"Welcome, Prince Oberyn!" Before Firegrass Manor, Gendry saw the visitor's figure; this might be the first important person to visit Firegrass Manor.
Oberyn rode a charcoal-black steed with fiery red mane and tail. The horse was slender and agile, with a delicate neck and a narrow, elegant head. The rider was graceful, tall, and slim, seeming to merge with his mount. The famous horses born in the Dornish desert were smaller than northern horses and could not support full heavy armor, but their endurance was astonishing; legend said they could run for two days and a night without tiring.
"Dornish warriors are as numerous as sand, but this one man is peerless!" Gendry praised, for The Red Viper's presence was indeed very imposing.
The Red Viper's shoulders were draped with a pale red silk robe, his tunic adorned with layers of copper scales that, when he rode, seemed to glow like a thousand bright new copper coins. A gilded helmet, high on his head, was decorated with a copper sun, and a round shield hung behind his horse, its polished surface emblazoned with House Martell's sun-and-spear sigil.
"The head wolf's name also strikes fear into the hearts of the Myr people! How should I address you? Commander-in-Chief, the liberator, Butter-King, or Iron King? I don't even know your name, let me see your face!"
The Red Viper took off his helmet. It was a long, melancholic face, with large, dark eyes like pools of kerosene beneath finely arched brows. His forehead and nose were equally sharp, and his glossy black hair contained only a few silver strands. A true "salt person."
"A name is just a designation, even more so for Mercenaries. You can still call me warhammer! As for my appearance, a mere appearance, I believe the Prince would not be so superficial." Gendry bowed, then introduced his team to The Red Viper. The Red Viper coming alone truly showed his great skill and courage.
"Please allow me to introduce my team. This is The Handsome Man, the Wolf Pack Company's treasurer and my advisor. This is Maester Qyburn, the Wolf Pack Company's physician and my Maester. This is Dick the Fletch, the Wolf Pack Company's archery Instructor and my advisor. This is Longspear, my cavalry commander. This is Steel Fist, my infantry commander. This is Black Billy, from the Summer Isles, my archer commander. This is Gray Wolf, my head of guards." Gendry listed the titles of his team, which naturally were not as resounding as The Red Viper's.
"Prince, you've traveled far; please come into the city with us and rest for a while."
"With pleasure!" The Red Viper replied.
Gendry and The Red Viper walked side by side. There were countless rumors about The Red Viper, and Gendry knew a little, and Maester Qyburn had told him many. The Reach and the Dornish people had always been at odds. Oberyn had indirectly crippled the heir of The Reach.
"I used to be a Mercenaries too! But that was many years ago," Oberyn said.
"When was that!" Gendry asked politely and with great interest.
"Many years ago; you know I'm a restless person. I once attended The Citadel, forging six chains before getting bored and dropping out; I also served as a Mercenaries in the Disputed Lands, initially with the Second Sons, and later forming my own company. But back then, I didn't have the courage you do, Commander-in-Chief, to directly overturn the foundations of the Disputed Lands." The Red Viper looked with interest at the Free Army taxi soldiers, who were once slaves but now were very energetic taxi soldiers.
"Circumstances are stronger than men, Prince! If we hadn't been pushed to this point, we wouldn't have acted this way!" Gendry said.
"This is truly a good place. When I was young, I also thought I was unparalleled, but I never managed to build my own enterprise!"
"It's also a chaotic place. The Myr people like to sell Myr carpets and gunpowder herb, but they don't like their slaves selling them."
"Chaos brings new life. Everything here seems to be thriving, and I quite like it here. Many years ago, one of my ancestors also escaped from Essos to Dorne to break free from slavery," The Red Viper spoke of past years.
Gendry knew who Oberyn was talking about: the story of Queen Nymeria.
"This place of yours is very good. If I didn't have things in Westeros I couldn't abandon, I would definitely stay here longer."
"I also hope the Prince can stay here longer."
"I heard you crushed the Brave Companions, those scoundrels!" Oberyn asked.
"Yes, a group of criminals and villains. They were cunning, but fragile before strength."
The two entered Firegrass Manor, then, escorted by Unsullied guards, reached the top of the tower, from which the entire manor could be seen.
"To make a long story short, I want to discuss cooperation with the Butter-King. This matter is not about Dorne and your gunpowder herb kingdom, but only about The Red Viper and you."
"You are very shrewd, Prince," Gendry praised. The Red Viper and Doran were two sides of the same coin; outwardly arrogant, The Red Viper actually had many ideas. Even if he cooperated with Gendry, The Red Viper was acting as an individual, not implicating Dorne.
"I once thought that only your Wolf Pack were reliable, but I didn't expect the Free Army to be quite impressive as well," The Red Viper praised. "Actually, we can cooperate. I also want to leverage a strong and powerful army."
"I wonder if you've heard of a murder, a horrific murder. It happened over a decade ago in King's Landing."
"...I certainly have!" Gendry mused. The good deeds of House Lannister; Tywin kept a few mad dogs. When King's Landing fell, Tywin's two mad dogs launched a frantic revenge.
The Mountain and Amory Lorch together massacred The Red Keep. The Mountain burst into the royal nursery, smashing Prince Rhaegar's infant son, Prince Aegon, against a wall, killing him instantly. Before the Child's blood and brains had dried, he raped and murdered Aegon's mother, Princess Elia. Amory dragged the screaming girl from under her father Rhaegar's bed and stabbed her dozens of times until she died.
"I am bloodthirsty, but I have waited year after year!"
"What's the benefit! Prince, your revenge game is too exaggerated," Gendry asked deliberately.
"Benefit! You cunning young man, your crisis is like a dark cloud; the Three Daughters will surely not tolerate the expansion of your small kingdom, and those pirates. Don't you need some allies, or a little support? Although Dorne is long and arid, our famous horses, spearmen, and Summer Red, spices—I think the Commander-in-Chief will always need them."
"I need them very much. In return, I have Myr tapestries and gunpowder herb. But it's somewhat difficult for me to offend a powerful person for your support."
"If the conditions are right, we might be able to cooperate. I have waited for a long time and am not in a hurry now. What else does the Commander-in-Chief want to obtain?"
"I want Myr, I want the Three Daughters, I want all of Essos!" Gendry told The Red Viper, his tone not sounding like a lie.
"Hahahaha!" The Red Viper burst out laughing. "Madman, truly a madman; perhaps only crazy and young people are suitable to cooperate with me. Your tone is very similar to someone from before, who overturned a country for a mistaken love. Speaking of which, you two really have some similarities! Indestructible, and both like warhammer."
"That might be you overthinking it!" Gendry said.
"I hope so! Fortunately, the several children the lion bore for the King... it's hard to say, hmm ha..."
"Why cooperate with us!" Gendry asked.
"I once considered many people, but they all vanished like smoke. The governors of the Three Daughters are only concerned with profit and are completely unreliable. Perhaps, I thought of talking to brand new cooperators."
"The Gods be praised! I haven't heard news of the Myr people eliminating the Wolf Pack," The Red Viper looked at Gendry. "You are strong enough, there's a certain potential for cooperation."
----------------------------------
I've already posted 40 new chapters on Patreon!
If you like the story and want to reaad more, please visit my patreon. Every support is very meaningful!
[patreon.com/Kazenova223]
Thank you very much!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"