Two knights, one in black and one in red, rode their swift horses, leading the charge across the vast wilderness.
Rhaenys Targaryen and Argus Blackwood followed behind them.
The Red Viper Oberyn Martell's dornish horse was slender and swift, with a delicate neck and a beautiful face.
And Viserys Targaryen's black steed was also prancing proudly; the dothraki black horse was considerably larger than the dornish horse.
Because they originated from the Sand, dornish horses were smaller than common warhorses and could not support full body armor. However, the Dornish legend says they can run for two days and a night without feeling tired.
Viserys also wanted to get some dornish horses for free, but the dornish horse had too many limitations and could only be used with light cavalry.
For frontal heavy cavalry charges, larger andal and dothraki warhorses were still needed.
"Seeing you reminds me of your mother, but your mother was a sickly lady from a young age. You are much healthier, Rhaenys," The Red Viper looked at Rhaenys Targaryen, as if he saw traces of Elia from back then.
She was a beautiful salt woman with soft black hair, black eyes, and olive skin, the difference being that Rhaenys was much healthier and more vibrant than her mother, and also taller.
Elia Martell was a premature baby, born a month early. Although she survived, she suffered from lingering illness and was physically weak.
Elia was bedridden for a year after giving birth to Rhaenys, and almost died when she gave birth to Aegon.
After that, the Maester told Rhaegar that Elia could no longer have children.
"Her name and her smiling face are something we both miss," Rhaenys's voice deepened.
Rhaenys's feelings for Rhaegar were complex, but her remembrance of her mother was the purest.
"You should have come with me," The Red Viper said. "When I was in Braavos back then, I wanted to take you with me."
"Apologize on my behalf to Uncle Doran and my cousins. Although I know they all care about me, I am a Targaryen. I must be with Viserys and Daenerys. true dragon do not separate," Rhaenys bit her lip.
The Red Viper shook his head. Rhaenys was not old, but she had a very strong will.
"If the Gods wanted to play tricks on mortals, they should have made me the eldest son and Doran the third. I am bloodthirsty. The iron throne should be dealing with me, not my sickly, cautious, and aging brother," The Red Viper said with a deep and melancholic tone.
"Everything is arranged by fate. Only in the mortal world is the journey difficult," Viserys spurred his horse and mused. "If my brother Rhaegar Targaryen were still alive, perhaps I would still be the Prince of Summerhall. Being the Prince of Summerhall is not bad, but Essos might offer me a broader horizon."
Rhaegar died on the Ruby Ford, leaving others to face everything.
"That idiot Rhaegar..." The Red Viper cursed. "He's my brother-in-law, I shouldn't be cursing him."
Rhaenys watched her somewhat distraught uncle, Oberyn, without trying to stop him.
Rhaenys knew that The Red Viper and Elia had always had a good relationship, and Rhaegar's outrageous actions were indeed infuriating.
The knights rode through the riverside plains and saw the heads of bandits hanging on long spears.
Crows pecked at the remaining flesh in the eye sockets of the dead, whose soft black long hair and large braids were left to the wind and sun.
Some were Loynans spies, some were remnants of dothraki soldiers.
"These heads?" The Red Viper asked in surprise.
"Most of them were cut by me. These people would only waste food if they lived," Viserys answered calmly.
"All executed by your own hands?" The Red Viper scrutinized Viserys, as if meeting this young man for the first time.
The Red Viper had heard many rumors about Viserys: flamboyant, bloodthirsty, just, fearless. At first, The Red Viper was skeptical, but now he saw it with his own eyes.
"Don't overthink it. I don't have the Stark family's habit of requiring the judge to execute death row inmates. I just simply feel it's better for me to personally kill these outlaws," Viserys looked at The Red Viper.
Killing is bloody, but the attributes gained are truly satisfying.
"Now it seems, compared to Rhaegar, you are more like a true dragon," The Red Viper said with a sigh. "Rhaegar loved books and lute strings more than swords. When I sparred with him, I knew he never truly loved the sound of steel."
Rhaegar was like an anomaly in the Targaryen Family, artistic and melancholic, knowing no joy, carrying a sadness from Summerhall.
Viserys, however, seemed to have returned to the Targaryen Family average: hot-tempered, a flamboyant and dangerous warrior.
"You already know your enemies, His Majesty Viserys. But what are your next plans?" The Red Viper asked with some hesitation.
Seeing Viserys making such a stir in the East, The Red Viper was somewhat unclear about Viserys's next direction.
"My enemies are now spread across the world, Prince Oberyn.
The Pleystein Family of Braavos, the Great Lords of Tyrosh, and perhaps even the dothraki Khals. But I will not forget the names of those in the West: The Usurper, Tywin, Kingslayer, Stark, Old Hoster, Old Arryn. But for now, to go West, one must first go East," Viserys said self-deprecatingly.
Soon, he, Viserys, would be a public enemy. When he later raises the banner of human liberation, that will truly be a bolt from the blue.
However, Viserys didn't care much. Politics is about making cakes and dividing cakes.
The vested interests were never his base. He would rally a group of avengers, Loynans, andals, and even future slaves.
"Are you afraid, Prince Oberyn?"
"The Red Viper of Dorne knows no fear," A hint of a smile appeared on The Red Viper's face.
"Are you interested in joining my team?" Viserys asked directly.
Currently, Viserys's team included knights, monks, and Water Dancer, but the only one who seemed capable of becoming a general was Donal Stone.
And The Red Viper, at present, was the only great lord with extensive governance experience, so Viserys also had an appreciation for his talent.
Rumors about The Red Viper were countless: his tourneys, his wars, his duels, his mounts, and even his sexual orientation—it was rumored that he slept with both men and women, and had bastards throughout Dorne, these girls were called "Sand Snakes."
The Red Viper traveled to the nine Free Cities, traded with poisoners, and learned various dark tricks; he studied at the Citadel, forging six links before growing bored and dropping out; he served as a mercenary in the Disputed Lands across the Narrow Sea, initially with the Second Sons, and later forming his own company.
However, regardless of the rumors, they all reflected The Red Viper's versatility and talent.
"I suppose I don't have a choice," The Red Viper nodded.
"Welcome to Viserys Targaryen's cause," Viserys's voice was filled with joy; this counted as a successful recruitment.
The horses galloped freely, and the majestic Viserysgrad was now before them.
Viserys led his distinguished guest towards the White Fort on the hilltop. Viserys saw that The Red Viper still had something on his mind, most likely about that alliance.
"Come, Prince, let's talk on the balcony of the true dragon Tower," Viserys invited. "Rhaenys, you go spend time with Daenerys first."
"Alright," Rhaenys waved goodbye to them. A man's world, perhaps a new game of power.
"Thank you for your kindness," The Red Viper nodded.
Viserys and The Red Viper sat together on the white balcony of the true dragon Tower. After some thought, The Red Viper spoke. "As you can see, Your Majesty, please forgive my tardiness. There is actually one more matter troubling my heart."
"Oh, what is it?" Viserys asked, feigning ignorance. He drank his unsweetened lemonade, inviting The Red Viper to speak.
"Arianne, you were supposed to have a Dornish wife. Six years ago, I went to Braavos and met Ser Willem Darry, who rescued and protected you, Daenerys, and Rhaenys. Under the witness of the then Sealord of Braavos, I signed a secret agreement with Ser Darry—that when you return to claim the iron throne, Dorne will raise an army for you, and you will marry Princess Arianne Martell of Dorne as your queen..." The Red Viper uttered a name.
Viserys calmly drank his lemonade, showing no surprise or excitement.
The Red Viper secretly cursed his luck; the original plan was for Viserys to marry Arianne and Quentyn to marry Daenerys. It seemed like it was going to fall through.
"We can still be allies, but I am not a bargaining chip," Viserys said. "Times change, and treaties also need to adapt to changing circumstances."
"Arianne, Arianne is also a beautiful Dornish girl. If we want to win glory, we also have to bear our responsibilities, Your Majesty," The Red Viper said softly.
"You are right, but I learned this news too late, it's a bit late, Prince. Both for me and for Arianne," Viserys put down his cup.
The Red Viper sullenly drank his lemonade. This Viserys had directly dismissed Arianne.
"You certainly, certainly have the conditions. If it weren't for my daughters' awkward birth, I would actually want to introduce them to you," The Red Viper was still The Red Viper, and he smiled again, quickly recovering his emotions.
Even without Arianne, there were Rhaenys and Daenerys. However, not using such good marriage prospects could only mean that Viserys felt his allies hadn't reached such a precious level.
Arianne, in front of others, indeed held a noble status, but Viserys was no longer a child under someone's wing, but a formidable king, a Rhoyne River true dragon who had caused rivers of blood.
"We were ultimately too late," The Red Viper sighed. "It's hateful that we were so blind; at the time, we only feared that if you knew about this marriage alliance, you wouldn't stay for a day and would run to Dorne, bringing disaster upon the Dornish people."
"Perhaps. After Ser Darry died, I could only kill the boy within me. Prince, I embraced my dreams instead of fantasizing."
"Besides the timing, I want to ask you if you have any other considerations regarding Arianne," The Red Viper asked.
Viserys looked at The Red Viper and then calmly replied, "Viserys's wife is beyond doubt."
"I understand," The Red Viper touched his forehead. "Then this is truly fate playing tricks."
Arianne had already slept with Daemon Sand, which was indeed true.
They kept it secret, but in the end, it turned out very messy.
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