The sound of the horn struck the pale gray runes that flashed and vanished, to no effect.
"How many times has the horn been blown now?" Pate the Pig Keeper asked Laresa atop the Citadel's walls.
"The fifth time, Pate," Laresa concluded.
"This is a real horn, not disposable rubbish like the Citadel's and Hightower's, but for some reason it isn't working."
"Yes, a chilling horn, yet the magic dragons are still dancing wildly, still pouring out flames." Pate looked up at the sky. The fighting was growing bloodier.
Will it never end? Gendry thought. Dragonbinder sounded again, yet had no effect.
"The Dragon Kings of Old Valyria used binding spells and magic horns to control their mounts; we have words and whips," Daenerys asked.
"But this horn is so frightening. Why hasn't it affected the magic dragons?"
"This is a gift from Storm's End."
"Yes, Your Grace, why aren't your magic dragons afraid of Dragonbinder?" Marwyn said, still shaken. "No wonder Euron Crow's Eye came to fight a decisive battle against us. Besides the Stone Beast and the Sphinxes, he also has Dragonbinder."
The Red Priestess watched Gendry with interest. She surmised that Gendry might know some magic, but it was by no means the sacrificial path of sorcerers. It was more like the ancient Dragon Kings' path of the self.
Gendry smiled faintly. "Euron Crow's Eye has cards up his sleeve, but so do I."
"His Grace has the protection of the gods. A monster like Euron Crow's Eye cannot harm him." Aboard the little longship, Lord Rodrik Harlaw, who had swum over through the water and was nearly frozen stiff, changed into a golden robe bearing the Four-Part Sigil and bent his knee to Gendry.
It had to be said that Rodrik the Reader was remarkably lucky