GOT King of Dragon

"Your Highness..." 

Sam, after being refused, still wanted to say something, but the young man beside him interrupted. 

"Old Sam, the prince has no interest in your aging bones. Don't trouble a young prince." 

The man, clad in black, was the lord of Fear Hole Castle. 

He knelt on one knee as well, speaking loudly: "Wells Brynn greets the prince and extends my most sincere blessings." 

Sam's face darkened with anger. He snorted coldly and turned his head away disdainfully. 

"Stand up, both of you," 

Rhaegar glanced at the proud Wells and raised his hand, motioning for them to rise. 

With the key figures present, there was no time for pleasantries. Rhaegar immediately asked, "I don't want to get involved in the conflicts of the peninsula's nobles. I've come here for one thing only." 

"Have you ever heard of or encountered an unnatural shadow creature?" 

"Never, Your Highness!" Wells responded bluntly. 

Sam, however, appeared hesitant. His expression changed slightly as he said, "Your Highness, I have heard of such a creature." 

"Oh? Let's hear it," 

Rhaegar perked up, not expecting that a casual question would yield results. 

Sam glanced at Wells from the corner of his eye, then spoke in a heavy tone: "Half a month ago, a cargo ship encountered a storm in the Narrow Sea and ran aground on a beach on the peninsula." 

"The patrol soldiers from Whisper Castle discovered the ship along the coast and sent people to investigate." 

"The ship was completely empty—no stranded sailors, no cargo." 

"When the soldiers were about to disembark in disappointment, a creature lurking in the shadows attacked them, killing three." 

Wells interrupted again: "That's nonsense. That cargo ship was trading with Fear Hole Castle. It was shipwrecked on the other side of the Narrow Sea and was looted by you. In your story, it conveniently became an empty ship with no survivors or goods!" 

"Shut your mouth!" 

Rhaegar rebuked Wells sternly, warning him: "Lord Wells, I wasn't asking you. Stay quiet." 

Wells was taken aback, not expecting a childlike prince to have such a commanding presence. 

Opening his mouth to retort, he hesitated and lowered his head. 

Rhaegar snorted in displeasure and turned to Sam, saying, "Continue." 

Sam shook his head. "That's all I know. Afterward, the Brynn family accused us of looting the cargo ship and sent people to seize farmland within Whisper Castle's territory." 

Rhaegar rubbed his temples in frustration. 

Unexpectedly, he had uncovered more about the origins of the two families' feud than about the shadow creature. 

"At least I've learned about the shadow creature's existence," Rhaegar consoled himself. 

Turning to the disgruntled Wells, he asked, "You mentioned the cargo ship was trading with Fear Hole Castle. Do you know where it came from and the route it took?" 

Wells responded sullenly, "The ship set sail from Qarth, passing through Slaver's Bay, the Stepstones, and the Free Cities. On rare occasions during its return journey, it would pass by Crab Bay and trade with Seagull Town and Fear Hole Castle." 

"Qarth?" 

Rhaegar recalled the world map he'd studied in the Red Keep. Qarth was located on the eastern continent, its port situated between the Summer Sea and the Jade Sea. 

It bordered the Red Waste and lay close to the Shadow Lands. 

"The Shadow Lands... shadow creatures..." 

The connection between the two immediately sparked Rhaegar's suspicion. 

Sam offered a reminder: "Your Highness, the Shadow Lands are a mysterious region perpetually shrouded in darkness. They are home to Shadowbinders and Blood Sorcerers—a place filled with fear and chaos." 

"Perhaps, but the Shadow Lands are too far from Westeros to pursue," 

Rhaegar mused. "Lord Sam, on the western peninsula, shadow creatures have been attacking and killing wildlings on a large scale, growing stronger by devouring life. I came here on dragonback to eliminate it." 

"The Crabbe family will follow your orders, Your Highness. If you need us, we will serve without hesitation," 

Sam placed a hand over his chest with a solemn expression. 

He had not yet given up on his desire to follow Rhaegar. 

Rhaegar nodded and turned to Wells. 

Wells glanced at Sam and the wildlings camped nearby. A hint of disdain flashed in his eyes as he turned away and said, "Your Highness, you shouldn't listen to Old Sam's one-sided story. He's only trying to deny looting the cargo ship and deceive you." 

"So, Lord Wells, are you suggesting the shadow creature I witnessed with my own eyes isn't real?" Rhaegar narrowed his eyes. 

"I wouldn't dare. I'm merely suggesting that, given your young age, it's better to stay away from wildlings. They're nothing more than uncivilized beasts," 

Wells replied dismissively. 

"That's enough, Lord Wells," 

Rhaegar's tone grew stern. "The shadow creature is real. It's consuming life to strengthen itself. The residents of the peninsula must put aside their prejudices and work together to destroy it." 

"With all due respect, I've never seen this so-called shadow creature, nor do I wish to work with wildlings or enemies," 

Wells retorted stubbornly, his youthful arrogance showing. 

Rhaegar chuckled coldly and waved dismissively. "Then you may leave." 

"Your Highness, allow me to offer one piece of advice. You shouldn't—" 

Wells tried to interject, but Rhaegar cut him off immediately. 

"Go, Lord Wells. Return to your castle. Until the shadow creature is dealt with, do not provoke any conflicts," 

Rhaegar said impatiently. 

Wells had underestimated him, disregarding him because of his youth. 

--- 

Rhaegar couldn't be bothered to feign civility with him any longer. 

He simply decided to drive him away. Out of sight, out of mind. 

Wells, looking indignant, raised his head and stared directly at Rhaegar, opening his mouth. 

"Hiss... Gah..." 

Sensing the rider's irritation, the gluttonous beast let out a low growl. Its foul-smelling saliva splattered all over Wells, covering his face and body. 

"Cough, cough, cough..." 

Dragon spittle landed in his mouth, its searing heat and unbearable stench filled his throat. Clutching his neck in agony, Wells felt his head throb as the sensation rushed to his brain. 

"Take him back." 

Rhaegar gestured to the commander from Terror Pit Keep. 

"My apologies, my lord. The lord did not mean to offend..." 

The commander quickly grabbed hold of Wells, retreating as he apologized profusely. 

Gathering what remained of their troops, they swiftly fled the clearing. 

Once the people of Terror Pit Keep had fully withdrawn, 

Sam glanced at the sky and extended an invitation to Rhaegar: "Your Highness, may I ask if you'd honor Whispering Keep with your presence? The Crabbe family would be delighted to prepare a grand feast in your honor." 

Rhaegar raised an eyebrow. 

The offer was music to his ears. 

During the days he'd spent on the Claw Peninsula, he had been enduring rough, outdoor meals. 

Were it not for the thrill of conquest and his relentless pursuit of shadow creatures, he would've long since ridden his dragon back to Dragonstone. 

A smile spread across Rhaegar's face. "I appreciate your generosity, Lord Sam." 

However, he hesitated before adding, "If Whispering Keep has surplus provisions, I would like them to be distributed to the Free Folk fighters. Upon my return to King's Landing, I will repay you doubly." 

"This..." 

Sam clasped his hands behind his back, kneading them as his eyes swept over the large gathering of Free Folk in the distance. Inwardly, he balked at the idea. 

But! 

The thought of earning the prince's favor made him reconsider. 

After some internal deliberation, Sam nodded and said, "Very well. Whispering Keep will provide three days' worth of food for the Free Folk. Anything more would stretch our resources too thin." 

Rhaegar had brought over two thousand people with him, all of them able-bodied and with large appetites. 

The daily consumption of food was no trivial amount. 

For a family like the Crabbes, rooted in the modest Claw Peninsula, three days' worth of provisions was already significant. 

"That will be sufficient. Thank you again for your generosity, my lord." 

Having temporarily resolved the food supply issue, Rhaegar let out a sigh of relief. 

His impression of Sam Crabbe greatly improved. 

---