The fog over Braavos was exceptionally thick.
It was so dense that even sunlight could not penetrate it, and dawn arrived much later than usual.
Urom's men arrived before Tormo's.
He immediately took control of the Braavosi forces, then moved as quickly as possible to arrest Tormo.
The nobles who opposed Freygo all seized the opportunity to emerge and fight for control of Braavos.
Viserys sent a signal to his army.
Tens of thousands of soldiers surrounded the island where Robert's army was encamped, guided by Urom.
Inside the command tent, Eddard, Brynden, and the others continued trying to persuade Robert.
"Your Grace, leave while it is still dark. We'll hold them off here!"
Eddard spoke calmly.
"That's right, Your Grace. Once we return to Westeros, you can raise another army!"
Brynden looked utterly exasperated. He almost seemed ready to drag Robert onto a ship himself while the king continued drinking.
Robert, however, remained unmoved by the advice of his two loyal men.
Nearby, the musicians were playing The Bear and the Maiden Fair.
The previous song had been Forty-Four Bottles of Beer.
Both were among Robert's favorites.
"On the green grass the bear runs free, the maiden chases after thee..."
Robert sang along with the musicians, tapping his fingers against the table.
"Your Grace!"
Eddard finally stepped in front of Robert and stopped the king's hand as he reached for another drink.
Robert looked at his old friend.
"Ned, where could we even go? Or rather, where could I go?
I'm not a good king.
Lyanna never loved me. Cersei... hah. She's a whore.
Rising in rebellion in the first place was a mistake."
As he spoke, Robert pulled his hand free from Eddard's grasp and tipped the wine flask back, drinking deeply.
"My grandmother was Rhaelle Targaryen. That makes me one-quarter Targaryen.
But there's another story that says my ancestors were descended from a bastard of House Targaryen. Ha! Isn't that amusing?
But I think the Baratheons are much like Durran, the Storm King.
My ancestors inherited Durran's banner and castle, along with his daughter and wife.
My great-grandfather, Lyonel the Laughing Storm, once rebelled against the Targaryens over a marriage pact.
I rebelled against the Targaryens because of Lyanna.
Durran, the Storm King, refused to negotiate with Aegon the Conqueror, so he had his hands cut off.
I cut off Davos's hand too.
So I suppose that if all of this is true, then I should die the way Durran did."
Robert rambled on and on.
Eddard simply watched him in silence.
Just as they had back when they were in the Vale.
Robert had always been the one who loved to joke and talk.
Eddard had always been the one who listened.
"I used to think that if we rebelled and I inherited Storm's End, perhaps I'd have you help me manage the castle.
But this isn't so bad either. At least I sat on the Iron Throne once.
Truth be told, that thing is bloody uncomfortable. The first time I sat on it, I thought it was going to split my arse!"
Brynden listened to Robert's rambling as well, and he understood that the king had lost his will to fight.
In truth, Brynden himself knew that Viserys was an enemy they could no longer defeat.
Even if they made it back to Westeros, they would be facing endless internal troubles.
Robert took a letter from inside his clothes and held it out to Eddard.
"Our foster father is dead. The maester says he died from an infection. The dragonflame burned him badly."
At the news of Jon Arryn's death, Eddard's expression darkened.
Without Arryn, there was no one left behind to keep the realm together.
Before long, a collateral branch of House Arryn would likely take control of the Eyrie, and whether they would continue supporting the Baratheons was another matter entirely.
The rear had already fallen into chaos.
"Ned, since Viserys has agreed to let you go to the Wall, then go. You never liked warm places anyway.
As for me, let me die in battle like Durran, the Storm King."
Viserys's fleet and Urom's fleet had severed Robert's army from the outside world.
Without supplies, those forty or fifty thousand men would not last even a week.
Braavos's submission was now only a matter of time.
"Your Grace, our men have taken control of the Iron Bank, and those red-robed priests have also been placed under arrest."
Urom spoke to Viserys with obvious flattery.
Viserys nodded lightly and changed the subject.
"Lord Urom, I once intended to abolish the title of Sealord. But I've reconsidered. I think you can continue using it."
Urom became visibly excited.
After nearly a century, the position of Sealord had finally returned to House Zalyne.
"Your Grace, House Zalyne will always be a loyal ally of House Targaryen!"
Viserys pointed toward Aemon, who was looking around curiously behind him.
"My nephew isn't a child anymore, and his character is excellent. Find him a good girl from your family."
Realizing that Viserys intended to establish a marriage alliance between Aemon and House Zalyne, Urom was so delighted that he nearly lost his senses.
House Targaryen possessed three dragons through Viserys alone, while its four other underage members each possessed a young dragon.
The bloodline of the Dragonlord that everyone coveted had just been brought into his family with astonishing ease.
He had accomplished something that generations of Sealords had never managed to achieve.
"Rest assured, Your Grace. I will find Prince Aemon a proper lady of our bloodline!"
Urom looked toward Aemon.
The young prince had a handsome appearance, a tall, slender build, and an air of uprightness about him.
He was an excellent young man.
If that was the case, Urom certainly could not allow him to marry only one girl and leave it at that.
At the very least, Aemon should have opportunities to spend time with several of the young women in House Zalyne and leave behind a few bastards.
Aemon felt Urom's strange gaze upon him.
There was something oddly familiar about it.
Then he realized.
It was exactly the same look horse breeders gave when they saw a superior stallion.
The thought made Aemon's skin crawl.
Urom happened to smile at him at that exact moment, causing Aemon to turn his head away uncomfortably.
Afterward, Viserys also reminded Urom that Aemon might have a preference for red-haired girls and suggested that he keep an eye out for one.
Viserys had several reasons for arranging a marriage alliance for Aemon.
Although his army had already arrived in Braavos, Viserys did not have the appetite to swallow the city whole.
Braavos was a melting pot of peoples, unlike Pentos, where the population was predominantly Andal.
Its population was also enormous.
Direct annexation would face tremendous resistance and create countless problems in the future.
Allowing Aemon to establish claims through marriage could lay the groundwork for formal annexation later.
For the time being, Viserys only wanted the right to station troops in Braavos and control over its minting.
Just as he was preparing to return to his cabin, he received news that Robert wanted to challenge him to single combat.
The report caused Viserys's estimation of Robert to rise slightly.
At least he had not fled like a rat.
An opponent who was willing to stand and fight was worthy of some respect.
___________
Upto 20 chapters ahead on patreon :-
patreon.com/BloodAncestor