Chapter 186: Lingol's Expedition (VIII) The stag is swift, its horns hitting the stone steps

Storm's End.

Duke Boros Baratheon is no longer the ferocious and majestic stag he was in the Dance of the Dragons more than ten years ago. The war that year had worn away Duke Boros' bloodiness and impatience. The Stormlands paid a heavy price for his vacillation. From then on, whenever he dreamed, Bolos always dreamed of his dead daughters and boundless flames.

I personally killed six thousand soldiers from the Stormlands.

I killed my daughters with my own hands.

I ruined the future of the Stormlands with my own hands.

Boros sat silently on the throne of the Storm King. He hated himself countless times for his vacillation and greed. If the stag could stand firmly with Rhaenyra at that time, then the Stormlands could at least keep Nightsong City. You can even tear a piece of fat off the Reach.

It will not be like now. Although from the outside, the Baratheon family is still one of the most powerful families in the kingdom, no one knows the current weakness of the Stormland better than Duke Boros. The Storm Land, which has lost its frontier, now finds it difficult to even gather 20,000 people. They actually hired mercenaries and recruited wandering sergeants and knights.

"My lord, Lord Clinton, Lord Maitellin and Lord Sven's ravens have arrived." The bachelor hunched over and quickly ran to the Duke's side.

I hope they can recruit enough soldiers, horses, and ships. Duke Boros took the letter. He now mastered the reading and writing of Common Language proficiently without the assistance of a maester, and even spoke a few words of High Valyrian. Of course, only a few sentences.

Roland Clinton, the current Earl of Eagle's Nest of the Clinton family, is a reckless young man. When the Dance of the Blood Dragons broke out, he was still a babbling child. Young people like them who do not understand the cruelty of war are most eager for war. merit.

Eagle's Nest Castle is also the place where the largest number of troops are gathered. Roland Clinton opened the family treasury and spent money like water. His castle gathered more than 6,500 soldiers from all over the world, including mercenary knights. There are more than three hundred of them. The Metelin family's Mistwood City and the Swin family's Stonehelm City were quite different. The nobles from the Southern Storm Land gathered at these two castles. In the end, the two families recruited more than 8,000 soldiers in total, including No less than six hundred cavalry. The food prepared for the war has also set off to gather in Stonehelm City and Mist Forest City.

Duke Boros closed the letter, and King's Landing acquiesced to his plan to march to the Stepstone Islands. Of course, unlike Prince Daemon back then, he had the entire Stormlands as his backing, abundant troops, and abundant food and grass, so he would probably not Like Daemon, he was so angry that even though he was successfully crowned King of the Narrow Sea, he soon ran back to King's Landing in despair. Dragon's Nest City did not object, and even the commanders of the Silver Fleet, Earl Samwell and Gunthor Jieyan, took the initiative to write letters, promising to provide ships to cross the sea.

Of course, it's not free. However, the price is within the range that Duke Boros can afford.

"What did Rogar Bank say?" Duke Boros was going to borrow a sum of money from Rogar Bank in King's Landing to hire Reese's ships.

Lys now has almost become Targaryen's dog, no, it has completely become Targaryen's dog. Lissandra Rogar has used the power of the Targaryen family to completely consolidate his position in Lys. He originally planned to At this time, he proclaimed himself First Consul for life, but a letter from Ronzel interrupted his plans.

In the end, the governors of Lys were surprised to find that Lissandra, who had been aggressive before, suddenly changed his face. He no longer pursued complete and complete centralization of power, leaving little dignity for other families.

The political situation in Reese gradually stabilized and began to regain its vitality. However, the prosperity and prosperity of the Third Daughter Kingdom were all a thing of the past. The Dance of the Blood Dragon and the Rape of the Third Daughter completely shattered this discord. Alliance, now Tyrosh has fallen, Myr and Lys have turned against each other, and Lissandra is actively preparing for a revenge war with Myr.

He was interested in the plans of House Baratheon.

"Sir Lotor agreed to the loan." The bachelor said: "But he also proposed a contract. If the Lord is willing to lead the army to provide support in the battle of revenge in Lys, Governor Lissandra is also willing to forgive the debt."

These damn blood-sucking leeches.

Bolos said in his heart.

However, he still smiled with satisfaction: "Reply to Lord Lotto and tell him that the Stormlands cherish the friendship of Governor Lissandra Rogar, and we are willing to provide all necessary assistance to our allies."

The bachelor lowered his head and slowly exited the hall, leaving only Duke Bolos with his smile gone and a gloomy look on his face.

Outside Storm's End.

The three Ringols retrieved the shield from the blacksmith. Just when Alarion thought they were going to join the battlefield as mercenaries, Ringol told them that they would not participate in the battle, but would continue to go north. , heading to the Crownlands and the Riverlands.

"Your Highness, aren't we preparing for battle?" Alarion was confused. He also bought breastplates, prepared horses, and even prepared shields. Aren't we going to follow the large army to the battlefield of the Stepped Islands? ?

"Alarion, what is our mission?" Lei Gen understood Ringor's meaning and asked. “Protect Your Highness.” Alarion was still confused.

"Then what is your highness's mission?"

"Travel." Alarion finally came to his senses. He sincerely lowered his head to Ringol, who did not speak. "Your Highness, it was my mistake."

"It's okay." Ringor smiled when he saw his partner reacting. "We still have a chance to go to the Stone Steps Islands."

Ringol does have the idea of ​​joining the war, but it is definitely not now. He needs to complete the mission of traveling the continent at the time required by his father. With the knowledge he has learned, the war in the Stormlands will not end soon, Baila The Theon family does not have a navy. They can only hire fleets to fight across the sea, and those pirates are truly experienced in many battles. No matter how many troops are gathered in the storm land, it will be in vain if they cannot send them to the island.

Unless Boros can get a fleet capable of fighting.

The two teenagers looked at each other, confirming that Ringor was not lying, and felt relieved.

More and more people gathered under Storm's End, with people arriving and leaving every day. So the departure of the three teenagers was never a big deal.

Only the blacksmith of Storm's End felt a little sad.

The big client from the Tully family that he had been waiting for unexpectedly disappeared. This made the blacksmith who thought he could make a lot of money and make a good relationship with other nobles could only lament and sigh for a long time.

Dragon Nest City, Silver Blood Tower.

Diana looked out the window with some worry. Her habits had changed since Ringol left. Originally, after putting her children to sleep, she preferred to go for a walk in the garden and enjoy delicious food, and then look through the account books.

But now, she prefers to stare blankly out of the window, constantly recalling her son's appearance.

"They left the storm land." Long Zell walked to his wife and said softly.

Diana retracted her thoughts and looked at her husband sadly: "Promise me, Longzel, if anything happens to Ringol. I know you can feel it. Please protect him."

He is our son after all. Diana thought to herself.

Long Zell smiled bitterly and nodded.

He won't be in danger. Long Zell also said in his heart.

After all, he is my son, a silver-blooded true dragon.

He also looked out the window. The promise made by the Green Man back then must have been paid off. Ronzel sees some of the future in Melisandre's flames.

He saw Ringol under the weirwood tree, which meant that the promise he made back then was about to be fulfilled, but unfortunately it was not fulfilled on him, but on his son.

I hope the Green Man’s promise will satisfy me.

At least it would satisfy Ringol.