Faced with Viserys's demand, Freygo froze.
Then again, considering House Targaryen's intelligence network, it wasn't surprising that they knew such things.
All he could do was curse Robert for being an incompetent fool.
Forcing himself to speak, Freygo explained, "Your Majesty, the Faceless Men are not subordinate to the Sea Lord's Palace. As for that money, I..."
"Bullshit."
Viserys cut him off mercilessly.
"Back in the reign of Jaehaerys I, when he demanded the return of the stolen dragon eggs, your Sea Lord not only refused but even used the Faceless Men as a threat.
Did you think I don't read history?"
Freygo's expression stiffened.
Viserys continued coldly.
"If you don't return that money, I'll announce a fifty percent reduction in Gohor's road tolls.
Furthermore, I'll relocate at least ten tribes of Dothraki onto the Great Plains. You can decide for yourself what happens next."
Hearing the threat, Freygo found himself with no answer.
House Targaryen now controlled the overland trade routes. If road fees were reduced, merchants would have far less need for ships.
That would deal a devastating blow to Braavos's shipbuilding industry.
Even worse, settling the horse lords on the plains would seriously threaten Braavos's food security.
The Targaryens wouldn't even need to declare war. Given enough time, they could simply strangle Braavos economically.
Besides, the Sea Lord's Palace could not employ the Faceless Men without limits.
Even if they killed Viserys, they would then have to kill his heir. And the Faceless Men were not invincible.
In the end, Freygo could only compromise.
He promised that the money Robert had paid for the assassination would be delivered to Gohor as soon as possible.
After thoroughly squeezing him, Viserys finally dismissed the Braavosi delegation.
Once Freygo left, Arthur suddenly spoke from below the throne.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say."
Back on Dragonstone, Viserys had granted the Kingsguard the right to offer advice freely.
Arthur, however, had almost never used that privilege.
The fact that he was speaking up now actually surprised Viserys.
"Please, Ser Arthur."
Arthur hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Your Majesty, I believe you should marry as soon as possible."
"Marriage?" Viserys raised an eyebrow.
"Your Majesty, Prince Aegon is an excellent heir, but he cannot fully inherit your authority or prestige.
Since we will soon be marching against Westeros, a royal marriage would greatly stabilize morale within the army."
Arthur cleared his throat.
"And... this is also Her Majesty the Queen Mother's opinion."
Over the past two years, Viserys hadn't merely avoided finding a wife.
He had shown little interest in women at all.
Among the Kingsguard, some had even begun jokingly speculating that their king might not like women.
That was a very serious problem.
After discussing it among themselves, they had unanimously agreed that someone needed to talk to Viserys.
Originally, they had intended to send Oswell, who had already "broken his vows."
However, since Arthur spent the most time around the king, the task ultimately fell to him.
"Fine. No problem."
Viserys answered so readily that Arthur was caught completely off guard.
"Before we march against the Usurper, I will definitely be married."
Arthur was overjoyed.
He had expected the discussion to be difficult. Instead, it had been resolved instantly.
Truthfully, Viserys had already considered the issue himself.
Making Rhaenys wait until Daenerys came of age was unfair to her. He could not favor one and neglect the other.
With the matter of marriage settled, the next visitor was the commander of the Golden Company, Harry Strickland.
Viserys had an extremely important task for him.
One directly related to maintaining stability in the rear before the invasion of Westeros.
Strickland still remembered vividly how he had received the news of Viserys's death.
The Golden Company's assignment had been not only to guard the Targaryen army's flank but also to keep watch on the Volantene forces.
He had hoped to join Viserys in the decisive battle.
Unfortunately, Malaqo's painfully slow advance had prevented them from moving any faster.
Before they could reach the battlefield, the war had already ended.
When Strickland heard that Viserys had defeated and slain Drogo, he had even considered going to offer congratulations.
Instead, the Targaryen army withdrew during the night.
Not long afterward came the news of Viserys's death.
Although Strickland commanded the Golden Company, he did not possess absolute authority within its ranks.
He had needed to return and discuss future plans with the other officers.
With Viserys dead, most believed that the reconquest of Westeros was impossible.
At least for the foreseeable future.
Still, they agreed that the lucrative book trade should be preserved.
Yet while they debated, events moved too quickly. They missed Viserys's funeral entirely.
Thinking a slightly delayed visit of condolence wouldn't matter, they continued toward Gohor.
Before arriving, however, another astonishing report reached them.
Viserys had returned from the dead.
And hatched dragons.
The flood of news completely shattered Strickland's plans. Even now, his mind remained in chaos.
When he entered the throne hall and saw Viserys, he immediately sensed that the young king was different from the last time they met.
Exactly how, he couldn't say.
Yet an overwhelming urge to kneel and worship filled his heart.
Then again, he was supposed to kneel anyway. So Strickland naturally dropped to one knee before the Iron Throne.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on hatching dragons. House Targaryen is once again truly the House of the Dragon."
'Not bad,' Viserys thought.
He knows how to say the right things.
Smiling, he ordered a servant to bring Strickland a chair.
Then he spoke.
"Ser Strickland, the concerns that once held us back are gone. I intend to lead an army back to Westeros in six months."
"The Golden Company is willing to serve as your vanguard!" Strickland declared immediately.
"I can feel your loyalty," Viserys replied. "However, before we march against the Usurper, I need you to accomplish something else."
Strickland listened attentively.
"I want every Dothraki khalasar on the Great Grass Sea gathered under our authority."
Strickland immediately understood.
Viserys intended to completely control the Dothraki and prevent another powerful khal from ever emerging.
"There are roughly seven to eight hundred thousand Dothraki remaining," Viserys continued.
"I plan to divide them into eighteen khalasars."
"Every khal must receive formal recognition from House Targaryen."
"Anyone who proclaims himself khal without Targaryen approval will be destroyed."
To Strickland, the task sounded remarkably familiar.
It was essentially population consolidation.
Something very close to the first stage of the slave trade operations they had once conducted.
The Golden Company had extensive experience in such matters.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty."
Strickland stood and bowed.
"Within six months, I will ensure that at least seven hundred thousand Dothraki swear loyalty to House Targaryen."
"Good."
Viserys nodded.
"One more thing. You're familiar with the dosh khaleen, aren't you?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. They are the widows of dead khals."
"Round them all up."
Strickland blinked.
"If they submit, find husbands for them and let them start new lives."
"If they refuse..."
Viserys's expression turned cold.
"Execute them."
"By your command, Your Majesty."
Viserys was not targeting a group of widows. He was targeting Bargo, the Horse God.
Because Bargo still retained his divine office, he could not be truly destroyed.
The only way to continue weakening him was to reduce the number of his worshippers and convert the Dothraki away from his faith.
Both Bargo and R'hllor were clearly on the same side. Weakening one meant weakening the other.
"That's all I needed from you." Viserys smiled. "Would you like to see the hatchling dragons?"
Faced with such an invitation, Strickland naturally had no intention of refusing.
After all, seeing living dragons—creatures absent from the world for over a century—would become the greatest story he could possibly bring back to the Golden Company.
"It would be my honor, Your Majesty."
After Strickland departed, Viserys leaned back upon the throne and closed his eyes.
His consciousness shifted into one of the dragons.
The hatchlings were still small and vulnerable.
The gardens of the Dragon Palace had been converted into a temporary dragon nest.
Security had been doubled.
Without Viserys's permission, no one outside the royal family was allowed near them.
When his awareness entered the black hatchling, Viserys discovered he was perched atop a tree.
The black dragon had been the first to hatch.
It was the strongest.
And the proudest.
It disliked being touched by anyone.
The silver and bronze dragons were completely different. They had become very affectionate toward members of House Targaryen.
They didn't even mind Elia and Lyanna handling them.
In the garden stood Rhaenys, Daenerys, Aemon, and Aegon. Even Arianne and her Sand Snake cousin Obara were present.
Daenerys, whose Valyrian blood was the purest, was happily playing with the silver hatchling.
One moment she was stroking its wings.
The next she was scratching beneath its chin.
Through the black dragon's eyes, Viserys spotted Aemon standing furthest away.
The boy's gaze remained fixed on the hatchlings.
There was longing in his eyes.
But also restraint.
___________
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