Chapter 183: King's Landing Municipal and Transportation Officer Rhaegar
Dawn had just broken, and the sky was clear and cool.
Rhaegar stepped out of his tent and saw the Blackwater Rush shimmering, surrounded by green grass and trees. The most diligent fishermen and sailors were already beginning their morning work on the river. In a port city, fishermen and sailors are always the hardest working.
The Blackwater Rush is the guardian of King's Landing. Its waters are deep and swift, eventually flowing into Blackwater Bay. The river's undercurrents are turbulent and unpredictable. At its mouth, the current is even stronger and faster.
Most of the lords and soldiers in the hunting camp on the banks of the Blackwater Rush were still asleep in their tents; only the sailors and fishermen were toiling. In such a grand setting, there were no prostitutes soliciting customers, and the night remained deep and tranquil.
Rhaegar saw the silver dragon. The dragons were not far from him, guarded by hidden soldiers. The silver dragon rested in a patch of grass by the river, its head resting on its tail like a coiled serpent. The other two dragons—the purple dragon and the black dragon—were doing the same.
"Prince!" The Dragon Guards saluted Rhaegar, who acknowledged them.
As Rhaegar walked past, the silver dragon opened its eyes, which glowed like molten gold. Its silver scales, covering every inch of its body, glittered. Rhaegar stroked the Silver Emperor's forehead; the dragon's scales were too hot to touch, like stone baked under the scorching sun. It is said that a dragon's flesh and blood are made of fire and blood, and the Targaryen family should be the same.
"Let's go, my friend!"
The silver dragon flicked its tail, shaking its scales. The other two dragons also stirred awake.
"Let's take a look at the waking King's Landing," Rhaegar said. The dragon let out a low roar and took to the skies. They would return soon—Rhaegar intended to inspect the Kingsroad between King's Landing and Harrenhal.
The dragon soared into the sky, cutting across the heavens.
King's Landing rose beside the Blackwater Rush and prospered after the landing of Aegon the Conqueror. For thousands of years, this highland—like the Kingswood—had been covered in forest, with only a few scattered fishermen living along the riverbanks. Then, over two hundred years ago, Aegon crossed the sea from Dragonstone and landed here. He built his first crude fort of wood and mud atop the highest hill. Since then, King's Landing had expanded like a spreading tide under Targaryen rule. It is now the largest city in Westeros and its second-largest port.
Rhaegar first examined the waterways.
He saw hundreds of docks lining the Blackwater Rush, with countless ships moored in the harbor. Deep-sea fishing boats and river ferries moved constantly, while merchant ships unloaded goods from Braavos, Pentos, and Lys. Even ships from the Summer Isles and Ibben could be seen. The most conspicuous were the deep-draft whaling vessels from Ibben, their hulls coated in black tar.
The river also held royal property. Several luxurious royal barges floated upon the water. Upstream, long and narrow war galleys rested with furled sails, their iron rams lightly touching the water.
Rhaegar flew north of the Blackwater Rush. The docks lay outside the Mud Gate, and beyond the walls sprawled the ramshackle structures of the poor. The sounds of the docks and fish markets filled the air—this was a city deeply shaped by the sea.
As the dragon swooped again, Rhaegar saw the bustling districts of King's Landing: mansions, granaries, brick warehouses, inns, markets, taverns, cemeteries, and brothels. Wide streets and narrow alleys crisscrossed the city.
The Great Sept of Baelor stood atop Visenya's Hill, its seven crystal towers gleaming. On Rhaenys's Hill, the Dragonpit—once ruined—had been rebuilt into a functioning military stronghold.
The dragon circled toward the mouth of the Blackwater Rush.
Rhaegar thought of the future chain boom defenses that could block the river, inspired by later strategies like those used in the Battle of the Blackwater. But instead of simple chains, he considered building massive stone towers to control passage—fortified outposts with archers and heavy mechanisms.
"Why not build a great bridge?"
He recalled the magnificent bridge of Volantis. If such a structure could be built across a narrow stretch of the Blackwater Rush, it would connect both banks, allow expansion of the city, and generate toll revenue. The Kingsroad from Storm's End currently stopped at the river, forcing travelers to rely on ferries—a major inconvenience.
Rhaegar then looked toward the Red Keep atop Aegon's Hill, the seat of Targaryen power.
The castle's pale red stone walls enclosed massive towers, halls, barracks, and dungeons. It had been begun by Aegon and completed by Maegor the Cruel, who had executed its builders to protect its secrets. Rhaegar knew those secrets likely referred to the hidden tunnels beneath the castle.
After circling the city, Rhaegar flew north to inspect the Kingsroad.
This great road, built under King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, stretched nearly two thousand miles—from the Wall to Storm's End. It linked the realm together and symbolized unity.
Near King's Landing, the road was busy and well-maintained. Travelers moved by foot, horse, cart, or wagon. Trade flourished.
But further north, toward Harrenhal, the road deteriorated.
There, it became little more than two muddy ruts winding through fields and forests. It twisted like a serpent, sometimes disappearing entirely. Travel was slow and dangerous, especially in bad weather. Carts often became stuck, requiring great effort to free them.
Rhaegar landed in a secluded area and disguised himself.
He saw a farmer struggling with a broken cart stuck in mud, loaded with sweetcorn. Rhaegar stepped in and helped push it free with ease.
"Thank you, kind sir!" the farmer said gratefully, even offering him some corn.
Rhaegar accepted and watched him leave before summoning his dragon again.
While flying, he roasted the corn with dragonfire. It tasted surprisingly good.
As he ate, Rhaegar considered the future.
Westeros needed coordinated reform in urban planning and transportation. The Kingsroad required widening and reconstruction, especially in the Crownlands.
A new office was needed:
King's Landing Municipal and Transportation Officer.
Not a permanent Small Council position, but a temporary one dedicated to rebuilding infrastructure—roads, bridges, and city planning.
Rhaegar decided he would propose it to the king.
First, he would begin with practical steps: strengthening defenses along the Blackwater Rush and widening key sections of the Kingsroad.
Only through such great works could the authority of the Iron Throne be truly strengthened.
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