Chapter 136 Egg Dragon and Fighting Dragon
"Which dragon laid an egg, you said?" Dragonzel almost jumped out of his seat. Candlelight? His daughter's dragon? How old was that dragon? A six-year-old dragon laid an egg?
"It was Candlelight. Today, when Ammor went to inspect the Dragonpit, he found them in the nest of the three young dragons." Ray was also a bit incredulous, after all, Candlelight's appearance made it difficult to associate him with a 'female' dragon. After all, the dragons known to be laying eggs, Silverwing and Syrax, were quite imposing and majestic. And Candlelight was simply too young; a six-year-old dragon, though already large in stature, laying eggs was indeed hard to accept.
"Are you sure it's not Silverwing's egg?" Dragonzel realized after speaking that this was absolutely impossible. Silverwing had never laid eggs anywhere outside his own nest, much less in the simple nest of the three young dragons. After all, although the three young dragons' nest had just undergone Star Song's expansion, it wasn't spacious enough to accommodate Silverwing. "How many eggs did Candlelight lay, and what do they look like?"
"Two dragon eggs." Ray said. "One is a blue-gray dragon egg with spiral patterns, and the other is a gray dragon egg with white stripes. Ammor has already placed them in the greenhouse. Their size and weight are normal." Ray thought for a moment. "I took a look before I came, and it's indeed as I said."
"Good, after this is over, call Valarr, and we'll go to the Dragonpit together to take a look." Dragonzel nodded, signaling that the next person could continue.
Ray retrieved his pure silver finger. Aslan glanced at Hofa and Sebastian, then placed his blood-red ruby finger into the slot. "Your Highness, in the past month, we have completed the immigration of one hundred and twenty-five Silver Blood Army manors. The Silver Blood Army manors in the new territory are now basically completed."
"Yes, after this busy period, I will take Lingor to visit the various Silver Blood Army manors." Dragonzel also felt a bit emotional. The six thousand Silver Blood Army soldiers who arrived in Westeros have now grown significantly. Aside from over a thousand Unsullied, the Silver Blood Army soldiers, as the core of the manors, have spread throughout the entire Borderlands. Even local nobles, such as House Tarly, House Cafferen, House Manwoody, and House Tarth, these old noble families, have, under the leadership of House Tarly, voluntarily accepted the stationing of more or less Silver Blood Army manors. They have also accepted the tax structure of the Silver Blood Army manors—the main taxes paid by the manors go to Dragon's Nest City, not to the lord of the land. Of course, a certain amount of tax will also be paid to the local lord. And they respond to the lord's summons—provided they receive orders from Dragon's Nest City.
These Silver Blood Army manors are often centered around at least one to two longhouses or stone houses inhabited by knights, surrounded by more than thirty family homes that can provide armored infantry, and the shanties where their hired tenant farmers live. Most Silver Blood Army manors are equipped with mills, bakeries, taverns, and septs, as well as low or tall walls. The manors of some wealthy Silver Blood Army knights are even more luxurious than those of some landed knights, so much so that many villages have chosen to relocate near Silver Blood Army manors. After all, the mills of Silver Blood Army manors are theoretically under the direct jurisdiction of Dragonzel, and the common people who use the mills do not have to provide their already meager grain share to greedy mill owners or lords who even tax the milling of flour.
Today, counting the one thousand knights provided by the khalasar of Ago, the Silver Blood Army has a standing force of four thousand armored knights, each with no less than two warhorses and various weapons. They are stationed in the various castles and towns directly governed by Dragonzel, among whom there are as many as seven hundred Silver Blood Army knights with the title of "knight." In wartime, the knights that can be mobilized from Dragonzel's direct territory are no less than six thousand.
As for infantry, the Silver Blood Army currently has a standing force of nine thousand infantry. Many Northern men have joined the Silver Blood Army, bringing a wild atmosphere to the army. Of course, if war requires, this number can reach sixteen thousand. If the forces assembled by various lords are included, the Borderlands can now field an army of no less than fifty thousand. Looking at the entire Seven Kingdoms, the Borderlands is no longer weaker than any other kingdom.
"Your Highness, another thing to note is the issue of faith within the Silver Blood Army." Aslan continued, clearly having a headache over this issue. The Dothraki were fine; the khalasar of Ago had largely abandoned belief in the Horse God and now worshipped the Riders of Winged Steeds, the Great God of Sky and Mountains, which was essentially the dragonlords of House Varezes. Moreover, Dothraki religious beliefs advocated for self-contained worship; they never proselytized and would not influence others due to their faith. Thus, the Faith of the Seven had no inclination to civilize such a group of barbarians who posed no threat.
However, the composition of the Silver Blood Army is now quite complex. There are immigrants from Volantis, who often adhere to a modified Lord of Light faith—the version modified by Ben Dolo and Marakh, the two red-robed monks close to Dragonzel's father, who believed the Lord of Light to be the manifestation of the world's will, and the Varezes Family to be the incarnation of the Lord of Light. These people, or they converted to the local Faith of the Seven. The former is almost unacceptable to the Faith of the Seven, but there is no helping it, since what they actually believe in are the dragonlords. Even Aegon and his kin enjoy the reverent and fanatical gaze these immigrants give them when they ride dragons. Now, the Faith of the Seven, which has been tamed into a rubber stamp, and the lower-ranking septons, who were deeply moved by Jacaerys's efforts, cannot find much fault.
But therein lies the problem: with the inclusion of Westerosi locals into the Silver Blood Army, and the addition of thirty thousand Northern men, the Silver Blood Army now encompasses several faiths. There is the deeply rooted Faith of the Seven, the Faith of the Seven modified by Bishop Ke'erlun, the reformed R'hllor faith, and the Old Gods faith of the First Men.
In short, it couldn't be more chaotic.
Dragonzel also thought of this when Aslan mentioned faith. "I understand, I will pay attention to this issue when I visit the various Silver Blood Army manors." This is a difficult problem to handle, especially in the current rapid development. Winter temporarily does not affect the South, and peace will bring a large population and ideas. This problem should be dealt with as early as possible, and not dragged on until the end.
Aslan, seeing that his report was finished, took back the ruby finger. The next to light up was Hofa's steel finger. "Your Highness, your Bloodsworn Brothers should be replenished with new blood."
Dragonzel felt a bit dazed. After so many years, his Bloodsworn Brothers were indeed gradually diminishing. Adams the Law-Holder, to make his rigid brother fulfill his duty, inherited Scale Keep. Amos Fezerel died at the tail end of the Dance of the Dragons. Lyon Velaryon now guards Prince's Pass for the Varezes Family at Longsky Castle. This dutiful bastard brother married the widowed Samantha Tarly and had a son a year ago, naming him Robert. On Robert Velaryon's naming day, Dragonzel even personally rode a dragon to bless the child. Ago has stepped down from his duties, focusing on managing his khalasar, becoming the true "Ago Cao." Alan Tarly and Jon Tarth have also inherited their fathers' lands and can no longer serve by his side. Samwell Hermosa has also become one of the captains of the Silver Fleet, constantly away.
Dragon Crystal Tower was now much emptier; he indeed needed to add a few Bloodsworn Brothers.
"Hofa, you will oversee it." Dragonzel stroked his short silver beard. He was no longer the youth who first arrived years ago. In a blink of an eye, he had been in Westeros for almost ten years. "After Aegon selects the Kingsguard, I will personally test my new brothers."
"As you wish." Hofa reached out and retrieved his steel finger. Finally, it was Sebastian's turn; he placed his golden finger on the slot. To be honest, he didn't need to speak about financial matters. The Varezes Family was not lacking money at all now, and gold was continuously flowing into the treasuries of various cities and castles.
However, since Aegon's Kingsguard selection was ultimately his responsibility, he still had to speak. "Your Highness, the venue is ready, and the candidate knights have moved into the hostel prepared for them in Summerhall. As soon as the King agrees and Ser Steffon Darklyn and Ser Arryk Cargyll arrive, we can begin at any time."
"Good. Everyone, anything else?" Seeing that none of his five fingers had anything else to report, Dragonzel stood up. "Then we are adjourned. Ray, you come with me."
Ray followed Dragonzel, who exited through a side door. The two brothers walked through a long corridor, at the end of which they met Valarr, who had been summoned by the young attendant Reville Haiton.
"Big Brother, what's wrong?" Valarr was still a bit sleepy-eyed. He and Leira had been up too late last night, busy taking care of little Daenerys, which left him very tired.
"Come with me to the Dragonpit." Dragonzel looked Valarr up and down. "Candlelight laid eggs, we need to go see."
"What?" Valarr instantly woke up. "Candlelight laid eggs?"
"I was also surprised when I heard it." Ray looked around, and after confirming no one was present, he walked and said, "Big Brother, I think my theory might be correct."
"Egg dragons and fighting dragons?" Dragonzel raised an eyebrow. He knew his brother's theory, which posited that the gender of dragons was largely insignificant, and that dragons could be classified into two types: egg dragons, which laid many eggs, and fighting dragons, which never laid eggs but focused on combat. After all, as magical creatures, their mundane genders were indeed open for discussion.
"So in your theory, Silverwing, Dreamfyre, Syrax, and Candlelight are all egg dragons?" Valarr retorted. "What about Vhagar and Meraxes? They also laid eggs, and my Silverwing, I think he's very powerful in combat."
Ray patiently said, "Meraxes laying eggs only exists in the maester's records, and there is no record of Meraxes laying eggs in Dragonstone records. As for Silverwing and Vhagar, look at their size?"
Valarr fell silent.
As they spoke, the three had already arrived at the Dragonpit's lift platform.
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