Chapter 104: The True Dragon, The Fat
Flower, and The Spear
"The Dornishmen crossed The Reach without permission from my father, Lord Luthor Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden, Lord Paramount of the Reach, Warden of the South, and Defender of the Marches?"
Upon seeing the Dornish envoy, Mace Tyrell's face flushed red, resembling a strange fish that swells tenfold when poked. He was like a fat flower, or an inflatable fish.
Dorne, House Tyrell of Highgarden in The Reach, and Storm's End, seat of House Baratheon in the Stormlands, are all ancient enemies, especially Highgarden. For centuries, they have fought over their borders, with raids constantly exchanged between the mountains and the Dornish Marches, leaving no peace. Since Dorne was incorporated into the Seven Kingdoms under King Daeron II Targaryen, the old hatred has slightly diminished. However, deep down, mutual suspicion and prejudice naturally persist.
Rhaegar stopped Ser Mace, who was furious.
"The Dornish envoy came at my request. Prince Lewyn Martell also brought valuable nautical chart information, which will make it easier for our army to win. We need to look to the future, Ser, and unite for victory!"
"Fine then!" Ser Mace calmed his emotions and reluctantly agreed.
Prince Lewyn Martell, brother of the ruling Princess of Dorne of House Nymeros Martell, was slender, with smooth olive skin, black hair, and dark eyes. His glossy black curls made the Prince appear very energetic.
Rhaegar looked at Prince Lewyn, recognizing him as truly fine steel. His body was lean and strong; the Prince possessed the fierce agility of a warrior, and the burning hot blood of the Dornishmen flowed within him.
Prince Lewyn looked at Rhaegar and sighed with admiration.
"Your bravery and handsomeness, Prince, are well-known even in Dorne. My elder sister has praised you many times, confirming that a true dragon is born inherently great."
Prince Lewyn laughed again.
"This mission shouldn't have fallen to me; we have better young men and beautiful girls in our family. But Prince Doran Martell is traveling in the Free Cities, Princess Elia Martell is frail and often sick, and Prince Oberyn Martell is too young and clings to his sister—they are always inseparable."
Prince Lewyn spoke pleasantly, and Rhaegar recalled that he was very popular. This was true of the children of the Princess of Dorne's household; Doran was significantly older than his younger siblings, and Elia was sickly.
The Princess of Dorne had once served at court alongside Queen Rhaella Targaryen and Lady Joanna Lannister, wife of Lord Tywin Lannister. However, the Princess of Dorne was much older than her two companions; her eldest son, Doran, was more than ten years Rhaegar's senior.
Afterward, Prince Lewyn Martell also addressed Mace.
"Ser Mace, we did not step onto the soil of The Reach. I climbed The Boneway, turned east near Summerhall, and then traveled north along the kingsroad."
Hearing the name Summerhall still brought Rhaegar some sadness. That day marked his birth, as well as the deaths of his great-grandfather King Aegon V Targaryen, called Aegon the Unlikely, and also Prince Duncan Targaryen, and Ser Duncan the Tall, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
After this war ends, perhaps he should visit that ruin again—that ruin represented depression and sorrow.
Rhaegar and the two envoys knew that the chaotic war in the Stepstones was escalating, and the battle lines were difficult to advance.
The war blocked the shipping lanes at the southern end of the Narrow Sea, and The Reach, Dorne, The Westerlands, and the Riverlands all suffered greatly. Trade between King's Landing, Maidenpool, and Gulltown with the East was also occasionally interrupted. This chain of islands was a desolate place, where stones might as well bloom, yet its geographical location was truly superior.
Furthermore, Rhaegar's informant in King's Landing sent word that Braavos had once again sent a delegation. Braavos brought envoys from Pentos and Lorath; Pentos, long constrained by Braavos, and Lorath, small and weak, effectively under the Sealord's influence. The Sealord was willing to advance credit to allow the Iron Throne to launch its campaign, which remained profitable and low-risk for them. However, this was also a form of pressure, demanding that the pirates be dealt with quickly.
After finalizing the small tripartite alliance, Rhaegar thought he would continue to monitor news from the Free Cities. His contact in Volantis was limited in influence; the Triarchs acted independently, and intelligence was all that could be reliably gained.
The meeting room in Maidenpool was arranged in a triangular structure, with Rhaegar seated in the middle, and Prince Lewyn Martell and Ser Mace Tyrell on the other two sides.
This tripartite cooperation had a foundation: the pirates were a common enemy. The Dornishmen, with their long coastline, also suffered greatly. However, since Princess Nymeria burned her ships upon landing in Dorne, Dornish naval power has traditionally been limited, meaning they cannot project force far offshore. If not for this, the Dornishmen would have long ago swept aside the Stepstones, instead of watching this rocky island chain harbor bandits, exiles, wreckers, and pirates for so long.
"Only shared interest can bring unity! We face the same enemies: the Lysene fugitives and pirates who cut off shipping lanes and disrupt trade," Rhaegar told the two men.
Prince Lewyn and Mace also agreed. Although surprised to be meeting each other, it is always best in war to outnumber the enemy; with superior forces, victory is easier. With The Reach and Dorne contributing, success would be quicker and more effortless.
"I have no quarrel with the Dornishmen, and I am always generous. I just think it would have been better if they had greeted my father or been more courteous when passing through," Ser Mace unilaterally declared himself a magnanimous person.
Prince Lewyn offered a small apology, and they began to return to the main topic. Dorne and Highgarden would state their opinions first, Rhaegar would listen, and then perform the final coordination.
Prince Lewyn explained that the Dornish could only deploy a small number of ships, but they would provide guides skilled in nautical charts, along with some spearmen and crossbowmen.
With Dornish guides leading the way, they could bypass the deadly whirlpools along the southern coast of Dorne. If The Reach fleet occasionally lacked water or food, the Dornishmen would also be happy to provide a small amount of assistance.
The basis of the cooperation was the elimination of the pirates, and Prince Lewyn stressed that if spoils of war distribution were implemented, the Dornishmen must not be left out.
Rhaegar watched Prince Lewyn and Ser Mace haggle; the two represented two extremes. Dorne and The Reach: one was like a great magnate, the other a tough pauper. Just like the physiques of Ser Mace and Prince Lewyn, one was a slightly robust fat flower, and the other a lean, stiff spear.
Dorne is rocky, mountainous, arid, and barren, with vast deserts. The harsh environment results in the lowest population among the Seven Kingdoms. The Reach, however, has open terrain, easy irrigation, fertile and rich land, advanced agriculture, and the largest population.
Rhaegar felt that population and climate also influenced warfare. Dorne has the smallest population among the Seven Kingdoms, leading to Dornish battle strategies differing from the other six kingdoms. Dornishmen are masters of mobile warfare, guerrilla warfare, surprise attacks, and wars of attrition, consistently avoiding large-scale frontal combat, wary of throwing all their assets into one fight. Coupled with the local harsh climate, the Dornish army relies on lightly equipped warriors and excellent horses to wear down enemy forces.
The Reach, relying on its large population and being the birthplace of knightly culture, dared to launch charges of tens of thousands. The most famous example being House Gardener organizing tens of thousands of armored knights during the Field of Fire, resulting in the entire royal house being burned by King Aegon I Targaryen and his sisters' dragons.
Ser Mace also voiced his thoughts. The part of the fleet departing from The Arbor would also include elite knights mustered from Highgarden.
Ser Mace didn't have strong opinions on the spoils of war distribution; it was just haggling. Those Dornish paupers were always like this. Highgarden, being vast and wealthy, disdained the pirates' meager assets.
What Ser Mace truly desired was honor. Honor surpassed money, and he had never earned any respectable honor, especially on the battlefield.
Ser Mace envied Prince Rhaegar, who was significantly younger than him but had already gained considerable honor in battle. He himself was older, and time waited for no man.
Rhaegar was happy to mediate for both sides. If they focused on the pirates, both parties could set aside their grudges and defeat the sea raiders.
The three reached a preliminary agreement: Mace would provide men and ships; the Dornishmen would provide nautical charts, guides, and some men; and Rhaegar would provide his men and the dragons. Rhaegar had the dragons for support, but they would not depart directly with the Arbor fleet.
"Let the Lyseni and the pirates feel the two crab claws I've prepared; they will crush them!" Rhaegar thought. The House Tyrell fleet would cross the Dornish coast and enter the battle, and he would have another army departing from King's Landing in the east, squeezing the enemy from both sides. As for the dragons, they were the trump card beyond the two fleets.
"We are bound to win a great victory that will be recorded in the epics," Ser Mace declared. "The Reach has a fleet, and now we have the nautical guides provided by Prince Lewyn, plus Prince Rhaegar joining us with his massive dragons—the three of us are invincible."
"Then, everyone will praise you as Mace the Valiant, Ser," Rhaegar told Mace Tyrell.
Ser Mace instantly beamed with joy, feeling as light as air.
"But Prince, are you certain your dragons can be deployed?" Prince Lewyn, more mature than both Mace and Rhaegar, was still hesitant. The Dornishmen had once brought down dragons during past conflicts.
Rhaegar said nothing, leading the two men out to the courtyard. Above them, three dragons swayed in the wind, casting enormous shadows.
Silver wings spread nearly thirty feet, while the other two dragons measured slightly less.
Silver, black, and purple fire soared in the sky.
"They grow so fast. Before long, they will be the nightmare of an entire generation of our enemies," Prince Lewyn remarked.
Speaking of who suffered the worst from dragons, Dorne was certainly among them. During King Daeron I Targaryen's Conquest of Dorne, the region endured devastation and dragonfire.
Ser Mace looked up, his confidence soaring even higher. The three dragons were larger and fiercer than he had imagined.
The three men stood in the courtyard, watching the dragons fly.
The true dragon.
The fat flower.
The spear.
A wondrous alliance.
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