The Kingsroad still bore the scars of war. Cole rode, his silver hair heavy and wet, rain streaming down his face and dripping onto the black and gold leather of his collar. The southern rain was beginning to feel like winter's chill; though soft, the gloomy sky and cold wind brought a sense of dread.
"Ser, should we take a break?" Jose asked, riding beside him. Duran, still recovering from a serious injury, was with Dorne's group. The biting rain soaked their clothes, making them deeply uncomfortable. They had passed several villages and an inn, but Cole had not called for a rest. He rode on, silent and urgent, and they could only follow.
"Hold on," Cole finally said. "We'll reach the Royal Forest soon. We'll rest there."
They watched as another inn vanished behind them. The Kingsroad was bustling with people: families fleeing, hired riders and wandering knights, and caravans coming and going. They saw fully armed columns of riders gallop past, and everyone cleared the way for them. The horses' hooves churned up the mud. There were only ten of them on this journey.
When they left King's Landing, King Tommen and a group of nobles had personally escorted them out of the King's Gate, bestowing gifts upon Cole as a guest. Dorne was staying in King's Landing for a few more days, so Cole had entrusted the servants and wounded from Dragonstone to his uncle, Prince Oberyn Martell.
Then, with just ten riders, he had set out swiftly for Storm's End. The reason he refused to stop was his concern that the Lannisters might have "special gifts" prepared for him.
The Royal Forest was now in sight, and rainy night was fast approaching. It was difficult to find people in the Royal Forest. While many smallfolk lived there, the migrations of mountain clans and the ongoing war meant many had either hidden deep in the less-traveled parts of the forest or had already left. Still, finding any shelter, even an abandoned one, would offer them some relief.
They turned off the Kingsroad onto the path leading directly to Storm's End. This road was far more challenging. The muddy ground was treacherous in the rain, and the Wend River had many tributaries here. They had to ford numerous streams. If the water level rose, they would even have to detour.
Cole reined in his horse. "Stop," he told his men. "We'll rest here tonight."
They had found an abandoned camp, likely set up by Renly's army during their march. Using the old wooden boards and frames, they managed to construct a makeshift shelter and then lit a fire.
"Westor, Aggie," Cole called out five names, "You five will take the first watch. We'll handle the second half of the night."
Cole hugged Winter Night, his sword, and closed his eyes in thought.
Dragonstone and the Golden Company
Caesar had shown him a vision of Dragonstone, now occupied by the Golden Company, their golden banner flying above the castle. At first, Cole had thought it was an attack by the Ironborn or Dothraki, but he remembered that the Greyjoy sigil was a kraken. When he arrived in King's Landing, he had specifically asked Tyrion Lannister and Prince Oberyn. It was then he learned that the army attacking Dragonstone was indeed the Golden Company.
When Prince Oberyn, the Red Viper, was young, he had been a mercenary for a time in Essos, even joining a group called the Second Sons. After leaving them, he had also founded his own mercenary company. He knew well the most famous mercenary groups across the Narrow Sea. Cole didn't know who had hired the Golden Company, or if remnants of the Blackfyres were trying to exploit the chaos.
Regardless, he, Cole Julius, owed the Baratheon family a life debt. He had to act, no matter what his future identity might be. Caesar's clear view of Dragonstone allowed Cole to formulate a rescue plan. He ordered Camillo, who was stationed at Storm's End, to lead his army swiftly to Dragonstone. Simultaneously, ravens were sent with the rescue message to the castle. With the white dragon coordinating from the sky, both sides could quickly track each other's movements.
After Camillo's fleet entered Dragonstone's waters, Caesar dropped a map into the castle, marking the weakest point in the Golden Company's defenses for the castle's occupants to break out. Afterward, the white dragon himself appeared, harassing the east coast where the Golden Company's troops were most concentrated.
This was his entire plan, and fortunately, everything was going as expected. However, he knew news of the white dragon would soon spread. Caesar had the ability to fight independently and didn't need knights at all. Cole would naturally not reveal his connection to him. As for what others might speculate, he would let them guess.
Losing Dragonstone was not entirely a bad thing for them. At least their defensive focus could now shift to Storm's End and the Stormlands.
A Choice to Make
The only truly difficult issue at the moment was Stannis and his problem. From a family perspective, he and Stannis were enemies because Stannis and his brother had seized the Targaryen throne in the War of the Usurper, although Cole had only fought in the siege of Storm's End and against the soldiers from the Reach.
Cole had a choice to make about his identity:
Be Cole Julius, continue to be loyal to Stannis, help him seize the throne, and then marry his daughter, Shireen Baratheon. As long as Stannis did not produce a male heir, Cole would eventually sit on the Iron Throne. Or betray Stannis, seize control of Storm's End, present himself as Aegon Targaryen, and then seize the Iron Throne with the help of dragons and Dorne.
Enemies, benefactors. He fell into deep thought. He had never even met his so-called mother and father. Many of the bloody events were just troubles caused by his blood father, Rhaegar.
Although minstrels liked to praise Prince Rhaegar's romance and bravery, Cole did not truly believe his blood father was an honorable man.
At the very least, Cole felt it was disgraceful to abandon one's wife and children. Perhaps he, an orphan who grew up on the Wall, could not understand the melancholy dragon prince.
He could decisively swing his sword against the Targaryen family's enemies, like when he killed the Mountain; that made him feel good. But facing the Baratheons of Dragonstone, he could not see them as his enemies.
Perhaps initially, he had integrated into this solemn group with a negative outlook. But before he knew it, this place had become the longest he had stayed anywhere in Westeros apart from the Wall, even though he was still constantly moving.
Stannis was indeed not suited to be a king, but he had never wronged Cole.