Catch the Children of the Forest

Time passed quickly. Another half month went by.

The army marched out of Riverland City and officially entered the Neck, a marshland rife with miasma.

"Siga!"

A golden dragon flew above the forest, guiding the army below.

Compared to when they had set out, the army had grown larger by the day.

More and more lords from the Riverlands sent troops, while House Arryn of the Vale led an allied force of three thousand Knights of the Vale, five thousand archers, and infantry.

Even more troops continued to gather.

Clip-clop...

Hooves trampled the muddy ground, splashing foul-smelling muck.

Rhaegar rode beside the Pale Wheel Palace.

The carriage curtain parted, revealing a lovely face.

"Lord Rowan's letter says the Reach Army has crossed Riverland City."

Holding a letter in her little hand, Rhaenyra beamed.

With the Reach Army's arrival, the northern host now numbered over thirty thousand.

"Put it away for now. There are too many mosquitoes here."

Rhaegar waved off the little mosquitoes circling him and slowly drew the curtain shut.

"We should ride our dragons."

Rhaenyra leaned against the window frame, clapping her little hands together.

The curtain draped over her head, leaving only a pair of violet eyes visible outside.

Rhaegar pulled the curtain all the way closed and joked, "We're almost at Greywater Watch. Tell me sooner next time."

"Mm-hmm~~"

Rhaenyra obediently ducked back inside and cuddled up with her two adopted daughters, whispering to them.

The Neck was a natural barrier. Any army that passed through it would suffer a severe loss of morale.

That was all the more true of an alliance drawn from different realms, with little organization to speak of.

Having the king travel alongside them could quietly strengthen their unity.

It would also help guide the forces that joined later.

The