After a long time, the fire in the port of Casromè was extinguished.
A hundred-meter-wide Piramid made of human heads stood majestically on the edge of the port.
The hideous heads stared in every direction.
In the days that followed, someone would always hear faint screams and wails.
It was compiled by the bard as a legend of the dead pirates.
"Hiss—"
A bronze dragon raised its head and roared, soaring across the Gulf of Pentos towards the other side of the gorge.
A silver-gray dragon flew beside it.
On the sea below, a fleet with flags of various colors transported the army of the Vale.
It was mighty and headed straight for Seagull Town.
Aemon had not slept all night, and he dozed on the dragon saddle.
The pirates of the Three Women's Kingdom were pacified.
Those who disrespected him will also pay the price of blood and fire.
Boom—
Suddenly, a faint sound of breaking wind came from the bay behind him.
Aemon's ears moved slightly, and he looked for the sound.
Sea smoke was smaller in size and hovered over the ruins.
Laenor was nowhere to be seen. He was probably cleaning up the battlefield with his father.
Where did the strange noise come from?
Aemon's mind turned, and his eyes fell on the prosperous city of Pentos.
...
Pentos.
The prince's palace, the back garden.
"Hiss... Gah..."
A sharp and penetrating hiss sounded, accompanied by the muffled sound of a giant falling to the ground.
Prince Reggio, who was pot-bellied, rushed over after hearing the sound, and his body froze in place.
The wedding was over, and the war was won.
The joy that could not be hidden was directly shattered by the scarlet giant in front of him.
"Don't be afraid, I have no ill intentions."
A voice was magnetic, with a hint of arrogance.
Boom—
Caraxes' vertical pupils were sharp, and his snake-like body was slightly lowered, revealing the tall figure on his back.
Daemon looked calm and stepped on the dark red wing membrane.
In Prince Reggio's eyes, it was another scene.
Silver-gold short hair was combed back, strong waist was straight, and his left hand gently stroked the family sword "Dark Sister".
As soon as he appeared, he seemed to be the center of the world.
The carefully laid out gardens and the palaces with carved beams and painted rafters all became insignificant background boards.
"Hiss... Ga..."
Caraxes roared around, raising his slender neck to cover the rider's head.
The crossbows that were secretly peeking were all blocked by his huge body.
Daemon was calm and did not issue a single order from beginning to end.
"Prince Daemon."
Reggio laughed dryly. "What brings you here?"
How could the "King of the Narrow Sea" who ruled the Stepstones for several years not recognize him?
"Talk about compensation."
Daemon said lightly.
Reggio was confused. "As far as I know, I have never traded with you?"
He owed the other party's son the spoils of war, and would discuss it with the Sea Snake afterwards.
But what right did the other party have to ask for debts?
"This battle was fought well, right?"
Daemon said.
"Of course."
Reggio smiled apologetically.
"You know, I had to fight like this every once in a while in the past few years."
Daemon's eyes were sharp, and he said, "Someone enjoyed my protection, and now it's time to pay back the debt."
These guys who bypassed him and started a war privately.
They are all targets for debt collection.
"But..."
Reggio was shocked. He never expected this.
"Hiss... Ga..."
Caraxes screamed, and his wide wings flapped, rising from the ground like a snake.
Prince Reggio closed his mouth.
Daemon's lips curled up, and his hands crossed over his chest.
The land of the Stepstones cannot be taken.
We have to start with the Free Cities.
...
Three days later.
Vale, River Valley Town.
Inside the first white wall, there are tents of tens of thousands of troops stationed in a circle.
Colorful flags fluttered, all facing the highest and largest two-pointed flag.
The Battle of Pentos was victorious.
His Royal Highness waved his hand, and the army entered River Valley Town and held a celebration ceremony for seven days and seven nights.
All the troops poured in, with a total number of more than 15,000.
More than the natives of Riverdale and the mountain clans combined.
Lonely Mountain, at the foot of the mountain.
"Roar—"
A huge creature crawled on the ground, its sparsely crowned dragon head resting on the rock, quite lazy and old.
"Miss Laena, I still can't find His Royal Highness."
Eric stood in the distance.
Laena stood beside the old dragon, pushing a few sheep. "Is the army short of people?"
Both of them were invited.
Halfway through the celebration, Aemon disappeared.
Eric heard it and said, "Ser Gunthor and Ser Gerold are missing, and the eight hundred Vale knights from Runestone City went out with them."
At first, it was thought that Runestone City had temporarily recalled them.
"Then there is no need to look for them."
Laena looked at the dragon's nest halfway up the Lonely Mountain and whispered, "They will come back by themselves."
...
Riverdale held a celebration, and the good news spread from Seagull Town to the Vale.
On this day, the Waywood family sent out invitations.
Old Red's eldest grandson married the daughter of a wealthy knight and was going to hold a grand wedding.
Invited all the nobles in the Vale, hoping to have a lively party.
However, very few people accepted the invitation.
Nightfall.
Ironoaks, the rudder hall.
The castle was brightly lit and the hall was crowded.
The melodious sound of the harp was accompanied by a series of laughter.
Old Red attended in a formal dress and sat in the main seat.
He had no expression and looked at the people present with his eyebrows downcast.
There were more than a dozen of his sons, seven or eight daughters and sons-in-law, and even more grandchildren...
Counting the miscellaneous relatives, the people with the surname Waywood alone filled most of the hall.
Fortunately, there was lime and honeycomb coal.
The hall was renovated and the fireplace lit a warm flame.
"Who is coming?"
Old Red turned his head to inquire.
His eldest son was laughing foolishly and replied, "Our whole family is here."
"Idiot, I mean the nobles on the invitation!"
Old Red couldn't help getting angry.
His name day was in the middle of last month, and he chose to stay in.
He thought he could keep things quiet.
Until a few days ago, he heard that the young Targaryen won the Battle of Pentos and cruelly piled the pirates' heads into a pyramid
Since then, he knew that hiding was useless. He must win over the nobles of the Vale who also rejected Targaryen and form an alliance to protect himself.
His eldest son shrank his neck. "No, except for a few secondary nobles, the prestigious nobles all said they were busy."
After a pause, he smiled and said: "But they all sent gifts. It seems they still remember the glory of the Waywood family."
Old Red slapped his forehead and closed his eyes in pain.
No one was willing to form an alliance with the Waywood family.
Seagull Town and Ironoaks had successively rejected the young Targaryen boy, which made him lose face.
After Runestone City summoned the army, Seagull Town opened the city to let them pass, and the Graveson family was as obedient as a dog.
The next target must be Ironoaks.
The nobles of the Vale had reached a consensus.
Ironoaks would welcome the revenge of the other side with triumphant momentum.
"What will he do?"
Old Red's mind was in a mess, imagining the changes that would happen next.
Ironoaks was strong, and the family bloodline was prosperous.
No matter what, it would not be destroyed in the storm.
Suddenly, the sound of the harp changed.
Old Red shuddered and subconsciously looked up.
"The bride is here."
The door opened, and a freckled girl in a wedding dress slowly entered the room holding her father's hand.
It turned out to be the testimony stage of the wedding, and the sound of the piano became gentle as water.
Old Red's tense body relaxed and patiently watched the wedding ceremony of his eldest grandson.
There was nothing special.
He had been married more times than anyone else present.
If there was anything that could really attract attention, it would be that the bride's butt was very round.
"Hehe."
Old Red smiled and drank, and his big hand touched the young lady.
The bloodline of the Waywood family was prosperous, and thinking too much was just groundless worry.
After the wedding testimony was finished, it was the turn of the wedding prank stage.
The men carried the bride and said they would carry her to the wedding room to take off her skirt.
The women grabbed the groom and untied his belt on the spot.
There were not only people from the Waywood family in the hall, but also many merchants from the Vale of Arryn.
Seeing this scene, they all cheered and shouted.
Old Red was used to it, but he couldn't help laughing.
The whole family was reunited, and three generations lived under the same roof.
I don't know how many people envied it.
"Lord Red, we have prepared gifts for this wedding."
A merchant stood up with a wine glass in his hand.
Old Red was very interested and said pretentiously: "I like gifts, take them out and have a look."
The merchant waved his hand, and more than a dozen people carried a huge object covered with red cloth into the door.
"It's so big."
The bride was lifted into the air, and she attached great importance to the wedding gift.
The wedding pranks were not over yet, and two groups of men and women continued to carry the newlyweds out of the door.
Boom!
The huge object fell to the ground, and the bluestone floor shook up dust.
Old Red stretched his neck and said anxiously: "Open it and have a look."
The merchant pulled open the red cloth.
A two-meter bronze bell appeared in everyone's sight.
The texture of the bronze bell was rough, and it was rushed at first glance.
But the packaging was very delicate.
It was decorated with black roses and tied into garlands and put on the bell.
"Send a bell?"
Old Red frowned, not understanding the deep meaning.
"Yes, this is a noble person in River Valley Town who asked me to send it."
The merchant smiled and retreated behind the bronze bell.
At this moment.
The sound of the piano changed, from the tenderness of the wedding to a kind of oppressive dullness.
The tune was familiar.
The cellist closed his eyes and slowly played "The Rainy Season of Caslome".
Old Red was stunned for a moment, and a frightening thought popped into his mind.
"No!"
This is not music, it is clearly a soul-stirring song.
Boom!
The door slammed shut, blocking the way out.
On the second floor compartment.
Some merchants and servants took out crossbows and shot at the crowd below.
"Ah!"
"…"
The members of the Waywood family had no time to dodge, and most of them fell to the ground after being shot.
Many people didn't understand until they died.
It was a peaceful and peaceful wedding just now, why was it suddenly full of murderous intentions.
"Someone rebelled!"
Old Red's eldest son was shocked and gathered several brothers to resist.
One of them picked up the table to block the arrows.
But soon, white foam came out of the corners of their mouths, and they fell to the ground with convulsions.
Not only the crossbowmen, but also poisoned in advance.
For a time, the guests in the hall became fish on the chopping board.
Screams and cries interweave, forming a sharp contrast with the indifferent executioner.
Clang!
Old Red's face turned pale, and the wine glass in his hand fell.
Two figures rushed up the steps, with daggers against his and the young lady's throats.
Old Red did not dare to resist, and kept swallowing saliva.
Seeing the tragic situation of his children and grandchildren poisoned by the wine, he was trembling all over.
"Don't worry, your wine is not poisonous."
It was the same merchant who whispered in the old man's ear.
"Why?"
Old Red's eyes were hesitant, and he was really at a loss.
Everything happened too fast, so he still couldn't accept it.
The merchant explained: "You died of poisoning first, how could you witness the scene of your own extinction."
Old Red trembled with fear and immediately realized who was responsible for such a cruel method.
"Don't kill me…"
The young lady was terrified and begged for mercy.
In a cup of tea, the hall was full of corpses.
The two merchants looked at each other, and the latter slashed the young lady's neck with a knife.
The noise disappeared.
Old Red was indifferent.
Watching his children and grandchildren die in front of his eyes, his face turned ashen.
The merchant leaned close to his ear and spoke quickly: "Prince Aemon sends you sincere greetings."
After that, he cut his throat with a dagger.
"Uh…"
Old Red's eyes were bloodshot and a lot of blood spurted out of his throat.
The old body twisted and struggled, rolling down the steps from the high platform, leaving a bloody trail.
Finally, he died with his eyes open.
The two merchants looked at each other, cut off Old Red's head, wrapped it in cloth and took it away.
The sound of the cello stopped.
The assassins dressed as merchants and servants tore off their disguises, moved out the kerosene barrels prepared in advance, and sprinkled them all over Iron Oak City.
The moon was dark and windy, and a single moon hung high.
By the huge lake.
A white deer with hair like white silk lowered its head to drink water, and the lake reflected the raging fire.
Aemon looked up at the sky, and two huge figures danced under the moon.
"Prince."
Gunthor rode forward.
In the woods behind, all eight hundred knights of the Vale were on standby.
Aemon waved his hand.
The plan was implemented perfectly, and there was no need for a backup plan.
Soon, dozens of assassins arrived.
Some carried Old Red's head, and some held down a newlywed couple.
"Leave the head as a souvenir."
Aemon glanced at it lightly and ruled: "The Waywood family will be extinct, and the women will be sent to Oldtown to be silent sisters."
Puff!
Gunthor drew his heavy sword and chopped off the groom's head.
He didn't let the bride go either, and opened her mouth and pulled out her tongue.
With a scream, she fainted.
The assassins retreated one by one, each of them took out a black rose from their arms and placed it on the heads of the two Waywoods.
On their chests, they wore a "graceful black swan" emblem.
Boom!
Under the fire, the tower of Iron Oak City collapsed.
All descendants were exterminated, and the Waywood family was completely withered.
Aemon thought it was not enough, and pointed to the Black Rose grave by the lake, saying lightly: "Iron Oak City is gone, and this lake will be called Black Swan Lake in the future, and a Black Rose Hall will be built by the lake."
Gunthor remained silent.
"You will be the lord of the Black Rose Hall, and an independent Royce family of the Black Rose Hall will be established."
Aemon said lightly.
Gunthor looked up suddenly, in disbelief.
"The materials will be transferred from Riverdale Town, and the construction will begin after the fire is extinguished."
Aemon pulled the reins and turned the white deer in the direction.
Plop!
Gunthor turned over and got off the horse, kneeling on one knee on the ground.
"I swear to you…"
He solemnly swore to be loyal to the Targaryen family of Riverdale Town for generations.
"I accept it."
Aemon returned the oath and drew out the family sword "Lament" to perform the ceremony.
After that, he calmly led his troops away.
After tonight, there will be no more Waywood family.
The method is not brilliant, but it is practical.
He is sending a signal to the nobles of the valley.
With a dragon under his crotch, he can win the Battle of Pentos.
Even without a dragon, he can still burn down a thousand-year-old castle.
I hope that the next time someone hears "The Rainy Season of Caslomer", they will remember the fate of the Waywood family.
---------------
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