Chapter 81: Five Years

Conquest Year 289.

Time passed quickly.

Since Viserys journeyed alone to Braavos and secured an alliance between Braavos and Dorne, he obtained Braavos' tacit approval. He then led a fleet across the Narrow Sea to the homeland of the Andals.

The remaining Targaryen embers finally escaped the usurpers' blade hanging over their heads, finding a foothold. They then gathered the surrounding Andal villages and built a city on this land—Andalos.

And now, in the blink of an eye.

Five years had passed.

...

Under a bright and clear sky, flocks of crows landed on the sharp tip of the castle tower.

Flapping their wings, the black-feathered birds pecked at their own feathers, then lifted their beaks, their crimson eyes reflecting the scene below the tower.

This was a flat training ground, a wide horse track, with two knights clad in armor, sitting on their warhorses, facing each other and preparing their equipment.

On one side was a white steed, and at the other end of the track was a sturdy black horse, neighing softly.

Whoosh—

The knight riding the white horse seemed slightly thinner, his body covered in polished, bright silver armor. He was bending over on his horse, adjusting his shin guards, creating a metallic friction sound.

The black horse knight, on the other hand, appeared taller and more imposing, covered in heavy armor.

Stomp, stomp...

The black horse seemed restless, constantly neighing, while the white horse was excited and restless, stomping its hooves.

Both knights held wooden lances for the duel in one hand, but the lance tips had been replaced with unsharpened, rounded blunt heads.

After both sides were ready, they exchanged silent gestures. Outside the horse track, a gray-haired old man sitting in a chair saw that both were prepared, coughed violently for a moment, and then waved his hand.

"Begin."

At the command of the gray-haired man at the side of the field.

The white horse knight didn't have a shield, holding the reins in one hand and then suddenly clamping his legs around the horse's belly.

The already eager white warhorse charged forward, its snow-colored mane scattering in the wind, shining like an enraged lion.

On the other side, the silent black horse knight also spurred his warhorse forward at the command, tightly gripping his lance in one hand and raising the round shield strapped to his left arm with the other.

The range of the horse track wasn't very large, but it was enough for the two warhorses to accelerate at full speed.

Boom, boom, boom—

The galloping hooves stirred up the dust in the field, creating a thunderous roar as the two knights charged towards each other.

Men borrowed the strength of horses, and horses the prowess of men.

On the battlefield, a knight clad in full plate armor atop a warhorse charging at full speed was like a savage tank, nearly invincible, carrying powerful deterrence and impact.

In an instant.

The two knights were within inches of each other, close enough to see each other's eyes through their visors.

Their gazes met, and the black horse knight saw the other's eyes, his heart inexplicably skipping a beat.

Without a moment to spare, the two horses charged at each other, the knights atop them raising their lances, aiming for their opponents. In the blink of an eye, their paths crossed like lightning and sparks.

The knight on the black horse also raised a shield, bound to his left arm, to protect himself.

The next second:

Boom—

Wooden splinters filled the air.

The white horse and the black horse collided, creating a deafening sound. The lance in the white knight's hand shattered into countless fragments.

Up in the castle:

A delicate young girl stood in front of an open window. She had beautiful brown hair, fair cheeks, and clear eyes like water.

At that moment, she was watching the jousting below and gasped as she witnessed the unexpected event.

"Viserys!"

She subconsciously covered her mouth.

Down in the arena:

As the horses crossed paths, the lance in the white knight's hand shattered. However, the taller knight on the black horse was thrown off his steed and onto the ground.

Thud—

The armored figure fell heavily, making a dull noise, unable to move.

The black horse ran a few more yards before realizing its rider had fallen.

Rumbling—

The white knight, unable to halt his horse, held the broken lance in one hand and threw it aside onto the ground outside the arena.

The horse continued running for a few more yards before the inertia from the charge dissipated. The knight then reined in the horse, turned around, and galloped back to the starting point.

Clank—

The victorious knight dismounted, his armor making noise as he did. He lifted the visor covering his face and removed his helmet.

Beneath it was a handsome, clean-shaven face, framed by silver-gold hair. It was none other than King Viserys. The young knight bent down, holding his helmet in one hand, and extended the other to his opponent.

"Beric."

"How are you?"

The knight on the ground lay there, spread-eagled, his chest heaving with deep breaths.

A deep dent marred Beric's breastplate, causing pain in his chest. His bones seemed to be intact, though.

But now, he didn't want to move, even considering giving up.

During the joust, their movements had been too fast, and victory was decided in an instant. Other than the two combatants, very few could see what had happened.

Beric raised his lance high and readied his shield, but Viserys dodged the lance with an unexpectedly quick movement. Viserys' lance smashed through Beric's shield and struck him squarely on the chest, sending him crashing to the ground.

Bruised and battered.

At that moment, Beric heard the sound of hooves. His black horse had returned and was nudging him gently, seemingly afraid that its master was dead.

Viserys dismounted and extended his hand to Beric.

"I'm fine, Your Grace."

Clap—

Beric grasped the young king's hand and was helped up.

"I just lost quite miserably, and the fall hurt a bit," he said with a wry smile.

Beric removed his helmet, revealing a slightly tanned face and dark hair. He glanced up, thinking he had seen Princess Rhaenys watching the match.

However, the open window in the castle was now empty.