Chapter 186: Rhaegar's Little Birds
Rhaegar's Black Brick Factory, located not far from the Old Gate north of , occupied a considerable area, though its interior was quite simple.
Most of the land in the Crownlands was flat, and with the current low population and extensive forests, it was easy to find a large site suitable for firing bricks.
Rhaegar had chosen the location beside a small river, ensuring easy access to water while remaining close to King's Landing.
The factory was highly secretive and currently managed by soldiers of the Dragon Guard. The soldiers only needed to store quality soil and water; little else was required. The site contained several warehouses and a large testing ground for firing enormous bricks. Behind the secret factory stood storage buildings and drying yards, while the front housed living quarters and dormitories.
Because Rhaegar did not need traditional kilns or furnaces, he only had to harness the bio-energy of the dragons, turning them into a kind of living perpetual engine for firing bricks and building roads. For the Dragon Guard soldiers, the work was not especially exhausting, as it mostly involved hauling water and soil, both abundant near King's Landing.
At first, Rhaegar assigned several Dragon Guard soldiers to assist him, personally constructing the factory alongside them. Since the project was considered top secret, news of it had not yet spread outside. Once the road-building technology matured and enough large bricks had been produced, skilled laborers from King's Landing could also be recruited.
Wearing his black Rhaegar shirt, Rhaegar commanded the Silver Dragon to circle high above the enormous testing ground, while the other two dragons followed behind. The vast area now contained only Rhaegar and his dragons. This was not only because the project was secret, but also because the heat generated by the brick firing was unbearable for ordinary people. Rhaegar himself could withstand such temperatures briefly, but he could not allow his soldiers to suffer under such extreme heat. Long exposure to fire and heat shortened a person's life—after all, not everyone was a Dragonlord.
Countless black bricks already lay before him, products forged with dragonflame, though many still had flaws that required constant experimentation.
"No matter how they're fired, these large bricks still can't compare to the Valyrian Roads," Rhaegar thought as he examined the uneven products before him. Some were too thin, others baked unevenly, and many were cracked. It was clearly a highly technical craft.
Still, he was working with ordinary soil, cheap and plentiful. Even with rune reinforcement, the appearance, durability, and refinement could never rival the true Valyrian Roads. Those ancient roads had been forged from volcanic stone and lava, conditions Rhaegar currently lacked. The dragonglass stored on was needed not only for the future war against the Others, but also for constructing the Black Wall.
"Continue!"
Rhaegar ordered the Silver Dragon higher into the sky, beginning another round of firing. The three dragons unleashed streams of dragonflame onto the giant mud-brick molds below.
After many failures, Rhaegar ruined countless molds and bricks before finally discovering a reliable pattern: the dragonflame had to remain within a precise temperature range, the intensity could not fluctuate, and the runes needed to be integrated the instant the flames enveloped the bricks. Only then could the success rate become stable.
"My products are inferior to the Valyrian Roads for several reasons," Rhaegar concluded.
"First is the dragonflame itself. Ancient Valyria may have possessed thousands of dragons, and older dragons produce far stronger flames, likely working better with runes. My dragons grow quickly, but they still cannot surpass the limits of nature.
"Second is the material. The best material would be lava or dragonglass. But dragonglass is too precious and must be reserved for building the Black Wall. The second-best material would be stone—gravel or pebbles. Unfortunately, the area around King's Landing lacks such ideal resources, so soil remains the fastest and cheapest option."
"That's good enough."
Once he understood the process, Rhaegar directed the dragons to begin mass production. Soon, large quantities of black bricks filled the testing grounds.
Rhaegar felt deeply satisfied looking at the massive four-by-four black bricks before him. They were large, durable, and inexpensive—everything he needed. Even a low-grade Valyrian Road was still a Valyrian Road. These black bricks were extremely sturdy. Two laid side by side would allow two wagons to pass abreast comfortably.
The completed bricks were about half a foot thick, their surfaces smooth and dark like polished black agate. Heat shimmered across the testing grounds. Once the bricks dried completely, they could officially be used for road construction.
After circling the grounds several times in satisfaction, Rhaegar and the dragons arrived at the square before the factory. Continuous brick firing over the past days had exhausted both dragons and rider alike.
"Go enjoy yourselves!"
The dragons, overjoyed after days of labor, immediately soared into the sky.
"Ser Joffrey, the results are excellent. We only need to begin restoring the Kingsroad," Rhaegar told , who had come to greet him.
With Corlys Velaryon now overseeing the Narrow Sea Fleet, Ser Joffrey remained Rhaegar's chief quartermaster. Though only an average knight in combat, he possessed an exceptional head for business.
"Your Highness is truly extraordinary! These black bricks are already becoming popular in the market," Ser Joffrey said excitedly.
Most defective products had already been sold off. Rhaegar had instructed Ser Joffrey to sell them cheaply. People in King's Landing had never seen such massive paving bricks before, and despite their roughness, their low price made them highly desirable.
"But there is another matter, Your Highness," Ser Joffrey added cautiously. "These bricks are useful for more than roads. They could be used in the halls and chambers of nobles and kings. If we release them publicly, they'll cause a sensation."
"That's an excellent idea," Rhaegar replied. "But our production is still limited. For now, priority goes to paving the Crownlands."
Rhaegar agreed completely. Once production increased, the black bricks could certainly become a profitable export. But until then, he preferred to use them for strengthening his own realm first.
"If we eventually obtain better materials like gravel or lava," he mused, "perhaps we really could rival the true Valyrian Roads."
"Once the bricks are dry, count the inventory. We'll begin paving the road to ."
Rhaegar already had a full plan in mind. The rebirth of the Valyrian Road would be a world-changing achievement. Great empires were always built upon roads and infrastructure. As for exporting the technology across the Narrow Sea, that could wait. The greatest beneficiary would undoubtedly be the Iron Throne itself.
Rosby and would serve as the first trial projects. Their lords had already promised manpower and resources for the construction, knowing how much they stood to gain.
"As you command, Your Highness," Ser Joffrey replied eagerly before departing to inspect the brick inventory and organize transport logistics.
A short while later, Ser Cesar arrived alongside a thin, sharp-eyed man.
It was Roken—the ratcatcher of King's Landing, one of Rhaegar's own little birds.
Roken frequented brothels, gambling dens, and dog-fighting pits. Everyone knew him as a harmless, friendly fellow, which made him ideal for gathering intelligence. Whenever Rhaegar left King's Landing, information passed through Ser Cesar to Roken.
In the game of thrones, information was everything.
Rhaegar believed the ratcatcher was a talent worth cultivating.
There were many capable spies in the world of ice and fire, but none rivaled . Grand Maester had lived in King's Landing for decades, yet the city had been infiltrated like a sieve. Men like him never understood the true value of intelligence.
Varys's methods were actually simple: he exploited other people's carelessness.
First, nobody knew about the alliance between Varys and . Varys possessed both money and information.
Second, his humble background caused people to underestimate him. No one imagined such a man could manipulate kingdoms.
Third came his methods: disguises, duplicity, and his "little birds."
Once exposed, however, his tricks were limited.
Rhaegar still had great hopes for Roken.
"Your Highness! It is the greatest honor to stand before you!" Roken said excitedly.
"Rise. You are not merely my subordinate, but also my friend. I have several matters that require your attention."
Rhaegar paused before continuing.
"Besides continuing to monitor the Three Daughters and , I want you to keep watch on several individuals:
"Lord Colton Chelsted of the Crownlands.
"Lord Simon Staunton, the Master of Laws.
"And Rossart, chief pyromancer of the Alchemists' Guild."
These were all potential enemies, and Rhaegar intended to study them carefully.
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