Inside the Water Gardens, the cool air seemed to stagnate for a moment.
Oberyn and Euron were discussing in private in a side hall.
When Oberyn, with a complex expression, conveyed Euron's shocking plan to "take Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh in one stroke" to his brother, Prince Doran, even Doran, who always kept his emotions in check, unconsciously tightened his grip on the wheelchair armrests.
A rare trace of shock flickered in Doran's eyes, accustomed as they were to the sands and schemes of Dorne, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake. A long silence spread between the brothers, with only the fountain murmuring tirelessly.
Doran finally spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of marvel. "The Little Kraken has never lacked for astonishing moves. This plan... sounds truly inconceivable." He paused slightly, seemingly weighing his words, then shook his head gently, an expression appearing on his face that even he found hard to fully understand. He sighed, "But for some reason, I have an inexplicable confidence in him, telling me I should perhaps believe him."
Oberyn looked up sharply at his brother, his tense jaw relaxing a bit as if finding resonance. "You feel it too?" The impatience in his tone was replaced by a deeper probing. "Though I call him arrogant, deep down... I actually feel this little lunatic might really be able to do it."
Prince Doran laughed, a smile carrying the spirit of a gambler placing a heavy bet.
"Then let's try it." He looked out at the vast world scorched by the sun beyond the courtyard, his gaze distant. "Although it's as difficult as ascending to the heavens, in the end, the opponents are just three city-states relying on the ocean. On the sea, Euron Greyjoy having such whale-swallowing ambition is actually not surprising."
"Good!" The extinguished fire in Oberyn's eyes ignited again. This time, what burned was the excitement and fighting spirit of the "Red Viper." "In that case, I will go gather my old subordinates and plant the banner of the 'Red Viper Mercenary Company' in the Disputed Lands once more! If I don't turn that place upside down and bleed those three son-of-a-bitch city-states dry, my name isn't Oberyn Martell!"
A raven, carrying Oberyn's order to assemble his former subordinates, flew across the Narrow Sea.
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Bloodstone
Lord's Hall
The Alliance of the Three Daughters: Tyrosh, Lys, and Myr.
Allied Commander Gustav Drummond sat in a secret chamber with representatives sent by the Archon of Tyrosh, the Magisters of Lys, and the Magisters of Myr.
The Allied Commander of the Kingdom of the Three Daughters, General Gustav Drummond, furrowed his brows so tightly they could almost crush a fly.
Seated on either side of Gustav were the representatives from Tyrosh, Lys, and Myr. The Tyroshi representative was dressed flamboyantly, a huge sapphire ring flashing on his finger in the firelight, yet his face was as sullen as water. The Lysene representative appeared capable but sinister, constantly rubbing the pommel of the dagger at his waist. The Myrish representative showed more worry, occasionally letting out silent sighs.
The atmosphere in the secret chamber was oppressive. Wine was placed before the three of them, but even fine wine had lost its taste now.
They gathered here because two recent major events, like two poisoned thorns, had pierced deeply into the heart of the Kingdom of the Three Daughters, giving them headaches and filling their faces with lingering worry.
The air in the secret chamber of Bloodstone felt like congealed grease. Only the occasional crackle of burning wood in the fireplace briefly broke the suffocating silence.
General Gustav Drummond's thick finger tapped heavily on the chart spread on the table, right on the distant Summer Isles.
His voice was hoarse with fatigue and anxiety. "The Iron Islands have turned out in full force this time, targeting the Summer Isles. This point seems certain for now. The superficial reason is responding to that exiled prince Jalabhar Xho's request to send troops to help him restore his kingdom." He paused, raising bloodshot eyes to scan the three representatives. "But none of us are naive enough to think that kraken Euron Greyjoy is so helpful. He must have designs on the Summer Isles themselves."
He took a deep breath, the pressure he exuded making the candlelight flicker. "But the key lies in the military force he's mobilized this time—nearly twenty thousand warriors, two juggernauts, and over three hundred of the newest longships! Gentlemen," his voice suddenly rose, "just to help a deposed prince retake his throne? Just for one Summer Isles? Does it require such a massive mobilization, staking such huge capital?"
This question struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.
The Tyroshi representative unconsciously turned his ring; the Lysene representative's fingertips scratched at his dagger hilt; the Myrish representative licked his dry lips uneasily.
"I suspect," Gustav lowered his voice, but his words pierced everyone's eardrums like poison-dipped ice picks, "this is very likely a giant diversion! On the surface, a grand expedition to the south, but secretly, their blades might truly point at the Stepstones beneath our feet, or even..." His gaze swept over the shocked faces of the three representatives like a hawk. "...at our three cities themselves!"
These words thoroughly ignited the latent worries in everyone's hearts. The representatives nodded almost in unison, their faces grave.
"The General speaks truly!"
"We have always had this worry."
"Such a massive fleet can never have a single target!"
Gustav watched their reactions, knowing a consensus had been reached. He slowly straightened up, hands pressing on the table, making the most helpless yet safest decision for the current stage:
"However, before the situation becomes completely clear, we should not act rashly. It is a fact that the main force of the Iron Islands fleet has gone south. Before there is solid evidence that they intend to sneak attack us, any extreme reaction might detonate the conflict prematurely. Currently, the only thing we can do is maintain maximum vigilance and strengthen our defenses."
The three representatives exchanged glances and finally nodded heavily in agreement. Besides strengthening their guard, they truly had no better method at the moment.
General Gustav's voice grew heavier. "Another matter. I trust you have all heard the rumors—the Pirate Alliance of the Stepstones has officially disbanded, and its remnants and ships have all been absorbed by the Iron Islands. Gentlemen, what are your thoughts on this?"
The Tyroshi representative scoffed, waving his hand elegantly as if brushing away a speck of dust. "The Pirate Alliance? That was never a major threat. Just a rabble that gathers for profit and scatters without it. Whether they live or die, are absorbed or fed to sharks, what does it matter to us? Their existence has never truly affected the balance of power."
The Lysene representative nodded sinisterly, his fingertips still on his dagger. "Correct. The key lies in the attitude of that 'Master of Sea Beasts' Euron. As long as he explicitly does not make enemies of our three cities, whether those pirates scatter or unite is irrelevant."
The Myrish representative also agreed in a low voice, cautious in tone. "Indeed."
"Irrelevant? Really?" Gustav jerked his head up, sharp light in his eyes. His voice carried suppressed anger and helplessness as he snapped lightly, "Gentlemen, please see reality! The power of the Iron Islands is attaching itself like barnacles to every reef in the Stepstones, growing larger and harder! First military deterrence, and now integrating all the pirates familiar with the local waters! If they continue to expand and grow at this speed, sooner or later, our three cities will be thoroughly purged from these waters by them! Just like cleaning annoying growths off a ship's bottom!"
He looked around at the three, asking word by word, "Do you intend to just sit and watch like this?"
The secret chamber fell into silence again, but this time, what brewed in the silence was no longer passive worry, but active crisis awareness.
The Tyroshi representative broke the silence first, knuckles rapping on the table, his eyes turning gloomy. "The General makes sense! We cannot sit and wait for death. We must find a way to restrict them, weaken them."
Gustav asked, "How to restrict? How to weaken?"
The Lysene representative immediately followed up. "Their lifeline lies in trade. We can unite and play games with commerce. Strictly restrict or even ban import and export transactions with ports within our sphere of influence, especially the timber, hemp rope, and various supplies the Iron Islands urgently need... cut off their supplies and financial path."
The Myrish representative pondered for a moment and added, "We can also use external forces. We can join with the Iron Bank of Braavos to pressure Westeros, sending envoys to King's Landing to state the harms to the Iron Throne, emphasizing that the Iron Islands' excessive expansion has disrupted the balance of the Narrow Sea, and requesting King Robert to intervene and restrain them as the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms."
Three heads came together, speaking one after another, beginning to conceive in detail how to weave an invisible net from economic and diplomatic levels, attempting to bind the steel kraken rapidly expanding in the deep sea.
The air was filled with a scent mixed with anxiety and danger.
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