Daenerys dismounted and walked slowly, feeling a flicker of strength return to her weary body as Drogon flew back and landed on her shoulder. She couldn't help but think how increasingly dependent she had become on him.
With Drogon by her side, she felt not only safer but also more confident and invigorated.
After resting briefly on the mountain path, they were about to continue when Rakharo approached Daenerys with a troubled expression. He reported that there seemed to be a problem ahead.
The Dothraki are natural scouts. Since Barristan joined the Queen's Guard, Daenerys had no longer kept the Bloodriders constantly at her side. Instead, they now served as *kos*—leaders of the smaller groups within her *khalasar*.
A *khalasar* is equivalent to a nomadic tribe, and a *ko* is the leader of a smaller group within that tribe.
As Rakharo led them over a small hill, Daenerys and Drogon simultaneously spotted a young girl nailed to a cross by the roadside.
The girl wasn't nailed in a traditional cross shape, but rather in a way that made her resemble a signpost. Her right hand was nailed to her chest. Though Drogon had witnessed such scenes before, seeing it firsthand was a different experience entirely.
Judging by the expression on the little girl's face and the state of her body, she was clearly nailed to the cross while still alive.
Seeing such a brutal sight for the first time, Daenerys and Missandei covered their mouths, unable to believe anyone could treat a child this way.
"There's a girl like this nailed to a cross every half-mile, stretching all the way to Meereen," the Dothraki explained. "Even they, known for their savagery and disregard for life, wouldn't treat a child this cruelly. And there are dozens more ahead."
"Your Majesty, I can have the girl taken down early to spare you this sight," Jorah said, noticing Daenerys's pained expression.
"Don't remove her yet," Daenerys replied, her face darkening and her eyes burning with murderous intent as she gazed at the girl's twisted, tortured features. "I want to see every one of their faces clearly. If I don't, I fear I'll forget their suffering."
*They all deserve to die!* Drogon's modern soul seethed with rage. He wasn't sure he could resist flying straight to Meereen and burning every slave owner to ashes before they'd even seen half the road markers.
As they drew closer to Meereen, Daenerys and her companions grew increasingly grim. They had already passed a hundred waymarkers, yet still hadn't reached the city.
Though she had vowed to examine every marker, Daenerys struggled to endure the sight of the hundredth. A fiery heat burned in her chest, with no outlet for release.
Drogon, long since impatient, had flown ahead to the grasslands. He returned to the army only when the time was right, with Meereen now less than two kilometers away.
Meereen City rose atop a massive hill, its numerous golden pyramids visible from afar. The tallest, a two-hundred-meter tower, was crowned with a colossal statue of a Harpy.
The slave lords of Slaver's Bay, who claimed descent from the Harpies, favored building such pyramids, perhaps to display their transcendent status.
After viewing all 113 waymarkers, Daenerys's face was as dark as a stormy sea. She ordered her army to form a battle formation beneath the city gates.
The gatehouse was crowded with richly dressed Great Masters, the slave lords of Meereen, while slaves lined the walls. Having been informed of Daenerys's arrival, they gathered to watch her forces assemble.
The Great Master on the city gate tower, resplendent in his robes and pointing with a smile, stood in stark contrast to the tragic fate of the little girl depicted on the road sign.
Just as the army had assembled, a narrow slit opened in the Meereen gate. A knight emerged, mounted on a red horse, clad in armor and brandishing a long spear. This sight baffled Daenerys's forces.
The knight trotted to the base of the gate, dismounted, pulled down his trousers, and urinated. He then babbled something in what Missandei identified as High Valyrian.
Laughter erupted from the gate tower.
"He's mocking the Unsullied and challenging us," Missandei translated.
Daenerys narrowed her eyes, about to ask who among her men would accept the challenge, when Daario stepped forward. "My Queen, allow me to fight for you!"
Before he could finish, Jorah and Grey Worm also emerged from the ranks, requesting to fight. After a moment's consideration, Daenerys nodded to Daario. "Bring Daario's horse," she ordered.
"I won't need a horse to deal with him," Daario said, shaking his head confidently. Daenerys gave him a worried glance before refraining from calling for reinforcements.
Seeing Daario step out of the formation, the Meereen knight urged his red horse forward, its hooves churning as it charged toward him. As the knight's lance grew closer, Daario stood motionless, not even drawing his weapon. Daenerys, Jorah, and the others couldn't help but grow tense.
Only when the red horse was less than twenty meters away did Daario calmly draw the Arakh from his waist and raise it.
The twenty meters vanished in an instant. The knight thrust his lance forward, aiming for Daario. Spotting the weapon's trajectory, Daario sidestepped with effortless grace. His right hand swept through the air, and the curved blade sliced through the horse's front hoof.
The red horse cried out in agony and collapsed, kicking up a cloud of dust. The knight tumbled from its back. As the man scrambled to rise, Daario approached, and with a swift swing of the Arakh, sent his head flying skyward.
Sheathing the blade, he walked a few steps forward, dropped his trousers, and urinated against the gatehouse.
Daario's brutal efficiency drew gasps from the Great Master atop the battlements.
Show-off! Drogon thought, watching Daario's performance.
Daenerys was long accustomed to Drogon's new words. Seeing Daario win her such prestige, she smiled and nodded at him. Daario bowed with practiced grace.
When Daario returned to his post, Daenerys surveyed the Great Masters and slaves. "I am Daenerys Targaryen, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons!" she declared loudly. "I recently freed the slaves of Astapor and Yunkai, shattering their collars. Now I have come to Meereen, and I will shatter yours as well, restoring your freedom."
"On my journey to Meereen, I saw road markers made from 113 child slaves. I am certain some of them were your children or sisters. When I liberate Meereen, the Great Masters will become the road markers!"
With that, Daenerys waved her hand. A dozen catapults were rolled to the front of the lines. The Great Masters, caught off guard by the sudden attack, scrambled to their feet and rushed toward the city walls, creating a chaotic crush.
As they struggled in the press, a whistling sound cut through the air. A wooden barrel slammed onto the open ground within the walls, splintering and spilling its contents: a jumble of slave collars of varying sizes and colors.
-----------------------
Completed English PDF of this fan-fic on my Patreon shop if you want to support and own the full fan-fic in one go. Just grab the PDF and binge the entire story from start to finish!
Guys, I've uploaded some High Quality english translated fanfic on my Patreon shop! Feel free to check it out-if you're interested, you can grab a copy and support me there.
Here are a few titles of recently uploaded fanfics:
New Addition:
" Game of Thrones: The Battle Royale Game "
" Game of Thrones: Dance of the Blood Dragons — Prince Daemon (18+) "
" Three Kingdoms: I, Liu Bei, Am Also an Unrivaled Warrior "
" Game of Thrones: Xiang Yu Conquers the Seven Kingdoms "
" Game of Thrones: The Holy Flame Empress "
" Game of Thrones: Executed at the Start, I Awakened the Kill System "
" Game of Thrones: The Holy Flame King "
Your support means a lot-thanks in advance, legends!
many more are available 20+.
patreon.com/EminentWriter
(End of Chapter)