Game of Thrones: The Bronze and Fire Lord.

Chapter 295 The Vance Family, Undeterred by Death

Viserys summoned his nephew to his bedchamber.

Upon meeting, he couldn't wait to ask, "There's something amiss at the Prince's Pass. What exactly is the Dornish man thinking?"

The recent ups and downs reminded him of the time when he attacked the Kingdom of Three Women.

The Dornish are fickle.

They had just finalized their engagement when someone secretly began taming dragons and even sent troops to harass the border regions.

"Don't worry, this is perfectly normal."

Aemon smiled and pressed him back into the chair.

Dorne's attitude toward the Iron Throne has always been one of feigned compliance.

It was only through his slightest provocation that his fangs were revealed prematurely.

"Normal shit!"

Viserys cursed, nearly exploding with rage: "I endured so much pressure to persuade the ministers to accept the marriage alliance, and Coolon can't even manage his own vassals?"

Damn Martell, he should be fed to the dragons.

Aemon: ...

My uncle has such a bad temper!
He used to be known for his mild-mannered personality, always smiling at everyone.

It must be Damon who corrupted him.

"Damn Damon!"

Viserys suddenly cursed and turned to ask, "Where's Damon? We haven't heard from him in so long?"

If Dorne really attacks, Damon will need to lead the army from Rhys.

"Maybe he's dead," Imon said naively.

This time it was Viserys's turn to be speechless; he shouldn't have expected to hear any good words from Damon from this kid.

A pair of bastards!
Boom boom boom!
There was a knock on the door, and Prime Minister Leonor entered after being granted permission.

"His Majesty."

Leonor saw Imon first, and then greeted him respectfully.

Viserys nodded, then asked his nephew, "I heard that Sir Lannino was assassinated, and the Sea Serpents are frantically searching for accomplices. Is that true?"

What he actually heard was that the sea serpent had a child out of wedlock, which angered his cousin Rhaenys.

"Lanna is taking care of it."

Amon stopped short of making a point.

Viserys was momentarily stunned, then became convinced that the rumors were true.

Damn sea serpent!
Unable to produce a decent son herself, she had illegitimate children through extramarital affairs.

He was somewhat indignant and felt indignant on behalf of his cousin, Renis.

Leonor interjected at the opportune moment: "Your Majesty, Earl Donald has already departed, and his family will follow."

"Earl Donald is loyal to the monarch and loves his country."

Viserys praised him, then asked his nephew, "Has Aegon returned? Tell him to go back to Oldtown."

"I'm back, in the brothel of the flea den."

Aemon betrayed without hesitation.

The reason Aegon was given the Tower of Babel was for this very day.

"Bring him back!"

Viserys gave the order directly.

As soon as he spoke, Sir Harold outside the door selected guards.

"Your Majesty, the situation is very bad."

Leonor seized another opportunity to interject, saying with concern, "We just finalized the marriage agreement, and now Count Olifa has been imprisoned, leaving the lords and nobles below in a state of panic."

They subdued the nobles and persuaded them to agree to the marriage alliance.

Dorne reneged on the marriage proposal, and the alliance failed.

If such a thing were to happen, the authority of the Iron Throne would be greatly shaken.

Viserys realized this too, and his mood instantly plummeted.

He must not allow a crisis of trust to occur in the kingdom he has painstakingly built up over the years.

"Don't worry, it doesn't stop there."

"Imon said."

Viserys and Leonor both looked at him, hoping for a reasonable explanation.

"Unless Coollen is stupid, he wouldn't dare to enter into a marriage so rashly," Imon said confidently.

Whether or not war breaks out is one thing.

With this engagement, which hasn't even had a proper ceremony yet, there's always a buffer between the Iron Throne and Dorne.

The Blackwood and Brecken families of the Riverlands are prime examples.

The two families were enemies for generations, but there were also times when they made peace and married into each other.

No member of either Blackwood or Brecken could say they didn't have the other's blood flowing through their veins.

No matter how much you want to kill each other, there will always be a bottom line.

Hearing him say this, the two middle-aged, overweight kings and prime ministers felt reassured.

Leonor suggested, "Now that things have come to this, we can take a step back and wait for Dorn's reaction."

Viserys nodded in agreement.

He also felt that Coollen wouldn't dare to break the contract.

Even royalty have dragons to follow rules, so why should the Martell family?

"However, we must be wary of Dorn."

Viserys hesitated for a moment, then prepared to have his nephew deploy the royal fleet from Dragonstone to strengthen patrols along the choke point.

"I have something to do."

Aemon anticipated his thoughts and was determined not to get entangled.

"Hey?"

Viserys was puzzled.

……

Time passes day by day.

News of the Dornish dragon theft at Dragonstone and the arrest of Olaf Ellenwood spread quickly.

The reactions varied greatly from place to place.

Dorne.

Yangji City, Sun Tower.

Coollen, dressed in a bright yellow robe with its chest open, sat on a throne with a sun-shaped carving on the back of the chair.

He was very impatient.

Really!

When the news reached Dorne, Dornish nobles flocked to Sunspear.

At this moment, several imposing noble representatives stood in the brightly lit hall.

"Father."

Alexandra, now a young girl, ran in happily.

"How did you come?"

Coollen smiled, bent down, and lifted his daughter onto his lap. Alexandra had inherited her excellent bloodline.

At the age of 7, she already possessed beauty, with fair and delicate skin, bright eyes, a high nose bridge, and a small, red lip with an ever-present upward curve.

"Seeing them come, I want to come too."

Alexandra tilted her little head and answered her father.

Her father and mother both said she was the heir to Sunspear City and the future Princess of Dorne.

Then she should participate in meetings she doesn't understand.

Koollen smiled amusedly and then joined the meeting with his daughter in his arms.

Now that he has chosen an heir, he naturally will not prevent his daughter from accessing power.

"Your Highness, the current situation is very unfavorable for us."

A valiant knight from the House of Erenwood stepped forward.

His lord is imprisoned, and his family is in grave danger.

Another ugly middle-aged man, short and stout, bald, and with a mouthful of yellow teeth, stepped forward, swinging his large hand covered in rings, and said in a shrill voice:
"Who knows if the kids really stole the dragon or not? I think the Iron Throne is just a deliberate provocation."

He wore the coat of arms of the Uller family on his chest.

Geralt, who happened to be present, immediately retorted: "Lord Haman Uller, the letter was written by Miss Elaine herself. Doesn't her word have any credibility?"

Harman scoffed: "Who knows if that bitch has switched her ways to 'Dragon Slayer's' bed?"

"you……"

Geralt was furious and was about to draw his sword to confront them.

"stop!"

Coolen shouted, stopping the argument from escalating into a bloody incident.

Geralt paused, suppressing his anger as he withdrew his attack.

Harman scoffed, not afraid of this greenhorn who sneaks into a woman's bed.

He is the Earl of Prison Gate Fortress!

Coolen glanced at him, feeling displeased, but did not punish him for insulting his niece.

Everyone in Dorne knows that Haman Uller is a madman and an idiot.

He was known as "Bald Toad" Haman.

With his mind clear, Coollen first reassured the knights of the Ellenwood family, saying, "The Iron Throne has not harmed Earl Olaf, so please rest assured."

“If the Iron Throne agrees to ransom them, the Ellenwood family will pay the money.”

The valiant knight clearly stated his demands.

Koollen was seething with anger, so he could only appease him for the time being, promising to communicate with the Iron Throne.

However, the other nobles were not so easily appeased.

Earl Vance of Vance City, his face grim, demanded, "My son was killed, doesn't the Iron Throne offer an explanation?"

Coollen narrowed his eyes slightly.

He was killed for stealing the dragon.

The Vance family should give him an explanation for this foolish act that has affected diplomacy.

Earl Vance walked to the center of the hall and spurred the other nobles on: "I opposed the marriage from the beginning. The Iron Throne has always coveted Dorne. Why should we marry a Dornish daughter to them?!"

"That's right!"

"..."

This statement immediately garnered considerable support.

Coolen frowned deeply, his gaze sweeping over a capable-looking, dark-haired nobleman.

Lord Toran of Soulhill, having received the hint, denied it, saying, "The Iron Throne is powerful, and Dorne's alliance with it is to gain living space and avoid unnecessary war and sacrifice."

"There are no cowards in Dorne!"

Earl Vance shouted.

Count Toran frowned, before he could speak again.

Count Dan of Lemon Grove said coldly, "Most of the young members of the delegation have been killed, and Miss Elaine has been imprisoned. Does the Iron Throne even consider Prince Coolen a little bit?"

"Your daughter is not dead."

Geralt retorted.

Count Dan said coldly, "I'd rather she be dead than weakly hiding in her room and crying her heart out."

Count Toran held it in deep contempt.

His daughter stole the dragon and died, without saying a word.

The person who suffered no loss is the one who regrets that there is no reason to start a war.

Coollen ignored their argument and looked at the travel-worn Geralt, asking, "What did Earl Dane say?"

Besides the Ellenwood and Fowler families, the Dane family also holds a very high position.

The contemporary Earl of Dane is a kind and generous elder with an unparalleled influence.

Geralt hurriedly said, "My uncle advises you to continue with the marriage and redeem Olaf and Elaine with gold as soon as possible."

In fact, Earl Dane sent him a letter, which summarized in only one sentence.

The Iron Throne is powerful and not easily contested.

Coollen understood, appeased the knights of the Ellenwood family, and subdued Earl Uller and Earl Tolan, preparing to bring a ship full of gold and silver treasures to exchange for the hostages.

"Dorn giving money away is a joke!!"

Earl Vance sneered and slammed the door shut as he left.

This scene greatly shocked the nobles present.

The knights of the Erenwood family were the most affected, their faces burning with shame and indignation.

"Hehe, it looks like a fight is about to break out."

Harman Uller clapped his hands and let out a neurotic, strange laugh.

Soon, everyone left.

Koolen held his forehead, his heart heavy.

Today's parliament is just one facet of the attitude of the Dornish nobility.

stomping on...

A series of hurried footsteps approached, and a guard, his face full of anxiety, reported: "Your Highness, Earl Vanse has sailed back to Vanse City, and before leaving, he threatened to mobilize troops to attack the Steps Islands."

Koollen stood up abruptly, then slowly sat back down.

"Get out!"

The guard bowed and took his leave.

"You brute!" Coolen cursed under his breath.

That's fine too; at least there's someone fearless enough to test the limits of the Iron Throne for him.

The ship to redeem the people must still go, and the marriage alliance must continue.

However, if Earl Vance could capture the Stepstone Islands by surprise and break the blockade of the lower half of the fjord, he would be able to succeed.

This is great news for Dorn.

As Coolen pondered this, a question suddenly popped into his head.

Did those young people who stole the dragon act on their own initiative, or were they deliberately allowed to do so by someone else?

After a moment of contemplation, a chill ran down Coulomb's spine.

The idea of ​​secretly arranging mercenaries to support the Vance family was quietly extinguished.

(End of this chapter)