In the glorious afterglow of the setting sun, Samwell and his fiancée, Margaery, arrive at the docks of Starfall City.

Natalie Dane has been waiting on the docks with someone for a long time.

Watching Samwell carry Margaery down the gangway, Natalie's eyes flashed with a hint of loss, but soon, she pulled herself together, smiled politely, and stepped forward to greet her.

"Welcome to Starfall City, Lord Caesar, Miss Margaery!"

"Why are you so outward, called Sam." Samwell stepped forward and habitually rubbed Natalie's hair.

This familiar gesture and tone made Natalie instantly jump, and the loss and sorrow after hearing the news of the engagement disappeared, and a sweet smile was put on her delicate face again.

"Natalie, long time no see!" Margaery stepped forward and hugged Natalie and kissed her on the cheek, "You've gotten prettier!" Especially the dress you chose, it goes well with your purple eyes. ”

"Really?" Natalie found herself completely unable to be mad at Margaery, "My mother chose the dress for me. ”

"Lady Asyra has such a vision! Can you ask her to help me choose a scarf? The winds and sands of Dorne are always easy to blind my eyes. ”

"Absolutely."

Looking at the two girls who were like sisters again, Samwell secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

However, he was not surprised.

After all, in the original book, even the "Emperor of the Ages" Joffrey was obedient to Margaery's obedience, and the White Rabbit of Natalie's rank was not difficult for her at all.

Samwell summoned the acting lord of Starfall City, Jill Shard, and asked:

"Has Prince Dolang arrived?"

"His Royal Highness came to Starfall City three days ago."

"It's fast. What has he been doing in the past three days? Did you meet anyone? ”

"No, His Royal Highness has been in his room, and at most let the servants push the wheelchair around the courtyard a few times."

Samwell nodded silently.

Prince Dolang looked quite honest, and seemed to really want to see him.

When the group returned to the castle, Samwell washed up, changed his clothes, and went to Prince Dowland.

Originally, he wanted to leave Cleopatra in the care of Margaery, but after thinking about it, Samwell brought the white dragon with him.

By this time, Cleopatra had grown to the size of an eagle, and Samwell's shoulders were a little cramped for him.

The servant led Samwell to a courtyard by the sea, where a huge olive tree was planted, and Prince Dorant was sitting under it, staring at a chessboard of Sivas.

This was Samwell's first meeting with the ruler of Dorne.

I have to say, a little disappointed.

Prince Dolang did not have the domineering air of a ruler at all, on the contrary, he was puffy, his hair was gray, and his gout-stricken legs rested on a cushioned footstool, looking like a fragile old man.

Of course, Samwell didn't dare to underestimate this man.

If he really had to choose an enemy, he would rather face the "Red Viper" than face the seemingly weaker Dolang.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Prince Dolang turned his head, stared at it with misty eyes for a moment, and said:

"Is it Viscount Caesar? Sorry, I can't get up to greet you. ”

Samwell leaned over slightly: "Yes, Your Royal Highness, you don't have to be polite. ”

Prince Daolang nodded in greeting, then looked at the captain of the guard behind him, and said:

"Alio, let me speak to Viscount Caesar alone."

"Yes." Alio Hota turned away with his axe.

"It's beautiful." Prince Doran looked at the white dragon on Samwell's shoulder, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Thank you." Samwell said, "You came all the way from Yang Halberd City to see me, didn't you just want to catch a glimpse of the white dragon?" ”

"Of course not. But it's really mostly for it. Prince Dowran took a big sip of his glass in a trembling hand, then looked at Samwell, "Would you like some?" Pure Dorne red wine, I relied on it to relieve my pain and persist in living until now. ”

"No thanks." Samwell wouldn't drink the wine the Dornes offered, "I don't have any pain to relieve." ”

And he finally knew why Prince Daolang had such a severe gout.

"That's because you haven't been in this game long enough." Prince Daolang said leisurely, "When you, like me, stay in this cruel and bloody game for decades, and watch your former relatives, friends, vassals, and even enemies die one after another, you will be able to experience the pain of loneliness, and at that time, you will not be able to do without the comfort of red wine." ”

"Hopefully that day will come later." Samwell casually responded, then tried to get the conversation back on track, "I heard that the Martell family has made an alliance with the Lannisters?" ”

"Yes." "But you should be able to understand that this covenant was not our intention. ”

Samwell pouted, "Whether you're active or forced, you're really helping the Lannisters right now, right?" Otherwise, as long as you release back into the three realms of the Riverlands, Valleys, and Stormlands, the Lannisters will definitely be overwhelmed. ”

"But we're here to help you." Prince Daolang explained lightly.

Samwell raised his eyebrows: "Help me?" ”

"Isn't it?" Prince Dolang's red and swollen fingers played with a Sivas pawn, "Don't deny it, Caesar, although you outwardly support Stannis Baratheon's ascension to the Iron Throne, deep down you don't want to see him win.

I put the army of the Three Realms back, the Lannister family will not be able to cope with the fish, wolf, deer and eagle alliance in its heyday, and when Stannis becomes the master of the Seven Kingdoms, do you think he will be grateful for your support, or will he strangle you in the cradle? ”

Samwell smiled slightly: "It turns out that I have unknowingly owed you Martell family such a great affection." ”

"Needless to say. I just want to tell you that we are not enemies, but friends. ”

"Why do you want to help me?" Samwell stared into Prince Doran's eyes.

"Revenge." Prince Dao Lang said softly, as if he was afraid of being heard. "Justice." He showed Samwell the agate piece he was playing with, "Blood and fire." ”

It was a chess piece that symbolized the dragon.

Samwell's eyes narrowed: "By revenge, do you mean revenge against the Lannisters?" ”

"Yes. Tywin thought that by giving one of his dogs to the Martell family, we would be able to forget the hatred we had feuded back then. There was a chill in Prince Daolang's tone, "No. It's not enough. From the day I heard that my sister Elia and her children died tragically in King's Landing, I was committed to revenge on the murderers who caused it all.

The real murderer. It's not the executor of the 'Magic Mountain', but the giver of the order-

Tywin Lannister! ”

Samwell asked, "But I also killed your own brother 'Red Viper', why don't you take revenge on me?" ”

"It's not the same. You are the Oberon you killed on the battlefield, in an upright manner. So I don't hate you. And what Tywin did to my sister was murder, murder of the innocent! I'm going to make him pay the price of blood! ”

Samwell shrugged his shoulders and seemed to accept the reason, continuing to ask:

"And what about the justice you speak of?"

"The justice of Robert Baratheon, of course." "He is the king I have sworn allegiance to, and I cannot tolerate his throne being occupied by a wicked race," said Prince Dolang. ”

"What about blood and fire?"

Prince Dowran pointed to the white dragon on Samwell's shoulder: "You have a dragon." That's reason enough for the Martell family to bet on you. ”

"And what about the conditions of the Martell family?"

"Marry my daughter Arlene."

"I'm sorry." Samwell spread his hands, "I've made a marriage contract to Miss Margaery of House Tyrelle. ”

"I know. I am not asking you to repent of your marriage. Prince Dao Lang squeezed a smile on his face, "You can marry two." ”

"Marry two?" Samwell laughed, "The laws of Westeros only recognize monogamy. ”

"The law has always bound only the weak. Aegon Targaryen the Conqueror had two wives. You also have dragons, why can't you follow suit? Prince Daolang said, opening a wooden box on the table.

Samwell saw that the box contained a crown.

It is a ring-shaped crown of Valyrian steel, with edges as sharp as a sword, shimmering with a chilling shimmer in the sunlight, and set with large rubies, fiery red like a dancing flame.

"This is the crown that Aegon the Conqueror wore back then." Prince Dolang explained.

"How could it be in your hands?" Samwell stared at the crown with his eyes sunken.

Cleopatra also suddenly became agitated, flapping her wings and letting out a silent roar.

"This is a memento that Daeron I left here when he attacked Dorne for the second time." Prince Daolang's eyes were deep.

Samwell knew that Daren Targaryen, the "Young Dragon Lord", had died in the second attack on Dorne, and it seems that the crown from the "Conqueror" had fallen into the hands of the Martell family at that time.

"Do you want it?" Prince Daolang's tone carried a hint of temptation, "Marry my daughter, this crown is my wedding gift to you." ”

Samwell's heart unconsciously began to beat violently, but he calmed down and shook his head slowly.

"Why?" Prince Daolang was a little surprised.

Samwell asked, "How did the 'Young Dragon Lord' Daeron I die in Dorne?" ”

Prince Dolang was silent.

Samwell replied on his behalf: "When Daeron I attacked Dorne for the second time, he had already won and the Dornians had agreed to surrender, but when Daeron I came to accept his allegiance, the Dornish betrayed their promises and launched a surprise attack to kill him.

Your Highness Daolang, you tell me that the Dornish are so capricious, how can I trust you?

And this time, you've made an alliance with the Lannisters, but you turn around and think about how to backstab the lion, and I don't know if you'll sell me one day. ”

Prince Daolang sighed, a little helpless: "You rejected the kindness of the Martell family for this reason?" ”

"Oh, there's another reason."

"What?"

"I don't want to marry your daughter."

(End of chapter)