Chapter 119 — Daemon Is Crowned King
King Jaehaerys the Conciliator sent Maester Meros as his envoy to witness Daemon's coronation. Maester Meros, nearing fifty, with a head of silver hair, wore a grey maester's robe, tall and dignified. Maester Meros was renowned in the Citadel for his medical skills, especially his leech therapy. It was precisely for this reason that Prince Viserys Targaryen, acting as Regent, had summoned him to King's Landing to assist Grand Maester Runciter in caring for the long-ailing King Jaehaerys.
Originally, King Jaehaerys had planned to send a key member of the Small Council to witness Daemon's coronation, but unfortunately, it did not come to fruition.
Grand Maester Runciter needed to personally attend to King Jaehaerys and advise Prince Viserys on the Small Council in King's Landing; Ser Ryam Redwyne, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, needed to personally protect King Jaehaerys; Lyman Beesbury, Master of Coin, was too old for long journeys; Lyonel Strong, Master of Laws, was busy with official duties and could not be absent; and Ser Otto Hightower had always opposed Daemon wearing the crown, naturally disdaining to cross the Narrow Sea to witness Daemon's coronation.
However, Daemon's coronation as King of the Three Daughters also meant he could no longer return to serve on the Small Council in King's Landing. Ser Otto Hightower finally became the official Hand of the King, no longer Daemon's substitute.
Ultimately, Maester Meros became the only suitable candidate. Maester Meros had earned a good reputation in both the Citadel and King's Landing and was considered a strong contender for the next Grand Maester.
In the Golden Hall of Myr's citadel, Daemon, along with Lord Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake; Princess Rhaenys Targaryen; Raven Greyjoy, Wind's Grace; Tomb Wolf; and Constantine, commander of the Dragon's Servants Army, welcomed Maester Meros, King Jaehaerys's special envoy.
The Myrish carpet beneath their feet was engraved with a map of the Three Daughters. Beside it, a Myrish ebony screen depicted battle scenes from the Great Valyrian Empire's war against the Rhoynar Alliance, as well as the grandeur of the Freehold. The lava rivers, military fortresses, dragons, noble Dragonlords, and slaves in the mines on the wooden screen were all vividly rendered.
The exquisite beauty of these artworks even left the well-traveled Maester Meros full of praise.
Maester Meros smiled and said, "Prince Daemon, King Jaehaerys was radiant upon hearing of your conquest of the Three Daughters. He even spoke of hoping to endure his illness and personally welcome your triumphant return when you come back to King's Landing. Prince Viserys had initially hoped to travel to the Three Daughters to witness your coronation ceremony, but as Regent, he bears heavy responsibilities, and thus must remain in King's Landing."
Daemon asked with concern, "Is King Jaehaerys well?"
Maester Meros's lips curved upwards. "King Jaehaerys's health has recently improved. He is very pleased because he sees Princess Rhaenys and Prince Daemon fighting side by side—the descendants of Aemon and Baelon—joining forces to conquer the Three Daughters."
In his later years, King Jaehaerys had successively lost two sons and his beloved Queen Alysanne, and loneliness enveloped his court like a shroud. His health had been very poor for a time. However, Daemon's conquest and Viserys's excellent performance as Regent, along with the reconciliation between House Velaryon and House Targaryen, ultimately greatly uplifted King Jaehaerys's spirits.
Princess Rhaenys, at his side, excitedly said, "Daemon, we should quickly resolve the matters of the Three Daughters, and then immediately return to King's Landing with Gael, Princess Saera, and the children, to fill Grandfather's halls with laughter."
Daemon nodded slightly. "Yes, we must return, but we must present Grandfather with a grand gift. Rhaenys, have you forgotten the gift we planned to offer Grandfather?"
Princess Rhaenys tossed her dark hair and smiled knowingly. "Of course I remember—Dorne."
Previously, Daemon and Princess Rhaenys had agreed that once they conquered the Three Daughters, they would immediately take their dragons and army across the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones, and together with the Stormlands army and the Reach army, besiege Dorne. Once Dorne was conquered, this great feat would be the best gift for King Jaehaerys.
Currently, the Stormlands army and the Reach army had engaged the Dornish army multiple times in the Marches. The Redwyne Fleet, the Ironborn Fleet, and the Royal Fleet had blockaded the Dornish coast. With the Three Daughters conquered by Daemon, Dorne had completely lost its foreign aid, and the time to conquer Dorne was ripe.
Maester Meros said, "I also bring a message from King Jaehaerys. His Grace will continue to send a large army to the Three Daughters to defend the rights and territories of House Targaryen. He hopes that you will seize the opportunity to attack Dorne, but only after consolidating your rule over the Three Daughters."
Daemon said, "Once the coronation ceremony is over, I will immediately take my dragons and army to attack Dorne."
The Dragon's Servants Army and the surrendered Myrish nobles exchanged glances. Constantine cleared his throat. "Father of Dragons, you are the liberator of the slaves. If you leave, those slave masters and governors who fled to Volantis and Pentos will surely return."
The fat Benjador, Master of Glass in Myr, said, "Father of Dragons, you shattered our chains of slavery. Qabac, the Governor of Myr, has fled to Volantis and is recruiting soldiers there. If the slave masters return, we slaves who fought for the dragons will suffer terribly."
Daemon revealed a smile as sharp as a blade. "Do not worry. Since I am King of the Three Daughters, I will naturally look after every one of my subjects. Every freed slave will be under the protection of the dragons and myself."
Constantine was half-convinced. "But Father of Dragons just said you were going to take the army to attack Dorne."
Daemon showed a warm smile. "Of course. I will leave enough troops to protect Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh as well. King Jaehaerys has already agreed that Westeros will continuously send troops to the Three Daughters. Once we conquer Dorne, the Westerosi army will pour into the Three Daughters like a tide. At that time, the tables will turn. Not only will the fleeing slave masters and governors be unable to invade our cities and kingdom, but we might even conquer Volantis, Pentos, the Rhoynar River Valley, and even the Great Grass Sea."
These words finally somewhat reassured the local Myrish nobles and the commanders of the Dragon's Servants Army.
Captain Garmelo of Myr, dressed in a brown-green silk coat, was the elected commander of the Myrish navy. Garmelo said, "Prince Daemon, the messages from various ports recently are more alarming than the last. Rumor has it that Qabac has already sent envoys with large sums of money to the Great Grass Sea to recruit powerful Dothraki khalasars."
Daemon stroked his sword belt and said proudly, "The Dothraki khals should learn their lesson. The last time they fled before the dragons, they should understand one truth: no matter how much a horse frolics, it is still just food for a dragon."
Then Daemon turned to Constantine. "Immediately select Dothraki from the Dragon's Servants Army and the freed slaves. Send them as envoys to the Great Grass Sea, prepare valuable gifts, and invite the Dothraki to come to the Three Daughters to guard our borders."
Constantine showed a brilliant smile. "Father of Dragons, I will not disappoint you."
Having conquered Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh, Daemon had amassed great wealth. Spending a small sum to recruit Dothraki cavalry could perfectly solve the problem of insufficient troops during the campaign in Dorne.
Lord Corlys Velaryon stroked his beard. "Recruiting powerful khalasars—tens of thousands of mounted warriors—will cost a great deal of gold and silver. If the envoys of the exiled governor and our own envoys both find them, the khal will choose whoever offers more."
Daemon nodded. "That is why I do not plan to win over the large tribes . In the Great Grass Sea, tribes fight every day, and every day there are small tribes that are scattered and struggle to survive. Some tribes, including women, old people, and children, only number a few dozen or a hundred. Once these people encounter a large tribe, they will be slaughtered and enslaved. They are the targets we can win over."
The struggling Dothraki small tribes are eager to find a place to settle down. Their children, women, and old people are hungry. Daemon invited them to the Three Daughters, settling them in Dragon's Estate, and it would be easy to form a powerful army.
Princess Rhaenys and Maester Meros looked at Daemon with admiring eyes.
Maester Meros said, "I have studied many books about the Dothraki at the Citadel. Once one tribe defeats another, the captives are driven off and sold to Slaver's Bay or other slave cities.
Prince Daemon, when I arrived in Tyrosh by ship, I heard some news at the port: the three Slaver's Bay cities of Meereen, Qarth, and Astapor seem to be recruiting armies, preparing to help the slave masters of the Three Daughters reclaim Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh."
"Prince Daemon, how do you plan to deal with the threat from the Slaver's Bay cities?"
Qarth cultivates bed slaves, Astapor trains Unsullied, and Meereen is famous for its artisan slaves and gladiators.
These three festering cities thrive by Slaver's Bay, and the Three Daughters are important clients of Slaver's Bay.
Daemon abolished slavery and killed or expelled the slave masters of the Three Daughters, thus Astapor, Meereen, and Qarth all became hostile to Daemon.
Facing the threat of the Dragons, Pentos, Volantis, and Braavos, feeling the immediate danger, immediately called upon all forces to join a grand alliance against Daemon.
Astapor, Meereen, and Qarth all responded, and in the future, mercenary groups or even Unsullied armies recruited by the Slaver's Bay cities might cross the sea to attack Daemon's fledgling kingdom.
Facing the threat from Slaver's Bay, Daemon already had a perfect plan in mind.
He looked at Slaver's Bay on the tapestry map in the Golden Hall. "The Good Masters of Astapor, the Wise Masters of Qarth, and the Great Masters of Meereen, they are following Volantis's lead in opposing me, simply because I abolished slavery and don't buy their Unsullied, bed slaves, and artisan slaves."
"As long as I'm willing to give them business, these Ghiscari slave traders will immediately withdraw from the grand alliance against the Dragons and become our trading partners.
Therefore, I have decided to send envoys to Slaver's Bay to inform the Ghiscari slave masters that I will continue to buy slaves from them."
Myr Captain Gamero, Dragon's Servants Army Commander Constantine, Princess Rhaenys, the Sea Snake, exchanged shocked glances, and Maester Meros also looked incredulous.
Princess Rhaenys said, "Daemon, you're actually going to compromise with slave traders?
The Three Daughters are a vassal state of the Iron Throne, and slavery is illegal in Westeros.
Whether it's our grandfather King Jaehaerys, your brother the Regent, or the High Septon, and the lords and nobles of various regions, they will all oppose the Three Daughters buying slaves."
Constantine dramatically clutched his chest and said, "Father of Dragons, are you buying slaves to restore slavery in the Three Daughters?
If so, we liberated slaves would fall into an abyss, and our hearts would be broken."
Daemon smiled and said, "I am buying slaves from Slaver's Bay to liberate them, not to keep them as slaves.
Slaves bought from Slaver's Bay will become free people under the protection of the Dragons as soon as they set foot on the territory of the Three Daughters."
Rivers, Terra Uller, little Mysaria, Ser Mia Hogg, Mona Darklyn, and others attending beside them.
Nearby attendants Tom Staunton, Tyland Lannister, and Matthew Tyrell looked at Daemon with adoration.
Tyland Lannister exclaimed, "Prince Daemon was originally just a second son with no inheritance rights, yet he built his own kingdom by himself.
He is truly a role model for us noble second sons!"
The tall and strong Mia Hogg, who had long served as Gael's guard, excitedly said, "Prince Daemon is simply the embodiment of a warrior, while Gael is the embodiment of the Mother."
The devout Ser Ronald Florent solemnly corrected, "Ser Mia Hogg, you are mistaken.
Prince Daemon is the embodiment of the Father, and the Father and Mother are a pair."
Subsequently, Qidan Massey, Andy Harver, Wind's Grace Raven Greyjoy, the commanders of the Kingsguard and the Dragon's Servants Army, many noble second sons, Red Priests, priestesses, alchemists, master-at-arms, Princess Saenella's bastards, one by one came forward, knelt before Daemon, and swore allegiance to Daemon.
Daemon's eldest son, Little Aegon, was named Prince of Tyrosh, Little Jaehaerys became Prince of Myr, and Little Baelon became Prince of Lys.
These children were still too young to fully understand what this meant for them.
The rule of the Dragons had begun.
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