Pentos was the weakest of the nine Free Cities. Viserys and his forces had launched their attack in the early morning, and by noon, they had seized the palace and the homes of the great nobles. Hoyt had not yet returned from his pursuit of Kurland, leaving Viserys and the Red Viper to take control of the captured nobles in the palace hall.
Afterward, the two men made their way to a pool by the rockery in the palace gardens. Unable to stand the heat any longer, the Red Viper stripped off his armor and dove into the cool water. Although he was in his thirties, his body showed no signs of age—his olive skin was taut over well-defined muscles. Seeing the Red Viper so at ease, Viserys decided to follow suit, removing his armor and revealing his own lean, muscular frame.
"You're something else," the Red Viper remarked, feeling the water's refreshing coolness. "Did you plan all of this from the start?"
Viserys's bold actions had clearly impressed him. The prince had a knack for diving headfirst into dangerous situations and emerging unscathed.
"I didn't know Connington would be here," Viserys replied. "If I hadn't run into him, I wouldn't have thought of attacking Pentos."
"You're remarkable too," the Red Viper said, admiring Viserys's decisiveness. "You just decided to attack and went for it, without a moment's hesitation."
Most men would have basked in their victory after taking Tyrosh, savoring their success, but not Viserys. He hadn't even finished his meal before setting his sights on the next conquest. When the conditions were right, he acted. If they weren't, he created them. Hesitation, in his view, would only lead to failure, like Bittersteel.
"When the conditions are ripe, I act," Viserys continued. "If they're not ripe, I create them. Hesitate, and you'll end up like Bittersteel."
"You're far stronger than Bittersteel," the Red Viper observed, offering an honest assessment. He had originally intended to bring up the topic of a marriage alliance, but since Viserys hadn't mentioned it, he saw no reason to rush the conversation. Viserys had already caused a significant stir in the Free Cities, and it was clear he would do the same in Westeros.
"I've heard Robert spends his days eating, drinking, whoring, and sleeping," the Red Viper mused. "Perhaps it's time to give him something to worry about."
He also thought about The Reach. During the War of the Usurper, both Dorne and The Reach had been loyal to the crown, but after Robert took the throne, both regions were pushed to the periphery of power. Viserys's rise was sure to unsettle some, sparking conflict and intrigue in Westeros.
However, the Red Viper had his own concerns. King's Landing was a place where everyone had their own agenda, and even with all his skill, he might find himself constrained by the political machinations of the capital.
The Red Viper shared his concern with Viserys.
"So what if we don't have a position? Can we create one?"
"Create a position?" Oberyn repeated, wiping the water droplets from his face and looking intrigued.
"You can take some news about me with you when you go to King's Landing. Just apply for a... let's call it a 'foreign minister' role."
"Foreign minister?" The Red Viper asked, puzzled by the term. "But will Robert agree? And what about that old fox Arryn? He's not exactly easy to deal with."
Viserys leaned forward, a sly smile on his lips. "Do you know what a 'unified value' is?"
The Red Viper perked up, curious about this new concept.
"If I were a nobody," Viserys continued, "not only would I have failed to accomplish what I have, but I'd be treated like the Beggar King. Dorne and The Reach would always have another option. But now things are different. Robert, that licker pig, will have to give up some of his power to win you over. But how much is too much—that's for you to decide."
The Red Viper, quick-witted as ever, immediately grasped Viserys's point. "Licker pig?"
"Lyanna clearly doesn't like him, but he keeps trailing after her. What else could he be?"
The Red Viper burst into laughter. "A licker pig, that's perfect!"
At that moment, Webber and a knight from Dorne approached them. Webber spoke first, "Viserys, the captain has returned."
"Let's go," Viserys said, rising from the pool. "We'll discuss our next move together."
...
On the other side of the palace, Hoyt walked with a spring in his step. When he saw Viserys and the others, a smile flickered in his eyes. He felt as if he had been transported back to his youth—no, even further, to the vitality of a fifteen-year-old. In his hand, he carried a cloak, within which was wrapped a round object. There was no need to ask—it was Kurland's head.
"I hope that one day," Oberyn said, his voice filled with quiet resolve, "I'll be able to cut off the head of the Mountain just like that."
The Red Viper's eyes darkened with shared hatred. The death of Elia had festered in him for twelve long years. He had dreamed of this moment.
"You can also have Tywin's head, but I get Robert's," Viserys said, his tone sharp but teasing.
The Red Viper smiled grimly and replied, "That's right. Tywin's head is mine, and Robert's is yours."
When Viserys saw Hoyt approaching, he walked up to him with a smile and said, "Congratulations, Commander, on slaying your enemy!"
The mercenaries behind him echoed in unison, "Congratulations, Commander, on slaying your enemy!"
Hoyt's weathered face, lined with deep furrows, bloomed into a wide grin, and even the bags under his eyes seemed to shrink with the joy of victory.
"Let's go! We're heading to the Hall of the Sea and Land!" Hoyt declared.
"Long live the Prince!" Viserys shouted, raising his arms high.
"Long live the Prince!" the mercenaries chanted back.
"Long live the Prince!"
"Long live the Prince!"
For the first time in hundreds of years, Pentos had a Prince with real power. His name was Hoyt Stewart.
After his coronation, Hoyt quickly announced several decrees. The first was the abolition of the tradition of the "Prince's Sacrifice," a barbaric practice that had long been despised by the noble families and had been the ruin of Hoyt's own family. This so-called "legal" death threat against any disobedient prince was finally put to an end.
Next, Hoyt decreed the execution of all members of House Berent and their vassal families, the confiscation of their property, and the cancellation of their debts. This single act won him widespread support. House Berent and its vassals held at least 70% of the debts in Pentos, making them creditors not only to commoners but also to some of the weaker noble houses. With their debts erased, most of the city's inhabitants stood to benefit greatly from Hoyt's actions. After all, few would mourn the death of their creditors.
Hoyt then turned to the matter of power-sharing with the other noble houses of Pentos. These families would be essential in governing the city moving forward. How to distribute power and establish a fair system would require careful consideration.
After decades of fighting, Hoyt had few concrete ideas on how to proceed. So, he sought advice from Viserys.
"I want you to be the next Prince of Pentos," Hoyt said to Viserys, his tone serious and resolute.