Rewriting Targaryen History

Four weeks passed before the Velaryon fleet reached the Honeywine.

The delay tested every promise I had made to the men inside Oldtown. I had told the guilds that their river would soon close, warned the city watch that no relief could reach them forever, and assured the Citadel that Ormund’s strength would diminish without an assault upon the walls.

Yet Redwyne ships continued entering beneath favourable winds, their holds carrying grain, salted meat, lamp oil, arrows, and whatever other supplies Oldtown could purchase from the Arbor.

The city saw those sails and continued to believe time belonged to it.

Our army remained fixed around the landward approaches. The arrival of Matthos Tyrell had raised our strength to nearly twelve thousand, enough to close the roads more tightly and maintain proper reserves behind the lines.

Tyrell soldiers occupied the western approaches, the Unsullied held the northern roads, and the Dread Legion covered the east alongside Bulwer companies whose knowledge of the surrounding estates made smuggling more difficult.

The encirclement had become orderly rather than complete.

Individual travellers still crossed fields under darkness. Fishermen knew streams and riverbanks our patrols could not watch every hour. Messages slipped through beneath grain sacks, inside hollow staffs, or in the memories of men who carried nothing written. A siege against a city as large as Oldtown could never become perfect through soldiers alone.

Wagons, formed companies, and substantial stores did not pass. The river remained the weakness.

Rhaenys and Addam patrolled the coast while we waited. Meleys could remain in the air longer and range farther, while Seasmoke possessed speed enough to inspect smaller vessels attempting to approach beneath cloud or darkness. Addam improved with every flight, though Rhaenys kept him from mistaking familiarity for mastery.

He learned to read the wind above water, where there were no fields or roads beneath him to measure direction. He practised descending towards ships without committing to the attack, then climbing before hidden scorpions or heavy bows could find an easy target. Seasmoke understood much of this already. The difficulty lay in teaching the rider to recognise what the dragon knew before instinct carried them both too close.

Rhaenys allowed no carelessness. "You are not learning to fly," she told Addam after one patrol ended with Seasmoke landing harder than intended beyond our eastern camp. "The dragon has known how to fly longer than any person in this army has been alive. You are learning how not to interfere with him at the moment a mistake kills you both."

Addam removed his riding gloves while Seasmoke settled behind him. "He turned before I gave the signal."

"He felt the crosswind change. You were still looking at the ship."

"I thought the sail mattered more."

"The sail cannot kill you if you fall into the sea before reaching it. When Seasmoke changes his balance, you feel what he is doing before deciding whether to resist."

Addam glanced towards the pale dragon. "He does not always make his intentions clear."

"Neither did Laenor. Seasmoke survived him all the same."

The mention of her son quieted the lesson, though Rhaenys did not retreat from it. Grief had not softened her standards. If anything, it had removed whatever patience she once possessed for avoidable risk.

Addam listened. That made him safer than most young dragonriders.

The Velaryon galleys were first sighted at dawn on the twenty-eighth day after Meleys and Seasmoke arrived.

Landrey brought the report to the command pavilion while mist still covered the low fields east of Oldtown. A mounted patrol near the coast had seen sails north-east of the river mouth, moving south-west in disciplined groups rather than the scattered approach of merchants.

Twenty-four war galleys had left Driftmark. Twenty-two arrived together. One had turned back after losing part of its mast during a storm, while another was believed several days behind with damage to its steering oar. The remaining ships sailed beneath the silver seahorse, their long hulls carrying marines, archers, and crews accustomed to fighting in the narrow waters around Driftmark.

Alyn had not come with them. He remained where he was needed most, controlling the harbour, keeping Vaemond’s remaining supporters under watch, and ensuring Driftmark did not empty itself for a single victory. The fleet was led by Captain Marq Waters, an older Velaryon bastard whose name appeared in several of Corlys’s old campaign records.

Rhaegar remained with Alyn.

His letters had arrived regularly enough to keep me from imagining disaster each morning. He spent his days inspecting dock watches, sitting through disputes between captains, and flying Vhalalor over the island’s approaches under orders not to range farther than sight of friendly ships. He complained once that Alyn made him listen to merchants argue about mooring fees.

I wrote back that this was the purest form of rulership and therefore a valuable lesson. His reply accused me of cruelty.

The galleys appeared beyond the river mouth shortly before midday. Men across the siege lines climbed earthworks and wagon beds to watch the silver sails approach. Oldtown saw them as well.

Bells sounded from the harbour towers, followed by horns carrying along the walls towards Battle Isle. The city’s river gates closed, and crews began moving scorpions upon platforms overlooking the Honeywine.

The Velaryon fleet did not enter the river.

Captain Marq knew better than to row beneath fixed engines before securing the outer water. His galleys formed a broad crescent beyond the mouth, far enough from Oldtown that the towers could not reach them. Smaller boats moved between ships carrying orders while signal flags rose and fell from the lead mast.

Rhaenys joined me upon the ridge overlooking the eastern fields. Meleys waited nearby, already saddled. Addam stood beside Seasmoke farther down the slope, speaking with one of Captain Marq’s messengers.

"The fleet can stop most large vessels from entering," Rhaenys said. "It cannot watch every fishing boat or shallow creek along the coast. The Redwynes will test the line before accepting it."

"They may send enough ships to break it."

"They may. The Arbor has more hulls than Driftmark sent here, although not all are warships and not all captains will risk dragonfire merely because Ormund asks."

"What does Captain Marq need?"

"Time to establish patrol lanes, anchorage, and signals with the shore. Your cavalry must guard the beaches and landing places north of the river. A ship denied entry may try unloading beyond the blockade and moving cargo overland."

"Landrey has already begun shifting riders towards the coast."

Rhaenys looked towards Seasmoke. "Addam will fly with me today. We will show the fleet that the dragons are present, but we will not approach Oldtown’s towers."

"He follows your command."

"He will, because I have explained what happens if he does not."

I had no reason to doubt her. Meleys and Seasmoke launched together. The Red Queen rose first, scarlet wings catching the sun as she climbed over the eastern camps. Seasmoke followed in a tighter spiral, pale against the blue above the Honeywine. Their shadows crossed the water before passing over the Velaryon formation.

The galleys answered by striking spear shafts against shields. The sound carried faintly to shore.

Oldtown’s bells continued ringing. By evening, the blockade had begun. Velaryon ships divided into rotating groups, some holding the river mouth while others patrolled the coast or rested farther north. Two galleys anchored near a sheltered inlet selected as the fleet’s temporary supply point. Tyrell engineers began constructing a protected landing area where water, arrows, and food could be moved between our camps and the ships.

The city was properly surrounded at last. Our soldiers held the roads and fields. The Velaryon fleet held the approaches by sea. Meleys and Seasmoke controlled the water beyond the range of Oldtown’s engines.

The encirclement was still not perfect. Nothing involving twelve thousand soldiers, a coastline, and a city of Oldtown’s size ever would be. Small boats might slip through during poor weather. Swimmers and fishermen could carry messages. A Redwyne captain willing to sacrifice ships might force a gap long enough for others to pass.

The movement of armies and substantial supplies had ended. Ormund now had to consume what remained inside the city.

The first challenge came three days later. Lookouts upon Velaryon masts sighted sails from the south-west shortly after sunrise. Signal flags rose above the blockade before a messenger galley raced towards the northern anchorage. By the time the report reached our pavilion, Rhaenys and Addam were already preparing their dragons.

A Redwyne force approached from the Arbor.

Captain Marq estimated fourteen warships accompanied by at least twenty supply vessels. The formation remained close to the coast, using morning haze and the darker line of land to obscure its size. The war galleys sailed ahead and upon both flanks, while the broader merchant hulls followed tightly enough to exploit any opening.

They had not come merely to deliver grain. They intended to break the blockade.

I rode with Landrey and a hundred Legion cavalry towards the coast, though we could do little from horseback unless ships attempted to land. Matthos sent Tyrell archers towards the prepared supply inlet, while Black Rat moved an Unsullied company to secure the nearest beach.

Dravvaxx remained beyond Oldtown.

I would not take him into another fight while his wing was still recovering, especially when two uninjured dragons and a fleet already guarded the water. His presence near the siege lines also ensured Ormund could not attempt a sortie while our attention turned towards the coast.

The sea battle began beyond sight of Oldtown’s river towers. The Redwyne warships advanced in two lines. Their oars extended like long legs upon either side, driving the ships forward despite the uncertain wind. Archers crowded their decks, and several vessels carried heavy bolt throwers mounted near the bows.

Captain Marq refused the centre.

The Velaryon blockade opened deliberately, drawing the Redwyne vanguard farther north and away from the river mouth. Six galleys withdrew before them while the rest of the fleet spread across the supply ships’ path. The manoeuvre appeared like weakness until the Redwyne warships committed to pursuit.

Then the dragons descended. Meleys came from the east with the sun behind her.

The Redwyne crews saw her too late to prepare a proper volley. A few arrows rose, followed by one heavy bolt that passed beneath her wing before striking the sea. Rhaenys kept Meleys above the first ship and continued along the line, forcing every deck to turn weapons towards her.

Seasmoke attacked from the opposite side.

Addam descended lower than Rhaenys, using the pale dragon’s speed to cross behind the leading galleys before their bow engines could turn. Seasmoke’s first breath of flame struck the oar deck of a Redwyne warship rather than its sail. Fire entered through the open ports, spreading among timber, benches, men, and the oil used to maintain the rowing gear.

The ship lost speed almost immediately. Its oars stopped upon one side while the others continued for several strokes, turning the burning hull across the path of the vessel behind it. The second galley struck its stern, splintering oars and trapping both ships beneath the smoke.

Addam climbed before the archers could recover. He had followed Rhaenys’s instruction. Strike once, climb, and never remain low because the first attack appeared successful.

Meleys turned above the leading line. Rhaenys chose the vessel carrying the largest bow engine. The crew had nearly completed its turn towards Seasmoke when the Red Queen came down upon them.

Her flame crossed the forward deck, consuming the scorpion, its crew, and the mast behind them. The sail caught as Meleys passed, fire racing upward through rigging before burning cloth fell across the men below.

The Redwyne formation began separating.

Signal flags rose desperately from the command galley. Several warships turned towards the dragons, trying to create overlapping fields of arrows and bolts. Others continued towards the Velaryon ships, unwilling to abandon the purpose of the attack after the first flames appeared.

Captain Marq closed upon them. Velaryon galleys that had withdrawn now turned together, their oars biting into the water as marines prepared grappling hooks and bows. The Redwyne ships found the enemy before them, burning vessels behind, and dragons circling above.

Meleys attacked again.

This time Rhaenys did not strike the centre of a ship. She swept flame across the water immediately ahead of two advancing galleys where oil jars had been thrown from Velaryon boats. The sea ignited in broken patches. The leading Redwyne vessel attempted to turn, colliding with its companion as both crews struggled to reverse oars.

Seasmoke chose one of the supply ships. The merchant crew lowered its sail and began turning away before Addam reached it. Men threw themselves flat or abandoned the deck entirely. Addam could have burned them.

He did not. Seasmoke passed low enough for the dragon’s roar to carry across the hull, then turned towards another vessel whose archers continued loosing upon the Velaryon line. That ship burned. The distinction travelled quickly through the Redwyne convoy.

Supply captains began lowering sails and striking colours. Some turned south. Others stopped entirely and waited for Velaryon boats to approach. The warships continued fighting because surrendering merchantmen left them with less to protect and fewer reasons to remain.

The Redwyne command galley nearly reached Captain Marq. Its bow crashed against a Velaryon hull, and men poured across grappling lines while arrows passed between decks at distances too short for shields to matter. The ships became locked together, their crews fighting around masts, ropes, and bodies falling into the water.

Rhaenys could not burn the Redwyne vessel without killing Velaryon men beside it. Addam saw the danger first. Seasmoke descended towards the stern rather than the crowded centre. He struck the Redwyne steering platform with flame, forcing the reserve archers and officers away from the rear deck. Addam then pulled him upward before the fire spread towards the joined hulls.

The interruption gave Captain Marq’s marines time to push forward. The Redwyne commander was killed near the mainmast. His banner fell soon after. The remaining warships began withdrawing.

Rhaenys allowed those turning south to flee until one attempted to circle behind the Velaryon blockade and reach the river mouth alone. Meleys overtook it easily. Her flame ran from stern to bow, leaving the ship burning while its crew jumped into the sea.

The lesson was understood. The survivors retreated towards the Arbor.

Three Redwyne warships burned beyond saving. Two were captured after their crews surrendered. Another sank after fire reached stores below deck. Several escaped damaged, carrying men who would spread the account more effectively than any raven.

Eleven supply vessels were taken intact. The rest turned south or grounded themselves along the coast, where Landrey’s riders and Tyrell soldiers later received their surrender. The captured holds contained grain, smoked fish, casks of oil, wine, bowstrings, spare weapons, and stone shot intended for Oldtown’s engines.

The supplies were added to our own stores.

The captured sailors were separated from officers, given water, and held near the coastal camp until Captain Marq could record names and ships. Men who had abandoned burning vessels were pulled from the sea wherever possible. Rhaenys ordered Velaryon boats to rescue Redwyne sailors even while the fighting continued.

Victory did not require drowning everyone who had lost his deck. The battle ended before midday. Smoke drifted towards Oldtown upon the wind.

From the city walls, the defenders could not have seen every movement beyond the coast, but they saw enough. Burning sails marked the horizon. Velaryon galleys returned to their positions towing captured ships, while Meleys and Seasmoke circled above them without injury.

The Redwyne attempt had failed.

Addam landed near the coastal command post with seawater darkening one side of Seasmoke’s pale scales. His face showed the strain of someone who had discovered that battle required more thought after the first fire than before it.

Rhaenys dismounted nearby. "You remained too low after the second attack," she told him. "The archers upon the next vessel nearly found the angle they needed."

"I thought Seasmoke could reach the command galley before it struck Captain Marq."

"He might have reached it. You would then have burned two ships locked together and killed the men you intended to save."

Addam looked towards the smoke upon the water. "I changed the attack."

"You did, which is why I am correcting you rather than arranging your burial. You saw the danger before committing to the flame. Remember how close you came to seeing it too late."

He accepted the criticism without defending himself.

"You performed well," I said. "That does not make Rhaenys wrong."

"I know. Seasmoke wanted to continue after the first ship burned. It was difficult to judge whether the urge came from him or me."

Rhaenys glanced towards the pale dragon. "It came from both of you. That is why a rider must learn restraint before dragon and rider teach one another appetite."

Addam placed a hand against Seasmoke’s neck. The dragon breathed smoke across the sand.

Rhaenys turned towards me. "The Redwynes will not challenge the blockade again soon unless they bring most of the Arbor’s war strength."

"Would they break through if they did?"

"They might overwhelm twenty-two galleys. They cannot easily protect a great formation from two dragons outside the range of Oldtown’s scorpions. Every ship they gather becomes another hull close enough for flame to spread."

"The Arbor may decide preserving its fleet matters more than preserving Ormund."

"That is what we need its captains to believe."

By evening, the blockade had returned to position. Captured ships joined the northern anchorage after their crews were removed. Damaged Velaryon galleys received repairs along the sheltered coast. Patrols extended farther south, supported by dragon flights that made concealment increasingly difficult.

Oldtown was properly enclosed. No army could enter by land. No supply convoy could approach by sea without confronting Velaryon ships, Meleys, and Seasmoke.

Dravvaxx still watched the walls from the northern ridge.

There had been no assault upon the city, no stones thrown against its towers, and no fire sent into its streets. The first true violence of the siege occurred beyond the Honeywine, where Redwyne captains chose to test the blockade and discovered that the water no longer belonged to them.

I sent another message to the city that night.

It listed the captured ships and supplies. It assured the merchant guilds that crews striking their colours would be spared. It reminded the Citadel and Faith that Oldtown remained untouched while Ormund continued refusing terms.

The final lines were addressed to every man upon the walls.

The roads are closed. The river is closed. No fleet will reach you without passing beneath the queen’s dragons. Open the gates, and Oldtown will keep its septs, libraries, homes, and lives.

Remain loyal to a dead king’s rebellion, and hunger will make the decision in your place.

The message was collected from beneath the eastern wall before dawn. For the first time since the siege began, Oldtown answered. Not through Ormund.

A white banner appeared above one of the lesser gates as the sun rose.