NOVEL WEB Chapter 71: Land of Smoke and Salt
The Land of Smoke and Salt, Dragonstone, surrounded by volcanic smoke and shadow and stormy sea waves, was about to welcome its new master.
The port was teeming with people.
The nearly two hundred warships of the anchored Royal Fleet drummed in unison, roaring like thunder.
Looking out, countless masts were adorned with dazzling golden banners, a sea of gold, as if the Crowned Stag banners had been planted across the world.
All of this was solely because of the ordinary merchant ship slowly sailing in from the sea.
Everyone's gaze followed the merchant ship closely, watching it gradually enter the dock, drop anchor, and extend the gangplank.
A voice chanted: "Welcome His Majesty Joffrey I of the House Baratheon, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."
The Lords of the Narrow Sea immediately knelt on one knee with everyone else and loudly proclaimed: "Long live His Majesty Joffrey I!"
Tap~ tap~
Joffrey stepped down to the port, one step at a time, accompanied only by the black-haired Jon and Ser Barristan, dressed in white robes, white armor, and carrying a white sword.
"No need for formalities, rise."
Joffrey raised his hand, observing each face as they rose.
The handsome man with the silver seahorse sigil had long, bright golden hair, from an ancient and proud family, a fallen family, Earl Monford Velaryon of Driftmark;
Behind the banner of the Seven Golden Seven-Pointed Stars was a devout follower of the Seven, Earl Guncer Sunglass of Sweetport;
The old man covered in red crab embroidery exuded an air of reverence and obedience, Earl "Red Crab" Ardrian Celtigar of Claw Isle;
Beneath the blue swordfish sigil was a fat and weak boy, Earl Durran Bar Emmon of Sharp Point;
And many more minor lords and knights.
He saw all of Dragonstone's vassals. He had only given three days' notice, yet the lords had all arrived so promptly; at least their attitudes were sufficiently proper.
But the reason he had left the main group to come here was not just for the fealty of these people.
Joffrey walked towards Stannis's widow, Selyse Florent, "Lady Selyse, my uncle's death is a tremendous blow to us all, but please, you must not collapse, if only for your daughter Shireen."
Stannis was dead, Dragonstone had been granted to him, why hadn't Selyse left yet? Could she still harbor delusions about Dragonstone?!
Joffrey smiled at the little girl beside him. Shireen immediately shrank timidly behind her mother.
Shireen didn't have a good impression of this cousin she had never met; her father and mother had both spoken ill of her cousin, so it must be true.
Lady Selyse didn't respond, her eyes revealing undisguised wariness and resistance.
The Onion Knight, Davos Seaworth, thanked the King on behalf of the Lady: "Your Majesty's sincere concern is truly moving. Please forgive us, Your Majesty, the Lady is simply too grief-stricken, and Miss Shireen is even more so, she has barely spoken during this time."
Joffrey nodded in agreement, "I thought as much. Perhaps Shireen could return to the Red Keep with me, it's livelier there, and there are more playmates, which should gradually help alleviate her sorrow."
Shireen clutched her mother's skirt even tighter.
At this moment, Earl Velaryon walked over and respectfully inquired, "May I ask, Your Majesty, what important instructions you have for this visit? We will certainly do our utmost."
Joffrey glanced at him, "No hurry, we'll discuss it during the assembly in the Painted Table Chamber tonight. For now..."
He looked up at the castle high above, "A fortress built by Valyria. You've all grown accustomed to the magnificent sights of Dragonstone, I'm here for the first time. Won't you show me around?"
The Earls relaxed their expressions and immediately surrounded His Majesty the King as he walked out of the port, vying to introduce the unique features of Dragonstone to His Majesty.
It was truly a harmonious and peaceful meeting.
...
The black stone castle on Dragonstone was indeed extraordinary.
It was inhabited by thousands of Hellhounds and long-winged dragon statues, several yards high, so lifelike they seemed ready to spring to life at any moment and attack any living person.
Even after hundreds of years of weathering, the ferocious statues remained perfectly intact, bird droppings and other marks not affecting their steadfastness on the city walls, deterring any enemies who might covet this place.
Between the statues, Joffrey leaned on the city wall and gazed at the castle, feeling as though he was looking at giant dragons made of black stone and flesh.
The great hall was a dragon lying flat on the ground, its gaping maw serving as the entrance for people to pass through;
The kitchen was a dragon curled into a ball, smoke and steam billowing from its nostrils;
The Sea Dragon Tower and many other towers were stone dragons of varying sizes, either sleeping or holding their heads high;
Even on a larger scale, the entire castle itself was the head and neck of a giant dragon, thus transforming Dragonstone into a vast dragon lying in the sea.
"It truly is a miracle rarely seen in the world."
Joffrey couldn't help but exclaim.
The carving of the statues could be achieved with a large workforce and exquisite technique, but how was such a massive castle shaped into the form of a giant dragon?
With this kind of structural load, could the strength of the black stone material support it for so many years? It was too unscientific.
Earl Velaryon responded proudly, "The great Ancient Valyrian Freehold built it with magic. Each tower was shaped from the rock itself, creating this unique miracle."
"It's a pity that the Doomsday befell them," Earl Sunglass said with a devout expression, "Praise the Seven. Valyria should not have angered the Gods, it's truly a shame."
Earl Velaryon glared at him.
Joffrey pointed to the most unscientific-looking Stone Dragon Tower, "Let's go take a look over there."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The lords immediately and respectfully accepted the command, running ahead to lead the way for His Majesty.
Ignoring Lady Selyse's polite refusal, Joffrey insisted on picking up little Shireen, whose eyes were red, and strode forward, completely treating Dragonstone as his own home.
No one dared to say it wasn't.
Everyone understood that His Majesty the King was, at least for now, the Prince of Dragonstone. As long as he didn't bestow this title upon someone else, Dragonstone and its vassals would forever be His Majesty's private domain.
It now seemed that His Majesty likely had no intention of bestowing the title.
The earls were all considering how they should react.
According to Duke Stannis's legal claim, Dragonstone should belong to Miss Shireen.
If they followed the tradition of Dragonstone belonging to the heir to the Iron Throne, then it would be Prince Tommen or Duke Renly.
If His Majesty held onto it himself, or even merged Dragonstone with the Crownlands from now on...
The fierce winds at the top of the Stone Dragon Tower continued to howl, revealing its gloomy and terrifying nature. The earls stood behind His Majesty, gazing at the raging sea in the distance.
Who would be the first to step forward?
"My lords, I heard there are many beautiful Dragon Glass pieces on the island. While it's still light, let's hurry and take a look, so we don't delay the evening assembly."
Joffrey shifted his gaze from the tower's spire and looked at the lords, who were all wearing respectful expressions.
There were two faint magical glows on the tower, one familiar, one strange. There were also massive Dragon Glass ore deposits and hot volcanoes underground. It truly was a treasure land.
He sighed, "The court is in dire need of someone to preside over it. I can only stay on Dragonstone for one day."
The Onion Knight bowed and said, "The Dragon Glass is not being mined at the moment. There are only some abandoned mines on the island. I beg Your Majesty's understanding."
Joffrey smiled. "It's fine."
"It's better that it's dilapidated. It will be more efficient and cleaner to reorganize."
The earls repeatedly agreed.
Why did it sound like he wasn't talking about Dragon Glass?
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