Chapter 366: Gathering at Claw Isle

Adrian Celtigar, Count of Crab Isle, known as the "Red Crab," was a sturdy knight in his fifties. Unlike the Valyrians, who produced only one heir per generation, he had brothers—and three sons and a daughter.

After Robert's Rebellion, as a vassal of Dragonstone, he had dutifully fulfilled his obligations to Stannis—nothing more.

During the War of the Five Kings, when Stannis raised his banner in rebellion, the old crab didn't stall. He personally led his family's flagship, the Red Crab, into battle.

But much like the old flayer who marched south with Robb but left half his strength in the Dreadfort, the old crab didn't commit his full forces either—both of his adult sons remained at home, and only half of the family fleet was deployed.

Just look at Ser Davos, the Onion Knight—he lost three sons in the Battle of the Blackwater alone. That alone proves how necessary the old crab's caution truly was.

Now that the true Dragon Queen had arrived, the old man immediately brought out everything his house had.

Of course, his intentions weren't entirely pure—he saw opportunity.

The sky and sea met on the horizon under endless blue skies. Two dragons—one black and one white—bathed in golden sunlight, pierced the clouds, and circled down toward the docks.

"SKREEEEE—"

"SKREEEEE—"

The piercing cries of the dragons alarmed most of the small harbor city's residents. Sailors busy on the piers and merchants shouting at the top of their lungs stood frozen in awe, completely spellbound.

Too bad Big Black can't speak the Common Tongue yet, Dany thought regretfully, watching the crowd's reaction below.

Well, she had tested it over the past few days—Big Black could speak, but only in "animal language" (actually the Old Tongue), which she couldn't understand with her ears, only through their bonded minds.

—Dany.

Uh-huh. Just like a human infant, he could only call his mother's name.

Still, given that his vocal cords could now produce speech, Dany had begun teaching him the Common Tongue.

Maybe, in another year or two, Big Black would be able to speak fluently, like Smaug.

"A dragon?! It really is a dragon—dragons have returned!" Count Adrian ended his lecture to his sons and came to the rail of the ship, tears streaming down his face, unable to speak clearly.

"A true dragon—the Targaryens are true dragons!"

"Long live Queen Daenerys! Long live the true dragons!"

The harbor city burst into an uproar, followed by thunderous cheers.

"The dragons are real… This is bad. We must inform King's Landing immediately—warn King Tommen and Queen Margaery." A hedge knight, hiding his anxiety and shock, slipped quietly into the crowd.

"By the Seven… Westeros is about to change forever."

In taverns, in the streets, and along the docks, merchants from all over looked to the skies, their faces filled with awe and dread.

Only when Barristan and young Lord Monterys arrived on horseback from Driftmark with a group of men—and dock guards helped push back the crowd—did Dany descend astride Big Black.

"Your Grace, I, Adrian, present myself."

Adrian and his two sons were all impressive in appearance, with golden hair streaked with silver, and eyes of violet or blue.

Despite being over fifty, the old crab had a square face, high nose, cleft chin, and a still-tall and powerful frame—only his weathered face had grown a bit oily.

The two young crabs—his eldest just over twenty, the second close to thirty—were both tall, muscular, and handsome.

"Lord Count, I'm very grateful that you brought your men so quickly," Dany said, smiling as she helped the old noble to his feet.

"I've waited and prayed so long to see the return of the true dragons. I could have grown wings and flown here myself if I could," the old crab said emotionally, eyes red.

"With loyal supporters like you, Lord Count, how could our great cause not succeed?"

After exchanging a few polite words, Dany began the formal introductions between both parties.

On her side, there was only Barristan, whose reputation was well known and needed no elaboration.

"These are my sons, Aerys and Rhaegar," the old crab proudly introduced, pulling his sons forward before the Dragon Queen. "Both are skilled in cavalry and naval combat. Aerys is only 23 and has sailed as far as Ibben and the Summer Isles.

Rhaegar is outstanding as well. During the time I was trapped in King's Landing, he led the soldiers of Crab Isle to repel several waves of pirate raids."

Those names…

Dany didn't even know how to respond.

She didn't know the old crab also had an eight-year-old son and a twelve-year-old daughter at home—named Robert and Cersei.

Uh, with his status, the old crab had no need to curry favor with anyone.

He had simply named his children after kings, princes, and queens to bless them, even though all four of those names had… ended poorly.

"I am Aerys Celtigar. Greetings, Your Grace." The elder son, with a cropped haircut, met the Dragon Queen's gaze only briefly before blushing and lowering his head.

The younger, Rhaegar, made no attempt to hide his admiration for the beautiful queen. He stared at her directly and stepped forward with a bold offer: "I am Rhaegar Celtigar. Your Grace, your beauty surpasses mortal imagination—and the limits of language. Let me serve as your Admiral. I will give you everything."

Dany resisted the urge to merge minds with her dragon and unleash a "lightning gaze" that would make him wet himself. She merely smiled faintly and said, "I'm indeed considering taking Dragonstone. Let's discuss the details further at Driftmark."

"SKREEEEE—" Big Black soared into the sky on his own, while the White Knight brought Dany a horse.

She rode beside the old crab and young Lord Monterys. The White Knight and the two young crabs followed behind, with two or three hundred knights bringing up the rear in a mighty procession toward the cliffside castle.

"Dragonstone must be taken immediately," the old crab said. "Back in the day, Aegon launched his conquest from Dragonstone—first landing at Blackwater Bay, then conquering the Seven Kingdoms.

Your Grace could follow in your ancestor's footsteps. Use Dragonstone as your base, summon the Crownlands houses, and choose a spot on the coast to land and march inland.

Tywin is dead, Jaime is crippled, and House Lannister has suffered heavy losses.

As for Cersei, she's squandered nearly all of her father's legacy and prestige over the past six months—and now the High Sparrow has locked her in the Great Sept. It may be that once you reach the gates of King's Landing, the common folk will flood the streets and carry you straight to the Iron Throne."

The old crab was visibly excited as he laid out plans for her.

"I only want to reclaim the Targaryen homeland. As for the Iron Throne... I'll think about conquest after next summer," Dany replied with a shake of her head.

"Why? You have dragons, and the Seven Kingdoms are in chaos—this is a golden opportunity! If we wait until summer, give it a few years for the Lannisters to recover, stabilize the situation, and for Tommen to come of age—once the realm unites again, things will become far more difficult," the old crab said urgently.

"There are White Walkers," young Lord Monterys said.

"White Walkers?" the old count was taken aback. "Monterys, what tales has your wet nurse been filling your head with?"

"It wasn't the wet nurse. It was Queen Sister who told me. There are White Walkers beyond the Wall. She even dueled them twice—and they knelt before her, ashamed of their defeat, calling her the 'Strongest Queen of Mankind,'" Monterys said, his round little face filled with worship.

Old Crab's mouth twitched as he scolded his little brother in a big brotherly tone:"Montell, you're already six years old—how can you still not tell the difference between stories and reality? Her Majesty is telling you a tale. You need to understand, legends are all just make-believe."

"Ahem." Dany lightly cleared her throat. "Count Adrian, the White Walkers are real."

"They're real?" Both the Old Crab and the Little Crab were stunned.

Could it be the Citadel wasn't lying? Was Her Majesty truly the Mad King's daughter?

Seeing the doubt on their faces, Barristan solemnly said,"At the time, six White Walkers led thousands of wights in an attack on the wildling camp. The Queen arrived riding her dragon and bravely challenged the White Walkers to a duel. The Night's Watch, Stannis, and the wildlings all witnessed it."

"Stannis?" The Old Crab was even more shocked at hearing of his former lord. "What was he doing at the Wall?"

"The King-Beyond-the-Wall attacked the Wall, so he went to support the Night's Watch. Along the way, he tried to bring the wildlings and Northerners under his banner to make a comeback," Dany replied.

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"You… you had the dragon burn him to death?" the Big Crab asked in surprise.

"Why would I do that? Robert was Robert, and he was someone else. During the War of the Usurper, he was trapped at Storm's End the whole time. Of course, he was one of House Targaryen's enemies—that much won't change.But I swore at the Wall: when the Long Night comes, I will not harm any lord who aids the Wall."

Meeting the Old Crab's puzzled gaze, Dany sighed,"Humanity is on the brink of catastrophe, and we're still playing the game of thrones? That's just shortsighted and petty."

The Old Crab furrowed his brows and asked again for confirmation,"White Walkers really exist? It's not that I doubt Your Majesty's word, but this is too sudden. I wasn't mentally prepared at all—it feels like a dream."

"In a few days, you should receive a raven from the Night's Watch. And in a few months, they'll escort a group of wights south. When they pass by Dragonstone, you can see them with your own eyes."

Then, at the Dragon Queen's signal, Barristan recounted her heroic battle with the White Walkers beyond the Wall. The knights listening were stunned.

Some even suspected that the old knight had thrown away his honor and was spinning a fantasy tale in public just to flatter the Queen.

Damn it—dueling a White Walker in front of everyone, and the White Walker even knelt and admitted defeat like some chivalrous knight?

How were intelligent, rational men supposed to believe this?Though they all voiced casual agreement, their minds were filled with doubt.

Only the young count remained genuinely fascinated. He had already heard the story the night before, but even on a second listen, his excitement didn't wane—he was constantly gasping and shouting with wide-eyed wonder.

At last, they climbed the mountain path and entered Driftmark. Once in the hall, the knights followed their host inside. Only then did Crab the Second speak:"Even if the White Walkers are real, didn't you say they can't cross the Wall? That means they won't affect the southern kingdoms."

"Rhaegar, that's where you're wrong." Before the Dragon Queen could speak, the eldest Crab refuted,"The appearance of the White Walkers means the Long Night is coming. And under the Long Night, who in the world can escape?"

"The Night's Watch is holding them off for now. If the Queen seizes the Iron Throne quickly, she can rally more power to support the Wall," Crab the Second argued.

"War means death. Her Majesty wants to preserve more strength to face the White Walkers," Barristan said gravely.

"Once the Queen takes Dragonstone, the Lannisters will feel severely threatened. They'll focus all their might on wiping us out. Why would they send troops to the Wall?" The Old Crab's face turned grim.

Then I can stand on the moral high ground and call upon the lords of the Seven Kingdoms to justly and openly annihilate House Lannister.

No one will criticize me—instead, they'll cheer, nailing the lion to the pillar of eternal shame in history.

A glint of cold light flashed in Dany's eyes as she thought icily.

No matter what, she had inherited this body—and with it, the grudges and blood feuds of House Targaryen.

And the grudge against those who destroyed her house—who should pay?

Robert?

His wife was indeed taken from him.

Rhaegar not only abducted her but King Aerys sought to eliminate any threat to his son—first killing Ned's father and brother, then planning to execute Robert, who was being fostered in the Vale. That's what finally drove Jon Arryn to rebellion.

Robert had truly been forced onto the path of rebellion—if he hadn't revolted, he would have died.

That's why Dany didn't burn Stannis with dragonfire.

Eddard?

The Starks had it even worse—though honestly, they brought it on themselves. (Something Dany wasn't yet aware of.)

Jon Arryn and Hoster Tully (Catelyn's father)?They weren't even the masterminds. No need to slaughter them.

But there was one house whose blood must repay blood.

Lannister.

Tywin was ruthless beyond measure.

All the Mad King did was humiliate him, and Tywin responded with The Rains of Castamere—wiping out the entire family.

They weren't the only ones who believed in settling debts.

Dany could forgive the Baratheons, but never the Lannisters—not if they dared to act recklessly.

"Report!"

Just then, a herald ran into the hall and addressed the Dragon Queen and the young count at the head:"Your Majesty, my lord, a group of knights has arrived at the docks bearing the true dragon banner."

Dany froze for only a moment before asking,"Is it Count Borros from Stokeworth?"

(End of Chapter)

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