Tyrosh.
Near the castle, in a luxurious villa.
The long table was laden with roast suckling pig, honeyed ham, fresh fruit, and wine. More than a dozen people sat around the table, clinking glasses and laughing without pause. Today was the regular gathering of Tyrosh's defenders—the commanders and officers of the Velaryon garrison, as well as Hugh Hammer and his officers of the Targaryen bastard guard. All were gathered together.
"Come, drink more!"
The commander of the Velaryon garrison, Ser Simon Velaryon, raised his glass and drained it in one go. He was a middle-aged man of about fifty, with neatly combed silver hair and blue eyes shining with shrewdness and sophistication. He was a distant kinsman of Corlys, a noble of a branch line from High Tide, not a key figure in House Velaryon. But due to his steady work, Lord Corlys had ordered him to lead the five hundred Velaryon troops remaining in Tyrosh.
"Ser Simon is a good drinker!" Hugh Hammer smiled and raised his wine glass. "Come, come, let me toast you again!"
Simon looked at him; a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips, but there was condescension in that smile. He drank the wine, set down his glass, leaned back in his chair, and spoke in a lazy tone.
"Hugh, do you know how many troops Tyrosh has now?"
Hugh quickly showed deference.
"Please enlighten me, ser."
"Four thousand men," Simon held up four fingers. "Up to four thousand Tyroshi strongmen capable of fighting. Plus two thousand mercenaries from across the Narrow Sea. That's six thousand men and horses ready to fight for Queen Rhaenyra."
He paused, glanced at the others at the table, his gaze lingering on the faces of the bastards, then looked away.
"With these five thousand men, plus the Velaryon fleet, Tyrosh is impregnable. When the order comes from Dragonstone, our army will set sail for Dragonstone and plan the counterattack."
"The ser is right," Hugh nodded repeatedly. "Queen Rhaenyra is the rightful ruler. It is our blessing that we humble men have the opportunity to serve the queen."
Simon glanced at him; a flicker of imperceptible contempt passed through his eyes.
These bastards. Relying on Prince Lucerys's promotion, they crawled out of the mud and put on silk and satin—do they think they're real figures? Hugh Hammer, a blacksmith turned wildling, with the blood of some unknown bitch in his veins, deserves to sit and drink with him?
He thought this in his heart, but did not show it on his face. After all, Hugh was Prince Lucerys's man, and he still needed to show the appropriate face.
"Hugh," he asked slowly, "how is your training progressing?"
Hugh replied with a smile. "Thanks to the ser's concern, we have intensified our training. The prince explained that this guard must be forged into an iron army."
"Hmph," Simon nodded. "Do good work. The prince values you. Do not disappoint His Highness."
"Yes, yes," Hugh's face was full of smiles, but in his heart he sneered contemptuously.
Value? What use is value? Can it be eaten as food? Can value make him ride a dragon? Can value place him on the Iron Throne?
He had been a bastard blacksmith for twenty years and had seen the scenery of those highborns. He wanted to succeed someday. Lucerys had given him knighthood and a commander's position, and he was grateful for that. But gratitude could not be eaten. He wanted more. He wanted dragons. He wanted power. He wanted status.
He was a son of the late King Jaehaerys—why could he not contend for it?
Simon raised his glass again and was about to speak when Hugh suddenly opened his mouth to report.
"Ser, I have something to tell you."
"Oh? What is it?"
Hugh gestured.
The door of the banquet hall opened, and two soldiers of the bastard guard escorted a man inside. The man was about forty years old, in a grey robe, his silver hair disheveled, terror on his face.
"Who is this?" Simon frowned.
Hugh stood, walked to the man, placed a hand on his shoulder, and spoke with a pained expression.
"Ser, this man's name is Ulf. He is from our guard. Last night, he came to me..."
He hesitated, as if unable to speak.
"What did he come to you for?" Simon asked suspiciously.
Hugh sighed. "He advised me to betray Prince Lucerys and Queen Rhaenyra."
The banquet hall was silent for a moment, then erupted.
"What?!" "Betray the queen?!" "That bastard!"
Simon's face darkened. He stared at the man named Ulf, his eyes like knives.
"Speak. What is the meaning of this?"
Ulf trembled and stammered, "Ser, I... I was forced..."
"Forced?" Hugh sneered. "Then tell me, who forced you?"
Ulf lowered his head and said nothing.
Hugh looked at Simon with a serious expression.
"Ser, Ulf told me that the Volantenes bought him. They want Ulf to persuade me to betray the prince together, to take Prince Lucerys hostage, then open the city gates and let the Volantene army into the city."
Simon stood abruptly, speaking in disbelief. "The Volantenes?!"
The Volantenes? Were they not their allies now?
"Yes," Hugh nodded. "Volantis has a conspiracy. They want to take the Targaryen dragons. And to kidnap His Highness Prince Lucerys and the two princesses... letting none of them go."
Hugh turned to Ulf and shouted harshly, "Ulf, speak for yourself!"
Ulf knelt with a thud, bowing like a pestle pounding garlic. "Ser, spare my life! Ser, spare my life! I was forced! The Volantenes gave me money, gave me women, said that if I helped, I would be a nobleman! I was confused for a moment, I..."
"Enough!" Ser Simon roared angrily, his hand already on his sword hilt. "You bastard! Betraying the queen and prince deserves death!"
He drew his sword and was about to cut Ulf down.
"Ser, wait!" Hugh stopped Ser Simon, his hand on his sword. "Ser, this Ulf is indeed damned, but what he said still needs to be verified."
Ser Simon, still hot with rage, glared at Ulf and said, "What still needs to be verified?"
Hugh looked at Ulf, a meaningful glint in his eyes, and spoke.
"Ulf, what did you just say the Volantenes promised you? Say it again, so that the gentlemen may hear clearly."
╔══════════════════════╗
📘 Want more?
Join me on Patreon for bonus chapters
and early access!
🔗 https://www.patreon.com/cw/OverlordD
╚══════════════════════╝