Capítulo 733: Chapter 733: The Summer Sea
With matters in Volantis settled, there was no reason for the Imperial fleet to continue anchoring here.
Two days later, at dawn, the three Triarchs of Volantis personally bid farewell at the harbor. The fleet, flying banners of black with a red dragon, set sail, officially leaving Volantis behind and heading for their final destination: Naath.
Known as the "Island of Butterflies," Naath is an island off the northwest coast of the Sothoryos continent in the Summer Sea. It is also the homeland of Missandei.
As the fleet finally sailed toward Naath, Missandei's cousin, Milaz, the emissary from Naath, was somewhat emotional. Due to the Naathi's love for peace, his homeland often fell victim to pirate and slaver raids.
Upon hearing that the last descendant of the Valyrian Freehold had reclaimed the Iron Throne, the tribal chieftains sent Milaz to seek aid from their former suzerain, hoping that the descendant could restore the glory of old and send a fleet to protect Naath.
Before setting out, Milaz had little hope. During the Targaryen dynasty, emissaries from Naath had sought help from King's Landing multiple times. They were always well-fed and well-treated, but the moment military aid was mentioned, they were flatly refused.
The cost of sending troops to Naath was too high for the Iron Throne to bear. Moreover, they lacked the resolve to reclaim the glory of their Valyrian ancestors, being more concerned with the few gold dragons they had.
This time, Milaz had come to King's Landing with little expectation, but to his surprise, he succeeded. He became the first emissary in centuries to bring back aid, and now, as he saw the relief forces about to arrive, how could he not be emotionally stirred?
The Imperial fleet set sail once more from Volantis, their ships cutting through the vast expanse of the Summer Sea. The first few days were calm, and they even caught sight of the legendary Smoking Sea from a distance.
The area now covered by the Smoking Sea had reached an astonishing extent. A thick, gray fog shrouded the sea, stretching as far as the eye could see.
The dense mist churned continuously, as if the water was boiling. One could even faintly hear the roars of some ancient creature, sending chills down one's spine.
Asha and the many crew members on board had never seen anything like this. They couldn't help but marvel at the world's mysteries and wonders.
"What a magnificent sight!"
Had they not ventured out to sea, living their entire lives in their hometowns, they might never have witnessed such grandeur, never have glimpsed the mysteries of this world.
The tales of their journey could be boasted about to their grandchildren, as they sat in the shade of the village trees, recounting the myriad sights their grandfathers had seen at sea.
Whoosh—
The fog of the Smoking Sea continued to churn. The Imperial fleet, wisely, kept their distance. The ships formed a formation, cutting through the waves and sailing on the tranquil sea.
"It's said that the creature living in Volantis escaped from this forsaken continent," said an Imperial naval soldier, standing on the deck, clad in black and red armor and draped in a Targaryen family cloak.
"How many such beasts might still be lurking within?"
"Thank the gods they're all trapped in the Smoking Sea. What would we do if they all got out?"
These were rumors they had heard in Volantis. Being not far from the Smoking Sea, the people of Volantis had far richer tales and legends about it than those in Westeros.
The stories told by the people of the North mostly came from the even more mysterious lands beyond the Wall. In contrast, those living in Volantis had never heard tales from beyond the Wall; they were more concerned about the ever-expanding Smoking Sea—would it eventually swallow Volantis as well?
Standing not far away on the deck, Asha heard the soldiers' chatter. The biting sea breeze brushed against her cheeks and the strands of hair on her forehead. The short-haired woman remained silent.
She didn't know if that day would ever come, but as someone who had personally experienced attacks from White Walkers and other creatures, she certainly didn't wish for it.
Because that would mean widespread devastation. Many people were already struggling to survive; why should they also have to face these calamities?
The Imperial fleet continued to sail through the waves, swiftly leaving the vicinity of the Smoking Sea. The sky-obscuring gray fog and the faint roars that had filled their ears and eyes vanished.
The soldiers aboard felt their spirits lift as they distanced themselves from the Smoking Sea. After all, life at sea might be monotonous, but the vistas were breathtaking.
The Summer Sea was dotted with sporadic islands. Following their nautical charts, the fleet encountered indigenous inhabitants on some of these islands, offering the soldiers a taste of diverse local cultures at each stop.
However, they noticed that the farther south they went, the darker the skin of the indigenous people became. Some islanders had dark, almost black skin, adorned with feathers, and wore scant clothing—barely enough to cover their bodies. But this was also related to the local climate.
The fleet continued its course toward Naath Island. Along the way, they eradicated several pirate bands that had been terrorizing the Summer Sea, destroying their lairs. They even faced an ambush from local tribes during one of their stops. Asha Greyjoy, without any hesitation, annihilated the tribe, making it another fruitful day.
The Greyjoys had their roots in piracy; every Ironborn knew the art of raiding and plundering. Thus, Asha Greyjoy was in her element.
Unfortunately, good times don't last. The Imperial fleet encountered a significant storm. Under Asha's command, they managed to navigate through it but suffered losses in ships and manpower.
Asha remembered Viserys' explicit instructions: once they reached the overseas empire, resupplying would be impossible. Everything depended on Asha Greyjoy's own efforts.
Viserys was clear: the empire couldn't afford to send supplies. The cost was too high. Asha was to resort to raiding.
After much consideration, Viserys had concluded that this Kraken's daughter was the best choice for this expedition.
Before reaching Naath Island, the Imperial fleet arrived at another significant stopover point.
This was the Summer Isles, located to the east of Naath Island. The archipelago consisted of three islands much larger than the Iron Islands: Walano Island, Omboru Island, and Zalu Island.
In fact, the largest among them, Zalu Island, was bigger than all the Iron Islands combined.
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