章節 10: Chapter 10
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285 A.D. City of Hash. Lhazar.
The Dothraki were right, after all, when they called this people all sorts of unkind words.
Hesh is one of the cities of Lhazar, connected to Meereen by the Khizai Pass. To the east of Khesh is Kozrak and to the south-east is Lhazosh. South of Lhazosh begin the abandoned towns of the Kwaatians. All in all, this small country, or rather, correction, semblance of a country has only three towns and many villages.
The Lhazarians are not the most developed people in Essos, the Dothraki call the Lhazarians "Khaesh Rakhi", which means "lamb people" in their language. This country is bounded on the north by the Skahazadhan River, on the east by the vast desert that is the Red Wasteland, on the south by the Summer Sea, and on the west by the mountains that separate Lhazar from the lands of the Giskars.
The Lhazarians are similar in appearance to the Dothraki, apparently because of their long neighbourhood and their favourite raiding practice of violence against women. They are stocky and flat-faced, with copper skin, short black hair and almond-shaped eyes.
Their language is like me, their main feature and one of the few positive traits I like.
An agricultural people, they farm sheep and grow vegetables. The Lhazarians are not warlike and neighbouring peoples speak of them with a tinge of contempt, even those who are also quite peaceful and hardworking.
The supreme god of the Lhazarians is the "Great Shepherd". According to them, all the people of the world are his flock. In the Lhazarian city of Hesh, captured by General Darstein and his First Legion, there was a temple of this "Great Shepherd", who did not protect his flock at all. However, I did not even notice a hint of the presence of any spirits, let alone anything divine.
The temple was a huge square, windowless building of raw brick, topped with a dome. In the central hall of the temple there was a stone altar with carved images of shepherds and flocks. The women serving in the temple were considered to be god's wives. They offered prayers to the god and burned incense made of leaves, roots, berries and other trifles. Primitive rites, but not unique.
By the way, it was not only the First Legion that took this city, but four thousand Dothraki horsemen along with the Legion of the Unsullied that I had acquired a month ago from my companion, who is now beside me watching the sacking of this city, sipping wine.
Kraznys mo Nakloz is one of the good lords of Astapor, a slave trader who likes to be addressed by servants or slaves as "Your Magnificence". He is a vain man, but he has some measure of it. In my presence his servants address him only as Mr Kraznys, and not otherwise. From the conversations my "birds" overheard between him and the other gentlemen of Astapor, he is afraid of me.
And rightly so. I like to be feared.
Kraznys is thin, bald and has a more modest beard, unlike his "fellow lords", but he dyes it red. He is dressed in a white toga tied with a crimson-coloured sash, and his arms and neck are decorated with various jewels.
He is here to select, with his professional eye, the future impecunious ones for training. Hash, a very populous city. In addition, the expedition of my other general, Mardin Blackheart, with the Third and Fourth Legions, and a couple thousand Dothraki, will bring new slaves from the similarly subjugated Kozrak. Of course I sell my slaves to Astapor for a low price, as we have an agreement with Astapor that they supply me with three thousand unblemished slaves every year. They retain the right to sell them abroad as well.
Yes, Astapor, Yunkai and Meereen are also part of my empire. Astapor, by the way, is the easiest to get into. Most of the laws, agreements and traditions that I introduce into this world are close to them, and the benefit to them is much greater than from a single voyage. Yunkai and Meereen were more difficult. There are many times more lords there, and although I had them under my thumb, I had to negotiate with them. As a result, I gave these two cities and Astapor the right to elect their own governor, but I have to approve him. It looks like their aristocratic free will be a problem in the future. But I'll solve it later.
By the way, besides slaves to Astapor, many Lhazarians will go to Meereen and Yunkai. Not at a low price, but at a normal price.
On their territory, I'm gathering recruits for my army without regard for Varys and his spies and other states. It consists of five full-fledged legions, one legion of blameless, ten thousand mercenaries, and twenty-nine thousand Dothraki, who are being retrained by Miriam and Darstein to better coordinate their actions with the main army. Also, my guard, called the First Cohort, is almost formed. There are over a thousand men, including the company of two hundred warrior maidens that Miriam led, a hundred and fifty Dothraki, and the best of the former knights of the Seven Kingdoms and veterans of the First Legion. Miriam will lead it.
By the way, she is in Tolos making preparations for my long journey to Norvos. Whence I received an invitation from the Masters of that city and the Bearded Priests, who are the actual masters of the city. Quite a strange invitation in some ways, but it is understandable, I am now the Emperor of a neighbouring state. Still, I'm investigating it (the city) now for rumours, ambitions and traps that might be there.
Nyssa, Rhys and Ocris have remained in Tolos. Nyssa is busy "raising" Drogo. Not that traditional parenting. No, I'm not going to break him. I will need him to be loyal without breaking, with his will as one of the leader-lords of the Dothraki, in order to subdue all the nomads. And though after the recent events of the Grey Sickness epidemic among their fellowship, many rank-and-file Dothraki have defected under my hand. But still many Khals are unwilling to recognise the words of the 'ancestors'. Let them. Perhaps I will not wait for their obedience, but will walk, later, fire and sword over them, showing the world with those who would march against me once more.
Rhys decided to stay with Ocris and get some rest, he was tired of travelling on my errands lately and asked for a little rest, I didn't mind it. Okris was appointed by me as the Viceroy of Tolos and he seems to be doing a good job. Besides, he has a "mother wife" now and will soon have an heir.
So with me now only Boros and Darstein are among the closest men of state to me.
- My emperor is quite fortunate for booty," Kraznys smiled at me.
I returned his smile and replied:
- 'Certainly the gods themselves and Fate favours me. I will make anyone obey me. And the Lhazarians will be fully incorporated into the empire very soon.
At that moment, one of the two Mord-Sith I had brought with me on my quest, Alishara, a native of Mantaris, approached me. She was not possessed of deformities or Valyrian blood. Copper skin, brown hair pulled back in a braid. Brown eyes that looked at me with love and the scarlet garb of a Mord-Sith. Kraznys twitched with fear. He had the indiscretion to look at her on his first encounter with lust and even licked himself and that in MY presence. That was what Alishara had chastised him for. Now he is responding to her appropriately.
- Master Ral," she said my title in a languid voice, "we have selected one hundred and fifty girls and their parents that you have pointed out. Will you give the order to redirect them to Mord-Sith Tower? Or will they follow the army to Lhazosh?
- No! They should not be left with us. The sooner their training begins, the better. Your Agiel sisters will be able to find a use for them. Though not all of them at once. But waiting for most of the unknown will help the cause," I replied.
- Yes, Master Rahl. Any other orders? - Hmm, my body, because of my young age, reacts quite... appropriately.
Well, perhaps in honour of this small victory, I can indulge myself.
- Come to my chambers tonight. Along with your Agiel sister, Irene.
- Yes, Master Rahl.
- Go," she bowed and left.
Swallowing in relief, Kraznys pulled on a cheerful and welcoming smile.
- They are quite... submissive to you Your Majesty. If I have heard your words and the rumours floating around Mord-Sith correctly, you want to make the Lhazarian maidens into their 'sisters'? But they can become the same...
- Out of great beneficence, great cruelty is born, Mr Kraznys. I and the other Mord-Sith know how to raise even such sheep into true steppe wolves. Lhazaria is a gold mine in terms of supplying me with future Mord-Sith. I am very glad that their culture and religion is so... peaceful.
- So Lhazar will be the target of constant raids by the Dhara? - his eyes glistened with the anticipation of future profit.
- No! I will make it part of the empire. And the next city of Lhorash will complete the process of annexing these lands to my empire.
- I am very pleased to hear that, my emperor. If you'll allow me to take a moment out of our conversation to check on the boys. Don't take this request as impertinence. But your future possessions must get there safely. And the overseers can make a lot of mistakes, and in a mess like this, something can happen because of a stupid herd of Lhazarians.
I just nodded at that. And he left me at once.
I'll have to wait for a couple of thousand more Dothraki before I can go to the third city of those herders. And then I can go to the three other city-states that interest me: Samirana, Kayakayanaya, and Bayazabhad. These three city-states have a very unusual history directly linked to the last Azor Ojai. And it is quite possible that I can cross the great tract that leads through the "Ridge of Bones" to these three cities, which are in the territory of the old Votina Girkuna. And there to find something left of my predecessor.
I've already sent my "birds" there for reconnaissance. But still, travelling there will probably have to wait a while. Until Miriam gets her Sarnor "tribesmen" to bend the knee to me and all the Dothraki finally come under my banner. And then, only Qarth will be left, and we can prepare to take over the Steps. My architects, even on my campaign, are not far behind me, and are thinking carefully about the arrangement of the future capital of the Empire. I also put my hand to the model of the future People's Palace of my capital.
- My Emperor! - one of the guards saluted me. Admiral Mathis has arrived. He wishes to meet with you urgently to discuss important reports.
- Where is he?
- In your quarters.
- Well, go tell him I'll be right there.
The guard left, and I created half a dozen more Ravens to go to the three city-states. It's easier to create more of my scouts now, since the Dacra I created was effective, and sucked up, passing me the Han of minor gifs. It would be good to test this on the spellcasters of Qarth. But they'll have to wait.
- Mathis! It's good to see you, though I'm a little surprised you've come here, to a place with a sea of steppe or sand. But not of water. What has happened that my best admiral has travelled so far in my quest?
- My Emperor! - I bring important news. Or rather, several tidings, and among them are both good and unfortunate.
- Really? - I was indeed surprised. My intelligence had never reported anything like this, - And what's the bad news?
- The war! New Guis, those harpy burps declared war on us for the ridiculous reason of "non-payment of duty and disrespect for the traditions of New Guis". In reality, as you realise, it was because of their fear of being invaded by us.
A very fair inference and fear of the Giscarians. Doesn't change the matter, though.
- Well, sooner or later we'd have a war with them. So don't worry about it too much. Just get the fleet ready, and I'll think about a military campaign to New Guis. And I'll give Darstein orders.
- It's not just New Guice," Mathis added, "Their fleet is large, but they've decided to go beyond it. They've decided to form a coalition against you from Qarth, Mena Coast (the capital of the entire piracy of the Summer Sea), as well as such small states as: Faros, Vahar, Port Morak, Zabhad, and the state of Lang.
Well, the heirs to the Giskar Empire have really got me down. The Mene Coast is home to hundreds of pirate captains who have managed to defend their territory as a "neutral zone" to sell their loot. Several tens of thousands of fine, experienced sailors who know their business and have a great sense of profit.
Pharos, Vahar and Port Morak are under the influence of Qarth and got involved with their small fleets and armies in this venture.
Zabhad is already a more serious and independent state than the previous three. They have their own large merchant fleet, money and ties to Sothoros and Ulthos. They can also cause trouble.
The state of Lang, or as some traders refer to it "the woman empire of Lang", is ruled by an empress who has two husbands. One commands the navy, the other the army. That said, one of them is necessarily a local, and the other is from the Itian Empire. So it's also a serious force. Although I doubt that they can involve this empire in a war with us, but an embargo is likely. So we have to do something about those narrow-minded idiots.
If they had lived quietly and peacefully and stayed out of it, I probably wouldn't have gone east in my lifetime. But now that this is happening, I can't ignore this attack on me.
"The 'war' in Lhazar was light, it seemed to be a foreshadowing before the bigger game. But I didn't realise it right away.
- I see. Any more bad news? And when is the planned attack on us?
- In about three or four months. As soon as the entire alliance squadron is assembled. There's no more bad news. Except that the three eggs we found in Misa Faer were probably dead. That's what your amulet showed you gave to the searchers. But in Old Valyria, another egg was found. It's been taken to Tholos.
- I have a total of nine full dragon eggs..." I whispered, calculating the time and complexity of the ritual, "Good. Tell Ocris... No, forget it. I'll tell him myself. What else?
- Lord Oakris asked to see estimates for new tracts and roads between the cities. He's also filed a report on his research into abandoned cities in the Dothraki Sea and the lands of Sarnor. Some of them would be advantageous to our trade to rebuild and repopulate. It's in his report. He also sent reports on the repopulation of Bhorash, Oris and Tyria. I also wanted to ask you for permission to rebuild the harbour of the old city on Cedar Island in the abandoned city of Velos. But it would be a good idea to do it in Gozai as well. It would be good for trade and for the safety of our shores, as it would serve as a good base for the fleet in this war.
- Very well, I give the go-ahead. What about the Smoky Sea trade route?- After the locals dismantled the abandoned and "dead" ships in it, we are successfully redistributing the spoils from them until now, and also began to conduct merchant ships from the "Free Cities" through it, thus gaining huge profits from the monopoly of a short and safe route to the Gulf of Traders. And a route further along the Summer Sea. The reports are not yet ready, my Emperor," he shuddered.
- Good. Reports later. You have everything?
- I am.
- Dismissed.
Well, it's about time I woke up my dragons. I've been dragging my feet on this.
Tolos. Two days later.
Night had come upon me in this field. I was ten miles from Tolos. Not far from me stood by torchlight Miriam, Boros, Darstein, Rhys, and Nyssa with Drogo, who was already more docile and friendly to me.
I, on the other hand, sat in the pentagram, which means from Old Dharian the symbol of life and prosperity itself. It was in the form of an eight-pointed star.
At its ends were eight dragon eggs. Living ones, waiting to be awakened. And the ninth was on my hands in the centre.
I sat completely naked in the centre of this pentagram and made incisions on my wrists. The blood slowly flowed down the channels to the ends of this star.
Once the blood reached them I began to recite a spell in Valyrian:
- Blood of Ancient Valyria. Fire of the Underworld. Ancestors of this flesh. Be witnesses to this night. This full moon and the spirits that are witnesses to the blood oath. Let these creatures of flame and blood awake from their sleep and spread their wings over the sinful earth that their enemies have enslaved. Let them be my children. Let them be my brothers. Let them be my friends. Fire burns, but Fire also brings forth! May the New Dawn of this world come!
At these words, Nissa threw Wild Fire at me, which I had refined a bit with magic.
It didn't hurt me. No. Only a slight irritation that was tolerable. Gradually that flame transferred, and to the entire pentagram, and a huge column of bright violet-coloured flame rose into the sky.
The fire was bright and scalding for my companions, so they moved farther away. I was bathed in the energy that was released from the birth of the new flame creatures around me. The immense power and connection that formed between us was intoxicating. It went on until dawn. Then the largest egg, black in colour with purple flecks, cracked last.
My dragon, my four-legged boy, who looked up into the sky with the same eyes as mine, gave a loud roar and flew above me. Eight of his fellows flew after him, circling around him. They spewed flames and seemed to be enjoying their first day of life after so many years of hibernation.
- No blood. No bones. No ashes," I said quietly with a smile. And then added a little louder. No blood, no bones, no ashes will be left of my enemies. May it be so forever. I Darken Rahl declare that heaven, earth, and water in this world belong to me!
To be continued...
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榜單 
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