When Redd pushed the study door open, it made a low creaking sound, as if the wind had squeezed out of the crack in the door.
The study room was not big, but it was well-furnished. There were various files and account books neatly stacked on the bookshelf against one wall. The desk was made of dark oak, with a large and smooth surface. There were several pieces of parchment filled with writing spread out on it, and a copper paperweight was pressed down on it.
There is a pot of green plant on the windowsill, its leaves stretching in the afternoon sun.
After Mesalia walked into the study, she looked back at the door that had just been closed. The moment it was completely closed, she turned around and got close to him. She climbed up his hands along his chest and onto his shoulders. She stood on tiptoes and spread her warm breath on the side of his neck. Her lips were almost against his skin. Her voice was low, with a spine-tingling softness. "We should get ready to do business!"
Her fingers had already wrapped around the lace around his waist, her fingertips hooked the leather cord, and she gently pulled out to loosen the lace.
She moved her lips from the side of his neck to the bottom of his Adam's apple, gently licked the skin with the tip of her tongue, and then followed his collarbone to the left, placing a warm kiss at the junction of his shoulder and neck.
Redd pressed her shoulders, not hard, but enough to make her stop.
He looked down at her, and his voice was deeper than he expected. "Let's get down to business first. How are the situations of Dragonstone and Free Cities?"
Mesalia raised her head, her lips still slightly open, and there was a trace of confusion in her eyes that had not fully receded.
She looked at him, blinked her eyes, as if she had been gently nudged awake from a warm dream, and then slowly subdued those seductive edges and stood up straight.
She sat down on the chair opposite Redd, folding her hands on her knees, with a straight posture.
Her expression returned to that professional, neat, and calm Master of Whisperers look.
"Dragonstone, everything is stable over there." Mesalia's voice was smooth and clear, and every word was like silverware that had been carefully wiped. "Dragon's situation is also normal, and the food supply is sufficient. There was no commotion after King Ghidorah left.
I arranged a count before I left. All Dragon are in the nest, and none have escaped or disappeared."
Redd's brows relaxed slightly. He leaned back in the chair and tapped his fingers on the table twice in an even rhythm. "Where are those baby dragons? Have you done anything like that late at night recently, causing a fire to burn the hayloft?"
Mesalia shook her head. "Not really. A few smaller dragons broke a few wooden stakes when they flew over the edge of the fence, and they have been repaired. Other than that, there is nothing to worry about."
Redd nodded. Dragon Legion is one of the most important parts of his plan.
He raised those dragons not to show off his power above King's Landing, not to put pressure on the lords of Seven Kingdoms, but to bring them back to Valyrian Peninsula, to the place where their bloodline originated.
That's his real goal.
Westeros's Iron Throne, Essos's Free Cities, Narrow Sea All the battles and calculations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are just side scraps that he has to deal with on the way to that ultimate goal.
He needs a dragon group that is large enough, loyal enough, and powerful enough to gain a foothold in the cursed land of Valyria.
"Where is Free Cities?"
Mesalia took out a piece of neatly folded parchment from her sleeves, unfolded it, glanced at it, and then raised her eyelids. "Since all nine City-Statess have been under your rule, the Khal tribes around the original City-States have converged a lot.
Several groups of Dothraki riders crossed the border and plundered several villages, but the scale was small. The local garrison has dealt with it without causing much damage."
She paused and moved the parchment in her hand down another half inch. That was the mark that she was scanning down after reading the content. "But according to the intelligence, there are still several Khals gathering, and it is said that they are discussing whether to launch a large-scale raid on Pentos."
The news has not been confirmed yet, but we are already checking."
The corners of Redd's mouth raised slightly, and the smile was very faint, like the very fine ripples that appear when the wind blows over the water. "Those Khal are still afraid.
Otherwise, I don't mind letting them see what it means to be a real rider."
Mesalia waited for him to finish his words, folded the parchment and put it back into her sleeves, and then changed her tone, like a person who was about to finish a routine report and was turning to the next topic, "Stepstones is completely under our control."
The port has almost been repaired and the garrison has been arranged. Douglas wrote a few days ago asking if a stronger fortress should be built on the island."
"Let him repair it. But don't worry, stabilize the port first."
Mesalia nodded, and then her tone became slightly darker. "But there is something that needs attention. Dorne sent two thousand people over there to blockade Dornish Sea.
Our ships will be intercepted or warned if they approach that area of water. There have been no conflicts yet, but passage has become very difficult."
Redd's fingers paused on the table for a moment, then continued tapping.
He leaned back in his chair and narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he was unfolding a map in his mind and marking the narrow stretch of water at the Dornish Sea.
He knows why Dorne did what he did.
Stepstones is so close to Dorne that if he starts from Stepstones and rides King Ghidorah, he can see the coastline of Dorne in less than half a day.
That sense of geographical oppression will make any ruler with a sense of crisis take defensive actions.
Two thousand people blocked Dornish Sea, which is not so much hostility as a statement and a signal - we are here, we know you are there, we just keep our distance.
"Don't worry about them." Redd said, "Prince of Dorne is a smart man. He just wants to show his attitude and show that he is not a weakling who can be manipulated. As long as they don't take the initiative to cause trouble, we don't need to touch them."
Mesalia nodded and closed the letter about the Dornish Sea.
When she raised her head, Redd was looking at her. There was no urging in her eyes, but there was a calmness waiting for her to continue.
She understood the look in his eyes - the report about Valyria had not yet begun.
"By the way." Redd asked, "Is there any new progress in Valyrian Peninsula's exploration?"
Mesalia's expression changed slightly for a moment, as if she was pressed down gently by an invisible hand.
She lowered her eyes, then raised them again, her eyes lingering on Redd's face for a moment.
Her lips opened slightly, as if she was considering her words, and then she spoke, her voice softer than before, less precise and more hesitant because she didn't want him to hear the answer.
"We have sent out six exploration teams. Each team has a hundred people, all of whom are experienced mercenaries recruited. They are experienced and the remuneration given is generous enough.
Six teams, no one came back."
Mesalia's voice was steady, but when she spoke the last sentence, her tone was lower than the beginning, "Everything was normal when we set off. After the ship approached the coast of Valyria, contact was lost after a while.
The last text message sent back said that they had docked northeast of a large island, and no more news was sent back after that."