Game of Thrones: Viserys the Three-Headed Dragon.
Chapter 177: Viserys's Plan
Chapter 177: Viserys's Plan
"People fall in the sea, and those who fall fall up. I know, I know. Oooooh!"
When they were brought to Dragonstone, where it looked as though there were few guards left at the gates, King Viserys was standing by Aegon's garden, concentrating on a jester in a horned helmet singing a weird ballad.
The Fool was fat and soft, with a wide face and strange tattoos. He shuffled and hopped, stood on one foot, and walked in a strange way. He was singing a strange song, and the bells on his helmet rang: "Storms rise from broken ships, salt water flows into the White Tower, and the mermaids in the sea are gone. I know, I know. Oh, oh, oh!"
The king had no guards, only the young and beautiful queen, and a huge dragon, which circled in the empty castle until the king beckoned it to Aegon's garden.
"Nightfire," the king called out.
The dragon fell to the ground. It was only about the size of a grown horse, and its scales were black and red, like a smoldering flame in the night.
Compared to the legendary behemoths, this dragon was not big enough, but it had already shocked Willas and Marwyn. When the dragon flew over their heads, an unsettling smell of a beast came over them, and the human instinct to sense danger made them stop for a moment.
The little dragon had a saddle on its body like a horse, which seemed to be prepared for a rider. But the young dragon seemed to be afraid of the young and solemn human king. It was nervous and afraid, and did not dare to approach. It only looked at the king from a distance, as if it wanted to approach but did not dare to.
Then they saw the king.
They found that the king was young and handsome, with a strong face and looked quite kind, just as the rumors said. The queen was beautiful and noble, with an extraordinary demeanor that they dared not look directly at.
However, when they saw the king's right hand, they both held their breath for a moment.
At first, Willas thought it was a peculiar glove or arm decoration, for the king was dressed in half-armor, as if he were going to war.
However, it was not some decoration, the king's right hand was indeed the claw of some beast, a dragon's claw.
But the king's left hand was a normal human hand.
Dr. Marwyn was more excited to see the king's right hand than the dragon, and his eyes glowed and his bull-like neck panted.
The guard who led them here walked to the side of the king and stood solemnly, as if everything was normal and he didn't care about the king's inhuman right hand.
The king spoke: "Introduce yourselves?"
The Citadel doctor, who looked more like a villain than a bachelor, eagerly introduced himself: "I am Marwyn of the Citadel. I study magic and the occult, and I am a certified doctor of the Citadel."
Willas swallowed and introduced himself: "I am Willas of House Tyrell, heir to Highgarden. Greetings. It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty."
Viserys asked grimly, "A Master of the Citadel of Magic and the Mystic, and an heir to Highgarden, coming to Dragonstone on the same ship?"
"I heard about your dragon in Oldtown, Your Majesty. I came for your dragon. I must meet you before the other old guys in the Citadel. I have important secrets about dragons to tell you." Marwyn was excited. "But it depends on the situation, Your Majesty, I may be too sentimental. You are more powerful than I thought. You know the sorcery and magic of Valyria's blood and fire. You are a true dragon king."
Willas didn't know how to start for a moment.
The king ignored Willas and answered Marwyn directly. "Secrets of dragons? Forget that for now. You said you studied magic and the occult?" Viserys looked at Marwyn. "Then you must have heard the Fool's weird songs, Master Marwyn?"
Marwyn wondered why the king had mentioned this, and he turned to look at the strange jester in the garden, who was still singing those two weird ballads over and over again, with the bells above his head jingling non-stop.
“People will stumble in the sea, and those who stumble will fall upward.”
The Fool sang.
Marwyn frowned as he listened; this strange song was about a person who fell into the sea and drowned, and the posture of his body floating up from the sea.
"A storm arose from the broken ship, salt water flowed into the White Tower, and the mermaids in the sea disappeared without a trace."
This song is really weird, with a strange tune. By the standards of a jester, this jester is undoubtedly a failed character. The song he sings is weird and horrible and cannot make others laugh at all.
But Marwyn frowned. "May I ask who this jester is?"
"Patchface. An interesting man. You must have all heard of King's Landing's slanderous remarks against Stannis." In order to fight back against Stannis's claim that Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella were illegitimate children, King's Landing sent people to spread the word that Shireen was the illegitimate daughter of Patchface and Lady Selyse. "But in fact, for more than a decade, everyone who knew Patchface regarded him as a retard. He was a jester slave brought back from Volantis by Duke Stephen. He was the only survivor of the shipwreck in Shipwreck Bay where Duke Stephen was killed. The Duke and Duchess, hundreds of soldiers, and sailors all died. Only Patchface was washed ashore and coughed up seawater to survive. From then on, he often sang some strange songs. Does this remind you of anything, Dr. Marwyn?"
Marwyn looked at the jester in the garden with a serious expression, and then looked at the king. He realized that this was a test question. Dr. Marwyn gave the answer: "A sacrificial ceremony that was inexplicably fulfilled, or perhaps a conspiracy."
Sacrifice ceremony.
conspiracy.
Willas could not understand the conversation between the king and Marwyn, but he felt vaguely uneasy.
Viserys narrowed his eyes. "And what do you think of his strange song?"
This, Marwyn realized, was the second question.
"I don't believe in prophecies, nor do I believe that the jester's strange songs can predict the future, your majesty. These things are just groundless. But if you want me to explain it to you. The Shipwreck may be Shipwreck Bay. He said that the storm there will cause the sea water to pour into a certain white tower. As for the mermaids in the sea, it is said that the Grey King of the Iron Islands married a mermaid; as for the Mermaid King, he is the sea god of death worshipped by the sailors of Essos; the sailors rumored that there are pale mermaids in the Shivering Sea, and gentle mermaids live in the southern waters, but no one has ever confirmed it; there is also a small island called Mermaid Hall on the Blue Arbor opposite the Old Town; and there is a legend that mermaids take care of the internal affairs in the Water Hall of the Drowned God. Your majesty, prophecy is cunning and a trap. It can be explained in any way. Regarding prophecy, I believe the words of the ancient sages. The danger of prophecy itself is not terrible, but when you fall into it, it is the most terrible thing."
Viserys took a deep look at the Citadel's doctor of occult studies and felt a little disappointed. He thought that the doctor's abilities might not be as great as he had imagined.
Viserys had thought that the doctor's coming here might put the matter of Oldtown aside for the time being.
Viserys has another explanation for Patchface's song.
The salt water enters the White Tower.
Viserys understood that there might be someone else eyeing Oldtown with him.
Salt water represents the Iron Islands - Jojen, who was beside Bran, once poured salt water into Winterfell to predict Theon Greyjoy's attack on Winterfell.
In Viserys's opinion, the White Tower represents Hightower and Oldtown, because the family emblem of the Hightower family is a stepped white tower with a beacon burning on the top against a smoky gray background.
As much as Viserys hated to believe it, Patchface's prophecies had a proven success rate.
The only thing Viserys couldn't understand was the last part. "The merfolk are gone."
But Viserys only needed to guess roughly, and he would not be trapped by the prophecy, but just treat these things as a source of intelligence that needs to be deciphered. It doesn't matter if he guesses wrong.
Viserys's examination of Marwyn ended here. He turned to look at Willas of Highgarden: "This master of the Citadel comes for the dragon. What about you, Willas Tyrell?"
Seeing that the dragon king, who might have really inherited Valyrian magic and sorcery, stopped asking questions, Dr. Marwyn was unsure whether he had answered well for a moment, and he became a little worried. Willas of Highgarden tried to maintain his polite demeanor, although he was already disturbed by the dragon, the king's right dragon claw, and the questions just now, and felt inexplicably guilty. He made up his mind, knelt on one knee, and answered seriously: "Your Majesty, Willas has never forgotten that the ancestors of the Tyrells are where they are today because of the grace of King Targaryen since I heard the news of your return to Dragonstone. This time, I came here to swear allegiance to you on behalf of the Tyrell family of Highgarden. Please let me serve under you, please drive me and lead you, just as His Majesty Aegon the Conqueror drove my ancestor Harlan Tyrell."
"You represent the Tyrell family? What about your father? I remember that the current Lord of Highgarden is your father, the Lord of Mace, right? Where is he now?"
Willas swallowed his saliva secretly: "My father is now in King's Landing. But Your Majesty, please let me write a letter to my father, he will definitely-"
"Sure?" Viserys interrupted. "How long did it take you to get here by ship from Highgarden?"
Willas' heart turned cold, and he answered seriously: "65 days, Your Majesty."
"How long does it take to get to Dragonstone from King's Landing by boat?"
Willas's forehead was covered with sweat: "About 3 or 4 days."
"Why didn't your father come?"
Willas didn't understand what his father and the lords of the River Reach were thinking. Obviously, they were so close to Dragonstone, and they should have more smooth information than him. "Your Majesty, my father was bound by the false king supported by Baratheon and Lannister in King's Landing. But no matter what, my father made a big mistake when he learned that you were in Dragonstone and did not rush to the king. Please allow me to correct the mistake my father made. Please believe in my loyalty and let me fight for you. I will offer you the Tyrell army that is still in Highgarden and persuade the River Reach army in King's Landing to surrender. Afterwards, whether you let the Tyrell family members who made mistakes wear black clothes or deprive the Tyrell family of their titles, the Tyrell family will have no complaints. The honor of the Tyrells was given by His Majesty Targaryen, and the fate of the Tyrells will be left to His Majesty Targaryen to decide."
Willas tried his best to express his loyalty, but he was in a panic. Even he had other ideas at the beginning. Compared with Dorne's delegation that completely turned to Targaryen, Willas came alone, which made the Tyrell family seem inconsistent.
"How many lords of the Reach did you bring with you this time?"
Willas regretted not taking the land route and not informing his father first: "Your Majesty, I came alone, but I promise that the thirty thousand men of the Reach in Highgarden will obey my orders."
Viserys was noncommittal. "You have just the right amount of time, Lord Willas Tyrell. I will send you back to Highgarden with haste so that you can conduct the surrender. But in order to preserve the secrecy of this operation, you will not receive any ravens until you have reached Highgarden, and you must not attempt to send any information by any other means."
Surrender to High Court
Willas' scalp tingled: "Your Majesty, I..."
Viserys said only, "You have little time, Willas. Ser Arthur, take him to Grolet, and have Grolet personally escort him after the guards. Tell Grolet that I want this man present when we meet at Summerhall."
The people responsible for guarding Dragonstone Castle now are Earl Gunther's men and the garrison troops assembled by the lords of the Narrow Sea. Except for the navy, Dragonstone is now more empty than ever before.
Viserys had flown around the Crabclaw Peninsula a few days ago and summoned some people from the Crabclaw Peninsula to guard Dragonstone. He planned to put them in the vacant military camp outside the town at the foot of Dragonstone Mountain to prepare for any eventuality, but these people have not yet been transported. The garrison troops that the narrow sea lords had gathered for Viserys were now acting as decoys in the military camp outside the town.
Viserys was not sure it was necessary, but he pretended to do so when he sent out the castle garrison and planned to fight in the south.
The original Unsullied army on Dragonstone were Viserys' most trusted guards. For this battle, Viserys had to split them into two. One part was sent to Storm's End to guard it, and the other part went to the front line with the Dornish delegation.
Viserys plans to take time to deal with the cult problem in the Stormlands while the Dornish army is gathering, so a group of guards will be responsible for protecting the king at Storm's End, mainly because the king has secrets that need their protection.
Once the Dornish army was assembled, Viserys planned to fly over to join them, while the other half of his guards would protect him in the Dornish camp.
It was the other half of the guards that Viserys wanted Willas to chase. They and the free rider scouts recruited by Viserys had already rushed to the front line, and Viserys agreed to meet them at Summerhall.
He planned to go to Summerhall to add some Stormland knights and knights from the Florent family to the escort force, to form an honorary knight corps of about 600 people, and then go to Nightsong in the borderland to join the Dornish troops.
After joining together, the army set out from Nightsong to attack Highgarden.
By then, Dorne will also recruit more men to provide Viserys's Honor Guard, and eventually the Honor Guard responsible for protecting the king in war will reach one thousand. This guard will be composed entirely of the king's most trusted guards and well-known knights and squires from all over the place. Its complete form will be an invincible heavy cavalry unit.
In the expectation, the direction in which the king would attack on the battlefield on his dragon would be the direction in which the guards would charge on horseback. Wherever the king charged, they would follow.
The reason why Viserys is still on Dragonstone is that he is waiting for the army to arrive at the designated area. It will take at least ten days to half a month to assemble in the Nightsong area. Viserys still has to wait. He has to wait until the army is assembled before flying over to command the battle.
This sounds a bit like Chiang Kai-shek, who flew across the country in his private jet to command the country. However, Viserys did not go to the battlefield to micro-manage. Viserys had never commanded a war involving tens of thousands of people, so he would listen to the commander's opinions and would not be self-willed.
Moreover, he himself is the most powerful fighting force and reassurance of this army.
The strategic targets of this military operation are Highgarden and Oldtown. The best outcome is to force Highgarden to surrender, and the southern lords all obey Viserys's raven summons and come to Highgarden to surrender. The second best outcome is that Highgarden refuses to surrender, and Viserys takes his troops to capture Highgarden as soon as possible, and then see what Oldtown's attitude is.
If Oldtown also refuses to surrender, then lead your troops to attack Oldtown.
If Old Town surrenders, then take your troops to Old Town to show off your might.
Anyway, whether Oldtown surrenders or not, Viserys will lead his troops to Oldtown.
In name, Viserys is asking the Citadel of Oldtown to disclose the knowledge and intelligence of the White Walkers to the world, but in reality, he is of course asking the Citadel of Oldtown and the Hightower family to hand over their knowledge and books on magic.
Marwyn and Willas are lucky. Viserys plans to set off for Storm's End with Daenerys today.
If they had come any later, they would not have found the king on Dragonstone.
Viserys had originally planned to go to Storm's End a long time ago, but was delayed for two days because Viserys accidentally touched a cursed item brought back by Braavos.
Speaking of the terrain on the back slope of Longshan Mountain, there is a damp and cold wasteland far away from the volcano, surrounded by storms and bad waters all year round. The volcano is also covered by smoke and shadows blown away by the wind, making it look gloomy and terrifying, and almost no living things can survive there.
Viserys hid the cursed object with the power of the god of cold that he brought back from Braavos there, in a cave he dug himself in a steep place, and he would fly over there every day to blew cold air to freeze it tightly. After all, he was too careless, and Viserys did not expect that the cold curse would gradually penetrate the magic ice he spit out, and the two magic powers seemed to have a tendency to devour and blend with each other on his magic creation ice.
Viserys just accidentally touched the ice. Then he was possessed by this curse that combined the magic of the God of Cold and part of his own magic. The magic confrontation has been going on for two days, and his hand has not recovered yet.
Nightfire was so terrified of the curse on Viserys's hand that he didn't dare approach him.
These curses of the God of Cold contain the ice magic that Viserys needs, and they can be absorbed. The absorbable part of this power is higher than the content in the special weapons of the Faceless Men, but it is very slow and difficult to digest.
Viserys felt both relieved and puzzled at this discovery.
Fortunately, he seemed to have found a way to obtain the magic power of ice element.
The doubt came from the fact that when Viserys realized that the ice dragons in this world did not exist in reality but were creations of ritual magic, he did not know how to obtain the ice dragon's corpse and extract the dragon soul magic from it.
But now he has obtained the absorbable ice element magic from the curse of the remaining White Walkers and humans. Doesn't this mean that this pile of residues can be regarded as dragon soul magic in a sense?
So can we understand that the dragon soul of the ice dragon is the remaining curse of the White Walkers that can cast ritual magic to summon ice dragons?
Looking at it from another angle, doesn't that mean that the system that issues tasks in Viserys' mind determines that these White Walkers who can perform ritual magic to summon ice dragons are the ice dragons themselves?
Viserys thought strangely, so the essence of the "ice dragon" is not a giant dragon, but actually a special kind of magic possessed by the White Walkers?
(End of this chapter)
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