Ships arrive at Dragonstone, old enemies become new allies
The morning light on Dragonstone, carrying a thick, salty sea mist, gently washes over the Dragonstone's black reefs, and the sunlight shines through, turning the beach into a hazy golden-white.
However, Crahas Hal did not sleep all night. At the crack of dawn this morning, he was already standing on the dock of Dragonstone, still wearing the same outfit as yesterday, only the sand on the corner of his clothes had been blown away by the sea breeze, but the worry in his eyes had not diminished in the slightest.
He gazed toward the Narrow Sea, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the longsword at his waist—the weapon Daemon had given him yesterday. The coldness of the blade calmed his turbulent emotions slightly.
Last night, although the captain of the guard respectfully settled him in the best barracks on the island, the worry of "releasing a serious criminal" lingered with him until a string of black dots appeared on the distant horizon, at which point his tense shoulders and back relaxed slightly.
"It's the fleet from Dragon's Roost Port!" the dock guards shouted.
As the black dot grew larger, three swift ships adorned with a mix of scarlet and jet-black Targaryen three-headed dragons broke through the morning mist and sailed in. The rams on their sides were gleaming coldly, and their sails were billowing full. These were the main warships of Daemon's Dragon's Roost Port.
The flagship at the head of the fleet was naturally Daemon's ship, the "Blackfyre." Of course, Daemon, who had just left Dragonstone last night, was not present in today's fleet.
On the bow, Colin Celtigar, clad in silver armor, held a naval battle map in his hand, his eyes sharp as an eagle's;
Alyn Redwyne stood beside him, his light green robe damp from the sea breeze, while his younger brother Little Horas Oliver Redwyne Jr., held a toolbox behind him, his face full of barely suppressed curiosity.
The fleet docked smoothly, and the moment the gangplank was erected, Colin was the first to step off, followed closely by the Redwyne brothers.
A complex emotion flickered in Colin's eyes when he saw Crahas waiting on the shore.
The man before them was none other than the Triarchy naval commander who had given the Joint Fleet a hard time at the Stepstones half a year ago, but now he had become the fleet commander personally appointed by His Highness, their future colleague and naval warfare mentor.
"Lord Crahas Hal," Colin bowed first, his tone respectful yet composed and demeanor appropriate, "I am Colin Celtigar from the House Celtigar of Crab Island, and currently the temporary commander of the Crownlands's fleet."
"The current Earl of Crab Island, Minister of Intelligence, and head of the House Celtigar, Lord Bartimos Celtigar, is my uncle. Today, I have come on His Highness Daemon's orders to escort you back to Dragon's Roost Port."
Alyn stepped forward, his hearty smile dispelling any past hostility, "I am Alyn Redwyne from the House Redwyne of Reach Arbor in the Reach. As for the little fellow behind me, he is my younger brother, Horas Oliver Redwyne."
The Earl Redwyne, who commanded the Redwyne Fleet and the Reach Joint Fleet in the Battle of the Joint Fleet Stepstones, was our father.
We have long admired your illustrious reputation on the Narrow Sea. Back then, when you led the newly formed Three Cities Fleet to sweep away the pirates of the Narrow Sea and pacify the Stepstones, your fleet command was truly masterful. It is our honor to work with you."
Little Horas, standing behind his brother Alyn, eagerly stepped forward, clutching a sketch in his hand, his eyes brimming with curiosity. "Lord Crahas Hal! I've been learning shipbuilding from the Myr craftsmen in Your Highness's port for some time now, but I always feel that the speed and defense of warships could be improved. When you swept through the Stepstones, how did you balance agility and sturdiness in your warships?"
Crahas looked at the three people in front of him, and his concerns gradually dissipated.
Colin Celtigar's composure, Alyn Redwyne's cheerfulness, and Little Horas Oliver Redwyne Jr.'s enthusiasm showed no hostility toward their "old foe," only awe of the strong and a thirst for knowledge.
He raised his hand in return, his voice still hoarse, but with a hint of relief. "Past grudges have long since faded with the waves of the Stepstones. Now I am a general under His Highness Daemon, and from now on, we are comrades."
"You're right, sir!" Colin nodded, gesturing to lead the way. "His Highness has ordered us to return as soon as possible; there are still many naval matters to attend to in the harbor, awaiting your guidance, sir."
The moment Crahas stepped aboard the flagship, his gaze was drawn to the ship's layout.
The crossbows on both sides of the ship are neatly arranged, and the gun mounts have been improved so that they can rotate more flexibly;
The storage areas at the bottom of the cabin are clearly divided, and fresh water and dry food are stored in an orderly manner;
Even the ropes of the sails are arranged in a very clever way, clearly an optimized and labor-saving design.
"These improvements were all developed by our Highness in consultation with the current Master of Ships Sea Snake, Lord Corlys House Velaryon, as well as my uncle, Big Horas the Elder, and others."
Alyn Crahas Hal stop to observe, Erin offered to explain, "His Highness said that naval battles depend not only on the courage of the sailors, but also on the strength of the warships they command."
We've drawn on the strengths of the Myr ships and made adjustments to suit the navigation characteristics of the Narrow Sea. However, we still lack guidance from an expert like you, sir, in fleet coordination and tactical deployment.
Crahas reached out and gently stroked the wooden planks on the ship's side; he could clearly feel the solidity of the wood with his fingertips.
He recalled his own time commanding the Triarchy Fleet, when he had poured his heart and soul into improving the warships during the initial stages of the fleet's formation. Now, seeing the warships of Dragon's Roost Port possessing both the agility of traditional Westeros fast ships and the sturdiness of Essos warships across the Narrow Sea, a hint of approval flashed in his eyes. "It seems that under His Highness Daemon's fleet, you all have a solid foundation. You just need to continue refining the details, coupled with tacit and proficient tactics and a certain amount of experience, and in time, you will surely be able to dominate the Narrow Sea."
Little Horas immediately produced a sketch he had prepared beforehand and handed it to Crahas: "Lord Crahas, would you please take a look? I'd like to install a detachable ram at the bow. This would enhance impact in close combat and wouldn't affect speed at long range. What do you think of these drawings?"
Crahas took the sketch, traced the lines on the paper with his fingertips, pondered for a moment, and said, "The idea is good, but the weight of the ram must be controlled through precise measurements, otherwise it will affect the balance of the ship."
Lightweight hardwood can be used to wrap the sheet metal, ensuring strength while reducing the load. Additionally, the angle of the impact point should be aligned with the waterline to maximize the impact effect.
Little Horas nodded repeatedly, quickly marking on the sketch while muttering, "Right! How come I didn't think of the balance problem! And the angle of the waterline, you're absolutely right!"
Colin watched this scene with a satisfied look in his eyes.
His Highness Daemon's judgment was indeed correct; Crahas's professionalism is exactly what the Navy of Dragon's Roost Port needs most right now.
He stepped forward and said, "My lord, the fleet is ready to set sail at any time and is expected to arrive at Dragon's Roost Port by tomorrow afternoon. His Highness has prepared a banquet in the port, and we would be grateful if you could explain to us the tactical points of the Battle of the Narrow Sea."
Crahas nodded in agreement, then turned and walked onto the stern deck.
The speedboat slowly sailed away from Dragonstone. The morning mist gradually dissipated, and sunlight pierced through the clouds, quietly illuminating the sea surface, making it sparkle.
As he gazed at the splashing waves on both sides of the ship and felt the steady rocking of the vessel, the last trace of doubt in his heart finally vanished.
Past glories and humiliations are now history. The Dragon's Roost Port Fleet before us is full of vigor, and His Highness Daemon's ambition and trust weigh heavily on our shoulders.
He gripped the new longsword at his waist and took a deep breath.
The storms of the Narrow Sea have not dampened his brilliance. From now on, he will use Dragon's Roost Port as his new battlefield to reclaim his glory and assist Prince Daemon in building a truly dominant imperial navy that can traverse the four seas.
The fast ship sped toward Dragon's Roost Port, the dragon patterns on its sails gleaming in the morning sun. Old enemies had become new allies, and a naval revolution sweeping across the Narrow Sea was about to begin at Dragon's Roost Port.