Chapter 151: True Dragons Need No Chains
Rhaegar and Magister Illyrio Mopatis walked through the streets of Pentos, with three dragons soaring high in the sky.
The dragons circled high above everyone's heads, like new suns under the scorching sun. Silver dragons, purple dragons, black dragons, dazzling to the eye, causing wave after wave of commotion.
Pentos is a bustling, prosperous commercial city, densely populated. Pentoshi merchants travel all over the world, a trembling current of money and desire, a city of debauchery and extravagance.
For a weak city like Pentos, with the Sealord of Braavos to the north and the Dothraki khals to the east, and now the resurgence of the Dragon King in King's Landing to the west, none of them can be offended. Attacked from three sides, three powerful forces serving one Pentos—this blessing is truly too great.
Rhaegar found Pentos's political system very peculiar, with the real-power magisters coexisting with the nominal ruler, the Prince. In short, it was an abstract and deceptive city, full of swindlers and thieves. The Prince was noble but powerless, the city-state rich but weak, and Pentos nominally dared not use slavery but created a group of debt slaves.
The Seven Kingdoms all knew of Pentos's ridiculous system. Pentos's leader was a Prince chosen by the magisters from forty prominent families. He sat high at balls and banquets, and paraded through the city in an ivory and gold sedan chair. Three heralds cleared the way for him, holding a golden scale symbolizing trade, an iron longsword symbolizing war, and a silver whip symbolizing law. Every New Year's Day, he also had to deflower maidens representing the earth and the sea. However, the Prince's duties had become a mere formality; if there was a bad harvest or a defeat in war, the Pentoshi would slit his throat to appease the gods' wrath, and then elect a new Prince. That year, due to a defeat by Braavos, they even killed four Princes consecutively.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis's purple velvet sedan chair was suspended by heavy leather straps between eight tall horses, with four eunuch warriors guarding it on either side, and more warriors following behind to protect the convoy and supplies.
Rhaegar rode a tall black steed, entering Pentos abreast of Magister Illyrio Mopatis's sedan chair. At the request of his generous friend, he specifically observed the local customs and traditions.
Rhaegar, dressed in black brocade embroidered with red dragons, rode into the city. He wore a black gold steel circlet with a red diamond covering his silver hair, and Orphan-Maker was at his waist, making him look dashing and radiant.
Seeing the three gleaming, colorful dragons, and the incomparably handsome, silver-haired, purple-eyed Prince riding a black steed, a commotion immediately erupted in Pentos. Spectators crowded the streets, causing the Unsullied eunuchs to frequently shout. The dragons shrieked and flew high into the sky, while the citizens and merchants from all over the world, who had turned their heads to look up, remained in their original postures, watching the dragon shadows in the sky. These were three dragons that had reawakened after a hundred years, and their terrifying legends on the battlefield had already spread across the Eastern Continent.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis frequently pulled open the velvet sedan door, chatting animatedly with Rhaegar, his words mostly flattering. The three dragons undoubtedly demonstrated the value of the Prince before him.
"Please forgive me, Prince, all of us harbor deep admiration for the Dragon King! It's hard to maintain composure when we occasionally see dragons and the Dragon King!" Magister Illyrio Mopatis apologized while stroking his blue pomaded, forked beard. This was also Pentos's favorite: oiled, forked, and dyed beards, representing the noble class. Magister Illyrio Mopatis was as fat as a wine barrel, making him appear gluttonous and greasy, not the build of a warrior. Rhaegar felt sorry for the horses carrying the sedan chair. In Westeros, nobles and lords prided themselves on martial prowess, paid attention to their physique, and disliked fat people, dwarfs, cripples, and gluttons.
"Prince Rhaegar, your dragons are truly extraordinary. You don't use chains or iron spikes to whip them, nor do you have dragonkeepers, yet the dragons are so docile, it's truly rare." Magister Illyrio Mopatis looked at the dragon shadows in the sky, estimating their size, and spoke with emotion. This was his biggest doubt; normally, young Targaryen dragons were often unstable, and their growth rate had never been so fast, nor would they be so obedient.
"True dragons don't need chains, Magister!" Rhaegar said.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis chose not to ask further. Everyone had secrets, and often it was best not to pry.
"Esteemed Prince Rhaegar, most of those square brick towers belong to spice merchants. Spice traders control them, sending ships to distant places to trade saffron and chili peppers. I, myself, deal in spices and gems in Pentos, and occasionally I engage in lending," Illyrio pointed to the square brick towers and said.
"That's truly a business with huge profits!" Rhaegar said. Spices, gems, and slaves were all central to world trade. Rhaegar heard that the Pentoshi also secretly traded dragon bones and actual slaves, but no one dared to mention it in front of Rhaegar.
"May I be so bold as to ask your ranking in the council of magisters?" Rhaegar asked directly.
"My dear Prince Rhaegar, my young friend, you are truly straightforward." Magister Illyrio Mopatis spread his hands, revealing his pale belly, then made a gesture with his finger indicating first place. "Frankly speaking, there are many people in the council of magisters, but those with seniority and the most say are few. I also have some lending businesses, and many magisters owe me money, so everyone supports me greatly. If not for that, I wouldn't have such an honored position to receive you; this is a fine assignment!"
"I like working with you, Magister Illyrio Mopatis; I like honest people," Rhaegar said. Magister Illyrio Mopatis, it seemed, was the real power in Pentos now. And decades later, perhaps Illyrio would occupy a similar niche, holding great authority in Pentos.
The two chatted and laughed, and Rhaegar saw the courtyard Magister Illyrio Mopatis had arranged for him.
The location of this mansion was excellent, next to Pentos's huge Red Temple, though it seemed a bit desolate due to few people. The courtyard had twelve-foot-high walls with iron spikes, and beyond the walls was the city—a sea of tiled roofs gathered by the bay. Two rows of Unsullied eunuchs were already waiting there.
Rhaegar looked at the mansion and found it somewhat familiar; it seemed to be Illyrio's future residence indeed. However, at present, Illyrio and Varys were far from established, so this mansion was temporarily given to Rhaegar.
"This mansion was the private property of a great magister. From here, one could see numerous square brick towers, a magnificent Red Temple, and the Prince's Palace on distant hills. Unfortunately, this magister later went bankrupt, leading to his death and the destruction of his family. This residence then became the private property of the council of magisters, managed by the magisters," Magister Illyrio Mopatis introduced.
"Things change so much in the world; our wars in the marketplace are even more perilous than your battles on the battlefield, Prince. Wealth and ruin can happen in an instant," Magister Illyrio Mopatis exaggerated.
"This mansion is now yours, Prince Rhaegar, my esteemed young friend. When you come to Pentos, there will always be a place you cherish..." Magister Illyrio Mopatis invited Rhaegar inside.
"Then I must thank you for your generosity, Magister! What about the residences you gifted to the khals?" Rhaegar asked casually.
"You are a Prince of the civilized world, unlike those barbaric khals. The khals' residences are by the bay. The council of magisters has arranged for you to reside here, so you needn't encounter those rude khals. Their presence in the civilized world, especially near the Red Temple, would cause panic among the citizens of Pentos," Magister Illyrio Mopatis said with a hint of embarrassment, then lowered his voice and whispered.
Leveraging power is the most common tactic for the Pentoshi. They curry favor with khals or powerful figures from other Free Cities. In the future, why will Illyrio and Varys, those two schemers, be so adept at maneuvering and wanting to support others to power? Because with Pentos's size and their own low status, they can only rely on external forces.
For true dragons, covetousness is a sin. Since he had come to Pentos, he might as well deal with it.
Like other Free Cities, Pentos would take in political refugees from Westeros, hoping to gain wealth. In the future, they would shelter those poor siblings played by fate.
"The Unsullied are tight-lipped, and the cooks, housekeepers, and assistants here are loyal and reliable contract servants. I guarantee you will feel at home, Prince," Magister Illyrio Mopatis said.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis made a gesture of invitation, and Rhaegar entered the courtyard with the magister.
"Your dragons, Prince, aren't you calling them back?"
Magister Illyrio Mopatis said hesitantly.
A thought stirred in Rhaegar's mind, and a faint light flickered between his eyebrows.
The dragons high in the sky also shrieked, and the faint rune between the Silver Dragon's eyebrows began to flicker. The silver dragon led the other two dragons to descend upon this mansion.
The dragons circled and landed in the mansion, a remnant of ancient civilization. Their wings flapped, sounding like thunderclaps.
"Magister, true dragons need no chains. Please treat my companions well," Rhaegar said to Magister Illyrio Mopatis, stroking the heads of the dragons in turn.
Magister Illyrio Mopatis watched in astonishment as the three magnificent beasts appeared, carefully pondering Rhaegar's words. Could it be the Valyrian binding methods had reappeared?
A terrifying inference formed in Magister Illyrio Mopatis's mind, like a raging storm.
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