Seeing that the moment was ripe, Danyla took her great-grandfather, His Majesty the King Jaehaerys, by the hand and coaxed him sweetly,
"Your Majesty, why don't you serve as our witness?"
"I've heard the Stormlands' sailing ships and sailors rank among the finest in the Seven Kingdoms. But I don't understand any of that, so I'll need you to help inspect them when the time comes. Otherwise, if they take advantage of my youth and cheat me, how would I ever know?"
King Jaehaerys already harbored considerable resentment toward the Stormlands. Seeing them about to fall into his grandniece's hands, he was naturally delighted to play along with Danyla. He readily said,
"You're a clever little thing! But when it comes to the fleets of the Seven Kingdoms, the ones to look to are House Velaryon's Sea Snake fleet at High Tide and House Redwyne's Redwyne Fleet on Arbor Island."
"So let Lord Corlys and Earl Robert inspect your spoils for you!"
Duke Boremund immediately realized something was wrong and spoke up,
"House Baratheon's fleet isn't as fine as either of theirs, so..."
"That's no matter!"
King Jaehaerys cut off Boremund's attempt to decline.
"Surely the mighty Duke of the Stormlands can produce ten fine three-masted sailing ships?"
Earl Redwyne immediately chimed in,
"Exactly! Even if the warships are a little inferior, you need only equip them with more supplies."
"There are plenty of excellent shipwrights on my Arbor Island. Even if the warships you provide fall short, I can always repair and improve them for you. Rest assured, Duke Boremund, I'll charge you only the cost."
"Warships? Princess Danyla and Borros wagered three-masted sailing ships, not three-masted warships, did they not?"
Corlys the Sea Snake challenged Earl Redwyne's wording directly.
Robert Redwyne immediately retorted,
"If not warships, then surely you don't mean great three-masted galleys? Can the Stormlands afford those? Princess Danyla is young and naturally cannot distinguish between all these different three-masted vessels."
"She was obviously referring to warships, which perform best. Surely you don't intend to fob our noble princess off with merchant ships?"
"Or do you think the noble dragonrider Princess Danyla would want to follow your example and take ten three-masted merchant ships to Essos to trade?"
Although Lord Corlys the Sea Snake enjoyed great renown and possessed both courage and cunning, he fell short in a war of words against House Redwyne's Earl Robert, whose sharp tongue was famous throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
"Earl Redwyne speaks as though the outcome has already been decided. Whether merchant ships or warships, we should wait until we know the result!"
"A few cups of strong liquor might not amount to much!"
Danyla immediately spoke up,
"It's better to settle everything beforehand!"
"I had no idea there were so many kinds of three-masted sailing ships! Then let the wager be nine warships and one three-masted galley like the Arbor Queen! That way, when I sail, my ships will befit my station!"
Duke Boremund's face turned livid.
"We have no such luxurious ships in the Stormlands. We can offer only ten three-masted merchant ships! If Your Highness doesn't mind, let those be the wager!"
Danyla released King Jaehaerys's hand and slowly walked up to the Duke of the Stormlands. Tilting her head slightly, she looked straight at the tall, heavily bearded Boremund and said in an icy voice,
"Duke Boremund, are you taking advantage of my youth, or do you simply have no respect for a princess of House Targaryen?"
"Do you think this princess deserves only the lowest class of sailing ship?"
As she spoke, Danyla slowly advanced on him, raising her voice and enunciating every word.
"First, your eldest son disregarded noble decorum and openly questioned me, a princess of the royal house."
"Then you and your son took advantage of my youth together, intending to humiliate me through a wager."
"And now you dare quibble with me over the stakes? Do you truly think House Targaryen has lost the Dragon King's Wrath?!"
As Danyla's angry, proud voice rang through Aegon's Garden, Dreamfyre sensed her emotions and flew from the open ground outside to hover above her.
She let out a shrill, furious Dragon Roar at the people below, orange-red flames gathering in her throat.
Every noble present paled in shock, and the ladies screamed uncontrollably.
King Jaehaerys, Prince Daemon, and Princess Rhaenys watched Dreamfyre circle low overhead with excitement, their eyes alight.
Though Dragonriding was not difficult for House Targaryen, few could establish such a close bond with their Great Dragons.
Even these exceptional dragonriders, among the finest since House Targaryen founded the kingdom, could not summon their Great Dragons through emotion alone.
Thus, Danyla's display did not displease them in the slightest. On the contrary, it filled them with pride. This was how the Dragon King's Descendants ought to be.
Faced with Danyla's accusations and Dreamfyre's intimidating presence, Duke Boremund was overcome with shame and embarrassment, his aging face flushing crimson.
"P-Princess Danyla, y-you misunderstand. I meant nothing of the sort."
"The Stormlands truly have no three-masted sailing ships of that quality."
"Then build them or buy them!"
Danyla spoke so quickly and loudly that her shouting left Boremund's head ringing.
"Are you telling me that the mighty Duke of the Stormlands lacks even that much ability?"
"No wonder the pirates of the Stepstones and the Dornish are nearly at Storm's End, and you still can't deal with them."
Danyla's words struck a raw nerve in Duke Boremund.
"You! I am the Duke of Storm's End! I have won countless victories for the Seven Kingdoms! How can you..."
Refusing to yield, Danyla immediately shot back,
"And I am a princess of House Targaryen! However great your achievements, can they surpass those of House Targaryen's Great Dragons?"
Lord Corlys the Sea Snake reached out to restrain Boremund, who was about to say more, and spoke,
"Today is Prince Baelon's funeral, and it should have been a sorrowful occasion. But Princess Danyla has also hatched a young dragon, bringing encouragement and comfort to the Seven Kingdoms. Let us settle this as the princess proposes!"
"I'll provide the large ship!"
Danyla gave Lord Corlys the Sea Snake a long look and said,
"Then thank you, Lord Corlys!"
Viserys came over and took Danyla's hand.
"Send Dreamfyre away now. The ladies and young women are all frightened!"
"Yes, cousin!"
Danyla then ordered Dreamfyre to withdraw in Valyrian.
Meanwhile, Anne had prepared a fresh bottle of House Targaryen's Dragonfire and brought it before Borros, gently cautioning him,
"Lord Borros, this liquor really shouldn't be drunk in large quantities. Please be careful. Don't hurt yourself trying to prove your strength."
With everyone watching him, Borros could hardly back down.
"Enough chatter. Fill me a large cup!"
Anne had no choice but to take out a dragonbone glass goblet and pour him a cup.
Borros snatched the goblet and drained it in one gulp. The fierce, scorching sensation burned from his mouth down his throat, into his stomach, and throughout his body. Sweat immediately broke out across his head.
"That's good! Another!"
Anne could only pour him another cup.
Once again, Borros picked up the goblet and drained it in one gulp. Though he now knew what to expect, the scorching, searing sensation had not diminished in the slightest.
This time, however, he did not sweat. He felt a surge of energy rush straight to his head, and then a drop of salty liquid with a metallic tang trickled from his nose.
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