Knighting

Dragonfire had always been the most persuasive weapon on the battlefield. Not a single warship from the Kingdom of the Three Daughters escaped; all were buried in a sea of flames. The entire stretch of sea boiled beneath the dragons' scorching fire, forcing even the Valaerys family's own fleet to hurriedly leave those waters.

The dragon slowly descended. A three-hundred-oared warship could not bear the weight of Bronze Fury. It lowered its neck so Lonzell could climb down from its head. Lonzell carefully undid the straps of his dragon saddle, slowly climbed across Vomysor's thick, bone-spiked neck, gently stroked its head a few times, then leaped down from its skull and landed steadily upon the deck of the Azure Sea Snake.

The recent battle had left the ship's deck riddled with holes, but it remained largely intact. Gonsor Jieyan dropped to one knee and placed a hand over his chest. "Your Highness, I did not fail you. Captain Myles and his grandson Samwell both performed exceptionally in this battle, so I beg you to grant them a reward."

Lonzell looked at Samwell, who had just rushed over from another ship and had not yet had time to put on any clothes, then at the frightened Myles Stone. Samwell was a lean, tall youth of perhaps seventeen or eighteen, his face dotted with acne. Though his upper body was not especially sturdy, his muscles were clearly defined. His short golden hair was neat and tidy; with a little grooming, he would have been quite a handsome young man.

Lonzell smiled. "The family's tradition is to reward merit. Captain Myles, Samwell, in the name of Prince Lonzell of House Valaerys, I order you to kneel."

Myles's eyes widened at once. Seeing that his grandson had yet to react, he hurriedly kicked the foolish boy and pulled him down to kneel before Lonzell.

"Captain Myles, you led your own ships into battle for House Valaerys and earned distinguished merit in this battle. If I recall correctly, Lord Sea Snake has already knighted you."

"Yes, Your Highness." Myles did not dare lift his head. "Lord Sea Snake knighted me when I was nineteen, but he did not grant me land or a stipend."

"I grant you the surname 'Hermosa.' In Old Valyrian, it means seafaring vessel. Ser Myles Hermosa, do you accept the surname I bestow upon you?"

"This is my greatest honor, Your Highness." Tears instantly streamed down Myles's aged face.

A new surname not only meant that they had truly entered the ranks of the nobility, but more importantly, it meant they could openly establish a line no longer burdened by bastardy, and would no longer suffer discrimination from the mainstream noble class.

"Samwell of House Hermosa." Lonzell drew Silver Blood and lightly laid the longsword upon his right shoulder. He was exceedingly careful, for one careless movement and Silver Blood might cut Samwell's skin.

"In the name of the Warrior, I command you to be brave."

Samwell stared at Lonzell in astonishment, so delighted that he forgot even to bow his head.

Lonzell smiled and moved the sword to his left shoulder.

"In the name of the Father, I command you to be just."

The sword returned to his right shoulder.

"In the name of the Mother, I command you to protect the weak and the innocent."

Silver Blood lightly tapped the youth's left shoulder.

"In the name of the Maiden, I command you to protect all women."

"In the name of the Smith, I command you to raise your sword against every enemy."

"In the name of the Crone, I command you to remain wise forever."

"In the name of the Stranger, I command you to bring death to evildoers and enemies."

Seven strokes in succession, the blessings of the Seven.

"I knight you, Ser Samwell Hermosa. Your courage has proven your worth. 'Battleaxe' Sam, let the Dornish tremble at your name."

Samwell blankly watched Lonzell leap gracefully onto Vomysor's lowered head once more and carefully climb back into the dragon saddle.

He did not even notice the envious looks from those around him.

Only one thought remained in his mind: I became a knight?

It was not until cries of "Battleaxe Sam" rose one after another and finally became a roaring wave that he snapped out of it. Then he saw his grandfather, tears streaming down his face, and Gonsor Jieyan, beaming with excitement.

"Congratulations, little Sam. Once we return, go straight to Lord Lynn. He'll arrange for you to serve His Highness directly. Work hard. I have high hopes for you, little Sam."

"Huh?"

Meanwhile, at Storm's End.

Lord Borros Baratheon sat in a chair, his legs covered by a thick bearskin blanket. His son, the hot-tempered Borremund Baratheon, paced restlessly around the hall.

"Borremund, stop pacing. You're making me dizzy."

"Father, that little prince went to fight the Dornish without calling on us. I admit his lands are royal demesne, but they lie within the Stormlands. The least he could do was inform us. Does he think Baratheons are cowards when it comes to fighting the Dornish?"

"Foolish." Borros looked at his son with frustration. "If it were only Prince Lonzell taking House Dondarrion and the Borderlands families to seek revenge, we could explain it as retaliation for House Vail's invasion. But if the Baratheons sent troops, it would become another Dornish War. His Majesty would never permit that."

"But it's already happened!" Borremund strode quickly before his father and roared, "The Dornish War has already begun! Dorne is in civil war, House Yronwood is fighting House Fowler, House Dayne is holding back, and Houses Vail, Toland, Uller, and Jordayne are all marching north to fight the little prince. Our men have already pushed into those Dornish whores' lands and secured a foothold. Father, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for revenge! And we have two dragonriders on our side. This is far better than any of the previous times—"

"It is precisely because we have not entered the conflict that House Martell has shown restraint, and matters have not become irreparable." Borros spoke earnestly. "Once House Baratheon joins the war in the capacity of lords of the Stormlands, House Martell will have an excuse to unite Dorne internally. We would instead sink into the mire of a war of conquest."

"This won't do, that won't do. Fine, then I'll go myself without bringing troops, all right? Oh, and I have four daughters." Borremund turned away from his father. "I'll bring them all. Father, you are not stopping me this time. At worst, I'll disguise myself as a sellsword knight. How can I not fight in Dorne?"

"Do you really think no one recognizes your face?" Borros laughed angrily. "Even the heir to the Stormlands fighting as a sellsword knight would give them an excuse, fool. And why bring your daughters? Do you want them climbing into the prince's and the royal prince's beds? Have you gone mad?"

"I'm not mad. The prince and the royal prince are both unmarried. Is House Baratheon not a suitable match?"

Borremund clenched his fists.

Dorne. Dragons.

He wanted them both.

He believed he could have them both.

Second update