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207 AC
Norvos
Daenerys Targaryen
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"That was fast... too fast." I tilt my head looking at the letter that Elaena just sat down before me on the table Narha and I have been breaking our fast at.
"The farther East we go the weirder things seem to get." Elaena looks a bit off-put as she looks at the letter. "Even if they sent it the moment they saw dragons fly over Lorath, it still should have taken another day or two to reach us." I nod in agreement as the Free Cities do not keep ravens or a similar bird-like Westeros, they tend to focus on their own city that they live in.
Some people trade letters from afar with fancy birds but this was delivered by a person on foot.
"They want a meeting." Narha speaks up and I nod slowly without bothering to take the letter from her as she seemed to pick it up while I was lost in thought.
"Of course they do, we sent out word for all to bend the knee after the crowning ceremony and only now do they see we were deadly serious." Running a hand through my hair I tilt my head to the side letting most of it fall over my right shoulder as I purse my lips.
"We prepared for a meeting with a representative... but I still find it odd how fast they made it here." Elaena speaks up confidently about our plan to meet with them at the table and not on the field, she longs for proper negotiations where she can put her talents to use.
But I think it's easy to see there is something we do not know... or they preemptively sent word ahead of us even taking the city which would have been foolish.
"Do you think there is any truth to the rumors?" Narha asks with some hesitance as she presses her hands flat on the table while biting her lips.
"Which?" Elaena asks humorously but pays close attention as Narha shifts in place.
"The ones talking about their maze... they say they can enter in one place and appear somewhere far away." I shake my head as I finish getting all my hair off my neck and slowly start working on a braid before Elaena spots me and heads over with a smile as she reaches out to assist me.
"I think most of those tales are as tall as the sky in most cases... but if we humor the idea then it could explain the swift arrival." I begin speaking my mind before slowly I think back to what Aerion spoke about. "When we went to see the island in person we obviously saw the maze, as we have spoken of it upon our return... but we did not look into its many branching paths and tunnels into the ground." Magic is not something I can claim to understand and the origin of the maze is obviously something of that nature.
Aerion's thoughts were that it was carved in place using magic as he thinks it's impossible they moved the stone into place. He thinks the tall walls we landed upon were once a small mountain that through many years and great effort was slowly carved into what it is today. One big reason he claims that is because it looks pristine as if it was just finished, something he claims would be impossible with how old it is and how much it rains on the island. Even with thousands of blind priests working to preserve it all year long, it should show signs of time wearing upon it.
"Magic." I utter the word in hesitance and curiosity. "I wonder if it's something we can explore, maybe even use their methods to send goods far distances through 'mazes' we ourselves create." Elaena stops the braid she started and I turn to see her looking thoughtful.
"I will look into it." I roll my eyes at her words knowing full well her curiosity won't rest till she has answers.
"Don't wear yourself out, we will need you if things keep turning strange the further East we go." I know many places in Essos and have seen pretty much all the sights there are to see west of the Bone Mountains.
But this is the third thing we have encountered that seems odd that I have never encountered.
I wonder what else we will run into?
Stone Giants?
Shadow Demons?
Fishmen?
I can't help but shake my head much to the annoyance of Elaena as she tries to finish up with my hair.
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207 AC
Norvos
Aemon Targaryen
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"Bad dream?" I ask Rhaella as she joins me in the small yard we have been using for training.
"No... just odd." She hums while hugging my side and looking toward the youngest of our siblings out in the yard trying to wack each other with training swords.
"What did you see?" I ask while trying to remember the last dream she had a few days ago, pregnancy has been showing her some wild stuff lately.
I think the first strange one was when she saw what she believed was Chroyane, the foggy city on the Mother Rhoyne, and it lost its fog after a dragon visited the city. It strikes me as strange since the old city is said to be cursed because of what the Old Valyrians did. They blame the creation of Grey Scale on the day that the city flooded. The old Prince begged for the Mother Rhoyne to swallow all the invading Valyrians as they celebrated burning nearly a fourth of a million soldiers with their dragons.
So it strikes me as weird that the city's fog would lift after all this time because a dragon visits it.
"I couldn't tell where I was but I knew it was many moons from now." I lift a brow at her as she turns her head to look up at me. "I was holding a babe." I smile and press a kiss on her forehead.
"Care to tell me what... the babe looked like?" I almost slipped and asked if it was a boy or girl, not that it's important but I know she can get moody when I let on that I want a boy.
I will cherish my child regardless, I have plenty of experience with baby boys and girls because of all my siblings and I know what I am getting into. I care not what my firstborn is, but I certainly would not mind a boy who would take after me... but I suppose a girl could also take after me.
"You can wait." She snorts and turns away from me while dropping the arm that was around my back.
She caught the slip.
"What else did you see?" I push on trying to quickly change the subject so she won't get pouty.
She bounces her head from side to side while humming and watching the training once more with amusement in her eyes.
"A dark throne room and Father was being crowned once more..." The amusement and humor leave her features even as she watches our Brothers tussle on the ground ruining there training clothes.
"Why was he getting crowned again?" I tilt my head while slipping my arm around her back in an attempt to bring her close once more.
I suppose once we actually 'finish' the Conquest he will be crowned again, but I am interested in hearing more about the dark throne room and where it is. We still do not know exactly where we will rule from, as in the main Emperor's castle and throne room.
"I don't know." She embraces me once more and I smile even as I comfort her seeing as she seems a bit disturbed at what she saw in her dream. "The crown... it looked like it was... burning." She huffs as she narrows her eyes and I fully turn her from side hugging me to wrap both my arms around her being mindful of the babe.
"Don't get caught up on it, write it down and hand it over to Father when he is back and let him worry about it... you have something far more important to worry about." She hums once more and I enjoy her arms tightening around me as she slowly starts nodding.
"I already wrote it down." Of course, she did, she just wanted some special attention and to let me in on what she saw.
...or maybe she wanted to hint at knowing what the baby will be and wants to torment me with that knowledge.
Its hard to tell.
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207 AC
Myr
Aegor Bittersteel
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"Well, that could have certainly gone worse." I mutter while sitting down after filling a glass with wine.
"He practically overlooked the fact we attacked Myr without asking for his leave to do so." The Golden Companies paymaster speaks up and I nod while frowning.
"He just wants the Conquest he started to go well and to finish it, we anticipated this and it worked out well. But everything else is where I am surprised, he is willing to let me do as I want with Myr so long as everything meets his 'standards' and abides by his new laws." Thankfully he did not want a large portion of the spoils, using them I can appease my men and put to rest their gripping about their rewards.
Things have been rocky without knowing what the dragons will do when they come to visit, but now things can smooth out.
"Two-thirds of the men, one-third going south to meet some awaiting ships to take Lys, and the other third handed over to Blackfyre." My second in command speaks up and I know he will need to be properly paid off to ensure he has no unfortunate thoughts.
He will see this as him losing all the power he has as he will be under Daemon or Brynden... which honestly helps me greatly. With him gone and my 'debts' to him paid I will have no big threats beyond assassins from Volantis of all places.
"You will be well paid and a Lordship in the Disputed Lands will find its way under your name once this is all settled." He frowns but does not speak up to refute my words which shows his intentions.
He would speak out loudly if unpleased, his silence is his approval.
"Have the men split up, the most ambitious will be sent to Daemon and the best fighters will go to Brynden." The most loyal will stay with me, I will praise the ones who go as solid men of the Golden Company but in reality, I only pray they do not cause me any problems.
I will make sure they are well paid, knowing now how much coin and riches I actually have, and will not have a dragon swoop in and steal some... well I can afford to be generous.
"Huh?" I scrunch up my nose seeing a scrawny rat in the corner of the room. "Send for that damn rat catcher!" I shout while the rat is startled by my loud voice and flees quickly.
Thanks for reading!!!
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207 AC
Norvos
Aerion Targaryen
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"Maegor." I greet my youngest Son as I enter his room after finally settling back in after my trip south.
"Kepa." He grunts while pursing his lips and crossing his arms.
"I heard from your Mother that you are not enjoying our short stay in Norvos." I slip beside him on the padded couch he was reading on and make sure to slip his bookmark into his book before closing it.
"There is nothing fun to do." He indignantly responds making me snort while ruffling his hair.
"All you did at home was beg to ride your dragon and train..." I respond in a confused tone even knowing full well that my Son is mainly just throwing a bit of a fit at being away from home for longer than he expected.
I swear sometimes... you explain something to them and it goes in one ear and out another.
"Nuh-uh!" He scrunches up his face as he leaps onto his feet and spins on me with his hands animatedly swinging around. "I could go riding on horse back with my Brothers or even practice my warging... or I could swim in the God's Eye!" My eyes widen slightly and he quickly clamps his mouth shut.
"Gods Eye?" I close my eyes and like lighting grab him by the back of his fancy doublet. "When have you been swimming in the Gods Eye?" I ask in a fatherly tone as I wonder which of his older siblings taught him something so foolish.
I have not personally taken any of my children to swim in the Gods Eye since before Winter set in and left... which means I have not taken Maegor to the Gods Eye to swim. Instead, I prefer if the younger children want to swim they do it in the small creek that cuts through the God's wood which is walled off. Not to mention Moonfyre being in the Gods wood at most points and could keep an eye out and very easily alert everyone in Harrenhal if someone started drowning... a perfect lifeguard with a roar to shatter glass in any nearby building.
"...I thought we were going to go ice fishing." Maegor pouts and I can practically see the plan forming in his mind as he slowly tries to come up with a plan to pin this on someone else.
"Come, sit boy." I pat beside me on the couch and he sighs as I help him settle in to tell me a story.
This is the problem with so many children... even with the army of servants I have at Harrenhal they could find holes in the nets and slip through to 'freedom'. They see it as fun but to me, it's seriously concerning, not that I actually really mind them having fun but the idea that I was unaware frightens me.
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"The Red Priests have burned anything related to the Black Goat and rounded up the Priests and have them locked away." Melisandre reports to me as I sit before a table with a few of my older children looking over a map.
"Casualties?" I ask while hoping nothing too bad happened, the Red Priests can be pretty chill and pro-life at most times, but when they are facing off against another 'cult'...
"Less than thirty." I nod feeling a slight weight lift from my shoulders.
"Good, the men should almost be in place and ready to prevent anyone from fleeing." Tilting my head I momentarily eye the report that just reached my head from the Capitan who was in Dagger Lake.
Half of the ships that were used to wipe out the small pirate force in the lake are staying on the south side of the lake to prevent anyone from Volantis coming upriver. The rest have made the journey either on horseback or ship to reach Qohor and will soon reach the city. By that point, the men who left after we took Norvos to quickly make it through the mountain and down to Qohor should be ready as well.
A pincer... but with dragons coming from above as well.
Though I have yet to receive word after the men made it to the Forest of Qohor which is notoriously thick, they might have been slowed down. Either by the terrain or the wear of constant marching, or maybe even a force from Qohor... but I doubt the last one.
"Any more news from Volantis?" I ask while looking at Rhaella who for some reason has joined the spontaneous meeting.
It is good to see her up and active even with the baby getting close and closer to being born... a scary thought.
"Nothing new." I nod dismissing her and she bows with an odd look in her eyes that I ignore as she is an odd person.
"Something you want to tell me, Daughter?" I speak up after the Red Priestess leaves the room and Visenya flinches as she reaches for more cheese on the platter before her.
"I didn't do anything." My confused child responds while looking at me in confusion.
"Not you." I snort while keeping my gaze on Rhaella who looks amused.
"Nothing much, I have just missed you Father." I clutch my chest and let the sweet feeling wash over me before I let the cruel reality set back in as she keeps talking. "That and strange dreams." Rhaella sure knows how to be cruel, knows just what to say to make me happy, and then kicks my legs out from under me.
Poor Aemon, I salute you Son... it can't be easy.
"What dreams?" I lean forward stopping my theatrics and sending my baby girl Nerah a wink as she is bounced on her mother's lap.
Shiera seems to be in an odd mood as well, maybe I need to do the rounds once more and corner everyone one at a time to double-check they are fine. We have been away from home for the longest since I originally settled into it after reconstruction started. I think everyone is feeling a bit homesick even if there is still excitement in the air because of the nature of our goals in Essos.
I predict every time we stop in a city there will be a drop in 'morale' until we take flight to the next city.
"I think I saw Chroyane in my dream and... the fogs left the city after a dragon visited it." I hum while nodding along to her words.
"Did you write down any detail-" I stop as she sets her dream journal on the table and I smile at her and nod once. "I will look it over later." Having all of my children write down their dreams after waking up has been a habit since they were learning to write.
It helped improve their skills in a way that excited them thinking they were showing me something 'cool'. It also helps keep track of any potential dragon dreams they might have that could show important future events.
"Will we still walk through the city and disperse food?" Shiera speaks up after clearing her throat which she did to silence the room so everyone else hears her.
Seems she is not going to let anyone slip through her fingers this time, she along with Danny loves to gift food to the poor. Sure it's kind of fucked up, in that we are flaunting our wealth while also 'helping'... but most of us genuinely enjoy doing it even if it's kind of propaganda.
"As soon as we leave from this meeting I will have everyone rounded up and we will set off." I smile placatingly seeing Shiera narrow her eyes, she one hundred percent thought I was trying to sneak out of 'helping'.
Jokes on her though, I am still 'tired' from my long flight and I won't be able to make it through a full city-wide tour. I will call an end to the trip early and we will finish it before we are set to leave the city at some point. There are some 'benefits' to getting older... even though I still fell in my prime and likely am because of my gifts, but no one else needs to know that.
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207 AC
Qhoyne
Dustin Tarth
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"You think we will get to see the dragons burn down anything?" Narrio Penlia my Brother in all but blood asks as we slowly settle in for the night after arriving at the last stop before Qohor.
"As odd as it is to say... I hope so." He snorts at my words and I smile lightly as I remember the time the great silver dragon visited Dragonrest while I was still in training.
"It's not odd." I raise a brow at him before I turn to take an offered bowl of stew from one of the camp maids.
"Thank you." I nod once at the woman and she blushes before quickly spinning around and 'escaping'. "Why is it not odd?" I muse aloud as I sit down on my bed roll and look at Narrio in confusion.
I think most people would think it's odd to actually want to see a dragon burn something... because when they do burn something it's usually to kill whatever it's burning.
"I swear all these damn women..." He clucks and shakes his head while tilting his head to watch the backside of the woman who left moments ago. "But I was saying that because you are far from the only person wanting to see Balerion reborn burn an army to ash." I hum while lifting the wooden bowl and sipping the stew and humming a bit louder as the pleasant warmth fills my stomach.
"Well we will see soon enough I suppose, they would not have sent us from Dagger Lake if they were not soon to attack. We are exposed to a Dothraki horde when we stay in the narrow parts of the river like this." Their bowmen are some of the best in the world and undisputedly on the back of their horses, they are certainly the best.
They would ride us down till the river widened back into the main Mother Rhoyne... we would take heavy casualties before then though.
"I think we would have heard from the scouts if there was a horde nearby... you have not heard anything?" He looks around before leaning forward to ask me as if I would know more than he does.
Sometimes he seems to think my name means I have more 'pull' among the men than he does just because he is from an Essosi family. But if anything he would be the one getting favoritism as Essosi families are the ones that are going to benefit the most from this conquest... so long as they are on the right side of it at least. So if either of us was getting word from a higher up it would be him and not me when I am a fourth son of a House that is not that close to House Targaryen like many others.
Though that has not stopped my Father from sending me letters when I stayed at Dragonrest, asking me the impossible of trying to catch the eye of one of the Dragon Princesses.
"-are you even hearing me?" I shake my head and look around to see if I missed anything but soon realize I just got lost in thoughts and he must have been talking.
"Sorry, I did not." He snorts and passes me a half of his bread with a smirk.
"You lady friend came back by but you looked like your soul left your body and I took the bread for you." Oh, so it's my bread... I was wondering why he was being generous. "Why not visit her later on." He smirks and I suddenly wish I was lost in thought once more as I dip my bread into the still warm stew.
"I wont lay with a woman if I am not to wed her." He barks a laugh that makes my irritation rise but I push it aside knowing he just does not understand as we come from different places with different upbringings.
I slowly let my mind wander back to the memory of dragons and once more wonder if we will soon see them flying over us once more. It excites me to think about how I will soon see something with my own eyes that will be written down in books to be taught to people in a hundred years or even further. I never thought I would get to go on a 'Conquest' but I have not regretted this outcome even once since I learned where we would be sent.
Many who have joined are simply after coin or glory... but I have always been looking for something more than that even back when I left Tarth. Day by day I feel like I am closer to understanding and or finding what it is that I have sought out and I can't wait.
Thanks for reading!!!