Game of Thrones: Second Son of House Targaryen

Chapter 269: Crackclaw Point: Honor in Loyalty!

The same. Everyone watched as Viserys departed, and Ardrian felt as if he were dreaming. 'I can't believe he actually had the nerve to come.'

Pycelle, who had been hiding in the shadows, cautiously poked his head out, like a worm emerging from its chrysalis. He observed the nobles whispering in small groups. The men wore expressions of either deep seriousness or palpable worry as they discussed what to do next. Some small children cried in their mothers' arms, the tension in the room unsettling them.

Many had been confused by Viserys's words, but the Red Viper remained calm. House Martell and House Targaryen had clashed for years, yet whether they pledged allegiance to the Targaryens or the Baratheons, the gap in status between the two sides was not so great. After all, they still retained the title of Prince, allowing them to look down on almost all the other houses.

He reflected on Viserys's speech, recognizing how each word had cut to the heart. The explosive accusation—"King Cuckold"—still echoed in his mind. Viserys had long ago confided in him that all three of Robert's children were Jaime's. Now, he was curious to see how Robert would deal with Cersei and the Lannisters. What kind of agreement would Tywin and Robert reach? It would be interesting to see if the two of them came to blows.

As for the Tullys of Riverrun, their three river lords were notorious for their fickleness, and after today's events, their reputation in the Riverlands was sure to hit rock bottom. Viserys would probably allow House Darry to rule the Riverlands in the future; after all, they were related to Ser Willem.

When the people of Sunspear left Tyrosh, they told him that Viserys had erected a statue of Ser Willem there. In his view, it was possible that in the future, Viserys's firstborn might be named Willem, rather than bearing a Valyrian-style name.

After a long while, Tywin suddenly declared, "No one is to speak of what happened today, or they will be charged with treason!"

"Yes, my lord," Pycelle was the first to respond, his voice trembling slightly. The rest of the crowd's reaction was lackluster; most merely nodded in agreement.

Tywin, however, was only making a point. Such explosive news simply couldn’t be contained. Even if he could keep everyone here silent, could he truly silence Viserys? Word of this would spread regardless. Tywin knew all too well that even in the Westerlands, people whispered about him, with some openly expressing nostalgia for Aerys.

It had been over a decade since Robert took the throne, but if he were to discover that none of his three children were truly his… Westeros had no laws specifically for kings, especially not for angry ones. Robert wouldn't go crying to the courts; he’d wield his hammer in fury, and blood would spill.

Still, despite the potential for chaos, most believed that Robert and Cersei must not immediately turn on each other with swords and spears. There was a silent consensus: everyone was playing their part in helping Robert wear this “green hat” without him realizing. The reason behind it was almost...heartwarming.

Meanwhile, Stannis's eyes kept darting between Cersei, Jaime, and the three children. The more he looked, the more alike they seemed—in appearance, at least. But resemblance alone was not proof. After all, Ned's eldest son, Robb, was said to have red hair and green eyes, just like a Tully. It wasn't impossible that Viserys was simply spouting nonsense.

Ned was of a similar mind. Without absolute proof, he couldn’t act rashly. Moreover, the once 'unbreakable alliance' that had toppled the Targaryens was now showing cracks. In her letter, Lysa had hinted that Jon Arryn might have been killed by the Lannisters.

'Could it be that he had discovered something?' Ned suddenly felt as if he had stumbled upon a clue, though it was still just a guess. Meanwhile, Lord Mace, often mocked as "Lord Puff Fish," was equally shocked by Viserys's recent actions. The thought of recounting these events to the bards crossed his mind, but he doubted they would dare sing of such outrageous happenings.

Yet, he reminded himself that Queen Visenya had once flown to The Eyrie on a dragon and forced their advisers to submit. The past was full of such impossible feats. Mace couldn’t help but be intrigued by the shocking revelation Viserys hinted—that the true parentage of Robert’s three children was not as it seemed.

Not only had the fleet been burned, but Viserys's dragons were also more formidable than anyone had anticipated. The balance of power had shifted dramatically, and with it, the hope of victory grew increasingly slim.

As Barristan Selmy, still reeling from Viserys's earlier tirade, gazed at the surrounding trees, he suddenly caught sight of a face among the branches. It was the face of Aerys, staring at him with an expressionless gaze, a hint of mockery in his eyes.

"Ser Barristan!" Brynden suddenly cried out in alarm. Barristan had crossed his sword over his own neck, and just as he was about to pull it across, someone intervened, restraining him. The blade had already pierced his skin, but fortunately, it hadn’t cut deep enough to sever any blood vessels.

As the sword was taken from his hand, Barristan collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"Carry him away for treatment!" Ned shouted urgently.

But Robert, who had remained silent throughout, understood that Barristan no longer had the will to fight. Barristan's attempted suicide was like a final blow to the already shattered spirits of the men around him. They had lost everything: their honor, their morale, and their strength.

...

Although the three dragons weren’t yet fully grown, they were enough to hold the line until they could be flown to the waiting ships.

"It's Your Grace!" Jorah called out, holding two torches as he guided Viserys to land, the sound of the dragons' cries echoing in the air.

"Shh—I forgot to curse Tywin," Viserys muttered, a fleeting sense of regret crossing his mind. But then again, there weren't many angles left to attack Tywin. The Lannister had already mutilated the Targaryen bloodline, so his fate was sealed; he'd simply have his head cut off when the time came. Most of the blame, though, lay with his own deadbeat father, Aerys, who was too reckless. 'It’s really not wise to toy with someone else's wife.'

Viserys had focused his ire on Barristan because the knight was a prime target to undermine Robert’s morale. Barristan, despite everything, didn't truly want to kill him. And if Viserys needed to clear his name in the future, it wouldn’t be too difficult. 'You can only kidnap someone with morals', he thought.

That’s why he wouldn’t bother using such tactics against Littlefinger—'that man has no morals to begin with.' Viserys hadn’t seen Littlefinger at the banquet either; perhaps Robert had dismissed him for failing to secure any loans.

After Viserys was secured on the ship, the three dragons shook off the ropes from their claws. They surrounded him, pressing their large, olive-shaped heads together, almost begging for rewards. After he petted each one, they flew away happily.

At that moment, Arson ran over and said, "Your Grace, the Lords of Crackclaw Point have all arrived on Claw Isle."

"Well, let's go meet them," Viserys replied.

As dawn broke, Viserys and his entourage arrived on Claw Isle. Nearly twenty ships were docked at the port, all sent by the old captain Hoyt.

These ships were loaded with weapons, food, some gold and silver, and even soap. Viserys wanted the people of Crackclaw Point to work for him, and he knew the importance of keeping his soldiers well-fed. You have to pay your workers well. The results spoke for themselves. Before Viserys's ship had even docked, the Lords of Crackclaw Point were already assembled at the harbor to greet him.

These men, whom the Maesters often dismissed as "semi-savages," were direct and straightforward. Despite their low titles, with many of them being mere landed knights, Viserys had the Great Announcement read to them anyway.

Upon hearing of the Targaryens' imminent return, like a bolt of lightning, they immediately refused Robert's summons. Crackclaw Point, with its valleys and dense forests, had never been conquered before the Targaryens arrived with their dragons.

This was clearly somewhat impolite, as bastards were not typically allowed to appear before members of the royal family. However, the people of Crackclaw Point didn't concern themselves with such formalities; they saw it as an opportunity to demonstrate their loyalty.

As they looked up together, they exclaimed, "After three hundred years ago, when Queen Visenya arrived on the Crab Claw Peninsula riding a dragon, we can once again became the bannerman of a Dragonlord!"

Among the gathered houses, House Hardy stood out as the most well-mannered and well-dressed. During the Targaryen era, House Hardy had produced more than one Kingsguard, earning them a reputation for honor and service.

As Viserys's ship approached the port, the shadows of the three dragons swooping low cast a darkened veil over the nobles of Crackclaw Point, who felt their loyalty deepen with each passing moment. When the ship docked, the peninsula's nobles bowed and curtsied as Viserys disembarked. Moving among them, he personally helped each head of household to their feet.

"You must be Lord Hardy. I recall that your house produced three members of the Kingsguard!"

"Yes, Your Grace!" Lord Hardy, a young man in his early twenties, responded eagerly. His father had tragically died in a fall, leaving the young viscount prone to emotional displays. He was deeply moved that Viserys recognized him immediately.

"And your family also produced a Kingsguard!" Viserys continued, turning to another.

"That's right! I remember you as well—Baron Pyne, if I'm not mistaken!"

"Yes, Your Grace!" Lord Pyne, another young noble, could barely contain his excitement. Viserys continued to greet the other families, reciting their histories as if he knew them personally.

The thought that ran through everyone's mind was the same: The Dragonlord remembers me! The Dragonlord remembers my family!

After Robert had ascended the Iron Throne, Crackclaw Point had been all but forgotten, save for the tax collectors. But now, Viserys not only remembered them—he had also sent them much-needed supplies.

"You have suffered greatly under the usurper's rule," Viserys acknowledged.

"No, Your Grace!" one noble responded fervently. "We have heard of your trials and Princess Daenerys's. Compared to your hardships, ours are nothing."

"Your Grace! When you kill Robert, House Pyne would be honored to serve as your vanguard!" another noble declared.

"Your Grace, House Hardy would be the finest vanguard!" another quickly interjected.

"You're full of it—"

Seeing the argument brewing, Viserys quickly intervened. "Enough!" he commanded, gesturing for the crowd to enter the castle. "We will discuss these matters in detail later."