The waters of the North were truly bone-chilling, especially here in Coldwater Bay, so close to Beyond the Wall.
Those who fell overboard thrashed a few times before sinking completely. Even their cries for help were swallowed by the waves, leaving only trails of bubbles and floating longship wreckage on the surface.
Blackflame was the fastest after King Ghidorah, so when King Ghidorah launched the first attack, Blackflame plunged straight down. Dark red dragonfire swept across the sea like a whip, boiling the water wherever it passed and sending steam surging upward.
Three longships lying too close together were unlucky enough to be caught by Blackflame's dragonfire at once. Their sails instantly became fireballs, and their masts snapped in the intense heat. The Ironborn on deck screamed and rolled about as the dragonfire burned them, until they were reduced to heaps of charcoal.
Meleys followed close behind, her deep red dragonfire striking a large ship that was turning.
The flames quickly spread from bow to stern and ignited the oil in the hold. The entire ship exploded from within, hurling fragments into the air. Many Ironborn died in the blast, falling like a brief shower of blood.
Rhaenys rode on Meleys's back, gripping the saddle tightly, her long black hair streaming in the wind.
As she watched the Ironborn below being swallowed by flames and blown into bloody pieces, her lips pressed tightly together. Yet her violet eyes shone with excitement and another, indefinable expression, mingling satisfaction with a trace of pity.
"Climb," she told Meleys after their first attack, watching the Ironborn below slowly begin to react.
Meleys quickly beat her wings and rose, avoiding a volley of arrows fired by the men below after they finally mustered their courage.
The arrows came from a small boat, but before