King Jaehaerys II spoke loudly from the Iron Throne: "The matter of Prince Rhaegar riding dragons into battle will be set aside for now. We must first consider the selection of armies and their generals. Dragons are not omnipotent, and the current pirate situation is still within controllable limits."
Seeing the King's decision, the ministers ceased their arguments.
They also believed that the appearance of dragons would deliver a massive psychological shock to the Stepstones pirates, accelerating victory. Moreover, Prince Rhaegar possessed superior martial arts and great combat talent. War allows no compromise, and Rhaegar might even prove fiercer than Maegor. The only comparison was the brutal Maegor, who at twelve could repeatedly defeat squires four or five years his senior in tourneys and ruthlessly school seasoned veterans in the training yard.
But the ministers also knew King Jaehaerys II faced a dilemma: across three generations, there were no spare warriors. Jaehaerys II was not born martial; his brothers had either died in battle or suffered grievous wounds. Prince Daeron died in battle in his twenties, and Prince Duncan the Small—a famous commander—perished in the fire at Summerhall. Crown Prince Aerys had no brothers, and the only available grandson, Prince Rhaegar, was the sole Dragonrider, so he absolutely could not be risked too greatly.
King Jaehaerys II's eyes revealed firm determination. He dared not risk Rhaegar in the Battle of the Stepstones. Both Rhaegar and his dragons were young, representing the future of House Targaryen. The people of Lys and Myr were stained with Targaryen blood; they were a breed of ruthless assassins, slayers, and poisoners who cared nothing for the blood of Dragonlords.
Seeing his grandfather like this, Rhaegar did not insist on fighting. Naval warfare was too dangerous, and the shadow the Three Daughters had left on House Targaryen was too deep. Prince Aemon was ambushed and killed by a Myrish crossbowman; Prince Jacaerys and his dragon died in the Battle of the Gullet.
Before the war, Rhaegar also needed to practice evading scorpion bolts with his hatchlings. The tide of war changes instantly; Rhaegar felt he would have his chance. He possessed the Shield Rune and the Dragon-Man Pact, so he didn't entirely fear scorpions.
"House Baratheon is willing to root out those pirates and gutter rats for the Iron Throne!"
"House Lannister is also ready to fight for the Iron Throne!"
With the declarations of Lord Ormund of the Stormlands and Lord Tywin of the Westerlands, the army's composition was easily determined: the Crownlands, Stormlands, and Westerlands would remain the main force, but the Iron Islands would contribute absolutely no men or resources this time.
Other lords, such as the lesser nobility of the Crownlands, also expressed their support. House Rosby and House Rykker (text says Maidenpool, likely meaning Duskendale or AU) pledged loyalty to the Iron Throne. House Rykker, in particular, had high morale.
"First, I must tell you of the various disadvantages of this expedition. The Old Kraken (Quellon Greyjoy) will not help us again. He is too old, and his sons have been urging him to return to the Old Way. Even if the Old Kraken loves peace, he will not provide us with ships again," Lord Ormund said.
"As long as the Old Kraken doesn't raid, that is enough. We still have the Royal Fleet, filled with elite warriors," Crown Prince Aerys immediately announced loudly. He thought highly of himself, often too confident or boastful.
Rhaegar felt helpless; he foresaw that Crown Prince Aerys's insight and vision would be limited for life—he loved grand achievements but was conceited and capricious. However, the Old Kraken had shown his mercy. Lord Quellon had forbidden raiding the Westerlands and the Reach. The Old Kraken's changes to the Ironborn's reaving ways had also caused dissatisfaction and resentment among many over the years.
Rhaegar knew the realm's naval power was now split into several factions. Since the decline of House Velaryon, the strongest were the three great fleets: the Redwyne Fleet of the Arbor, the Royal Fleet of King's Landing and Dragonstone, and the Ironborn Fleet of the Iron Islands. The Ironborn fleet might be less equipped, but they lived by the sea. The Ironborn were fierce and cunning, feared by all at sea. The Redwyne Fleet had a vast variety of ships, possessing over two hundred warships and five times as many merchant vessels, wine cogs, trading galleys, and whalers.
In the North and Dorne, two individuals had been keen on burning ships—one out of affection (Nymeria), one out of love (Brandon the Burner). Rhaegar knew their naval power was weak. The Vale and the Westerlands still had their own navies, which, while not comparable to the three great fleets, were not to be underestimated.
This was a naval battle; they must find a way to enlist House Redwyne. Rhaegar remembered the grape banner of the Redwynes; they sold wine and possessed a massive fleet. House Redwyne was powerful, and their intermarriage with House Tyrell strengthened the Reach. If House Velaryon were still strong, or if Ser Brynden "Blackfish" Tully had married a Redwyne woman on behalf of House Tully back then, this naval war would be much easier.
"Lord Quellon loves peace, which is good for the realm. We need to send some gifts to the Lord, telling him we still remember the friendship forged when he fought alongside the Iron Throne in the War of the Ninepenny Kings, and we have never forgotten this old friend. Before this war, Lord Ormund, Lord Tywin, and you, Aerys, will discuss this matter," King Jaehaerys II said.
Rhaegar felt the words "loves peace" were jarring, and many lords suppressed smiles, as Ironborn had never been associated with peace. Fortunately, Lord Quellon was old and no longer keen on raiding the green lands.
"As you command, Your Majesty!" the ministers said in unison.
"Send letters to the Princess of Dorne, Lord Jon of the Vale, and Lord Hoster of the Riverlands, to see if they can send troops to support," King Jaehaerys II continued to order. As for the North, he felt a symbolic inquiry was sufficient.
Rhaegar considered this campaign a replay of the War of the Ninepenny Kings, with the main participants roughly the same—the Dragon, the Lion, and the Stag as the core. As for support troops, he would scour for them wherever possible.
"Gentlemen, we must strive for a quick victory. If the war drags on, the treasury will be overwhelmed. Since the end of the War of the Ninepenny Kings, the country has only just recovered a little vitality," King Jaehaerys concluded.
Rhaegar saw his grandfather, King Jaehaerys II, looking depressed; they were still short of money. The debt to the Iron Bank had just been paid off, and now another war had broken out. They absolutely could not let this war become a quagmire.
After the meeting, King Jaehaerys II summoned Prince Rhaegar to stay behind alone.
In the spacious Throne Room, only the grandfather and grandson and a few guards remained.
"Come here, child!" King Jaehaerys II stepped down from the Iron Throne, signaling Rhaegar to ascend the dais as well.
Rhaegar scrutinized the massive metal throne, which radiated an ugly and terrifying light. This Iron Throne was forged from the melted, twisted, bent, and broken swords of Aegon the Conqueror's defeated enemies, symbolizing the Conqueror's brilliant military achievements and immense power.
"I hope one day you can sit securely on the Iron Throne and have children," King Jaehaerys II said.
"Promise your grandfather, try to take fewer risks, stop messing around. Swords have no eyes on the battlefield. I still hope you grow up safe and sound."
Rhaegar nodded. This was the bond between grandfather and grandson. Even if he could stand on his own, his grandfather would protect him and care for him.
In the past, you protected me. Now, let me protect you and this iron chair, Rhaegar thought.
"Grandfather, may I touch this chair?" Rhaegar asked suddenly. He looked at the Iron Throne, this ugly masterpiece he had never carefully touched before.
Jaehaerys II hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Be careful; it is the hardest chair to sit on."
Jaehaerys II watched for a while, then turned and walked into the council chamber; he was old.
Rhaegar carefully stroked the Iron Throne. With the protection of runes, he naturally wasn't afraid. But seeing the ugly spikes and sharp edges on the Iron Throne still made him feel a little uneasy.
Legend said it was a cursed object that could choose its master. Maegor died upon it, and Queen Rhaenyra was grievously wounded by it.
The Iron Throne was born after the Field of Fire, and the Field of Fire was long soaked in blood, sorrow, fire, and pain. Aegon the Conqueror displayed mighty divine power at the Field of Fire; over four thousand men were burned alive, and another thousand died by swords, spears, and arrows. Tens of thousands were burned, many bearing ugly scars for life.
Rhaegar slowly stroked the Iron Throne until his fingertips felt a trace of warmth.
Suddenly, he noticed some black spots of light appearing on various parts of the chair; those sharp corners, those thorns, began to manifest them.
The faint black light spots slowly condensed, forming a mass of viscous, black-shining flame. Ordinary fire felt warm and hot, but this flame felt cold and terrifying.
Rhaegar gently ignited a cluster of blue flame at his fingertips. The black flame seemed to see the light, churning madly, intertwining and colliding with the blue flame. The black flame also sensed the surging vitality and fresh aura of the blue flame.
The Iron Throne's black flame was viscous and fierce, symbolizing pain, fear, and steel.
The black flame was like maggots in the bone, constantly eroding vitality, extremely difficult to heal, and bringing immense pain.
"So powerful? And with severe damage effects?" Rhaegar's fingertip flame became denser. Gold, blue, and black flames merged into a mass, frantically seizing the black flame on the Iron Throne. The viscous black flame struggled left and right until its strength was exhausted, and Rhaegar carefully brought it under control.
[Explorer: Congratulations on discovering the mysterious curse of the Iron Throne: Steel, Fire, and Fear forged the Iron Throne. Only the flame of a true King can win the Iron Throne's approval. The curse of the Iron Throne is no joke; be extra careful.]
Rhaegar understood in his heart that a true King seemed to possess powerful strength; otherwise, it would be difficult to suppress the Iron Throne's curse. King Viserys I was injured by the Iron Throne in his later years, losing two fingers directly.
A glint flashed in Rhaegar's eyes. Once the cursed black flame on the Iron Throne was released, its power was comparable to Lysene poison. The damage caused would be more severe, more intense, and harder to heal.
Rhaegar carefully collected the black light spots, fiercely suppressing the viscous flame, while also protecting his grandfather from harm.
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