Yes!"
The two men, with solemn expressions, knelt on one knee, drew their swords, and swore an oath.
As Crown Prince Rhaegar lay dead and the Targaryen Dynasty faced collapse, King Aerys once again confirmed the succession of power, stabilizing the army's morale.
From this day forward, Viserys Targaryen was no longer just an ordinary prince, but an heir, like the former Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, capable of deploying troops and making decisions for the dynasty!
"Brothers fight tigers together, fathers and sons go to battle together. Let us, father and son, fight one more time!"
Aerys Targaryen's eyes were resolute.
This scene was strikingly similar to the moment he first ascended the iron throne with grand ambitions, yet now the Targaryen Dynasty was riddled with holes in his hands.
Thump, thump, thump... On the Blackwater Bay docks in King's Landing, the Gold Cloaks busily moved supplies from the city. Whether it was priceless treasures, grain, or weapons, the King had ordered everything to be moved back to Dragonstone.
As the rebels approached, the transfer of these war materials deeply disheartened all the nobles who supported the Royal Family.
The news that the Targaryen Family was preparing to abandon the capital, King's Landing, and flee to Dragonstone, all hinted at a huge defeat on the front lines.
Despite this, under the Targaryen Family's nearly three hundred years of high-pressure rule, the Crownlands nobles still faithfully guarded the city walls; not a single one betrayed or fled.
"The army's morale is usable!"
Viserys Targaryen stood on the dock, watching the busy Gold Cloaks with deep emotion.
"Your Highness, it's time to depart!"
Ser Willem Darry, as the The Red Keep's master-at-arms, now stood with his guard protecting Viserys.
"Queen Rhaella, Princess Illyria Martell, Young Aegon, and Princess Rhaenys have all boarded the Royal Navy Fleet warships bound for Dragonstone."
"Good, it's our turn to act!"
Viserys Targaryen's eyes narrowed, and he took a deep breath.
As the last heir of the Targaryen Family, he had, after much persuasion, finally convinced his isolated father to agree to his suggestion.
In truth, anyone with eyes could see that King's Landing could not be held with just the Gold Cloaks!
Even by holding Princess Illyria Martell and her children, the reinforcements from Dorne would not arrive in time.
"Depart!"
...Splash, splash, splash—
Half a day later, he finally boarded the Royal Navy Fleet as he wished.
As the Targaryen Family's last intact naval fleet, the Dragonstone Royal Navy Fleet possessed one of the most powerful naval forces in the world.
Viserys Targaryen steadied his hands and sat quietly on the deck.
Beside him, a dyer was busy with ink, carefully dyeing Viserys's hair.
After leaving Blackwater Bay in King's Landing, they boarded a merchant ship, avoided the House Redwyne navy from the Arbor, and detoured through Shipbreaker Bay, sailing towards the Storm's End harbor.
At this moment, Viserys Targaryen was dressed in the clothes of a smuggled fishmonger, carrying a ship full of onions and salted fish, heading towards Storm's End, which Stannis was defending.
"Your Royal Highness,"
Ser Joffrey, the Royal Navy general from Dragonstone, stood anxiously beside him, whispering a reminder, "We will reach Storm's End by midnight!"
"Mm!"
Viserys Targaryen looked at the magnificent sea before him, took a deep breath, and forced his trembling hands to calm down.
At this moment, the sea and sky merged into one, and the waves crashed against the deck, creating a roaring sound.
But Viserys Targaryen had no time to appreciate it.
If this battle were lost, the fall of King's Landing would be inevitable.
At that time, he would have no choice but to lead his entire family into exile overseas.
Fortunately, Storm's End was tightly besieged by the army from The Reach, so much so that even the mad King Aerys did not believe Viserys would be in danger, which is why he agreed to let him personally command on the front lines.
After all, even the most useless commander was better than that puffed-up fish, Maester Tyrell.
Tens of thousands of troops besieged Storm's End, which was guarded by less than a hundred men, yet they had failed to take it for half a year.
Stannis Baratheon's image as a tough man also shone brightly in this defense.
"Whoosh—"
As the melodious sound of a horn echoed, the Redwyne fleet besieging Storm's End began an orderly shift change.
Under the cover of night, a hazy mist rose over the water outside Storm's End.
Bypassing the Redwyne fleet's patrol, a merchant ship laden with Royal Navy soldiers slipped into Storm's End harbor like a cunning black fish.
"Hey, stop the ship!"
Along with a jolt of the ship, an arrow landed directly beside Viserys Targaryen.
Immediately after, a scout's shout came from the towering city wall.
Everyone immediately rose to attention, drawing their longswords and guarding Viserys.
"Damn it!"
Viserys Targaryen's face darkened, cursing inwardly.
As the most important prince in the entire team, their protection of the prince's safety was naturally an instinctive behavior, but in the eyes of outsiders, everything was full of loopholes!
Who, pray tell, would guard a new cabin boy on a fisherman's boat in the middle?
The sentry on the Storm's End city wall naturally noticed the abnormality.
He frowned and took out a torch, trying to illuminate the water below to see the faces of the approaching people.
Unfortunately, the towering city wall did not give him any chance to see who was coming.
"Why the change of people? Where's that 'Chop-Hand Knight' who brought the onions last time?"
At these words, a burst of laughter erupted from the soldiers on the city wall.
Viserys naturally knew who they were referring to as the Chop-Hand Knight!
Davos Seaworth, a smuggler who came from the alleys of Flea Bottom in King's Landing, would naturally be looked down upon by these noble lords!
However, faced with the onions and salted fish he had painstakingly brought, they had no choice but to put aside their noble dignity, only trying to find some pleasure in verbal jabs.
Even so, Stannis Baratheon still chopped off four knuckles from The Onion Knight's left hand as punishment for smuggling.
Facing the Storm's End soldier's inquiry, Ser Joffrey stepped forward, but was directly interrupted by the sentry on the city wall: "Let the child behind you speak!"
Swish, swish, swish—
Before the words finished, several arrows accurately aimed at Viserys and the others, their sharp, cold glints shimmering.
If Viserys answered even slightly incorrectly, everyone would immediately be shot full of holes.
"Lord Davos Seaworth tried bringing some vegetables and fruits for the first time this trip, but his actions were careless, and he was discovered by House Tyrell's fleet and blocked outside the harbor, so he could only send our small boat ahead!"
Viserys Targaryen shouted back to the city wall.
"Davos Seaworth? First time trying?"
Hearing this, the doubt on the sentry's face gradually eased: "The name and the story match!"
"Hurry and open the gate! There are still a few baskets of fresh oranges hidden on the boat!"
Viserys Targaryen pulled out an orange-yellow orange from his pocket, waved it over his head, and urged loudly.
"Fresh oranges?"
Upon hearing this, the sentries on the city wall widened their eyes, and involuntarily swallowed several times, making "gurgling" sounds.
"Damn it, my mouth tastes like salted fish and onions. I'm practically bored to death!"
"What kind of Onion Knight is he? He should have brought other supplies long ago!"
"Quick, quick, open the city gate!"
..."Clang!"
The portcullis dropped, and the heavy gate of Storm's End finally opened after being besieged for half a year.
Viserys Targaryen looked back and exchanged glances with Ser Joffrey, and excitement appeared on everyone's faces.
If they could just stall for a little longer, once their small boat entered Storm's End and burst open its gates, then the Stormlands would be theirs for the taking!
Suddenly, Viserys Targaryen's expression hardened, and a grave look appeared on his face.
At this moment, a murky small boat, under the cover of night, was riding the wind and waves, approaching the waterway of Storm's End where Viserys was.
Whoosh—
Not only Viserys Targaryen saw it, but the sentries on the city wall also noticed the abnormality.
The alarm horn sounded again, and immediately after, the heavy gate closed again under the gaze of Viserys and the others.
Ser Joffrey's and Viserys's smiles froze on their faces.
"Damn it, the fake Li Kui met the real Li Kui!"