The Crownlands ― Rook's Rest…
Rhaenys quickly wrote several letters with a sense of urgency and sealed them with hot wax before entrusting them to the messengers of House Velaryon and dismissing them. The letters were assigned to the messengers of House Velaryon because of the urgent nature of the situation. She had discovered a plot by the Caltrops that was even more aggressive than their previous attempts, and the Crownlands were going to be invaded again, with Rook's Rest being identified as a primary target. Ser Criston Cole would lead the vanguard, while traitors Aegon and Aemond would take to the skies with their dragons, Sunfyre and Vhagar. Unfortunately, Sunfyre still hadn't recovered from the injuries sustained during the failed attempt to seize Duskendale. Vaelor had severely burned Sunfyre's back legs and tail with flames, while one of his wings was nearly crippled from the fall while trying to escape. This would undoubtedly make Sunfyre an easy target.
As the impending battle loomed closer, Meleys the Red Queen could sense the danger that emanated from Vhagar's deafening roar. Rhaenys was acutely aware that Vhagar was the largest and deadliest dragon of them all, and she prepared herself for what could potentially be a bloody fight. She knew that Meleys had a slim chance of defeating Vhagar in a one-on-one battle, but the real threat lay in the possibility of both Vhagar and Sunfyre attacking together, which would be fatal even for her. Furthermore, Aemond was a more dangerous and skilled warrior than his older brother, Aegon. Rhaenys understood that facing him alone would be a considerable challenge, even for an experienced dragonrider such as herself. Therefore, she concluded that if she wanted to defend Rook's Rest and stand a chance against the Targaryen army, she would need help.
"Princess, Lord Staunton has been informed of the enemy's advance," a scout from House Velaryon reported. "The gates of Rook's Rest have been closed, the citizens evacuated, and the walls manned. However, it will take time for reinforcements from Rosby, Stokeworth, and Duskendale to arrive as they have not yet recovered from the previous attack."
"How many men does Ser Criston have?" Rhaenys inquired.
"Over 100 knights and 500 men-at-arms, along with 1,800 hardened sellswords. This number is significantly less than what the Caltrops had when they swept through Rosby, Stokeworth, and at Duskendale. We suspect that by bringing Vhagar into the equation, the battle will cause substantial damage on our side. Princess, we need additional dragons if there is any hope of defeating her."
"I know. Let's hope the next generation answers our call. Return to King's Landing―tell my husband to have the Velaryon fleet ready to mobilize. I'll hold them off as long as I can."
"A-As you wish, princess."
With a watchful eye, Rhaenys observed the scout hastening away with a sense of urgency, his legs carrying him as fast as they could. It had been precisely nine days since the Queen Who Never Was had issued an early warning to House Staunton, and now Rhaenys was left to fend off the impending invasion force of the Caltrops. She hoped reinforcements would arrive in time, but she couldn't help feeling uncertain about Aeonar, given his deteriorating mental state. Nevertheless, though she was half-Baratheon by birth, the blood of Old Valyria coursed through her veins. As a descendant of Aegon the Conqueror himself and the granddaughter of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Rhaenys was confident that the younger Targaryen dragonriders would be more likely to come to her aid, and she remained steadfast in her determination. Dragons fighting dragons. It was exactly as you feared, grandfather: the only thing that can tear down the House of the Dragon… is itself. What will be left of the realm to claim after we have ravaged it?
"*Grrrrrrrrr!*" Meleys hissed.
As Rhaenys prepared for battle, she meticulously donned her steel and copper armor, ensuring every buckle and strap was securely fastened. Determined, she mounted her dragon and settled herself firmly in the saddle. Before taking flight, she cast a final glance over her shoulder, catching a glimpse of the distant shores of Driftmark from atop the high hills. Corlys… it's up to them now. The Queen Who Never Was had vivid recollections of her youth as a princess of the powerful Targaryen dynasty, one of the top two contenders for the Iron Throne during the Great Council in 101 AC, how she later bore two children and became a grandmother, evidencing the maturity and wisdom she had gained through the years. However, as Rhaenys considered the looming battle ahead, she could not be sure whether she would emerge victorious or succumb to her fate.
Nevertheless, if death were her outcome, she was determined to take as many of her adversaries with her as possible.
"Sōvēs, Meles! (Fly, Meleys!)" Rhaenys commanded in High Valyrian.
"*RAAAAAAAAAA!"*
With a resounding burst of energy from her mighty wings, Meleys swiftly ascended into the open skies above. As one of the fastest dragons in all of the Seven Kingdoms, the Red Queen fearlessly soared towards the impending battlefield, ready to unleash her fiery wrath upon any who dared to challenge her power.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Aegon was in a bad mood throughout the arrival of the Caltrops host, who noticed that Rook's Rest was already prepared for a siege. The soldiers realized they had arrived too quickly. Drums were sounded, and archers rapidly advanced, with longbowmen and crossbowmen preparing their arrows and bolts. Scorpions were pointed upward to shoot iron bolts that had once felled Meraxes in Dorne in case the Blacks unleashed their dragons. Invading the Crownlands again was risky, especially after the failed attempt at Duskendale. The Caltrops had to retreat and regroup. With the Blacks controlling Harrenhal and King's Landing heavily defended, Criston's men tried to destabilize them. The Caltrops' Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and Hand of the King had preemptively burned the fields and killed Lord Staunton's smallfolk and livestock to starve the garrison. Nevertheless, Rook's Rest still had a small port by the harbor, meaning they would arrive in force if the Velaryon fleet set sail.
Sunfyre let out a pained hiss, his sharp teeth nibbling at the inflamed, potentially infected, scorched golden scales covering his backside. After his harrowing brush with death against Vaelor, the young dragon was forced to seek refuge from the danger the Swiftrunner posed. However, in his haste to escape, Sunfyre had landed in an unfortunate spot and had taken a nasty tumble, almost causing a permanent injury to his mighty wings. With a gentle touch, Aegon carefully wiped away the soot and grime that had accumulated on Sunfyre's scales, helping to soothe the dragon's discomfort.
"Daemon has the Riverlands. We have to face him, dragon against dragon," Ser Emory Hill beseeched.
"No," Criston declined. "Not at this time. We must first diminish the enemy's number of dragons before we can consider reclaiming Harrenhal."
"Our scouts report that Rhaenys is nearby," Aemond declared. "Ensure the scorpions are accurately angled and maintain focus on the target. Under no circumstances should any of us be inadvertently targeted. You risk hitting us instead of them."
Aegon pats the neck of his golden dragon affectionately. "The realm must see me on Sunfyre and remember the reason why House Targaryen rules Westeros!" he exclaimed.
Emory, however, had his concerns. "You must not risk yourself in a dragon battle, Your Grace. It's too dangerous."
"You dare?! I am the blood of Aegon the Conqueror. I will not hide while others fight for me. Sunfyre is young and strong; he will guard me well." Aegon wasted no time departing with his dragon Sunfyre to join forces with his troops and commence the attack on Rook's Rest. His mind was focused on the task at hand, and he left no room for any dissenting opinions or hesitation. His men, however, noticed Sunfyre flying rather clumsily through the air.
"Ugh, he's going to get himself killed," Criston groaned.
« A warrior wouldn't say otherwise if he didn't have the skill nor the confidence to back it up. The same goes for me. So, I trained hard with the sword and bow every day, evaluate my strengths and weaknesses, push myself to go beyond my limits, and rid myself of any flaws I once had in the past to ensure I wouldn't lose to Daemon again. »
Aemond gazed at his brother with a disapproving expression. "It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone," he remarked with a hint of disappointment. "He was always frivolous and careless, never taking anything seriously. Even after our… 'esteemed' brother castrated him, he still hasn't learned his lesson. Instead, he continues to make mistakes that cause us more losses than gains. Now here we are, ever the good soldiers, once again, to clean up the mess caused by his actions."
"I know what it is to toil for what others are freely given."
« But if there is a challenger who can defeat me, I will gladly hand over the reins. »
Reflecting on his journey, Aemond reminisced on the invaluable advice bestowed upon him by Aeonar when he was a child. Over the last six years, he committed to embodying and applying those teachings to his everyday life. "Mm. You're a decent man, Cole, with no taste for depravity. The same goes for me," he told him. "Begin the advance. And wait for the right time to strike. This won't go over like last time."
"*Ruuuuuuuuuuhhh!*" Vhagar growled gutturally.
As Criston watched Aemond take flight atop Vhagar, he unsheathed his sword and signaled his troops to charge. "All forces, begin the attack!" he ordered.
At the predetermined signal, the Caltrop forces charged ahead towards Rook's Rest, their battle cry reverberating throughout the surrounding lands. The scene was one of absolute chaos and panic as the archers stationed on the fortress's battlements reacted swiftly, unleashing a storm of arrows upon the approaching soldiers. In retaliation, the invading army launched a fierce counterattack, utilizing their long-range artillery to shoot arrows from their longbows and crossbows and employ catapults to hurl massive stones and boulders at the castle walls.
As the battle raged on, the soldiers under the command of Ser Criston proceeded to set fire to more of House Staunton's fields and pillage the nearby villages around Rook's Rest. In the face of this brutal onslaught, Lord Staunton had no choice but to retreat within the safety of his castle walls. He fervently prayed to the Seven Gods for reinforcements to arrive and save his lands. Despite the odds stacked against them, Lord Staunton and his men displayed unwavering courage and determination as they bravely fought against the invaders, determined to safeguard their homes at all costs. This brutal siege persisted for almost a fortnight, with Lord Staunton and his men fighting relentlessly against the enemy's forces.
Following a lengthy siege, Criston was suddenly alerted to the unmistakable sound of leathern wings resonating across the vast sea. Quickly turning his head, he was met with the awe-inspiring sight of the dragon Meleys gliding gracefully toward Rook's Rest. Known as the Red Queen, this ferocious beast boasted a vibrant exterior of scarlet scales and membranous wings tinged with hues of pink. Her formidable crest, horns, and claws gleamed brilliantly like polished copper. At the same time, her back bore Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen Who Never Was, her armor shimmering radiantly in the sun's warm glow. Despite Meleys' presence, Criston remained steadfast and composed, for he had anticipated the arrival of a dragon all along. There you are. "Engineers, to the scorpions! Shoot that dragon out of the sky!" he commanded.
As Cole looked on, teams of powerful horses were brought forward to drag out three massive scorpion bolt launchers. Despite being more at home on the battlefield than with books, Cole was well-read and recognized the design of these scorpions. They were reminiscent of the ones that had taken down both Meraxes and the first Rhaenys over a century ago. In anticipation of the coming battle, Cole had already promised a considerable reward of one hundred gold pieces to whoever landed the killing blow with one of these deadly siege weapons.
"Dracarys!" Rhaenys commanded.
On cue, Meleys arrived, swiftly flying past them, incinerating the area with dragonfire.
"She's targeting the scorpions!" the Caltrops shouted.
"Nock! Draw! Loose!"
Dozens of arrows lodge in Meleys's hide but don't slow her. In fact, the arrows only served to make her angry. In response, her answering wave of fire kills a hundred men! She swooped down, unleashing torrents of fire to both her right and left, engulfing knights and their horses in raging infernos. Even the men-at-arms were not spared as they dropped their spears and scrambled to evade the dragon's wrath. Some tried to defend themselves with their armor, but the dragon's fiery breath proved too powerful for their defenses, leaving them defenseless and vulnerable.
Ser Criston sat on his white horse, shouting, "Aim for the rider!" through the smoke and flame.
"*RAAAAAAAAAAA!*"
Amidst the chaos of battle, Meleys let out a deafening roar, smoke billowing out from her flared nostrils. In her powerful jaws, she held a stallion, its legs kicking frantically in a futile attempt to free itself. With a swift motion, the Red Queen bit down, rending the horse in twain. Consuming the lower half in one gulp, she tossed the upper half aside with disdain. Her eyes blazing with fury, Meleys turned her attention to the soldiers before taking to the skies again. Arrows and crossbow bolts rained down upon her, but she deftly evaded them, swerving and dodging like a dancer. Even the deadly scorpion bolts failed to find their mark as she soared through the sky, a true queen of the skies. She moved like a freshly shot arrow in the air, a red blur that was here one moment and gone the next.
Princess Rhaenys called out from her saddle in a firm, authoritative voice. "Dracarys!"
Meleys, with great intensity, opened her jaws and released a ferocious blaze of pink-red flames that fiercely engulfed the ground beneath her. The sudden attack caused Caltrops and the others to panic as they scrambled to find safety. Sadly, some were not quick enough to evade the deadly inferno, and their lives were extinguished in seconds. Meanwhile, from the top of the walls of Rook's Rest, the defenders loudly cheered for the Queen Who Never Was, pleased with her display of power.
Their initial admiration, however, was soon short-lived.
"*RUUUUUUUU!*"
"*RAAAAAAA!*"
Two more winged shapes emerged from the skies to join the fray: Aegon astride Sunfyre the Golden and his brother Aemond upon the powerful Vhagar. Criston Cole had sprung his trap with precision and cunning, and Rhaenys had come snatching at the bait. Now, the teeth closed around her. Rhaenys turned her head to see the frame of Sunfyre rapidly descend towards her with his foot claws fully extended. Rhaenys, however, was more than ready. There you two are… With a firm grip on the reins, she swiftly pulled them to the left, causing Meleys to take evasive action and skillfully avoid the sharp claws of the formidable golden beast.
"*Reeeeee!*" Sunfyre screeched.
Rhaenys bravely stood her ground, refusing to flee from the impending danger. With a resounding cry of determination and a sharp crack of her whip, she swiftly directed Meleys towards the approaching draconic duo. Although she may have had some chance against Vhagar alone, facing both Vhagar and Sunfyre together meant her fate was sealed. However, Rhaenys remained steadfast in her main objective: to buy enough time for reinforcements to arrive. Utilizing Meleys's speed and agility, the Red Queen deftly maneuvered past Sunfyre and Vhagar, narrowly evading their sharp claws, ferocious teeth, and deadly dragonfire.
Nevertheless, the two dragons aggressively pursued Meleys, relentlessly attacking her with razor-sharp claws and scorching flames. Amidst the turmoil of the battlefield, the dragons clashed in a violent meeting a thousand feet above. Explosions of fiery balls erupted and blossomed, illuminating the sky with such intensity that the onlookers later recounted the experience as if the heavens were filled with multiple suns.
"Dracarys!"
Red Keep ― Maegor's Holdfast…
"That murderous, self-serving son of a bitch! I still can't believe he was right under our noses the whole time," Aegon the Younger cursed. Upon learning that Larys Strong was the mastermind behind the tragic fire at Harrenhal, which resulted in the loss of both his father, Lord Lyonel, and older brother, Ser Harwin, the young Targaryen prince was overcome with a profound sense of repulsion and mortification. It was beyond comprehension that the Clubfoot would resort to such treacherous acts of kinslaying solely to claim power for himself.
"How could we not see it?" Viserys contemplated.
"None of us saw it coming," Jacaerys informed his cousins. To disseminate crucial information, Jace deemed it necessary to share his reports with the small council and the crown. However, despite his efforts, he couldn't shake off the nagging suspicion that the incident from six years ago was not a coincidence. With Jaehaerys uncovering the truth, it only validated the long-held belief of many within the Blacks' inner circle. "But Lord Larys won't be able to talk his way out of this one now."
"You're right. He'll pay for what he's done. I'll feed him to Corxes myself."
"Aegon," Viserys interjected, "who knows what else he's privy to. We kill him now, and we'll lose our only chance of discovering more."
"You'd really think he'd willingly sell out his conspirators just to save his own skin? Viserys, this is murder! You want him dead just as much as I do."
"Yes, I know that, but not yet. Not until he's told us everything! Bring him back to the capital in chains so we can interrogate him, put him on trial for his crimes against the realm. And then we'll execute him, to show the Seven Kingdoms that we don't need to stoop to their level of cruelty to set things right."
"I agree," Jacaerys concurred. "As much as I really want Larys Strong to suffer for what he's done to our family, we can't uncover more of Beatrice's secrets if he's dead."
"Fuck!" Aegon spat.
Aemma was struggling to comprehend the sheer magnitude of events unfolding before her very eyes. The Targaryen princess felt utterly powerless in the face of rampant death, deceit, and corruption. Despite her family's best efforts to quell the chaos, there always seemed to be new obstacles and adversaries to overcome. Ever since the passing of her grandfather, the tragic loss of her youngest brother, and her father's descent into madness, Aemma had been compelled to take on a greater role. She knew she could no longer remain a naive and helpless girl. She was a Targaryen, a princess, and a dragonrider - she had a duty to act!
"So what's our next move?" Aegon pressed.
"We've heard some rumors from― Wait. What's that?" Jacaerys looked out the window.
Aegon, Viserys, Aemma, and Jacaerys observed a faint glimmer of smoke rising from beyond the Blackwater. The fact that it wasn't present previously had caught their attention. However, an unsettling feeling stirred within them, indicating that something was amiss.
"Yeng shijetra hakotan syt. (Forgive me for the interruption.)" one of the Lykirī Mēre agents arrived with a scroll in hand. "Velario vala jāeltan bisa tepan. (A Velaryon scout wanted to give you this.)"
Upon receiving the scroll, Aemma carefully broke the wax seal and proceeded to read its contents. As it turned out, House Velaryon had sent word that Princess Rhaenys had urgently requested reinforcements in light of the Caltrops' recent incursion into the Crownlands. Apparently, the invaders had even launched an assault on Rook's Rest. However, what caught Aemma's attention were the sightings of Aegon the Elder and Aemond, both mounted on their respective dragons. This was undoubtedly a dire situation, and Aemma knew that House Targaryen had to respond. Despite the possibility that this could all be a trap, the idea of abandoning their own kin was simply unthinkable.
"What is it?" Viserys inquired.
"Rook's Rest is under attack!" Aemma exclaimed. "He… He's there with Aemond. And their dragons, too."
"What?!" Aegon shouted. He had an inclination of who his sister-wife was referring to.
"Y-You're sure?" Jacaerys asked for clarification.
"Yes, I'm sure. Princess Rhaenys is stalling for time, but she won't last long unless we help her!"
"Has word been sent?"
"Driftmark is mobilizing a small naval relief force, but it won't be enough to save Rook's Rest. Our dragons are needed," Aemma replied as she, Aegon, and Viserys hurried to the outer courtyard where their dragons were waiting. "We need to act fast! The winds are in our favor, blowing from the southeast. If we hurry, we might be able to make it to Rook's Rest before it's too late!"
"I hope Rhaenys can hold out long enough," Viserys panted.
Nearby, Silverwing, Corxes, and Maelyx heard their riders' hurried footsteps from afar. With their keen senses, the dragons quickly discerned the urgency in the movements of their human companions. Each dragon growled and assumed a protective stance, ready to assist their riders immediately. As the Targaryen royals approached, they wasted no time mounting their loyal dragons and securely fastening themselves onto them. The anticipation for the impending mission was palpable, and the dragons and their riders were prepared for whatever lay ahead.
"Wait!" Jacaerys arrived. "What about the king and queen?"
"Father will understand, but try to ease mother's worries," Aegon informed him.
"I understand your concern, but I cannot help but worry. What if something were to happen to you out there? Your parents have already lost Daeron. I cannot fathom what they'll feel if something happens to you."
"Jace," Aemma said, "if it were you or Luke out there, and you needed our help, you know we wouldn't hesitate to come to get you. That's just who we are as a family. You know that." She detected that Jacaerys wanted to join them. "Don't worry. We'll be fine."
"I know it's hard, cousin," Viserys replied. "But we've been through tough situations before and always come out on top. This is what we've been trained for. We've got each other's backs, and that's what matters most."
Jacaerys nodded, his expression still tense. "I know, but I just can't shake this feeling of dread." He sighed. "Just… take care of yourselves out there."
"You as well, cousin."
Aemma exhaled. By the gods, she was nervous. But she couldn't back down now. "Sōvēs, Gēltīkun! (Fly, Silverwing!)" she urged.
"Sōvēs, Korksys! (Fly, Corxes!)"
"Sōvēs, Melex! (Fly, Maelyx!)"
As the trio of dragons prepared to take flight, Silverwing, the largest of the three, took the lead with Corxes and Maelyx close behind. The urgency of their task was palpable, as they knew that Aemma, Aegon, and Viserys were on their way to what promised to be a brutal battle in the midst of the Dance of the Dragons. With precision and determination, the dragons soared through the sky, their wings beating in perfect unison as they raced against the clock to reach their destination. Despite the gravity of the situation, the dragons remained poised and focused, ready to do whatever it took to protect the Targaryen family.
Harrenhal ― Outer courtyard…
Jaehaerys and Baela dedicated their time to thoroughly examining detailed maps of the surrounding areas of the Riverlands. Despite the daunting task ahead of them, it was the Prince of Dragonstone who took charge and led the relief efforts with great courage and determination. As refugees sought refuge and shelter, more and more factions began to align themselves with the Blacks, arriving at Harrenhal with their troops in tow. Amidst all the chaos and uncertainty, Jaehaerys and Baela remained steadfast in their commitment to aiding those in need.
"Prince Jaehaerys, the Twins's levies will be arriving soon," Lady Sabitha Frey informed him. Lady Sabitha, a noblewoman from House Vypren, took command of the Frey troops after her husband, Lord Forrest Frey, fell in battle against the Caltrops during the Battle by the Lakeshore. Although their young son took over as Lord of the Crossings, Lady Sabitha proved herself to be a capable leader.
"Good. Have your men stationed at these locations," Jaehaerys pointed at key areas across the map surrounding Harrenhal.
"We'll do what we can, but I make no promises." Sabitha left to mobilize House Frey's troops.
While Jaehaerys and Baela surveyed the map, they were approached by one of the Lykirī Mēre's undercover agents. Although Baela was not certain what to make of them, Jaehaerys knew them well enough to know when something important was heading his way. They spotted a scroll, though Baela recognized the wax seal; the cerulean colors of House Velaryon. Breaking the seal, Jaehaerys read the message with Baela looking over his shoulder. Upon reading it, both were disturbed.
"Grandmother's in danger!" Baela realized.
Rhaenys! Without wasting any time, Prince Jaehaerys skillfully navigated his way past the scouts and soldiers, his movements displaying remarkable agility. To others, he looked like a blur. The Silver Dragon was on the move. He was headed straight toward his dragon, Vermithor. The Bronze Fury let out a low, rumbling growl as the young prince deftly mounted his saddle, ensuring that he was securely fastened in with the straps before giving Vermithor the signal to take flight. "Sōvēs, Vērmithari! (Fly, Vermithor!)"
"*Gruuuuuuuh!*" The elder dragon stretched his massive wings, the muscles rippling under his shimmering bronze scales, before launching himself forward with a breathtaking burst of strength and speed, soaring towards their destination with the effortless grace of a true master of the skies.
As Baela observed Vermithor taking flight from the grounds of Harrenhal, she made her way toward Moondancer. However, before she could reach her own dragon, she was halted by the presence of her father, Prince Daemon, who intercepted her path.
"You leave now, and you'll only be a hindrance," Daemon stated with a firm tone. While he had full faith in his daughter's skills as a dragonrider, he knew that Baela and her dragon Moondancer were no match for larger dragons.
"But grandmother will die if I don't go!" Baela protested.
"And you and Jaehaerys will both die if you go. How can he fight if he's concerned about you? He won't concentrate unless he's free from distractions. Let him be." Daemon could see his daughter's rebellious flames in her eyes. "Trust me. You'll get your chance sooner than you might think."
Chapter End
Author's Note: Per request, the long-awaited Battle of Rook's Rest has arrived and will be broken down into multiple parts. Both the Blacks and Caltrops again meet in battle, but Criston isn't alone: Aegon the Elder and Aemond are with him, along with Sunfyre and Vhagar. Although this deviates from the original canon, Rhaenys is instead using Meleys's speed to hold off the two dragons long enough for help to arrive? Do you think the Red Queen has what it takes? Aemma, Aegon the Younger, Viserys, and Jaehaerys are each on their way to the battlefield with their dragons. Who will get to Rook's Rest first? Find out next time.
C.E.W: Battle of Rook's Rest has arrived at last, the Caltrops have begun their attack. Now, Rhaenys on Meleys is caught in a fight against two dragons, Vhagar ridden by Aemond, and Sunfyre ridden by Aegon the Elder. Aegon the Elder and Sunfyre shouldn't be much of a problem, but Vhagar definitely will be. Meleys however is faster, more agile and Rhaenys has more experience at dragon riding so she has a shot at holding out before reinforcements arrive.
From what I can tell looking at the map, King's Landing and Harrenhal are equally distant from Rook's Rest. Jaehaerys riding Vermithor is coming from Harrenhal, Vermithor might be a strong, powerful dragon but is not known for speed. Odds are, Aemma riding Silverwing, Aegon the Younger riding Corxes, and Viserys riding Maelyx will get to Rook's Rest first, especially with the wind on their side.
Questions:
Is King Aeonar aware of Rook's Rest?
―He was a spymaster for many years, so of course he knows
Given the wind blowing from southeast, wouldn't that delay Jaehaerys on Vermithor?
―On the eastern coast, sure.
Why isn't Daemon joining Jaehaerys to Rook's Rest?
―Someone needs to hold Harrenhal
How many sellswords do the Caltrops have under their command?
―1,800
What's the current status of the Westerlands since Jason Lannister's death?
―In turmoil, since Tyland isn't there and Jason's son is still an infant
randomdude24: I'm not sure how I feel about Rooks Rest, Rhaneys knows it's a trap and requests reinforcements by buying time, which is good. However, all of Aeonar children are heading to the battle, I feel if they all get their it can turn the tides, but this puts them at risk, now anyone of them can die. Hopefully, it doesn't come to that.
Question about this battle, so the Caltrops have 1800 men combined with the scorpion. How many scorpions do they have for this battle? Have any been destroyed?
―20 scorpions, 7 destroyed so far. Hard to concentrate on them when you've got 2 other dragons coming at you.
How badly injured is Sunfyre? Seems he's nothing but a casualty waiting to happen.
―His wounds he got from Vaelor have gotten infected.
One last question, I went back and reread trials and tribulations of the oathkeeper, which is my favorite out all your stories! I just wonder if Aeonar will have a near death experience like Daveth did and come to realize his mistakes, or is that too out of character for him?
―I've got something in store, but it'll be quite a few chapters down the road. Other than that, I can't spoil anything. These things are subject to change.