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Xandar, Essos
Caspian Darkwood
57 AC
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High Council Chamber
"How shall we deal with the cities surrounding the yoke of old Volantis?" Fabian, the Minister of Defense, brought up the issue of the nearby Volantene cities: Valysar, Selhorys, and Volon Therys.
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"As of now, they remain under Xandar's yoke. Taxes continue to arrive. It is true there were disturbances and fear at the beginning, but with the King's organization, food, medicine, and economic aid have reached the cities," former Triarch Nyessos, a member of the defunct Elephant party and now Minister of Oversight, explained.
"Slavery has already been eradicated in the cities. The new castellan governors arrived two days ago and have begun the task of restructuring and formalizing the established laws," Korra mentioned regarding the castellans, who held a title similar to the Lords of Westeros, tasked with governing a city under the control and custody of the Royal Crown of Xandar.
At first, I had wanted to unify the three cities with Xandar, increasing the city's population to one million six hundred thousand and leaving the satellite cities as military bastions. However, I eventually decided against it, leaving them as they were. This would serve later as a method to teach the art of governance to my future children. Much like the Targaryens did with Dragonstone, but on a larger and more complete scale, as they would be learning directly from a castellan rather than being given a land to rule without the necessary knowledge.
"The witches have already begun their duties as healers. They are not yet well known, but we expect that as word continues to spread, my sisters will be summoned in greater numbers." Valka presented an important point regarding medical care in Xandar and the other cities.
It all began with the initiative to provide medical care to every Xandarian citizen who needed it. In old Volantis, as in all of Essos, there was nothing resembling a modern "health system." There were local healers and midwives, and even slaves trained in the craft by the Temple. But it was all based on bloodletting, herbs, or knowledge that more often than not ended with the patient dead rather than cured. I wanted to eliminate that and replace it with a practical medical system.
Ultimately, the project was established with the Witches' Order in charge. The system worked as follows: if a citizen was ill or injured, they only had to report their situation to the Order, and a witch would be sent to their location to treat them. This service was only for citizens, as it was paid for through their taxes. As for foreigners, they had to pay a fee upon arrival in the city—a kind of insurance—which covered them in case of need.
Ismael took the opportunity to hand a sheet of paper to each member of the High Council, starting with Korra, Minister of Justice, Gerald, Minister of Health; Essino, Commander of the Blood Riders; Fabian, Minister of Defense; Charles, Minister of the Treasury; Galio, Minister of Agriculture; Valka, Supreme Leader of the Order of the Witches; Kinvara, High Priestess of the Red Temple; and, finally, to me.
"Now that the first batch of fifty carriages is finished, I have concluded—with the help of Minister Charles—the list of products and goods Xandar will trade, along with the standard monetary construct, wholesale adjustments, and which products have a fixed price."
The list was long: Honey, wheat, beets, potatoes, carrots, watermelons, fish, sugar, salt, milk, leather. Candles, lanterns, coal, paper, dyes, scissors, watches, lighters, fishing rods, clothing, ice, glass, and jewelry.
Regarding the three satellite cities of Xandar, they would trade in the breeding of donkeys, sheep, pigs, and cattle. Qohor would trade in swords, spears, shovels, hoes, nails, iron, and copper. Vaes Yeraan was not on the list, as it was not a mercantile city but one focused on the military, depending directly on Xandar.
Further down was a list of prohibited goods and products: Potions, compasses, spyglasses, redstone, diamonds, crossbows, armor, dynamite, bone meal, obsidian, soul sand, carved pumpkins, pistons, and horse armor.
Everything was well-structured, which made me happy, knowing I had competent people for things I lacked knowledge of.
"Excellent, good work to both of you," I thanked them. Fabian then rang a bell, and the double doors of the chamber were opened from the inside. "I wish to present the Iron Golems, which will be vital for keeping our merchant company safe and serving as a defensive and offensive force within the Xandarian army."
Through the open doors entered a colossus nearly three meters tall. Its appearance was as if living armor had been combined with a titan. Its posture was slightly hunched, with glowing green eyes and an imposing, slightly sinister presence. A true living weapon of war.
The Golem walked forward, its heavy steps echoing in the hall. Up close, I could see it in more detail: its entire body was made of gray iron, its head metallic in the shape of a closed helm. Its eyes glowed with an intense emerald green, contrasting sharply with the silver-gray metal of its body. Large iron plates formed the chest, shoulders, and back, but with a finish that looked like metallic skin rather than simple flat plates.
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"They receive orders with total obedience. Their defensive and offensive power has already been tested by my ministry, and they are waiting to be deployed." I looked at the Golem with total admiration as the pieces of my kingdom were set one by one. Now, all that was left was to bring the Ravagers, and very soon, Xandar would become the commercial heart of Essos.
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Braavos, Essos
8th Moon of 57 AC
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The Temple of Black and White
The echo of water dripping into the central fountain of the temple was the only sound in the gloom. There should have been no light there, but today, three torches of cold fire illuminated the most powerful men in the city.
Kranis Kallistar, the Sealord, rubbed his temples in frustration. Beside him, three representatives of the Iron Bank stood as rigid as the statues of the great Titan guarding the city's harbor. Before them, a figure waited in absolute silence, flanked by two others.
"It is an insult to history," Kranis growled, breaking the silence. "Volantis has fallen. The old enemy, the one that shackled men for the simple fact of being born, has been wiped from the map. And yet, I feel no desire to celebrate."
"The Iron Bank does not celebrate, my Lord," replied one of the bankers, his voice raspy as if his throat were dry. "The Bank analyzes. This 'Caspian' has banned slavery in all his lands. He has fulfilled the Mandate of Braavos with a speed we could not achieve in centuries. But he has destroyed the market. The trade lines have begun to collapse. The gold of Pentos and Myr is stopping its flow into our vaults because they have no slaves to produce, nor the guarantee of selling those they possess."
"It's not just the gold," another banker intervened. "It's how he did it. Reports of mountains appearing out of nowhere. Cities rising in days. The very landscape through which the Iron Bank strengthened itself is in danger."
The Sealord turned toward the hooded figure of the Temple.
"And what do those who serve the Many-Faced God say? Does this herald not owe a debt to Death?"
The figure stepped forward. Slowly, letting the torchlight illuminate his face, he revealed the face of a common man—a servant who had brought the Sealord breakfast that morning. Suddenly, the man's skin began to ripple like the surface of a wind-swept lake. Bones cracked, his height shifted, and his skin turned a scaly blue tone for an instant before settling into the perfect shape of a woman. Even the bankers stepped back, horrified.
"Death is in no hurry," said the Faceless Man, using the exact voice of the Sealord. "But King Caspian's life is... noisy. Too noisy."
The man transformed again. His features flowed like melting wax, turning into a young woman with violet eyes and a royal bearing: the spitting image of Aerea Targaryen.
"Our agents have tried to approach," the false Aerea continued. "But the air around Xandar and its cities is watched by women who smell intent before steel. And his 'slender demons,' those beings who move between the shadows of the world, see through our disguises. The gift of changing flesh is useless against eyes that see the soul."
Kranis caught his breath after seeing how the face of whatever was before him changed at will. "Are you saying you cannot kill him?"
"We say the price would be... incalculable," the assassin replied, returning to his neutral, featureless form. "One does not ask for a life; one asks for the end of a world. The King has been brought by the one who lights the world. If he dies, the chaos that follows will set the known world ablaze."
"Braavos has always hated Volantis for its chains," the lead banker said. "But Xandar scares us more. A world without slaves is what we wanted, but not a world where one man dictates who lives and dies through miracles of stone. If Caspian decides he wants more than the cities he has conquered, Braavos will become a graveyard of ships."
The Sealord looked toward the temple exit, where the mist of Braavos was beginning to roll in.
"Jaehaerys has banished the Targaryen women," Kranis murmured. "He thinks he is punishing them. We must send an emissary. Not to collect, nor to threaten."
"Then for what?" the banker asked.
"To see if there is a place for Braavos on this new map," the Sealord declared. "Or to pay for Braavos's place in it."
The lead banker remained thoughtful, weighing the proposal. "And how do you plan to pay someone who already has everything?"
"With dragon eggs," Kranis replied. "Three, to be exact."