The day after Wright arrived in King's Landing, he reported the situation in Dorne to the Small Council, sparking yet another heated debate.
The conflict in Dorne appeared to be caused by the House Yronwood attempting to seize power, leading to internal unrest, but the real reasons were far more complex. It involved Princes Oberyn and Doran Martell, as well as the issue of Dorne's succession—an issue directly tied to Wright himself, which in turn was linked to King Robert. If things went wrong, all of Westeros could be drawn into a war.
Hand of the King, Lord Mathis Rowan, represented Robert's stance, advocating for using this opportunity to send troops to reclaim Dorne. However, Lord Mace Tyrell, who controlled lands bordering Dorne, and Lord Renly Baratheon immediately opposed, adamantly refusing to go to war with Dorne.
Other councilors took no side, suggesting that Dorne should resolve its own problems, regardless of how the situation developed, and firmly opposed any military intervention.
Each position had its own valid reasoning.
King Robert glanced at his brother Renly, somewhat displeased. Since Renly's marriage, he had grown close to Lord Mace Tyrell, and this time, Renly was even refusing to support Robert. Robert spoke up, "Renly, with the strength of Storm's End, plus the forces from the Riverlands and Wright, conquering Dorne should be easy. This is a feat that would make history. Why are you so against the war?"
Renly fiddled with his wine cup. "Robert, defeating the Dornish on the battlefield would be easy, but don't you remember the past 300 years? We still don't know the true nature of the Dornish."
Renly turned to Lord Stannis. "We could take all of Dorne in two months, but what happens next? Everyone in Storm's End would be afraid to sleep at night, with endless assassins waiting to slit your throat. My own safety isn't a concern, but others wouldn't be so lucky. People could be poisoned just by eating bread."
Mathis also presented his reasoning. "If we justify the invasion as a mission to cleanse the usurpers of House Yronwood, we can support the nobles currently opposing them. After occupying Dorne, we'll gain the backing of most Dornish nobles, and once peace is restored, we can sign an agreement to integrate Dorne into the kingdom."
Stannis flipped a golden dragon between his fingers, his ten jeweled rings shining brightly. "I'll bet a golden dragon that they won't sign such an agreement. The Dornish would rather pay tribute than sign an agreement to join the kingdom."
All arguments had merit, leaving Robert in a difficult position. He looked at someone with his eyes closed, leaning back in his chair, and suddenly slammed his hand on the table. "Wright, stop pretending to sleep!"
"I've been listening!" Wright opened his eyes. "You've all said a lot, but don't forget the most important point—Oberyn and Doran are only severely wounded and unconscious. They're not dead yet!"
Robert responded, "The news from Sunspear is all coming from House Yronwood. They claim the two are as good as dead and may die at any moment. Can you save them?"
"No," Wright replied. Before coming to King's Landing, Nymeria had already launched a rescue mission, but the people were nowhere to be found, and thus, the attempt had failed.
Mace Tyrell joined the conversation. "Lord Wright, what if you rode a dragon and simply wiped out House Yronwood?"
As soon as he spoke, everyone in the room looked at him helplessly, and Varys chuckled. "Dorne is not officially part of the kingdom. Lord Wright is the Lord of Tyrosh and the king's younger brother. If he strikes, it would be the Seven Kingdoms formally declaring war on Dorne."
"Wright," Robert said, "the Dornish say that this is all because of Oberyn and you. You need to come up with a plan!"
As everyone continued to argue, Robert's mind was spinning. Finally, he pushed everything onto Wright, the clever one.
Wright: "My suggestion is: wait."
"Wait for what?" Robert asked.
Wright: "Wait for Nymeria and I to have our child!"
Mathis suddenly seemed to realize something. "Lord Wright, Prince Oberyn…"
Wright waved his hand, interrupting him. "I can't command Prince Oberyn. His injuries from the fire have nothing to do with me. I never rely on fires or poison to eliminate people. I prefer to deal with things directly."
Robert's interest piqued. "Wright, are you saying the Dornish want your child to inherit Dorne?"
"It's not just me waiting. Many Dornish nobles are waiting too. Only House Yronwood refuses to wait. The Dornish are waiting to see if Nymeria can give birth to a healthy child."
Wright didn't mention Oberyn's role. Oberyn had long been playing a game with Wright, and his mindset had shifted over time. After the news of Aegon's death spread, Oberyn had fully sided with Wright. In truth, Oberyn hadn't sided with Wright—he and Wright had many unresolved issues, and Oberyn had actually sided with Wright's unborn child, the future Dornish Dragonlord.
In this age, even with healing magic ensuring the survival of both mother and child, many children still perished for various reasons. The Targaryens had even had instances of stillborn or malformed children. Wright and the Targaryens were both Dragonlords, and many feared whether Nymeria's child would be normal. If the child were stillborn or deformed, their hope for Dorne's future would be gone.
Robert clenched his cup. "If your child is to inherit Dorne, then Trystane Martell must die!"
Varys smiled widely. "So, it seems that Lord Yronwood's decision to marry his daughter to Trystane and take her away to be confined is actually helping Lord Wright."
Wright turned his head to look at him, realizing that someone around Earl Yronwood was likely fanning the flames, urging him to take these actions. On the surface, it seemed beneficial to the Yronwood family to protect Trystane, as if they were on the verge of touching the peak of power. However, in reality, they were setting Yronwood up to be a sacrificial pawn, and it appeared that Varys was involved in the scheme.
Wright winked at him, and Varys touched his bald head. The two of them said nothing, neither confirming nor denying the matter. On the stage of power, there were no true good or bad guys; everyone stood from different positions, aiming to gain benefits for themselves!
The people present were all processing Wright's words. Behind an unborn child, multiple factions were jockeying for power, even willing to start a war, not knowing how many lives might be lost.
"Then let's wait," Robert said. "Master, reply to Dorne that the royal council is still in discussion."
"Then let's discuss the issue of winter grain," Rowan said.
Wright and Renly returned to the magic school, where they held a few theory lessons for the students.
They then called all the mages still in King's Landing to the school's conference room for a meeting. Renly, Jon, Qyburn, Thoros, and Malora all sat down obediently with paper and pens.
Jojen Reed, who had just turned fourteen, had recently passed his graduation test and become a formal mage.
Wright's understanding of magic had deepened gradually, and after absorbing the knowledge from Durnehviir, he was now determining the future direction of magic's development.
Every mage had different innate abilities, with their magic power having a ceiling, but knowledge had no limits. Even if one's innate strength was lacking, it could be compensated by other means.
Wright wrote several terms on the board: Alchemy, Formation Studies, and Magic Forging Studies. He then began to explain to everyone.
"First, alchemy. This is the field that all mages are studying now, and some have already made some breakthroughs. For example, Renly almost poisoned himself," Wright said.
"Haha!" A group of people laughed.
"Next, regarding the kingdom's magical management reforms. Qyburn, Thoros, Malora, you three will hold part-time positions in the newly established Magic Administration Committee, along with Maester Marwyn. The king has already approved it."
"Official magical positions? Not bad," Qyburn said, rubbing his pen.
"In alchemy, some basic potion formulas will be submitted to the Magic Administration Committee for review by King's Landing, the Magic School, and Tyrosh. After approval, they will be officially registered, so that every mage can purchase the correct formulas for a fee," Wright continued.
Renly added, "So, in the future, mages can use these certified formulas to make potions and sell them to the public!"
"Exactly! Alchemical potions are something ordinary people wouldn't dare to drink, but with the kingdom's certification, they'll be able to buy them with peace of mind," Thoros said, happily imagining the money he could make.
"This not only concerns you, but also provides livelihood for many mages who aren't as talented. In times of peace, with no war, they can cultivate or gather alchemical materials for sale. Those with a bit of money could even open a store selling potions. Weak healing potions will likely have the best sales, and hunters will also be fond of night vision potions," Wright explained.
Wright then pointed to Formation Studies and Magic Forging Studies. "These two disciplines were recently reorganized by me and separated from the five schools of magic. You should have heard of or seen the Eye of Wright in Tyrosh; that was created by combining Formation Studies and Magic Forging."
Renly asked, "Doesn't Magic Forging require Valyrian steel?"
"Valyrian steel is the best material for conducting magic, but it's not the only one. Other materials are less effective, but they're enough for making small items," Wright said with a smile, signaling Jon Snow to unsheath his sword.
Wright took the sword in one hand, while magic flowed through the other, sweeping over the blade. Purple, intricate magic runes appeared on the blade.
With a swift motion, the sword lit up with white light, and after a minute, the light and the magic runes both disappeared.
"By embedding a magic array onto an object, even though it doesn't have the lasting effect of Valyrian steel, sometimes it can still have some use. Like the walls of the magic school—aren't they effective?" Wright remarked.
Wright then performed a cujoring spell, causing a pile of broken human bones to appear. They spun and combined, eventually forming a massive skeleton nearly four meters tall, which crouched before Wright.
"These are advanced applications of magic, but there are even higher-level magics that I'll be teaching at the Tyrosh Magic School. To qualify for entry into the Tyrosh School, you must first be officially recognized as a royal mage," Wright explained.
"This sounds great. I'm willing to learn!" Qyburn said first. He was getting old and slow, but anything that could improve his strength piqued his interest. He stared at the huge skeleton with wide eyes.
Wright nodded. "However, given the shortage of mages in King's Landing, here's the plan: you will organize a study trip. All the mages and apprentices in King's Landing will go to Tyrosh for a year. This way, it won't interfere with your studies or teaching."
Renly grinned widely, understanding that Wright was once again poaching people for Tyrosh. Since Qyburn and the others had positions, they would definitely return to King's Landing, but most of the apprentices would likely never come back.
"Master Wright, I serve in the city defense army and hold an important position. A year might be too long," Jon Snow, who had been excited at first, now sounded a bit down at the thought of teaching only in Tyros.
Wright replied, "For every loss, there's a gain. I'll go speak with Robert and have him hold your position for you."
"That's great, thank you, Master!" Jon said, bowing deeply to Wright.
Wright added, "While you're at it, write to Robb and tell him to come to Tyrosh, and bring his wife along."
"Sure! Robb will definitely come!" Jon replied confidently, throwing his golden cloak over his shoulder.
At this point, Renly spoke up. "I won't go for now. Margaery is about to give birth. I'll come in a month or two after the child is born."
Wright nodded. Margaery was the first to be pregnant, and with a mage like Renly, the birth should be safe. "Then bring Margaery and the child to Tyrosh when the time comes."
"Got it! Margaery's been at Storm's End for so long, after the child is born, it'll be the perfect time for a trip," Renly said. He loved Margaery, but not in a romantic sense; his love for her was more familial, a bond of partnership and sibling-like camaraderie with his intelligent wife. His true love was for Loras.
In the following days, the children at the school were buzzing with excitement when they heard they would be going to Tyrosh. Most of the apprentices at the Magic School in King's Landing were from noble families with money, so they went around the city buying clothes, food, and various goods to fill their rooms.
Wright didn't intervene but reminded them to familiarize themselves with boarding ships at the harbor before the journey. He didn't want anyone getting seasick, struggling like a dead dog, and being dragged onto Tyrosh.
Wright's proposal was smoothly approved. It wasn't as if people wouldn't return, and with the availability of alchemical potions, even mages could be hired to set up magic arrays in their homes. This would be a huge boon for the kingdom's development.
The next few days, Wright began teaching some basic knowledge of Formation Studies to the mages as a preview. His own daily routine consisted of morning training and leisurely wandering around King's Landing until he received a letter from Storm's End.
Once Renly received the letter, he had to leave immediately. Upon hearing this, Wright dragged him onto a dragon flight.
Margaery was about to give birth, and no matter how important things were, it was time to set everything aside. This wasn't just Renly's child, but Wright's as well.
Odahviing, the dragon, could cover great distances with each wingbeat. When encountering updrafts, it could even glide for minutes without flapping its wings.
Renly's smaller dragon had proportionally smaller wings and needed to flap continuously to keep up, but luckily, Odahviing was large enough that the small dragon could rest on it when tired.
"Renly, do you think you're ready to jump off?" Wright asked as they hovered over Storm's End, preparing to check if Renly was ready to ride the dragon.
"No problem, I often practice on the tower at Storm's End," Renly replied, and with that, he leapt backward, landing first.
Wright followed quickly, and the two of them plunged toward the ground, gliding together into Storm's End.
The people in the city relaxed once they saw the two dragons and riders, and began preparing for the upcoming banquet.
With the Lord's first child on the way, a grand feast was in line with the tradition of Westeros. Those without money would invite only close friends and family, but those with wealth would feast the entire castle, even offering a good meal to servants and stablehands.
No one knew exactly how much money Renly had, but it was said that even the smallest workshop owner in Storm's End could pull out dozens of gold dragons at any time. A few days ago, Renly had bought a large amount of food and hired chefs. According to some suppliers, Renly was not only planning to host the castle residents but was preparing a feast for the entire town!
Though commoners and workers might only get a honeyed bread, how many people were there in Storm's End? This generosity might very well secure Renly the title of Westeros' richest person.
What they didn't know was that the money Renly spent on flowers would soon be recouped. The common folk could send a bunch of flowers as a token, and Renly could sell them to perfume merchants for a good price. For those with status, the gifts had to match their rank.
A blacksmith might not gift a fine sword? A pork merchant wouldn't give a fine cured ham? A landed knight wouldn't offer a decorative vase?
Renly was clever enough to ensure that every coin spent on inviting the whole town would be returned.