Chapter 100: A Letter from Mace Tyrell
Rhaegar controlled his dragon, hovering in the sky above the Gods Eye, looking down at the dense fleet below.
All the scorpion crossbows, crossbows, double-arc goldenheart greatbows, throwers, grappling hooks, and throwing spears emitted a cold, eerie gleam.
The warriors gripped their weapons, awaiting only Rhaegar's command, watching for the unfurling of the black banner with the red three-headed dragon.
In this era, nearly all methods and weapons capable of dealing with dragons were on full display.
Rhaegar felt that the offensive and defensive techniques of the Tyroshi were no more than this—perhaps even inferior. Ordinary Tyroshi and pirate warships would not be so well-equipped, especially since the Tyroshi and pirate mercenaries were not a unified force, but rather reluctantly gathered together for profit and survival.
For dragons, the greatest threats were scorpion crossbows and goldenheart greatbows. Scorpion crossbows were incredibly powerful, their bolts three times the size of ordinary arrows. The Dornish had even developed giant scorpion crossbows. The double-arc goldenheart longbows had an effective range of four hundred yards, second only to dragonbone bows. Rhaegar's fifty longbowmen were also his hidden weapon.
Every morning, Rhaegar ordered those ships to conduct training with him above the Gods Eye. He forced them to launch fiercer, more brutal, and more aggressive attacks, using all their strength against him and his dragon.
The Gods Eye was particularly lively, filled with the shouts of sailors, the mechanical whirring of crossbows, and the whistling of arrows. Yet the most shocking sounds were the dragon's roars and the violent winds stirred by its massive wings.
The dragon raged through the sky, casting a colossal shadow.
War is a bloody drill; a drill is an unbloody war.
The dangers faced by a dragonrider were also considerable—especially when riding a small dragon, whose firepower, endurance, and defenses were limited. Falling from a great height, being struck by arrow volleys, or entangled by grappling hooks and throwing spears were all common threats.
The most tragic example was Prince Jacaerys Velaryon and his dragon Vermax during the Battle of the Gullet. It was said that a lookout on a Myrish galley managed to throw an anchor at Vermax as it swooped past, snagging it between two scales. The anchor dug deeper due to the dragon's momentum. The sailor then lashed the chain to the mainmast, and the combined weight of the ship and Vermax's desperate struggle tore a jagged gash in the dragon's belly.
Although Rhaegar's dragon surpassed ordinary small dragons in speed, attack power, alertness, and recovery ability, it still remained within the category of a small dragon. Only by fully unleashing its potential could they achieve an easy and brilliant victory in the war for the Stepstones.
Rhaegar needed to train his dragon to dodge arrows and also to face them head-on, while maintaining constant vigilance during low-altitude flight. Low-altitude maneuvers combined with dense arrow fire posed the greatest danger to a small dragon.
The training was extremely strict—bordering on brutal. After increasing fire output and lowering flight altitude, the surging arrow storms still caused Rhaegar great difficulty, particularly when dodging thrown grappling hooks aimed at the dragon's wings.
"The Prince is down!"
"The Prince is down!"
"The Prince is up again!"
"The Prince is up again!"
The crossbowmen and warriors aboard the fleet roared in encouragement as prince and dragon swayed amid the torrential rain of bolts. In real war, only decisive victory or defeat ended the fighting. Rhaegar expended enormous stamina.
Rhaegar's ancestor, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, the Conciliator, had once endured similarly brutal training at Dragonstone, honed by the blades of seven Kingsguard knights and often left covered in wounds. To become a true warrior, one had to be forged like steel in the clash of swords and spears.
By the end, everyone aboard the ships was utterly exhausted, unable to raise their arms to draw bowstrings or crank crossbows. They admired the Prince's cruelly rigorous training methods, and even more so envied the extraordinary recovery abilities of both prince and dragon. No matter how brutal the training on the first day, the Prince and his dragon would demand even harsher training the next.
The training continued day after day until Rhaegar's dragon could glide calmly through arrow storms, even defending itself during low-altitude flight. The dragon's speed increased, and its vigilance sharpened.
Rhaegar intended to rely on the small dragon's swiftness to strike the Stepstones while ensuring his companions remained unharmed.
Rhaegar had already dispatched men to gather intelligence on the war for the Stepstones. The Tyroshi and pirates were entrenched there, having hired numerous mercenaries. The Iron Throne's fleet was prepared, but wars over the Stepstones rarely ended quickly, often dragging on for years. One favorable development was that relations between Tyrosh and Myr had fractured, and this conflict had been instigated by Tyroshi exiles, preventing the Third Daughter from fully committing her strength.
One afternoon, when training was temporarily halted, Lord Corlys Velaryon also sent Rhaegar a letter.
Rhaegar opened it and immediately recognized the familiar rose sigil of House Tyrell.
"A letter?" Rhaegar was slightly surprised. It was neither from King's Landing nor Dragonstone, but from the south—from Highgarden.
Lord Mace Tyrell?
Rhaegar's eyes lit up. He remembered Mace Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden and Lord Paramount of the Mander, a man fond of green velvet and heroic posturing, with curly hair and an impressive appearance—but mediocre talent and martial skill.
Rhaegar unfolded the letter. The first half overflowed with praise for Rhaegar—his heroic spirit, divine bearing, unmatched martial prowess—calling him a warrior born of destiny. Then the tone shifted, and Mace began praising himself.
"I, Lord Mace Tyrell of Highgarden, am skilled in swordplay and delight in the clash of war. Trained by renowned masters since childhood, my martial abilities are sound. My greatest honor would be to serve Prince Rhaegar. I am willing to fight beside the Prince with my humble body, even if my brains are spilled and my bones ground to dust. Should the Prince require it, I will personally lead Highgarden's knights and call upon my bannermen, including the Redwyne Fleet, to aid you."
Rhaegar was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood.
This lord of roses was seeking to attach himself to Rhaegar's achievements.
The Reach was the richest and most populous of the Seven Kingdoms. House Tyrell was vast and powerful, and Lord Luthor Tyrell—before his death—had also hired famed masters to train his son. The Reach was the heartland of knightly culture. Yet Mace Tyrell's aptitude remained painfully ordinary. He had never distinguished himself in tourneys or battle, and as Lord Paramount, such mediocrity invited mockery—especially from the Reach's many ancient houses, some of whom quietly resented House Tyrell's rise.
Still, House Tyrell was not without strategy. Mace could surround himself with capable subordinates to gild his reputation. With powerful allies to carry the weight, honors could still be claimed.
A friendship with Prince Rhaegar was mutually beneficial. Rhaegar possessed dragons, and the Third Daughter was already hostile. Under such overwhelming protection, glory could be safely obtained.
If cooperation was established, Lord Mace would gain the recognition he desired, while Rhaegar would receive Tyrell manpower and part of the Redwyne Fleet.
Publicly aligning with Prince Rhaegar signaled the Reach's faith in the heir to the Iron Throne. If victory in the Stepstones followed, Mace Tyrell could proudly proclaim: "Prince Rhaegar and I achieved this great victory together."
Rhaegar considered it carefully. Mace—this "inflated pufferfish"—though lacking talent, was simple-minded and obedient. Moreover, his participation could draw capable men from the Reach, especially the Redwynes.
Rhaegar personally penned a polite and sincere reply, expressing gratitude to Lord Mace Tyrell and House Tyrell. He revealed nothing of his deeper plans for the Stepstones, nor did he outright refuse the offer. This scheme clearly did not originate from Mace himself, but from the counsel of his household.
When the small dragons' training was complete, Rhaegar would act at the proper moment. Should war fully erupt, House Tyrell and the Redwyne Fleet would indeed be useful.
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