Chapter 142: New Bloodsworn Brothers
Daemon suddenly smiled, reaching out to embrace Draezhar, who was sitting beside him, just like he did when he was young: "Draezhar, tell me honestly, what do you think of the descendants of the Dragonlord families?" To be honest, when the Old Prince heard Hogg's hysterical and crazed shouts, he felt a bit of empathy. Before he rode a dragon in his youth, he had envied the heroic figures of his father, uncle, and mother flying through the skies on dragons. He knew better than anyone the fatal attraction dragons held for those with dragon blood, so much so that he could even understand the madness and helplessness of these dragon thieves.
"Daemon, I've said it before, they are just a group of pitiful people who fantasize about becoming superior again, but lack the ability and magnanimity." Draezhar gently tapped the large stone beneath him and said faintly, "Have you considered how to protect House Targaryen's dragons? Are you still keeping them locked in the Dragonpit?"
Daemon gave Draezhar a meaningful look. After visiting Dragonsnest two years ago and observing House Varezys's Dragonpit, Daemon realized how unreasonable the Dragonpit built by House Targaryen truly was. His own Caraxes either lived on Dragonstone or in the Red Keep year-round, and when he fought in the Stepstones, he would simply find an open cave to sleep in.
In short, Caraxes rarely stayed in the Dragonpit during the years Daemon was with him, and Daemon himself rarely saw dragons chained. Furthermore, the Dragonpit in King's Landing was indeed located above residential districts, which was very different from a vast mountain city like Dragonsnest, situated some distance from Summerhall. Draezhar could let young dragons go out for air; after all, there was abundant prey in the Red Mountains, and even more if they flew out over the sea. Khal Ago's khalasar would also regularly graze sheep for the dragons to feast upon. As for the old dragon Vermithor, he preferred to sleep for days or even half a month after a full meal, while Silverwing preferred to fly several circles around the area before returning to her nest to eat, sleep, and hatch eggs. But the Dragonpit in King's Landing couldn't do that. Daemon himself worried that the dragons would treat the residential districts as their hunting grounds, so he had no choice but to chain them. Even when the Storming of the Dragonpit occurred and the rioters killed Morghul, who was trapped by chains, it proved how foolish a decision it was to shackle dragons.
"Draezhar, thank you for the reminder." Daemon sighed. "But we also have our difficulties. King Maegor never considered the existing settlements on Rhaenys's Hill when he built the Dragonpit. Dragons eat people; I can't turn King's Landing into a dragon's hunting ground."
Draezhar stood up and dusted himself off. "Daemon, I believe you've also seen the Citadel's Dragonpit records that we confiscated. Ever since dragons began being confined in the Dragonpit, not a single dragon has exceeded the size of Meleys, let alone Vhagar and Balerion."
Daemon's eyes were filled with struggle. Suddenly, Daemon recalled a detail: he remembered observing some interactions in the Dragonpit when he visited Dragonsnest, including Vermithor summoning the wandering Vermax, Shadow Nightmare, and Stormcloud back to the nest with his roars.
"I understand. Thank you, Draezhar." Daemon suddenly said this out of nowhere.
Draezhar was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood what Daemon had realized, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward. He left the place where he had been sitting without looking back. He was going to see Hugh and the others, then return to Dragonsnest to participate in the selection of his new Bloodsworn Brothers. Ser Aslan and Hobert were preparing to add five new members, bringing the total to nine, alongside Hobert, Ser Aslan, Tigarro, and Sebastian, who currently served as Draezhar's personal guards.
Daemon was a smart man. He knew that if he directly asked Draezhar whether House Varezys had inherited dragon-taming techniques, Draezhar would definitely not answer. However, Draezhar also never forbade him from observing the Dragonpit in Dragonsnest. That confiscated Citadel manuscript actually contained another sentence: the Citadel's scholars did not truly believe that chains restricted dragons, but rather that enclosed Dragonpits restricted their growth. Yet in reality, the Dragonpit in Dragonsnest and even Dragonmont on Dragonstone were enclosed. The only difference was that the Dragonpit in Dragonsnest and Dragonmont were open to the sky, while the Dragonpit in King's Landing kept its gates shut, and wild dragons preferred caves rather than open-air spaces.
Perhaps the Citadel meant that the closed Dragonpit prevented dragons from having enough room to move?
Regardless, Daemon felt that he should gradually try to imitate the Dragonpit model of Dragonsnest. Perhaps he could have Caraxes imitate Vermithor's role and coordinate the dragons, allowing him to open the seaward gate of the Dragonpit and unchain the dragons.
He could try it.
Daemon nodded to himself.
The Mouse.
Marda had her husband and Hugh take the children to the castle first to receive the reward. Daemon ordered Dragonstone to prepare a lavish feast for the pursuers, along with a bounty of fifty gold dragons. However, Marda still had to inspect the ship; they would not be spending the night on Dragonstone. Once Vermithor took flight, they also needed to hurry back to Tumbleton as quickly as possible, since it would still take several days to travel from Tumbleton to Summerhall even on a fast horse, and they could not afford to waste time.
Joffrey slowly walked behind Marda, who was directing dockworkers to scrape barnacles from the hull. Marda immediately sensed someone behind her, turned around, and saw a handsome, tall, slender brown-haired boy looking at her with complicated eyes. Marda immediately recognized the pure silver seahorse clasp on the boy's cloak, and combined with Joffrey's exquisite clothing, she almost instantly realized his identity.
"My lord." The petite woman curtsied slightly in respect.
"Marda." Joffrey paused.
The female captain smiled, tossed her hair, and calmly said, "Lord Joffrey, I already have a husband. My husband, Dennis, is a member of the Summerhall City Watch and a retired Silverblood cavalryman. He owns land in a Silverblood estate near Summerhall."
"Lady Marda." Joffrey smiled. He lacked the arrogance of a typical noble; instead, he seemed more like a very ordinary yet mature child. The brown-haired young lord glanced around, confirming that no one was paying attention to them, then whispered, "My grandfather told me about Addam and Alyn before he passed away."
Marda immediately became alert. "My lord, I can assure you that we will never set foot on Driftmark again. My husband and I are capable of raising two children, and this contribution is enough for my husband to be knighted and earn a surname. My children will also bear my husband's surname."
Marda was well aware of Joffrey's identity and her children's identity. Although she knew Queen Rhaenyra's three sons were all good children, she dared not gamble with her children's lives, especially since many branches of House Velaryon coveted the position of Lord of the Tides. Just because Joffrey would not act did not mean others would not.
"No, no, Lady Marda, you misunderstand." Joffrey quickly waved his hand and lowered his voice further. "Addam and Alyn are connected to me by blood. Whether I should call them brothers or uncles, that will never change. The blood of House Velaryon carries salt and sea, but also blood and fire. Especially the bloodline of my grandfather and father—it is even more precious. Lady Marda, do you understand what I mean?"
"I understand, my lord, but I only want my children to grow up safely. We already have a stable future now and don't want to take any more risks," Marda whispered.
Joffrey shook his head and continued speaking. Marda's eyes widened in shock, but she still firmly shook her head.
Joffrey sighed and said in a tone far beyond his years, "Lady Marda, I hope you will reconsider. The gates of High Tide Castle will always be open to you."
Marda still shook her head firmly, seemingly unmoved.
Joffrey could only leave with a sigh, leaving Marda standing alone beside the Mouse, staring blankly at the towering castle above.
Dragonsnest, training grounds beneath Dragoncrystal Tower.
Hobert, with his black hair, held a spear and coldly watched the candidates. After no fewer than seven rounds of competition, only five young men remained on the field, exactly the number Hobert and his companions required. However, Hobert still needed to test their abilities, because the most important duty of the Bloodsworn Brothers was protecting Draezhar and his family—even though Draezhar himself hardly required protection.
Three young warriors had already passed Hobert's assessment and now stood beside Ser Aslan.
The first was Suchi, a seventeen-year-old Dothraki youth with a face as beautiful as a girl's, though his bare upper body displayed solid muscles. The arakh at his waist and his long braid both demonstrated his extraordinary nature. He was one of the three Dothraki warriors recommended by Khal Ago, who had reserved a ko position for him and promised to fulfill it once he became Ago's Blood of My Blood—the Great Khal of Dragonsand's newest Bloodsworn Brother.
Then there was Joffrey Cafferen, the younger son of Lord Randal Cafferen, whom Draezhar had originally intended to serve as a Bloodsworn Brother for his own son. Joffrey was a tall black-haired youth, standing a full six feet five inches tall. He skillfully coordinated a flail and shield for a long time until Hobert's Valyrian steel spear, The Lawful, pierced through his shield and defeated him.
And then there was Lady Leyla's guard, the twenty-four-year-old York Waters, a silver-haired mercenary skilled with sword and shield. He had fought aboard warships from a very young age. This young mercenary, a bastard son of a member of House Celtigar, had ultimately earned his dignity through courage. Like Joffrey Cafferen, he was only defeated after Hobert shattered his shield.
Aesor Baetys, with his neatly trimmed silver hair, had grown into a handsome fifteen-year-old. He held a spear in one hand and House Baetys's ancestral Valyrian steel axe, Crabtide, in the other as he cautiously circled Hobert. The youth's eyes remained fixed upon Hobert's spear. He had already endured against Hobert for quite some time; if he could last only a few more exchanges, he would successfully pass the test.
Clang!
A crisp sound rang out.
Hobert seized an opening in the boy's movements and flicked Aesor's spear away with a single thrust. The spear flew from his grasp, but Aesor reacted immediately, raising Crabtide to perfectly block Hobert's Valyrian steel spear, The Lawful. The Lawful pressed downward, forcing Aesor to his knees, unable to move.
"One more move, Aesor," Hobert said coldly. "Do you still wish to continue?"
Aesor's face turned red, and he suddenly leaned backward.
Hobert seemed to realize something and raised his spear just in time to block the steel axe flying from the side.
The little Crab unexpectedly threw his battle axe and then lunged at Hobert, attempting to engage in hand-to-hand combat.
The next moment, Aesor was lifted into the air by Hobert, who gripped him by the neck. Hobert continued watching the youth struggle for a while with an expressionless face before slowly setting him down.
"You passed, Aesor."
Hobert nodded expressionlessly at Aesor, who was coughing repeatedly, signaling that he could join Ser Aslan's side.
Just then, a dragon's roar echoed from the north.
Draezhar had returned.
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