An east wind aids the breakout drill, spies stir the flames of war
On the second day at Blackwater Bay, the east wind arrived earlier than Vaegon's observations and predictions had predicted.
Before dawn, the salty wind, carrying fine spray, lapped against the gunwales of the Joint Fleet, like countless invisible hands pushing these steel behemoths toward a new day of drills.
Daemon stood atop the Blackfyre's Watchtower, his fingertips brushing against the cool, dragon-patterned railings. The distant horizon was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn, and the silver sails of the Velaryon Fleet were already gleaming faintly in the mist, like a herd of silver sea monsters poised to pounce.
"Your Highness, Lord Corlys House Velaryon has sent word that the left flank fleet is ready and awaits your signal." Rayford Rosby climbed the Watchtower, holding a damp roll of parchment containing a "breakout route map" marked out the previous night.
Corlys circled three shallow areas in red ink where "enemy ships" could easily surround them, noting next to them, "House Velaryon ships can use the east wind to flank them."
Daemon took the map, his gaze sweeping over the marked shoals. He suddenly recalled that during yesterday's drills, the Lannister fleet's defenses on the western flank had been somewhat rigid. He then said to Rayford, "Go and inform Lord Taimond to have the Westerlands Fleet move half a mile south, leaving a gap to lure the enemy. Once the simulated Triarchy enemy ships enter the shoals, we can use fire ships to block their retreat."
As soon as Rayford turned around, he heard Gael's voice coming from below.
She rode her Dreamfyre to a stop above the deck, her light purple skirt damp with morning dew, and held up a paper package herself. "Mother had the kitchen make some hot wheat pancakes today, with honey from the Crab Claw Peninsula added. Have some to tide you over."
Daemon climbed down the rope ladder from the Watchtower and, as he took the oil paper package, his fingertips touched her slightly cool hand. Gael had clearly set off from the Red Keep before dawn that day, and the wind on the dragon's back must have chilled her.
"Why didn't you wear a cloak?" He reached out and pulled her collar up, revealing an lining embroidered with Dreamfyre patterns. "It's windy today, don't catch a cold."
Gael smiled and shook her head, pulling out a folded piece of paper from her bosom. "This is what Larys asked me to deliver this morning. He said he intercepted a secret letter from the Triarchy last night, saying that they have reinforced their crossbow positions on the Stepstones and have also brought in three 'giant ships' with iron hulls that ordinary arrows cannot penetrate."
Daemon unfolded the slip of paper, the ink still damp. Larys Strong had written in his distinctive small handwriting, "A giant ship drafts deep, shallows are difficult to navigate"—which perfectly echoed the shallows route marked by Corlys.
Daemon then handed the note to Jarman Waters behind him. "Give this to Lord Corlys and have him adjust the flanking route of the left flank fleet to avoid the deep waters."
However, at this moment, the sound of horns came from Prince Baelon's "Royal Standard," and the long melody echoed in the bay.
Daemon looked up and saw Baelon standing at the bow, his crimson robes fluttering in the east wind. With a wave of his dragon-patterned banner, the entire Joint Fleet instantly sprang into action. The House Velaryon and Redwyne Fleet on the left flank were the first to hoist their sails, with Corlys directing the silver ships to spread out in a crescent shape. Alyn Redwyne stood at the bow of the "Arbor," and as soon as the green banner fell, the archers immediately nocked their arrows, the green-feathered arrows in their quivers gleaming coldly in the morning light.
The Lannister fleet on the right flank slowly moved south. Taimond Lannister himself stood on the Watchtower of the "Golden Lion." As the golden flag waved, a dozen fire ships sailed out from the flank of the fleet. The ignition devices on the ships had been checked and were awaiting orders.
The Crownlands and the Vale fleet in the center formed a long, single-file line. Under the guidance of the Marquess Sunderland and others, Lyonel Corbray, wielding the "Lady Forlorn," directed the Vale Knights to erect their shields on both sides of the ship, forming an impenetrable wall. The House Royce twins stood at the very front, their rune swords slung across their waists, their eyes warily fixed on the "simulated enemy ships" ahead (converted from old Royal Fleet ships, their hulls painted with the black sails of the Triarchy).
"Take off!" Daemon nodded to Gael and leaped onto the Glutton's back.
The Black Dragon let out a deep roar, and the wind created by its spread wings made the dragon-patterned flags on the deck flutter loudly.
Grey Ghost followed closely behind, its light grey dragon scales gleaming softly in the morning light, nimbly weaving between the ships;
Daemon Targaryen flew in from the right, riding Caraxes. He was unusually sullen today, and as the crimson dragon's wings swept across the Lannister fleet's deck, Taimond even nodded at him. Clearly, Daemon Targaryen's cooperation with Daemon in mediating the conflict between House Bracken and Blackwood yesterday, along with his composure in commanding the fire-resistant ship raid, had slightly changed the Warden of the West.
"Begin the breakout!" Baelon's voice echoed throughout the field through the bugle.
The central fleet's "long, single-line formation" suddenly accelerated, charging towards the "simulated enemy ships," their rams gleaming coldly in the sunlight;
Taking advantage of the east wind, the House Velaryon silver ship on the left flank quietly retreated half a mile, then suddenly turned and circled around to the left of the "enemy ship." Corlys personally took the helm of the "Sea Snake," whose hull was as agile as a silver fish. While avoiding the shallows, the ballistae were already aimed at the sails of the "enemy ship."
The Lannister fireships on the right flank suddenly accelerated, and Taimond's voice rang out. "Light the fire!" The ten fireships instantly burst into flames, like ten moving Fireball, rushing towards the "enemy ship's" retreat route;
Daemon, riding the Glutton, swooped down, spewing black Dragonfire onto the sea in front of the "enemy ship," creating splashes several meters high and further compressing the "enemy ship's" retreat route;
Rhaenys, riding Meleys, flanked the "enemy ship" from the right. Crimson Dragonfire lightly brushed the sails of the "enemy ship," and although they did not ignite, they frightened the "simulated crew" (Crownlands soldiers in disguise) into abandoning ship.
Daemon Targaryen was equally ruthless; Caraxes's crimson Dragonfire struck the "enemy ship's" mast precisely, the sound of the breaking wooden pole echoing through the bay.
This was the first time in several days that he had accurately controlled the Dragonfire during training without harming friendly forces. Even Taimond couldn't help but say, "Not bad."
Just as the breakout was about to succeed, the soldier on the Watchtower suddenly shouted, "There are unidentified ships on the east side!"
"With silk sails of Lys hanging on them!"
Daemon felt a chill run down his spine—as a member of the Triarchy, Lys's unexplained voyage to Blackwater Bay must be a spy ship of theirs!
He immediately waved the dragon banner in the direction of Baelon and shouted, "Glutton, Caraxes, intercept! Velaryon Fleet, pursue!"
The Glutton and Caraxes turned simultaneously, and the red dragon, moving with lightning speed, caught up with the Lys ship in an instant;
Corlys reacted swiftly, and the "Sea Snake," accompanied by three House Velaryon silver ships, shot towards the east like an arrow.
Seeing the situation was dire, the Lys scout immediately raised his sails to escape, but was forced to turn by the Glutton's Dragonfire— and ran right into the encirclement of the Velaryon Fleet.
Alyn Redwyne ordered the House Redwyne archers to nock their arrows and fire. Every arrow struck the sail ropes, and the Lys lost power instantly, hooked firmly by the grappling hook of the Sea Snake.
"Search!" Corlys commanded, and the House Velaryon sailors leaped onto the Lys ship, quickly returning with several trembling scouts. One of them carried a parchment with a diagram of the Joint Fleet's formation, alongside the note. "Dragons and ships work in close coordination; in war, only giant ship ballistae could possibly breach their defenses."
Baelon looked at the parchment, his brow furrowing. "It seems the Triarchy has been watching us for a while now."
He turned to Daemon, his tone approving, "You reacted quickly today; the dragons and the fleet coordinated even better than yesterday."
Corlys nodded in agreement. "The scouts from Lys said that the Triarchy's giant ships have assembled at Echo Bay in the Stepstones, where the water is deep enough to take full advantage of their size. However, they didn't expect us to practice a breakout from the shallows beforehand—this unexpected turn of events has been a great help."
Daemon took the scout's testimony, his fingertips tracing the words "giant ship ballista." Remembering Larys Strong's note, he said to Baelon, "Uncle, tomorrow we can have the Smith install Dragonglass plates on the ship's hull. They'll protect against crossbow bolts and also be able to handle any possible—unexpected situations."
He didn't say "White Walkers," only vaguely mentioning it—because according to the Leaf's message and the prophecy Alys Rivers gave him, only he now knew that Dragonglass could not only weaken the penetrating power of the Triarchy' ballistae, but also be used to deal with the White Walkers in the future.
Belron nodded in agreement, then turned to the others and said, "We'll set off at the end of this month, target: Stepstone Isles! We'll formally declare war on them and show those pirates from the Three-Beggars Kingdom the might of the combined fleet of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros!"
As the sun set, the sails of the Joint Fleet gradually fell, and Blackwater Bay returned to calm, leaving only the faint smell of sulfur from the scorching Dragonfire.
Daemon leaned against the railing of the "Blackfyre," with Gael sitting beside him, toying with a fragment of Dragonglass in her hand. Gael had picked it up yesterday from under the scales of the Glutton, clearly something the big guy had secretly obtained while on a training voyage at sea and sneaked back to his lair on Dragonstone.
"The Dragonglass panels are being installed tomorrow," Gael said softly. "Vaegon said the the North has been getting brighter lately, and he's been feeling uneasy about it."
Daemon grasped her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm against his fingertips. "Don't worry, once we've dealt with the Triarchy, we'll go check out Castle Black."
The words on Alys Rivers flashed through his mind. "The comet is brightening, the Long Night is coming." Only he knew that this war against the Triarchy was only the first step in protecting this century of peace.
The Glutton hovered high in the sky, their dark dragon wings sweeping across the setting sun, casting shadows that covered the deck of the "Blackfyre" like a silent guardian.
Daemon looked up and saw the distant roar of Vhagar, intertwined with the voices of Caraxes and Dreamfyre, like a battle song for the upcoming campaign.
He knew that when the sails of the Joint Fleet sailed toward the Narrow Sea, it was not only to end the threat of the Triarchy, but also to protect the smiles of those around him and to preserve the warmth of a hundred years ago. Even if the shadow of Long Night was already lurking in the distance, he would use the Blackfyre and Dragonfire to build the strongest barrier for this land.