Balerion hopped non-stop on Gendry's arm; the Dragon's appetite was truly astonishing. They had to eat several times their body weight in food daily to grow strong.
The little Dragon was now slowly beginning to breathe fire. Balerion's Dragonflame was reddish-black, matching the Dragon's color.
"Truly the most peculiar species in the world, a creation of magic." Gendry loved everything about Balerion; perhaps they were connected by blood. Balerion had black scales, with blood-red eyes, horns, and dorsal spines.
"It won't be long, perhaps two or three years, before the Dragon can be ridden," Gendry said to Maester Qyburn.
"If it truly grows so quickly, then it seems the rumors are true: Balerion has been resurrected. Each Dragon's growth rate and size vary, and Dragons grow almost their entire lives until they are nearing old age. It is generally believed that fierce male Dragons grow the fastest and largest, and it seems Balerion possesses such qualities."
"Yes, which is why I need Dragonstone even more. It is the Dragons' home," Gendry said.
Gendry's Balerion would grow even larger for two reasons: first, the red comet arrived earlier than originally; second, Gendry intended to take Dragonstone, as volcanoes and high temperatures were the Dragons' favorite. Daenerys wandered Across the Narrow Sea, and her black Dragon grew to a twelve-foot (approximately 6 meters) wingspan in two to three years, not to mention Gendry bringing his black Dragon.
"Have all the envelopes been sent out?" Gendry asked Maester Qyburn. There were two envelopes in total: one containing The late King's will, and the other Gendry's proclamation.
"Everything is ready, Your Highness," Qyburn said. "We dispatched three hundred raven-messengers, from Arbor all the way to the Wall. I imagine at least two hundred will make it through storms, falcons, and arrows. Two hundred Maesters will carry The late King's will into studies and bedchambers, reading them to their Lords... The results might not be too good; either the letters will be burned, or the listeners will remain silent."
"It doesn't matter. Power is power. Once I show them what I'm capable of, those fence-sitters will know who the King is."
"Moros's men have also been dispatched, right?" Gendry asked.
"As you commanded," Qyburn continued. "Moros has ample smuggling experience and knows the coastline like the back of his hand. One team of Moros's fast ships is heading north with Jon, passing Tarth, Dragonstone, Seagull Town, Fingers Peninsula, Three Sisters Islands, and even reaching White Harbor. Another team of fast ships is heading south with Ser Barristan, passing Cape Wrath and Broken Arm Point, along the Sea of Dorne, all the way to Arbor. Each fleet carries a box of letters, two for each port, each manor, and each fishing village. The letters are to be nailed to the doors of septs and inns so that all who can read may see them. Furthermore, if anyone is illiterate, the Kingsguard Knights can read them aloud."
"Talented people are hard to come by. There will be many naval battles in the future, and the more elite our Commanders at sea, the better," Gendry lamented. He really wanted to recruit the Onion Knight, but finding a suitable replacement was also good. Salladhor Saan, the pirate King of Lys, Moros of Myr, and Davos of Dragonstone, these few might be the most knowledgeable about oars and wind speed, with rich experience at sea.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Did the Old Knight insist on going himself?" Gendry asked.
"The Old Knight volunteered, saying it was his duty and that his old face was still worth something," Qyburn replied.
Jon Snow and Barristan each led a team. House Stark and Ser Barristan's persuasiveness could lend them considerable influence.
"Alright, let him go then. I've certainly stolen Lord Stannis's job," Gendry said calmly. Originally, this leaflet distribution task was Stannis's, but Stannis did it very late, while Gendry's actions were like thunder and lightning.
Firstly, Stannis did not have first-hand information, isolated on Dragonstone Across the Narrow Sea, so news arrived too late. Secondly, Stannis's power was limited, and gathering his Lords and men consumed a lot of his time. With only a few men, Stannis dared not raise his banner too early.
"Lord Stannis has always struggled to gather men and has been hesitant to challenge the iron throne," Qyburn said. "But we are different."
"Of course we are different, but once the war banner is waved, I must ensure that the Seven Kingdoms will fully submit to me. I must win," Gendry said. He had at least several buffs: The late King's legitimate eldest son, Daenerys's son-in-law, a Dragonrider, the liberator of slaves, and a Khal slayer. But ultimately, it still depended on his political and military performance.
"Jon going north is a clever move; perhaps it can make those wild Northmen sober up a bit," Qyburn said.
"Perhaps. Everyone's heads should be clearer."
"King Robert is dead, Lord Eddard is captured, and the usurper King Joffrey has ascended. You are distributing The late King's will. The realm is in chaos, and every Lord's head will not be too clear. The Northmen are especially concerning," Qyburn said.
"I heard that the North is run by children. Lord Eddard is in King's Landing, Lady Catelyn has gone to The Eyrie, leaving only Robb Stark," Gendry also felt that the situation in the North was bad. At the start of this rebellion, there was hardly an adult to be found.
"Young people are always impatient, and the Northmen have been hurt too deeply by King's Landing. If Lord Eddard suffers another misfortune, the consequences will be severe," Qyburn said. Robb becoming King had popular support. If two successive Starks died in King's Landing, the Northmen's dissatisfaction would be imaginable, not to mention the North was already distant and isolated.
"I hope Jon Snow can still meet Robb."
"Your Highness, I see that in the envelope, you are still referred to as the heir. Also, the Free Folk associations, bankers, artisan guilds, and wine guilds of Myr and Tyrosh hope that you will be crowned as soon as possible," Qyburn asked.
"I will choose to be crowned, but I need a good location. At the very least, I need to carve out a piece of Westeros," Gendry said.
The bankers and artisan guilds were even more anxious than he was. If a new empire was established, they were destined to gain greater wealth; this was a highly profitable investment. Moreover, ever since Khal Drogo's death and the fall of his khalasar, these people understood that the current model was unshakable, and they needed to serve a new King.
Qyburn nodded, understanding the Commander-in-Chief's meaning.
"We have secret messages in crabfeeders men, King's Landing, and Riverlands. Can we start acting?" Qyburn inquired.
"No need to be too impatient. Let's wait for the situation to change."
... Tarth, Evenfall Hall. The House Tarth sigil is a quartered escutcheon of a yellow sun on a Rose field and a white crescent moon on an azure field.
Tarth is located north of Shipbreaker Bay, separated from the mainland by a strait. This was also Jon's first stop.
Tarth is said to be a very beautiful place, with mountains, lakes, and waterfalls, high mountain pastures, and shadow valleys. However, Jon was not in the mood for sightseeing; he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders.
Jon didn't like traveling by boat, but there was no other way at the moment; he was a messenger.
Selwyn Tarth chose to meet Jon Snow in a secluded cellar. Selwyn's gaze swept over the contents of the letter, and reading it made his head explode.
"This, this is the will of my Lord Robert?" Selwyn asked.
"Absolutely true," the messenger Jon Snow nodded.
"Also, has Lord Gendry been crowned?" Selwyn asked carefully.
"No," Jon shook his head. "The Commander-in-Chief may have other plans. His proclamation also stated that he intends to first quell the traitors."
"Then forgive my frankness, but why is there no royal seal on the will, and King Joffrey has already been crowned in King's Landing?"
"My Lord, The late King was killed by a wild boar while hunting. It happened suddenly. The late King left his will in The Kingswood before his death, witnessed by my father Lord Eddard and Ser Barristan. Ser Barristan is Across the Narrow Sea. As for why the Child King was crowned, you should know that House Lannister has been plotting for a long time," Jon had prepared his answer.
"How many troops do the Two Cities have?" Selwyn asked the most pressing question.
"The Narrow Sea fleet has three hundred longships, and the Two Cities fleet has four hundred warships. As for other soldiers, I estimate there are tens of thousands or more. Commander-in-Chief Gendry has killed two dothraki Khals, and his horse people alone may number over ten thousand."
Selwyn gasped. These numbers represented wealth, combat power, and prestige. Those involved now were by no means minor characters, but fierce and ruthless ones.
"Well, please send my regards to Lord Gendry."
"Alright."
"I understand what you've said," Selwyn said. "I'll think about it some more."
"Also, be careful when you leave. You are already on the Child King's list of traitors. Your father has been declared a traitor."
"Yes, My Lord." Jon's body stiffened for a moment, his heart aching, but this was a mission, a loyal duty he was fulfilling for his father.
After Jon left, Selwyn went directly to his study, where his Old Maester had been waiting for a long time.
"How many times have you received orders asking for your allegiance?" the Old Maester asked.
"This is the fourth time," Selwyn rubbed his head. "I'm over fifty, and I have no sons. I just want to die peacefully in my own bed now." His only living Child was a daughter, his heir, Brienne of Tarth.
"You have no choice now. With Joffrey, Renly, Stannis, and Gendry of House Baratheon, you must choose to face four Lords."
"Damn it, is this a choice? Making me dance among four people, choosing the best dance partner," Selwyn grumbled.
"My Lord, you have no choice. You should know what happened to House Clinton. Investing in the iron throne is inherently a huge risk," the Old Maester replied.
Jon Connington took over suppressing the rebels during the War of the Usurper, suffered a defeat at the Battle of the Bells, and was consequently stripped of his titles and lands and exiled by the Mad King. His cousin Ser Ronald then joined the rebel side in subsequent battles.
After King Robert's coronation, he returned The Eyrie to House Clinton but stripped them of their Lord's title and most of their lands, distributing them to his more loyal supporters. Thus, their family status was demoted from a full noble house to a knightly house after the War of the Usurper.
"Yes, I cannot repeat the tragedy of the Red Griffon," Selwyn calmed down.
"Stannis cannot be chosen; his strength is too weak, and his temper is too bad. Joffrey also cannot be chosen; he is too far from us, completely out of reach," Selwyn said. "I still have two choices, Old Maester, what do you think?"
"Lord Renly and Lord Gendry. One is The late King's youngest brother, and the other is The late King's eldest bastard son. In terms of legitimacy, both have weaknesses. But in terms of strength, both are very strong."
"Originally, choosing Lord Renly would have been fine. He has the support of Stormlands and The Reach. But with the current tense situation and the emergence of a will, if The Reach hesitates and Stormlands is fragmented, then Lord Renly will not be able to contend with his nephew, who commands a massive fleet and the wealth of the Two Cities," Selwyn analyzed.
"That's true, but we cannot easily place our bets."
"Alright, I have an idea," Selwyn said. "Brienne must first repay her debt to Lord Renly, so let her go. As for the army, I will only give Lord Renly a few old, leftover soldiers; the main force will remain untouched. Once the situation becomes clear, I will join."
"A wise move. We can advance or retreat. Lady Brienne is a woman, and I don't think whoever takes the iron throne will make things too difficult for us."
"Yes, I can only be with the victor. No matter who wins the iron throne, House Tarth will be loyal and reliable," Selwyn reassured himself. This was also the way for Lords to survive: conserve strength until the final victor emerges.
"But that boy Across the Narrow Sea, I really want to see what he's like," Selwyn said. "Brienne says he is more handsome than Renly and as brave as Robert. What a magnificent presence that must be."
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