Chapter 717: The Red Dragon

"All people under the heavens are the same. The majority of the Dornish love peace, with only a few who don't understand the value of restraint."

"But they are not the common folk of Dorne. They are the Fowler family of Skyreach, the Uller family of Hellholt, and the Cogar family of Sandstone."

"They don't understand the suffering of the people."

"I'm grateful that Your Grace helped me eliminate these scoundrels."

Prince Doran, shaded by a parasol from the glaring sun, sat in his wheelchair, watching his daughter play with his granddaughter on the grass. He then turned and spoke.

"I did not wish to drag my people into such a hellish conflict."

"Had I wanted to, I would not have held back my anger when I heard of Elia and her children's deaths."

"However, my resolve to avenge her has never wavered. I am committed to the downfall of Tywin Lannister and the Baratheon house."

Prince Doran spoke the truth. He did not want Dorne to be engulfed in a war they were destined to lose. Otherwise, he wouldn't have insisted on negotiating with Jon Arryn, the envoy from the Iron Throne.

However, his efforts to overthrow the Baratheon dynasty continued. For instance, he invested in the young Viserys and even married his eldest daughter to him.

Prince Doran's words were a reminder to Viserys not to forget the past favors. The silver-haired youth under the parasol remained silent for a moment, then nodded, but changed the subject.

"I heard you encountered some trouble at the King's Landing port?"

Recalling the recent incident, Prince Doran's eyes lowered, but he showed no anger, merely nodding in acknowledgment.

"They attacked the Prince!"

"Your Grace!"

The Norvosi standing behind Prince Doran spoke with indignation.

They had traveled all the way from Sunspear to Dorne. Although the reason for their visit was somewhat embarrassing, Areo Hotah knew that the Prince had been eager to visit King's Landing to see his daughter and granddaughter.

Areo Hotah spoke up, and the white-robed female knight behind Viserys glanced at him. She had seen such bearded monks in Volantis. They were indeed skilled with their great axes.

"I will have the matter thoroughly investigated," Viserys replied calmly.

This incident was unexpected. Viserys, after all, was not omniscient. He hadn't anticipated such an event. However, it might not have been an accident but a deliberate provocation to agitate Prince Doran.

Imagine if Prince Doran had just arrived in King's Landing and was immediately attacked. Whether it was Prince Doran's order or Prince Quentyn committing a public murder, the situation could have escalated uncontrollably.

But without a thorough investigation, it's hard to say if someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes. However, Prince Doran's ability to remain calm in such a situation and prevent his son from acting rashly was truly admirable. Experience indeed brings wisdom.

"Is Aegon still a monk?"

Prince Doran had heard about the unrest in King's Landing and Aegon's alliance with the religious fanatics. Viserys had not been lenient; he had ruthlessly crushed the zealots, resulting in rivers of blood. Only then did peace return to King's Landing.

He had wanted to inquire about Aegon's identity directly. In his correspondence with his brother Oberyn, it had been mentioned that Aegon bore some resemblance to Rhaegar and Elia.

However, appearances can be subjective. Without modern verification techniques, it's hard to convince people based on mere words.

Yet, Viserys had accepted this nephew. Later, due to Aegon's firm belief in the Seven and his passion for religious affairs, Viserys even arranged for the High Septon to personally mentor him in the truths of the Faith of the Seven.

Now, Aegon had been a monk for many years, and his voice had gradually faded from the public.

Viserys nodded slightly. At that moment, a deep roar echoed from the sky above.

Prince Doran and his guard captain quickly looked up to see a magnificent red dragon descending from the heavens.

"Is this a dragon?"

The slender, graying man's usual calm demeanor vanished. He tried to stand from his wheelchair but was quickly supported by Areo Hotah. Prince Doran's eyes were filled with awe and admiration.

This red dragon, with its elegant yet fierce appearance, was a true behemoth, its length surpassing ten meters, making it a giant among many creatures, including humans.

The red dragon circled the sky, letting out a roar before landing beside Arianne, Sansa, and the playful silver-haired little girl on the lawn.

Arianne seemed calm, but Sansa was visibly nervous, clutching her dress. However, she wasn't overly frightened, having seen dragons before.

The young silver-haired girl, however, fearlessly ran over and hugged the red dragon's lowered head.

"This is too dangerous, Your Grace," Areo Hotah, supporting Prince Doran, said with evident concern on his face. He had always regarded Arianne as his own, and seeing her, Sansa, and the little princess beside a dragon was nerve-wracking.

But Prince Doran, standing with the help of Areo Hotah, was much calmer, even with his daughter and granddaughter so close to the creature.

"I've heard that Your Grace's mount, the black dragon Balerion, is over fifty meters long."

"Is this Rhaegal?"

Prince Doran, having spent most of his time in the Water Gardens, was seeing a dragon for the first time. The guards and citizens of King's Landing had grown accustomed to the sight of dragons soaring overhead, roaring as they went.

These dragons lived not far from King's Landing in the vast Kingswood. The environment there was tailored for the dragons, allowing them to hunt freely. If they fancied seafood, they could fly to the sea and catch it themselves. Thus, these dragons never disturbed human life.

"No, Father," Arianne replied. "She is not Rhaegal. She is Vhagar, Diana's chosen companion."