Chapter 150: Pentos, the ATM
At the Tyrosh docks, the temporary Archon of Tyrosh, Shiera Darry, along with the High Priest and other Tyroshi people, praised Prince Rhaegar Targaryen of King's Landing as the savior of the city of Tyrosh, an honorary citizen, and an eternal friend of Tyrosh.
Since the Archon's residence in Tyrosh had been damaged in the attack and was not yet fully repaired, the Tyroshi people chose a barracks in the naval camp on the docks to host a grand banquet for Prince Rhaegar and his subordinates.
The climax of the banquet was the appearance of the Temporary Protector of the Stepstones and the Narrow Sea, the silver dragon rider, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, alongside the temporary Archon of Tyrosh, the Light of Tyrosh, Great Lord Sirae, in the center of the hall.
Rhaegar wore a magnificent black robe embroidered with the silver dragon sigil. He possessed the beauty of silver hair and purple eyes, coupled with the aura of a heroic champion. The Prince surveyed his surroundings with ease, his gaze sharp as lightning, his demeanor unmatched.
Great Lord Sirae wore a blue-green dress, matching her hair, and her eyes were as deep blue as the sea. Her blue-green hair complemented her jade-white complexion, not to mention her beautiful and graceful figure, from her face and chest to her legs, making her seem like a figure in a painting. Shiera's eyes were bright as the moon, reflecting beauty, charm, playfulness, vitality, and spirit. Holding power and experiencing family upheaval had given her a certain toughness. Even setting aside her authority, Shiera's beautiful appearance and graceful figure were stunning, easily surpassing everyone in Tyrosh. Tonight, even if there were a hundred roses, none could compare to her.
Now, no one dared to presumptuously pursue the Archon, and it wasn't solely due to her status. While people dared not speculate on the relationship between the Archon and the Prince, beauty was also a woman's weapon. There is a cut of pork reserved as a delicacy, only tasted by kings during wartime. The Targaryen family has always been notorious, never lacking in vindictive, ruthless tyrants and butchers, and although the silver-haired Prince before them was peerlessly handsome, he was also infamous on the battlefield.
As the saying goes, a fine sword suits a strong man, and heroes have always loved beauties. Wherever the two walked, there was a chorus of praise and adoration. They were truly the heroic man and the beautiful woman, overshadowing the entire venue. Many wealthy young ladies of Tyrosh who had hoped to strike up a conversation felt unwilling but helpless. It was rumored that Prince Rhaegar only paid attention to peerless beauties, and ordinary looks could not make the cut.
The merchants and nobles of Tyrosh appeared fawning, especially towards Prince Rhaegar, as everyone understood who the true power player was. He had repeatedly saved the day and charged into the fray. This peerlessly handsome soldier, Prince, musician, and dragonrider—Rhaegar was the handsome prince in the ballroom and the champion general in war.
"Gentlemen, let us raise our glasses to the cause of Great Lord Sirae, and to the friendship between Tyrosh and Westeros!" Rhaegar said.
"Cheers!" The heroes and wealthy merchants of Tyrosh pondered the meaning of this statement. If Great Lord Sirae had such a resolute and powerful partner as Prince Rhaegar, her position would indeed be as stable as a rock. The Stepstones were too close to Tyrosh; a dragon could reach it with a flap of its wings. Anyone who dared to overtly overthrow this alliance would become a mortal enemy of Prince Rhaegar and his dragon.
Tyrosh was a movable feast tonight, toasting the friendship between Tyrosh and Westeros, and celebrating the new ruler of Tyrosh.
After the banquet ended, Shiera waited for Rhaegar by the Tyrosh seaside. Rhaegar was about to leave Tyrosh and travel to Pentos.
Rhaegar studied the Black Wall of Tyrosh repeatedly, finding it useless; he gained no magic or runes from it. It seemed this was merely a technique. It appeared that replicating the Black Wall of Old Valyria remained highly difficult. If all else failed, Rhaegar might still have to go to Volantis, which possessed the largest and thickest Black Wall.
"Before I leave, I have something to give you. Close your eyes!" Rhaegar said to Shiera.
"You man! Really!" Shiera closed her eyes, feeling both nervous and expectant.
When she opened her eyes, she saw a small cluster of flowing azure blue flames dancing before her, which quickly dispersed into her body.
"What is this?" Shiera was startled. Magic, this power did not originate from mortals.
"The holy spring of the ancient Rhoynar people, the Fountain of Youth, mixed with some of my understanding of fire. It will protect you from illness and disaster, and grant immunity to toxins. I wouldn't like for the beautiful Pearl of Tyrosh to be harmed by foul play," Rhaegar said. Even with Iron Mountain Revas present, Rhaegar was still worried about Shiera's safety. Shiera cared for him and was a crucial ally; she could not be lost. The power struggles within the Three Daughters are notorious for being underhanded and unscrupulous, favoring poisoning and assassination.
"You truly are a man full of secrets, like a giant beast lurking in the sea!" Shiera said. She wouldn't ask where the magic came from, but she was still amazed to see it; magic possessed wondrous power.
"I'll give you a gift too. This is a kiss for an adult! Prince!" Shiera suddenly stepped forward and kissed Rhaegar.
Rhaegar felt the sweetness. To resist beauty, one must be a pure saint, which Rhaegar was not. He was a dragon, and dragons are quite devoted to beauty. Rhaegar felt he was a bit of a scoundrel, but only because he wanted to give beautiful girls a home. Shiera and Rhaella, one gorgeous and the other noble, each had their own merits.
"Don't overthink this, Rhaegar! I like you, but I don't want to marry you!" After their lips parted, Shiera returned to her original spot.
"Two ships cannot sail side by side in one channel, Prince. We are both players in the game of thrones, unable to extricate ourselves. If I were strong enough, perhaps that would change the constraints placed upon us," Shiera said. Aside from love, there were other colors to fill life with.
Rhaegar smiled brightly, "You truly are an iron lady! Ambitious and full of fighting spirit!"
Shiera said seriously, "This is the prejudice the world holds against women. To achieve your status, I need to put in double the effort. If I easily fall into your arms, people will only say my birth relied on my father, and my crown relied on my lover."
"Good! Be careful of your younger brother, he is a vulnerability!" Rhaegar warned Shiera. A young man who was arrogant and full of grievances was a dangerous person.
"I will. He is my kin, but I will also regard him as an enemy."
"If I have any new information, Iron Mountain Revas will inform you. He is my sworn shield, but he admires you the most." Shiera pointed towards the tall gladiator in the distance.
Rhaegar nodded. This Revas fellow was secretly seeking to serve him, making him a double agent for both Westeros and Tyrosh.
When another morning arrived, Rhaegar had already departed for Pentos. Pentos is at a higher latitude and is slightly colder, similar to the Seven Kingdoms, unlike the milder climate of the Three Daughters.
Pentos borders a bay on the Narrow Sea and is the Free City closest to King's Landing, with countless merchant ships traveling through it daily.
Pentos is currently the most famous "ATM" among the Nine Free Cities, known for flattering Braavos and offering generous gifts and bribes to the Dothraki khals of the Great Grass Sea.
Pentos did not wish for this state, but it was too close to Braavos. Multiple wars between the two city-states ultimately resulted in a crushing defeat for Pentos, which effectively became an undefended and vulnerable city. Pentoshi people were forbidden from owning more than twenty warships, hiring sellswords, contracting with Free Companies, or maintaining any military force beyond the city watch.
Rhaegar saw a sea of tile-roofed houses clustered along the bay. He saw numerous square brick towers, a majestic Red Temple, and the Prince's Palace situated on a distant hill.
After the dragon roared, the magisters of Pentos hastily nominated a representative to warmly welcome the arrival of Prince Rhaegar and his dragon.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis, a magister of Pentos, representing the council of magisters and the prince, first presented Prince Rhaegar with a set of generous gifts. Rhaegar had to praise Pentos's luxury and extravagance, truly deserving its reputation as a famous ATM and punching bag.
The gifts first consisted of a set of different dragons made primarily from various jewels such as agate, cat's eye, tiger's eye, tourmaline, ruby, amethyst, sapphire, emerald, jet, jade, black diamonds, and green pearls. They were extremely luxurious and magnificent. The purple crystal dragon was particularly fine, appearing pure. Next were some precious spices, such as saffron, pepper, cloves, cinnamon, mustard seeds, coriander, sage, and clary sage, which were also quite valuable. What surprised Rhaegar the most was that the magister of Pentos also intended to present him with fifty fine steeds, which was normal. Since the Pentoshi constantly fawned over the khals, they had channels to acquire fine horses from them.
"To welcome the Prince's arrival, Pentos has also prepared fifty beautiful virgins for his service!" Magister Illyrio Mopatis exaggeratedly stated.
"That is entirely unnecessary!" Rhaegar quickly waved his hand.
Rhaegar noticed the eunuch guards beside the magister. They were very fat, their faces smooth as a baby's bottom, and each wore a spiked bronze helmet. They were Unsullied, rumored to be fearless, incapable of feeling pain, and sworn to die in service to their master. But Rhaegar felt their actual combat strength might only be average, as they could only resist pain because they drank that potion.
The Unsullied and Meereenese gladiators are considered hard currency among the Free Cities. Anyone powerful and influential would purchase them for protection.
"We have also arranged your accommodations, a mansion next to the Red Temple!"
Rhaegar thought to himself, could this be the house that Illyrio would occupy later? It wouldn't be unacceptable to stay there.
"First, let me introduce you to the city's structure, Prince. To the east of Pentos is a vast plain called 'the Plains.' Continuing eastward along the great road built by the Valyrians, you will cross the headwaters of the Rhoyne's tributaries, pass through the Velvet Hills into the Andalos mountains, and reach Qohor. The road continues to extend, connecting Qohor with the other Free Cities, Norvos and Qohor," the magister introduced.
Pentos is indeed connected in all directions, but it has now become a punching bag and a contested battlefield.
Rhaegar was most curious about where Illyrio and Varys, those two schemers, were now. He truly wanted to personally eliminate those two.
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