Chapter 125: Fragments of Water Magic
"You have better options, Lord Gaelin. You have money and support so many orphans; House Martell won't fail to understand your value." Rhaegar looked at Gaelin, pointing out the crux of the matter. This was also a test; he needed absolutely loyal and dedicated allies.
Rhaegar somewhat understood what Gaelin was thinking. The Orphans of the Greenblood missed the Rhoyne, and Gaelin and his group were the most radical faction among them. They wanted to leave Dorne, return to the Rhoyne, and reestablish their kingdom. The entire plan was extraordinarily grand, perilous, and difficult. Traveling thousands of miles to revive a nation on the Rhoyne now was indeed too challenging.
"The orphans will never trust House Martell; they are the descendants of Nymeria of the Rhoynar. Nymeria was a hero, but also a traitor. She betrayed the Mother Rhoyne, and since then, Dorne has never looked back. On the day Nymeria married Mors Martell, she burned all the ships, and the orphans wept until their tears ran dry. Nymeria was here to seize her crown, and she wouldn't care about the feelings of us orphans. More importantly, by burning the ships, she eliminated the large vessels, cutting off our hope and possibility of returning to the Rhoyne." Gaelin suddenly became emotional, his face flushed.
Nymeria was a hero to most of her people and a perfect partner for House Martell, but for these Orphans of the Greenblood, their attitude toward Nymeria was complicated.
Rhaegar looked at Gaelin. What Nymeria did might have been excellent, but the Orphans of the Greenblood could not simply settle down or forget their Mother Rhoyne. Nymeria was protecting them, given the chaos along the Rhoyne, where returning would likely mean death. However, the orphans genuinely disliked the dry red land and the Faith of the Seven, and they insisted on maintaining their old way of life. They hammered the burnt hulls into small boats.
"Of course, Prince, that is a historical factor, at best only one part of the equation. More importantly, there is reality. Dorne's red land has a harsh climate and sparse population. Dorne lacks naval power and cannot develop large city-states like the cities of the Three Daughters. House Martell and Dorne can only rely on guerrilla warfare and raids for self-preservation. After years of effort, House Martell has only incurred the hatred of the Stormlands and the Reach, without substantially expanding their territory. Our confidence in them has long since faded with time," Gaelin explained again. The factors of reality were undoubtedly the most crucial.
Rhaegar pondered and realized he was right. House Martell was poor and obstinate, and coupled with their unique customs and lifestyle, northern Dornish culture was viewed as barbaric and unsociable by other kingdoms. Dorne relied on its harsh climate to conduct guerrilla warfare and scorched-earth tactics. Most frighteningly, they lacked a strong navy, and the Dornish truly had little future. Originally, relying on their proximity to the sea, Dorne had great potential to nurture large maritime cities.
"How many troops can your Greenblood Restoration Army raise now?" Rhaegar looked at Gaelin, asking the core question.
"To be honest, if we were to return to the Rhoyne to found a nation, we wouldn't find many people. But I guarantee that everyone we find will be loyal and reliable." Gaelin looked a little embarrassed. Although he had boasted loudly, there really weren't many orphans willing to contribute to the great cause of return. Years of living along the Greenblood meant the faith in returning home had slowly faded.
"A thousand yes-men are not worth one honest critic. A thousand longswords are not worth one Valyrian steel sword. Though there aren't many friends who embrace the dream of restoration, they are all loyal and brave, united by a single goal. And Prince, you know that orphans are always very united, and they are excellent sailors, spies, and warriors. Even if most Orphans of the Greenblood are unwilling to return to the Rhoyne to settle, they are happy to help me. The Orphans of the Greenblood are well-informed, possess excellent medical skills, and are the best midwives in Westeros. We can first sponsor the Prince's great enterprise, and only later advance the matter of returning to the Rhoyne," Gaelin immediately added.
"You are truly a shrewd orator; you've almost swayed me. But I want to ask you, why choose me as your partner?" Rhaegar asked, determination blazing in his purple eyes.
"You are the variable, Prince Rhaegar. It was you who reawakened the dragons; you are the star born of destiny, and this era is yours to command. Just like your ancestor, Aegon the Conqueror, he too was a star who changed history and the fate of countless people. I have been watching you since you awakened the magic dragon. Your rise has exceeded my imagination, and your character is not cruel; instead, you are just and compassionate, bearing the mark of a great monarch. Only by following your footsteps do we have a chance of success. Prince, you are about to become the Protector of the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones. The cities of the Three Daughters will not let this go easily; the Lyseni and Myrish will return, their hearts filled with war. Victorious Prince, your wars have changed the situation on two continents, giving us the possibility to return to the Rhoyne under your protection and pay homage." Gaelin's analysis was articulate and well reasoned; he clearly had some skill.
"Lord Gaelin, there is one thing I must remind you of. The Rhoyne today is no longer the Rhoyne you remember. The beautiful festival city of Chroyane, whose streets were once waterways and whose houses were made of gold, and the tall and magnificent Palace of Love, which witnessed the happy marriages of countless couples—is now shrouded in mist, with stone men infected with greyscale wandering everywhere. The other beautiful cities of the Rhoynar are now ruins. On the river, besides thieves, there are stone men, the Shrouded Lord, and greyscale." Rhaegar could not help but warn him kindly. The Rhoyne in the memory of the Orphans of the Greenblood was naturally beautiful in every way, but according to those who returned from the Rhoyne, it was now in utter chaos. Rhaegar felt that Gaelin and his group had applied too many filters to the Rhoyne; the current situation there was terrible, and returning might lead to great disappointment.
"Returning to the Rhoyne is indeed too dangerous. Not to mention financial resources, without a powerful army we wouldn't dare go back. We can only attach ourselves to a strong power as allies." A trace of sadness appeared in Gaelin's eyes.
"A wanderer yearns for home, and a stray orphan misses their mother. Even if the road ahead is dangerous, if I can return to the embrace of the Rhoyne, I will die without regrets." Gaelin replied resolutely, and Rhaegar stopped trying to persuade him. Gaelin's words were enough to show the depth of his longing.
Rhaegar thought for a moment. Gaelin was already aware of the dangers ahead, so cooperation was feasible. Partnering with Gaelin meant gaining the friendship of the Orphans of the Greenblood, making them a piece on his board in Dorne, while also providing him with manpower and resources.
"Let us strive for our common great cause!" Rhaegar said.
"May our friendship be celebrated with a dance!" Gaelin replied. "I have prepared a gift for my meeting with the Prince."
"Oh really?" Rhaegar looked at Gaelin with interest, wanting to see what treasure it was.
"Dorne is poor and harsh; the Prince would likely not think much of ordinary gifts. These are fragments of burnt ship planks I have searched for over many years. I hope they might be of some use to the Prince." Gaelin brought out several fragments of burnt black hull, upon which indistinct runic traces were carved.
"I have searched for these things for a long time. Most of the water mages back then died fighting on the Rhoyne alongside Prince Garin the Great. Few water mages followed Nymeria in her escape; they only had a rudimentary understanding of water magic, and now they have all perished, leaving only these fragments." Gaelin said. The Rhoynar were in such a dire state back then because of the three hundred dragonlords and their dragons; all their cities were destroyed, and most of their mages died in battle.
Rhaegar realized that the Rhoynar flight was similar to House Targaryen's exile: both lost their core knowledge. The Rhoynar lost water magic and their fleets, while House Targaryen lost even more. Fortunately, House Targaryen still possessed a few dragons.
"This is a generous gift." Rhaegar was delighted. Gaelin was indeed an honest man, and Rhaegar accepted this great gift without reserve. Runes were worthless to those who didn't understand them, but to Rhaegar, they were priceless.
Water magic required many specific conditions for casting. The Rhoynar relied on the great river for their spells, making it far less flexible than fire magic. But magic was magic—what else mattered? If he could truly research even a fraction of it and use the sea as a source, then even if the Titan of Braavos came, he would not be afraid.
"There is another gift, Prince. We have an insider within House Yronwood, allowing us to monitor their every move."
"House Yronwood?" Rhaegar repeated the name. They were the most powerful vassals under House Martell. This family was also rebellious; House Yronwood had joined the Blackfyre side three times during the Blackfyre Rebellions. They likely maintained intricate connections with the Blackfyre remnants. This family wasn't opposed to peace; they simply wanted to overthrow House Martell and establish independence. Rhaegar wondered why they hadn't been dealt with harshly back then, as King Daeron II and Brynden Rivers, called Bloodraven, had been quite severe. Perhaps it was because the family was geographically remote, and House Martell lacked the full strength to purge them.
"You did well. Although the Black Dragon is dead, the Golden Company still exists." Rhaegar looked at Gaelin. He did not actually believe that the Blackfyre line was completely extinct; even if the males were gone, there might still be female descendants. Especially since the Golden Company—the main base of the Blackfyre remnants—still existed, it remained a threat to the Iron Throne.
"Please rest assured, Prince, I will always be loyal to you."
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