Ice and Fire: Reign of the Dragon.

Chapter 183: Ringol's Expedition (V) The Stag in Action
The wood in the campfire crackled as it was roasted by the flames. The flickering flames made the disguised Ringol look very handsome.

The boy recalled what he had seen and heard since entering the Stormlands. After they left Young Deer Village, they soon passed through the mountains that separated the Borderland Prince Territory from the Stormlands. There, Ringol saw Womax out foraging, but of course, Womax didn't notice him. They safely passed the mountain pass and entered the Stag's territory.

The Stormlands are not actually very large in area among the Seven Kingdoms. Before the War of Conquest, the Durrandon family ruled this land of storms and rainforests. Legend has it that the sky over Shipbreaker Bay is always dark and bright. The darkness is the dark clouds that always gather over Shipbreaker Bay and even over half of the Stormlands, and the brightness is the rolling thunder that almost never stops.

The Storm Kings of House Durrandon have always held four views.

The Riverlands are like stripped prostitutes, ready to be favored by the Stormlands, the Westerlands, the Vale, or the Reach.

The Reach were neighbors that needed to be beaten; they were wealthy, but not as brave as the Stormlanders.

The Dornish were an undying enemy, and if possible, it was important for every Storm King to tear off the skulls of Martell, Weir, Yronwood, or Fowler and use them as drinking bowls. All Storm Kings enjoyed doing this.

Finally, and most importantly, the wealth of the Stormlands relies on the north and the east, but the most important military force comes from the southern borderlands. Those borderland lords who have long fought bloody battles with the Dornish and the Riverlands have contributed the Stormlands elite that the Stormlands are famous for.

The Storm Kings relied on these elite warriors who had experienced many battles to defeat the Teague family who claimed to be the king of the Trident before the Hall family crossed the sea. King Arlan III, due to a series of coincidences, finally annexed the Riverlands. This was also the most prosperous period in the history of the Storm Kingdom, from the Narrow Sea to the Sunset Sea, from the Red Mountains of the Borderlands to the Neck. The Durrandon family ruled a vast territory that was rare in the Seven Kingdoms era.

Unfortunately, the Durrandon family was ultimately unable to hold on to this vast territory. With the invasion of Dorne and the Reach, and the conquest of the Hall family across the sea, before Aegon conquered the Six Kingdoms with his dragons, the Storm Kingdom had already lost its territory in the Riverlands and retreated back to its hometown.

But even the declining Storm Kingdom at that time was stronger than the Storm Land today.

The reason is simple. The frontier land that once provided troops to Stormland was divided up by Longzel. Stormland not only lost nearly one-third of its territory, but also lost many capable and warlike vassals.

Borros Baratheon had to thank the Swann family of Stonehelm, the Granderson family of Allseeing, and the Connington family of Griffin's Roost for not all swearing allegiance to Longzel. After all, these three families were strictly speaking military nobles of the borderlands.

Lingol noticed the scene he saw after entering the Storm Land. It was obviously different from the prince's territory in the borderland. The villages in the Storm Land were still traditional. Even though peace had come for so many years, there had not been much change.

But Ringol could still feel the preciousness of peace.

They were able to get fairly normal black bread in the village, without any stones or gravel in it, and they even bought beer of quality that was not so bad as to be compared to urine in a village that looked fairly clean and pretty.

Perhaps it was because of their age, their appearance, or perhaps it was because of Lei Geng's sharp tongue, but in any case, their journey here was much smoother than the three-person team next to them.

It may also have something to do with the fact that their wallets are fatter.

Ringol admitted this, but he noticed more. For example, the wood from the rainforest was moving northward along the coastal road built during Longzel's reign, and more than one team of wandering knights, mercenaries, and vagrants began to gather towards several castles near Storm's End.

"Duke Borros is gathering troops?" Lingol thought to himself, "Maybe I can go to Eagle's Nest Castle to see what's going on."

at this time.

Dragon's Nest City, Five Finger Hall.

Longzel sat in the main seat, looking at his five fingers and his younger brother Valar. His blood-sworn brother Revell Haydon still served as his attendant, and together with Count Quentin Manwoody, they served Longzel in the Five Fingers Hall. However, they were no longer needed to pour wine, and Valar's daughter Danella took on the job of serving wine.

The girl skillfully poured wine into the glasses in front of each person and stood quietly by the side without saying a word. Of course, there was basically no chance for the child to speak.

"Ringol should have reached Stormland," Hoffa said softly, "if they are going well."

"Don't worry, Hoffa, they are doing well." Tigaro consoled him, "Regon Kaon and Elarion Hoss followed His Highness Ringol under the alias of Hago and Roger, and now they are traveling together."

The "Shadow Finger" who had grown a long beard said with some emotion: "Your Highness, His Highness Lingol did not beat those two guys back, which means that he has realized his mistake."

"It would be good for him to go out more often." Lei Yi said with a smile: "After all, my brother went through the same thing. He is the heir of the Varese family, and he must do his best in everything he does."

"Tiga Luo, tell me the information you have about them." Longzel tapped the table lightly with his fingers. Tiga Luo turned the ring several times and reported the whereabouts of Ringol and his party to Longzel in detail.

"After Regen had a fever, His Highness Ringol took care of him for several days. During this process, they came into contact with wandering knights from all over the place. The people we arranged were also among them. When the time is right, he will teach His Highness Ringol a lesson that will be remembered for the rest of his life."

Longzel nodded and said nothing.

Danyla was stunned for a moment, looking at everyone in disbelief, but she concealed it well, and only Rey saw the anxiety and uneasiness that flashed across her niece's face. Rey suddenly had a bad idea, he quietly leaned over to Tigaro's ear and whispered a few words, Tigaro looked at Rey in shock first, then looked at Longzel.

This guy Rei. Ringol, you should be happy to have such an uncle.
Longzel knows his brothers so well that he can guess everything they are thinking. Before Rei even told Tigaro about the bad idea he had just come up with, his expression betrayed him.

But this is fine
Longzel nodded slightly to Tigaro, indicating that it was okay to do it.

Tigaro then regained his serious posture and sat firmly in his seat. Only Valar looked at Rey and Tigaro from time to time, not understanding what was going on.

"Your Highness, are you aware of the situation in Stormlands?" "Finger of Blood" Aslan Longdel saw that the previous topic had ended, so he spoke up to start the next topic.

Stormland's call for soldiers could not be hidden from other lords, but everyone knew that the kingdom was now solid as a rock. King's Landing had a king who seemed to have done nothing but maintained the policies left by Longzel. Although Dragon's Nest had stepped down as the king's hand, everyone believed that as long as the king personally flew to Dragon's Nest for help, the dragons of Dragon's Nest would spread their wings and fight for the kingdom. So no one thought that Stormland's call for soldiers was intended to rebel or something.
The above are just reasons. The only reason why Duke Borros summoned soldiers is that the Stormlands need land. He has sent ravens to King's Landing and Dragon's Nest, but King's Landing has not given him a clear reply yet, and has only acquiesced to his act of summoning troops.

Dragon's Nest City did not respond to him, but the fact that the Silver Blood Army had not gathered had already told Duke Boros that the Vareses family did not want to get involved in their affairs.

Just don't take it too far.

Not outrageous indeed.

Duke Borros's goal is simple.

Stone Steps Islands.

Although this pile of broken rocks on the Narrow Sea is barren, it controls the throat of the Narrow Sea and is in a very critical position. But the most important thing for the Baratheon family is that no matter how small this pile of broken rocks is, it is still new territory.

The Stormlands need new territory.

"I know." Longzier said. He naturally knew what Borros was thinking. However, the Stepstones were not only important to the Baratheon family, but also to Sunspear and the Vareses family. The Silver Fleet needed a suitable transit port, and the Stepstones were a good fit. Sunspear also hoped to get a share of the Summer Sea-Narrow Sea route. In fact, it was hard to say that the Stepstones War in history had not been fueled by the Martell family.

Today, the Stepstones have gradually recovered with peace and prosperity. The collapse of the Kingdom of the Three Daughters has led many frustrated guys to choose to become pirates on the Stepstones, especially the collapse of Tyrosh.
Dalton Greyjoy completely destroyed this wealthy free trade city-state, but now this once prosperous and beautiful island city has regained its vitality.

But not its vitality as a free trade city-state.

But it is the vitality of the pirate capital.

The situation in the Stone Steps Archipelago is now complicated. Nine pirate kings have divided the islands, and each of them has at least fifty large ships with more than 200 oars. These pirate kings sometimes fight each other, sometimes plunder merchant ships, and sometimes break up into small groups to avoid the search of the Silver Fleet.

Although they were often chased like dogs by the Silver Fleet and the slowly taking shape of Sunspear's "Sun Fleet", their notoriety spread from Westeros to Qarth.

The nine pirate kings all have their own territories, titles and names.

There are three strongest among them.

Will Sparrow, the "Lord of Tyrosh" and "King of the Narrow Sea" who occupies the abandoned city of Tyrosh, is said to have been a member of the Governor's Council of the Kingdom of the Three Daughters. After the collapse of the kingdom, he chose to pick up his old business again and eventually succeeded in regaining Tyrosh. With his strong financial resources, he crowned himself "King of the Stepstones and the Narrow Sea".

The "Pirate Queen" Rachelino, who calls herself the "Count of Bloodstone Island" on Bloodstone Island, is an old acquaintance. Her current strength is second only to "King" Will Sparrow. The Bloodstone Island Fleet under her command has 120 large warships, and its military strength has far exceeded its former peak.

Fell Greyjoy, the "Golden Sea Monster" who reigns supreme on the Bonetide Islands, has a very tenuous blood relationship with Dalton. When Dalton led the Iron Fleet back to the Iron Islands, he chose to stay with his longships and the captains who were willing to follow him. Now he calls himself the "King of the Bonetide Islands", and he looks like a "Red Sea Monster" who is no more than that.

In addition to the other six pirate kings, some only occupied a few islands, such as the female pirate king of Gallows Island; some did not even occupy any habitable islands and could only dock on uninhabited islands or seek refuge with the three great pirates.

They have nothing to worry about.

"Boros will get what he wants." Longzel said calmly: "And so will I."

I have been quite busy recently and cannot guarantee to update on time, but I can guarantee that there will be no less than 4,000 words updated every day. I will notify you to resume the normal double update after I am done with the work.

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(End of this chapter)