The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 622: The Dragon Knight Contest

Maghiro and Victarion arrived at the "Balerion," where Daenerys was guiding Daario in feeding the green dragon Rhaegal salted meat.

The salted meat was personally cured by Daenerys, and its deliciousness made it a favorite of the three dragons, who had enjoyed cooked food since they were young.

Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion's own hunted beasts and sea fish, when grilled, naturally couldn't compare to the savory taste of Daenerys's cured salted meat.

Daenerys drove away the black dragon and scolded the white dragon to the other side of the ship's railing. She instructed Daario to focus on feeding the green dragon, deliberately cultivating the green dragon's recognition of Daario.

Dragons are proud and intelligent, possessing high wisdom.

Daario tossed a piece of salted meat high into the air. The green dragon Rhaegal looked up and spewed dragonflame, the orange-yellow flames enveloping the salted meat, instantly roasting it with a焦香 aroma. The salted meat fell, and Rhaegal opened its mouth wide, swallowing it in one gulp.

To allow the green dragon to chew a little, a larger piece of salted meat was needed. The salted meat made by Daenerys, limited by her physical strength, couldn't be made any larger.

"Dragonflame!" A voice suddenly said. The syllables were peculiar, High Valyrian, authentic and pure.

The green dragon suddenly turned its head, seeing Maghiro and Victarion standing on the distant bow of the ship.

The green dragon's eyes were wary and scrutinizing, filled with caution. It suddenly opened its mouth, a bright light flashing in its throat. It was a ball of fire, the flames so intense that the dragon's neck appeared translucent. The scales and skin of its neck seemed as thin as parchment, the light shining through.

"Get down!" Daenerys exclaimed in alarm.

Boom!

A stream of dragonflame spewed out, aimed at Maghiro and Victarion.

Maghiro and Victarion quickly lay down. The dragonflame was a long pillar of fire, sweeping over their bodies. The tip of the dragonflame brushed against the bow of the ship, igniting it with a bang.

"Extinguish the fire!" The Imp, who had been crouching in a corner of the deck, stood up and shouted, "Extinguish the fire, quickly!"

Victarion was covered in cold sweat. If he hadn't ducked quickly enough, he would have been ignited and achieved glory!

Dragon language really couldn't be spoken casually!

Maghiro had warned him, but once he was on the ship, he couldn't resist trying to see what it felt like to speak the dragon language for the first time.

The Dragon Horn was engraved with spells to control dragons, all of which were in High Valyrian. Victarion showed the Dragon Horn to Maghiro, and Maghiro read all the spells on it. He indeed knew the High Valyrian language, a language that had been lost, with only a few ancient books written in Valyrian remaining in the world. Those who could understand this language were even fewer.

Maghiro and his teacher, Benerro, were high priests who could understand the High Valyrian language, the true and last inheritors.

In the Red Temple of Volantis, a book of poetry written in High Valyrian, a historical biography of the Valyrian royal family, and a fire magic spell that was sometimes effective and sometimes not, were preserved.

Daario, who was beside the green dragon, broke out in a cold sweat.

If Victarion had been standing in his direction just now, he wouldn't have been able to avoid the dragonflame because he was too close.

Maghiro and Victarion escaped the disaster because they were at the bow of the ship, far away.

Besides the fear, Victarion also felt a surprise in his heart. The 'dragonflame' spell he had learned was the first word Manero had taught him after reading the text on the Dragon Horn. He came to try it, and sure enough, the green dragon heard the command and spewed dragonflame, but it was aimed at him.

It wasn't that you could command the dragon to spew fire at others instead of yourself just because you knew the 'dragonflame' spell. The green dragon received the 'dragonflame' command, but it didn't regard the person who issued the command as its master, but directly chose to attack.

To make a dragon recognize you as its master, it wasn't enough to rely on spells. You also needed to have contact and build a relationship, which was what Maghiro had warned Victarion.

Soldiers and generals, under the command of the Imp, were busy carrying buckets of water to extinguish the fire on the bow of the ship.

Fortunately, the sea was not short of water, making it easy to fetch water. Dozens of buckets of water were hauled up and poured down, and the fire on the bow of the ship was quickly extinguished, but the entire deck was already covered in seawater.

"Victarion, you know dragon language?" Daenerys's gaze fixed on Maghiro.

*

Daenerys didn't know the real High Valyrian dragon language spells. She was deducing with her talent in real life, constantly trying, making mistakes, and summarizing a set of original dragon training techniques suitable for her personally. It had some coincidences in syllables and words with the High Valyrian dragon language, but it wasn't a complete set of dragon control spells.

The Targaryen family's dragon control spells had been lost.

She believed that the 'dragonflame' language was taught to Victarion by the uninvited guest Maghiro. This strange syllable, combined with the dragon's reaction, she understood.

Daenerys didn't know much about the Valyrian language, and she knew even less about High Valyrian.

When Victarion came to surrender, it was a difficult time for Daenerys. She already had Asha and Theon at the time. Asha and Theon's evaluation of Victarion, their uncle, was mixed, but in general, he was a loyal uncle, but he had joined Euron Crow's Eye and became an accomplice in driving away Theon and Asha.

Victarion told about his grievances with his brother Euron Crow's Eye, as well as his strategy of feigning allegiance to Euron Crow's Eye. He begged Her Majesty the Queen to accept his surrender, and he was willing to die for Her Majesty's loyalty.

Daenerys accepted Victarion's surrender. Victarion's Iron Fleet was the military force that Daenerys lacked the most: the navy!

The slave owner rebel armies in Yunkai, Astapor, and Meereen were able to quickly assemble and trap Daenerys because of the navy. The speed of warships in Slaver's Bay far exceeded the pace of the Unsullied legions.

Theon and Asha's navy only had a few ships, and they were all remnants of defeated soldiers. Victarion's Iron Fleet, however, was well-trained and strong. The generals' warships were tall and sturdy, and the soldiers' longships were extremely fast.

Longships were the Iron Islands soldiers' unique raid and flanking ships, extremely fast, flexible in turning, and capable of single-ship raids or grouped formations.

Victarion became Her Majesty the Queen's naval commander, Asha became the naval vanguard, and Theon became the naval reserve, responsible for logistics and support. The Iron Fleet, in cooperation with the dragons, quickly swept across the navies of the Good Masters and Wise Masters, defeated the naval coalition of the three major cities, helped Daenerys gain control of Meereen, Yunkai, and Astapor, stabilized the situation, and laid the foundation for Her Majesty's royal power.

*

"Your Majesty!" Victarion knelt on one knee in full view of everyone. The strange words he had just said had caused the green dragon to react, causing no small surprise.

"I have a gift to offer to Your Majesty, but please allow me a chance to train a dragon. I hope to become one of Your Majesty's dragon knights. For this, I am willing to give my life."

"What gift?" Daenerys's heart stirred, but she became more vigilant. If Victarion changed because of Maghiro...

As the only bloodline of the dragon family, she had naturally heard the legend of the Dragon Horn. Raising dragons was the daily life of the royal family and nobles of the Valyrian Empire, just like cavalry raising horses and fishermen raising fish. Raising and training dragons, of course, also had inherited secrets. Spells and the Dragon Horn were the royal family and nobles' unshared secrets. Those secrets were buried in the ruins of Valyria. No one could enter the ruins of Valyria, which were not only filled with flames, but also suffocating smoke and complex, scalding seawater rapids.

"The Dragon Horn, Your Majesty!" Victarion said. His words were within Daenerys's trembling expectations as her heart beat faster.

"You have the Dragon Horn?"

The Dragon Horn, a peerless treasure.

"Euron Crow's Eye obtained it in the ruins of Valyria."

"You stole his Dragon Horn?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" This was a lie, but the previous words were true.

Daenerys controlled her excitement. The Dragon Horn was great news for dragon keepers. The lost inheritance could be completely reconnected. This was the most important event in family inheritance. If the wizards in the House of the Undying were deceiving Daenerys when they said that Daenerys could no longer reproduce, then Daenerys would have an inheritor who could continue the glory of the dragon people.

The Targaryen family's bloodline must not be broken. This was the secret that Daenerys had always most looked forward to in her heart. The appearance of the Dragon Horn gave her inexplicable excitement and anticipation, but she was deeply wary of Maghiro and concealed her emotions well. Daenerys had experienced too many hardships and had endured pain and torture that ordinary people could not bear. As for wizards, priests, monks, and those with mysterious abilities, she was no longer naive and was very wary.

"Victarion, are you going to offer the Dragon Horn to me now?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Why not when you came to surrender?"

"I wanted to observe Your Majesty first and then make a decision."

"Since you have already sworn allegiance to me, you still want to observe whether I am worthy of your following?" Daenerys's tone became sharp.

"It's not observing whether Your Majesty is worthy of following, but judging whether I can propose to Your Majesty with the Dragon Horn. Your Majesty, your beauty is unparalleled. I was captivated by you at first sight and couldn't sleep all night."

Daenerys understood her beauty. Some generals secretly looked at her and regarded her as a woman rather than a queen.

Daenerys believed Victarion's words. But she decided to shift the topic away from the marriage proposal.

"Commander, Priest Maghiro came to find you. This is very strange. I judge that you didn't know each other before. Can I know what you said?"

"Priest Maghiro saw me and the Dragon Horn in the flames. He came to persuade me to offer the Dragon Horn to Your Majesty. Your Majesty needs helpers to go to the Dothraki Sea. The road to conquer the khals is full of danger. Priest Maghiro told me that Your Majesty needs the support of a dragon knight."

Daenerys was surprised by Maghiro's prophetic abilities. He was in Volantis, but he could see almost all the generals here in the flames. If the names could still be inquired, the secret of Victarion hiding the Dragon Horn could not be discovered through inquiries.

Priests do have the ability to see the truth in the flames.

He came at the risk of his life. What was he here for? To kill me and seize the dragon? The dragon has grown into a teenager and will no longer change masters easily.

Suspecting everyone is as foolish as trusting everyone. If he does sincerely hope to assist me, but I resolutely drive him away...

"Priest Maghiro, after I clearly rejected you, you still went to persuade Victarion to offer the Dragon Horn to me. Why?"

"Your Majesty, you need the assistance of a dragon knight. Conquering the khals won't always be in the sky. When you come from the sky to the ground, you need a dragon knight to guard you against all dangers in the sky."

"Priest, you were thinking of me even before you left?"

"When the world's tribulation comes, Westeros needs the Mother of Dragons. Maghiro is insignificant."

Varys and the Imp were staring at Maghiro. The priest's trickiness exceeded the expectations of the two.

The Imp and Varys were convinced that the priest came for personal gain or to preach. These believers have one characteristic: "They are determined, will not back down, and have no fear."

"Tribulation?" Daenerys didn't want to hear alarmist propaganda, which was a means for preachers to achieve their goals.

"Your Majesty, when you sit on the Iron Throne, you will find that there are no people left in Westeros unless we can gather all our strength to defend the Wall. Winter is coming, the Others are attacking. This is a battle between humans and the dead. Either humans will be destroyed, or we will drive the Others into the Land of Always Winter. The Others belong to ice, and the Mother of Dragons belongs to fire."

Daenerys looked at Maghiro: "Priest, you want me not to attack King's Landing and go to the Wall in the North?"

"Your Majesty, if the Others defeat the Night's Watch and cross the Wall, the entire continent will have no natural defenses to defend. In winter, the Others will march south, sweeping across the entire continent. The Seven Kingdoms will be destroyed, and the Iron Throne will be meaningless."

Daenerys looked at Tyrion. Tyrion took a small step forward: "Your Majesty, the Others have indeed appeared at the Wall."

"If what the priest said is true and credible, will your sister Cersei send troops to the Wall?"

"No." But these words only echoed in the Imp's heart. He said, "I don't know, Your Majesty. I can go see her."

"Priest, did you see Cersei sending troops to the Wall in the flames?"

"I didn't see it, Your Majesty."

Daenerys was silent for a while: "Priest, stay by my side."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Varys appeared as if he were a ghost, walking silently: "Your Majesty, we don't understand Maghiro."

"The priest will only be loyal to his Red God, Your Majesty," the Imp also said.

"I can't suspect everyone. We need to take risks to move forward. Currently, I don't see the danger that the priest brings to me. It was you, Hand, who proved that the Others that Priest Maghiro spoke of are real, not lies."

"He drove Ser Jorah away as soon as he came, Your Majesty," Varys whispered.

"Don't mention Jorah again."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Varys retreated silently.

"The priest persuaded you to leave the sea and go to the Dothraki Sea. That's too dangerous. You are far away from your courtiers and generals, losing protection, and we all need you."

"I will go to the grasslands with another dragon knight. Whether it's defending the Wall or attacking King's Landing, we need 100,000 cavalry, Hand."

"The dragon knight who protects Your Majesty is me!" Daario laughed. He was slender and dashing.

"I am Your Majesty's dragon knight," Victarion said in a deep voice. He stared at Daario, his eyes unfriendly.

Thanks to "四音节" for the reward, thank you ????