After Melisandre left the study, Viserys could sense a vast fleet passing through the waters around Dragonstone, sailing south.
This was the great fleet of the Imperial Navy, led by Duke William. Because they had first needed to disembark the Imperial soldiers they were transporting, they had traveled a little slower than Viserys's fleet.
Their destination was Driftmark.
By noon on the second day of the voyage, Duke William had completely surrounded every harbor on Driftmark, chiefly House Velaryon's two harbors at High Tide.
Driftmark lay at the entrance to Blackwater Bay and was the key to controlling the sea route to King's Landing. It was the seat of House Velaryon, once the greatest naval power in Westeros, possessing half the fleet of the Seven Kingdoms.
But after the Dance of the Dragons, House Velaryon had gradually declined until it was little more than an empty shell. Even so, a fallen giant was still a giant, and Driftmark's harbors remained.
These were large, deepwater harbors capable of accommodating hundreds of warships, and the island's natural position made it the choke point for controlling Blackwater Bay. Whoever controlled Driftmark controlled the sea routes into and out of King's Landing.
Duke William stood at the bow of his flagship, the Dragonlord, gazing at High Tide ahead. Nearly a hundred large warships and hundreds of other vessels of every kind formed battle lines behind him, their Three-Headed Fire Dragon banners fluttering in the sea breeze.
Of the other half of the fleet, a few ships had been sent to attack the smaller harbors, while his deputy had taken most of the rest to the harbor at High Tide.
Just as he was about to give the order to attack, his administrative officer, Jorah Mormont, brought him news from Driftmark.
"My lord duke, the