The council hall of Viserys Fort was a newly constructed building of grey-brown stone. Unlike the council chamber in the Red Keep, this one was quite austere.
There were no luxurious Summer Islander wood screens, Myrish carpets, or exquisite tapestries from Norvos, Qohor, or Lys. The floor was covered with simple rush mats.
The only decoration was the black-and-red three-headed dragon banner hanging on the wall, representing the pride of the ancient Dragonlords.
Inside the hall was a long, round-ended wooden table. Viserys sat at the head, surrounded by Ser Roland Lake, Syrio Forel, Bishop Ebony, and the elders of the Andal villages.
Through the window, one could see the soldiers working fervently outside.
Whether repairing the inner and outer walls of Viserys Fort or maintaining and expanding the sept, drill ground, and stables, a large amount of manpower was required.
"These soldiers certainly work with vigor," an Andal elder remarked emotionally. He recalled that many of these men were the young and strong from their villages. It was surprising to see them working so hard even as prisoners-turned-laborers.
"May I ask why, Your Grace?" Bishop Ebony inquired.
"With the right methods, the soldiers naturally make progress quickly," Viserys said mysteriously.
Many lords treated their soldiers' labor as free, whipping them if they didn't work well. Lords wouldn't let soldiers sit idle, but they wouldn't pay them either.
However, the laborers Viserys arranged were paid. This positive feedback naturally gave the soldiers a different feeling.
Rewards were a form of positive reinforcement; used well, they could better ignite the soldiers' passion.
As for the payment, Viserys gave a portion in advance. The rest would be paid upon the castle's completion.
Besides Viserys Fort, a small dock needed to be built at the base of Viserys Hill. This also required labor. Currently, the small channels of the Upper Rhoyne only accommodated shallow-draft boats, similar to ironborn longships.
Besides horse transport, Viserys felt he should make good use of the river transport.
"Truly extraordinary," the Andal elders clicked their tongues in wonder.
"Elders of the Andal villages, for the construction of the castle and the revitalization of Andalos, I will establish a Privy Council and invite you all to be my advisors," Viserys said, striking while the iron was hot.
Although these village elders held high status locally, they were essentially just village chiefs with limited horizons.
Hit by the dazzling title of "Privy Council Advisor," they were left dizzied and lost much of their critical thinking ability.
"Can we offer suggestions to the King?" the elders asked boldly.
"Correct," Viserys nodded. "The task is arduous, and I need to rely on the wisdom and experience of all you elders."
This was the result of Viserys's deliberation. To establish a foothold in Andalos, he had to take the route of uniting the Andals.
These local Andal elders were the ones he needed to win over, especially since they usually possessed some skills.
Putting these village elders on the Small Council would be overkill; Viserys's future Small Council would be reserved for powerful lords or loyal, shrewd supporters. However, these Andal elders could be placed in a consultative body.
Such Regency Councils, Advisory Councils, or Great Councils were not uncommon in Westerosi history, though unlike the Small Council, they weren't permanent institutions.
This council was meant to unite the strength of his supporters. Theo Tyrell once formed a council of septons and maesters to counter other houses' coveting of Highgarden.
Looking to the long term, Viserys wanted to establish an advisory body distinct from the Small Council.
Relying solely on the Small Council wouldn't work. He could establish a dual structure with the Small Council above and the Privy Council below. But that was a distant future; he needed to take it step by step.
"It is truly our honor," the Andal elders exchanged glances. Thinking it over, it was all upside; they had no reason to refuse.
However, this meant their villages would be thoroughly tied to Viserys's war chariot.
"Besides that, there is one more thing," Viserys said to the elders. "I need a group of young Andal squires to train as future knights. If your villages have suitable candidates, you may recommend them."
"And the cost of this training?" an Andal elder asked curiously.
Training a knight was expensive. Warhorses cost a fortune, and decent plate or chainmail required selling a lot of fish or apples. Not to mention the master-at-arms' fees and the food these boys would consume during training.
"As long as they become squires of Viserys Fort, these costs will be covered by the Crown," Viserys said. "Correspondingly, the soldiers and taxes of the villages will also be the responsibility of Viserys Fort."
The squires Viserys intended to train would not only be his personal guard but also serve as hostages, welding these Andals firmly to his cause.
"What about the safety of our villages, Your Grace?" an elder asked.
"Naturally, I will be responsible for that as well," Viserys said. "That is why Viserys Fort needs to train squires—to organize a capable force to protect every one of our villages."
In reality, Viserys felt the villages wouldn't retain many people. Once the garrison and squires were at Viserys Fort, the corresponding commerce and services would also shift to the castle. It would become livelier, the center of Andal life.
The elders whispered among themselves. They had few objections to this idea.
Viserys could have simply used force to make them submit. Negotiating so politely was already very gentlemanly. To haggle further would be undignified.
"We have men, Your Grace."
"We of Grey Swan Village will select the finest squires; you will surely be satisfied."
"We of West River Village also agree to your request."
The elders were much more enthusiastic about the request to select knightly squires. In the chaotic lands of Andalos, survival depended on force.
Many elders understood clearly that even if Viserys failed or was defeated by other powers, they would at least gain tangible benefits. Proper knightly training would surely improve the combat effectiveness of their village soldiers.
"Elders, since you all agree to His Grace's proposal, we shall dedicate ourselves to the King's great cause," Bishop Ebony proposed.
"Grey Swan Village swears to the Seven Heavens to become loyal subjects of His Grace Viserys..."
"We of White Swan Village also pledge this oath..."
"...We swear loyalty to His Grace Viserys, to spread His Grace's commands and the gospel of the Seven." The other elders stood up and swore their oaths one by one.
Viserys watched their reactions with great satisfaction.
Establishing the Privy Council and recruiting Andal squires were two moves designed to thoroughly tap into the war potential of the Andal region.
"Your Grace," Bishop Ebony spoke again. "I have also won over several more remote villages for you, but they are frequently raided by Tyroshi slavers and cannot come in person."
"Tyroshi slavers," Viserys muttered the name. Truly the boldest of human traffickers.
"Free men should not be enslaved. This is a trampling of Andal dignity. Andal brothers should unite to destroy these traffickers," Viserys declared.
These Tyroshi were unlucky. Viserys needed to establish his authority and project a good image, making saving these Andal villages mandatory.
It wasn't that Viserys had exceptionally high moral standards, but the Andals and Rhoynar were his future subjects. That was their value.
These slavers, on the other hand, had little value to him and deserved to be struck down with an iron fist.