Chapter 38: Falconry, Falcon
"Alright, you go get ready first. Wait." Dragonzel frowned and looked Valarr up and down.
"W-what's wrong?" Valarr looked at himself in confusion, nothing seemed wrong. Why did Dragonzel look like he wanted to eat him?
"What are we going to do?" Dragonzel gently tapped the smooth breastplate of "Silver Shield" twice. He looked at Valarr with a serious expression, while Jacaerys, who was nearby, quickly pricked up his ears, wiping away fine dust with a cloth, wanting to hear what this brother, whom he had only met for a few days but already admired, was saying.
"Fight the Vulture King, ah, no." Seeing his brother's face suddenly sink, he quickly corrected himself: "Falconry, we're going falconry in the mountains."
"Why are you wearing armor for falconry?" Dragonzel raised an eyebrow. "Just take it with you. If you ride out in armor, the horse will collapse from exhaustion before you even see the prey."
"Got it." Valarr mumbled and went out to take off his armor, leaving only Dragonzel and Jacaerys in the room again.
The two Princes had arrived secretly at Blackhaven; their dragons were not yet strong enough to fly from Dragonstone to Blackhaven. They could only travel by ship first, and then reach their destination under the protection of the Silver Blood Army. The two youths first studied with Dragonzel's former retainers, Lynn and Hofa, for a few days before officially starting as retainers for Dragonzel and Valarr. As two Princes who had received a full noble education, they were naturally familiar with the duties of a squire; after all, before coming, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon had served as cupbearer for Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Prince Daemon Targaryen, and Prince Lucerys Velaryon had also served as cupbearer for Lord Corlys Velaryon.
"My Lord, please don't be too harsh on Great-Uncle Valarr, he might just have been too eager, which is why he let Lucerys help him put on the armor, and Lucerys too. After all, this is his first time truly seeing Valyrian steel armor." Jacaerys spoke when he saw that Dragonzel had no objection.
"Aren't you too? Jacaerys, you've been staring at the Dragon Knight for a long time." Dragonzel smiled. He took the armor handed to him by Jacaerys and put it into the bag for armor. Jacaerys scratched his head awkwardly. "After all, the royal family only has one set of leather armor said to be decorated with Valyrian steel." The brown-haired youth tied the Silver Blood belt around Dragonzel's waist, helping him straighten his collar and cuffs. "We were also curious what real Valyrian steel armor looked like."
"Now you've seen it, what are your thoughts?"
"It's very peculiar, very beautiful. There's a feeling I can't quite describe." Jacaerys honestly spoke his feelings. "Looking at it sometimes feels like looking at Vermax."
Vermax was Jacaerys's dragon, a quickly growing dark green young dragon of the same age as him, currently residing in the Dragonpit at Dragon Nest City.
After emergency construction, the main tower "Silver Blood Tower" and the two connected sub-towers "Twin Towers" of Dragon Nest City had been completed and decorated. If not for the urgent military operation, Dragonzel would have moved in with his family and close retainers first.
"Anything else?" Dragonzel also helped Jacaerys fasten the leather armor straps, and continued to ask.
Jacaerys shook his head. "I only saw these."
Dragonzel smiled and nodded, not continuing the topic, but changing the subject. "Jacaerys, Prince Daemon asked me to have you learn some things from me. Well, this is natural. After all, as squires, it is a customary tradition to follow a knight and learn."
"I have already learned a lot from you, my Lord." Jacaerys buckled on his longsword himself. "I also have to thank you for your gentleness and patience."
Dragonzel smiled, motioning for Jacaerys to follow him, and the two youths walked out of the gates of Blackhaven together. Outside Blackhaven, 300 heavy cavalry summoned by House Tarth were already in position. These heavy cavalry from the Stormlands were generally equipped with chainmail covered by surcoats. Most of them did not have barding or horse armor, and their family or origin could be distinguished by the patterns on their surcoats. A small portion were equipped with beautiful plate armor and heavy barding. Dragonzel knew that they were the direct vassal knights of House Tarth or wealthy landed knights, and many of the less wealthy heavy cavalry were their retainers. Lord Edric Tarth had also additionally levied 800 longbowmen, which was the limit for House Tarth.
They flew banners with purple lightning, and another group with brown banners was also gathering below the city, their banners depicting three sheaves of yellow wheat.
"My Lord, this is Ser Jory Selmy of Harvest Hall, and this is his eldest grandson and heir, Ser Harlo Selmy." Lord Edric introduced the two noble knights in brown surcoats beside him to Dragonzel. Ser Jory Selmy was an old man with a weather-beaten face and a large beard. Ser Harlo Selmy was a short, sturdy young man, his flail tucked into his belt, his eyes shining as he tried to see something behind Dragonzel.
"Ser Harlo, my dragon only hunts when it sees prey." Dragonzel saw what Harlo wanted to see and said with a smile. Harlo quickly withdrew his gaze, looking at his grandfather somewhat awkwardly.
"Harlo is too young. He made my Lord laugh." Ser Jory smiled and pulled his grandson behind him. "My Lord, I have brought fifty cavalry and three hundred armed infantry. I am sorry, House Selmy is just a small house. This is our limit."
"It's alright." Dragonzel patted the old knight's shoulder. "Tell the cavalry to travel light. We are going falconry. Leave some people behind with the equipment to follow, and set off when they see the signal."
"As you command, my Lord."
"Brother, the Silver Blood Army is also ready." Valarr came over slowly on horseback with Prince Lucerys Velaryon from the side, accompanied by the fully armed Sebastian Jieyan and Aslan Longdel.
"It's you two this time." Dragonzel smiled and walked over, giving Sebastian and Aslan, who dismounted from their horses, a punch each.
"Those guys are repairing the city. It's just the two of us this time," Sebastian took over the conversation. "As you commanded, we brought four hundred cavalry and twelve hundred Silver Blood Army warriors equipped with longbows and crossbows, and the cavalry are all equipped with horse bows."
"Very good. Have Stonehelm, Grandview, and Nightsong replied?"
Jacaerys replied somewhat grinding his teeth, "Lord Swann of Stonehelm and Lord Caron of Nightsong said they have no plans for falconry recently, and without Lord Borros Baratheon's permission, they cannot answer the call of another lord. Lord Grandison of Grandview did not reply. They are all parasites of the realm. They should have actively responded to something like suppressing the Vulture King. How dare they..."
Dragonzel put a hand on Jacaerys's shoulder and shook his head at him. "Their not coming was part of the plan all along. Jacaerys, sometimes the parasites of the realm have their uses too. Valarr, inform everyone. Prepare to depart."
"Yes."
"What did you say?"
The Vulture King suddenly stood up. His army was rushing toward Weel, hoping to receive support as soon as possible.
"My King, a force of silk-wearing cowards from the Stormlands is holding falconry nearby, about three to five hundred people. I saw them very clearly," the Dornish scout replied confidently. "They are carrying a lot of supplies—and wine!"
"Really?"
"Absolutely true, my King."
"Good!" The Vulture King mounted his beloved sandy warhorse and shouted to his subordinates, "Little vultures, the hunt has begun!"
.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you like the story please give it some power stones and reviews. And if you want to read 40+ advance chapters or just want to support me please join my patreon at [email protected]/Translatingfanfics