Return to King's Landing

Oberyn Standal stood somewhat awkwardly beside Tigris Hoss. Oberyn was a noble knight of Dorne, once sworn to the Manwoody family of Kingsgrave. But the Vail family had previously seized much of the Manwoody family's land through various means, and Oberyn's village had been one of them. This forced the already impoverished knight to sell his armor to keep the village alive. Then he was tragically conscripted north by Uller Vail to fight in the war, only to be burned by Vomysor and Silverwing. Fortunately, Oberyn had hidden quickly. After spending several days concealed in the mountains, he joined Lonzell's army as a hedge knight with several peasant soldiers he had brought from his village.

After all, Lonzell paid military wages and provided ample supplies.

Though Oberyn was poor, he was genuinely skilled at war. On the battlefield, he followed Earl Tully's cavalry in smashing through the Dornish cavalry line. He personally slew several noble knights and killed a bastard of the Uller family with a javelin. More importantly, he captured an Uller family banner. That was why he could stand before Lonzell today.

The only blemish was running into an acquaintance: Tigris Hoss, lord of a small village in Choice March. It was not as though their families had a feud. After all, Borderlands folk and Dornishmen had been entangled in love and hatred for thousands of years. Though they bore blood feuds, each also carried the other's blood in their veins.

The main reason was that, during the years of peace, the young Oberyn had pursued Tigris's daughter. He had nearly succeeded in whisking her away.

Then, just as they were about to discuss marriage, war broke out.

As a result, Oberyn now did not dare look Tigris in the eyes, while Tigris stared thoughtfully at Oberyn's back.

Lynn Valtaken flipped the book in his hand to Oberyn's page. "Ser Oberyn Standal slew two knights of the Vail family in battle and captured their armor; three knights of the Uller family and captured their armor and warhorses; three knights of the Toland family and captured their warhorses. He slew Ser Arthur Shade, an Uller family commander, and captured one Uller family banner, one warhorse, and one suit of armor. Oberyn, do you acknowledge these achievements?"

"I have no objections." Oberyn felt his calves trembling. Seven Hells, he had not been this nervous even in battle. He kept feeling that Lonzell, watching him from the platform, would suddenly order his dragon to burn him to death with a single blast.

"Your Highness, I dare not deceive you. I was once the lord of Starcoin Village in Dorne, but I was forced into this war by the conflict started by the Vail family."

"I understand your hardships." Lonzell naturally understood the thoughts of the remaining local Dornish nobles represented by Oberyn. After Uller's scorched-earth conscription, everyone in the Stone Road lands, commoners and nobles alike, had suffered greatly. Oberyn's Starcoin Village lay in the north and had not been heavily affected by the war, yet its population had still plummeted. Several nearby villages whose lords had died were nearly empty.

"Ser Oberyn, your merits are enough to prove your valor. I recognize your ownership of Starcoin Village. At the same time, the four villages and mills around Starcoin Village that have lost their knights shall also belong to you. In addition, as your reward, I shall grant you gold worth 1,500 full-weight gold dragons. That will be enough to support the construction of a small castle."

"May the Seven bless you, Your Highness." Oberyn Standal let out a long breath inwardly and dropped to one knee. "The Standal family shall serve you for all eternity, until the last Standal returns to the Stranger."

He had money. Oberyn was instantly excited. If he spent the 1,500 gold dragons carefully, plenty would remain—enough for him to propose to Tigris again.

This time, when he turned around, he dared to meet Tigris Hoss's eyes. Only then did he realize that Tigris had been looking at him with encouragement and approval all along.

Oberyn straightened his back even further.

Tigris Hoss had originally been a lord included with Lonzell's lands. On this campaign, he had brought his nine-year-old son, Aelarion Hoss, onto the battlefield.

Of course, the old man had not let the child charge to the front. Instead, he himself followed Aslan Longdell's cavalry and killed several Dornish riders, including at least one Dornish knight with a name and reputation.

His reward was rather simple: enough gold dragons to renovate the Hoss family's old tower castle, along with a decree recognizing his lands.

The only reason Lonzell remained here was to settle the land issues of the old and new territories. As lands directly ruled by Lonzell, Summerfield, Balance Vale, and Highmark Hill had fertile soil, abundant products, and key transportation routes. Thus, Lonzell used all of them to establish estates that would support the Silver Blood Army and his retainers. Every veteran's family received enough land to support one full-time soldier. As for Choice March, Swelling Peak, and Risk March, aside from coastal lands Lonzell had reserved for direct rule in order to build port towns, the remaining lands were granted to local nobles and retainers. The Hoss family, Hayton family, and Ishabur family were typical examples.

As the Valaerys family's chief retainer, Vansen Kaon was permitted to build a castle for the Kaun family. The Valtaken family, Calamityflame family, Longdell family, and Fezer family also gained the right to build castles. They were allowed to construct castles in Dorne's new territories to maintain order. However, once completed, those castles would be administered by officials sent by Lonzell. The heads of those families would remain in King's Landing to assist Lonzell.

Dorne's lands were divided anew. The lands east of the mountains and near the bay were placed under Lonzell's direct rule for the construction of a large port town. The northern Vale was intricately broken apart. Foreign families such as the Hermosa family and the families of Lonzell's retainers were inserted among them, while local families such as the Standal family were left to maintain the status quo. More importantly, large numbers of people from the east poured into the region. This became the foundation of Lonzell's rule.

The situation in the new territories gradually stabilized. Having received tax reductions and military protection, the Dornish unexpectedly accepted Lonzell's rule. After all, people were practical. Being able to eat and survive was the foundation of everything.

The southern part of Dorne, however, grew ever more chaotic. Once it became clear that Lonzell would not march south to reap the benefits anytime soon, Lewyn Yronwood immediately gathered a large army and attempted to seize Prince's Pass in one stroke. Prince Qoren, who had suffered heavy losses, was also rebuilding his strength. What he had not expected, however, was this.

The Seven Hells-damned Uller family actually sent men to steal Martell grain.

The enraged Prince Qoren immediately spent heavily to recruit 2,000 soldiers, finally driving the elusive Uller family bandits from what little territory he had left.

Only the Dayne family remained as quiet as death. No one knew what the King of the Torrentine intended to do.

King's Landing.

After urgent construction by the craftsmen Lonzell had brought with him, King's Landing had already begun to take shape in just a few months. The town below was also gradually transforming from a city of tents into a city of wood and stone.

This town, named "Summerhall," was enormous. Centered around a city hall that could accommodate thousands, currently no more than wooden scaffolding and a marble foundation, six broad roads extended outward. To the south, they connected with the Boneway; to the north, they linked with the end of the King's Road.

On the eastern side of the town, a sept rose from the ground. On the western side, a grove was slowly taking shape. From the city hall outward, the houses gradually gave way to fine buildings made from wood and stone.

The King's Landing high above was equally magnificent. Narrow roads stretched up the mountain until they reached a dragon-head-shaped gate embedded in the mountainside. Within the first ring of walls, which blended into the mountain itself, stood Sword-Hiding Tower, Bayleaf Tower, Flame Tower, and the Tower of the Gods. Weirwoods transplanted from the distant north also grew within this level of the castle. Higher still, new black walls were embedded in the mountainside, and the mountain seemed to melt into three towers: the slender and beautiful Dragonglass Tower, the mighty Dragonpit Tower, and the pitch-black Raven Tower. These three towers clustered around the final towering wall. Strange patterns flowed across that wall. From afar, nothing could be made out, but up close, one could barely discern the outlines of flames. Silver Blood Tower stood proudly at the center of the nine towers, guarded on either side by the Twin Towers linked by corridors.

The interiors of all nine towers had been completed. What remained under construction were the other buildings within the city, such as the sept and stables.

Jacaerys and Lucerys had already returned to King's Landing ahead of time, waiting for the next opportunity.

"Little Snow Rabbit, want to go to the Dragonpit together?" Prince Lucerys banged on Rey's door.

"Big Chipmunk, if you dare call me that again, I'll go get my brother." Rey yanked open the door irritably and casually grabbed Lucerys.

After returning to King's Landing, Rey had received a room of his own in the Twin Towers. It was not very large. A velvet four-poster bed from Valantis stood in the center, while the expensive carpet came from the Valaerys carpet workshop, which had gradually been established and restored production. Aside from a few scattered toys, the room's corners were piled with all sorts of books.

Rey actually liked reading. He just did not like Visari's lectures.

"Hehe, don't you call me by my nickname too?" Lucerys familiarly grabbed Rey's hand. Their ages were closer, and within days they had become good friends. "Big Chipmunk? My brother told you that, didn't he?"

"Bleh." Rey stuck his tongue out at Lucerys. "Anyway, my brother doesn't call me Snow Rabbit. Oh, where's Little J? I haven't seen him all day."

"Little J?" Lucerys led Rey down the spiral stairs. "I guess he went to Bayleaf Tower."

"You should learn from Little J, Big Chipmunk." Rey threw an arm around Lucerys. "Read more books."

"Like you don't want to see Shadowmare." Lucerys sounded a little envious as he spoke. "Shadowmare is growing so fast. If it weren't so skinny, it might look even bigger than my Arrax."

"Shadowmare really doesn't look like the dragons in the records." Rey thought of his own dragon as well. "Normal dragons don't have that many spikes, and they're not that skinny."

"But Shadowmare's dragonfire is white." Lucerys asked curiously, "How does it do that?"

"I don't know." Rey shook his head and casually nodded to a patrolling Silver Blood Army veteran nearby.

"Your Highnesses, the lift to the Dragonpit is ready." The veteran knew where the two princes were going at a glance. King's Landing was enormous now. If they had to walk from the Twin Towers to Dragonpit Tower, then descend the long stairs from Dragonpit Tower into the Dragonpit, it would take a very long time.

But Lonzell had a solution. Silver Blood Tower connected directly to the hollowed-out mountain, and he had installed a lift inside Silver Blood Tower that could carry people into the Dragonpit.

Rey and Lucerys ran through the corridor into Silver Blood Tower, then climbed two flights of stairs to a platform.

Massive gears slowly turned.

The platform descended, gradually disappearing into darkness.

In the darkness, faint dragon roars echoed.

The platform came to a steady stop. The two princes had just stepped off when they heard two long dragon roars from outside the mountain.

"They're back!"

Rey recognized the voices of Vomysor and Silverwing at once.

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