When Viserys arrived in Volantis, an unusual tension lingered in the air. The sky, while affected by the encroaching Long Night, was noticeably clearer than the oppressive gloom of the Great Wall. As he traveled southward, Viserys observed that the skies gradually brightened. What was an endless twilight at the Wall was more akin to late afternoon here. Yet the people of Volantis seemed blissfully unaware of the ominous changes. Apart from a minor earthquake some time ago, their lives had carried on largely unaffected.
Only Benerro, the High Priest of R'hllor, was deeply concerned. His fiery visions had revealed the Icebone Towers, countless in number, looming beyond the Wall. He understood that the key to defeating the Night King lay in finding a way to neutralize these frozen fortresses.
"Lord High Priest, His Grace has arrived!" A temple acolyte announced Viserys's presence.
The journey south had been grueling, especially for Monterys and others not used to traveling on dragonback for extended periods. Monterys limped slightly as he dismounted, but Viserys wasted no time, moving directly to Benerro to discuss the pressing matter at hand.
"What do you think, Lord Benerro? Do you have any ideas on countering the Icebone Towers?" Viserys asked without preamble.
Benerro's expression was grave. "Your Grace, I do not yet have a definitive solution, but I believe the Dragonbones may hold the answer. It is said to amplify the element of fire and has been a cornerstone of Valyrian magical lore. Conversely, the Icebone Towers seem to draw on the element of ice. Ancient texts suggest that the Valyrians once used Dragonbones to create magical weapons capable of raising temperatures. Perhaps we can adapt this knowledge to counter the towers' power."
Viserys listened intently, considering the implications. If Dragonbone could indeed neutralize the Icebone Towers, it would be a breakthrough. However, the scope of the challenge was daunting. There were hundreds of thousands of Icebone Towers Beyond the Wall. Even if the theory proved valid, they would eventually run out of Dragonbone.
Still, it was a lead worth pursuing. At worst, they might have to venture into the Doom's Ruins to excavate more Dragonbone—a perilous but potentially necessary endeavor.
Viserys made his decision swiftly. "Lord Benerro, gather the books and select your most skilled Red Priests. Use the dragons to return with me to Westeros. We will test this theory immediately."
The thought of riding a dragon was thrilling, even to the typically stoic Red Priests. Benerro and his assistant, Moqorro, were eager to join the mission. They wasted no time packing their belongings and preparing for the journey.
As preparations were underway, Triarch Alios of Volantis arrived in haste. Ignoring the tradition that forbade a Triarch from stepping foot on the ground, Alios dismounted from his elephant and entered the Temple of R'hllor to pay his respects to Viserys.
"Lord Alios," Viserys began, his tone firm but measured, "the Long Night is upon us. This is no ordinary crisis. The entire Empire, from the North to the South, young and old alike, must contribute to the effort."
"You have but to command, Your Grace," Alios replied, bowing deeply. Despite his outward composure, the Triarch was clearly unsettled. The Long Night was a calamity spoken of in myths, and now it had become a reality.
He had already noticed troubling signs. While the skies above Volantis were brighter than in the North, the absence of the sun was undeniable. Without sunlight, crops could not grow, and the region's prosperity was in jeopardy. Though Viserys had overseen extensive food stockpiling over the past two years, those reserves were finite. Sitting idly while consuming their stores was not a sustainable plan.
The urgency was clear to all present. Defeating the Night King and ending the Long Night was not merely a matter of survival for the North—it was essential for the entire realm.
"I want you to form a fleet. I may return at any time to explore Valyria. There may well be a way there to help us defeat the Night King."
"Explore Valyria?!"
Alios felt a surge of excitement in his heart.
But at the same time, worry crept in. Exploring Valyria and restoring its glory was the dream of many in Volantis. Yet, the ruins of Doom were perilously dangerous.
Viserys' heir was still young. If something were to happen to him, not only would the empire plunge into turmoil, but Alios' own position could become precarious. He owed his current standing to Viserys and his shared political views.
"Your Grace, do you wish to explore the ruins of Doom yourself? Is it not too dangerous?"
"Alios, I understand your concern, but you must do as you are told. The Long Night will claim many lives. We must all be prepared to make sacrifices!"
Seeing Viserys' unwavering seriousness, Alios could only nod in agreement.
Soon, Benerro finished packing, and a group of red priests climbed onto the dragon's back. For safety, they tied themselves to the creature.
Though the scene was chaotic, it filled Alios and other Volantis dignitaries with envy. The opportunity to ride a dragon, to soar through the skies, was an irresistible temptation for many.
"It would be amazing to ride a dragon just once," Alios' son muttered enviously beside him.
"Then get back to your studies!" Alios barked, making his son shrink back, chastened.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of Westeros:
"Lord Commander!"
A Night's Watchman, who looked quite noble despite his black garb, saluted Ned.
Ned returned the salute, taking a good look at the man. It was none other than Loras Tyrell.
Renly had his leg healed by Viserys after the war but was exiled beyond the Wall. Loras had followed, donning the black of the Night's Watch. Mace Tyrell had tried to stop him, but Loras had been resolute, even going on a hunger strike to prove his determination.
Five years at the Wall had turned Loras into a skilled ranger.
Ned quickly assessed him and decided to linger a while.
Since Viserys' departure, Ned had struggled to sleep. Many nights, he climbed to the top of the Wall, staring into the distance at the advancing walker hordes and the ominous Icebone Tower.
"Is everything normal around here?" he asked.
"Everything is normal, my lord," Loras replied in a formal tone.
Both men were poor conversationalists, and the silence between them felt heavy. The howling wind only deepened the sense of isolation, making it seem as if two statues stood side by side.
Ned's thoughts drifted to Renly, who had died outside the Wall some time ago. He had likely perished, just as Benjen had. The air near the Icebone Tower was so frigid that no one could survive it.
To Ned's surprise, Loras had remained remarkably composed after hearing of Renly's death.
As Ned prepared to speak, both men suddenly felt the ground tremble beneath their feet.
"Another earthquake?!"
When the Icebone Towers first appeared, the Wall had cracked, but there had been no reports of earthquakes near it. The wildlings had been the first to notice them.
"Your Grace Viserys said the Wall should hold for another six months. It shouldn't collapse now!" Ned muttered.
In truth, if the Wall were to fall, there would be no time to escape.
A chilling thought struck Ned, and he hurriedly pulled out his binoculars, scanning the distance.
After a moment of observation, what he saw made cold sweat break out on his back.
The Icebone Towers were moving forward—directly toward the Wall!