webnovel
avataravatar

Chapter 543: The Siege Begins

The roar of the black dragon echoed across the realm, its wings whisking it into the distance.

Viserys, standing by a white marble balustrade, watched as the Dothraki horde and Balerion departed. His pale violet eyes, tranquil like still water, seemed to foresee some of the impending events.

A gentle breeze brushed against the young man, causing his silver-golden hair to flutter lightly. He then opened his clenched hand, letting the torn letter in his palm be carried away by the wind.

The target of this Dothraki expedition: Oldtown.

Now, this largest and most ancient city of Westeros was engulfed in dread. News of the Battle of Starfall, where countless Riverlands soldiers were slaughtered by the Dothraki, had spread via ravens and merchants. The land was drenched in the blood of the Riverlands' soldiers, and the stench of death was so overpowering that even miles away, one couldn't help but be repulsed. Vultures lingered long after the battle, and the region became desolate.

The terrifying horse riders of the Dothraki were now marching towards Oldtown, making its inhabitants feel as if the end of the world was nigh.

Strategically located at the southwestern tip of the Riverlands, where the Honeywine River flows into the Whispering Sound and the Sunset Sea, Oldtown is also the southernmost point of the Roseroad, connecting Highgarden and King's Landing.

It's the most important port in Westeros, surpassing even King's Landing in significance. Its bustling docks have always been a melting pot of cultures, with ships from all over Westeros, the Summer Islands, Free Cities, Pentos, and Andalos.

However, the cloud of war now loomed over this grand city, affecting its flourishing trade. The once lively Sailor's Sept, the Sept of the Seven, the docks, and even temples of foreign gods had grown noticeably quieter.

Merchants and affluent citizens fled Oldtown, while the less fortunate either couldn't afford to leave or chose to stay, hoping to find opportunity amidst chaos.

Amidst the general panic, Lord Leyton Hightower, known as the "Voice of Oldtown", "Lord of the Port", "Count of the High Tower", "Guardian of the Citadel", and "Lighthouse of the South", was even more anxious.

The Hightowers had always seen themselves as the beacon of progress. Their sigil—a gray tower crowned with a bright beacon against a smoky background—stood for "Lighting the Way".

Yet, due to Viserys' 'Sword of Change', the usually neutral Hightowers were dragged into the war, even though they had wanted to surrender.

However, their attempts to surrender went unanswered.

Desperate, Lord Leyton even invited the King to visit the Starry Sept in Oldtown, hoping to replicate the crowning of Aegon. But still, no reply came, just news of the approaching Dothraki and the recuperating Dornish army.

Resigned to their fate, the Hightowers began preparing for a last stand against the Targaryen forces.

In the year 294 AC, the hastily assembled Hightower army clashed with the Dothraki near Honeyholt. Led by Leyton's eldest son and heir, Ser Baelor Hightower, and assisted by the Maester of War from the Citadel, they formed a formidable formation.

However, they were swiftly defeated.

When Balerion, the 'Black Dread', descended from the clouds, the faces of Ser Baelor and the Maester were filled with despair. The dragon's fire decimated their ranks, shattering their spirit. Coupled with the charge of the Dothraki riders, the Hightower forces were quickly routed, with Ser Baelor and the Maester perishing in dragonfire.

The Honeywine River, once said to flow with wine and honey, now ran red with the blood of Hightower soldiers.

Before the news of the defeat could reach Oldtown, the corpses of their soldiers arrived, carried by the current of the Honeywine River. Panic ensued, with citizens and nobles alike clamoring to leave.

However, Lord Leyton, upon hearing the tragic news and seeing the blood-red Honeywine, refused to abandon his city. Along with his eccentric daughter, Malora Hightower, known as "The Mad Maid", he ascended the High Tower, seeking ancient spells to fend off the Dothraki and kill Viserys and his dragon.

But before they could find a solution, the Dothraki, having defeated the Hightower forces at Honeyholt, were yet to reach Oldtown.

The Dornish army had already arrived, laying siege to the city.

Next chapter