Chapter 5 — Conquest of Qarth
The Undying Ones emerged from the gates of Qarth with the slow, ceremonial grace of creatures who believed themselves untouchable. Their servants—thin, trembling slaves—carried a polished table and three carved chairs. No guards accompanied them. They knew it would be useless. Steel meant nothing in the shadow of the Red Death.
Aelor stood beside his dragon, arms folded, the Artblade resting across his back. He had considered wearing the Crimson Crown, but it felt wrong now too old, too tied to a world that no longer existed. He would need a new crown, one forged for a king of the future, not a relic of the past.
The warlocks sat, their illusions thickening around them like shimmering heat. The closer they came to Aelor and the Red Death, the stronger their magic grew fed by the raw power radiating from dragon and dragonlord alike.
Aelor felt their magic crawling across his skin like insects. Their scent sweet rot, incense, and something older made his nose wrinkle.
He was already irritated.
He would never make this city his capital.
He knew that the moment he saw them.
His deep scarlet eyes locked onto the three most powerful beings in Qarth.
Xaro Qho Vezhan, First Seat of the Pureborn, leaned forward with a merchant's calculating smile.
Thennaro Xhen Moreth, red‑faced and arrogant, glared with barely contained fury.
Qirassa Qhi Soreth, poised and predatory, watched him with sharp interest.
Aelor spoke first.
"Warlocks," he said, voice steady, "you hold the greater political power in this little city. So hear me now. Either you burn… or you stay in line."
Their illusions flickered.
"But I am not a fool," Aelor continued. "Your influence is vast. You could poison me. Or attempt some other trick to kill me. Though I highly doubt you can."
Xaro's smile twitched.
Qirassa's fingers tightened around her chair.
Thennaro's jaw clenched.
Aelor leaned forward slightly.
"I am planning to take Qarth in essence. Some parts will remain under your control. But this " he gestured to the walls, the trembling city behind them "is the first step of my kingdom. I am not asking. I am taking."
Thennaro Xhen Moreth exploded.
He shot to his feet so violently his chair toppled backward.
"We will NOT be taken over by some half‑breed!" he spat, nearly foaming at the mouth. "Some seed lucky enough to be claimed by a dragon!"
His voice cracked with rage.
His arrogance was astounding.
His stupidity even more so.
Xaro winced and muttered under his breath, "Fool…"
Qirassa closed her eyes briefly, as if embarrassed to be associated with him.
Aelor looked at Thennaro the way one looks at a fly buzzing too close to food.
Then he lifted a single finger.
A spark of scarlet flame ignited at the tip quiet, controlled, precise.
He flicked it.
The flame struck Thennaro's chest.
The man screamed as the fire consumed him instantly. It burned like wildfire, but it touched nothing else not the table, not the sand, not the other warlocks. The flame devoured only him, reducing him to ash in seconds.
When the fire died, only a single red stone remained among the ashes his last magical focus.
Aelor stepped forward, picked it up, and sat down in the empty chair as if nothing had happened.
He placed the stone on the table.
"Now," he said calmly, "everything he owned is yours. Consider it a gift. I want to see what you do with this opportunity."
Xaro Qho Vezhan was the first to speak.
His voice was smooth, but now carried a tremor of respect.
"My lord… we will take care of the logistics of his estate. His ships, his slaves, his warehouses they will be reorganized under your authority. Efficiently."
He bowed his head slightly, eyes gleaming with calculation.
He was already planning how to profit from Thennaro's death.
Qirassa Qhi Soreth followed, her tone soft but sharp as a blade.
"Yes, my lord. You said we will be the leaders. We accept this. We will ensure the city bends to your will. Quickly."
Her smile was thin, eager, hungry.
She had always been too eager when it came to claiming power.
She already had a plan forming Aelor could see it in her eyes.
Aelor stood, his shadow long across the sand.
"Yes. You two will gather what I need. Slaves. Fighters. People willing to serve. I need a map and a place to stay. I am not staying in that gods‑forsaken tower of yours."
Xaro blinked. "Which house would you prefer, my lord?"
"The nicest one in the city," Aelor said. "Take it for me. Give the owners something. I don't care. Gold, silver, Valyrian steel bars whatever makes them leave quietly."
Qirassa nodded eagerly. "It will be done."
Aelor continued.
"And before you ask who I am look for me in your records. Your people should have something on my family. We ruled part of Old Valyria. One of the Fourteen Flames. Look for the name Drakarys."
Xaro and Qirassa exchanged a glance fear, curiosity, and dawning realization flickering across their faces.
Aelor turned away.
The Red Death rose behind him, her wings unfolding like a storm. She let out a roar so powerful the sky turned red with reflected flame. The people of Qarth screamed and fell to their knees as the dragon's breath lit the heavens.
Aelor walked through the gates of Qarth as a dragonlord reborn.
And the city knew it had a new king.
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Hello sorry for the wait got busy then I really got into reading this one fanfiction about Game of Thrones it's about the Hunter x Hunter universe I was thinking about doing one like that but with the Jiu Jitsu Kaizen curse energy in for those who are wondering when I am updating the other stuff it's going to be a minute right now I kind of just want to work on these two stories as I feel more passion for them but I will go back to working on the doctor strange one and the Naruto one the Naruto one I have a bus drop of but I'm constantly redoing it still trying to pick a place where he can build his own version of konoha