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—
Stormlands
Asgard
Two Months Later
As Robert expected, the chocolate business was slow, with only the Hightowers via Elia willing to buy, both for themselves and to send as gifts.
But he wasn't selling food; he was selling prestige and a sign of wealth. It would just need some more time to work.
He was occupied with something else now, as the shipwrights were testing the Pioneer, the prototype of Asgard's first merchant class schooner. Two hundred feet long, with three masts, two decks, and more sails on it than any other ship the sailors had seen, it was a monster of a ship and could carry more cargo than they knew what to do with, and it still was a work in progress, as full-size ships of that class would be around three hundred feet.
When it was ready, they would be sailing to the Summer Isles for a trade run. It would take much longer than their journey to Braavos was, but Robert wanted to test the ship, both its speed and how it fared on open seas. Davos would be captaining the ship, leaving Black Betha behind, as they needed its experienced crew.
There were larger ships in Westeros, but none were made for trade. The Pioneer would carry the cargo of several cogs with a fraction of the crew, which would equal profit in his eyes.
Building costs were a problem, as a 130 ft. galley took five thousand gold dragons, but as a ship got larger and more complex, the gold it took to build one grew exponentially. The Pioneer had cost fifteen thousand gold with not even twice the size, but the shipwrights assured him it would go down once they completed the drawings and the ship took its final shape.
Nonetheless, it was worth it in his eyes.
Another issue was the Stepstones, where the pirate activity was plenty, while Myr and Lys continued to fight for control over the islands. He was going on a punitive campaign there, to burn every single pirate ship he came across and ensure Myr and Lys knew to keep out of his way.
Could he, he would destroy the islands, but he did not have the capability and would have to be satisfied with eradicating the pirates.
He had called a meeting with Davos, Tyrion, and Sandor to discuss the way forward now.
"My lord, perhaps you could consider delaying it? Construction is picking up, and I am having a hard time with it due to a lack of learned men. The ones you hired are all busy with their jobs, and taking one away disrupts work elsewhere." Tyrion complained. With Robert here the work was more than manageable, but left alone it was taxing on the young man.
"Hmm, when will the maester arrive from the Citadel? He can help you, and I can be on my way to purge the Stepstones."
"That would be extremely welcome, my lord, and he should be here soon." Tyrion had sent the letter himself in Robert's name, and the Citadel, especially with their lord's good relations with the Hightowers, was quick to respond.
"Alright, Sandor, how are we doing with the guards?"
They had tasked the man with training the guards, as he was just sitting around with nothing to do.
"Fucking bastards thought they would just stand around with swords in hand. Some already quit because it was too hard, but I'll make the remaining ones into proper guards." Sandor grinned. He didn't like the idea at first, but the more he did, the more fun it became.
"Excellent, I don't want a bunch of idiots guarding my city. Davos, what do you think of the ship?"
"My lord, just that it can move with so little wind would be a good reason to have a fleet of them, and their speed is truly impressive as well. "A hundred of them, and Asgard's fleet can carry more cargo than any other fleet." Davos complimented. Black Betha had and always would have a special place in his heart, but those cargo ships were something else.
"Good, what about the cranes on the docks? I don't think the workers will relish the thought of carrying the timber by hand." Robert said to the young captain.
"They are coming along well, but the work at the shipyards slowed down due to pulling out workers from there." Davos reported. He figured as they still had time before they were ready to start producing ships, the work there could be slowed for now.
"Well then, before I forget, you can go and bring your wife and children over as soon as your mansion is finished." Robert said, as he had gifted the man a mansion, built out of his own pockets, remembering him having seven children by the time of the Battle of the Blackwater.
"Yes, my lord, thank you." The mansion was a gift unlike any other the Lord of Asgard had given, but Davos now knew that the man didn't have any ulterior motives when he gave gifts.
"Tyrion, you and Tysha will get one too; just remember what we talked about." Robert wasn't the type to poke his nose into other people's private lives, but Tysha wasn't fully grown physically, and having a child could be dangerous. Better to wait a couple of years than to take an unnecessary risk.
"Yes, my lord." Tyrion nodded. He didn't feel ready to be a father anyway, especially with how much time his position demanded, and didn't see any problems with the older man's advice.
Besides the awkwardness of it.
"I am curious about something. Even at the height of their power, the Targaryens couldn't solve the issue of the Stepstones. How will you do it?" Tyrion was an avid reader, and the Dance of the Dragons as well as the events leading to it were a favorite.
"They failed because Viserys didn't have a spine. I'll burn down Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh if they don't back off, and hunt down the pirates to the last ship." Robert declared. After all, he preferred his problems solved permanently.
"No middle ground with you, is there, my lord? Either peace or total annihilation for your enemies." Tyrion could see it in Robert's eyes. He might seek peace but wouldn't hesitate to destroy them.
"There are people and matters you don't compromise with, Tyrion. Slavers and security are two of them."
"Well, let's hope they back off then; I rather like Myrish glass." the dwarf commented absentmindedly.
"And if they don't, perhaps it will be called Asgardian glass. Speaking of, did that glassmaker start working?" Robert half joked, turning to Davos.
"He has, my lord. It is slow, as he is also teaching his apprentices, but with the language difference, it makes things harder."
"Hire a translator for him, maybe even as an apprentice." he ordered. Glass, which was a common everyday item back on Earth, was a luxury here and was great for trading.
"Yes, my lord."
"So, Sandor will continue with the guards, Davos will test out the ship, and Tyrion and I will continue the administrative work until the maester arrives. After that I'll clear out the Stepstones, and we will be heading to the Summer Isles. Any questions?" Robert summarized their plan.
The occupants of the room shook their heads, and the meeting was over.
—
A week passed by, and the maester finally arrived via ship. A rookery had to be set up with ravens trained for carrying messages, so it took him longer to arrive than expected.
Maester Olivar was a man in his thirties, brown of hair and eyes, with chains in architecture, ravenry, Essos studies, and sums and numbers.
Robert was sure he was handpicked specifically for Asgard.
He wasn't the only one, though, as another man younger than the maester came with him, bearing a letter from Elia Martell.
"To Robert Baratheon, Lord of Asgard
I'll admit I wasn't expecting chocolate of all things. I mean, I forgot what it even tasted like over two decades ago, yet it brought back memories long gone.
Onto business, the man is Korryn Redwyne, who chose and was allowed to join the medical school, as our relations with the Arbor are very good. He was an exemplary student and one of the best doctors I taught. I am sure he will be an excellent addition to Asgard.
Now, knowing your trade empire idea, I was wondering if you could pass copies of any medical books and texts you come across to me, as there are diseases in this world I am not familiar with.
On the medicine front I am doing my best, but my pharmaceutical knowledge isn't what it used to be, so if you could send me samples or recipes of any medicine you actually see working, I can provide you with the qualified workers for joint production.
Lastly, when will you be making more chocolate?
Let me know if you succeed on any of these fronts.
I wish you the best.
Lady Elia Hightower of Houses Hightower and Martell"
"So Lady Elia sent me a doctor? How fortunate." Robert truly meant it, as in this age and time people died of things easily treatable back on Earth, and having a doctor could truly make a difference.
"Yes, my lord, Korryn Redwyne, at your service." Pale from studying indoors for who knows how many hours a day, with pale blond hair and blue eyes, the young man bowed his head, and Robert nodded.
"Well, it is a surprise but a welcome one to be sure. We will set you up with temporary housing for now until Valhalla is completed, which will take some time. In the meantime, I am sure you two could use some rest. Maester Olivar, Doctor Korryn, welcome to Asgard." Robert patted both men on the shoulders, guiding them to empty rooms.
—
Medical supplies, including rubbing alcohol to disinfect any cuts, camping equipment, and preserved food, were strapped on the dragons while Robert got ready to clean out the Stepstones.
With overwhelming violence.
"You all know your responsibilities; I won't keep you any longer. If you need anything that requires a dragon, send a letter to my grandmother." Robert took off, heading to the Stepstones.
He would burn down ships and any pirates he caught on the islands. Any stranglers would not pose a threat to the ships, as long as they didn't make landfall for supplies, which won't be a problem with his cargo vessels.
Next would be Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr. He would send messages to them through their ships, declaring the Stepstones a free trade zone and no tolls would be collected from any trade vessel passing through. Anyone who broke the deal would not have a fleet when he was done with them.
Regular campaigns to ensure the islands remained secure would be necessary, but he could spare the time.
—
Stepstones
Robert finally saw the chain of islands in the distance. For three days, any ships bearing pirate flags were burnt down without mercy, and any party on the land faced the same fate as well.
Tyrosh was absent, but Myr and Lys had plenty of ships in the area. They did not take his warnings seriously, as history had shown that even the Dragonriders could not hold the islands.
Robert spared only one ship from each fleet to act as a messenger.
Stepstones were not theirs, and any attempt to come back would end with the cities facing the fate of their ships.
Robert had landed on one of the islands and set up camp to rest. He had hunted some game both for him and his dragons and leaned back on Obelisk as the blue dragon rested after eating his fill, with the other two dragons near, creating a circle with Robert inside.
He laid down on his makeshift bed and was in the state between sleep and awake when the dragons began to growl. Robert's eyes were wide open, thinking it must be a strangler approaching.
"Come to me." he heard a whisper, so low he wasn't even sure it wasn't just the wind playing games on his ears, but the second one was even stronger, agitating the dragons even more. They stood in front of him, as if seeking to guard Robert from whatever it was, growling towards the sea.
Towards Valyria.