Chương 65: A Tale of Blood and Monsters Ch. 9
Year 278
Essos – Lys
Arriving in Lys on the back of a full grown dragon is probably the most impressive entrance one can make, especially given Lys' history as a daughter of Old Valyria. Unfortunately, I had no grown dragons and thus could not pull off such an amazing feat. No, instead I rode through the large front gates of Lys on horseback, as it would give the wrong impression to simply walk in under my own power, an impression of weakness.
That impression may have been offset by the dragonlings perched on my shoulders peering around searchingly, but I saw no reason to test that. Thus, I had chosen a large stallion for my purposes and rode into the city like a visiting dignitary, which at this point I supposed I effectively was. Behind me rode a cohort of twenty of my blessed, with Chatana in her rightful place on my right side, and Melisandre on my left.
Speaking of the former Red Priestess, I glanced back at her and found she very quickly shied away, clearly having been staring at me reverently when she thought I wasn't looking. Smiling, I thought back to what had caused the change from her previously begrudging service to this utter devotion.
XxScenebreakxX
I wasn't the first to arrive at the Red Priestess' quarters after she began screaming. However, the damage had already been done by the time my children started arriving, so finding Melisandre rocking back and forth on the floor with her eyes clawed out of her skull, they stood back and waited for me to arrive to pass judgment.
Offering comfort had never been my strong suit, not unless we were talking sex, and this situation didn't seem to really call for that sort of intimacy. So stepping forward, I went with the first thing that came to mind, sneering down at the self-blinded woman, "Slave. Did I give you leave to mutilate yourself?"
Melisandre froze at my voice and then flinched as my words register. After a moment she bowed her head and quietly answered me with a simple, "Master."
Giving an exasperated sigh, I kneel beside her and bite into my arm before pressing it against her mouth much to her chagrin. Still, when I command her to drink she does so, and moments later she turns to look upon me with brand new very wide eyes. I see more reverence there than I'm suspecting, before suddenly she throws herself at my chest and sobs.
I still don't hug or comfort her. Instead my hand closes around her throat and I pull her away from me and hold her there, eyeing her like a fine piece of meat, "Explain silly girl. This is behavior unfitting for the old crone you're hiding under that skin. Get yourself together."
Swallowing thickly, Melisandre nods as she does as I ordered before speaking haltingly. It takes a while, but I get the gist of the explanation by the end of it. She'd looked into her flames for guidance from her Red God, and seen more than she'd ever seen before. Seen more than her mortal mind would allow her to comprehend it seemed, as her first reaction had been to tear out of her own eyes.
Melisandre finishes with an almost reverent tone as she grabs at my hand and begins to kiss the knuckles, "But your slave understands now Master. Your slave understands the Almighty One's power and your place as his Messenger. The prophecies are meaningless now. Made by weaker entities who could never have foreseen you and your God."
I raise an eyebrow as the formerly haughty woman continues to pay worship to my hands in an increasingly intimate but also obsessive way, "Is that so?"
She nods even as she licks along the back of my hand. Damnit, I don't have a hand fetish. At least, I didn't until a picture perfect bombshell of a redhead began to pay homage to my fingers like they were gods themselves.
"Yes. My Lady has shown your slave her place, just as my lady was shown hers. If you will have your slave, she shall spend the rest of her days at your feet."
Smiling thinly outwardly, inwardly I can't help frowning a bit and cursing my 'deity' just a tiny bit. Damnit, I was looking forward to breaking Melisandre myself. Instead it seems that the girl's mind had been broken by divine correspondence not meant for mortal senses and to recover, it had restructured itself around pure devotion to me.
Really, while the bits about the Red God turned Purple Goddess were interesting enough and I couldn't help but wonder if the rest of the Red Priesthood's branches might have gotten a similar message, I was still just a bit miffed to be robbed of this bit of fun here and now. Ah well, no use crying over spilt milk. Removing my hand from Melisandre's grasp I bring it to rest on her beautiful red locks.
Cooing and nuzzling into my hand, Melisandre smiles up at me with a clear invitation in her eyes. I just smile at her and shake my head, "Oh no my dear, you'll have to earn that. Go to sleep now, I've decided you're coming to Lys with me. We leave tomorrow."
She blinks at that even as I withdraw my hand and step away to depart. Before I can leave, she calls out one more time, "T-this slave will need new clothes Master. Continuing to wear red would be an insult to the Almighty One and to you, Master."
I glance back at her and a wicked smile crosses my face, "A good point slave. Very well, don't sleep if that is your wish. Either obtain something new before we depart in the morning, or go naked."
This time I don't leave time for a response, blurring off to locate Chatana. Melisandre has a delightful way of making me randy and Chatana loves being used as my stress reliever.
XxScenebreakxX
My eyes leave Melisandre's face and drift down to her current dress. She might as well have gone naked, for all the covering her new lavender garments did of her body. I was half sure she'd just gone and found a roll of the fabric in the color she wanted and then cut it into the most provocative and revealing attire she could imagine.
It was certainly making sitting on a horse difficult for me, but as I am perfect and amazing in every way, I valiantly succeeded as we made our way deeper into the city. It didn't take long for us to be stopped by an important looking toady begging for a moment of my time. I deigned to give it, staring down at him imperiously as he stumbled through his message.
"A-ah… ah, Great and Powerful Dragonlord, the Council of Magisters humbly requests that you meet with them."
I think it might be the dragonlings on my shoulder staring down at the cowering mortal in eerie unison with my own glare that is causing him such distress. When I finally deign to speak, I do so curtly, "When and where?"
He blinks as if he'd been expecting an outright refusal and can't believe his luck, "Ah, uh, well now if your great lordship is willing. I have been instructed to show you to them if you prove amenable. T-this way?"
It's easy enough to follow the toady as he leads us through Lys' crowded streets from there. The giant stallion I sit atop, combined with the living breathing baby dragons resting on my shoulders, create a navigable path through the bustling city all on their own.
XxScenebreakxX
Eventually I have to dismount and allow my people to take the reins of my stallion, as I'm told they will not be allowed into the meeting anyways. Melisandre and Chatana are allowed though, which I find more than a little amusing given how dangerous both can be in their own ways. There is no comment made regarding my dragonlings, though I do note the guards at the entrance of the large building we've been led to tense up and pale just a bit upon noticing them.
I can't help myself, reaching out I use the connection I'm keeping with the hatchlings' minds and have the one on my left shoulder snap at the guard nearest him, just for fun. Then, we're past those guards and headed inside. The room we're directed into is of moderate size, with a large circlular table behind which nine people sit. I can only imagine these are the Magisters of Lys, the city's ruling body.
Smiling as I step up, I bring my hands together and give a very slight bow in greeting, "Magisters. It is a pleasure to meet you all. You have a beautiful city."
My eyes never go down of course, so I'm treated to the uncomfortable looks on all of their faces. It would appear that none of them are truly inclined to talk, but eventually the one seated at the middle stands up and spreads his arms wide, "Dragonlord Vali of Valyria. The pleasure is ours. This is… an ostentatious occasion. Until now, dragons were of course assumed to be gone forever. As was your great empire."
My smile takes on a predatory edge as I settle myself into the chair provided for me at the far end of the round table, my female companions taking their places behind me while the dragonlings on my shoulder looked about lazily at my prodding, their eyes fixing on each magister for a moment, one after another.
"Indeed, I have seen how the daughters of Valyria so quickly moved on after the Doom. Not that I blame you of course, it was the Dragonlords' own hubris that led to the fall of the empire. I am proud to see that Lys still stands so tall after all this time. Let me be clear, I am not here to demand tribute or your return to the fold. I assume that is why you asked for an audience with me upon my arrival in your great city?"
The Magister operating as a spokesperson for the rest clears his throat and nods, "Well, yes. There are some concerns about your aims for the future and how Lys is involved. There are also some concerns about what we've heard of your exploits, since you ventured out from Valyria."
I raise an eyebrow and give a cocky smirk in return before resting back in my chair and waving a hand airily, "Well, let's start with the latter to clear up any misconceptions you have about the former. Tell me what you think I have done, the rumors you have been subjected to, and I shall tell you the truth of them. I have nothing to hide."
I'm throwing Lys' leaders for a loop, I can tell just by looking at them. They were probably expecting more aggressive arrogance, rather than casual arrogance. They were more than likely prepared for the worst, given I could hear dozens of heartbeats and the shifting of armor clad men in the rooms around us, ready to rush in at a moment's notice.
Not that I was overly worried. They would attack me at their own peril. Nonetheless, the Head Magister or whatever he was, was speaking now, and so I listened in to hear what they'd decided about me.
"W-well… We know that you have somehow cleared up the terrible conditions around Valyria, to the point that it is said trade is beginning to move back through the area. The overabundance of krakens that inhabited the Smoking Sea are no more, and the Smoking Sea itself is in need of a renaming. The red sky over Valyria is blue for the first time in centuries."
I nod to all of that, "All true, yes. Valyria is on the road to recovery."
Another magister finally deigns to speak up at that, leaning forward with narrowed eyes, "How?"
My smile morphs into a wide grin. I'm told I have the most disarming dimples, when my face isn't covered in blood, "The Almighty One provides."
It appears that the men across from me are finally finding their courage, because it's an entirely different magister who responds to that, "Ah yes, we have heard of this god of yours. Was it in his name that you razed Volantis?"
"No. I sent some of my followers to Volantis laden with gifts and they were in the city for barely a night before a slave revolt led by the city's Red Priests saw most of their number killed and the rest chased from Volantis. It was in their names that I took what remained of the First Daughter and broke it over my knee."
Another magister is quick to fire back and I'm wondering if this is a tactic of theirs, "Yes, the Servants of R'hllor are another concern. Before Volantis, they were proclaiming that the Doom of Valyria was coming for us all to anyone who would listen. What do you have to say about that?"
I smile thinly, "I could not begin to tell you what the Lord of Light's slaves were thinking. I do remember the ones in Volantis referring to me as the Doom, but I assure you I am anything but. If I was, I would not come to Lys as a friend, would I?"
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. It is rumored that you arrived in Slaver's Bay as a friend. Now Yunkai is in ruins while Astapor and Mereen are held under the control of the one they call the Eternal Master… who is said to answer to you."
Chuckling, I shake my head, "He answers to the Almighty One, as do I. The Eternal Master merely recognizes the strength of my connection to our god and is thus very receptive to my advice."
"Yes, back to this Almighty One. We have heard interesting things about his supposed gifts. Boasts and rumors of immortality and impeccable healing given by blood."
My grin gets even wider, "Oh dear, you lot are quite persistent in prying into my secrets. Very well, if it will help you to believe, I shall show you what I've shown many others."
Pulling a dagger from my belt causes a bit of tensing at the other end of the table, but when I reach behind me and grasp Chatana's hand without leaving my seat, the magisters relax. Pulling her dark skinned hand up to the table where they could all see it, I slashed my blade across the palm and allowed them to watch as the cut healed before their eyes.
"As you can see, my Ravia is blessed by the Almighty One, thus she heals quickly."
Reaching back around to my other side, I grasp Melisandre's wrist in my hand and jerk her forward. She comes gladly, not resistant, merely surprised. As I lay her paler hand on the table and slash across her palm with the same blade, she keeps her reaction to a quiet hiss. I show the deep gash to the magisters for a moment even as blood wells up in the cut, before releasing her wrist so she can cradle her wounded hand to her chest.
Smiling amicably, I shrug, knife still in hand, "As you can see, my slave is not blessed, and thus she does not."
The magister who originally asked about the blood swallows thickly but soldiers on, "And how does one receive this blessing?"
I chuckle at that, "I would think that's obvious. Nothing less than complete conversion of course."
Most of the men around the table seemed to have expected this answer, but it doesn't stop a tense silence from falling over the room. Shrugging, I go ahead and break it, "Of course, one does not need to worship the Almighty One to be healed. Our god is generous, even to those who do not commit themselves to him. Like so."
Drawing the dagger across my own hand, I gesture Melisandre forward. She moves quickly to comply and I grab her hair to more easily bring her mouth to my already healing cut. She drinks quickly and then I push her head away, only to grab her wrist and show the magisters her hand as it heals from my blood.
"Any can partake in the gift of blood. It does not convey a permanent blessing, but does allow for near instant healing of most any ailments. Those of my Blessed who remain in the city once I'm gone will give the gift freely to those who ask. I advise you to ask though and not try to demand. My Blessed can and will protect themselves."
As most of Lys' leaders chew on what they've just seen, one who has not yet spoken finally does so, taking the conversation down a different tangent, "I can't help but notice that you have one of the newly christened Violet Slaves attending to you. Perhaps you could enlighten us on the fate that befallen the widespread Red Priesthood? It has become a defunct organization seemingly overnight. Red Temples are defiled and desecrated by their own clergy, and those who once stared into the flames have either committed suicide or thrown away their red garments for those of a more purple hue. Now, they call themselves Violet Slaves and offer their bodies to any who would sate their lusts on them for free."
The magister snorts and finishes with, "The city's pleasure houses are ready to revolt over the matter. They cannot compete with free service after all."
Shaking my head, I shrug helplessly, "What the remnants of the Red God's followers do is not my concern. I hold no animosity towards the larger organization even if they seemed to be united in their hatred of me given the rumors you say they were trying to spread across Essos. My quarrel was with those who made Volantis their home, and the treatment they visited upon my Blessed. My rage is sated. As for the slave at my shoulder, I give her leave to speak for herself."
Melisandre starts at that but takes it for the command it is and pipes up, "T-this slave has had her eyes opened to the truth and this slave imagines that many of her peers experienced the same. The Lord of Light is gone. The Lady of Illumination stands in his place and her will is clear. This slave in particular is to serve the Messenger in whatever manner he chooses. She cannot speak for her peers. This slave suspects that they are merely carrying out their own directives from our Lady."
Silence falls on the room once more and I suspect that everyone in the room is either too stunned or too reserved to say what everyone is more than likely thinking. Wait no, there's a magister about to speak his mind. He's looking at me as he talks, "A religion that has stood for longer than much of Essos moves against you, and in response, a city is razed and you have somehow managed to convince the former followers of a god that their deity has changed genders and wishes for them to offer their bodies freely to any who would partake. How?! How did you do this?!"
Once again I can only shake my head, "You give me too much credit Magister. If anything was done, it was done by the Almighty One because he deemed it necessary in his infinite wisdom. I will take credit for the destruction of Volantis. I will admit to marching on Yunkai and subduing Mereen. But the evolution of the Red Priesthood into this new form is not my doing. The Almighty One is working through other means than me in this."
At that, the magister from the beginning, the one I assume to be in some sort of higher position above the others from his seat at the middle of the nine, speaks up, "Of course Dragonlord. We all believe you, I'm sure. To that end, I feel it is time to draw this meeting towards its close. After everything we have heard, I believe that we should go forward with what was discussed before our guest's arrival. Are there any objections?"
That piques my interest, even as each magister around the table declines to object, some more begrudgingly than others. Still, once the magister in charge notes that everyone is in agreement, he motions to a door guard who leaves and moments later returns with two young women dressed in sheer white nighties. Of course, they're not just two young women. They're twins and they remind me strongly of what I saw on a television screen of a girl who tried to play at Queen. Old Valyria is strong in these girls, but then, Old Valyria is strong in much of Lys.
Standing from my seat as the twins are marched up to me, I give them a cursory glance before looking to the magisters with a raised eyebrow. That gets a quick response from the one in charge, "Dragonlord Vali, please accept these pleasure slaves as a token of our friendship, which while young, we hope will grow to be as strong as a bond of blood between brothers."
I can't help being a bit of a dick. Glancing at what are apparently my newest slaves, I remark dryly, "Pleasure slaves you say? How am I to know they are not disease ridden?"
Given the looks on the faces of the men sitting around the table, I know I'm pushing it with such an insult. But they all bite their tongues as the spokesperson hides his own anger behind a large fake smile, "Worry not Dragonlord. They are virginal."
That gets a blink from me as I look back at the twin girls. Their heads are bowed and their eyes are hidden from me as I absently remark, "Virginal pleasure slaves. Seems like a bit of an oxymoron. No matter, I shall accept your gift! I am left in awe of Lys' generosity and hospitality. While I will have to move onto Myr soon enough to continue to follow the path my god has set before me, I know that I can count Lys as a friend moving forward. As Lys can count on me and mine if we are needed."
Bowing slightly once more, I wake my dragonlings from the slumber I'd put them in earlier in the meeting and will them to give a synchronized screech as I turn and leave the meeting chamber with the number of women trailing behind me doubled.
As I go I can't help notice the animosity directed at me by one of the fringe magisters is leaps and bounds above his peers. This magister has not spoken up the entire time, but the hatred in the glare he levies at my back as I depart is inarguable. He'd done well to hide it as well, I wouldn't have even noticed if I hadn't seen the look through the eyes of one of my shoulder companions as I had it glance back.
What had I done to evoke such hatred from a man I'd never spoken to? Well, to be fair that could be any number of things I actually had done. Still, I felt like there was something more… personal attached to it. If he'd had a grievance based on my actions before I entered the city, I imagine he would have brought it up during the interrogation Lys' leaders just put me through.
No, this was something else, and I was already beginning to think up a workable theory, one that would be easy enough to confirm or deny. A slow grin spreads across my face.
Virginal pleasure slaves indeed.
-x-X-x-
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