After leaving Count Jon's room, Viserys went to Ashara's quarters. Daenerys had just woken up and was sitting on the bed wrapped in a blanket, while Ashara held a cup of warm water for her.
As for the three Young Dragons, they were already asleep on the blanket beside the bed.
"Brother." Seeing Viserys enter, Daenerys's purple eyes immediately lit up, but then quickly dimmed. "Mara, she..."
"I know." Viserys sat down by the bed and gently rubbed her hair. "Don't worry, I have already arranged her funeral, and her family will be taken care of."
Daenerys nodded, her eyes filled with tears, but she tried hard not to let them fall. She sniffled and began to recount everything that had happened in the room.
"I heard the alarm outside, and then, the sound of fighting came from outside the door. It was very short, and there were screams. I was very scared and hid in the room with Mara, not daring to open the door. Then Ser Jon's voice rang out outside, he was shouting, and after that, the sounds outside became very chaotic."
Her voice trembled slightly. "Then I heard something break, and something black flowed in from under the door. Mara was closest to the door, and those things touched her dress, and then she... she caught fire."
Daenerys gripped Viserys's hand tightly. "I wanted to help her, but I was terrified. I fell right off the bed and cut my arm on something. By the time I crawled up, she was already motionless. Then the whole room was on fire, and I could only huddle in the corner holding the dragon eggs. I don't know when I fainted, but when I woke up, I was already here."
As she spoke, her gaze involuntarily drifted toward the three Young Dragons. "Are they my Vormax, Viserion, and Akmot? Did they hatch? Just like in my dream before?"
"Yes, Dany," Viserys confirmed. "You hatched them."
An amazing radiance burst from Daenerys's eyes, her previous fear diluted by surprise and a sense of responsibility. She cautiously reached out to the Young Dragons, and the three little dragons immediately made affectionate sounds, crowding around her and nuzzling her palm with their small heads.
Based on Daenerys's account and the traces at the scene, Viserys roughly deduced the reason for the dragon eggs' hatching.
It must have been a sacrifice of blood and fire. Daenerys's blood provided the key medium of 'Blood of the Dragon King,' while the maid Mara, the guards who died outside the door, and the assassins who could use shadow magic—their life energy constituted the'sacrifice.'
The black magic flames provided the 'fire' element. The combination of the three satisfied the conditions for hatching the dragon eggs. If there was anything else, it should be Daenerys's own unique talent for resonating with dragons, as the 'Mother of Dragons' in the original story.
"Get some rest, Dany. You can also get familiar with your little dragons. Remember, they are family now, and also our strength. Starting tomorrow, you must learn how to get along with them and how to feed them."
"Okay, brother. Actually, I learned a bit when Rhaenys was studying before." Daenerys nodded vigorously.
After leaving the room, Viserys immediately summoned his messengers.
This time the enemy had held a blade to his throat; next time, it might pierce his heart directly. He could wait no longer; he had to counterattack immediately, disrupt their rhythm, and leave them with no time to look after themselves.
He immediately sent a message to Duke Arthur in Free Bay, telling him to be on highest alert, enter a state of war, and be on guard against an attack from Volantis at any time. Also to Jon Clinton of the Golden Company, telling him that if he received news of Volantis's army setting out for Free Bay, he could directly take Myr and the Disputed Lands. He was also to tie down Tyrosh and the other city-states as much as possible and inform him of any news regarding the dothraki.
In the council chamber of Dragonwing Fortress, Viserys held a brief meeting for the upcoming journey to Qarth.
Duke William, Count Elisha, and several high-ranking commanders in Valyria were all present.
"Qarth must pay the price," Viserys said, getting straight to the point. "But they won't expect us to move against them first. Everyone thinks our primary target is Volantis."
Duke William frowned. "Your Majesty, Qarth is far away, and a long-distance raid is extremely risky. Furthermore, their city walls are tall and sturdy, known as 'impregnable.'"
"That is why I do not need to bring an army to besiege the city."
"Your Majesty means..." Duke William mused.
"A decapitation strike." Viserys's finger tapped heavily on the location of Qarth on the map. "I will take Ghidorah and Black Flame for a raid. My primary goal is not occupation, but to destroy the Temple of Immortals and burn those Great Masters to death, demonstrating the peerless power of dragons over Qarth. However..."
He looked toward a knight who had followed him for many years, Ser Caster Stone. "Caster, I need you to take five hundred Unsullied and two hundred veterans and sail to Qarth on swift ships. Your task is not to storm the city, but to take over. Once the resistance within the city is destroyed by me and the ruling class falls into chaos, you will enter the city and control key locations. In my name, declare Qarth under the protection of the Empire. Then eliminate the holdouts and win over those who can be used. I want Qarth to become a vassal of the Empire."
"As you command, Your Majesty." The fire of excitement burned in Ser Caster's eyes; this was a sign of trust and a massive opportunity.
"Qarth is the gateway connecting the Eastern and Western worlds, possessing the world's largest merchant fleet and prosperous ports. It is the hub for trade in spices, silk, gems, slaves, and other commodities. Its wealth and influence far exceed any city in Free Bay. Taking Qarth is equivalent to seizing the throat of the Jade Sea; the Empire's influence will instantly radiate across the entire Eastern continent, and we will gain unimaginable wealth and strategic initiative," Duke William added, having clearly done his homework. After all, he had once been responsible for trade matters.
"Count Elisha, you will remain to guard Valyria and assist Duke William to ensure the homeland is perfectly safe. The safety of the Young Dragons and the Princesses is the top priority."
"As you command, Your Majesty," Count Elisha replied.
Two days later, everything was ready. Viserys mounted Ghidorah and ordered Black Flame to follow. The two giant dragons, one gold and one black, took off from Dragonwing Fortress at dawn, flying southeast toward Qarth.
On the morning of the fourth day, the silhouette of Qarth appeared on the horizon.
Just as records described, the walls of Qarth were the city's proudest defensive works.
The triple walls rose like a giant's staircase from the coast to the interior. The outermost layer was crimson sandstone, the middle was grey-white marble, and the innermost was nearly black basalt.
The walls were two hundred feet high, lined with towers and fluttering banners, said to be capable of resisting any known siege engine. In the center of the city, a massive Pyramid-style building towered—it was the Temple of Immortals.
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