"Lord Renly is still a great man in some aspects," Gendry said. He didn't feel sorry for Brienne's departure; Brienne was a woman of her word, and if she were to serve him, she would first need to repay Renly.
Gendry admitted that Renly had many shining qualities. Everyone had their own battlefield, and Renly merely focused his on appearance and aristocratic flair, busy with superficialities while others fought on the training grounds.
However, Renly was amiable and handsome, much like the King in his youth. This was quite effective for the disgruntled people of The Reach and Stormlands.
"If you're talking about dancing and aristocratic demeanor, Lord Renly is truly unrivaled in that regard," Qyburn said with a wry smile.
"Charm cannot win a true war; sooner or later, Lord Renly will understand this," Jorah said dismissively. Jorah also had extensive war experience and had the utmost contempt for Renly's superficiality.
"But charm and friendliness have won Lord Renly many allies and much adoration," The Handsome Man said in a deep voice.
This was undeniably true, for example, Brienne. At the welcoming feast on Tarth back then, the elegant and composed Renly treated Brienne with courtesy, as if she were a normal, beautiful maiden, even dancing with her. In his arms, Brienne felt graceful and noble, her feet moving in fluid dance steps. Due to the Lord's example, others also invited her. From that day on, Brienne remembered Renly's kindness.
"Renly is one of our greatest enemies. Renly also has his own ideas about the iron throne," Qyburn analyzed coldly. "Renly is the Lord of the Stormlands and has also drawn in the wealthy The Reach. The Reach was originally very fragmented, but the old matriarch of House Tyrell coordinated the alliance of Tyrell, Redwyne, and Hightower, making House Tyrell unprecedentedly powerful."
"Indeed, Hightower, Rowan, Redwyne, Tyrell—these four Houses are the wealthiest and have the most manpower. Florent, Tarly, and others come next, but can also be considered wealthy."
"The situation is not as terrible as you make it sound. It appears Renly's potential strength is significant, but it's not a monolith. The Reach has always been a place of many strong Houses, and those larger Lords may not necessarily obey House Tyrell's commands. Even House Hightower, though they have marital ties with House Tyrell, are now more discreetly wealthy and dislike participating in wars," Jorah replied. Jorah had once married a woman from House Hightower and was very familiar with the situation in The Reach.
"Even so, if we were to land by sea, Renly could request the Redwyne Fleet to defend, and Storm's End is an insurmountable fortress."
"Without considering the alliance of The Reach and Stormlands, I have also prepared a new landing route for the future," Gendry said mysteriously.
A moment later, Anguy knocked on the map room door.
"My Lord, your guests are about to arrive."
"Very well, please excuse me for a moment," Gendry stood up, and everyone understood that guests personally received by the Regent must be extraordinary.
Gendry and Daenerys met their guest in the quiet garden: a weathered middle-aged man, a brown-haired knight already showing signs of aging. His leather armor looked worn, but his sword appeared to be regularly maintained.
"I am pleased to know that in a distant land, there are still those willing to fight for Dany," Gendry said, looking at the down-and-out knight before him, Ser Mortimer Boggs, the head of House Thorne of Claw Peninsula.
"I also fight for you, my Lord, for your shared honor with the true dragon," Mortimer replied cautiously. He knew that fool Viserys was not part of the plan, but he was happy to accept. The brave, the bold, had died on the battlefield, but he was still alive.
"I am very pleased to meet you, Ser. I heard that you fought alongside my brother on the battlefield of the Trident River back then," Dany said.
Good living conditions and a cheerful disposition had allowed Daenerys to develop further, so she was no longer as petite as before.
Ser Mortimer Boggs saw the four-colored badge Daenerys wore on her chest. This girl was the proud descendant of the true dragon, but all her hopes rested on her beloved. Even if she returned in the future, it would merely be the birth of a new dynasty, the Dragon and the Stag. But this was already enough; he had not completely failed the Prince's friendship.
"Yes. Not just me. At the Trident River, fighting alongside Prince Rhaegar were Clebb, Bren, and Boggs. The Kingsguard also included men of Clebb, including a Hardy, a Caffrey, a Payne, and three Clebb—Ser Clement, Ser Rupert, and 'Shorty' Ser Clarence," Ser Mortimer Boggs answered softly, his memory returning to Ruby Beach.
The bells of the Trident River tolled for everyone, for Prince Rhaegar, and for all the loyalists who fought there.
Mortimer Boggs did not speak further of the War of the Usurper. Fate had a peculiar ability to entangle the bastard of House Baratheon and the remnant of House Targaryen, to launch a new vengeance against that cursed iron throne.
"I am very pleased to meet you. You are a loyal servant, just like Ser Darry," Daenerys recalled. In reality, Dany's connections with Westeros were not very deep; Ser Darry was one of her few fond memories.
Dany only asked a few questions, then stopped. Although she was still captivated by her brother Rhaegar's past, everything had to move forward. She was destined to gain a new crown and could not dwell on past hatreds.
"I have waited many years, and finally, a glimmer of hope has arrived," Mortimer Boggs said.
"After the new dynasty was established back then, your punishment must have been quite severe, wasn't it?" Gendry asked Mortimer.
"Yes, my Lord, it was crippling," Mortimer sighed. "Some were exiled, some lost titles, lands, and taxes, while Claw Peninsula fortunately retained its knighthood, but everyone also paid exorbitant ransoms in gold dragons. This wasn't due to Lord Jon's kindness, but because outsiders couldn't establish themselves on Claw Peninsula."
"Lord Gendry, Princess Daenerys, as long as you raise your banners on Claw Peninsula, Claw Peninsula will fight for you again. I represent not just House Thorne, but thousands upon thousands of Claw Peninsula. We wait, we remember, we pledge allegiance." Ser Mortimer Boggs decided to state what made him most appealing to others: the loyalty of Claw Peninsula. "Although Claw Peninsula is barren, the people of king's landing call us half-savages and bumpkins, but the brave men of Claw Peninsula never fear death, and we are close to king's landing."
"Very good," Gendry smiled. "Loyalty beyond king's landing, but now is not the best time to act. However, I promise, you won't have to wait much longer."
"I am willing to kill the traitors of House Lannister to express my loyalty. King Robert's throne came from a warhammer and courage, while the Lannisters' position came only from gold and deceit. I hate the Lannisters, and Claw Peninsula hates the Lannisters," Mortimer Boggs said. He hated that war; the rightful King died. But he hated House Lannister even more, the deceitful Lannisters, the Kingslayer Lannisters.
Daenerys was very satisfied with Mortimer Boggs's answer. The Lannisters were also the enemies who had hurt her the most; her brother always repeated those stories, making it impossible for her to forget.
The style of all Westeros was somewhat like this: if victory was achieved through direct combat, people generally didn't have many objections. But if it was through trickery and betrayal, then that victory would be very bitter and infamous.
Moreover, the Lannisters' conduct in the war was indeed too ugly: betrayal, kingslaying, crushing Children, insulting women, and the sacking of king's landing.
"Await my command. I will send people to deliver grain, armor, and weapons to you. I know Claw Peninsula has a coastline suitable for smuggling," Gendry said. Moros was also a master of smuggling and could identify smuggling routes.
"Yes, my Lord, I will secretly prepare," Ser Mortimer Boggs nodded.
"My love, and House Darry, don't forget them," Daenerys reminded him.
"I won't forget," Gendry squeezed Dany's hand, sensing her uneasy emotions. "They took care of you; I will repay them."
From Claw Peninsula to Fountainhead and Darry Town, outside king's landing lay a stronghold of Targaryen loyalists, an 'arc of loyalists.' This northeastern part of king's landing would be a wedge driven into the chaos of Westeros, but it was also not far from the Royal Fleet at Dragonstone, requiring careful planning.
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