking Lannisport was a cause for concern, but at the same time, it was an opportunity in disguise. There was no telling what would happen in the future. It was his expectation that the Lannisters would seek to recover their city from the Florents. It’d serve as a big thorn in House Florent’s side, taking up their attention and resources.
At the same time, the chances of House Florent consolidating their hold in Lannisport and building a fleet to rival the Redwyne and Hightower fleet was a cause for concern. It was possible that the Lannisters would become weakened under the lordship of Tyrion Lannister. If Tyrion Lannister failed to keep the Westerlands together, the Florents might consolidate their position and even increase their influence in the Westerlands.
“You might be right, but aligning with the Martells will bring us into unnecessary conflicts.”
“A conflict that’d make me the queen. I’ll take my chances.” Margaery smirked while he shook his head.
“First, we must know more about this Aegon before we commit ourselves. We must also need to learn what their plans are and see for ourselves whether this Aegon has the strength to reclaim the Iron Throne.” Willas said, staring intently at the distant shores of Dorne he could vaguely see from the ship.
The narrow ship glided through the azure waters of the Summer Sea, its sails billowing under the sunlit breeze. If the ship’s captain was correct, they were an hour away from reaching Sunspear.
“Aegon might not have the strength, but you’ve got to admit it was a good play on the Martell’s side to pick up powerful allies.” said Margaery.
“What do you mean, sister?” Willas asked, “They’ve ensured House Stark to be allied with them.” Margaery sighed, resting her hands on the rails. “The North has already pulled the attention of the Vale and the Riverlands away from the happenings in the capital.”
“You think the Starks are working with the Martells?” Willas asked, his tone carrying a hint of scepticism.
“I cannot be certain, but it cannot be a coincidence that they chose this time to wage war against the Vale right after the betrothal between Princess Arianne and Lord Harrion was announced.” Margaery pointed out.
Willas doubted that was the case. He had built a good rapport with Harrion Stark ever since the lord of Avalon healed his bad leg. They had even exchanged a few ravens in the last few years, and he thought he had gotten a good read on the Starks family. They wouldn’t so easily flip sides and align with the Targaryen cause. The current conflict with the Vale had something to do with pirates attacking Northern ships and disrupting trade in the eastern shores of the region.
But still, the betrothal between Lord Harrion and Princess Arianne took him by surprise. It didn’t make much sense, but then again, understanding the mind of Harrion Stark was a tall task. It also had to be taken into consideration who prompted the North to take drastic actions against the Vale. He liked to think Lord Eddard wouldn’t disturb the king’s peace, but the Sistermen were a rowdy bunch. Then there was the matter of Lord Harrion, whose temperance was lacking when his family was threatened. This became quite clear when the Ironborn attacked Avalon, and Myr hired assassins to end the Black Wolf.
“I confess I don’t know what the Starks are thinking aligning themselves with House Martell. Their sudden interest in a marriage alliance with Dorne is a cause for concern.” Willas admitted.
It was the one thing that brought much confusion. The Starks have always tended to keep themselves out of such entanglements, save for the time when Lyanna Stark was betrothed to Robert Baratheon. Other than the chance to rule Dorne, he didn’t see any other benefits with this union. Of course, there were trade interests, but he suspected that could’ve been achieved even without a marriage.
There was something he was not seeing, and Willas suspected there was a long-term plan in play.
‘Does the Starks know the Martells are preparing to wage a war championing Aegon Targaryen’s claim?’ Willas wondered.
“My lord.”
His musings were brought to a halt when Captain Godfrey of their ship, the Swift Rose, came to him.
“Captain.”
“Our spotters have seen Sunspear. We’ll be docking soon, my lord.”
“Thank you, Captain.” Willas nodded, watching the man leave before turning on his sister with a considerate look.
“The Martells share some of our grievances against the Baratheons and Targaryens. They may seem aloof, but their hatred is a fire that’ll leave nothing untouched. And Aegon… if he truly is Rhaegar’s son, he could be the unifying force Westeros needs.” Margaery said with confidence that he wished he had.
“And if he’s not? If he’s merely a boy with a clever story and ambitious backers?” Willas tilted his head, studying his sister.
“Then we’ll adjust our course. The Tyrells have survived by bending where others break. If Aegon falters, we’ll find another way to secure our position.” Margaery’s lips pressed into a thin line.
For a long moment, Willas said nothing. The sea stretched endlessly before them, the sun glinting on its surface like scattered coins.
“This Aegon might bear the name of House Targaryen, but keep in mind that he is also a Martell. I do not fancy suffering the same fate of Lyonel Tyrell.”
“There is nothing to worry about, brother. I’ll be sure to check the canopy of my bed for any scorpions.” Margaerys said with a chuckle.
It didn’t take long for their ship to dock at Sunspear’s port, and they were welcomed into the seat of House Martell, where they observed guest rights.
Sunspear's sandstone towers glowed amber in the late afternoon sun, the sharp shadows of its spires cutting into the hot, azure sky. Inside a grand chamber within Sunspear’s palace, where cool breezes filtered through latticed windows, a council gathered with ambitions grander than the walls could contain. The room was an embodiment of Dornish elegance—cushions sprawled across the floor, the scent of citrus and spice wafting from braziers, and low tables laden with dates, red oranges and goblets of the finest spiced wine.
Willas and Margaery sat in fine cushioned armchairs with servants filling the side tables with ample nourishment. Across from them sat Doran Martell and Oberyn Martell. Both were formidable men, and Willas noted that Prince Doran was no longer suffering from gout. He had noticed this when Prince Doran visited Highgarden a month ago, and now he knew for certain the Prince of Dorne had overcome the malady entirely.
“Ser Willas, Lady Margaery. How do you find Sunspear?”
“Far beautiful than I imagined, Prince Doran.” Margaerys said with a bright smile as radiant as the Dornish sun.
“I concur. I now realise it was a shame that I had not visited Sunspear before. You have a beautiful home.” Willas said, smiling politely at the two princes.
“Indeed. In these troubling times, the southernmost kingdoms of Westeros must foster good friendships and bonds of mutual benefit.” said Prince Doran.
“I believe you have proposed something of that nature to my grandmother. It is a tale that I struggle to believe, considering certain revelations that challenge common knowledge about some unfortunate events that happened a decade ago.”
“It’s understandable to be somewhat sceptical, but my uncle speaks the truth.”
A new voice suddenly was heard in the hall, and Willas set his eyes on a boy with silver hair and slight hints of blue at the edges. At the head of the gathering, Aegon Targaryen stood, his youth offset by a mantle of quiet authority.
“The dragons forged the Iron Throne, and it’s time the dragons returned to their rightful place.”
Willas resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the pretentious proclamation made by this ‘Aegon’.
‘At least, this one has the looks of a Targaryen. Now, I hope there is a sane plan involved in all of this.’ Willas mused earnestly before their discussion began, where Willas hoped to glean the truth from these three men.
*****
The morning sun rose over the cold waters of the Fingers, its pale light reflecting off the jagged cliffs and shimmering waves. The air was crisp and biting, carrying the scent of salt and frost.
Jon Stark stood atop a ridge overlooking the bay, his dark cloak billowing in the wind like a shadow given life. Below him, the pirate fleet lay anchored in the small harbour, a collection of black-sailed ships swaying gently with the tide. Lanterns, still burning from the night, swayed on masts, their dim light no match for the growing dawn. In the distance, Petyr Baelish’s castle loomed, its spires clawing at the sky like crooked fingers, though it was not as large as he imagined. He saw it all with the telescope in his hands.
Turning away from the sight before him, Jon walked down the cliff towards Sundancer. The morning rays of the sun glinted off the golden scales of his dragon, casting an eerie golden hue on the grassy plain of the cliff. All around them were rocky hills with small patches of greenery in between. It was a perfect spot for this gathering and reconnaissance as the cliff gave him ample view of the harbour and an isolated area from any outposts.
Sundancer growled upon seeing him return and moved away from rubbing his neck against a tree to look expectantly at him. His dragon was itching for some action, a feeling he shared.
“I know you want to burn them all down. But we have to wait.” Jon whispered against Sundancer’s golden scales while rubbing at his dragon’s neck.
Sundancer rumbled and showed his displeasure by turning away from him and rubbing himself against the bark of the tree.
But their wait was cut short when Jon heard a distant flap of wings. It didn’t take long for his eyes to find the blue, icy skin of the mighty ice dragon flying towards them. The massive crystalline horns of Winter gleamed under the morning sun as she landed on her hind legs. The massive clawed hands crushed the rocks on her landing and dug deep, long gouges into the earth. The ice dragon’s expressive eyes only stared at him for a moment before falling on Sundancer with a wary look.
Sundancer greeted the new arrivals with a low growl before turning his back to them.
His eyes fell on his brother sitting at the base of Winter’s neck on a riding harness.
“Brother. Our informant was correct. The pirate ships are anchored at the port. The water is shallow, so the ships are not close to the shores.”
“That makes our objectives easier to achieve.” said Harry, pushing up the glass goggles to his forehead. “We’ll be needing those pirate ships intact. It is becoming increasingly time-consuming and expensive to build more ships.”
“Is it really? I thought you had plans to order more ships from Braavos.” Jon asked with a sceptical look.
“I have ordered some extra ships from Braavos. But war is looming in the Narrow Sea, and I have been informed the Braavosi shipyards might suspend further orders from foreigners.”
“That’s unfortunate.” Jon admitted with a frown.
“The Braavosi are erring on the side of caution. With Viserys gathering swords to his side and King’s Landing in disorder, the Braavosi are shoring up themselves. They must also be worried about a war breaking out in Essos.”
Jon couldn’t think of anything that’d cause a war with Braavos. Other than the renewed conflict in the Disputed Lands, he had not heard of any other wars in Essos. Then again, he was no expert in Essosi affairs.
“Then let’s not dally any longer. Lord Baelish’s namesday present awaits.” Jon said with a wicked grin, which was matched by a similar grin on his brother’s face.
Harry nodded and drew the goggles back over his eyes while holding tightly against the harness.
“The harbour and the castle are yours. Leave the fleet to me.”
Jon nodded in agreement. After all, burning the pirate ships would defeat the purpose of adding more ships to the Avalonian fleet.
“It’s time,” Jon said, his voice low but firm.
Sundancer’s massive head turned toward him as if the dragon understood every word. Jon mounted the beast, his gloved hands gripping the jagged ridges of its glowing golden spine. He fastened the charmed glass goggles over his eyes so that the wind wouldn’t become a problem. With a single beat of its colossal wings, Sundancer launched into the sky, the force of the take-off shaking the very earth. They were closely followed by Harry riding Winter. The mighty icy wings of the ice dragon shined like a large crystal piece under the early dawn.
Together, they dived down from the cliff and banked southward hard, lining themselves straight into the heart of the harbour and the pirate fleet.
The pirates had grown complacent, lulled by the belief that no force could challenge their dominance on these shores. As Sundancer’s shadow passed over the fleet, the first sign of alarm came—shouts rising from the decks, men pointing upward at the monstrous silhouette against the morning sky. Jon guided his dragon in a wide arc, letting the anticipation build like the tension before a storm.
A gale of cold wind hit the back of his neck, forcing Jon to look back. He saw Harry guide Winter into a steep dive, and Winter opened its maw. A torrent of icy breath cascaded down to the nearest ship. The water around the vessel froze instantly, locking it in place as the frost spread across its hull. Sailors screamed as the deadly cold engulfed them, their bodies crystallising into grotesque frosty statues.
It was reminiscent of the time when he was gifted a small wooden ship encased in a glass bottle.
Jon turned away from the woes of the pirate fleet and set his eyes on the small harbour ahead.
“Let’s do this, Sundancer.” Jon shouted, leaning forward in his seat before cracking the whip and signalling his dragon to take the dive.
Arrows flew upward, a futile attempt to strike at his dragon from the guard posts. Most shattered harmlessly against Sundancer’s armoured scales, and the rest flew past its mark.
“Dracarys.”
The harbour was set ablaze as the golden flames of Sundancer consumed the harbour. Anything made of wood broke apart under the intense heat of dragonfire. The pirates and the Valemen in the harbour tried to put up a token resistance, but Jon gave them no quarter by consistently burning the harbour. The fire spread in all directions, and smoke spread everywhere. Once that happened, Jon urged Sundancer to fly straight towards the keep.
The men in the battlements were running for their lives instead of trying to defend their position. So, Jon had an easy time dismantling the keep. Sundancer breathed a long stream of dragonfire. The first to go was a gate tower built near the iron and oak gate. The intense heat of dragonfire blew away the stones, raining death on the people below.
Sundancer let out a challenging roar before circling around the castle, breathing fire from all corners without fail. Dragonfire poured into the keep through the windows and doors. Jon pulled on the reins and forced Sundancer to stop breathing fire into the castle. By the time his dragon pulled back, Baelish Keep was consumed in golden flames, and the sky was painted black with smoke.
The people below screamed in fright and ran without care wherever Sundancer went. The shadow cast by his dragon and the sound of Sundancer’s wings beating against the air was enough to set the people off on the ground. He made one more pass over the harbour and set some warehouses on flame before flying away into the sea.
Along the way, he saw the pirate ships lodged between huge blocks of ice, leaving them immobile. The ships were stuck in ice as the sea around them had frozen over. The pirates in the ships could not do anything other than shiver to death. There were a lucky few in the water, somehow managing to escape the fate of their comrades. Harry and Winter soon joined them after entrapping several ships on the harbour's far side in ice.
The rest was in the hands of the icebreakers in their fleet. This would serve as a pleasant surprise for the Vale lords. It‘d be the first time in centuries that a foreign kingdom successfully attacked an area in the Vale. He doubted the Vale of Arryn would retaliate, considering the internal struggle and the conflict brewing in the Narrow Sea.