Game of Thrones: Viserys the Three-Headed Dragon

When it came to the fourth day after Viserys captured Dragonstone, with only two three-hundred-oared ships available, Viserys finally realized what it meant to be stretched to the limit.

His naval strength was not enough to block the entire Throat Sea area, and he could only do some simple blockade work near the Dragonstone dock. Moreover, simply driving away passing ships brought new problems: what if those ships wanted to continue to enter Blackwater Bay, and what if there were merchant ships entering Blackwater Bay from the southern waters without passing through Dragonstone?

Stannis had been blocking the Throat for more than a month, and the Throat was originally a busy sea transportation route. On the fourth day, he found that the blockade was lifted, and the number of merchant ships entering the Throat from the southern waters had reached more than ten.

And Viserys could not patrol back and forth over the Throat all day long, and he could not rely on himself to drive these merchant ships or control them to a certain area. In fact, from the beginning, he let this happen.

Speaking of which, the two ships flying the Targaryen flag that were blocking the waters off Dragonstone had already aroused the vigilance of the surrounding areas. When Grolai landed last night, he sent someone to the castle to tell Viserys that they found a fishing boat observing them from a distance at sea.

Viserys began to realize that if Stannis had fled back from King's Landing, then he might not be able to wait for Stannis's remnant troops to return to Dragonstone.

And on this morning, the smoke of war was observed on the horizon of Tidehead Island, dozens of miles away, on Dragonstone, and Earl Gunther told Viserys that this was the Western Watchtower of Tidehead Castle. When trying to confirm the situation on Dragonstone, Viserys knew that the news of the change of ownership of Dragonstone had been noticed by the surrounding areas, and the only information he could guarantee that had not been leaked at present was that the Targaryens on Dragonstone had dragons.

But being able to capture Dragonstone so secretly and quickly, people outside who did not know the actual situation would guess that the Targaryens were overwhelming with a large army and crushing everything.

Considering that the next battle might not happen, Viserys began to gradually relax the martial law on the town below the mountain. The martial law that controlled the number of people traveling during the day in the town had been lifted, but the curfew was still strictly enforced, and the port docks were still not open. Fortunately, Stannis prepared sufficient supplies when the martial law was imposed, otherwise the prices of some necessities would soar. For this reason, Viserys had to start the castle's business activities and recruit previously dismissed officials to work for him-many times, the lord of a place is the biggest businessman in the local area.

And these positions fell to the people who originally worked for Dragonstone Castle. Dragonstone is so big that only these people can start work immediately, and Viserys had to use them.

As for the test of Tidehead, he could not divide the only two fleets of the navy, and these so-called "fleet" were not regular troops at all.

Viserys needed to consider carefully how to respond to the other party's test.

——

People often think that Stannis Baratheon is a pure iron man who neither understands nor forgives the weakness of others.

But in fact, he knew what to do was right, but most of the time he was unwilling to bend his own principles for the so-called right things.

While Viserys was worried about his limited naval power, Stannis, who he was guarding against, was holding a military meeting that would determine his fate.

For this military meeting, Stannis only called the most trusted people he could gather at the moment.

There were still about 2,000 land soldiers on Stannis' ship, hundreds of pirates under Salladhor Saan, hundreds of navy and 550 sailors on four hundred-oared ships and one fifty-oared longship.

Most of the soldiers belonged to the Florent family, under the command of Earl Alister.

But Stannis did not call Earl Alister for this military meeting. Earl Alister was originally responsible for guarding the barracks. When he was attacked by the Lannister army, he had no resistance and fled. He fled in a panic and lost all his baggage. He has not dared to see the king so far.

Stannis summoned Baran Fallin, a noble of the Fallin family in the crown. He was Stannis's squire, and his father, Sir Gilbert Fallin, was leading 300 warriors to guard Storm's End for Stannis.

Roland Stormbring - Sir Roland commanded the rear guard after the disastrous defeat, allowing Stannis to safely retreat to Salladhor Saan's ship.

Andrew Esmond - He was Stannis's cousin, a knight of the Esmond family in the Stormbring, and was once Stannis Baratheon's squire.

Lucus Zeitlin Jr. - The Zeitlin family of the crown had followed Stannis for many years. Earl Zeitlin died in the Battle of the Blackwater. Lucus Zeitlin Jr. was one of the very few people that Stannis believed was still loyal to him.

When everyone was gathered, Stannis announced the heavy news he had received: "Everyone, you are all my most trusted people. There is news that Dragonstone has been occupied by Targaryen. I don't know how many troops Targaryen has, but in just a few days, Dragonstone has been lost."

The words were shocking, and the participants were shocked.

Stannis asked: "Some people suggest that I retreat to Storm's End. What do you think?"

Roland Storm is a knight from the Cullens family. He is known as the "Bastard of Nightsong". He is a brave knight who faithfully believes in the Seven Gods: "Your Majesty, if this is true-"

Stannis asked directly: "You also think I should retreat to Storm's End, right?"

The king's loyal subordinates were silent.

Stannis said: "I know that we suffered heavy losses at King's Landing. We have no fleet cavalry and our sergeants are exhausted. Targaryen has returned from restoration and has occupied Dragonstone. It will be difficult for us to achieve anything there. It is tantamount to seeking death. Someone Tell me, Westeros must unite under the name of the only legitimate king, and go south to stabilize my throne. All retreats now are for the day when I will dominate the world.

However, even Robert, the Baratheon king, has always been called the 'usurper' in Westeros. If Targaryen really comes back, then who is the 'only legitimate king'? Moreover, my queen and heir are both on Dragonstone Island. If I abandon them, how can there be any so-called 'throne stability'?

I know very well that once I go south, the princes of Dragonstone will immediately turn their backs on me. The new Lord Sangerath sailed to Volantis after I captured his brother. When I go south, Ser Triston will leave with the people of Wonderhaven, Baal Aemon, Velaryon, and Celtigar."

Andrew Ismon said: "The lords of the Stormlands will support your cause, your majesty. Renly's ghost is just a hoax and a Lannister scheme. You can temporarily return to the Stormlands to rest your army and gather your vassals to counterattack Dragonstone." , the princes of the Stormlands who responded to Robert will respond to you, because you are King Robert's legitimate heir."

Little Lukos Zitlin said: "The Zitlin family will follow you to the death."

Bylan Falin said: "Your Majesty, give me three hundred warriors and a ship, and I will go to Dragonstone for you to rescue the queen and princess!"

Stannis was silent for a moment: "Baylan, keep your words. Well, with your loyal support, I will need you in the future battles." As he spoke, Stannis's cheeks sunk deeply and he gave a sad smile. Passing his lips, "Then, go find Earl Allister, and I will announce the order to go south."

——

Tidehead Castle is a dark and gloomy castle, located directly on a peninsula facing the tide, surrounded by cliffs. Sometimes when the tide is at its highest, it will rush to the edge of the castle wall. It is a castle that suffers from tides and is always very wet. The castle is stained with salt under the dark walls.

During the Age of the Dance of Dragons, when Corlys Velaryon succeeded Lord of the Tides, Tidehead Island prospered, and the three fishing villages near Tidehead Island developed into Hull Town. The sea serpent Corlys built a new castle, Climax City, to house the Driftwood Throne, replacing the dank and gloomy Tidehead. However, during the Dance of the Blood Dragons, Climax City was burned down by the Greens in the Battle of the Throat. After that, the Velaryon family on Tidehead Island declined, and the family castle was moved back to Tidehead Castle.

This once prosperous family has long lost its glory. This time, summoned by Stannis, the Earl of Tide Island used the strength of his family to support it. All ships and soldiers joined Stannis's army. At this moment, this family In the castle, there were only some old people, women, children and the newly recruited young recruits left for training. A six-year-old boy named Monterey Velaryon is now the acting city lord. He is just like Bran and Rickon who stayed in Winterfell after Robb Stark went south in the original book. Only an old maester, an old trainer, and Wet nurses, stable boys, and a dozen town guards in Hull are available.

The six-year-old boy, who did not know his father had been killed in the Blackwater River, was playing in the castle with a toy wooden boat.

At some point, the boy heard a strange sound of wind passing through the castle.

Afterwards, there were noisy sounds outside the castle.

The boy went out out of curiosity and saw the instructor and the trained night watch boys in the castle grounds looking up one by one. The old maester found him holding a candle. Then he looked up together.

In the dim starlight of the night, a black flag could be seen slowly floating down from the sky above the castle.

After a dozen breaths, the flag landed on a clean ground in the middle of the school field.

The castle master went to inspect it, then he put away the flag in shock, ran up the steps of the castle, and quietly unfolded a corner of the flag to the bachelor and six-year-old acting lord on the castle floor.

That's the Targaryen banner.

The old instructor said to the old bachelor: "There are words on it."

The old maester held up the candlelight to see clearly the writing on it, which read: "Dragonstone Island."