The morning light in the Velvet Hills carried a fresh, green scent, with little hint of moisture.
Without these conflicts, this place would have been a paradise.
There would be strong warriors, devout monks, and beautiful maidens, not lives lived in fear and timidity.
Most of Andas was previously controlled by Pentos, but when Pentos was repeatedly beaten by Braavos, Andas reverted to a land of chaotic disputes.
Pentos now has no more than twenty warships and is not allowed to hire mercenaries or free riders apart from its garrison.
Pentos is also unable to govern too large a territory; it barely manages to control the plains of Pentos, and these areas are often visited by Horse Riders (Dothraki).
"Weak Pentos, undefended cities. And unable to organize the revival of the Andals, but I will use this power," Viserys Targaryen thought to himself.
Viserys removed his dragon-wing helmet, wearing only his black scale armor, dark as dust and smoke.
The warriors sat on the ground, eating steaming barley porridge, and the Andals had also roasted young lambs they raised to reward the warriors.
There were also supplies brought by the Tyroshi slavers, which were not wasted, including those garlic-flavored Tyroshi sausages.
The sour Andas wine and the much stronger Tyroshi pear brandy were consumed together by the warriors.
Viserys savored the pear brandy, knowing that the known world was not without high-proof spirits like brandy, but Viserys firmly believed that the new rum and whiskey he was about to create would be even more popular.
"Warrior Westeros"
"Revenge, Andals, revenge"
"Avenger Viserys!"
Enthusiastic Andals gathered around the soldiers, cheering for them.
The Andals naturally praised Viserys, who seemed like a god and a warrior incarnate, the silver-haired, purple-eyed warrior, the second conqueror.
The Andal villages on the west side of the Upper Rhoyne River were increasingly gathering, and the news spread like a plague; there were more people from the west bank villages than from the east bank villages that Viserys had recovered.
News of revenge, news of slaughter.
The Andal soldiers who crossed the river from the east annihilated the Tyroshi slave traders, avenging their kinsmen.
This was sensational news, unheard of for centuries; the Andal soldiers there were so brave.
For the common people, this was good news of great revenge achieved, as almost every village had suffered harassment from Tyroshi slave traders.
But for the ruling village elders, their mindset was much more complex.
It was just that this young king acted quickly and ruthlessly, leaving no survivors or middle ground.
The Andal village elders from the west bank and the east bank elders who had pledged allegiance to Westeros Fort gathered to discuss.
After this, they and the Tyroshi slave traders were thoroughly irreconcilable.
Sooner or later, it was a matter of revenge and outright hostility.
Before, they could act like ostriches hiding their heads, but now, to deal with the crisis, they had to unite.
"He is a Westerosi," one elder from a west bank village asserted.
"Whoever can avenge the Andals is the King of the Andals. Besides, the King of Westeros also claims to be the King of the Andals."
"But we have sworn loyalty to King Viserys; he is the orphaned heir of House Targaryen and will be attacked by the iron throne in the future."
"Hmph, don't worry about the iron throne; worry about the Tyroshi slavers and mercenaries right now. Without the protection of King Viserys, no village can survive alone. Tyroshi retaliation has always been very cruel."
"We are villages abandoned by all major powers; the Sealord of Braavos, the King of the iron throne, the Archon of Pentos are all great, but have they protected us? No, they haven't. Only King Viserys has come to our aid. We Andals are a people who repay kindness."
The elders of the Andal west and east bank villages debated fiercely, wavering between loyalty and polite neutrality.
Viserys held his hot porridge, listening to the praises and discussions.
A gentle warmth emanated from his fingertips, and Viserys felt himself to be a creature of power, where ambition and justice merged.
Viserys acted for his own ambition; anti-slavery was his political slogan, which indeed was a great good deed beneficial to others.
Because of this, he needed to unite the surviving Andals and the surviving Rhoynar.
"Your Majesty, I found this in the Tyroshi slavers' tent," Umu the Bishop stealthily approached and handed Viserys a charred parchment map.
It was evident that an attempt had been made to destroy the map, but it had been pulled from the brazier in time.
Viserys carefully examined the markings on the drawing; it showed the terrain of the western part of the Upper Rhoyne River, with its mountains and waterways, dotted with a few Andal villages, which appeared to be the ones that had been attacked.
"This is a map," Viserys was surprised; this map was not the work of the Tyroshi, but rather roughly drawn.
The Tyroshi's craftsmanship was not low; their drawings would not be so crude.
The detailed locations of the villages seemed more like something only local Andals would know, with all their twists and turns.
"Are you saying there's a spy?" Viserys looked at the map.
It seems there are also bad people among the Andals, betraying their own kind.
Umu the Bishop nodded gravely, "Your Majesty, I thought so too. This drawing involves the detailed locations of some villages in the west, which only local Andals would know."
"Do you have any suspects?" Viserys asked in a low voice.
It was normal for some fence-sitters to exist in the Andas villages, after all, the Andals had been ravaged by various forces for hundreds of years, and the capitulationists also had some market.
Umu pointed to two missing corners on either side of the map, "If I'm not mistaken, there should have been a grape leaf-shaped drawing here, which was cut off."
"A grape leaf, does it have any special meaning?" Viserys asked keenly.
"It represents a major power among our native Andals, the Greenvine Family. They started by selling Andas sour wine, and the Greenvine Family's sour wine sells the best and at the highest price."
Upon hearing this, Viserys realized this was essentially a low-budget Redwyne Family of Andas, making money by selling wine and trading.
"Isn't Andas wine very sour?" Ser Roland asked.
"The quality isn't great, but we're used to the taste; even bad wine can be sold," Umu the Bishop explained. "So the Greenvine Family is a prosperous branch among the Andals. Their villages and estates are in the hills downstream of the Upper Rhoyne River, not too far from G. Dothol."
This was true; Viserys knew that Andas wine was also sold in the markets of Vaes Dothrak. Even if cheap wine sold for less, there was still a market.
"If it really is the Greenvine Family, their sins are great. The Greenvine Family has connections with merchants from Pentos and Tyrosh," Umu the Bishop said.
This could very well be an Andal spy, and for the Greenvine Family to prosper in such a precarious region, their methods and cunning would not be lacking.
Viserys put away the map and then instructed Umu the Bishop. "Explore more carefully and see if there are any clues related to the Greenvine Family. Also, this matter must be kept secret for now."
"As you command, Your Majesty!" Umu the Bishop nodded.
Viserys pondered, Umu the Bishop's clue was very crucial.
If true, the Greenvine Family would be an Andal adversary he would have to deal with in the future.
Considering a local power like the Greenvine Family, collaborating with external forces, they would naturally be unwilling to have a new king above them.
Moreover, Viserys also needed a distilling apparatus for making wine; perhaps he could plunder the Greenvine Family's gold.
Not far away was the bloody battlefield of last night.
The Tyroshi tents had been leveled, and good armor, military tents, weapons, warhorses, and other supplies would not be wasted; Viserys gratefully accepted them all.
The heads of the dead Tyroshi were all cut off and then impaled on pikes.
This was a silent warning: the Andals would fight for freedom.
"The Warrior demands our courage."
"The Father demands our justice."
"The Mother demands we protect the weak and innocent."
"The Maiden demands we protect all women."
"The Smith demands our labor."
"The Crone demands our wisdom."
"And the mysterious Stranger demands our awe."
Umu, leading the Andal priests, chanted the hymns of the Seven Gods.
"Under the witness of the Seven Gods, do you swear allegiance to King Viserys?"
"We do," all the Andal elders maintained reverent expressions, looking at the spirited Viserys.
Viserys also looked at his new subjects, wondering if anyone would contact the Greenvine Family, but power always pulsed.
The elder of the leading west bank village knelt on one knee, followed by all the other elders.
"Noble King Viserys, for thousands of years, our people have lived peacefully, yet have been repeatedly plundered. Now, the Warrior has descended, a true king has emerged. We, representing all our people, swear allegiance to you."
"I hear your vows and will protect my subjects."
"We dedicate our loyalty to the master of Westeros Fort, Viserys of House Targaryen," all the Andal elders proclaimed loudly. "We dedicate our hearts, loyalty, and courage to you. We dedicate our barley, wheat, and grapes to you. We dedicate our swords, spears, and bows to you. May you pity our suffering, protect our women and children, and treat every subject justly. We will follow you forever."
"In the name of the hills and the great river."
"In the name of steel and knights."
"In the name of the Holy Seven Gods," they completed in unison.
"I will repay you with fairness, love, and courage. May summer endure," Viserys said. "Rise, in my name, Viserys Targaryen."
Viserys looked at these oath-takers, and at the dead heads of the Tyroshi.
Some oaths are written in ink, while others are sealed with blood.
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