"A merchant's promise is even less reliable than a bandit's word."
Viserys tossed Naharis's letter into the fireplace and watched the flames devour its fawning words. He needed neither an inside man nor a conspiracy. He wanted deterrence-to make all of Essos understand that challenging a Dragon could end only in destruction.
"Go back and tell your master," Viserys told the envoy kneeling on the floor. "The Dragonlord of Valyria rejects his proposal. If he truly wishes to prove his sincerity, let him bring me the heads of Vaharis and Malaquo. Otherwise, he should prepare to stand trial alongside his two fellow Tiger Party triarchs when the city falls."
The envoy's face turned deathly pale. His lips trembled as he tried to say something, but Viserys cut him off with a wave. In the end, he could only bow his head deeply and withdraw.
Viserys turned and headed out of the Council Chamber, telling the herald, "Send word to Duke William. The Imperial Navy is to assemble as planned and leave port in three days. Our target is Volantis."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The herald hurried away.
Seven days later, on the Summer Sea, fifty nautical miles from the mouth of the Rhoyne at Volantis.
Viserys used his warg ability to control a seabird and observe the Volantene Fleet.
"Do they think numbers are everything?" Viserys muttered to himself.
Below him, the formation of the Volantene Fleet was clearly visible. More than four hundred warships spread across the sea in a crescent.
The fifty ships at the front were massive warships, with huge bronze rams mounted on their bows and dozens of Scorpions installed on their decks.
Behind them were nearly a hundred swift longships, more maneuverable and tasked with covering the flanks, each also carrying several Scorpions. At the rear