Chapter 172: The Messenger of Light

"What does this have to do with the Lord of Light?"

Viserys tilted his head and asked the question, looking at Melisandre, the lady from Asshai.

He had watched this heart of a fallen star drop from the sky, almost hitting him, yet this woman claimed it was a gift from the Lord of Light?

Viserys had arrived too late, and the heart had been snatched up by a group of R'hllor's followers.

However, they did not have the fortune to enjoy it. Viserys had them all executed by the banks of the Rhoyne, their bodies thrown into the river, and the heart of the fallen star fell into his hands.

Could it be that the followers of R'hllor were the 'true god's' messengers sent to deliver this gift?

Viserys couldn't help but scoff at the thought.

He knew that this woman was fanatically devoted to the faith of R'hllor, and she did possess some genuine abilities. However, he hadn't expected Melisandre to attribute everything to her 'true god.'

"I never speak falsehoods."

Sensing Viserys' skepticism in his tone, Melisandre spoke solemnly, her face serious.

However, her beautiful appearance and alluring attire made it difficult to take her seriously.

"I can feel the blazing flames within this heart of a fallen star, and they rival the heat of the sun in the sky. This is the divine power of the great Lord of Light, R'hllor."

Melisandre's serious words left Viserys and Master Tobho in the room exchanging glances.

cough

It was then that Tobho Mott cleared his throat and spoke politely.

"My lady."

Master Tobho had come to Dragonstone for the first time and did not know Melisandre's name.

"I believe… this heart of a fallen star is a cold material?"

Tobho's hands were stiff and cold from touching it, nothing like the blazing flames Melisandre described, or anything that could rival the sun in the sky.

Master Tobho had heard the name 'Lord of Light' while in King's Landing, but the people there preferred to call him the 'Red God.'

The 'Mad King,' Viserys' father, had received followers of the Red God, but the red-robed priest, Thoros, had not shown the fire magic that Aerys II had anticipated.

This matter had caused quite an uproar at the time, with many followers of the Faith of the Seven protesting outside the Red Keep, demanding that the king drive away the deceitful foreigner and uphold the faith of the Seven.

And from the king's words… this woman seemed to be a priestess of the Red God?

"Ordinary people are born ignorant and cannot understand the greatness of the Lord of Light. But if you do not follow the Lord of Light, your ignorance will destroy you in the future."

Facing Master Tobho's rebuttal, Melisandre spoke calmly.

Her words left the bald-headed old blacksmith speechless, surprised by the sharp and poisonous tongue of the Red Priestess.

"I don't know whether ordinary people are ignorant or not, but it feels cold to the touch!"

Although Master Tobho had never seen a heart of a fallen star, such a priceless material, before.

He had heard that the legendary sword 'Dawn' of House Dayne was forged from the heart of a fallen star, its blade pale as milky white glass.

However, in his own area of expertise, Master Tobho would not tolerate being questioned by others. Moreover, Viserys was present, and he did not want the king to underestimate him, eventually entrusting the precious heart of a fallen star to someone else to forge.

Master Tobho believed that the essence of the heart of the fallen star was too cold, perhaps containing cold magical power, similar to enchanted Valyrian steel.

He wanted to use some warm materials as auxiliary materials for forging the divine sword, so that the sword's resilience could reach the highest level, indestructible, and capable of cutting through iron like mud.

...

Now the old blacksmith's temper flared up, and he wanted to have a good debate with this red priestess.

However, Melisandre, seeing Master Tobho's face turning red with determination, spoke with a calm voice.

"Master Tobho Mott, do you not know that when people freeze to death, they actually feel very warm?"

"You..."

Tobho Mott was rendered speechless by Melisandre, while Viserys stood nearby, watching the two argue with great interest and not interrupting.

Eventually, seeing that the old blacksmith was left speechless by Melisandre, Viserys turned to the priestess and asked,

"Melisandre, what do you want to do?"

Viserys was curious as to why Melisandre would suddenly involve herself in this matter.

However, he did not think she had any ill intentions.

It seemed that she truly believed that he was the so-called 'savior' who would save the world in the future, the true king representing fire and light.

And not Stannis, whom she was originally supposed to support.

In this era, Stannis had just acquired the impoverished Dragonstone, and Viserys had left him with nothing.

All the wealth, precious books, dragon bones, a large amount of dragonglass, and even stone-like dragon eggs accumulated by House Targaryen over generations had been moved from Dragonstone to Andalos by Viserys in just a few years.

Therefore, when Viserys heard that Stannis was living a miserable life now, it was worse than when he had been living at Storm's End and King's Landing before retaking Dragonstone.

Now, Stannis's entire family and soldiers who followed him were tightening their belts to make ends meet.

"Of course, I want to help the true king forge the 'Lightbringer.'"

Upon hearing Viserys's question, Melisandre answered without hesitation.

She did not dare to argue with Viserys using the same words she had used against Master Tobho, but spoke seriously.

However, Viserys looked at her in disbelief.

"You can swing a hammer?"

Viserys examined the beautiful woman, especially her slender arms. It was hard to imagine Melisandre, this woman, working shirtless in a blacksmith's shop, sweating and swinging a heavy hammer.

"Uh..."

Viserys's words left the eloquent Melisandre speechless, her expression seemingly at a loss. She stared at Viserys's cheek for a long time before slowly continuing.

"I'm sorry to disappoint Your Grace, but I cannot swing a hammer."

"I just want to provide some assistance in forging the 'Lightbringer.'"

Melisandre did not specify what help she wanted to provide.

At the same time, she insisted that the heart of the red comet could forge the 'Lightbringer' without explaining why.

Viserys, after considering her request for a moment, nodded in agreement.

"Alright."

Just then, a guard hurried in from outside.

"Your Grace."

He then whispered a few words into Viserys's ear.

Viserys's expression first revealed slight surprise, and then he turned his head in disbelief.

"What? The tombs have been dug up?"

"Who did this? Who bears such a deep grudge?"

...