News of Viserys hatching dragons spread at astonishing speed.
The news of the dragons' return reached King's Landing even before Lancel did.
Under Robert's oppressive rule, King's Landing had become increasingly lifeless. Yet this single piece of news seemed to breathe life back into the city.
From the poorest hovels of Flea Bottom to the wealthy districts near the Old Gate, everyone was talking about it.
Not long ago, Robert had proudly displayed dragon skulls as decorations for his tournament celebrations.
At the time, it had seemed a magnificent symbol of House Baratheon's victory over House Targaryen.
But now it was having the opposite effect.
Look!
When dragons grow up, their heads are this large. Their bodies are at least ten times bigger.
The largest one, Balerion, is too enormous even to display.
And Balerion was bigger than all the rest!
Without intending to, Robert had intensified the city's awe and fear of the Targaryens.
"It won't be long before the Targaryens return riding dragons."
"The Usurper won't keep his throne much longer."
An old farmer selling vegetables in the city glanced around cautiously.
After making sure the Gold Cloaks had moved on, he began chatting with the people nearby.
"Have any of you ever visited Harrenhal?"
"Harrenhal was burned by the Conqueror himself when he rode Balerion."
"Then what are we supposed to do?" asked a young man with reddish-brown hair. "What if Viserys burns us alive too?"
"Don't talk nonsense... King Viserys is different. I heard the Targaryens in Gohor just cut taxes by another half.
The taxes they collected were already low, and now they're only taking half of that.
Only when the Targaryens return will we have good days again."
The old farmer kept track of grain and vegetable prices throughout King's Landing, so his information was usually reliable.
As he spoke, even the vegetables at his feet seemed fresher.
Then he glanced around again.
Everyone nearby knew what that meant.
Whenever he looked around like that, it meant he was about to share something exciting.
Heads immediately crowded closer.
"Do you know the Crackclaw Peninsula?"
"Of course," the reddish-haired youth answered. "Lots of half-wild folk live there."
"Hmph. Half-wild folk?"
"During the Battle of the Trident, Crackclaw Peninsula sent many warriors to fight beside Prince Rhaegar.
When Viserys fled Dragonstone, they also sent many boys barely in their teens to follow him.
And when Robert sent tax collectors there, the taxes were actually paid by Viserys's people first. Then the peninsula residents handed them over to Robert."
In the canon, Robert would never have bothered taxing Crackclaw Point.
At that time, only Viserys and Daenerys remained, two exiled children who posed no threat.
But now Viserys ruled a powerful city-state and placed enormous pressure on Robert.
The king needed money desperately.
Thus, the peninsula's secret support of the former royal family came to light.
Not only had they aided Targaryen loyalists, they had even sent young boys to fight for Viserys.
Robert could not tolerate that. He dispatched tax collectors and even troops.
Viserys, calculating the costs involved, chose a compromise.
At the same time, it strengthened the peninsula's loyalty toward House Targaryen.
"What? Such a good king? I wish someone would pay my taxes too."
The young vegetable farmer sighed enviously.
Nearly a third of his monthly income went to the Baratheon government.
Life would be much easier under a ruler like that.
"Keep dreaming. People from Crackclaw Peninsula shed blood for the Targaryens. What have you done?"
"I could fight for King Viserys too!" The young man puffed out his chest. "I've got three sons!"
.....
Meanwhile, Lancel brought everything he had seen and heard in Gohor back to King's Landing.
Reborn through fire.
Blood and fire as one.
The return of dragons.
The Unburnt.
The bleeding star.
Each phrase struck the council table of the Small Council like an arrow.
On the very day Lancel delivered the news of Viserys's resurrection, an eerie silence settled over the Red Keep.
Cersei had been enjoying tea with Catelyn, Lysa, and several noble ladies of King's Landing.
When one of her attendants informed her that Viserys had hatched dragons, she nearly dropped her teacup.
Robert locked himself in his chambers.
He neither ate nor drank.
Nor did he speak.
Only Jon Arryn continued handling affairs of state, forcing himself through the mounting crisis.
No one had imagined events would develop this way.
Robert had thought himself clever when he sent Tyrion to verify Viserys's death.
Instead, Tyrion had apparently defected to Viserys and was now performing daily in Gohor's grand theater, publicly recounting Cersei and Jaime's scandal.
No one could understand why Tyrion hated his own family so much. Why would he go so far just to smear them?
"What conditions did Viserys offer?" Arryn finally asked.
Listening to Lancel's report left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Viserys said he would pardon every noble who participated in Robert's rebellion—"
Realizing his mistake, Lancel hurriedly corrected himself.
"I mean Robert's uprising."
"But members of House Arryn, House Tully, House Baratheon, and House Lannister within three generations will all be executed."
Jon Arryn frowned deeply.
"Hmph. Arrogant nonsense!"
Renly jumped to his feet and drew his sword dramatically toward the east.
"Give me a fleet and the army of King's Landing, and I'll crush Gohor myself! I'll even earn the title Dragonslayer!"
Among the members of the Small Council, Renly was the youngest and most immature.
Nobody took him seriously.
Still, he resembled Robert in his youth more than anyone else. When he became angry, he at least looked convincing.
Beside him, Stannis, Master of Ships, merely pressed his lips together and remained silent.
The only person impressed was Renly's squire and constant companion, Loras.
"Hmph! Those dragons aren't even bigger than geese. Dragons that can be killed with a single arrow."
"This Targaryen is far too arrogant."
The speaker was Kevan Lannister.
He could not understand Tyrion's betrayal either.
Setting aside the reasons, Tyrion's actions had already driven a massive wedge between House Lannister and House Baratheon.
Robert might not react openly now, as there was no hard evidence. But the suspicion would remain.
Kevan needed to make a statement.
Looking around at the other councilors, he declared:
"I will write to Lord Tywin."
"The Westerlands will soon send a shipment of heavy scorpions. With those weapons, dragons will pose no threat whatsoever."
Jon merely forced a polite smile.
What Kevan failed to realize was that his very statement demonstrated the power of dragons.
The dragons did not need to do anything.
Their enemies were already being forced to spend vast resources preparing against them.
Still, everyone noticed something peculiar.
Lancel had named only four houses. Yet five kingdoms had risen against the Targaryens during the rebellion.
One house was missing.
House Stark.
Noticing that people kept glancing in his direction, Ned chose to speak first rather than invite suspicion.
"The North? What about House Stark? House Stark was part of the rebellion as well."
He fixed his eyes on Lancel.
"What did Viserys say about us?"
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