Viserys spoke softly, but he didn't pay much attention to the boy who followed the master.
He assumed he was merely an apprentice.
Upon seeing Viserys, Tobho Mott immediately fell to his knees and exclaimed.
"I've long heard of the true king across the Narrow Sea, and today I am fortunate to behold Your Majesty's visage."
Ever since Tobho Mott had been 'invited' by Viserys' envoy, he had been terrified throughout the journey.
His unfortunate apprentice had also witnessed the scene and was likewise 'invited' to join them.
The master blacksmith had initially been terrified, believing he had encountered slave traders and was being kidnapped to be sold as a slave on the continent of Essos.
However, upon disembarking and being personally welcomed by the local customs officials, and then riding in the most comfortable carriage along a smooth road, with guards even protecting him, Tobho's heart began to settle somewhat.
It was only then that he discovered he had been brought here by the 'Young Dragon', whose fame had already spread throughout King's Landing.
News of Viserys across the Narrow Sea had been strictly prohibited in the Red Keep, and the gold cloaks had been cracking down on those who dared to discuss it.
Yet, it was impossible to completely suppress such rumors, and solid evidence was difficult to come by.
After all, people didn't write these things down in black and white on the walls. As long as they steadfastly denied it when arrested, the gold cloaks couldn't do much, except lock them in jail, beat them up, and then release them.
Moreover, King's Landing was a chaotic mix of people and underground forces, mostly consisting of lower-class citizens living in the gray areas of society, like thieves and bandits.
The gold cloaks dared not enter their territory, lest they be ambushed, beaten, and left empty-handed.
The resentment against House Lannister was high in King's Landing right after the usurper's war.
Several Lannister soldiers had gone missing during patrols, only for their bodies to be hung from poles atop the Mud Gate the next day – a blatant slap in the face to the Lord of Casterly Rock.
Thus, it was impossible to control public opinion in the densely populated and chaotic King's Landing.
Rumors of the 'True Dragon', 'The Rightful Owner of the Iron Throne', 'The True King', 'The Young Dragon', and other titles and information about Viserys spread like wildfire throughout King's Landing.
Most of these rumors were spread by those dissatisfied with the current situation, seeking change and an outlet for their frustration.
As a blacksmith making a living in King's Landing, Tobho Mott had naturally heard of Viserys and even of his dragons.
However, at the time, he had held Viserys in contempt, considering him a mere remnant of the old Targaryen era and believing that dragons, having been extinct for a century, could not possibly reemerge.
The times had changed, and the Targaryen dynasty had come to an end. House Baratheon was now the rightful ruler of the Iron Throne.
Those who still clung to the Targaryens were seen as foolish conservatives, unable to adapt to the changing times.
Back then, Tobho had even quarreled with others over their differing opinions on the matter.
But now…
Thud, thud, thud...
The master blacksmith's prostrate was as vigorous as pounding garlic, while he repeatedly called out 'True King,' seemingly in awe of Viserys' charisma.
Roar—
Another dragon's roar echoed from afar, as if carrying an ancient, desolate aura, like a primeval creature that had traversed countless ages emitting a powerful roar, striking fear into people's hearts and sending chills down their spines.
Hearing this terrifying roar once again, Tobho's body trembled violently as he knelt on the ground, not daring to lift his head for a glimpse.
He could no longer doubt the existence of dragons.
Whoosh~
A massive shadow swept over everyone's heads once more, flying off into the distance, stirring up dust and fallen leaves on the ground with the gale it created.
A black-haired boy, kneeling beside his master, looked up with curiosity, only to see the silhouette of the giant dragon flying away. His eyes widened, and his mouth gaped open in disbelief as he whispered in amazement.
"Is... is that a dragon?"
Viserys, hearing the boy's exclamation, glanced at him briefly.
He then helped Tobho up from the ground, displaying the demeanor of a king who respects the learned.
Andalos truly needed a master blacksmith to improve its overall military technology, forging sharper weapons and more resilient armor.
Morale and training were indeed crucial in an army's combat operations; however, equipment was equally important.
A sword that remains intact after one hundred strikes is different from a sword that stays sharp after two hundred strikes. A weapon that shatters upon impact in battle is a hazard to the soldiers wielding it.
Viserys placed great emphasis on the quality of the soldiers' weapons and armor. Andalos had a dedicated armory that purchased the highest quality iron ore and produced weapons with a low rate of defects.
Tobho Mott, a master blacksmith, was a highly sought-after professional in most places, but not in King's Landing, where chaos ruled. This gave Viserys the opportunity to have his men knock him out, bag him, and take him away.
The group then returned to the castle.
Viserys retrieved the Heart of a Red Comet from his treasury.
Crack—
As Viserys opened the chest, the Heart of a Red Comet lay quietly within, still as viBenjent as blood, as pure and transparent as a ruby.
Upon opening the chest, everyone in the room could feel the temperature drop noticeably.
This Heart of a Red Comet still possessed an extremely low temperature, feeling like touching a block of ice.
Tobho's gaze was instantly drawn to it as the chest was opened.
Although the master blacksmith was somewhat cowardly and groveled for mercy, his heartbeat raced, and his eyes widened at the sight of such a precious material, even forgetting his recent fear.
For Tobho Mott, having returned from his studies in Qohor, his lifelong dream was to forge an unparalleled legendary weapon that would be passed down for centuries.
However, to forge such a weapon, one would need a material as rare as Valyrian steel.
Unfortunately, Valyria had been destroyed, and the technique for forging Valyrian steel had vanished with the Doom.
All that remained in the world were the named Valyrian steel swords.
His only hope was to melt them down and create new weapons, but they would not be weapons he forged from scratch.
However, at this moment, Tobho's heart raced as he saw new hope.
"Are you truly willing to entrust this Heart of a Red Comet to me for forging?" he asked, struggling to contain his excitement as he cradled the precious Heart of a Red Comet, then continued to ask.
"Your Grace, may I know what type of weapon you are skilled in using?"
Viserys pondered for a moment, though he had already thought of an answer to this question long ago, he confirmed it once again in his heart.
"A one-handed sword."
Viserys was proficient in many weapons. He had once followed the Red Keep's master-at-arms and practiced traditional knight swordsmanship, taught to his elder brother, Sir William Darry, which involved the use of one-handed swords or two-handed broadswords.
Later, he briefly trained with Braavos' First Swordsman, Syrio Forel, in the art of the Water Dance. This experience deepened Viserys' understanding of swordsmanship, though it was brief.
Subsequently, when Oberyn Martell arrived at Dragonstone and traveled to Andalos, Viserys practiced spear and lance techniques with him, which were more suitable for combat on horseback.
As the bearer of the 'Sun-piercer' sigil, House Martell had always had an excellent grasp of long weapons. Thus, Oberyn's guidance greatly improved Viserys' combat skills on horseback.
Viserys was proficient in both spears and swords, but when choosing, he prioritized one over the other.
A sword.
The spear was more practical for him, but the priority lay in the sword.
Viserys had many reasons for making this choice.
The sword as a weapon had strong symbolic significance, representing power and status. Many families used the sword as a symbol of their heritage.
Moreover, the Heart of the Comet was a unique treasure, even rarer than Valyrian steel. Valyrian steel weapons were everywhere, but it seemed that only House Dayne had a two-handed broadsword forged from a comet's heart.
Viserys could craft a side-sword with it, which would increase his influence and cohesion.
The size of the Heart of the Comet also determined that it was not enough to forge a spear, but there was more than enough material to make a spearhead, with some even left to make a dagger.
However, using it to forge a one-handed sword would be just the right size. The remaining material could be used as decoration on the hilt or scabbard.
"A one-handed sword, then?"
Master Tobho held the Heart of the Comet in his hands, which were reddened from the cold. He weighed it and examined the size before nodding.
"No problem, Your Grace."
Master Tobho then asked Viserys for paper and pen, and drew a sketch on the spot.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him. For a blacksmith, being trusted to forge a legendary weapon with ample materials was a dream come true.
Viserys had given him this opportunity, so Master Tobho suppressed his excitement, sketched a design on the ground, and handed it to Viserys.
Longswords were the most common weapon for knights in Westeros, so Tobho easily drafted the sketch. The sword was about three feet long, double-edged, with a heavy crossguard above the hilt to protect the wielder's fingers during combat.
Perhaps due to his excitement, Tobho's inspiration flourished, and he added some artistic touches to the hilt and crossguard.
As an experienced blacksmith, he could tell at a glance how big of a weapon could be forged from this material.
Using the Heart of the Comet to forge a longsword might leave some excess material, which could be used to make the sword a little longer for others, turning it into a hand-and-a-half sword.
However, the wielder of this sword was Viserys, a Targaryen with royal blood. Naturally, he couldn't use a hand-and-a -half sword, which could be considered a 'bastard sword.'
Therefore, the sword's specifications were set at the standard length of a 'three-foot sword,' and Tobho could only utilize the remaining material from other angles.
...
Tobho had sketched out a rough design for the sword, in which he lengthened the hilt a bit.
The crossguard was artistically crafted into the shape of a dragon's claw with five fingers, as if a dragon's claw was gripping the blade. At the end of the long hilt, there was a small, fierce dragon's head.
Master Tobho presented the sketch to Viserys, who examined it and was generally satisfied with Tobho Mott's design.
As expected of a master smith capable of forging Valyrian steel, the design of the sword was near perfection.
However, Viserys made some adjustments according to his personal preferences.
He knew that the dragon's head at the end of the hilt was for counterweight, to balance the overall feel of the longsword; otherwise, a top-heavy or bottom-heavy sword would affect a knight's use of the weapon.
The adjustment of the weight relied on the smith's skill and the preferences of the swordsman.
"Remove this dragon's head."
"Replace it with an equal-weighted golden or brass counterweight ball."
Viserys felt that the dragon's head was a bit ostentatious and didn't match his aesthetic taste. He requested a more modest decoration, while retaining the design of the dragon's claw crossguard.
"I understand, Your Grace."
Master Tobho noted Viserys' requested changes and nodded.
"This is still just a rough sketch, not the final design of the sword."
Forging was a complex craft, and as this was related to the goal he had been striving for his entire life, he would naturally return to his workshop to refine the design further.
Then, as if Tobho Mott had thought of something, he slapped his forehead and spoke.
"Your Grace."
"To forge this sword with the Heart of the Comet, my apprentices and I alone are not enough."
"I need to borrow a few death-row prisoners to help."
Tobho requested.
"Death-row prisoners?"
Viserys was slightly taken aback by Master Tobho's request, unsure of what he needed the prisoners for, and why others couldn't help.
Since the lives of these prisoners were worth little and they were going to die anyway, Viserys didn't think too much about it and agreed.
"Alright, Master Tobho, take as many death-row prisoners as you need."
"Since that's the case, I entrust the forging of this sword to you, using the Heart of the Comet."
Viserys nodded slightly, preparing to let Tobho Mott and his apprentice leave.
A faint female voice came from outside the room.
"The Heart of the Comet is a gift from the Lord of Light to Your Grace."
"Born from the flames, it may forge the legendary 'Lightbringer.'"
Hearing the woman's voice, Viserys turned his head towards the doorway.
A woman dressed in a red robe stood quietly by the door, gazing at the people inside the room.
Her beautiful eyes sparkled with an unusual light as they stared at the Heart of the Comet in Master Tobho's hand.
...