Chapter 298: Killing a Crow

The Golden Company received a decree of pardon, written by Viserys himself and sealed with the dragon sigil of House Targaryen.

When the messenger brought this decree back to Volantis, it caused a great stir within the Golden Company.

Some were content with their lives here and did not wish to return to Westeros, but many more commanders of the Golden Company were moved to tears of joy.

Returning to their homeland had always been a wish passed down from their forefathers.

Many had seen this wish turn into a dying wish, unfulfilled and passed on to their descendants.

But now, this wish was finally coming true.

They were to be the vanguard, returning to Westeros!

Viserys pardoning their crimes meant that after reclaiming the Iron Throne, they could return to their homeland and earn titles through their merits.

Although Robert could also pardon their crimes, the Golden Company was more inclined towards House Targaryen.

After all, the Blackfyre Rebellion was a family matter of House Targaryen. What was a usurper like Robert in comparison?

Robert had only ascended the Iron Throne due to his grandmother, Rhaelle Targaryen's thin bloodline. With the most legitimate Targaryen heir as a better option, the Golden Company naturally looked down on Robert.

Regardless of red or black, a dragon is a dragon.

Some contracts are written in ink, others in blood.

The Golden Company, with its tens of thousands of soldiers, joined House Targaryen, becoming the kingdom's fourth legion.

The first legion was composed of Andal warriors who had followed Viserys from the beginning. The second was primarily made up of the conquered Rhoynar. The third legion was the twenty thousand Dothraki, who answered directly to Viserys and were now commanded by Khal Drogo.

The fourth legion was the Golden Company, composed of exiled nobles and soldiers from the Seven Kingdoms who had wandered Essos, still led by 'Blackheart' Myles Toyne.

Although he was called 'Blackheart', and Myles Toyne was quite ugly, unlike his distant ancestor Terrence Toyne who was dark-skinned, handsome, and dashing, he had a crooked chin and pot-shaped ears.

However, Myles Toyne was not cruel. He was a just and steadfast knight at heart, otherwise, he wouldn't have become friends with Jon Connington.

His nickname was simply because his family's sigil looked like a black heart.

At this time, a grand ceremony was being held in Pentos to celebrate the New Year and welcome the arrival of the Golden Company.

Viserys sat on the throne at the highest point of the great hall, wearing a crown, and accepted the allegiance of Myles Toyne and many commanders of the Golden Company.

Harry Strickland, Bennard Beery, Dick Cole, Gorys Edoryen, and others were present.

The great hall was bustling, filled with commanders of the Golden Company, Jon Connington, Bessie Joyce, the Beggar Prince, the Sand Snakes, and Arianne sat next to Viserys.

Rhaenys and Daenerys did not attend the banquet; they had gone to play in the city of Pentos.

It was a grand banquet.

All the guests raised their glasses together, wishing Viserys would reclaim the Iron Throne soon and wishing for his long reign.

During the banquet, Tyene Sand, the third of the Sand Snakes, with her golden hair and sweet looks, was still subtly flirting with Viserys.

"Hey..."

Her watery light blue eyes locked onto the handsome side profile of the silver-haired

young man.

"Your Grace."

"Am I beautiful?"

Then, under the table, the girl quietly took Viserys's hand.

The Sand Snakes' desire to climb into Viserys's bed and become his lovers was no secret in the palace.

However, Arianne seemed to not mind at all. She never expected Viserys to have only her.

The promiscuous nature of the Dornish was well known to all. Keeping mistresses was a normal operation, and bastards and mistresses in Dorne were not considered a disgrace to a noble's honor.

Oberyn himself played even more flamboyantly, as he was a man who enjoyed both sexes. He believed that God created two genders, and if you only favored one, you would lose the pleasure of the other half.

After the banquet, Viserys had drunk quite a bit of wine, but due to his unique constitution, he managed to stay mostly sober.

"My love, slow down."

In the corridor, Arianne helped Viserys back to his room, holding a lamp in her hand, and then pushed open the door.

In his room, there was an unexpected guest. It wasn't one of the Sand Snakes appearing in Viserys's bedroom.

It was a large black cat, with a dead crow in its mouth. It seemed to have climbed in from the balcony.

The dead crow was placed on the windowsill, and the black cat squatted next to it, not in a hurry to taste the delicacy. Instead, it licked its paw and wiped its face.

"Huh?"

"Killed a crow?"

Viserys, who had just drunk quite a bit of wine, was slightly taken aback when he saw this scene as soon as he entered the room.

Ever since Viserys had infused the black mist into the black cat, Balerion hadn't shown any special changes.

Viserys had observed it carefully for a few days at first, but later simply gave up.

However, after so much time had passed, Viserys hadn't paid much attention to this black cat.

Only now did he notice that it seemed to have gotten a bit thinner, and its eyes had become more lively.

Balerion used to have trouble climbing trees due to its size, let alone catching birds in trees. But now, it had killed a large black crow.

Balerion's progress made Viserys take a second look.

More importantly, he had some initial guesses about the effect of the black mist on Balerion.