And that about wraps that up.
Or at least that's how Ronan considers it to be.
Regardless of the reactions of the three Free Cities, Drahar's death should signify the pause of this little skirmish... and that's a job done in his opinion.
With his little side quest also achieved when he "subtly" nudged Daemon towards Vaemond's way.
With the frustrated helmsmashing still taking place... but Daemon locked in on a different target after feeling that he's been looked down on by his Kingly older brother.
Unable to prove his worth and gain glory on a stage that had its curtains unceremoniously closed.
Which was quite the fun view to look at from the perspective of some seabird he hijacked for a bit.
Vaemond almost getting beaten to death by that deadbeat father.
Which should count as two bones picked from the lot.
The two who disrespected dear mother, and as a relatively filial son, Ronan did what he did.
Whilst the last bone to pick was with Corlys Velaryon... who was visibly depressed at the sight of the Crabfeeder's mangled body.
Seemingly unable to look away, as the man was clearly rethinking so many things in life.
Honestly, Corlys should have been happy to have his routes to YiTi and Eastern Essos opened up...
But, yeah... having a kill steal done on you must not feel good.
Not to mention all the investment burnt into this whole thing... only for someone else to swipe the satisfaction.
Well, that serves him right for trying to claim Santa Ma-Rheas' design in the name of being Master of Ships. And for stupidly sending his tongue-waggy brother as the envoy.
So, basically, all's well when it didn't end well for them.
With Ronan leaving that as it is... yet also not forgetting to remind them to maybe burn the crabs that fed on Drahar.
STD was no joke. Even for the local ecosystem of crabs that's gotten a taste for flesh.
Though he really wasn't exactly sure how greyscale affects animals...
Will some of them be stoning as stone crabs?
Or are they just going to be silent carriers until someone more greyscale-worthy ingests them or something?
Which reminded him to really study that Stone Transmorphing Disease... by maybe dredging those Sorrows when he can.
Maybe learn more about the rest of River Rhoyne while there... given that he also had a rather special Rhoynar book as one of his other unique loots from Cannibal Bay.
Then again, with all that in mind, he really should get into the water and wash up...
He's got blood of other people all over... and that involved a lot of risks, like the abovementioned disease among other things.
Which is part of the reason why he only roped the infected Drahar instead of just slicing him at an angle like Daemon bloody did.
Though, Ronan wondered if his agimat-esque armor could negate harms like that as well... because the rune script that his ancestors used was way too open-ended and open for many interpretations.
Which really just spurred his mind into more efficient improvements... and that specialized armor set he had already been tinkering around with.
One that was perfect when he is now technically the "King of the Narrow Sea".
Despite the fact that he only won in the Stepstones and the Velaryon men didn't exactly hail him as such.
In any case, to the Narrow Sea was where his commandeered Bronze Junk sailed... with his crewmates in awe of the one-man army he is.
Not even begrudging the fact they weren't allowed to participate. At the insistence of himself, who haphazardly wanted such a test and challenge.
To gauge just how heavenly his stats are… on account of all the diligence he's paged in.
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Out of nowhere, the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros were bombarded with a barrage of news that was more startling than the last.
At a time when most expect to just debate over the implications of Aegon Targaryen's Royal Hunt... not many expected for all of it to be overshadowed by Ronan Royce.
Then again, such a figure had loomed over everyone for years now. So, it truly shouldn't come as a surprise.
Alas, they were still subject to much of that.
Starting with his return... from a voyage of epics and legends.
A voyage that need not be said again... for all know it already. Bards singing parts of it aplenty.
However, the apparent towing of an Ice Dragon froze many. Sending the Vale first in a frenzy.
A dragon slain by the dragonslaying Bold Bronze... displayed upon Runesport for a week or so...
To mayhaps improve his already lively land's liveliness whilst he busied himself with other matters.
Matters involving the Princess and Heir... whom he presumptuously declared to marry in front of King, Queen, and court.
And soon enough, the match was actually approved...
One that was not without rejection. Citing scandals and complications.
Yet it was all squashed when a greater scandal was revealed...
Of how the King's brother had actually fathered a son with his lawful wife, and the boy... once living under a bastard name... was now known for what he is.
The Bold Bronze.
Ronan Royce was actually no Stone to begin with. For he really is the son of Daemon Targaryen.
Meaning that the Lady Rhea Royce has been speaking truth all this while.
With the King personally confirming it himself... proclaiming it in a mass missive that disseminated to all Houses of the realm.
Upending the beliefs of many lords and ladies.
Especially those that had been targeting and critical towards the Runestone's whore and former bastard...
Feeling as if they've been misled this whole time.
Ashamed even.
One can even imagine their shock and surprise... at the fact that Lady Rhea had been a faithful wife all along... and didn't really deserve all those years of shame. Nor that great dishonor of having her marriage broken.
But maybe it is a good thing that that sham of a union has been broken down... for her supposed husband has been the source of all this scourge.
And there was that "bastard" they always mocked with envy... and put down even more whenever his achievements were getting better and better.
Dominating all of them by many leagues and over.
From his time as a Young Bronze to his current stature as a Bold Bronze... such a Stone bastard was just so brilliant that to dim him, they could only privately consider him a probable spawn of a demon.
And as it turns out, the young man was truly Daemon's spawn all along.
The boy wasn't supposed to be Ronan Stone and he shouldn't even be Ronan Royce... but Ronan Targaryen all along.
More stupefying is the fact that in spite of all this truth that has come to light... Ser Ronan Royce was to remain Royce.
Even when he was marrying into the Targaryens and quite literally rejoining the Targaryen annals.
Which made for very confounding logics to try and comprehend.
Alas, regardless of what many complained or qualmed about... all would have no choice but to accept.
Due to another reality that settled in.
A reality wherein the war in the Stepstones was suddenly over before anyone's notice. Including participants of said war as well.
For it is said that under the darkness of a night, whilst Driftmark's soldiers slept... the Bold Bronze appeared to annihilate the entire army of the Crabfeeder...
Painting Bloodstone's cave with the apt color of blood...
Making it still echo the despair of those he's slain.
The despair when they realized there was only one of him against the lot of them. Yet they were still the ones dying and dead.
A haunting disparity that is said to have made their spirits haunt those caverns from henceforth.
Either way, despite some doubts, it was apparent as can be... that Ronan Royce has swiftly slaughtered in the Stepstones...
All by himself. In one dark night.
With no Order's help... just his sword in hand and his runed bronze to defend him from all he's spilled.
Only stopping when justice was served. Deconstructing an epithet by feeding the prince-admiral of Myr to the crabs.
A Bold Bronze, indeed.
The King-Consort-to-be. And a Targaryen that could very well be a Royce since he wills it so.
Any and all objections swallowed back into throats.
More so when to add to all of this... and just as titles like Bloody Bronze, Bloodsoaked Bronze, and even Brutal Bronze were about to be finalized...
He suddenly became the Bronze of the Deep.
Seen to have transformed as one of the Deep Ones.
Lording over the Narrow Sea and offering its riches to the future Queen and his wife-to-be.