Chapter 224 Selection
"You rejected Doran with this reason?"
In the misty bathroom, Samwell and Margaery face each other frankly.
"Yeah. I really don't like Arianne."
"Princess Arianne is quite beautiful." Margaery deliberately blowing hot air into the man's ear, "Are you really not moved?"
"Arianne is indeed beautiful, but she is too stupid. Look how miserable Dorne has been made by her. If I marry her, I will be waiting for countless troubles." Samwell held the girl in her arms Kissed her face, "It's you who put me at ease."
Margaery giggled, causing ripples in the bathtub: "Then you are not worried that Prince Doran will hold a grudge because of this, and thus completely fall for the Lannister family?"
"It doesn't matter." Samwell shrugged, "How much strength does Dorne have now? I don't think they can even gather 10,000 regular troops. The Martell family can no longer affect the overall situation."
"Then what if Prince Doran chooses to fall to Stannis Baratheon and release all the captured troops from the Three Realms?"
"No." Samwell shook his head firmly, "The captives of the three realms are the most important bargaining chip in the hands of Prince Doran, and it can even be said that he is the only bargaining chip in the situation of the Seven Kingdoms. He will not hand it over so easily. What's more, the Martell family actually doesn't want to see Stannis Baratheon quickly defeat the Lannister family and ascend the Iron Throne."
"Why?"
"Because the Martell family also wants to see the Seven Kingdoms chaos." Samwell explained, "Earl Leighton Hightower told me that on the continent of Essos across the Narrow Sea, the last member of the Targaryen family The bloodline also successfully hatched the dragon."
Margaery was stunned for a moment, and then said in surprise: "Daenerys Targaryen? She also has a dragon?"
"Yes, and there are three dragons." Samwell's tone was inevitably a little sour.
Margaery smiled and sent a kiss, and at the same time comforted: "But you have the support of the Reach. This is no better than two young dragons."
After the man showed his smile again, she continued to ask:
"So, the Martell family is actually secretly supporting this Daenerys?"
"Yes. Quentin of the Martell family has already had a secret engagement with Daenerys." Samwell sighed, "Actually, this is the real reason why I rejected Doran. This guy is obviously betting on both sides. And I suspect that he's backing me just to make me an attractive target to pave the way for Daenerys. With Aegon's crown and two more wives, he'd like me to be an Enemy of the Realm."
"Doran's actions are not surprising." Margaery said with her eyes turned, "After all, there are three dragons over there, and you only have one here, and you have to share it with Hewan."
"Yes. That's why I rejected him. There are not many benefits to forming an alliance with the Martell family, but a lot of troubles."
"What about forming an alliance with the Tyrell family?" Margaery winked and teased the man with her body, "Is it more troublesome or more beneficial?"
"Of course there are many benefits!" Samwell said honestly, feeling the girl's soft body rubbing against him.
"But this way you won't be able to marry Princess Arianne, she is a great beauty, isn't it a pity?"
"I don't care if that crazy woman marries whoever she likes."
"What about...Natalie Dean?"
Sam Well paused: "I've always regarded her as my sister."
"Really?" Margaery laughed wildly, and the waves were choppy.
How could Samwell allow her to be so presumptuous? He immediately grabbed the girl's waist and started underwater operations.
…
After entering autumn, even the sun in Dorne is not as vicious as before.
In the blue sky, there are white clouds floating, changing into various strange shapes.
Samwell stood under the grape arbor, looking at the two girls who were picking grapes with great interest, feeling comfortable and relieved.
Now with the expansion of Yingzuiyu's winemaking industry, Starfall City has also begun to plant mountain grapes, becoming one of the raw material supply bases for brandy.
This was also secretly promoted by Samwell, hoping to strengthen the economic and commercial ties between the two places.
The effect looks very good, and now more than a dozen mountain grape plantations have been built near Starfall City.
Samwell looked at these plantations, and a thought suddenly popped up in his mind—
Maybe conquering Dorne does not necessarily require force...
"Sam!" The two beautiful faces in front of him interrupted Samwell's thoughts.
"What's the matter? Finished picking?"
"No, I just saw that you haven't moved for a long time, so come and take a look." Margaret stuffed a grape into the man's mouth with a smile.
Sweet and sour, juicy and watery.
"You don't have to worry about me." Samwell smiled, seeing Natalie also handing over a grape, he quickly caught it with his mouth.
The two girls frolicked with the man for a while, and then continued to pick grapes together.
Samwell followed behind unsteadily, constantly perfecting the idea that just popped up in his mind.
Soon, an invasion plan targeting Dorne's fragile agriculture quietly took shape.
But this plan needs the support of Riverbend.
At this moment, the attendant Noah Rowan trotted over and said:
"My lord, an old knight wants to see you."
"Old knight?" Samwell was taken aback for a moment, and wanted to ask why you didn't report the other party's name.
But the next second, he realized something, turned his head and looked outside the vineyard, and saw an old man in a gray linen robe being stopped by the guards.
"Bring him here." Samwell ordered, already guessing who the other party was.
Soon, the old man came to Samwell.
"Sir Barristan, welcome to Starfall City." Samwell greeted with a smile.
"Viscount Caesar." The old knight didn't wear a white robe and armor. He always felt like he was naked, and his momentum was much weaker.
"Are you here to find Madam Ashara?" Samwell looked at the old man narrowly.
Ser Barristan blushed in a rare old way:
"I have already met Mrs. Ashara, and I was about to leave. When I heard that you were here, I wanted to see you too."
"Are you leaving? May I ask, where are you going?" Samwell had already guessed where the other party was going, and was hesitant to ask him to stay.
"Across the narrow sea." Ser Barristan said calmly, "I heard from the sailors who came from a long voyage that there was a girl who hatched three dragons."
"I have a dragon too." Samwell still tried to persuade him to stay.
"But you are not of House Targaryen blood." Ser Barristan said firmly.
Others may suspect that Samwell is a descendant of the Targaryen family, but after decades of being the Kingsguard, the Targaryen royal family has no secrets in the eyes of Barristan, of course he knows that Samwell cannot be the true blood of the dragon .
In Barristan's view, Samwell was at best a remnant of the Blackfyre.
Samwell crossed his arms and asked with a smile:
"Ser Barristan, you have served so many kings, in your opinion, what kind of person is most suitable to rule the Seven Kingdoms?"
"Who should rule the Seven Kingdoms is determined by the gods." Barristan said indifferently, "This choice must not be left to mortals, otherwise it will inevitably lead to endless wars and deaths. This is why I have been in King's Landing for so long. The white knight understands the truth."
Lineage determinism.
Samwell was a little uninterested: "Then why are you here to see me?"
"I want to remind you that dragons are not only gifts from the gods, but also the source of tragedy. Especially a young dragon, while it brings you support, it will also attract endless malice."
Samwell raised his brows, and said with a light smile, "You don't mean to persuade me to go with you to the little **** the other side of the narrow sea, do you?"
Barristan looked sincerely and firmly: "She is the last descendant of the blood of the true dragon, and she is the destined queen."
Samwell laughed loudly: "Aegon Targaryen did not rely on destiny to conquer the Seven Kingdoms. He relied on blood and fire. Ser Barristan, since you are determined, I wish you the best of luck." .”
Barristan didn't persuade him anymore, he bowed and turned to leave.
Samwell stared at the back of the old knight, dazed.
"Sam, who was that just now?" Margaery came over at some point and asked in a low voice.
"Barristan Selmy."
"It's him?" Margaery's eyes flickered, "Didn't he come to seek refuge with you?"
"No. He's going across the Narrow Sea to find that Daenerys."
"It's a pity." Margaery pursed her red lips. "This is Barristan Selmy. In the eyes of most Westeros, whoever he fights for is the legitimate king."
"Forget it, this kind of thing can't be forced." Samwell said indifferently, "Besides, I'm not suitable for being too high-profile now. If Barristan stands behind me with a sword and armor, I'm afraid it will attract more people to me." So much hate."
"Yes." Margery immediately felt relieved.
"That old grandpa, he secretly met my mother before." Natalie said suddenly.
Samwell looked strange: "Since I met you secretly, how did you know?"
Natalie chuckled: "My bird saw it."
Samwell then remembered that this girl is also a skinchanger, and there is a crow.
"They didn't do anything, did they?" Samwell suddenly began to gossip.
"What can you do?" Natalie looked blank, "Just talking, I thought he was an old friend my mother knew."
Samwell shrugged, feeling that he was thinking too much.
A man like Barristan Selmy would only take vows as his wife and duty as his son.
Even if she has affection for Lady Ashara, she will only show affection and stop being polite.
As for the "Queen" whom the other party was planning to serve, Samwell also had the idea of seeking refuge, but in the end he didn't take action.
After all, if he went to the other side of the narrow sea, he might only become the man behind the queen, and if he stayed in Westeros to develop his own power, he would be able to ascend the Iron Throne and become Caesar.
(end of this chapter)