Ice and Fire: Reign of the Dragon.

Chapter 186: The Expedition of Ringol (VIII) The Stag Flies Fast, Its Horns Hit the Stone Steps
Storm's End.

Lord Borros Baratheon was no longer the fierce and majestic valiant stag he had been more than a decade before the Dance with the Dragons. The war that year had worn away the bloodiness and irritability of Lord Borros. The Stormlands paid a heavy price for his wavering. Since then, every time he dreamed, Borros would always dream of his dead daughters and endless flames.

I killed six thousand Stormlanders with my own hands.

I killed my daughters with my own hands.

I destroyed the future of the Stormlands with my own hands.

Borros sat silently on the throne of the Storm King. He hated himself countless times for his indecision and greed. If the Stag had stood firmly with Rhaenyra at that time, the Stormlands could at least keep Nightsong and could even tear a piece of fat from the Riverlands.

It won't be like this now. Although the Baratheon family is still one of the most powerful families in the kingdom, no one knows the weakness of the Stormlands better than Duke Borros. The Stormlands, which has lost its borderland, now has difficulty gathering 20,000 people. They even have to hire mercenaries and recruit wandering soldiers and knights.

"My lord, the ravens of Lord Clinton, Lord Metalin and Lord Sven have arrived." The bachelor trotted over to the Duke.

I hope they can recruit enough soldiers and ships. Lord Borros took the letter. He was now proficient in reading and writing the Common Speech without the help of a maester, and could even speak a few words of High Valyrian. Of course, only a few words.

Roland Clinton, the current Earl of Griffin's Nest of the Clinton family, is a reckless young man. He was still a babbling child when the Dance of the Dragons broke out. Young people like them who do not understand the cruelty of war are most eager for war and achievements.

Griffin's Nest was also the place where the most troops were gathered. Roland Clinton opened the family's treasury and spent money like water. His castle gathered more than 6,500 soldiers from all over the country, including more than 300 hired knights. The Mistwood Castle of the Mettling family and Stonehelm Castle of the Sven family were much worse. The nobles of the South Stormland gathered in these two castles. In the end, the two families recruited more than 8,000 soldiers in total, including no less than 600 cavalry. The food prepared for the war had also set off to Stonehelm Castle and Mistwood Castle.

Duke Borros closed the letter. King's Landing tacitly agreed to his plan to march to the Stepstones. Of course, unlike Prince Daemon back then, he had the entire Stormlands as his backing, with sufficient troops and food. He would not drag his feet like Daemon did, causing public outrage. Although he was successfully crowned the King of the Narrow Sea, he soon fled back to King's Landing in disgrace. Dragon's Nest did not object, and even the commanders of the Silver Fleet, Earl Samwell and Gunthor Raven, took the initiative to write a letter, promising to provide ships to cross the sea.

Of course, it's not free, but the price is within the range that Duke Boros can afford.

"What does Rogaard Bank say?" Duke Borros was preparing to borrow money from Rogaard Bank in King's Landing to hire Rees' ships.

Lys had almost become a Targaryen dog now. No, he had completely become a Targaryen dog. Lysandra Rogar had completely consolidated his position in Lys with the help of the power of the Targaryen family. He had planned to proclaim himself the first archon for life at this time, but a letter from Longzel interrupted his plan.

In the end, the governors of Rees were surprised to find that the previously aggressive Lysandra suddenly changed his face. He no longer pursued complete and thorough centralization, leaving little dignity for other families.

The political situation in Lys gradually stabilized and began to recover, but the former prosperity and strength of the Kingdom of the Three Daughters became a thing of the past. The Dance with the Dragons and the Rape of the Three Daughters completely shattered this alliance that was in name only. Now, with the fall of Tyrosh, Myr and Lys turned against each other, and Lysandra was actively preparing for a war of revenge with Myr.

He was very interested in the Baratheon family's plans.

"Lord Lotor agreed to the loan," the maester said, "but he also proposed a contract. If the lord is willing to lead the army to provide support in Lys's war of revenge, Governor Lisandra is also willing to forgive the debt."

These damn blood-sucking leeches.

Boros said in his heart.

However, he still smiled with satisfaction: "Write back to Lord Lotor and tell him that Stormland cherishes the friendship of Governor Lisandro Rogar, and we are willing to provide all necessary assistance to our allies."

The bachelor lowered his head and slowly walked out of the hall, leaving behind Duke Boros with a gloomy face and a faded smile.

Outside Storm's End.

Ringol and the other two took back the shields from the blacksmith. Just when Alarion thought that they were going to go to the battlefield together as mercenaries, Ringol told them that they would not participate in the battle, but would continue to head north to the crown and the riverlands.

"Your Highness, aren't we preparing for battle?" Alarion was confused. The breastplate had been bought, the horses were ready, and even the shields were ready. Aren't we going to follow the main force to the battlefield of the Stone Archipelago?
"Elarion, what is our mission?" Regen understood Ringol's meaning and asked. "Protect His Highness." Elarion was still confused.

"What is your mission, then?"

"Travel." Alarion finally reacted. He bowed his head to Ringol, who remained silent, and said, "Your Highness, it's my fault."

"It's okay." Seeing his partner's reaction, Ringol smiled. "We still have a chance to go to the Stone Steps Islands."

Ringol did have the idea of ​​joining the war, but certainly not now. He needed to complete the mission of traveling around the continent within the time required by his father. Based on what he had learned, the war in Stormland would not be over in the short term. The Baratheon family had no navy, and they could only hire a fleet to fight across the sea, and those pirates were truly battle-hardened. No matter how many troops the Stormland gathered, it would be in vain if they could not send them to the island.

Unless Boros can get a capable fleet.

The two teenagers looked at each other, and were relieved to be sure that Lingol was not talking nonsense.

More and more people gathered at Storm's End, with people arriving and leaving every day, so the departure of the three young men was never a big deal.

Only the blacksmith at Storm's End looked somewhat sad.

The big customer from the Tully family that he had been waiting for disappeared, which made the blacksmith, who thought he could make a lot of money and establish good relationships with other nobles, sigh for a long time.

Dragon Nest City, Silver Blood Tower.

Diana looked out the window with some worry. Ever since Ringol left, her habits had changed. Originally, after putting her children to sleep, she preferred to take a walk in the garden and enjoy delicious food before looking through the account books.

But now, she prefers to stare out the window blankly, constantly recalling her son's appearance.

"They left the Stormlands." Longzel walked over to his wife and said softly.

Diana finally regained her thoughts and looked at her husband with some resentment: "Promise me, Longzel, if anything happens to Ringol, I know you can feel it, please protect him."

He is our son after all, Diana said to herself.

Longzel smiled bitterly and nodded.

He will not be in danger, Longzel also said in his heart.

After all, he is my son, a true dragon with silver blood.

He also looked out the window. The promise of the Green Man should be fulfilled. Longzel saw some future in Melisandre's flames.

He saw Ringol under the weirwood, which meant that the promise he made that year was going to be fulfilled. Unfortunately, it was not to be fulfilled on himself, but on his son.

I hope the green man’s promise will satisfy me.

At least let Ringol be satisfied.

(End of this chapter)