Chapter 218: The Rhoyne River Alliance Led by the Dragon
The small town of Ghoyan Drohe had now become a bustling and prosperous place, with people of all kinds coming and going: ambassadors, squires, cavalry, and attendants. Rhaegar could see delegations from various city-states: Qohor, Norvos, Volantis, Pentos, Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh. There was also Saath, the last stronghold of the Tall Men, a remnant of the Sarnor civilization. At its peak, the Tall Men once numbered a million, but now, in this small city stronghold, fewer than twenty thousand remained.
"This is truly a collection of eccentrics!" the Red Viper, Oberyn Martell, complained to Rhaegar. Lately, he had grown tired of seeing cheese vendors, butter sellers, brothel owners, handicraft merchants, and magistrates chosen by priests—these were the officials of the major Free Cities. The Rhoynar of Myr, the fair-skinned, blond, blue-eyed Lyseni, the men of Pentos and Tyrosh with their dyed and oiled beards, and the strange Norvoshi and Qohor men.
"It's to promote peace and stability, and to resist the tyranny of the Khals!" Rhaegar said. "So many city-states and nations—it's truly a cause for celebration. We must take advantage of the situation to form a new alliance!" Rhaegar thought to himself.
"The entire eastern continent is now in chaos."
The Nine Free Cities of Essos were, in fact, a tangled mess, engaged in constant shifting alliances and conflicts. Qohor and Norvos had allied against Volantis; Lys and Myr formed the Triarchy; Tyrosh leaned toward Westeros; and Volantis was viewed with suspicion by all other city-states due to its history of expansion and slavery.
So many envoys coming here must be for a major event: military support from the Dragon to collectively resist the Dothraki Khals. The Dothraki were like a dark cloud hanging over many city-states. The threat varied in magnitude and proximity; for distant Lys and Tyrosh, the danger was smaller, especially since they were island city-states. However, Qohor and Pentos faced the greatest risk and were the most frequently raided. Volantis also suffered greatly. Braavos and its de facto vassal Lorath were excluded; they were farther from the Khals and safer.
"Envoy from distant Saath, you have worked hard!"
Rhaegar, like a spinning top, was constantly busy. In his military tent, he first secretly received the envoy of the Tall Men from Saath. The Sarnor envoy was tall, with brown skin, black hair, and black eyes. Saath had white walls. Saath was the last stronghold of the Sarnor people, a small port city in northern Essos bordering the Shivering Sea, and its sister city was Selys.
The Sarnor people lived a miserable existence, now like a candle in the wind, their once-great civilization utterly ravaged by the Khals. In the final wars between the Sarnor people and the Dothraki Khals, the Tall Men were defeated, losing hundreds of thousands of troops. Sarnor lands were swept clean and plundered, and the Khals destroyed almost all Sarnor cities.
"Please accept our gifts from Saath!"
The Saath envoy presented Rhaegar with several sets of armor made of steel and spider-silk, several scythe chariots, and several precious blood-sweat horses. Considering Saath's population and distance, Rhaegar was quite moved; it was rare to receive gifts from such a distant land. The Sarnor fighting style relied on scythe chariots drawn by blood-red steeds.
"Noble Dragonlord, in the distant past, the Sarnor people and the Valyrians once fought side by side. During the Second and Third Ghiscari Wars, we were allies of the Valyrian Dragonlords," the Sarnor envoy said.
"That is all in the distant past," Rhaegar replied. "Valyria has been destroyed, and the Sarnor Kingdom has also perished completely."
"A defeated people cannot speak of past glory. We are the last survivors of Sarnor, fewer than twenty thousand remaining. Other Sarnor cities were destroyed by the Dothraki centuries ago during the Century of Blood. We are like dry grass. We are willing to become loyal subjects of the Dragonlord, as long as you protect us from the horsemen!"
The envoy said to Rhaegar. The once-great Saath now relied on Lorath and Ibben. Its citizens often traded with Morosh, a Lorathi colony.
"The envoy has given me a great surprise," Rhaegar said. Saath's speed of submission exceeded expectations. This was because the last Sarnor remnant was desperate for protection.
The Khals might not spare them. And the Sea Kings had once destroyed the Sarnor fleet in a great war, leaving tens of thousands of sailors at the bottom of Bitterweed Bay.
Rhaegar spoke a few kind words, but already had another plan. He naturally wanted Saath, but swallowing it directly would create resentment.
The next day, on a hill not far from Ghoyan Drohe, envoys from many nations sat around a large round wooden table, discussing war and peace. The Dragon's power made them believe in the possibility of peace. The Free Cities feared prolonged war most of all; they lacked professional armies and disliked wasting gold. The Dragon offered the possibility of swift victory.
The envoys vaguely knew legends—not only of dragons returning, but also magic returning. If a Dragonlord controlled both dragons and magic, his power would be unmatched, a true Valyrian restoration. They did not dare question Rhaegar, but neither did they doubt him.
"This assembly is attended by the elite nobles of all city-states. I am honored," Rhaegar said.
Most envoys were magisters and archons. Tyrosh's ruler did not attend but sent an admiral. The Triarchy sent magistrates. Volantis sent Magistrate Marajo, an old acquaintance of Rhaegar. Norvos sent bearded monk soldiers; Qohor and Pentos sent Unsullied; Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh sent mercenaries; Volantis sent slave soldiers.
"Gentlemen, we gather to resist the tyranny and plunder of the Khals. I suggest Saath speak first," Rhaegar said.
The others exchanged looks but did not object.
"We Sarnor once numbered a million… now reduced to ruins… the Dothraki destroyed our cities…" the envoy said passionately. "They will not stop. They seek trade domination and plunder."
"Correct," the Qohor envoy said. "We suffered their raids. Thousands of Unsullied once defended our walls. We cannot wait until a great Khal unites them."
"I remind you of Aethyrios, once a Free City destroyed during the Century of Blood," Illyrio Mopatis added. "We have endured too much."
Volantis also agreed.
"Let us unite against Dothraki tyranny!" Rhaegar declared.
The envoys felt amusement at his "peaceful" tone, but none dared object.
"Resist Dothraki expansion!" the hall echoed.
The Triarchy, Tyrosh, Lys, and Myr joined the alliance.
Braavos and Lorath were excluded.
Finally, the treaty was drafted:
"We pledge non-aggression, mutual support, and cooperation to defend the Rhoyne region and western Essos from raids, plunder, and enslavement."
Thus, the Rhoyne River Treaty was formed.
A grand alliance against the Dothraki Khals.
Westeros and Volantis signed first. Others followed.
Gold flowed freely, as long as the Dragon solved the Khal problem.
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