In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
**Stepstones.**
"Shriek—"
A black and a pale silver dragon soared over the sea, gliding as they descended onto Bloodstone Island.
"The prince has returned! Clear the way!"
Upon seeing the massive black dragon, the soldiers quickly stepped back, shouting for the newcomers to stay away.
Dragons were no joke.
They could only be observed from a distance—never approached.
In just a month, Bloodstone Island had undergone a dramatic transformation.
Several towering watchtowers had been constructed along the coastline, constantly scanning the surrounding waters for any signs of movement.
Rows of cheval de frise stakes were planted along the beaches to prevent enemies from landing.
The island's jagged mountains and caves had been thoroughly explored, with strategic high points selected for the construction of stone fortresses.
Camps had sprung up everywhere, with soldiers gathered around fires, methodically cleaning their weapons.
Regar surveyed the military camp, taking in the tense yet disciplined atmosphere. Swiftly, he climbed down from his dragon's back.
"Cousin, let's head to the command tent first," Lannino suggested as he dismounted, smiling.
He liked his cousin—
Of course, not in the way that men sometimes liked each other.
Regar was handsome, of noble birth, and commanded the formidable Devourer.
Yet, despite his status and power, he was remarkably composed and easygoing.
Being around him was relaxing—almost magnetizing.
Regar brushed back his long hair and chuckled. "Alright. Lord Corlys has recovered from his wounds—it's time we devise our counteroffensive against the Kingdom of Three Daughters."
Laughing and chatting, the two walked toward the central command tent.
Since the last battle to defend Bloodstone Island, the Kingdom of Three Daughters had gone quiet.
In the past month, the island's fortifications had been nearly completed.
Fleets from Gulltown, Oldtown, and Greenstone had arrived.
Now, Bloodstone Island was brimming with soldiers, its military strength at an all-time high.
Every day, a dozen patrol ships scoured the waters around the Stepstones.
Regar and Lannino also rode their dragons to survey distant regions.
Occasionally, the Three Daughters sent small groups of pirates to harass them, but they were swiftly dealt with.
The tide had turned—it was the perfect time to launch a counterattack.
As they reached the entrance of the command tent, a group of young soldiers in well-crafted armor stood guard.
"Prince!"
Upon seeing Regar, they immediately saluted.
One dark-haired young man stepped forward and said respectfully, "Prince, Lord Corlys and Tylan are inside."
Regar nodded. "Robb, how are you handling your command?"
Robb's expression turned serious. "The men of the Second Sons are united and ready to fight for you at any moment."
"I look forward to seeing you prove it."
Regar patted his shoulder, then leaned in slightly and whispered with a smile, "I've sent people to bring your sister back to the Red Keep. You can rest easy."
Robb's face lit up with relief and gratitude. "Thank you, my prince."
"You serve me—I won't let you be burdened with worries."
With that, Regar lifted the tent flap and stepped inside.
Robb quickly followed, holding the flap open for Lannino before entering as well.
The **Second Sons** were Regar's personal troops, with Robb as their leader.
As a mid-level officer, Robb had the right to attend war councils.
Inside the tent, there was only a single long table.
At its center sat a sand table, a detailed map of the Stepstones and its surrounding waters.
On opposite sides sat **Lord Corlys Velaryon** and **Tylan Lannister**, both silent.
Sara, acting as a servant, was wiping the table with a cloth.
Though they had noticed the new arrivals, none of them spoke.
Regar and Lannino exchanged glances, each seeing the same exasperation in the other's eyes.
From the moment they had arrived on Bloodstone Island, Corlys and Tylan had been at odds.
And over time, their disagreements had only intensified.
Corlys favored a slow and steady approach—solidifying Bloodstone Island as a stronghold, gradually extending fortifications to Grey Gallows Island.
By securing the two largest islands of the Stepstones, they could establish an impenetrable fortress to resist the Kingdom of Three Daughters' invasions.
Tylan, however, strongly opposed this strategy.
Even securing Bloodstone Island alone had cost a fortune, draining **twenty percent** of the royal treasury.
Adding **Grey Gallows Island** into the equation—along with provisions, supplies, and manpower—would deplete nearly **half** of the treasury's reserves.
And despite such a massive investment, the Three Daughters continued to avoid direct confrontation, leading to a prolonged stalemate.
What Tylan wanted was **victory**—to drive out the Three Daughters, claim military glory, and return triumphantly to King's Landing.
---
**No More Delays That Drain the Treasury**
Watching the two locked in a standoff, Rhaegar shrugged and found a seat.
He was the crown prince but had no command experience.
On the battlefield, he naturally had little authority.
The Sea Snake and Tyland each had their arguments, both reasonable.
Rhaegar remained a spectator, ensuring the morale of the troops stayed intact.
Besides—
Tyland drawing the Sea Snake's ire was part of his father Viserys' plan all along.
The Sea Snake was the Lord Admiral, wielding immense power.
Someone had to keep him in check.
After a while, more people entered the command tent.
Rhaenys, Vaemond, Cole, and commanders from various fleets.
The meeting began, with Vaemond speaking first.
"Scouts spotted Three Daughters pirates near Grey Gallows Island. They may be getting restless."
"Increase patrols. Stay on high alert," the Sea Snake said in a deep voice.
With him taking the lead, Tyland also pressed his stance.
The council quickly turned into an argument between the two.
One side advocated defense, the other for striking first.
The commanders exchanged uncertain glances, choosing to stay silent.
Cole sided with Tyland, Vaemond remained quiet, and Rhaenys stayed neutral.
Rhaegar and Lannino simply listened.
Rhaegar scanned the room, reading the expressions on their faces.
They all wanted the war to end as soon as possible.
The Sea Snake's strategy was stable, but it clearly did not align with the desires of the people.
The debate dragged on until noon.
Once the meeting ended, everyone dispersed.
Rhaenys stopped Rhaegar and handed him a letter.
Rhaegar opened it, his brows furrowing slightly.
"Dorne wants to negotiate peace?!"
The letter stated that Dorne had sent envoys to King's Landing to discuss terms.
"That's right. I suspect it's a trick," Rhaenys speculated.
Flipping through the letter, there was more news.
Duchess Jeyne Arryn of the Eyrie had arrived in King's Landing the previous day to express gratitude for the Crown's assistance in quelling the rebellion.
The final lines of the letter ordered Rhaegar to return to King's Landing—
First, to receive Dorne's envoys.
Second, to attend the banquet welcoming Jeyne.
"Dorne..."
Rhaegar's eyes glinted with a dangerous light.
The war had only just begun—he did not believe the Dornish truly wanted peace.
If Dorne were truly so weak, there wouldn't have been rebellion after rebellion.
"Your father needs your counsel. You should go back," Rhaenys said.
Rhaegar nodded. "Alright. I'll leave with Glutton. Keep a close watch on the Three Daughters."
With that, he bid Rhaenys farewell.
Sara and Robb would remain on Bloodstone Island, acting as his eyes.
…
**King's Landing, Dragonpit.**
"Dreamfyre, breathe dragonfire!"
Helena's crisp, childlike voice rang out.
"Hiss…gaaah…"
Dreamfyre crouched on the ground, letting out an indifferent screech.
Wearing a white dress and deerskin boots, Helena walked up to the dragon's head and crouched down, gazing into the eyes of the massive blue beast.
Her light purple eyes were filled with determination.
Dreamfyre did not dislike her and would not harm her.
But she was disobedient—unwilling to be touched.
Rumble—
The massive doors of the Dragonpit slowly opened.
"Hiss…gaaah!"
Dreamfyre let out a startled cry, rising from the cold stone floor.
"Hiss!!"
A shadow as black as night descended before the entrance, bringing with it a fierce gust of wind.
(End of Chapter)