Chapter 115: Sea King vs. Dragon, Bloodshed in Tyrosh
Princess Gael, Aly Rivers, and Terra Uller stood on the walls of Tyrosh Fortress, looking out at the distant Braavosi Sea Lord's Fleet and the Pentos mercenary fleet.
The squire, Matthew Tyrell, became frightened. "It looks like the Sea Lord has mobilized all of Braavos's ships. I heard that Braavos's armory can build a ship in a single day. So many enemy ships have arrived, and Lord Velaryon and Prince Daemon are both not in Tyrosh. What should we do?"
The squire, Tom Staunton, stared with his moss-colored eyes and pitifully said, "Prince Daemon will surely ride Caraxes back to save us."
Ser Sejan Mandrake was fat like an eel, bald, and had a thick, bronze, walrus-like beard. When Daemon left Tyrosh, he appointed Ser Sejan Mandrake as the Kingsguard Gate Captain of Tyrosh. Ser Sejan Mandrake had shown bravery in the battles of the Stepstones, but at this moment, facing the enemy fleet at the city gates, Ser Sejan Mandrake was also terrified, his face drained of color.
"Those Pentos mercenaries are nothing to worry about, but the Sea Lord's Fleet is truly too powerful. Only Lord Velaryon's fleet can contend with the Sea Lord. I truly hope the Valyrian Fleet returns soon."
Rustu had long, light blue hair that reached his shoulders, deep-set eyes, a bulbous nose, and a mouth full of rotten teeth stained crimson from frequent tobacco chewing. He was originally a slave in Tyrosh, but during Daemon's attack on Tyrosh, he led a slave rebellion and earned Daemon's admiration, becoming one of the commanders of the Dragon's Servants Army.
Looking at the distant Sea Lord's warships, Rustu said grimly, "Don't the Braavosi people always claim to oppose slavery? Yet they actually sent troops to attack Tyrosh, a city that has just overthrown its slave masters. Are we, the people liberated by the Father of Dragons, going to become slaves again? The thought is truly terrifying."
Gael was also very afraid. Once Tyrosh fell, Gael and her children would all become captives, or even face death. But at this moment, Gael had to be strong, because when Daemon left Tyrosh, he appointed her as the City Lord. Now, Tyrosh's Kingsguard, Dragon's Servants Army, and fleet were all awaiting Gael's commands.
At this moment, Gael had to boost morale. She wanted to speak, but her words caught in her throat. Her heart was pounding like a startled deer, filled with anxiety.
Dragon Dreamfyre landed on the city wall, and her mount, the Dragon, gave Gael a sense of security. Gael's heart gradually calmed down, and she finally found her voice. "Tyrosh is an outpost of Old Valyria. This is a military fortress with the strongest city walls, and we have Dragons guarding the city. No matter how many oared warships or galleons the enemy has at sea, they cannot harm the city walls. Any ship, encountering Dragonfire, will instantly burn and sink, won't it?"
Gael gave Ser Sejan Mandrake, the soldiers, and the squires a sweet, relaxed smile. She said, "The Braavosi are descendants of the Old Valyria Dragonlords' runaway slaves. To escape the Dragons' wrath, their ancestors fled to the northwest corner of Essos and established Braavos. For hundreds of years afterward, they dared not let the outside world know of their existence. Now, the Braavosi people actually dare to challenge a city guarded by Dragons. They are seeking their own demise."
Under Gael's encouragement, the surrounding Kingsguard, knights, squires, and Dragon's Servants Army gradually shed the gloom from their faces and began to become brave.
Then Gael began to give orders. "Rustu, Daemon broke the shackles on you and the other slaves, making you honorable Dragon's Servants Army. Now is the time to prove your loyalty. Lead the Dragon's Servants Army soldiers onto the city walls to defend the city with the Kingsguard. You must obey the Kingsguard's command."
Rustu left with a squad of Dragon's Servants Army soldiers. Most of the Dragon's Servants Army were liberated slaves. These people lacked training, but during a siege, they could help transport Wildfire jars, rolling stones, and crossbow bolts.
Gael continued, "Ser Sejan Mandrake, I order you to take your taxi soldiers and adjust the ballistas and trebuchets. Aim them in the direction of the enemy's warships. Once the enemy's warships enter range, greet them with crossbow bolts, stones, and Wildfire jars."
"Ser Andy Harver, you have always been Daemon's close confidant. Take a squad of Kingsguard to protect the castle and the inner city; Ser Sejan Mandrake will lead three thousand elite soldiers to patrol the major urban areas, to prevent any Tyroshi people of questionable loyalty from causing trouble within the city. If anyone attempts to rebel, they can be immediately beheaded."
Aly Rivers and Terra Uller, seeing how Gael had organized Tyrosh's defenses so meticulously, couldn't help but show admiration and appreciation. Aly Rivers said, "Princess Gael, you are truly worthy of being Daemon's good wife. From you, I see the shadow of your mother, Queen Alysanne the Good."
Gael sighed, "How can I compare to my mother? It is the Dragons, Daemon, and the children who have given me strength."
Laena and Laenor walked over. Laenor said, "Princess Gael, I request to ride Dragon Seasmoke into battle. I must teach these damned invaders a lesson."
Gael stroked Laenor's silver-white long hair. "Laenor, you are a brave child, but Daemon instructed me before he left that we should not easily sally forth to meet the enemy. We must rely on the sturdy fortress for defense. If the enemy truly attacks the city, I will permit you to ride a Dragon into battle. But the current situation is not suitable. The enemy knows we have Dragons; they cannot be unprepared."
Laenor was unconvinced. "But Seasmoke yearns for blood and fire." Laenor, on the other hand, yearned to prove himself on the battlefield. Laenor's lover, Joffrey Lonmouth, was standing nearby, looking at Laenor with adoration.
Gael flatly refused, "Lord Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys entrusted you to me. I dare not risk their precious son. Laenor, stay in the city. When it is time for the Dragons to attack, I will personally ride Dreamfyre into battle."
Seasmoke was a young Dragon, relatively small in size. Young Dragon scales were thinner and more easily pierced by enemy arrows. Gael did not want Laenor and Seasmoke to take such a risk. In contrast, Dreamfyre was older than Vermithor and Silverwing, with tough hide, and she was experienced and very cunning.
Laena, with her delicate pink skin, said, "Princess Gael, ever since Queen Alysanne passed away, Silverwing has been without a rider. I am now of age to ride a Dragon. Now that the enemy is at our gates, let me ride Silverwing! Three Dragonriders are always better than two. I can help you repel the enemy."
Gael stroked Laena's shoulder. "I know you are a brave and strong girl, but you have never ridden any Dragon, and Silverwing may not accept you. Moreover, riding a Dragon into battle for the first time, no matter what, is too insane."
Several years ago, Daemon and Lord Velaryon had a falling out over vying for Silverwing. Gael, of course, understood Daemon's thoughts; Daemon hoped his child could ride Silverwing. However, today, Gael stopped Laena from riding a Dragon, not out of selfishness, but out of concern for Laena's safety.
Even horses need time to accept a new rider, and riding a Dragon requires even more time. If Laena were to ride Silverwing and die in this siege of Tyrosh, then Lord Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys would suspect it was Gael's conspiracy, after all, a deceased Laena could no longer compete for any Dragon. The friendship Daemon and Lord Velaryon had just established would also come to an end due to Laena's death.
Laena was very unhappy and retreated to the side.
Out of fear of the Dragons, the Braavosi fleet did not launch their first wave of attack until after nightfall. More than a dozen oared warships approached Tyrosh, operating the trebuchets on the warships to hurl massive stones at the Tyrosh city walls.
The defenders on the Tyrosh city walls immediately retaliated with trebuchets and ballistas. Since the Tyrosh defenders were on higher ground, the trebuchets on the walls had a longer range. The massive stones smashed onto the decks, and some soldiers who failed to dodge were directly crushed into pulp, with blood, internal organs, and brains splattering everywhere.
Arrows rained down like locusts from the battlements and arrow towers on the city walls. Many taxi soldiers on the Braavosi warships were pierced through their armor, skin, and flesh by the sharp arrows, screaming as they fell to the ground.
The Tyrosh defenders' trebuchets not only hurled rolling stones at the enemy fleet but also alchemists' excrement and Wildfire. Wildfire jars landed on the oared warship "Mist," spraying a thick green rain. There were many soldiers on the deck holding torches for illumination, so the sprayed Wildfire instantly ignited, burning many soldiers. In a short while, the "Mist" began to be engulfed by emerald flames, and soldiers, sailors, and the captain all jumped ship to escape.
The surrounding warships were more or less troubled by Wildfire igniting, but fortunately, the Braavosi were well-prepared; they brought out ceramic jars, poured out the sand within, and buried the Wildfire.
However, the defenders on the city walls continuously hurled Wildfire jars with catapults, and these jars, like ripe fruit, exploded and splattered on the Braavosi warships.
Just as the Braavosi were busy extinguishing the Wildfire on their warships, the wrath of a Dragon roared from the sky.
Amidst an emerald glow, Gael, riding Dreamfyre, appeared in the night sky.
Dreamfyre opened her gaping maw and continuously spewed flames.
Dragonfire met Wildfire; the Wildfire soared, the Dragonfire raged, and the Dragonfire and Wildfire intertwined like eager lovers.
More and more warships were ignited by the Wildfire and Dragonfire.
On the deck of the oar-powered warship, the Sea Lord of Braavos, Hagathe Haegrossi, and the Prince of Pentos, Prince Sisi Pass, stood shoulder to shoulder.
Sweat covered Prince Sisi Pass's forehead; he wiped it away with a pure white handkerchief and said tremblingly, "I warned you long ago that a naval assault on a city guarded by a Dragon would not end well."
Hagathe Haegrossi stared intently at Gael on the Dragon's back in the night sky above the battlefield.
If Hagathe Haegrossi could capture Tyrosh and Gael, and if he could have Gael bear his children, then the Dragons and Dragonriders that the Braavosi longed for might very well be born among Hagathe Haegrossi's descendants.
At this thought, Hagathe Haegrossi's eyes filled with fanaticism.
He said indifferently, "This probing attack only cost me less than thirty warships.
Braavos has plenty of warships; this is merely a month's worth of shipbuilding at the arsenal."
"Prince Sisi Pass, let your mercenary ships attack together!
As long as we land on the beaches and encircle Tyrosh from the sea, the Tyroshi slave masters within the city are bound to revolt against those Westerosi people."
Prince Sisi Pass mumbled, "If the Tyroshi slave masters wanted to revolt, they would have done so already; would they wait until now?
Tyroshi slave masters only paint themselves with dyes, polish their hair, and spray perfume on themselves.
Do such people have the courage to revolt?
I suspect there are not many slave masters left in Tyrosh; the slaves killed many slave masters during their revolt, and Daemon even fed slave masters to his Dragons."
At this moment, Ambrose, the head of the Spice Guild, walked over.
He was an old man with silver hair, wearing bronze armor.
"Prince, Sea Lord, the estates near Pentos were attacked by a Dragon.
Eyewitnesses claim it was a colossal beast."
Prince Sisi Pass clutched his chest in fright, letting out a sharp cry, "It must be Daemon! Daemon launched a sneak attack on Pentos!"
Ambrose frowned, "The rumors say that Dragon seemed to have no rider, and there was no mention of Prince Daemon."
The Sea Lord, Hagathe Haegrossi, chuckled, "Prince Sisi Pass, don't be so agitated.
I estimate that it's Dragon Vhagar.
After Prince Baelon's death, Vhagar became a wild Dragon.
A wild Dragon hunting is nothing to be alarmed about."
Prince Sisi Pass was not convinced.
He snorted softly, "You say that so easily.
Prince Daemon uses sorcery to control Dragons; everyone knows that.
Since Daemon can control other Dragons with sorcery, then this Vhagar must also be controlled by Daemon."
"Sea Lord, Pentos's defenses are weak, and I must return with the mercenary fleet to protect my city.
The glory of conquering Tyrosh I leave to you."
Having said that, Prince Sisi Pass left without looking back.
He took a small boat back to his flagship, the "Prince's Glory," and an hour later, the Pentos fleet gradually withdrew.
In truth, Prince Sisi Pass also knew that Daemon was unlikely to directly ride a Dragon to attack Pentos, but the appearance of Dragon Vhagar provided him with a perfect reason to withdraw his troops.
Braavos possessed a powerful naval force, and most of the profits gained from the Stepstones or Tyrosh would fall into Braavos's hands.
Pentos coveted land-based interests, after all, Pentos bordered the Three Daughters.
The Sea Lord was fighting for ambition; if he won, he would be a hero of Braavos.
But Prince Sisi Pass was different; as the Prince, a mascot of Pentos, he did not hold real power.
Once the attack on Tyrosh was lost, Prince Sisi Pass might be sacrificed by the Archons upon his return to Pentos.
Prince Sisi Pass truly did not want to risk his life.
Historically, Braavos and Pentos had fought many times, solely to seize the fertile land and water control between the two cities.
Some Braavosi Sea Lords even threatened to demand that Pentos abolish slavery.
Pentos was generally at a disadvantage, and often, Pentos had to rely on the strength of Lys, Myr, Tyrosh, and even Westeros to contend with Braavos.
If not for Daemon's conquests in the Three Daughters disrupting the regional balance and affecting the interests of Braavos and Pentos, and their shared fear of becoming the Dragon's next victim, Pentos would never have allied with Braavos to oppose Daemon.
Such a mismatched alliance was destined not to advance or retreat together on the battlefield.
After the Pentos fleet withdrew from the battlefield, the Sea Lord, Hagathe Haegrossi, continued to order the Braavosi Fleet to attack.
After midnight, over a hundred ships began to disperse, bypassing the crossbows and catapults on the Tyrosh fortress walls, as well as the Dragonfire attacks from Dreamfyre, landing on multiple beaches of Tyrosh Island.
Because Daemon had implemented a scorched-earth policy in advance, the Westerosi army and the Dragon's Servants Army had all retreated into Tyrosh City, relying on its sturdy walls for defense, allowing the Braavosi army to successfully land on the beaches.
The Braavosi army threw down battering rams and scaling ladders from their warships.
Soldiers, armed with longswords and grappling hooks, charged towards the Tyrosh fortress.
Gael rode Dreamfyre, and Dreamfyre spewed ten-foot-long orange-yellow Dragonfire, engulfing enemies, warships, soldiers, and siege towers; nowhere was untouched.
The battlefield was filled with thick smoke, flames, and the smell of sulfur.
Wherever Dreamfyre flew, the enemies there scattered under the Dragonfire's onslaught, yet the enemies were too numerous and too dispersed.
The Dragon repelled some enemies, but more enemies would surge in like a tide.
Some scaling ladders had already reached the city walls.
The Kingsguard and the Dragon's Servants Army poured boiling oil, wood, and stones from the city walls, attacking the enemy.
The bright moonlight caressed Tyrosh.
Vermithor and Silverwing rested on Dragon Mountain.
Laena quietly ran to Dragon Silverwing's side.
Silverwing was like a silver-white castle, and Vermithor was like a massive bronze mine.
The two Dragons snored thunderously, exhaling hot air from their nostrils.
Under normal circumstances, a Dragon's breath would be enough to scorch human skin, but Laena had the true Dragon bloodline of House Targaryen flowing through her veins.
Therefore, when the heat wave of the Dragon's breath came, Laena could still endure it.
Laena climbed to Silverwing's side, grabbed the reins, and was about to climb onto Silverwing, when a voice quietly sounded from the dark shadows.
"Laena, you shouldn't ride a Dragon."
Laena jumped in fright.
She looked in the direction of the voice and then saw that the speaker hiding in the darkness was the witch Aly Rivers.
Aly Rivers whispered, "Laena, stay away from the Dragon.
Rashly riding a Dragon into battle, your life will wither in its prime."
Laena said angrily, "Witch, you don't have the true Dragon bloodline of House Targaryen.
What do you know about Dragons?
I need to ride Silverwing to save Tyrosh."
Aly Rivers laughed, "Ignorant little girl, someone will save this city tonight, but it won't be you."
Laena frowned, "Are you talking about Gael?
I won't let Gael fight alone, nor will I let my brother Laenor ride Seasmoke into danger.
I will personally ride a Dragon into battle."
Aly Rivers said coldly, "Not Seasmoke, nor Dreamfyre.
It is a Queen, the Red Queen in flames, crossing storms, sea, and salt.
Listen, she is coming."
The sound of leather flapping came from the sky.
Laena looked up and saw Princess Rhaenys, riding Meleys, the Red Queen, soaring proudly over Tyrosh.
Rhaenys was majestic, her silver-white cape fluttering behind her.
Princess Rhaenys and the Red Queen arrived at the foot of Tyrosh City in time.
The morale of the Tyrosh city defenders was greatly boosted.
Dreamfyre and the Red Queen danced enchantingly in the air, spewing Dragonfire, and the enemies below the city were utterly routed.
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