"Okay, I understand that I need to go to the Ruin of Valyria. However, who can take me there?"
I release a sigh as I lean over the couch. Melisandre and Willem sit in front of me with a serious expression. We are discussing how to get into the Ruin of Valyria to find a way to hatch the three dragon eggs in our possession.
"We do have a lot of sailors that can take you as far as Yi Ti. However, taking you to the Ruin of Valyria will be difficult. That place is full of smoke and ashes that obstruct the view."
"And the sea is full of rocks that are just underneath the surface of the water to hide it but enough to hit the ship and damage it."
I nod and say.
"So, who can navigate that kind of place? We need someone with sharp eyes to notice all the hidden rocks and enough experience to navigate the complex rock formation."
We think for a few seconds before Ser Willem looks at me and says.
"We can ask Captain Harlan to take us there, Your Highness."
"Captain Harlan, huh?"
"Aye. He is among the people who sail as far as Yi Ti and sail through the Ruin of Valyria multiple times before he gets captured by the slaver."
Melisandre nods her head and says.
"I agree with Ser Willem. He is the perfect person to get us to Valyria."
I nod and say.
"Very well. Is he here?"
"Aye." Ser Willem nods, "He and his crew are currently resting before returning to the sea to continue their patrol."
"Good. Please ask him to come here. I will ask him to take us to Valyria myself."
====
I smile a little at the man in front of me. Harlan has changed for the better. His thin body was filled with muscle from a good and healthy meal and from all the fighting against pirates and slave traders. However, what changes the most is the aura around him. Previously, his aura felt like someone who had nothing to lose and was ready to die in battle. Now? Now, he looks like someone who finds a worthy goal and a place to return to from his job.
Last I heard, he has someone he wants to marry.
"Captain Harlan."
"Your Highness! What can I do for you, my king?"
"Please stand up and take a seat, captain."
He gets up from kneeling and slowly takes a seat in front of me. I can see that he hesitates to sit while Melisandre and Willem are standing behind me.
"Please relax, captain. I call you here not to punish you or anything. I ask you here to ask you if you are willing to take me somewhere."
I can see him release a relieved breath and say.
"Of course, Your Highness. I am more than happy to take you anywhere you want in this world."
"I need you to take me to the Ruin of Valyria."
I can see his expression change into a serious one.
"Ruin of Valyria, huh? That will be hard, Your Highness."
"But not impossible, right?"
"It is possible, yes. However, we need the wind on our side, Your Highness. All the sailors that try to set sail to Valyria always have one thing that prevents them: the wind. The wind in that area is unpredictable. It always blows to the opposite of where they want to be or worse, blowing to rocks or toward the shipwreck. That is why people call the Smoking Sea to be cursed. There is also a rumor of demons roaming just underneath the sea."
I nod and think of a way to make the wind our ally. After a few seconds, an idea appeared in my head.
I take out an orb from my inventory and say.
"Can we use this to prevent the wind from pushing our ship?"
"What is that, Your Highness?"
I smile and say.
"This is Wind Charge, a ball of wind continuously generating wind. However, if I put my finger inside the ball…"
I put my finger inside the orb and pointed it at the door. A second later, a torrent of wind blows out of the ball and throws anything in its path. A couple of seconds later, I remove my finger and say.
"It will generate wind that can blow the sail for our ship. I don't know if it can beat the wind in the Smoking Sea, but if we put four or even six of them behind our sails… We can beat the wind."
Captain Harlan nods his head and says.
"That can work. We can add another crow nest between the sails and in front of the pillar, and we can create a box with these orbs inside of it. Do you need to press it with a finger, or can it be pressed using plank or wood?"
"As long as something is inside, it will generate the wind torrent. However, you need to make sure this black dot is in front of the thing you want to blast away."
"Then we can make the cover above the box able to press down. It is like a pressing box we use to make cheese."
"That is a great idea."
I look at Harlan and say.
"I need you to ask the carpenter to make a box that can fit ten of these orbs. After that, I need you to pick crews you know that will take us to Valyria. We need a crew who is hard and knows the sea."
Harlan puts his hand on his chest and says.
"Leave it to me, Your Highness! I shall gather the crew worthy for you."
"What about the ship? Should I prepare the biggest one?"
Harlan raises his finger for a second before putting it down.
"I am sorry to say this, but I think bringing a smaller, longer ship is safer than a bigger, bulky one. We will navigate around rocks and shipwrecks, after all."
That is a fair concern.
"Pick the ship you need. Ser Willem will ask the other captain if that ship is currently used."
I get up and continue.
"While you are busy with the box and the ships, I will prepare for the food, weapons, and armor."
I look at Harlan and say.
"Go and prepare for our departure. Ask the carpenter for how long they can modify the ship we will use. When it is done, we will immediately set sail to Valyria."
After saying that, the others nod their heads and leave my office.