Off the coast of Myr Bay, a strange warship with pure white sails and hull, its three masts only raising two rows of sails, still managed to match the speed of the fleet behind it, fully hoisted.
The Wave-Rider Knight was as long as two regular warships. Sailors crowded into the captain's cabin, reporting the performance parameters of various parts of the ship to the captain. As this new ship embarked on its first long-distance journey, its weaknesses needed to be identified to serve as a reference for modifications in future ships.
Wright sat in a wooden chair on the bow's diagonal mast, reading, feeling the sea breeze as the ship rocked gently. The figurehead space below the bow was still empty. Wright had found the most famous sculptor in Tyrosh to craft it, and it should be ready after returning from this voyage.
Everyone in Tyrosh expected the figurehead to be a dragon's head, but Wright found this too ordinary and unnecessary. Normally, when the ship sailed, the great dragon would be flying overhead.
Since Wright aimed to lead the effort to increase the fertility rate on the Stone Step Isles, he sought out the most skilled artisan. After many revisions, the final sketch for the figurehead was decided: Wright was depicted in a running stance, with one leg straight behind him and the other bent in front. His torso was bare, showing his muscular build. With one hand around each of two women, Nymeria and Tyene, both dressed in revealing clothing, their figures graceful.
Even the sculptor praised Wright's unique and romantic aesthetic. Copies of the sketch spread through Tyrosh's artistic circles, and many artists began exploring this style, finding it appealing. Some even secretly brought in counterfeit paintings from Highgarden, emboldened by Wright's own fondness for this artistic approach. They planned to create a sculpture based on the figures in the painting, intending to showcase the beauty and strength of the human body.
On the deck, several noblemen were maintaining their weapons, wiping down their longswords with oil.
"Isn't Lord Wright afraid of falling off the diagonal mast?" Wendel Manderly watched Wright sway with the ship, concerned he might fall into the sea.
"I'll tell you, last year at the Battle of Meereen, Lord Wright sat atop the Great Pyramid for half the day. He loves sitting in places like that," said Theon. He didn't think it was an issue at all.
At the mention of the Battle of Meereen, Wendel's interest piqued. "Were you in Meereen too? Tell us about what happened! The stories we've heard don't seem reliable!"
"The first time I saw Lord Wright fight was at that battle. It was truly chaotic—five dragons, three dead, one missing. Sky magic everywhere, poison running rampant on the ground..." Theon began recounting the Battle of Meereen from his perspective.
Balon and Aurane, who had been listening, turned to Theon after his recount. Aurane asked, "One dragon went missing?"
Theon smiled. "At the end, Daenerys' last dragon flew into the sky, and many saw it suddenly caught by Odahviing. Afterward, even Lord Wright couldn't find the body. It was definitely missing, right?"
Balon was blunt. "If it was swallowed, it's probably turned into dragon dung."
At the mention of dragon dung, Theon suddenly remembered something. "Tyrosh has been selling a new potion recently. It's supposed to enhance a man's abilities. It's cheaper than Might, too, and ordinary folk can afford it. But it's in high demand, so it's hard to get."
The mention of the potion caught the men's attention, and they began discussing women.
"I tried it. It does have some effect," Wendel, who had contributed significantly to the local entertainment industry after arriving in Tyrosh, commented.
Balon was shocked. "You actually drank it?"
"The potion has no issues, does it?" Theon turned to look at him.
Balon laughed, holding up his oiled great axe. "Haha, it works, no toxins. But the main ingredient... Aurane, you say it!"
Everyone turned to Aurane, who shrugged helplessly. "It's a joint venture between me, Balon, Allard Seaworth, and Dickon Tarly. The main ingredient? Dragon dung from Skull Island!"
"Ugh~" Wendel started gagging.
Aurane patted him on the back. "Don't worry. Lord Wright personally checked the formula before it went public. It's completely safe and effective."
Theon suddenly asked, "So Lord Wright has eaten dragon dung too?"
Aurane quickly waved his hands. "I never said that! It's magic, do you understand?"
"No!" Theon replied, confused.
Wright, with keen hearing, smiled at the conversation.
Dragons not only eat meat but also various minerals to supplement their diet. Even after consumption, dragon dung still contains a high level of iron and other metals.
In this world, nutrition science hadn't yet developed, and many diseases were caused by a lack of trace elements in the body. Drinking a potion made from dragon dung was a good way to supplement various trace elements needed by the human body. Dragon dung contains calcium, iron, zinc, copper, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, manganese, chromium, selenium, molybdenum, and cobalt. After Wright tested it, and with further tests on pigs and sheep, he confirmed it was safe. After purifying and adding some fragrance and sugar, it actually tasted decent, so they were allowed to sell it publicly.
Suddenly, Wright felt goosebumps shoot up from his feet straight to the crown of his head. After a few shudders, he felt both strange and oddly comfortable. Was his body's functionality declining?
The group chatted and laughed when suddenly, Aurane recalled the raven message he received this morning.
"Just this morning, Acting Lord Tyene issued an order to recall all naval forces not on military duty or regular patrols to defend near Talos. Even the Lord's Castle is under magical lockdown. We don't know what big event has happened," Tyene could command the army's movements, and Aurane had received the information right away. Since they were all his subordinates and the Lord's personal guards, it wasn't considered a breach of secrecy.
Balon reflected for a moment before speaking. "Talos on lockdown? I think that's only happened once since the city's founding, and that was when the mages from Asha arrived by ship!"
Aurane replied, "But look at Lord Wright, casually reading his book. Our current route leads directly to Volantis, so I suspect it's not an enemy attack."
"Then what could it be?"
---
Dorne, Yronwood.
Due to the fall of Blackmont in the northwest and the poisoning of Yronwood's only fresh water source, Lord Anders Yronwood ordered the abandonment of the city. All pacification troops were to gather in Wells.
This empty city, where even the rats had been relocated, was quickly occupied by the Fowler family. Various forces from the royal army started to gather, preparing for a full-scale assault.
On the towering city walls, countless Dorne soldiers stood watching the giant dragon digging pits in the distance. Each swipe of the dragon's enormous claws sent huge amounts of sand flying, with the yellow dust cloud rising higher than the castle itself.
Inside the city, soldiers were busy packing supplies. Everywhere, the sounds of weapons being repaired echoed through the streets. In the castle's meeting room, Nymeria sat at the head of the table, listening to the reports from the counts.
She wore her battle armor, the dark black Valyrian steel helmet showing no signs of damage, although the leather straps inside had been replaced a few times. Two long-horned helmets rested on the table, and her gauntlets rhythmically tapped against them, making a sharp sound.
Nymeria's hair was loose, not braided, cascading down her back. The faint red scar near her left eye didn't detract from her beauty. Her experience on the battlefield had made her more composed, and her gaze more piercing. Paired with the monstrous head on her left shoulder guard, she now exuded even more authority.
The counts, knights, and lords under her command filled the large meeting hall, each reporting military matters one by one.
"Sarella, did you write that down?" Nymeria asked a dark-skinned female Maester beside her.
"Of course, I write quickly."
The Maester wore the robes of a Maester, with six different colored metal rings around her neck. Since the Citadel did not admit female Maesters, she had disguised herself as a man and concealed her true identity. After years of study, she had obtained her degree and, upon hearing of the Dornish civil war, had immediately come to Nymeria.
The first Maester of the royal army: Sarella Sand, Nymeria's half-sister, the 19-year-old fourth daughter of Prince Oberyn, now formally addressed as Maester Sarella.
Several other women also watched Nymeria from their seats in the House Uller section: Obara, Nymeria's other daughters, each with a growing reputation on the battlefield, alongside her.
The large doors of the meeting hall opened, and a weary messenger rushed in, pulling a letter from his chest and handing it to the Maester. "Important intelligence!"
Sarella Sand opened the letter. After reading it, she looked at Nymeria, shocked.
"Read it aloud!"
The letter was short. Sarella stood and read aloud: "The remaining members of House Jordayne, who fled to Ghaston Grey, hired mercenaries from somewhere, and have already fled by boat."
"Good, seems like luck is on our side!"
"We don't know where they've gone. Can we intercept them?"
"The escape route must remain secret."
Sarella added, "The second piece of news: Princess Trystane Martell's wife was found to be pregnant, and shortly after, a group of foreign assassins attempted to kill Prince Trystane in Wells! However, the assassination failed. Lord Yronwood sent someone to rescue him, but during the battle, Trystane was trampled by one of his own warhorses and died."
"What!"
"This was just a show put on by Lord Yronwood!"
"Yes, the assassins were definitely sent by him. He wants the prince dead!"
Everyone present was shocked.
Maester Sarella immediately spoke up, "The third piece of news: after the assassination, the enemy's camp was thrown into chaos. Some knights loyal to Doran and Prince Oberyn defected. They gave our scouts some information—both princes' injuries have already healed. They've been in a coma all this time because they were deliberately poisoned!"
"Damn it! This must be the work of House Yronwood! They want the throne of Dorne!" Lord Harmen Uller of Hellholt was the first to curse loudly.
"With both princes unconscious, Princess Arianne missing, Quentyn dead, and now the first heir Trystane dead, the future Prince of Dorne will be the child in his daughter's womb. House Yronwood has done their calculations well!"
Lord Dagos Manwoody of Kingsgrave spoke slowly. His brother, Ser Myles Manwoody, and his two sons, Mors and Dickon, were sitting nearby. The family had an elegant appearance, but the skull with a crown crest on their cloaks proved they were not a family to be trifled with.
The hall was filled with a buzz of discussion as people began talking to those nearby about the situation.
The man known as Old Hawk, Franklyn Fowler, who guarded the Prince's Pass and was from Skyreach, took over the conversation: "As for the succession of Prince of Dorne, it should be Princess Arianne now!"
"But where is she?" Lord Harmen Uller countered loudly.
Franklyn Fowler stood up. "Everyone, please quiet down."
Once the room settled, he continued, "This war was initially launched to rescue Prince Doran, Prince Oberyn, and Prince Trystane. Now that it's confirmed both princes were poisoned deliberately, and Trystane has tragically died, the most important person left is Princess Arianne, and that's where the doubt lies."
"What doubt?" Nymeria asked, raising her head.
Franklyn Fowler turned to face her directly. "Nymeria, when you were in Tyrosh, you would always write to your father when something was important. I'm sure everyone here does the same. So, how could Princess Arianne, who's been away for so long, not have written to Prince Doran in Sunspear?"
"That's right!"
Franklyn Fowler raised his arm, pointing a finger. "The only possibility is that Princess Arianne's letters have already arrived—possibly more than one—and those with the power in Sunspear intercepted them, deliberately creating the fact that Princess Arianne is missing!"
"Who would do that?"
"Prince Oberyn?"
Hearing her father's name, Nymeria glanced over with a calm expression.
"Who else but him, Anders Yronwood! His time spent in Sunspear fits perfectly!" Lord Harmen Uller spoke up again.
"Now that the heirs of Prince Doran's line are in trouble, what happens to Dorne?" Many nobles whispered amongst themselves, their eyes turned toward the high seat.
---
As the arguing continued, a loud dragon roar echoed into the hall.
"Nymeria, is there an enemy?" Maester Sarella asked.
Hearing this, many in the hall stood up, grabbing their weapons.
"Everyone quiet down. The roar of Odahviing is not one of anger—it's not an enemy," Nymeria stood up and quickly calmed the crowd.
Another dragon roar came from outside.
"The dragon's roar is full of joy. Come with me, everyone," Nymeria said, having lived with Odahviing for years, she could tell the emotions in the roar.
Nymeria led over a hundred nobles out of the city, with more soldiers trailing behind. By the time they reached Odahviing, nearly a thousand people had gathered.
The dragon's size was so vast that even the smallest movement could crush a person. Everyone dared not approach, except the Dragon Guard, who stood in front of the dragon.
"Odahviing, what's going on?"
Nymeria shouted, following Dickon as they approached the dragon's head.