64 -Chapter 59-

-POV Corian-

"Captain-Commander, a messenger from the palace has arrived for you with an invitation to dinner at the Royal Palace," said my second with a letter still sealed with Aegon's seal.

'Always so keen on keeping us by his side'

Reading the invitation, which clearly had not been written by him but by his squire who had become his slave under the pretext of teaching him to write, something the kid already knew very well how to do since I had taught him.

Lately, things have been too peaceful apart from overseeing the recruitment and training of new recruits I was quite free with my time which allowed me to meet a lot of new people notably Prince Aegon, the Dornish half-brother of the King.

I was very quickly charmed by his personality as well as those of his cousins but unfortunately all of this evaporated the moment I left his manor, I knew perfectly why I was at the head of my soldiers and what would happen if I were to arouse suspicions in the mind of Aegon (the king).

-3rd POV-

In the royal dining room around a large table, big names from the army all gradually gathered, all with doubts in mind and scrutinizing each other with a certain expectation in their eyes.

The first to arrive were the Grand Admiral of the Royal Fleet Aurane Waters and the Chief of the Tenth Legion Ser Samwell Tarly who were then followed by the Chief of the Fifth Legion Ser Corian, and the Chief of the Third Legion Ser Carvin Loreta.

A little moment passed before the doors opened and this time 4 chiefs of Legions crossed through at once.

The Chief of the Second Legion Ser Jordy was at the forefront followed by the Chief of the Fourth Legion Ser Dorian, the Chief of the Sixth Legion Ser Cedric Waters, and the Chief of the Eighth Legion Ser Jonothor Waters.

Gradually the others arrived one after the other first the Chief of the Seventh Legion Ser Elric, followed by the Chief of the Ninth Legion Ser Vincent and finally the famous Trystan Sunfyre Chief of the First Legion and the first commander to have completed the full recruitment of his Legion.

The king arrived a few seconds later flanked by Sandor Clegane Jaime Lannister and Barristan called 'The Bold'.

Thus began the most important dinner of the year without anyone suspecting that the king planned to declare 3 wars on three different fronts simultaneously and that this dinner was the key that would allow him to set everything in motion.

-POV MC-

I waited for everyone to get comfortable and start eating before getting to the heart of the matter: "I have invited you all here to congratulate you, you have all done an excellent job, I have closely followed your progress in the task I entrusted you with and apart from Samwell all the others you have succeeded in recruiting 5,000 soldiers and beginning the training of your troops"

I turned to Trystan Sunfyre and then I said: "I particularly want to congratulate you Trystan because you have managed to fill your legion and train a cavalry of 2,000 riders"

He nodded his head keeping a stoic air without saying anything and I continued: "That's why I'm going to entrust you with your very first mission right now, I want you to establish your base camp at Harrenhal and pacify the entire region as Temporary Guardian of the Trident uproot all bandits mercenaries and illegal organizations and train your soldiers in the process"

"For a specific purpose your grace?" he asked nonchalantly.

I smiled and said: "For a specific purpose yes"

I stopped for a short moment to observe all the people around this table and said: "Apart from the members of my Royal Guard you will be the only ones aware so I want to be entirely clear with you, if I ever find proof that you have leaked the continuation of this conversation you will be considered traitors, you will be stripped of your rank, of your title and who knows maybe even of your life"

"We are all loyal subjects," said Lord Aurane Waters.

"Very well then look at this plan and tell me what you think," I said, gesturing for a servant to clear part of the table so that I could deploy a huge plan representing the known world.

"It's a map of the world," said Jonothor who wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I nodded my head and it's Sam who said: "It's the map of the known world"

"The map of the known world but also the map of a world to be conquered," I said.

"You want to conquer the entire world?"

"No I could want to conquer it but honestly even if I succeeded before my death I don't think my descendants could keep it"

"However, I want to create an Empire, the Dragon Empire, an empire that would extend over all of Westeros and for now"

"Westeros is already yours My King," said Carvin.

I nodded my head and then I said: "Yes and no"

"First we have the ongoing problem of the Iron Islands Balon doesn't want to kneel without however declaring war on me," I said pointing to the Iron Islands.

"Next in the North we have the problem of the Wildlings who have elected a King Beyond the Wall and who have at this very moment gathered an army of 100,000 wildlings," I said pointing to the Wall.

"Thirdly and lastly we have the problem posed by my half-brother, according to more than reliable intelligence, he would have gathered the Golden Company under his command which would be stationed at Pentos under the too generous hospitality of the Prince of Pentos Illyrio Mopatis, faithful friend of the eunuch whom I relieved of his spine," I said pointing to the Free City of Pentos which even without an army remained one of the largest and richest cities in the known world.

"We can't attack the Wildlings due to the extreme conditions of the Far North, we also can't attack Pentos as we would create mistrust of the Free Cities or even new alliances aiming to restrict our movements and lastly we can't attack Balon Greyjoy because we don't have a fleet competent enough to neutralize the Iron Fleet"

"The Lannister and Redwyne fleet could help"

Jonothor smiled to the great confusion of Aurane who didn't understand his mistake and Trystan said:

"For our dear King to accept help from his vassals would be perceived as a sign of weakness"

"More so than leaving Balon Greyjoy alive?" he said.

I nodded my head and said: "For now everyone is on the lookout, Balon can't attack the North because his son is still a captive, he can't attack the Riverlands because he would awaken the dragon and he can't attack Lannisport or the Mander because the Tyrell and Lannister expect that"

"So what is he waiting for to surrender if he has no way out"

"That's the beauty of it, he also CAN'T surrender because he would lose his crown for the second time, he would then lose all authority over his vassals so he only has one solution left," said Jordy.

"Wait for me to make a mistake," I said, swirling my fruit juice in my glass.

"He has all the time while I do not if I delay too much my brother could rally others to make him the heir or even force me to crown him"

"Like who?"

"Like Viserys"

"Giving him a dragon wasn't very smart on your part," said Corian always so comfortable in my presence.

I looked at the little insolent and said: "From your point of view maybe but that's because you don't know mine, at the moment I am all-powerful and whether Viserys has a dragon or not changes nothing but I trust no one everyone can be corrupted and turn against me for the right price I'm aware of that, but I'm not afraid of that... especially not when I can do this"

I moved my finger and the knife to his right flew towards his neck in an instant, the knife did not pierce his skin but went around his neck gently from the back of his neck and then once it had made a full turn it flew gently into the air to land back in its previous place.

Corian raised his hands and said: "Sorry it was just an unwise remark"

"I don't mind, don't worry, I was simply demonstrating the reason for the immense confidence I have in myself," I said pretending it was nothing but the message was clear to all.

One false step and you are dead