Chapter 119 - White Harbor (III)
"I don't like being contrary, Prince Martell." Aenar spoke, looking coldly at Oberyn Martell.
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New Castle - Home of House Manderly.
At the Triton Court dinner table, in the Great Hall where House Manderly held its feasts and celebrations, the atmosphere was lively and slightly noisy.
Observing his court gathered in the north, Aenar had a satisfied look on his face.
Sitting on the White Harbor Throne, Aenar chewed on a piece of sheep meat while declaring to everyone: "We'll stay a few days to let the Red Legion and the Sardaukar rest. Then we'll leave without delay for Moat Cailin, where we'll meet the rest of the army."
"The food and weapons are ready to sustain a war for a year, as Your Grace ordered before leaving for Westeros." Oberyn informed, making Aenar nod in satisfaction.
Honestly, this amount of food and weapons was far from the total accumulated by the Red Faith over the last eight years. However, with the Long Night approaching, Aenar didn't want to waste food on a prolonged war.
He intended to end this war in at least a year and at most two. Even with dragons, conquest could not be rushed. He needed time to consolidate his rule in the Seven Kingdoms. After all, conquering wasn't just about taking land.
Dominating territories was easy; keeping them was difficult. Aenar needed to ensure that the nobles who submitted to him didn't betray him as soon as he turned his back on them. It had taken Aegon the Conqueror years to stabilize his rule and he had had to deal with countless rebellions.
Compared to this, Aenar felt that his conquest was relatively simple. Aegon I and Jaehaerys I had already solved many of the structural problems for him. Now it was a matter of restoring House Targaryen to the throne of Westeros.