Chapter 95: Rhaegar's Dragonpit — Three Camps
King's Landing, Rhaenys's Hill.
The heavy bronze gates of the Dragonpit stood open.
The Dragonpit's domes had all been removed, exposing it to the open sky and drifting clouds, giving it the appearance of a vast amphitheater.
Three dragons circled high above the Dragonpit, soaring like three blazing stars.
Their roars were stirring. Rhaegar felt pride swell in his chest. My dragons—currently the only force on either continent capable of integrated air and ground warfare.
From within the Dragonpit rose the shouts of soldiers in training.
Infantry charged with weapons raised. Cavalrymen demonstrated superb horsemanship, wielding lances, greatswords, and morning stars like living flames. Longbowmen drew and loosed in smooth, deadly rhythm.
Rhaegar had also introduced new training programs: parallel bars, long-jump pits, stone-throwing drills, and ball courts to keep morale high.
Yet the soldiers' favorite remained one-on-one blunt weapon duels—by far the most popular.
Rhaegar stood upon the viewing platform, surveying the scene below. My old Royal Guard, he thought. My first true army.
As the Eagle Guards expanded, their number had grown to twelve hundred men. Excluding the hundred stationed on Dragonstone, eleven hundred now trained in the Dragonpit.
Unexpected visitors arrived that day: Lord Tywin Lannister, his brother Ser Tyggett Lannister, Ser Gillian, and Ser Gillian's son Jaime Lannister. Lord Tywin was also one of the financiers currently working with Rhaegar.
Recently, Rhaegar had planned to import a new batch of double-curved goldenheart greatbows from the Summer Isles. These bows could reach four hundred yards—second only to Rhaegar's own dragonglass longbow. After them came the horn-and-sinew bows of Essos, and then the yew and weirwood bows of Westeros.
Naturally, their price was equally fearsome.
Rhaegar intended to purchase fifty at once, to be used as a hidden weapon against the pirates of Lys. What is fire coverage? Shooting farther is fire coverage. These bows were even more terrifying than Bloodraven's Raven's Teeth.
"Though young, this is clearly an elite force," Lord Tywin said with rare admiration.
Unified command, good rations, excellent equipment, and high morale—this was undeniably an elite army. Moreover, judging by the reaction of King's Landing's smallfolk, the troops were disciplined, did not oppress civilians, and avoided gambling and brothels.
Rhaegar felt justified pride.
The army was the foundation of rule.
The Dragonpit's Three Camps: the Eagle Guard Camp, the Silver Dragon Guard Camp, and the Spear Guard Camp. His Old Royal Guard would be his wall of steel—whether suppressing riots in King's Landing or confronting the Free Cities.
Rhaegar had built the Three Camps from nothing, recruiting talent and enforcing strict standards. I will become emperor, he thought, and suppress all enemies within and without.
Jaime Lannister's golden hair fluttered in the wind, green eyes bright with excitement. Rhaegar glanced at him. Handsome—but still not more handsome than me.
Jaime stared at the drills with fascination. Gleaming armor, disciplined ranks—it stirred something deep within him.
"Lord Tywin," Rhaegar said, gesturing below, "my forces are divided into three companies: the Eagle Guard, the Silver Dragon Guard, and the Spear Guard.
The Eagle Guard is commanded by Ser Brynden Tully.
The Silver Dragon Guard by Swordsman Cesar.
The Spear Guard by Ser Yohn Royce, known as Bronze Yohn."
The Eagle Guard banner bore three red dragons flanking a sky-blue falcon.
The Spear Guard banner showed three red dragons clutching a shattered spear, commemorating Rhaegar breaking the enemy line in the Battle of the Valley Road.
The Silver Dragon Guard banner displayed three silver dragons mirrored by three red dragons.
To prevent regional cliques, Rhaegar had ordered Ser Brynden to scatter recruits from different regions among all three units. Soldiers were to be one body, one voice, one blade.
The troops were well-fed and well-trained. Rhaegar knew the cost was enormous—men, horses, equipment, and three dragons all consumed vast resources.
Lord Tywin observed closely. The camp was clean, orderly, and austere. Even Rhaegar's tent was only slightly larger than a soldier's, its furnishings simple and unadorned.
Food and treatment were distributed by merit. Officers ate and lived alongside common soldiers.
These men will die for him, Tywin realized. Without hesitation.
"The Prince is truly skilled in command," Lord Tywin said. "I will provide the gold dragons you requested. However, I have another request." He gestured to Jaime. "My son has talent. I wish for him to train here."
Tywin saw that Jaime loved this place. With knights like Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Brynden Tully present, he felt reassured. Proximity to the Prince was another benefit.
Tywin himself had once served as cupbearer to King Aegon V, and his wife Joanna had been a companion to Princess Rhaella. He hoped his son would follow a similar path.
Rhaegar declined politely. "My lord, your son is still young. I will soon travel to the Riverlands, and the journey is long. After we return from Harrenhal, he may join the camp."
The meaning was clear. Tywin would fund the bows; Jaime would be placed here later.
After seeing the Lannisters off, Rhaegar felt relaxed. Next came Harrenhal—and more than recruitment awaited him there.
"Ser Brynden," Rhaegar said with a smile, "are you growing uneasy as we approach home?"
"A bit of both," Ser Brynden replied, smiling. His red hair shone like fresh blood.
He remembered refusing his brother Lord Hoster's demand that he marry into House Redwyne—and the fury that followed.
Their rift ran deep. Though Lord Hoster was strong, the realm viewed him as unremarkable in war. Ser Brynden, by contrast, had distinguished himself greatly in the War of the Ninepenny Kings.
Marriage alliances were a duty Brynden refused.
"You should consider taking a wife," Rhaegar said gently.
"I love the battlefield more than women," Brynden replied.
Rhaegar let the matter rest.
"Prince Rhaegar should worry about himself," Brynden added with a grin. "Those ladies look at you like wolves."
Laughter followed.
The Silver Dragon Prince—the newest name given to Rhaegar by the people of King's Landing.
Women dreamed openly of becoming queen. Queen Rhaella had even warned her son to avoid the blue-green-haired daughter of the Archon of Tyrosh.
Rhaegar could only smile wryly.
The blood of the dragon had always drawn hearts—and trouble.
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