In the height of summer, on the eastern bank of the rippling Upper Rhoyne, a magnificent circular outer wall stood beneath the Hill of Viserys, protecting the newly built Andal city. Perched atop the hill was Fort Viserys.
By now, Fort Viserys had finally taken on the appearance of a true city. Below lay a bustling town, while the King's holdfast sat high upon the hill.
It resembled Maidenpool: the castle situated on the heights, the town ringed by walls, flanked to the east by hills and soldier pines.
Soldiers in black cloaks emblazoned with red dragons—the City Watch, by the look of them—stood guard by the walls and the docks. Meanwhile, Andal craftsmen, their faces painted with the seven-pointed star, worked with tireless fervor, needing no overseer's whip to drive them.
These Andal artisans poured all their passion into the new city. Many called it "Fort Viserys," but even more referred to it as the City of Andalos.
The moat surrounding the fort was currently being dredged to allow the river water to flow in. Workmen were also constructing a great bridge to connect the eastern and western banks of the river.
Upriver, a magnificent longship flying the banner of the Black Pearl cruised toward the town.
Through the cabin window, the Black Pearl, dressed in a gown of yellow silk, and the swordsman Qarro, clad in drab brown, watched the construction work proceeding in full swing.
"A ship is certainly better than a carriage," the Black Pearl remarked. A strange light shimmered in her beautiful eyes; this was the ancient homeland of the Andals, now the domain of King Viserys.
"Indeed. If we hadn't taken a fast ship, I fear we wouldn't have made it in time for the King's coronation," Qarro replied. "We made haste, and thankfully, we did not delay the Sealord's command."
"I imagine King Viserys will be pleased with the gift you've brought," the Black Pearl said.
"Of course. The crown is a relic of House Targaryen, after all. Consider it returned to its rightful owner."
"I never thought he would actually succeed," Qarro said with a sigh. "Back in Braavos, he was just a child living under the protection of others. People called him the Beggar King."
"A dragon is a dragon, be it large or small," the Black Pearl smiled.
Truth be told, she hadn't held such high expectations for Viserys either. But he had indeed found an opening within the cracks of the world, maneuvering skillfully to build a new stage for himself.
As the longship approached the docks, the City Watch signaled for them to halt.
The Black Pearl extended a letter sealed with red wax bearing the three-headed dragon. The captain of the watch immediately stood at attention; only King Viserys's honored guests received such courtesy.
"Please, proceed. You are guests of the King," the captain said.
The Black Pearl looked curiously toward the road in the distance, where wagons were dragging massive stones, moving slowly but determinedly toward the fortress.
"Where did those stones come from?" she asked.
"From the Velvet Hills," the captain answered. "There is a deep lake in the mountains there. By the roadside, one can see rings of standing stones. The smallfolk say giants built them in the Dawn Age. Since they were just sitting there, we are using them to build the city of Viserys."
The Black Pearl nodded; she vaguely remembered the old tales of those standing stones.
The party left the longship at the dock and transferred to an ornate carriage, traveling up the stone road along the hill toward the fortress above.
Both the Black Pearl and Qarro couldn't help but wonder what Viserys would look like now. He was no longer the boy under another's wing, but a dangerous warrior and a king of a vast territory.
Fort Viserys had become orderly and beautiful. The originally drab, grey-brown fortress now boasted many marble structures, some of which had been transported directly from the estates of House Greenvine.
Because the coronation of King Viserys was imminent, the castle was bustling with activity. The crowd consisted mostly of high-ranking Andals, knights, and men-at-arms.
The Black Pearl and Qarro met Viserys in the white sept, standing beneath the statues of the Seven. The statues were gilded and looked magnificent.
There were two septs in Fort Viserys: one was the King's private chapel, and the other was the Great Sept in the town below. They served different purposes.
Viserys gazed up at the faces of the Seven—the Father, the Mother, the Warrior, and the rest. In this splendidly built temple, the Seven would need to grant their blessings to his soldiers.
"Your Grace, King Viserys!" The Black Pearl greeted him. Though he stood close, there seemed to be an invisible, bottomless chasm between them now.
Viserys turned. The young man with silver hair and purple eyes possessed a handsome face, but his gaze was as steely as iron.
He was dressed resplendently in a black velvet doublet, wearing a black cloak embroidered with the three-headed red dragon. He looked like a newly drawn, bright blade.
The Black Pearl felt he was different from before; he was a creature molded by power, courage, and ambition, humming with the vibrant current of authority.
He no longer looked like the laughing youth she once knew, but a true king, a man of consequence.
"It has been some time since we met, Black Pearl. And I see Master Qarro has come as well." Viserys seemed slightly surprised.
"To celebrate Your Grace's coronation, the Sealord asked me to present a small gift as a token of his regard. To avoid drawing attention, I had to travel aboard Lady Black Pearl's ship." Qarro shrugged, producing a small cedar box.
"This is a pleasant surprise." Viserys opened the box. Inside lay a gold band set with seven gemstones of different colors. It was a king's crown.
Viserys accepted the gift. It was clear the Sealord had gone to great lengths to acquire this specific crown.
The Andal goldsmiths possessed limited skill; they could not compare to the masters of Lannisport, King's Landing, or the Free Cities. This exquisite crown solved the immediate problem for the coronation ceremony.
"The crown of Jaehaerys the Conciliator," Qarro explained. "At the start of the Dance of the Dragons, Ser Steffon Darklyn of the Kingsguard fled King's Landing with it to join Rhaenyra Targaryen on Dragonstone. The Queen wore this crown until she was driven from the capital by the mob. In Duskendale, she sold it to a Braavosi merchant to pay for passage back to Dragonstone."
"Please convey my gratitude to the Sealord," Viserys said seriously. "I shall always remember this gift."
Qarro nodded. "I will bring this goodwill back to Braavos."
Yet Qarro knew the Sealord's attitude toward Viserys was becoming ambiguous. There was a concern that Viserys might struggle, yet also a fear that his power was swelling too rapidly.
The Sealord had expected Viserys to make some noise in Andalos, but his methods were too skillful, his rise too meteoric. The Sealord could barely believe this was the work of a teenager.
Viserys looked at Qarro. "I still have much need of the Sealord's aid. This city of Andalos is vibrant, but my enemies may arrive tomorrow, or perhaps the day after."
Qarro accepted the olive branch. "You speak of enemies from Westeros, Your Grace? They have only just concluded their war with the ironborn krakens; I fear they still require time to mobilize."
"I do not speak of the Usurper and his dogs. I speak of the Dothraki," Viserys said. "The horselords destroy every town they find. I do not imagine they will look fondly upon me."
"I will convey your concerns," Qarro said, bowing his head.
Based on this exchange, Qarro felt Braavos need not be so nervous just yet. Even if Viserys's power was rising, he faced trouble on multiple fronts: Westeros, the Dothraki, and the Disputed Lands.
Braavos, conversely, was an ally Viserys needed to rely on.
"I am infinitely grateful," Viserys concluded. "At the very least, in the fight against the scourge of slavery and the savage horselords, the Sealord and I will find much room for cooperation."