Chapter 7.2- The Seadragon's Roar

“That would be the bare minimum, considering that this is his war we are fighting, wouldn’t it?”

“A war for all of Westeros. The Stepstones pirates don’t discriminate between ships flying Velaryon flags or those flying Manderly or Redwyne flags.” I pointed out.

“Except that it was neither Manderly nor Redwyne appealed the King for leave to invade the islands, did they? No, it was Velaryon. And Velaryon wrote me for his help. Like it or not, this war is yours” He said. I nodded my head, ceding the point even if I was far from in agreement with him. I just knew that there was no point arguing on that point. Boremund was not the type of man that took being disagreed with well, so I made sure to save it for the most important points.

“Now that that is settled, we will expect proper compensation from the bounty of the Stepstones” I nearly scoffed outside but buried it with a scoff. Was this man actually an idiot? What bounty of the Stepstones? The Isles were barren storm washed stones with naught on them but pirates and idiots.

“I think we can arrange a suitable percentage for your people’s involvement” I said with a smile. Even 100% of 0 was still 0. I knew that he knew that the Stepstones were barren and worthless except for their position in his head, but someone like him cold not understand the importance of controlling a vital shipping lane like the Stepstones so he was probably thinking there was sone treasure there that Corlys was willing to bleed men for and wanted his share of it. With that context, it was not hard to see why he would have thought so to be honest. Westerosi Lords waged war for one of three reasons- pride, land, and power. He couldn’t imagine a war waged to make trade of all things easier especially when you considered just how little trading House Baratheon did.

“Good, now we’re speaking the same language. You will head out with Borros and five thousand of my personal levies to Tarth, where your father’s ships will be waiting to ferry you over to the Stepstones for the fighting about to begin. Now, do not forget that you are still my Son’s squire. Your father’s war or not, you will be representing House Baratheon there, and not House Velaryon, at least until my Son deems you worthy of a Knighthood” He said next before digging into his mutton with relish, not even paying me any further attention. I nodded, and turned back to my own food.

Neither Manfred nor Borros had paid us much attention once it was clear where the conversation was going. They didn’t care much about the terms under which House Baratheon fought in the Stepstones, only about whether they did or not.