Game of Thrones: Second Son of House Targaryen

Chapter 366: Jaime’s Bad News

Dragonstone:
Stone Drum Tower, Throne Hall.

Conwyra, Regis, Jorah, Young Connington, along with a group of officers from the Golden Company, the former Windsong Company, Roth Zalyne of Braavos, and others gathered in the hall. Among them were the nobles of the Crackclaw Point.

Tensions were high, as Viserys's fleet had docked at Dragonstone but remained inactive. The nobles, restless and uncertain, anxiously awaited news. Eustace and the others had repeatedly boarded Dragonstone, almost every other day, but each time, they returned empty-handed.

When they were finally summoned, their excitement was palpable. Viserys was about to unveil his plan for a general offensive.

Viserys sat at the head of a long table, the map of Westeros spread before him. He addressed the crowd:

"Harrenhal is the hub that connects the Vale, the Riverlands, and King's Landing. Taking Harrenhal means securing victory in the war of liberation. But before we march on Harrenhal, there are two critical matters to address.

"First, we must deal with the army in the Vale. I plan to use the fleet to block the Trident and hold back their forces.

"Second, there is the threat of the Crownlands army. Jaime Lannister, the man who murdered my father, is stationed in Maidenpool. If we aim to take Harrenhal, we must first conquer Maidenpool."

As soon as Viserys finished, Eustace of Crackclaw Point stepped forward eagerly.

"Your Grace, let me take Maidenpool for you!"

He was not alone. A chorus of nobles from Crackclaw Point surged forward, all pledging their lives to bring the king's murderer to justice. Their enthusiasm, however, was driven by more than loyalty.

The giants that Viserys had brought back from the Wall stood as silent, towering reminders of his power. Real giants—over three meters tall—heavily armored and carrying enormous axes. When they entered the Stone Drum Tower, they had flanked the room, unmoving, like statues.

At first, Eustace thought they were carved figures, so still and imposing were they. But the truth was undeniable: if such creatures were unleashed in battle, they would be second only to dragons in their destructiveness.

Viserys commanded both giants and dragons, and Eustace knew that if he did not act quickly, he might miss his chance to win glory. Without military merit, even with the fine equipment Viserys provided, he feared the inevitable gossip that would follow.

“Ser Eustace, I see your loyalty, but the Kingslayer is one of my greatest enemies, and I will execute him myself!” Viserys declared firmly.

He then turned his gaze to Roth and Young Connington. “Lord Roth, Ser Connington.”

Both men stepped forward in unison.

“I order you to lead the fleet and blockade the Trident. Not a single horse from the Vale is to be allowed to cross the river!”

Yes, my lord!” they responded.

Viserys then shifted his attention to several officers from the Golden Company.

“Ser Mudd, Ser Tristan, you will lead 5,000 infantry and 3,000 Dothraki cavalry to hold off the enemy forces from King's Landing.”

“Yes, my lord!” they answered in unison.

Viserys stood up, his eyes gleaming with determination. “The rest of you will join me to attack Maidenpool!”

...

Maidenpool is famous for a stone bathhouse called Jonquil's Spring, where only women are traditionally allowed. Legend says Jonquil's Spring possesses healing properties. Queen Alysanne, wife of Jaehaerys I, was once attacked there but survived thanks to the bravery of her handmaiden.

Although the Targaryens had conquered much of Westeros by then, they were still not fully accepted. Customs like this one lingered. But Jaime Lannister, with his army of over 10,000, cares little for such traditions. To win favor among his generals, Jaime bathed with them in Jonquil's Spring, ignoring the custom.

As the highest-ranking man, Jaime claimed plenty of space for himself. But there was another who demanded just as much room—Gregor Clegane, the Mountain. Tywin sent his most dangerous killer to aid Jaime. While the Mountain isn’t known for his skill with a sword, his sheer size makes men cower. On the battlefield, no one can stop him once he charges. But that’s where his usefulness ends. Once he commands more than 200 soldiers, he loses control of them.

Standing closest to Jaime, however, are two key figures: Lord Leo of Golden Tooth, who commands his infantry, and Addam of Ashemark, who commands his cavalry. These two are Jaime’s right hands.

And let’s not forget the ‘cannon fodder’ that Tywin sent—Gawen Westerling of the Crag, the same man who was once supposed to be Robb Stark’s father-in-law in the original timeline.

"Viserys has brought an army of Unsullied. It’s said they are soldiers who feel no pain and fear no death. Does anyone here know them better?" Jaime asked.

Slavery was forbidden in Westeros, considered a violation of the virtues of the Seven. The people of the Seven Kingdoms saw it as a cruel and barbaric practice. Still, the armies of the Free Cities, including the Unsullied, had earned a fierce reputation. Over time, the Unsullied had become nearly synonymous with strength. However, some present knew more about the truth, like Addam of Ashemark.

"If the Unsullied were really that powerful, Slaver's Bay would have conquered the world by now. Yet, after thousands of years, they hold only a small patch of land. We have 700 skilled knights and 2,000 well-equipped cavalry. What army could stand against that, let alone eunuchs who don’t even have balls?"

Addam's words resonated with many in the room. The men, proud of their own masculinity, were reluctant to admit that the Unsullied—viewed as somewhere between man and woman—could be superior warriors.

Then, a man with green hair, clearly foreign in both dress and demeanor, spoke up. "Ser Jaime, Ser Addam is right. Thanks to Viserys' foolishness, the Unsullied are no longer the force they once were."

He was a distant relative of Kambron and had come to King’s Landing when Tyrion offered rewards for those willing to hunt dragons. Due to his knowledge of the Free Cities and his combat skills, he had remained at court.

He informed the gathering that the main reason the Unsullied felt no pain was due to a medicinal wine they had long been drinking. However, under Viserys' command, the Unsullied had nearly stopped consuming the wine. This made them no different from ordinary soldiers.

"In addition, they are no longer the fearless warriors they once were. Viserys instructed them to adopt children and pass on their family names. Now, there are nearly 70,000 to 80,000 ‘Unsullied's Sons’ in the Free Cities. They’ve even formed families."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "To put it bluntly, these so-called Unsullied, because of Viserys' foolishness, are no different from regular warriors. And due to their castration, they are even weaker than normal men."

The green-haired noble’s words clearly pleased Jaime.

"By the way, your lordship, what is your name?"

The man smiled, sensing opportunity. When a person in power asked your name, it meant they were interested in you—a sign the ladder of advancement had appeared.

"In reply to Ser Jaime, my name is Nardacgorn."