Dispute

Baelon frowned slightly. Leave the judgment to House Tully?

Lords had their own sturdy castles, their own armies, and even their own courts.

How did that make the occupant of the Iron Throne king of the Seven Kingdoms?

Royal authority had declined this far.

This was an opportunity.

Since the dispute between House Bracken and House Blackwood had reached the Iron Throne, perhaps this was precisely the royal family's opportunity to establish circuit courts, reclaim the right to adjudicate disputes, and strengthen royal authority.

But the problem was... the timing was wrong.

He could not reveal his intention to centralize power at this moment.

Corlys Velaryon declared heatedly, "The alliance between the Triarchy and Dorne has emboldened their ambitions!"

"The 'Crabfeeder' has detained one of my merchant ships!"

Corlys Velaryon slapped the table. "How dare he!"

Corlys could endure it no longer. The Crabfeeder's probing and provocations filled him with fury. "We must strike back!"

He had captained the Sea Snake on nine great voyages.

He had passed through the gates of the Jade Sea, braved the Shivering Sea, crossed the Thousand Islands, and reached N'ghai and Mossovy.

The wealth he had amassed had allowed House Velaryon to surpass the ancient House Hightower and the gold-mine-owning House Lannister, making it the richest house in the Seven Kingdoms.

Moreover, High Tide commanded the vital passage through the Gullet. Its location closer to the Narrow Sea than King's Landing or Duskendale had allowed House Velaryon to naturally seize a share of both towns' trade.

Through maritime trade, he had amassed unrivaled wealth!

Through marriage ties to the Iron Throne, House Velaryon was wealthy and powerful!

For years, no bandit, exile, or pirate had dared attack a merchant ship flying the seahorse banner!

And now a mere admiral from Myr?!

Daemon spoke at once. "We have six dragons now."

He bared his white teeth in a grin. "Perhaps it is time to remind the Dornish what it feels like to dance with dragons."

Lyonel steadied himself. "Now is not the time to wage war against Dorne. Once we become mired in war..."

"The Stepstones and the Iron Islands will seize the opportunity to raid our coasts."

"Perhaps we could send an envoy to negotiate peace with Prince Qoren Martell?"

Earl Lyman Beesbury was advanced in years, but his temper remained unyielding. "Negotiate?"

"When Dornish spears and Myrish crossbows are pointed at us, they will not hear a word!"

Earl Lyman Beesbury was not yet so old that his memory had failed him.

He still remembered how, in his childhood, "Dornish courage" and "Yellow Toad" had been expressions used in Westeros to mock cowardice.

Yet now there really were Dornishmen who boasted of such things, bragging that they had never bent the knee to Aegon the Conqueror!

Ridiculous!

Attending the Small Council for the first time, Larys quietly observed everyone's expressions without speaking.

Baelon did the same.

Otto studied Viserys's expression and, for the moment, said nothing either.

Ordinarily, he should have spoken in favor of peace. That had always been King Viserys's position as well.

Recently, however, some subtle change had come over Viserys.

Viserys silently listened to his leading ministers speak.

Daemon sneered. "We have dragons!"

"Dragonfire will make anyone who dares oppose House Targaryen pay!"

"Then everyone will understand the authority and strength of the Iron Throne."

Not to be outdone, Earl Lyman Beesbury said, "Your Grace, the taxes from Prince Baelon's three factories and the overflowing treasury left by Jaehaerys the Conciliator are enough to sustain our fighting."

The reserves left by Jaehaerys the Conciliator were simply too substantial.

For a time, opinion swung toward supporting Corlys Velaryon, with those present believing they should take the Stepstones.

Daemon Targaryen and Earl Lyman Beesbury, however, supported giving Dorne blood and fire.

Lyonel Strong remained prudent and measured.

Even amid everyone's arguments, he still opposed attacking Dorne. He feared the Free Cities would take advantage of their predicament to plunder them, leaving the kingdom in difficulty.

He therefore proposed a swift campaign to take only the Stepstones.

Afterward, they could build fortifications and watchtowers, then dispatch fleets and soldiers to defend the strongholds.

He said, "The Stepstones occupy a vital position between Dorne and Essos."

"So long as we control the Stepstones, whether we attack Dorne or strike back at the kingdoms of the Three Daughters, we will be able to advance on the offensive or fall back on the defensive."

Otto suddenly raised his head.

Attack Dorne?!

His fingers kept rubbing together as his gaze moved across Viserys's face.

Ordinarily, Viserys would already have spoken to stop Daemon and the Sea Snake, declaring that they should negotiate with Sunspear and make them see reason.

All this time, despite the marriage alliance between House Velaryon and House Targaryen, His Grace had still harbored concerns.

He seemed to worry that House Velaryon's power had grown too great.

Thus, he had ignored the Triarchy's tacit approval of ever-higher tolls in the Stepstones, and even its violation of the peace agreement to plunder merchant ships from the Seven Kingdoms.

For High Tide suffered the greatest losses from this.

Yet now Viserys quietly listened to everyone speak, allowing Corlys the Sea Snake to make his impassioned arguments.

Viserys's brow was tightly furrowed. His heart felt as though two hands were tugging at it, wavering back and forth.

At the sight, Otto's heart tightened.

He looked toward Corlys, who was fervently asking Viserys for leave to wage war.

Since the time of Aegon the Conqueror, the Velaryons, Lords of the Tides, had traditionally served as Master of Ships on the Small Council.

So much so that the people of Westeros generally considered the office hereditary within House Velaryon.

Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake... this man had once served alongside him on the Small Council of Jaehaerys the Conciliator.

Ambitious and tireless, he loved building ships. During the reign of Jaehaerys the Conciliator, he had tripled the size of the royal fleet!

Later, a dispute over the succession had led Corlys Velaryon to abandon his office.

But after Baelon's marriage to Laena, Corlys Velaryon had resumed his post as Master of Ships and continued building ships on a grand scale.

Viserys let out a long sigh.

"Corlys."

Out of respect, the Small Council fell silent when the king spoke.

Corlys stared straight at Viserys, waiting for what he would say next.

War?

Or the same evasions and negotiations as always?

Viserys looked over them one by one.

Daemon, commander of the City Watch, his full brother.

Corlys Velaryon, Master of Ships, whose daughter had married his son.

Lyonel Strong, Master of Laws, whom he had personally raised to office, a man who valued honor and had proven his loyalty over time.

Lyman Beesbury, Master of Coin, honorable, loyal, and responsible.

Larys Strong, Master of Whisperers, a physically disabled second son who depended on his personal patronage.

An unusual surge of pride welled up in Viserys's chest.

His court, his Small Council, was filled with capable ministers loyal to the king.

Stars shone in his court, and everyone worked with one heart toward the kingdom's strength.

The kingdom had six great dragons!

Then why should he tolerate the pirates of the Stepstones? Why could he not conquer territory?

Suddenly, Viserys's gaze fell on Baelon, and he clenched his fists.

Baelon watched Viserys's reaction, unable for the moment to tell whether he wanted war or peace.

Just then, Rhaenyra arrived late.