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—
Essos
Slaver's Bay
32 YA / 32 AC
The thirty-second year after Aegon's conquest began with war.
Five hundred ships, three grown dragons, and a thirty thousand strong host assaulted Meereen.
There was nothing they could do to defeat the primary force on the continent, but the Great Masters were a victim of their pride. They would not even hear the offers of parley. The slaves were used as live shields all over the city to stop the dragons.
Vhamond was different from his father. He was not willing to allow the masters to make a fool out of him. He was also aware that killing the slaves would reflect badly on him.
The High Archon gathered his men and gave a passionate speech. He claimed that the death of the slaves tore his heart apart, but to turn back would be worse. For every slave that would die today, hundreds would be free in the future. The taint of slavery would never touch the future generations.
That day, Balerion burned the mansions of the Great Masters, incinerating over a thousand slaves, but the city was taken without a fight.
Yunkai, on the other hand, had a more grim fate.
Offering to parley outside the city, the Wise Masters, or at least people that appeared to be the Wise Masters, met Orys Baratheon and the High Archon under a tent.
Suspicious of the manners and the broken speech of the Wise Masters, Orys realized the trap just a second before it was sprung.
The ground was torn open from beneath with a deafening noise, sending sand and metal pieces flying. Orys barely managed to shield Vhamond with his body.
By the time the High Archon came to his senses, he was covered in blood that was not his.
His ears were ringing, and his body hurt all over. Rolling the corpse covering him to the side, Vhamond barely crawled to Balerion's feet. The mighty beast lay down, shielding his rider from any further harm.
Everyone except him had died.
He couldn't climb to Balerion's back and left himself to the arms of unconsciousness once more.
—
When Vhamond woke once again, his vision was blurry. Blinking to clear it away, he found himself in a tent.
"Water," he rasped, and the healers rushed to his side. One raised his head up while another held a bowl to his lips. He drank, feeling his dry throat wetten, and leaned forward to drink more.
"Slower, my lord High Archon," the healer advised, pulling the bowl back.
"What happened?"
"The Wise Masters set a trap. Everyone except you died. It must have been the will of the heavens."
"It was Lord Orys. He shielded me with his body," he said. Now that the memories came clear, he remembered the body covering him.
"His body has been retrieved and awaits a funeral."
"What of Yunkai and the Wise Masters?"
"Your dragon, Balerion, burnt it to the ground once you were safe."
—
Yunkai was nothing more than melted stone and ruins by the time Balerion's flames ceased. The once proud city was dead, along with all its inhabitants.
Once the Good Masters received word on the fates of Yunkai and Meereen, they knew the end was near. Instead of fighting the Targaryens in a futile war, the Good Masters decided to run away.
Gathering the wealth of the city, the Good Masters put the slaves they could not afford to take to the sword and abandoned Astapor. The city was set on fire to leave nothing but ashes for the Targaryens.
When the conquering force arrived, they found the smoldering remains of the city. The Good Masters were nowhere to be seen, but there were plenty of corpses. Scouts found trails leading to Port Yhos, but the slavers had already sailed away.
It is said that the High Archon had raved mad in the company of his wife.
—
The High Archon and his forces returned to Pentos as heroes. The conquest was over, and from that day forward, he could focus on the affairs of the empire.
His first act of business was to declare Orion Baratheon, the firstborn of the late Lord Orys Baratheon, his hand. House Baratheon was already graced with a marriage for their loyal services.
This time, he was honoring the sacrifice Orys had made to save his life.
He had also chosen to rename the Slaver's Bay into Freedom's Bay and the Gulf of Grief into the Gulf of Joy, hammering the final nails in the proverbial coffin.
—
Storm Kingdom
Storm's End
"Ministries, your excellency?" Jocelyn asked.
"Yes," Ei nodded. "As the kingdom grows in population and settlements, the workload will increase proportionally. A proper system to place capable people in the correct positions will ensure this growth continues in a stable and controlled manner," she explained.
"The public officer training programs have been fruitful. We can choose our ministers from there," Kage said.
"We'll need one each for education, agriculture, infrastructure, maritime, foreign relations, army, and trade," Saiguu added, counting each position with her fingers.
"Sasayuri as the Minister of Defense," Chiyo exclaimed, pointing a finger at the tengu general. She was already laying the groundwork for a standing army, and who better than her?
"I have a name in mind for agriculture," Saiguu added, pulling out a file. "Rosalyn Fossoway took officer training, and after a couple of years, started a grain business with a small grant. She is successful and actually knows how to farm."
A noble from the Reach Prefecture becoming the Minister of Agriculture was rather fitting.
"We'll write her down then," Ei said, motioning for Jocelyn.
"How about we make Saiguu the Minister of Education?" Kage suggested with a grin. The kitsune's work in the academy was invaluable, and in her opinion, she was lazing around too much these days.
"I'll pass. Too much work for me," she refused, taking a bite out of a mochi.
"The younger brother of Lord Mertyns, Rolland. He would make a good Minister of Education. Even with his age, he didn't hesitate to join the academy. The man loves learning and teaching," Sasayuri said. The man was in his thirties and was the oldest person to join the academy. However, he had graduated near the top of his class and then had taken to working in the academy.
He had refused several promotions, choosing to stay as a teacher rather than rising to the position of the headmaster once Saiguu stepped down.
"Rolland Mertyns it is."
For the position of Minister of Maritime Affairs, Ser Ronnet Estermont was chosen. He was a seasoned captain with a mild temperament and frequently led trade fleets.
The Minister of Trade and Treasury, responsible for the security, ease, and proper taxation of trade across the kingdom, would be Lady Della Mallister, another graduate of the female officer program.
Ser Lyonel Whitehead, the second son of the late Lord Tommen Whitehead, was the best candidate for the Minister of Infrastructure. He had seen the wealth brought to the White City by the expanded port and the well-paved roads.
It led to him almost zealously expanding the roads, building inns and warehouses for the traders. He had made great contributions to the city, and his talents would serve the kingdom well.
Finally, the Minister of Foreign Relations. It would have to be someone with no issues preventing travel to Essos. She considered Kage, but the dignitaries would be wary around her.
There was one option, but he was considered controversial. Son of Deria Martell, Qoren, had gone to great lengths to fix the image of his family across Dorne and beyond. Trade agreements, hunting festivals, fostering agreements, and instructing his son to befriend the other noble children at the academy.
He was a great diplomat, one born out of necessity, and after careful consideration with her council, Ei decided to give him a chance.
Argall, as the First Prince, would be the Prime Minister. His responsibility was to supervise the ministers and summarize and present their yearly work to Ei.
Royal messengers were sent with official letters, calling the individuals to serve the kingdom and its people. The old guard, the nobles whose beliefs regarding women were rooted in stone, grumbled, but it fell on deaf ears.
The thirty-third year of Her Excellency's rule began with the ministers sworn to duty.
—
33 YA / 33 AC
The constant stream of smallfolk into the kingdom from their neighbors had come to an end. The kings of Vale, North, and the Rock had forbidden the smallfolk from leaving the lands. The effects of losing so many became apparent with the lack of labor force.
Farms, forges, and pastures were left empty as people sought out better lives. Checkpoints had been created on borders, and none without a good cause were allowed to leave. Even the local merchants could not bring their families out of the kingdom.
The smallfolk, in return, resorted to abandoning the kingdoms in secret. In the dead of the night, they would cross the border on the more dangerous parts. Hiding in barrels and crates, the smallfolk had created trafficking rings.
It did not take long for the border nobles to realize something was wrong and take action.
The rings were busted down, the perpetrators were hanged, and the smallfolk were whipped as punishment. Unwilling to be forced to stay, they gathered in large groups, overwhelming the checkpoints. Once on the other side of the border, the nobles could not afford to touch them, lest they invite the fury of a god.
The King of the Rock had sent a letter to Ei, requesting that she return the criminals who had crossed the border against the law. Knowing they were just smallfolk seeking better lives, she had sent a letter back.
She would not interfere with the events transpiring across the border. Whether the nobles stopped the smallfolk or not was their business. However, any that managed to cross the border would be for the Storm Kingdom to worry about.
She had also included several points that the Kingdom of the Rock could improve for the smallfolk to stay voluntarily.
—
The new Minister of Foreign Relations, Qoren Martell, would be visiting Essos in an official capacity.
Braavos was his first destination to celebrate the excellent trade relations between the parties. He was expected to discuss how to further improve the flow of commerce and investment opportunities.
Shareholders of the Iron Bank long wished to create a branch in the Storm Kingdom, something Her Excellency had refused. Unknown to the Braavosi, she already had plans to create a bank in the kingdom.
One without outside influence.
The offers of the shareholders met a polite but firm refusal. An agreement on improving the relations in other areas was reached, allowing both sides to leave the table on a more pleasant note.
The visit to the empire was less constructive. The foodstuff export from the Storm Kingdom to the Valyrian Empire had fallen greatly. The farmsteads of Qohor, and Volantis to a much lesser degree, were meeting the needs of the continent, though they had no chance at exporting to the kingdom.
Braavos, even though it was slightly more expensive, still chose to buy from the Storm Kingdom for the most part.
The commerce between the empire and the kingdom was in favor of the latter, but the Targaryens wanted to erase that deficit. However, the cities were still recovering, and it would be a long while before they could.
They chose to expand their trade network rather than bother with the politics of the Targaryens. A rise in tariffs would be inevitable, and their time was better spent elsewhere.
Trade missions to the Summer Isles, Moraq, Yi-Ti, and even Ibben would be established. The inland cities such as Bayasabhad, Tiqui, and Trade Town would proceed from the closest port cities.
Saiguu had an idea to explore what lay in the west of Westeros. There were claims that the Ironborn descended from the people west of the Sunset Sea. They could see if there was a truth to these claims.
Great ships were put into order to sail for months without needing to resupply. Healers, medicine, hulls full of non-perishable food, expert sailors, map makers, warriors, and, of course, the Thunder Dragon for protection.
Ei drew the plans for the ships, and with the current finances of the kingdom, it was not a mere pipe dream.
If they discovered another continent on the west, then the gains could far outstrip any potential losses.
—
"I've been thinking," Saiguu said.
They were resting in the garden, drinking and enjoying snacks, when the kitsune goddess opened her mouth.
"Oh dear," Chiyo grumbled, putting down her wine glass.
Saiguu glared at the oni maiden. "Why don't we make long-range communication devices?"
Sasayuri and Kage looked at her with lingering gazes. Even Chiyo tilted her head.
Ei leaned back, looking at the clear, sunny skies.
"Something on your mind?" Sasayuri asked.
"Hexenzerkiel, a gathering of mages on Teyvat, did possess a device such as that. Though, I am unsure of its inner workings," she said. The Dodocommunication Device was intriguing, but she never had the chance to inspect it.
"Then why don't we make one of ours? We can keep an eye on the ship and create a network across the kingdom," Saiguu explained.
Chiyo held her chin between her fingers. "Seeing as you two are the only ones who could create those devices, it would be a massive undertaking. I mean, how can the people even keep the devices working?"
The only source of magic in the kingdom, excluding the five of them, was the Children of the Forest, and it wasn't a matter of where their brand of sorcery could help.
"Kage, can you approach?" Ei asked. The puppet did so wordlessly, standing before her. She ran her hand down Kage's chest, and the divine wood slid to the sides, showing the heart of her creation.
An apple-sized orb with a golden glow, it contained extremely dense electro-elemental energy inside.
"This core transforms sunlight to elemental energy. We can install them across the kingdom to act as energy sources to charge the devices," she suggested. There were other plans in her mind to make use of the cores, but for now, a communication network across the kingdom would be a much better idea.
"Which means more work," Chiyo pointed out.
"Not necessarily," Saiguu snapped her fingers. "I bet I can turn volunteers into mages. We would only have to teach them how to use their powers and let them do the rest," she said.
Her powers allowed her control over life, and she could, given time, transform people into sorcerers that could do the work instead of her and Ei.
"That is a good idea," Sasayuri said. There were a thousand areas she could think of off the top of her head that would benefit immensely from these devices.
Saiguu would start her work immediately after the snack time was over by experimenting on rodents to see how plausible her plan was.
—
In the next chapter:
In the greatest learning center of Westeros, as well as the rest of the known world, a petite, female with sharp ears and earth brown skin was giving a lecture.
"Admittedly, we do not know much about the nature of the Others. They come from the Lands of Always Winter, are known to be able to raise the dead to serve as thralls, and want to extinguish all life. They do not negotiate, show mercy, or care for anything else. There is no leader among them, as far as we know. If one exists, however, we have never encountered or heard of it."
"Professor Meadow. Can you elaborate on the Night King?" one of the students asked.
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