Midnight passed, and the mist thickened.
Seagull Town, Port.
Woo—woo—woo!
The warning horn sounded, blaring three times in succession, spreading throughout the entire town.
Grafton Castle.
The castle was brightly lit, with figures moving hastily past the stained glass windows.
"Hurry and prepare! An unknown fleet has been spotted outside Crab Bay! Notify the port to enter the highest state of alert!"
Count Green Grafton, dragging his aging body, issued the command with a look of urgency.
Seagull Town had been ruled by his family for generations, and he would not allow it to fall.
Thud, thud, thud…
Jeyne hurried downstairs, her voice filled with anxiety. "Where is Prince Aegon? Has he returned?"
Her expression was tense. Her chestnut hair was unkempt, and she had hastily thrown on a beige gown.
Old Green shook his head, grumbling in discontent, "That wandering Targaryen has probably slipped into another brothel again."
Aegon's duty was to patrol the upper half of the Narrow Sea daily, keeping an eye on Braavos.
Now, with Aegon missing and an unknown fleet approaching Crab Bay, something had clearly gone wrong.
Jeyne gritted her silver teeth and forced herself to stay calm. "Send urgent letters to King's Landing and Crab Isle. The fleet in Crab Bay is large—if we gather enough forces, we can trap the enemy here!"
Seagull Town was a thriving port city but lacked a substantial standing army.
The first batch of troops she had summoned from the Vale had been sent with Rhaegar to attack Myr, leaving the town poorly defended.
Fortunately, King's Landing and Crab Isle weren't far. With a few thousand men, they could completely blockade the enemy.
"The ravens have been sent."
Old Green hesitated slightly before asking, "Should we send a separate message to the King or Princess Helaena? A dragon could arrive much faster."
Jeyne fell silent for a moment, then shook her head. "No need. The Vale can defend its own land."
Old Green hesitated briefly before quietly stepping back.
He realized he had asked a foolish question.
Among the dragons under Prince Rhaegar's command, only Aegon's Dreamfyre was stationed in Seagull Town.
The King and Princess Helaena were not suited for battle; their role was to protect the lands within the Neck.
The Port.
"Attack! Pillage the town!"
Braavosi mercenary ships stormed into Crab Bay, launching stones from trebuchets to bombard the port's defenses.
Pellmon gripped his single-handed sword, gazing into the deep night, his expression both tense and urgent.
The enemy fleet had moved with astonishing speed, bypassing the barren Five Fingers Peninsula and reaching Crab Bay within hours.
But Seagull Town was neither an unguarded White Harbor nor the weakly defended Three Sisters.
Taking it down would take time.
Crab Bay was too close to Blackwater Bay. He feared encountering the Targaryen dragons.
Boom! Boom!
Over thirty warships launched boulders simultaneously, haphazardly bombarding the area under the cover of darkness.
Woo—woo—woo!
The high-pitched horns of the port blared as a dozen warships surged forward, their banners displaying a burning yellow tower.
On deck, makeshift Vale knights cranked the scorpions, loading steel-tipped bolts.
Scorpions required precision craftsmanship, and the steel needed for the bolts was scarce.
Thankfully, the Grafton family controlled an entire port, allowing them to outfit their ships with such weapons.
"Fire the bolts!"
A young knight, his armor bearing the Grafton sigil, shouted the order, raising his sword to signal the fleet.
His voice carried across the battlefield as a dozen scorpions fired simultaneously, their bolts targeting the approaching enemy ships.
Boom!
The steel lances shot forward, tearing through the wooden hulls and creating gaping holes.
The ships rocked violently. Pellmon barely kept his balance as he roared, "Prepare the scorpions! Fire alongside the trebuchets!"
When it came to wealth, Braavos feared no one.
Near Runestone.
"Hiss—caw—"
Dreamfyre let out a painful screech, struggling to stay airborne as scalding dragon blood dripped from its wounded wing.
A steel bolt had lodged deep into its bones, severely affecting its flight.
Had it not been for the dragon's immense strength, it would have fallen from the sky several times already.
Aegon sat atop Dreamfyre's back, his gaze filled with worry as he glanced at the injured wing. "Hold on, Dreamfyre! Just a little longer—we're almost back to Seagull Town."
The Three Sisters had been attacked.
Essosi mercenaries had ransacked the ports.
Seagull Town was heavily fortified—once they returned, they would be safe.
Fueled by rage, Dreamfyre endured the pain, flapping its wings harder to speed up its flight.
After what felt like an eternity, the white walls of Seagull Town appeared on the horizon.
Aegon's face lit up with joy, and he urged Dreamfyre to descend toward the Seagull Tower.
Boom! Boom!
As they approached, fire and battle engulfed the port. The sounds of clashing weapons and explosions filled the air.
"Hiss—caw—"
Dreamfyre, exhausted, barely managed to maintain its balance as it descended.
Its golden body crashed onto the plaza in front of Seagull Tower, shattering stone slabs and kicking up thick clouds of dust.
Crab Isle, Dock.
The night was dark, but bonfires illuminated the dock, casting flickering shadows.
Several large ships were anchored, with laborers carrying crates of goods onto them.
Earl Bartimos Celtigar watched the scene, a sharp gleam in his eyes.
"Princess, slow down…"
"The Earl has important matters to—"
Amid the commotion of scrambling attendants, Princess Helaena darted toward the docks, her small legs moving swiftly.
Bartimos turned in surprise and bowed respectfully. "Your Highness, what brings you here so late?"
"My lord, prepare the fleet immediately! Seagull Town is under attack!"
Helaena was out of breath, a fine layer of sweat covering her forehead.
She had foreseen the danger—flames consuming a banner with a burning yellow tower.
It was the sigil of House Grafton of Seagull Town.
"Did Seagull Town send word?"
Bartimos's expression turned grave as he looked toward the elderly maester accompanying her.
The maester shook his head.
No message had been received. Baltimore sighed in relief and spoke in a coaxing tone, as if comforting a child.
"Princess, did you have a nightmare?"
"No!"
Helena furrowed her small face and emphasized, "I saw Seagull Town being attacked. Something must have happened there!"
Baltimore's eyes flickered with uncertainty. He glanced discreetly at the large ship loading cargo, then spoke coldly to the guards, "Take the princess back to her room and prepare a cup of hot milk."
"Yes, my lord."
The guards obeyed the order, stepping in front of Helena. One of them spoke in a deep voice, "Princess, please return and rest."
"Move aside! I'm not making things up!"
Helena was growing frantic. Suddenly, she noticed the ship being loaded with goods and loudly questioned, "Baltimore! My brother ordered the Narrow Sea's trade routes to be sealed off, yet you dare to smuggle supplies in secret!"
The Narrow Sea War involved the invasion and conflict between two continents. Rhaegar, fearing treachery, had ordered the blockade of all trade routes.
Until the war ended, all goods from Westeros were confiscated and redirected entirely to the front lines.
As compensation, the royal family would purchase supplies at their original price.
Baltimore's expression darkened as Helena exposed his smuggling operation. He tried to defend himself. "Princess, these supplies are meant for the Stepstones."
Helena widened her eyes, momentarily shedding her usual reserved nature. Furious, she snapped, "Lies! All supplies are managed by Seagull Town and Tidemark Isle. You're clearly smuggling!"
"Princess…"
Baltimore tensed up, trying to argue further.
"Silence!"
Helena interrupted him sternly, her voice urgent. "It's not my place to judge your crimes, but Seagull Town is under attack! You must send reinforcements immediately!"
After years of guidance from Rhaegar, she had learned to trust her instincts.
She recalled her brother's instructions—assisting Seagull Town's defense was her responsibility.
"Screeeeech!"
A deep, resonant dragon cry pierced the night sky. A pale blue dragon descended from the clouds, spreading its massive, snow-white wings as it circled above the dock.
Helena lifted her head, her eyes glistening with distress.
Dreamfyre, a highly perceptive she-dragon, immediately sensed her rider's emotions. She flapped her wings and began a slow descent.
Boom!
The colossal beast landed behind her rider. Her long, slender neck extended as she lowered her head, glaring at Baltimore and his men with a furious roar.
"Screeeeech!!"
A sulfur-scented wind gusted through the air, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Helena turned her head slightly, her silver-gold curls lifting in the breeze. Her white gown billowed fiercely.
Baltimore's heart pounded in chaos. He involuntarily took a step back.
It suddenly dawned on him—he might have forgotten something crucial.
No matter how naïve the girl seemed, she was still a Targaryen.
And wherever she traveled, a fearsome, man-eating dragon accompanied her.
As the dragon's roar faded, Helena tightened the belt around her waist and swiftly climbed onto Dreamfyre's back.
After securing the saddle's chains, the young princess looked down at the nobleman, her gaze unwavering. "Lord Baltimore, if you underestimate a girl, at least wait until she is off her dragon."
She patted the pale blue scales and spoke in High Valyrian. "Dreamfyre, fly!"
"Screeeeech…"
Dreamfyre shifted her massive body, ran forward a few paces, then flapped her wings and soared into the sky.
The pale blue dragon disappeared into the clouds, but Helena's voice echoed faintly in the night air.
"Baltimore, everything you've done tonight—I will report it all to my father and brother."
Below, Baltimore's back grew cold, his aged face twisting in distress.
A strange silence fell over the dock. No one dared to disturb the shaken noble.
After a long moment, a young maester came running from the castle, panting as he shouted, "Lord Baltimore! Urgent news from Seagull Town!"
Seagull Town – The Port
"Lower the battering rams! Crush their ships!"
"Attack! Throw the chains!"
Two fleets clashed in a chaotic battle. The seasoned mercenaries wasted no time—ships rammed into each other as warriors leaped onto enemy decks to fight hand-to-hand.
Under relentless bombardment from siege weapons, many warships suffered severe damage, some on the verge of sinking.
Despite the onslaught, the Seagull Town fleet fought fiercely, determined to defend the port at all costs. They dragged the enemy into a bloody battle in Crab Bay.
Over time, a mercenary ship managed to break through, charging toward the port.
Seagull Town – Watchtower
Jeyne's face was tense as she stared intently at the battle raging in the bay.
"Lady Jeyne, I urge you to retreat. It's safer inside Seagull Town."
The elderly Ser Gryn spoke anxiously, trying to persuade her.
Seagull Tower, once the seat of House Shett, was a mighty fortress, easy to defend and difficult to breach.
Jeyne clenched her fists, gritting her teeth. "The Arryns are not cowards. I will not retreat unless it's the last resort."
She turned to Ser Gerold Royce, who was overseeing the defenses. Her voice was cold. "Lord Royce, we still have five hundred Vale knights. Hold the port at all costs."
Losing the sea battle was one thing. But Seagull Town had to hold.
"As you command, Lady Jeyne."
Gerold took a deep breath, unsheathing his family's ancestral sword, Lamentation.
Leaving the watchtower, he walked past massive bonfires illuminating the night sky.
At the front lines of the port, caltrops were laid out, and several archer towers were positioned strategically to form the first line of defense.
With no room for cavalry maneuvers, the Vale knights dismounted, forming a second defensive line behind the caltrops.
"Hooooooonk!"
A deafening war horn blared, brimming with menace and intimidation.
A mercenary ship entered the port, its deck packed with vicious, battle-hardened raiders.
Gerold's expression was grim. Clad in his family's signature bronze armor, he raised his sword and shouted, "Archers, prepare! Kill the pirates before they land!"
"Attack! Fire the trebuchets!"
The mercenary captain roared, well-versed in the art of raiding ports.
The enemy ships drew closer.
Oil-soaked boulders were loaded into trebuchets, ready to be ignited.
At that moment, the battle for Seagull Town was about to explode into full fury.
"Screeeeech!!…"
Suddenly, a pale blue dragon burst through the night sky.
Its sleek, streamlined body cut through the air like a shooting star, plummeting downward at an astonishing speed.
The moment the dragon appeared, a clear, commanding voice rang out.
"Dracarys!!"
(End of chapter)