Chapter 187: First Battle of the Stepstones Islands

"Daemon, don't play dumb," Alicent scolded impatiently after a long silence.

"Ugh, can't a man get some rest in his cell?" Daemon's magnetic voice finally replied as he slowly lifted his head.

Even in the dungeon, Daemon's handsome face and royal demeanor remained intact, though his long, messy hair and slightly crooked nose - thanks to a mediocre job by the maester - marred his appearance.

He scanned Alicent up and down, teasing, "A private meeting with a prisoner at night? The Queen is quite bold."

"Shut your mouth, unless you want filth in your meals from now on," Alicent snapped, her face contorted with anger.

"Fine, you rule my brother's court, you win," Daemon shrugged, dropping his mocking tone. He knew Alicent well - her threats were usually empty. After a moment's pause, he asked casually, "What do you want from me?"

"Do you want to go out?" Alicent clasped her hands together, her eyes fixed on him.

"What?" Daemon frowned, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

"There is an unknown force in King's Landing," Alicent said bluntly. "I need your men. I'll release you in exchange."

"Are you offering to seduce my brother and help me escape?" Daemon chuckled.

"Does it matter? Getting out is enough," Alicent replied.

"No! I'm not as stupid as you think," Daemon scoffed. "Alicent, you haven't changed. Your intentions are still written all over your face."

Struggling to maintain her composure, Alicent continued, "Don't you want to get out? I doubt you'd choose this dungeon over your wife and daughter."

"Whether I go out or not is none of your concern," Daemon replied indifferently. "Your husband, my brother, degrades me every day, yet here you are."

Alicent was momentarily stunned, shifting uncomfortably. Daemon approached the iron bars, smiling faintly. "My brother's favorite child rides the Dragon to gather allies, and my brother, exhausted both physically and mentally, takes it out by cursing me."

"I didn't know you had such a fetish," Alicent scoffed.

"Mock all you want. You're not a Targaryen; you'll never understand our bond," Daemon said seriously. "My brother should have beheaded me the day I was arrested, but he didn't. He still loves me, and my nephews and nieces know it. That's why no one forced him to execute me."

"And is that why you plan to continue rotting in this dungeon?" Alicent challenged.

Alicent, uninterested in hearing more about Daemon's so-called brotherhood, interrupted him sharply. "You're pathetic. You only see what you want to see. No wonder you're being manipulated."

Daemon's voice remained calm. "My brother comes down here every few days to scold me. I know what he means."

"He wants me to admit my mistakes, make amends, be forgiven."

Daemon had plenty of opportunities to escape. On the ship to King's Landing, Laena had asked him what he wanted. But Daemon didn't want to return to exile.

He was a pure Targaryen prince, a descendant of Baelon Targaryen The Brave. He gambled on his brother Viserys's reluctance to kill him.

His grudge against his nephew had almost settled after a rainy night seven years ago. He had deliberately shown his face on Driftmark to gauge his nephew's attitude, but he hadn't expected to be beaten and left in a sorry state. Even Caraxes had been nearly torn to pieces. Still, his nephew left the decision to his father.

Alicent's face grew increasingly grim. "Trying to walk out of your cell with honor, after trying to murder the Heir, is a pure fantasy."

"The Heir's heart is much broader than yours," Daemon countered, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "No, yours isn't small either. One hand can't grasp it."

"How dare you! I am the Queen!" Alicent exploded, her anger palpable.

Daemon remained unfazed, replying sarcastically, "You haven't grown up at all. I remember what you said at first..."

"Stop. I am your niece's best friend," Daemon said, unable to hide his mockery.

"Daemon! You are an animal!" Alicent spat in anger. "You won't even let Rhaenyra go."

"Watch your wording. I didn't defile Rhaenyra," Daemon frowned. "I tried, but I almost got my dick kicked off."

The pain still lingered, a reminder of that encounter.

"You're still a tyrant and a brute!" Alicent cursed.

"Whatever you say, I don't care." Daemon resumed his nonchalant attitude and turned back to his bed. He had to get back to his family and didn't want to get involved with Alicent. Their last collaboration had ended badly.

Alicent's face was like frost, her chest heaving with anger. She had come to recruit him, but had only been mocked and humiliated.

"Daemon, you can rot in your cell!"

With one last angry scream, Alicent stormed out, unwilling to spend another moment in the stinking dungeon.

Daemon snorted, dismissing her as a foolish woman.

...

Meanwhile, on Bloodstone Island, a dim light flickered under the dark night sky from a cluster of bonfires. Soldiers were busy dragging stones and wood to build a watchtower.

Oooooooo~~

A horn sounded, causing the soldiers to stop what they were doing and quickly put on their armor. More than a dozen three-masted sailing ships appeared on the horizon, each teeming with Triarchy pirates brandishing their blades.

As the horn continued to sound, a warship bearing a seahorse flag sailed forth to confront the pirate ships.

"All hands on deck, draw your bows!" The commanding voice of the Sea Snake echoed, rallying his soldiers. They swiftly readied their longbows, aiming at the approaching pirates.

"Lower the ramming horns and move forward at full speed!" The pirate commander ordered, their savage nature clear.

"Release the fire arrows!" The Sea Snake commanded as the two fleets drew closer. Soldiers shot flaming arrows, raining them down upon the pirate ships.

Under this fiery assault, the pirates of the Triarchy suffered heavy casualties, their screams of pain piercing the night. Yet, their commander remained unharmed, urging them forward.

Boom!

The ships collided with a resounding crash, their ramming horns splintering each other's bows.

"Kill! Take back the Stepstones!" The pirate leader shouted. The Triarchy pirates hurled chains, latched onto the enemy ships, and swarmed aboard.

"Man, kill them all!" A Sea Snake in silver armor roared, leaping into the fray and decapitating a pirate with a single stroke of his sword.

The battle was fierce and chaotic.

"Roar...!" A dragon's cry resounded through the night as a light silver-gray dragon soared above Bloodstone Island.

"Dracarys!" Laenor, riding the dragon Seasmoke, commanded from above.

"Roar!" Seasmoke responded, swooping down with agility and unleashing torrents of orange dragonfire. The pirate ships erupted in flames, and the pirates, caught in the inferno, screamed in terror as they leapt into the sea to escape the flames.

(Word count: 1,118)