Returning sails at Dragon's Roost, a castle takes shape

The morning light at Dragon's Roost Port still carries the salty dampness unique to coastal areas, washing over the newly paved bluestone path at the dock and soaking every stone slab with a warm glow.

When thirty warships adorned with the crimson and black variegated Targaryen three-headed dragons appeared on the horizon, the lighthouse keeper was the first to cheer, a shout that, like a pebble thrown into a lake, instantly created ripples throughout the harbor.

Daemon leaned against the bow of the Blackfyre, the Blackfyre slung across his waist, the three-headed dragon pattern on the scabbard gleaming coldly in the morning light.

He gazed at the approaching port, his eyes reflecting familiar outlines: golden waves of wheat rippled across the terraced fields, wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys of the workshops, the Glutton huddled on the hills, and the foundations of the castle rising in the distance. Everything told him that this was his foundation, his home.

"Your Highness, the new safe haven of Dragon's Roost Port should be just ahead!"

Colin Celtigar stepped forward, the naval battle map already folded away, a relaxed air about returning home on his face. "Alyn has already sent word that Rayford and Princess Gael should be waiting at the dock."

Daemon nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers on the deck.

After nearly half a month of sailing, expeditions, and pursuits, they were exhausted but could not hide their triumphant spirit. The campaign in the Summer Isles had left everyone weathered and worn, but it had also made the fleet even more elite.

Crahas stood at the stern, gazing towards Dragon's Roost Port, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes—this would be his new battlefield.

A new home.

The warship slowly sailed into the safe harbor; the dock was already packed with people.

Today, Gael was wearing a light purple dress with the Dreamfyre Dragon pattern embroidered on the hem gleaming silver in the morning light. She stood in the middle of the pier, with Mysaria, Johanna Swann, Brienne Tarth, and Lia Osgre standing guard on either side of her, their eyes fixed on the approaching flagship.

When she saw her Little Daemon appear at the bow of the ship, Gael's light purple eyes lit up instantly, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips, like a frozen lake melting in spring.

"Daemon!" she couldn't help but whisper, her voice filled with undisguised joy and concern.

Daemon leaped off the ship's railing and walked briskly toward her, the sea breeze whipping his black cloak in the wind.

He reached out and firmly grasped Gael's slightly cool fingertips; the warmth of his palm instantly calmed her down.

"I'm back."

His voice was deep and gentle, hoarse from the long journey home, yet full of steadfastness.

Gael looked up at him, reached out to brush the sea dust off his collar, and traced her fingertips across his slightly gaunt cheek. "You must be tired from the journey. Were you hurt? Crahas said the tribes of the Summer Isles are very skilled in archery, and I've been worried about you."

"Don't worry, with everyone here and Crahas's tactics, nothing can hurt me."

Daemon took her hand, his fingertips gently stroking the back of it. "As for you, managing the livelihood of the people in the port must be exhausting, right?"

Rickard's letter to me reporting the new harvest said that you frequently went to the terraces to check on the harvest and were also learning herbal identification from Alys.

"Not tired." Gael shook her head, her eyes full of pride. "Our Dragon's Roost Port is getting better and better. Everyone has their own land and houses. The rye harvest in the terraced fields in the central part of the Crownlands is bountiful. Rayford said yesterday that it's enough to feed everyone in the harbor for half a year, and they can even keep some as seeds. By the way, Alys just said that you had a hard time on this expedition, so she specially brewed a calming potion, which is already warming up the fire."

The two walked side by side, followed by a group of followers. Rayford Rosby stepped forward quickly, carrying a thick ledger, his face bearing his now somewhat serious smile, "Your Highness, during your expedition, all affairs in the Crownlands have proceeded as planned."

Thirty thousand shi of salt-tolerant rye were harvested, with ten thousand shi stored as naval reserves.

Three new shipyards have been completed, and the craftsmen recruited in the harbor have collaborated with the Myr craftsmen to improve three fast ships:

The feudal lords of Crab Claw Peninsula have all responded to the call for talent, sending many able-bodied men and craftsmen;

Even the foundations of you and the princess's castle have been laid, and the Goldenheart main beams have been delivered by Racallio as you instructed.

The materials are ready; we're just waiting for you to come back and review the progress.

Daemon nodded, his gaze sweeping over the crowd that had gathered around him:

Lyonel Corbray wore silver armor, the "Lady Forlorn" sword at his waist gleaming coldly, and beside him stood Rupert Crabb, who had returned after training the Crab Claw Peninsula Allied Forces;

Alyn Redwyne had rushed back ahead of schedule, brought his younger brother, Little Horas Oliver Redwyne Jr., with the boy holding a newly drawn sketch of a warship.

A few days ago, Larys Strong, who had made a special trip back from King's Landing, was leaning on a cane. Beside him Mr. Longlegs, the black donkey that Daemon hadn't seen in a long time, which Harwin when he left Harrenhal to follow Daemon on his travels.

However, recently, Larys has become more accustomed to narrowing his eyes, which reveal his scheming nature, compared to when he first left home, but he still can't hide his usual cunning.

Of course, Criston Cole, Willie Fell, Herman Dustin, and others also gathered around, each looking at Daemon with respect and joy on their faces.

"Everyone has worked hard." Daemon's voice was steady and powerful. "In this expedition to the Summer Isles, we destroyed the Ironborn's supply points, formed an alliance with Walano, and opened up trade routes in the Summer Sea. All of this is inseparable from everyone's efforts."

After three days of rest, there are more important things to do – to participate in the call to arms against the Iron Islands Iron Throne, to build up our territory, strengthen our power, and expand our influence.

The crowd responded in unison, "We are willing to go through fire and water with Your Highness!"

Back at the temporary residence, Gael personally removed Daemon's cloak, Mysaria brought him warm ale and calming potions, while Johanna packed up his luggage, which included a small Goldenheart figurine, a specialty of the Summer Isles, a gem given by the prince of Walano, and a scroll of parchment inscribed with the runes of the Talking Tree.

Daemon sat in the soft chair, Gael sat down next to him, her fingertips lightly tracing his arm. "Did anything interesting happen on your trip to the Summer Isles?"

Racallio had previously mentioned that the Talking Tree there was covered in Old Valyria runes, and Miss Bethany, after hearing this, pestered Rayford every day to ask about it, saying she wanted to see it for herself.

Mentioning Bethany, a hint of amusement flashed in Daemon's eyes. "She's very obsessed with these mysterious things. This time she should have gotten quite a few sketches of the Talking Tree runes, and she's probably sketching them in her notebook right now."

However, those runes were indeed strange. Alys glanced at them a few times before and said that some of them resembled Old Valyria script, so perhaps they really were related to Old Valyria fire magic.

He paused, took Gael's hand, and said gently, "This time I came back, before setting off for the Iron Islands, I wanted to spend more time with you."

After we finish dealing with the port affairs today, I'll take you to see our castle. Rayford wrote to me saying the main structure is almost complete and it will be finished in another six months."

A hint of expectation flashed in Gael's eyes, and she gently shook her head. "Actually, I have a suggestion."

She leaned closer to Daemon, her voice laced with a hint of slyness, "Why don't we go to the Crownlands inside the peninsula today and check on the castle's construction progress?"

We'll also bring Mysaria and the others along, so everyone can see our future home.

You've been on this long journey, and everyone has worked hard. Just think of it as a small getaway.

Daemon raised an eyebrow, looking at the expectation in her eyes, and felt a warmth in his heart. "Okay, whatever you say."

The afternoon sun grew increasingly warm. Daemon, accompanied by Gael, and followed by Mysaria, Johanna, Brienne, Lia, and Rayford and Lyonel, who volunteered to lead the way, set off towards the Crownlands's Castle construction site inside the peninsula.

Along the way, in the terraced fields, Rickard Rowan was leading Lucas Tyrell and the refugees to dry their newly harvested rye. Upon seeing Daemon and his party, he immediately put down his work and went forward to greet them.

"Your Highness, Gael!" Rickard's face was smudged with chaff, but his smile was gentle. "This year's rye harvest is better than expected. In a few days, it will all be stored, enough to supply the port and the Crownlands's territory."

"Well done." Daemon nodded. "Let everyone take a break. A good harvest deserves a proper celebration."

"Please keep an eye on the subsequent planting plans for the Crownlands, and try Lucas best to make the Crownlands self-sufficient in food."

Lucas stood aside, unusually setting aside the shyness brought on by his defeat of twelve-year-old Daemon in the first round of the King's Landing's Landing Tournament, and regaining his former confidence. He nodded and said, "Your Highness, rest assured, we have already selected the pea and barley seeds, and we can continue planting next month. With our current planting techniques, we should have a good harvest."

After passing through the terraced fields, the terrain gradually rises, and the outline of a massive castle suddenly appears before your eyes.

The castle is situated on High Hermitage in the center of the peninsula, backed by Black Hill and facing the Narrow Sea, offering a wide view and making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Dozens of craftsmen and thousands of displaced people are busy at work. Some are carrying stones, some are polishing the Goldenheart, and some are building the city wall. The sounds of hammering, cutting wood, and shouting are intertwined, creating a lively construction scene.

"This is our castle." Daemon held Gael's hand, pointing to the fortress that was beginning to take shape, his eyes full of anticipation. "I plan to build the main castle, the inner courtyard, the training ground, the armory, and a tower that can overlook the entire Dragon's Roost Port."

The main beams of the fortress were made of Goldenheart sent by Racallio, which is hard and corrosion-resistant. The walls were made of black stone from Black Hill, mixed with lime and iron sand, making them extremely sturdy.

Gael opened her eyes wide and looked in the direction he was pointing:

The foundation of the main castle has been laid, with four thick Goldenheart beams standing in the center, and carpenters are building the roof frame.

The city wall has been built to a height of over ten feet, with spaces reserved for arrow towers.

The outline of the inner courtyard is already clear, and in the future, it will be planted with flowers and plants introduced from the Reach.

The foundation of the tower in the distance has been laid. In the future, standing on the top of the tower, one can see both the dock of Dragon's Roost Port and the wheat waves of the terraced fields.

"How magnificent," Gael murmured, her fingertips lightly tracing the black stone city wall beside her. "We can live here from now on. The children can play in the courtyard, you can handle government affairs in the tower, and you can see the Glutton and Dreamfyre at any time."

Mentioning the child softened Daemon's heart, and he squeezed her hand. "Once you've fully recovered next year, let's have a child, let him grow up here, and let him become the guardian of Dragon's Roost Port."

Mysaria walked to the city wall, watching the craftsmen busily working, and said with a smile, "Your Highness, I will take care of this garden from now on. Your Highness brought back some rare flower seeds from the Summer Isles this time; they will surely look beautiful planted here."

Johanna nodded, "I can take charge of security in the inner courtyard, while Brienne and Lia can guard the outer perimeter of the castle to ensure the safety of His Highness and the Princess."

Brienne nodded. "I will not fail you." Lia nodded as well, her eyes full of determination.

Rayford stepped forward and handed over a roll of blueprints. "Your Highness, this is the detailed plan of the castle. The main castle has three floors. The first floor is the council hall and armory, the second floor is your and Her Highness the Princess's bedroom and study, and the third floor is the guest rooms;

The kitchen and servants' quarters are located on the east side of the inner courtyard, while the garden and the Dragon Dragonmont, defined by natural hills, are on the west side, specifically reserved for Glutton and Dreamfyre.

The tower has five floors. The top floor is an observation deck, the fourth floor is your private study, and the lower three floors are the intelligence room and archives.

Daemon took the blueprints and examined them carefully. "The area of Dragonmont needs to be expanded further. The Glutton are enormous and require ample space."

A secret passage should still be left in the study, connecting it to the inner courtyard, just in case.

Additionally, a medical clinic will be built on the west side of the castle, giving Alys Rivers a dedicated place to study herbs.

"Yes, Your Highness, I will have the craftsmen adjust the plan immediately." Rayford quickly noted it down.

Lyonel walked around the city walls and returned with a slight frown. "Your Highness, the castle's defenses need to be strengthened. Although the walls are sturdy, the number of arrow towers is insufficient. I suggest building two more arrow towers in each of the four cardinal directions, and adding drawbridges and moats outside the city gates. This way, even if besieged, we can hold out and await reinforcements."

"That's right," Daemon approvingly said, "The moat draws water from the streams of Black Hill, making it convenient to get water and also preventing the enemy from getting close;

The suspension bridge is secured by iron cables and is retracted at night to ensure its safety.

"Also, let Crahas take a look and offer some suggestions from a naval defense perspective. After all, the castle isn't far from Dragon's Roost Port and faces the Narrow Sea; the threat from the sea cannot be ignored."

As they were talking, a familiar dragon roar came from afar. The Glutton spread its wings and circled down from above the hills. Its dark dragon scales gleamed with a dark gold in the sunlight. Grey Ghost skillfully curled up beside its neck, making soft purring sounds.

It clearly sensed Daemon's presence and slowly landed on the open ground west of the castle. The air it stirred up stirred up dust, causing the craftsmen to stop and watch, their faces filled with awe.

"It seems the Glutton also want to see their new home."

Gael smiled and gently stroked the Grey Ghost that had come closer. The little dragon was already able to rub affectionately against the palm of the hand that fed it every day, letting out a soft whimper.

Daemon walked up to the Glutton and stroked its dragon scales. "From now on, this will be your home. I will create the most comfortable territory for you, so that you and Dreamfyre can live here in peace."

The Glutton let out a soft groan, as if in response, its enormous dragon eyes gazing at the rising castle, a hint of approval flashing in them.

Just as everyone was immersed in their hopes for the future, Jarman Waters hurried over, his one eye wary. "Your Highness, the Shadow Guards report that Ellyn Beesbury and Maester Maron are loitering near the camp again, trying to inquire about the castle's construction progress and troop deployment from the craftsmen, but they were stopped by the Shadow Guards."

A cold glint flashed in Daemon's eyes, which quickly turned into amusement. "Let them dart around, as long as they don't cross the line."

Larys should have already replaced their intelligence as planned, having them pass on some insignificant information to Lord Otto Hightower, so that King's Landing will lower its guard.

"Furthermore," Jarman added, "According to the secret report that Larys brought back from King's Landing, Otto Hightower has been increasingly contacting the House Hightower in the Reach since his questioning of the Reach Islands at the Iron Islands Iron Throne, seemingly plotting something, but the specifics are still unknown."

"That was expected."

Daemon said calmly, "Our Lord Otto has always seen me as a thorn in his side, so naturally he won't stay quiet."

"But now we have the foundation of Dragon's Roost Port, an elite fleet and private army, and the alliance with the Summer Isles," so we can expand overseas, and he can't cause any trouble.

Once the Iron Islands issue is completely resolved, I will return to King's Landing and show them what true power is. So, when we answer the call of the Iron Throne to go to King's Landing to prepare for the campaign against the Ironborn in a few days, we must show our fangs to the lords of King's Landing!

As the sun set, the group slowly returned to the port. The castle's outline became increasingly clear in the afterglow of the sunset, like a slumbering dragon about to awaken.

Daemon led Gael by the hand as they walked back to the manor, followed by their loyal followers, with their beloved wife beside them, and in the distance, their rising homeland and the guardian dragons.

He knew that the construction of the castle was just the beginning; a wider world awaited him to conquer, and many more challenges awaited him to face.

But as long as he has these people by his side, with Gael's company and Dragonfire's protection, he can realize his ambition step by step, build Dragon's Roost Port into an indestructible fortress, and turn the entire Crab Claw Peninsula into the cornerstone of his empire.

When they returned to the manor, Alys Rivers was already waiting in the courtyard. The hood of her green cloak had slipped down, and a mysterious smile played on her lips. "Your Highness, Princess Gael, you must be tired from your expedition."

I've already prepared the medicinal formula, and I've even added some special ingredients to both calm the nerves and nourish the blood and qi."

Bethany followed, staring blatantly at Daemon, her eyes filled with fervor. "Your Highness Little Daemon, did you see the runes of the Talking Tree in the Summer Isles?"

They said you have a sketch of the harvest; could I borrow it to take a look? I think those runes can definitely unlock some mysterious secrets!

Daemon shook his head helplessly, but didn't refuse. "I'll have Rayford send you a copy later, but you're not allowed to go around looking for things anymore. Just focus on your herbal research."

Bethany was overjoyed. Taking advantage of Daemon's momentary lapse in attention, she gave him a quick kiss before striding away. "Then it's our Little Daemon! I'll definitely study this carefully; perhaps I can find a way to make you even more powerful!"

As night deepened, the lights of Dragon's Roost Port lit up one after another, casting long shadows of the castle.

Daemon sat in his study, looking at the castle plans on the table, his fingertips tracing every detail.

Rayford set aside the secret report from King's Landing that had been delivered. It recorded Otto's movements and the news that Crown Prince Baelon had summoned the lords. The war to wipe out the Iron Islands was about to begin.

He knew that the calm in Dragon's Roost Port was only temporary, and a bigger Storm was yet to come.

But he was prepared. The castle under construction, the battle-hardened fleet, his loyal followers, and his devoted lover would be his strongest support.

Outside the window, the roar of the Glutton dragon and the clear, resonant sound of the Dreamfyre intertwined, guarding this rising land.

Daemon gripped the Blackfyre tightly, a sharp glint in his eyes—his legend had only just begun.

And this glorious chapter belonging to Dragon's Roost Port has only just begun.