Chapter 227: The Secret of the True Dragon Bloodline, the Golden Skull

Daenerys's magic dragons Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal, along with Eddard's magic dragon Flying Wolf, Koi, and Eagle Eye, soared in the sky of Harrenhal, watching Daenerys's army enter the majestic Harrenhal.

The eunuch soldiers of the Unsullied, the Brotherhood Without Banners, the Golden Company, the Stormcrows, the Dothraki cavalry, and the Beast-Face Army all stared in astonishment at this giant city beside the Gods Eye.

Even Daenerys was deeply shocked; everything in Harrenhal could only be described as enormous, and even the smallest guest room could easily accommodate a giant.

The walls of Duskendale were low and its defenses weak, unable to resist the attacks of the ice dragons and the army of the undead.

Moreover, supplies there were scarce, and the tens of thousands of troops under Daenerys would soon eat through everything in Duskendale.

Furthermore, many lands around were destroyed by the ice dragons, turning into black, cursed lands; plants and farmlands withered one after another, and even the wild boars in the fields, the deer in the forests, and the fish in the rivers suffered from the curse, making the prey in the cursed lands inedible.

Compared to Duskendale, Harrenhal had sufficient food reserves, with grain from The Vale and the Riverlands being continuously transported to Harrenhal.

Daenerys had no choice but to accept the invitation of the Wolf King Eddard and migrated with her army to Harrenhal; along the way, Daenerys's three magic dragons, the Wolf King Eddard's magic dragon Flying Wolf, the Giant Eagle Legion, and the griffins served as guards.

After arriving at Harrenhal, the red priestess Quaithe, wearing a red lacquer mask, sniffed the air.

"This castle has power; I smell the power of magic."

Eddard agreed, "The Gods Eye south of Harrenhal has the Isle of Faces in its center; that is the holy land of the Old Gods."

In Harrenhal, many old acquaintances reunited.

Varys met the Imp Tyrion, and Tyrion smirked, "Back then we were in King's Landing together, trying to assassinate the necromancer, but we failed. I thought you, you dead eunuch, had died in King's Landing."

Varys revealed a sugary smile, "Likewise, I have always been worried that Lord Imp had died in the flames of war. I went across the Narrow Sea and brought back the True Dragon Queen Daenerys, as well as Prince Rhaegar's son, Prince Aegon."

Tyrion stared at the silver-haired, purple-eyed Prince Aegon for quite a while.

"He looks exactly like a real Targaryen!"

Ser Jorah saw his aunt, Lady Maege Mormont of Bear Island, as well as his cousin Dacey.

Back then, Ser Jorah lost his knighthood because he sold slaves, and since he had no children, his aunt Lady Maege Mormont became the Lady of Bear Island.

Lady Maege held Jorah's hand, "Jorah, you have finally come home! Your father always hoped you would return to your homeland, put on the black, and serve the Night's Watch."

Jorah said, "When the war is over, I will definitely go to The Wall and join the Night's Watch. For now, I must follow the True Dragon Queen."

Prince Oberyn, the Red Viper of Dorne, came with his daughter Lareza to welcome Daenerys.

"True Dragon Queen, I saw you in Braavos back then, when you were only a few months old. Your guardian at the time was Ser Willem Darry; I signed a secret agreement with him, promising that your second brother Viserys would marry Princess Arianne, and that Dorne and the Targaryens would form an alliance."

Daenerys sighed, "It is a pity that my second brother Viserys has already passed away, and now he has been resurrected by the necromancer, his soul unable to rest."

Prince Oberyn frowned, "I thought the necromancer would only resurrect powerful warriors like Robert Baratheon and Prince Rhaegar; I did not expect him to spare not even Prince Viserys."

Daenerys said, "The undead also resurrected my husband Khal Drogo; he was the most powerful mounted warrior, and back then he led one hundred thousand Dothraki to sweep across the Dothraki Sea, and no tribe dared to cross him."

Oberyn said, "I have many friends in the Free Cities and have heard of Khal Drogo's fame. The undead Khal will be our nightmare."

"You have met my nephew Prince Quentyn, haven't you? Doran wanted to use Prince Quentyn to marry you, without considering your feelings at all. My nephew Quentyn, to be honest, is as steady as the deserts of Dorne, honest and dull, yet lacking charm. In Dorne, where beautiful women are everywhere, Prince Quentyn cannot even find a partner, let alone marry the beautiful Mother of Dragons."

Daenerys smiled, "You seem to have a very low opinion of Prince Quentyn."

Oberyn said indifferently, "I am just speaking the truth. If you are unwilling to marry Prince Quentyn, I can fully understand. You are a beautiful queen, and I happen to be single; although I have a pile of mistresses and many illegitimate daughters, I have not married, perhaps you could consider me."

Daenerys felt helpless, "At least you are more interesting than Prince Quentyn; I can consider it."

After Prince Oberyn left, Varys said softly, "Your Majesty, Prince Oberyn has a pile of illegitimate daughters and is attracted to both men and women; such a person must never be the Queen's partner."

"I know what I am doing." Daenerys felt only weariness toward these suitors; they seemed to love only her magic dragons and her crown.

Besides, which suitor could compare to Khal Drogo? Every time the Dothraki were defeated, they would cut their braids to show disgrace, but Khal Drogo's braid was never cut; in the Dothraki Sea, where the strong were as numerous as clouds, he had never tasted defeat from birth until death.

Now Khal Drogo was resurrected, along with Prince Rhaegar, Viserys, and even the Usurper Robert, whom people called the Storm of Death. Daenerys did not want to think about the undead anymore; she began to shift her attention to Harrenhal.

Daenerys looked at the majestic walls and towers, "Is Harrenhal the largest castle in Westeros?"

Ser Jorah said, "Your Majesty, The Wall is the largest, seven hundred feet high and one hundred leagues long, stretching from Westbridge to Eastwatch, consisting of nineteen castles."

Now, Ser Jorah's father, the Old Bear Mormont, was the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. When Eddard told Jorah that the Winter Wolves had rebuilt all the castles on The Wall and that the Night's Watch had now been incorporated into the North's defense system, and that the treatment and food of the Night's Watch had fundamentally improved, Ser Jorah showed a proud smile.

Although Ser Jorah had been exiled for many years, in his bones, he was a child of the North, a descendant of the First Men, and a believer in the Old Gods.

The Imp Tyrion said, "The Wall is not a castle, so that comparison is not fair. Strictly speaking, Casterly Rock is undoubtedly the largest; that giant rock alone is three hundred feet higher than The Wall and the Hightower of Oldtown."

Ser Barristan of the Marches said, "Casterly Rock originates from mine shafts, so strictly speaking it belongs to a cave dwelling, not a purely man-made castle. I believe Storm's End is the most majestic, standing in Shipbreaker Bay, and even the storms sent by the gods cannot shake Storm's End."

Eddard said, "Harrenhal is certainly one of the largest castles, as majestic and spectacular as Casterly Rock in the Westerlands, Storm's End in the Stormlands, and The Wall in the North."

"Actually, arguing about which castle is the largest has no meaning; mortals are like ants in front of these majestic castles."

In Harrenhal, the giants riding mammoths, the Sixskins Varamyr riding a four-meter-high snow bear, Borroq riding a wild boar, Tigris riding a saber-toothed tiger, as well as unicorns and terrorbirds stronger than grizzly bears, all shocked Daenerys and her subordinates.

The Golden Company brought hundreds of elephants, thinking this would be a secret weapon to shock Westeros, but in front of the giants' mammoths, the elephants were much smaller.

The Lightning Lord arranged for the Unsullied to live in the major towers, the soldiers of the Golden Company camped in the dozens of acres of the Godswood, and many craftsmen of the Brotherhood Without Banners were sent to work in the military factories and smithies; some craftsmen were responsible for repairing the artillery, catapults, and ballistae on the battlements.

Eddard noticed the golden skull on the Golden Company's banner. Back then, the founder of the Golden Company, "Bittersteel" Aegor Rivers, ordered his subordinates before his death to boil the flesh off his skull after he died and plate it with gold, so that the Golden Company would carry his skull back to Westeros to complete the unfinished conquest.

Subsequent commanders continued this tradition. Eddard noticed Bittersteel's skull, and next to it was the last Blackfyre, "Fierce" Maelys; this person launched the War of the Ninepenny Kings and was beheaded by Ser Barristan in the Stepstones, ending the Blackfyre bloodline.

Maelys had two heads, with a smaller head leaning against the skull, making his skull look particularly terrifying.

The last one was the former commander of the Golden Company, "Blackheart" Myles Toyne. His skull looked like it had a large bridge of the nose; it was Myles Toyne who signed an agreement with Jon Connington and Illyrio to put Prince Aegon on the Iron Throne.

Every gilded skull seemed to be smiling, and Eddard felt uneasy, especially about Bittersteel's skull.

Bittersteel and Bloodraven, Shiera Seastar had loved and killed each other for decades. Now, Bloodraven sat in the weirwood forest beyond the wall as a Green Seer, and Shiera Seastar sat on the Isle of Faces in the Gods Eye as a Wood Dancer. The Isle of Faces was a stone's throw from Harrenhal, and Eddard worried that Bittersteel's ghost would go to meet Shiera Seastar.

What was worse was that these skulls might be resurrected.

In Duskendale, the necromancer easily resurrected Khal Drogo and Viserys from a distance.

Bittersteel, "Fierce" Maelys, "Blackheart" Myles Toyne, and others were all powerful warriors with deep grievances.

Especially Bittersteel, whose nickname was very "undead."

Bittersteel Aegor Rivers came from House Bracken of Stone Hedge in the Riverlands, and now some people from House Bracken were serving in the Wolf King's army at Harrenhal.

Bittersteel had returned to the Riverlands, returned to his homeland, and the Isle of Faces nearby was his old lover Shiera Seastar; if he were resurrected by the necromancer, he might catch Harrenhal off guard.

Eddard said, "We should melt these golden skulls down; if they were to be resurrected, it would be terrible."

The Griffin Hand Jon Connington said, "Wolf King, having witnessed the rebirth of Khal Drogo and Viserys, I fully understand your concern, but Khal Drogo and Viserys were in the state of ashes and were still resurrected; even if we melt the golden skulls down, I fear it will not help."

Eddard said helplessly, "What you say makes sense."

Jon Connington said, "These golden skulls are the symbol of the Golden Company; many wanderers in exile look upon them as a spiritual sustenance, so let us keep them!"

Wolf King Eddard led Daenerys, Ser Jorah, Daario, Daenerys's Bloodriders, and others into Kingspyre Tower.

"The second floor of Kingspyre Tower is where I, my wife, and my daughters reside. We live on the east side, and the west side shall be left for the Mother of Dragons and her servants to inhabit."

Daenerys initially wanted to protest, thinking it would be inconvenient to be crowded together with Wolf King Eddard's people, but upon walking into Kingspyre Tower, she realized her worries were unnecessary, for the spacious tower completely swallowed everyone up, and the east and west sides were separated by several rows of rooms, each room large enough to house a Magic Dragon and a mammoth.

That evening, Eddard hosted a banquet in the first-floor hall of Kingspyre Tower for Daenerys, the Griffin Hand Jon Connington, Varys, and Prince Aegon.

Barley and venison soup, snails boiled in garlic, honey-roasted chicken, Black Truffle, maple syrup pumpkin pie, crispy roasted suckling pig, hard-boiled eggs, Peacock Meat, and more were washed down with Golden Wine from the Arbor and the North's specialty, Blue Noble.

Daenerys and her entourage had been sailing on the sea for months and had not eaten such exquisite food in a long time.

After they were full of food and wine, Daenerys said, "Wolf King, since we have already formed an alliance, when will you send troops to attack King's Landing?"

"Now that my husband Khal Drogo, my eldest brother Rhaegar, and my second brother Viserys have all become Death Knights, I hope to exterminate the Undead as soon as possible and lift the curse upon them."

Eddard said, "My good brother Robert Baratheon has also turned into a Robert the Death Storm. The Undead are constantly eroding the land, and like you, I wish to eliminate the Undead."

"It is just that the Undead have resurrected Meraxes, the mount of Queen Rhaenys back when Aegon the Conqueror conquered Westeros. The power of the Great Other in King's Landing is growing stronger; I estimate they will soon resurrect Balerion the Black Dread, whom Aegon the Conqueror rode when he burned Harrenhal."

"Frost dragons are definitely not easy to deal with, so we should be cautious. I suggest we hold Harrenhal, and after eliminating a few frost dragons, we then attack King's Landing."

The Griffin Hand Jon Connington said, "King's Landing has so many dragon remains; if we delay any longer, won't the Undead's frost dragons only become more numerous?"

Eddard said, "There is that risk, but a rash attack carries an even greater risk. Lord Connington, you must be well aware of the great dragon battle that took place on the Gods Eye during the Dance of the Dragons."

Jon Connington was somewhat uneasy, "Prince Daemon, the Prince of Flea Bottom, rode Caraxes to duel the Kinslayer, the one-eyed Prince Aemond, who rode Vhagar. Caraxes and Vhagar both plummeted into the Gods Eye."

Eddard nodded slightly, "The skeletons of the two great dragons, Vhagar and Caraxes, still remain at the bottom of the Gods Eye. I do not doubt that if our army attacks King's Landing, the necromancers will surely seize the opportunity to resurrect Vhagar and Caraxes. At that time, the two great frost dragons could directly strike Harrenhal, and we might lose this magnificent castle."

"Once Harrenhal falls, the entire Riverlands will be ravaged by the Undead, and countless living beings will scream as they die and turn into the Undead."

Daenerys worriedly asked, "Then how long must we wait to march on King's Landing?"

Eddard said, "I have written to Stannis in the Stormlands to agree on a time for the march. If Stannis brings the fire demon north, the Undead in King's Landing will surely have to divert frost dragons to face him. At that time, King's Landing will be weakly defended, and that will be the moment for us to march."

Prince Aegon said disdainfully, "Nowadays, giant bats and frost dragons are everywhere; when will the Raven arrive? We should just attack directly; heavy casualties are worth it. War naturally involves death; if one is timid and hesitant, one will be controlled by others."

"Wolf King, if you are afraid, then stay in Harrenhal and guard it! I request to take the Unsullied, the Golden Company, and the three Magic Dragons to take King's Landing directly; that will be enough to capture the city."

Eddard found it quite interesting, "Prince Aegon, you are truly full of bravado. If you want to go, feel free to try."

"However, I am curious: you are not a Dragonrider. I hear that the Magic Dragons often spray you with Dragonfire; how do you control them?"

Prince Aegon was dumbfounded, "I am just unfamiliar with Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal. As long as my aunt goes with me, all three Magic Dragons will be obedient."

Eddard said, "The ones leading the opposing side are ruthless characters like Prince Rhaegar, Khal Drogo, and Robert the Death Storm. They are all immortal, Death Knights."

"Even taking a step back, even if King's Landing does not send the Undead and only sends the likes of Duke Tywin and the Kingslayer, can you, Prince Aegon, withstand them?"

Prince Aegon tossed his silver hair.

"I have followed Maester Haldon since childhood and am well-versed in military strategy. I have read the Conquest of Dorne, Aegon's Conquest, and the Dance of the Dragons countless times. The likes of Duke Tywin and the Kingslayer are simply no match for me."

The Golden Company commander Harry Strickland, Tyrion, Roose Bolton, Prince Oberyn, and others at the banquet could not help but laugh.

Tyrion smirked, "Noble Prince, although I have broken with the Lannister family, my old man Tywin and my older brother Jaime are both ruthless in war; they are definitely not people a brat like you can deal with."

"Can you defeat Tywin and the Kingslayer just by being well-versed in military strategy? Give it a rest! If that were the case, the old pedants at the Citadel would be military geniuses."

Varys cleared his throat.

"Prince Aegon, you are young and have never had any experience in marching or fighting. You should stay by the side of the Wolf King and the Mother of Dragons to learn properly; how can you rashly ask for battle?"

Prince Aegon was very unconvinced and began to drink sullenly.

Wolf King Eddard said, "I have noticed that the Unsullied legion, the Golden Company, and the Dothraki cavalry are all ace units, and the Beast-Face Army can serve as a garrison; they are still capable of fighting."

"However, the Brotherhood Without Banners is composed of Free Folk. This legion is poorly trained, and on the battlefield, I fear they will collapse at the first touch, creating corpses for the Undead."

Daenerys said, "The soldiers of the Brotherhood Without Banners were initially slaves liberated from Astapor, Meereen, and Yunkai. Among them are many craftsmen, smiths, shipbuilders, weavers, serfs, Bed Slaves, etc. Their combat proficiency is very poor. Neither Ser Jorah nor Grey Worm has been able to improve the combat capability of the Brotherhood Without Banners."

Wolf King Eddard said, "These people are not suited for the battlefield. I suggest disbanding the Brotherhood Without Banners. Those artisans and craftsmen will be sent to work in military factories, the Stark Workshop, smithies, etc., with generous treatment. I will also settle the other commoners in manors and castles."

"They will still be servants of the Mother of Dragons."

Ser Jorah frowned.

"Wolf King, these are slaves liberated by the Mother of Dragons who have traveled across the sea from Slaver's Bay to Westeros. They yearn to fight for the Mother of Dragons. Disbanding them like this is not very fair."

The Griffin Hand Jon Connington said, "Indeed, the Brotherhood Without Banners is qualified as a reserve force."

Daenerys said, "I am the mother of these Free Folk, and I promised to bring them a free life, far from the shackles of slave masters. It is naturally for the best that the Wolf King is willing to settle them."

"However, the Brotherhood Without Banners has the right to choose their future. They can choose to become craftsmen and artisans to serve us, or they can choose to continue being soldiers."

After the banquet ended, Daenerys returned to her room, with Ser Jorah, Jon Connington, and others by her side.

Jon Connington said, "Wolf King Eddard's attempt to disband the Brotherhood Without Banners is clearly an attempt to weaken our strength. Could it be that he wants to annex us?"

Daenerys shook her head, "Impossible. When we were at Duskendale, Wolf King Eddard used Magic to easily control the three Magic Dragons, Aegon, Rhaegal, and Viserion. If he wanted to annex us, he could have done so long ago."

"The Brotherhood Without Banners is indeed not suited for fighting; this is a fact. Must I send my children to die on the battlefield and then turn into blue-eyed dead men?"

Ser Jorah said, "Your Grace, although my relatives are all serving in the Stark Army, I am still your loyal servant."

"Your Grace should still be cautious. While Wolf King Eddard is a man of honor, his subordinates—the Imp, the Red Viper Oberyn, and Roose Bolton—are all dangerous individuals."

After Daenerys bathed and changed, she prepared to sleep, and the little scribe Missandei came in to report.

"Wolf King Eddard requests to speak with the Mother of Dragons in the loft of Kingspyre Tower."

Daenerys arrived at the loft, where Wolf King Eddard was waiting for her.

Under the moonlight, Daenerys was exceptionally beautiful in her crystal-colored silk gown.

Wolf King Eddard said, "Mother of Dragons, I would like to talk to you about your nephew, Prince Aegon."

Daenerys smiled bitterly, "He is a conceited person, as green as grass. Wolf King, he offended you at the banquet; please do not take it to heart."

Wolf King Eddard said indifferently, "This Prince Aegon is Young Griff, a fake; I will not hold it against him."

Daenerys also suspected in her heart that Prince Aegon was a fake, but she was unwilling to admit it in front of Wolf King Eddard. She feigned surprise, "How can you say that?"

Wolf King Eddard said, "He is not the son of Prince Rhaegar. The real Prince Aegon had his head smashed against a wall in the Red Keep by the mad dog of the Mountain, and then the Mountain used his brain-smeared hands to rape Prince Rhaegar's wife, Princess Elia Martell of Dorne."

Daenerys said, "Yes, for so many years I have been convinced of this. However, Varys said that he swapped Prince Aegon back then; he found a drunkard's infant son in King's Landing as a substitute, so the one the Mountain killed was the drunkard's son. Prince Aegon was sent by Varys across the Narrow Sea, and he grew up in exile."

Wolf King Eddard said disdainfully, "So, Prince Aegon's identity has Varys as a witness, but who can prove whether Varys is lying? He has served as the Master of Whisperers in King's Landing for years; how many lies he has fabricated, I fear even he himself cannot say clearly."

"Daenerys, you know very well that Prince Aegon is a fake."

Daenerys said, "Prince Aegon has silver hair and purple eyes; this is proof of Valyrian blood."

Eddard said, "In Lys, there are still many people with silver hair and purple eyes, because it was once a Valyrian outpost, and Valyrian blood has been passed down to this day."

"I do not know who Prince Aegon really is, but I have heard that Warden Illyrio once had a beloved wife, Sera of Lys. Sera had silver-gold hair, and this Sera passed away due to a plague years ago; Illyrio still keeps his beloved wife's hands to this day."

"If Prince Aegon is the son of Illyrio and Sera, I would not be surprised at all. This cheese-monger only needs to pass his own son off as the son of Rhaegar Targaryen to have a chance at winning the Iron Throne of Westeros; it is a business with a ten-thousand-fold profit."

Daenerys was greatly shocked, "Is there really such a thing? Varys has not mentioned a single word of it."

Eddard said, "Varys and Illyrio have known each other since childhood, so naturally, he would conceal some things for a good friend. Of course, I only suspect that Prince Aegon is Illyrio's son; I have no proof, just as Prince Aegon cannot prove he is a True Dragon."

Daenerys said gloomily, "If Prince Aegon is a fake, then I have no relatives left in this world. My brothers are all Undead; the gods are so cruel!"

Eddard said, "Actually, your nephew is still alive."

Daenerys frowned, "What do you mean? Have you found the real Prince Aegon?"

Eddard said, "Prince Aegon is already dead. Surely, you must have heard of the 'Year of the False Spring'. Right here at Harrenhal, a grand Tourney was held back then. Lady Whent, Ser Barristan, and I were all witnesses; Ser Barristan even won the runner-up position in the joust."

Daenerys nodded, "I know, the champion was my eldest brother Rhaegar, but after he won, he bypassed his wife, Elia Martell of Dorne, and chose to crown your sister Lyanna Stark as the Queen of Love and Beauty; that was a wreath of winter roses."

"Not long after the Tourney ended, my eldest brother kidnapped Lyanna, which enraged Robert Baratheon, sparking a rebellion that overthrew the dragon dynasty."

Eddard said, "What you do not know is that Lyanna and Rhaegar Targaryen had a marriage."

Daenerys was greatly astonished, "This is impossible, Princess Elia Martell of Dorne was Rhaegar's wife until her death."

Eddard said, "Back then in Dorne, Lyanna and Rhaegar held a secret wedding. I do not know by what means Prince Rhaegar ended his marriage to Elia, but regardless, Lyanna and Rhaegar were married. Subsequently, Prince Rhaegar led the Dornish army north and eventually died in battle at the Trident."

"Lyanna later gave birth to a boy at the Tower of Joy; he is the true blood of the dragon."

Daenerys said in surprise, "The Tower of Joy? I remember, when I was young, Ser Willem Darry told me that the legendary Kingsguard Arthur Dayne, Oswell Whent, and the White Bull Gerold Hightower died at the Tower of Joy, killed by you and your companions."

Eddard said, "That is correct. At the time, Prince Rhaegar had sent three Kingsguard to guard the Tower of Joy because my sister Lyanna was already a member of the royal family by then."

"My six companions and I fought the Kingsguard, and all the Kingsguard died in battle. In that fierce fight, only I and the Crannogman Howland Reed survived."

"I found Lyanna on a bed covered in rose petals. Lyanna entrusted the baby boy to me; she made me promise her that I would raise the boy."

Daenerys was deeply moved, "Where is this boy?"

Eddard said, "This boy is, after all, of the blood of the dragon, the son of Rhaegar; if exposed, he would be in mortal danger. I pretended he was my bastard, and he grew up in Winterfell; he is Jon Snow."

Daenerys said excitedly, "I want to see Jon Snow."

At this moment, a shrill scream came from the air, and Giant Bats began to attack Harrenhal in swarms.

Cannons roared on the ramparts, and Giant Eagles, Griffins, and Magic Dragons flew into the sky to engage them; soon, Giant Bats lay dead all over the ground.

Daenerys said worriedly, "Will the Undead continue to send bats and ice dragons to attack?"

Eddard said calmly, "Giant Bats attack Harrenhal often; this is nothing but a small scene."

Subsequently, the Lightning Lord rushed before Eddard in a panic.

"Wolf Prince, the three Golden Skulls of the Golden Company are all gone."

Eddard was deeply depressed.

The ferocious Maris, Blackheart, and the smiling skull of Bittersteel—a few more Death Knights had appeared.

Thanks to Lin'an Farmer for the monthly ticket.

(End of this chapter)