章節 18: Principality of Ny Sar
Zhano looked back at the city of Pentos. He seemed to be lost in thought.
"My Khal," Missandei spoke.
Zhano hummed in response.
"Is it wise to leave the city with not one of your people?" She asked.
"I'm sure. " said Zhano, "Taking Pentos was mostly a show of power. It could have been another free city if Drogo had decided to take a wife elsewhere."
"Illyrio isn't to be trusted." Missanndei was deeply worried. She had met many of men with similar dispositions as Illyrio and worried that Zhano was making an err in his handling of the man.
"Trust that I know what I'm doing. Come." Zhano gave a light nudge, and his Sleipnir, Nemyse, began to canter.
Behind Zhano was a great horde, and together they set out on a journey back to Norvos. While Westeros was undergoing a significant change, so was Essos. Zhano and his horde stepped on every village and a small city on the way to Norvos.
The imprint that Zhano left on the people of Essos was known to all. After nights of traveling and pillaging, the hoard had arrived with hundreds of slaves and goods. Horns and drums played upon the walls to celebrate the arrival of the great Khal.
"I told you all that he would be great." Mellario spoke to her family, "He is the future, and now the last Targaryen rides the black stallion."
"I'm happy I could finally see it," said Arianne.
"See what, child?"
"The power of the man that resurrected my mother." Arianne replied, " He sacked two free cities, conquered a Tarageryn, rides a mythical beast, and turned Dothraki into boatsmen."
Mellario smirked at her daughter's awe.
"This is just the beginning," she said.
"But the Tarageryn wasn't part of the deal." said Prince Doran, "The King would never spare us for this."
Mellario gave Doran a side eye and decided not to respond to him.
"Open the gates!" Mellario commanded, and Norvos opened its arms to the Great Khal.
All the while, Zhano was ready for business. He had rested long enough in Pentos and during his journey back to Norvos.
"Mother." Zhano spoke as he stopped before the gates of Norvos, "Get the Unsullied ready to march."
"Yes, my Khal."
"Khalakka Oberyn, If you could gather your family, that would be great," Zhano added.
"Kazo, Dahko, tend to the Khalasar. Prepare twenty thousand to remain here and guard the city." Zhano continued, "Missandei, prepare for the consecration of the city."
"Yes, my Khal," they replied in unison before pushing on.
Still, while the horde passed, Zhano remained unmoving. The gears of his mind were constantly turning.
"Sharo, I need you to reach out to the Faceless men. I need them here before we leave to Vaes Dothrak." Zhano finished speaking and then entered the city.
Sharo stared at Zhano's back as a shiver ran down his spine. Sharo wondered what Zhano was planning. It had to be something bloody and dishonorable if the Faceless Men were needed.
While every became busy with work, Zhano and Qoni rushed home to be with their girls. With Zhano's complete memories as Miller, he looked at his children differently. He saw the world differently. And thanks to the god who sealed him away, his life was more than just living his favorite series.
Yes, he had many things he wanted to do and felt for the Game of Thrones like many viewers. But now, he had roots and things to protect. He valued the world in a different way. He wasn't a viewer but a person who lived it.
"Taharri!" Zhano sang as he scooped his little girl up. He then moved to grab Yazli and held her tightly.
Daenerys looked on with wide eyes. She was always more practical than her brother. She never fully believed that people await her return to the seven kingdoms. If that were true, she would be a princess in King's Landing and never a beggar moving city to city in hiding. At the very least, one lord of Westeros would have long found them and supported them, not some Pentoshi magister.
Naturally, in the depths of her mind, she held fantasies of a husband and loving children. To make things better, Zhano wasn't a Targaryen. One of her biggest fears was to be bred by her brother and have a child as mad as her father and late brother was.
As Zhano and Qoni happily turned around to introduce the children to her, they froze as tears wet Daenerys' cheek though she didn't sob or frown. On the contrary, she wore a light smile and realized how much hope she had married. The subconscious fears melted away, and she wiped her face.
"Are you okay?" Qoni asked.
"Y-yes. I just... I'm not scared anymore." she admitted and instantly felt like a kite set free of its string.
Zhano smiled at the girl. With his mind complete, he compared the two images of Daenerys --What he saw on tv and what he experienced firsthand.
'There's definitely hope for you,' he thought in his heart.
"Come over here." he said, " Taharri, Yazli, this is Daenerys. My new wife."
"Why is she so pale?" Yazli asked while holding onto Qoni's leg.
"Haha, pretty!" Taharri sang as she reached out for Daenerys.
Zhano moved closer, and Taharri touched Daenerys' violet eyes with great interest. Before Daenerys was ready, Zhano had put Taharri in her arms. He then walked over to Yazli and kissed her forehead.
"Give her a chance." Zhano whispered, "She's sweet, a bit timid, but very strong on the inside."
"A lot like your mother when I first met your father." Qoni added, "How about we go show her how to ride like a real Dothraki woman?"
"Can I ride Baal again?" Yazli asked with excited eyes.
"Why do you need permission to ride your own horse." said Zhano, " That damn demon beast only likes you anyway."
Yazli squealed as she ran off.
"Zhano, you know I don't like her riding him," said Qoni.
"She'll be fine. And he wouldn't dare throw her off. He knows better. How about you ride Nemyse, we've been gone for a while, and the new foals should meet her." Zhano explained.
"Don't you want to spend some time with the girls?" Qoni asked, upset.
"Don't look at me with those eyes. Yazli is to turn seven soon, and I want everyone's focus to be on her. That means the envoys, Norvos, the Martells, and so on must be handled and put to rest. The faster it's finished, the more time we all have together before I leave to YiTi."
"Before you leave?" Qoni's eyes hardened.
Zhano sighed.
"And where will we be?"
"Do you understand that YiTi will most likely become a war zone? Taharri is three." Zhano growled, "After Norvos is settled, we will ride to Vaes Dothrak. It's to be the capital, and you will take it over. My mother will lead the Dosh Kaleen; you will lead the city. You will become the foundation of our empire. And most importantly, you will be safe."
"And the girl?" Qoni asked, referring to Daenerys.
"If she becomes pregnant, I'll send her back. But If I know anything, Westeros will send someone to the Gathering of Phoenixes and Dragons, if not Vaes Dothrak. Daenerys has her part to play." Zhano explained.
"Okay. I get it." said Qoni, "Go on, I at least want you to eat with us tonight. Our daughters and Daenerys need you. You made this family; continue to be a part of it."
Qoni rose to the tips of her toes and kissed his cheek before turning away from him.
Finally, alone, Zhano exhaled.
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"Blood Fire Khal, Zha No." the envoy of Pol Qo spoke, "Have you made a decision?"
"I have." Said Zhano, "Put him in chains!"
Dahko and a few warriors moved swiftly. The envoy fought back to no avail. Once the man was in chains, he was anchored to Zhano's courtyard, and the city was swept for any spies. Especially for the little bastards that belonged to Varys, King Robert's Master of Whispers.
"My Khal, do you really want to do this?" Armenia asked.
Zhano leaned back in his chair. He looked over at Armenia.
"Everyone out!" Zhano ordered.
When Zhano and Armenia were alone, he asked, "Why shouldn't I do this?"
"You've changed so much in Essos. Pentos and Norvos has fallen. The Dothraki Sea is yours. The full extent of changes in Westeros is unknown. The more you change, the less you can control. You can still be great without YiTi." Armenia explained.
"It seems the medicine god gave you a little reward for our achievements," said Zhano.
" I exist merely to assist you." Armenia declared.
"If I take the easiest road of remembering canon and sticking to it, then what is life? Do you know what my memory loss taught me? That this world is greater than Westeros and its shit. There is more power in the unknown. Winter is coming, and I must prepare for it. Whilst the medicine god gave you knowledge of all medicine. He didn't give you universal knowledge. Who's to say that even with all of our changes, canon events won't find their places again."
"You think the king will still die and war will take the seven kingdoms," said Armenia.
"Yes. It's like this unshakable feeling I've been having. Like Jon Snow and the Wall. "
"The gods would never allow for that to change." said Armenia, "It's like the catalyst of the era."
"Exactly. And the moment Daenerys is pregnant, he'll send assassins. There are things that knowing the future just can't change. So will keep connecting and gaining power to do what needs to be done for my family and my budding Dothraki Empire. Enough of this future talk. You will stay in Vaes Dothrak while I travel to YiTi. I'm sure you know your job."
"Yes, my Khal," Armenia replied.
"I want you to establish an academy, Per-ankh. It's what ancient Egyptians called the House of Life. It will be our first school and regulator of medicine."
"Regulator?" Armenia asked, "That may hurt trade."
"I don't care. I will not allow my people to eat poison. " Zhano continued, "If a medicine is not cleared by you, it will not be sold. If healers are not taught by the House of Life, they will not practice in my land."
"I understand," said Armenia.
"Call everyone back. We still have things to tend to."
Sometime later, when Zhano was finished with tedious administrations, the moon was high, and the Martell Family had joined Zhano's family for dinner, along with Serena and his bloodriders.
It was a rather tense affair. The group ate silently, and everyone awaited what Zhano had to say. But the man only ate in silence. After the fall of Pentos and taking Drogo's Khalasar, Zhano had many thoughts about Norvos, the Martells, and their value to him.
Zhano had even voiced a few of these thoughts to Oberyn, planning to allow more household guards to be stationed in Norvos along with sellswords. This plan was also created to eliminate future trouble and lay the foundation for how Zhano envisioned a stable empire.
"First, the Principality of Nymeros will return to Essos. That has been decided." Zhano suddenly broke the silence as he put his food down and wiped his hands clean of grease.
Zhano then emptied his cup to clear his pipes before he continued, "But we will not imitate Westeros. Norvos, House of Nymeros. Norvos is your house. The surrounding territories belong to me. The ranking system you employ within your house is your business. But there will be no little lords and vassal houses cluttering up my lands...
Pentos, House of Mopatis. Vaes Dothrak, Imperial Seat. The land will be connected by houses with the intent of managing the Imperial lands. Nobles, besides whom I choose, will be nonexistent. It is them and us. The slave system will be upheld the way I designed it. My Bloodriders are above you; horse lords are not. But if you want their respect, I suggest you adopt that warrior way of your ancestors...
Because of your location, I want ships and men to crew them. The horse breeding will remain on the western land of Norvos. That means many Dothraki will come and make a home here. Healers without proper education will be executed. If they want to heal, send them to the House of Life in Vaes Dothrak. We can hash out the finer details later, but this rule will remain until the house falls. House Nymeros is not Martell, and it will be a matriarchy. House Martell will return to the seven kingdoms and rule Dorne...
I will not interfere with your house matters unless they effect my plans. Any questions?"
" You essentially want to strip us of our Rhyonish ancestry?" Doran asked.
"Please, you've done that yourself. If you haven't noticed, we side with the most ancient gods here. Even when the freehold crushed your ancestors, ten thousand ships, rather inflated, fled unscathed because of the power of Mother Rohyne. My Essos needs that power and legacy. That reminds me. Orphans of Greenblood will be your naval instructors." Zhano replied calmly, "If I'm not mistaken, they still live on the rivers and are true to their old ways."
"Who do you think you are?" Doran was a bit frustrated
"I am the law of this land: the sun and the moon. And to grow, I must fix what was broken. I have a vision of Essos, and it will be a culturally rich land of magic. Take it or leave it."
"You plan to go to Westeros," Oberyn spoke with a tinge of enlightenment.
"Of course."
"Well, I've always embraced my Rhoynish blood. Music and dance. A strong spear to defend it. Dornish culture has never really diminished, but our Rhoynish culture did in various ways. I see no harm in our family rebuilding our broken legacy." Obreyn continued, "Seven Kingdoms' rule over the Rhoynar came with our ancestors' compromise to join the Targaryens as equals. They severed that when they brutally killed my sister and her children."
"The king will see this as a threat!" Doran growled. He clearly understood where his brother was going. "He openly married the Targaryen girl and claims the house. If we split the house and make the move he is suggesting, we might as well take our army to King's Landing because they will come for us! All six realms! No one wants to see a Targaryen reign."
" You are the one who started this, father. Or have you forgotten?" Arianne asked, " I won't mind inheriting the new Ny Sar. It was my goal from the start."
"New Ny Sar? I like that." Qoni hummed.
"What about Dorne!?" Doran erupted.
"Dorne will remain untouched and stronger than ever. If you aren't ready to take the pressure, it's best you give up your seat," said Zhano.
"Or marry your son off. If Arianne takes New Ny Sar. I can rule Sunspear, and he can ensure goodwill with the Baratheons." Oberyn added, and Doran realized what was happening.
"That actually sounds reasonable," Mellario added.
"We are not ready for a war." Doran declared, "None of you understand. A child may be able to wrangle barbarians and cause the fall of a few cities, but I don't think you see the depth of your actions."
"Please, enlighten me," said Zhano.
"Braavos will come for you. They will liberate Pentos and Norvos. Even if you manage to beat them back. It will be hard-won; your efforts will be spent here, and Dorne will have no aide." Doran took a sip of wine and then continued, "Not to mention that you're moving further east to YiTi, where a war is brewing. One war in Essos, then a second. The odds are not in our favor. When Mellario presented this plan, I saw it as a way to fund our rebellion and my daughter's army...
When you went for Pentos, I didn't protest our involvement because uniting the Dothraki sea was in our favor. After all, Khal Zhano managed to get Dothraki Horse Lords to cross the sea. But Drogo was just a plus. She was your goal. If not, you could have waited to kill Drogo on the road. And Pentos... that was dower you paid Illyrio for her hand...
Now! You use her name to shake the hearts of the seven kingdoms and want to use our history with her house to keep Westeros at bay. But in truth, you planning for blood. And that blood will be your excuse to invade. You understand Robert, and I'm sure you studied him from the moment you discovered Daenery's existence and willingness to wed a Khal. I will not sacrifice Dorne for you, Targareyns, or my sister. As long as the Martells have Dorne, vengeance is always a possibility."
"Are you finished, coward?" Arianne spoke the words Zhano was about to say.
"We're all in agreement. The consecration of the city is being planned by Missandei. She says three days at the most." Zhano spoke, disregarding Doran's entire spiel.
"My Khal, may I?" Serena spoke.
Zhano gestures for her to continue.
"The return of the Nymeros principality is an event for the stone of time. But we must not forget what made them so great. Their water magic. Magic at the level of your flames. The sole reason why 300 dragons were sent in Second Spice War is that the Rhoynish water wizards had killed three. And of those three hundred, the river Rhoyne swallowed tens of dragons and Volon Therys. The Khaleesi Daenerys is a prime example of the world's limited magic."
"Water magic? Not even Sunspear has records of that. Forget it." said Doran.
"They're in Dragonstone." Daenerys spoke up, "After House Nymeros Martell joined the Targaryens. They believed that magic in the Targaryen blood could help them regain what they lost."
"That's fine, but Khal Zhano knows what I mean."
"She wants to bring magic back. Serena now isn't the time." Said Zhano.
"The bleeding star." Said Arianne.
"Coming of dragons." Said Serena.
"Enough." Zhano ordered, " I'll have my people work on getting the Nymeros records from Dragonstone. If the red sun comes, we'll be ready. That brings me to the next topic, a school of sword and magic."
"Sword and Magic?" Qoni asked.
"Mmm. Of course, I have my theories about magic users, but everyone can learn war." Zhano replied.
"Theories about the magic user. Let's hear it," said Serena.
Serena was going more anxious by the day. It seemed like Zhano was intent on swimming in deeper and more hazardous water. Serena feared he would lose his life before he ever attempted to hatch the eggs. Like many women similar to her, she was searching for a blessed person and believed Zhano was that person.
"Simple, blood and belief. Blood trumps belief, but belief can nourish the blood." Zhano explained, "Daenerys has the blood of Dragonriders. Magic courses through her without belief. But she isn't the only person with strong blood. The YiTish, people of Asshai. Before you found your God, how many signs of magic surrounded you?"
The dinner party focused on Serena as she thought back.
"A mere few. Spark here, snuffing a flame there," said Serena.
"Daenerys, have you ever put your hand over a candle? Taken a bath in freshly boiled water, yet you felt nothing." Zhano gave specific examples, shocking Daenerys.
"How?" she asked.
"That is magic in the blood." Zhano spoke, ignoring the girl's question, "After belief was introduced to Serena, sparks became flames, and your magic tapped into a primal current aching to be set free."
"So, you think there are more people with magic in their blood or can wield magic after choosing a religious path?" Arianne asked with excitement.
"Oh, I know it." Zhano replied, "At our school, we will teach various paths of religion and magic. When the red sun comes, our students will be ready."
"A waste of resources... The red sun, bleed star, is a myth..." said Oberyn.
Zhano smirked and sipped his newly filled cup.
"Anyway, Khalakka Oberyn, your daughter Nymeria, she is part YiTish. Her mother?" Zhano asked.
"Ahh, A woman with the noblest of blood in Jinqi," said Oberyn, "But I know what you're getting at. Nymeria's mother was a spendthrift and had a taste for the poppy. The more her father tried to control her, the more she lashed out. In the end, she shared my cup and bed for the night, and Nymeria came after."
"Well, let's hope she's grown a bit in the years. I would like Nymeria to come to YiTi with me. The more allies, the better." said Zhano.
Zhano then pushed himself up and bid farewell to everyone before leaving. Daenerys and Qoni were quick on his tail with girls in hand.
When everyone was sure the family had gone, they sighed in relief.
"School of Sword and Magic. House of Life. Stealing from Dragonstone. He must be mad." said Doran.
"Khal Zhano is a man of greatness. If you don't understand his ways, it's because you aren't meant to." said Sharo, " My love, we should go."
Sharo held his hand out for Zhali, and the couple moved on.
"Mad or not." said Mellario, "He was right when he said that he is the law. Now what he's proposing is a lot different than what I expected, and never did I think he would take the Targaryen girl as his wife. But we can still make this work. We believe in him."
"Believe that he is to make a school of magic and has people in Dragonstone. He's never left Essos," said Ellaria, "Believe that he can keep a foreign king from punishing outright traitors to the crown."
"You're all overreacting. Have you forgotten he rides a Sleipnir and has fire magic himself?"Arianne spoke up, "Serena, can you teach me the basics of magic?"
"I'll have to discuss it with Khal Zhano first, but sure," Serena replied.
"Smart girl," Armenia commented as she stood up and moved to leave.
"Wait!" Arianne called out, "Your skills in medicine. Your people see you as god touched. The house of life is under your authority."
"As I said, smart girl."
"Tyene, you should learn how to heal to understand death better. The line between medicine and poison is very thin." Arianne spoke to her short-haired cousin.
"Oh, she is smart." Serena hummed and quickly left.
"Nymeria will go to YiTi, and father should get comfortable living an easy life." Arianne finished speaking while standing up from her chair.
Arianne was in deep thought as she left. Tyene and Nymeria followed close behind her.
"It seems our daughter has spoken, and her heart is here, not Sunspear. Do what's best for the family." Mellario finished.
It seemed that everyone was of the same mind. But with his gout under control and quickly fading due to Armenia's medicine, Doran seemed set on getting revenge for his sister and ruling Sunspear till the day he died while everyone seemed to be looking toward the future. Though, Doran didn't want to risk one for the other.
Little did Doran know that his entire family was of the same mind when it came to revenge, only they each had their ways of pursuing it. But he stood in their way, but not for long.
Later that night, Oberyn visited Zhano and spoke about ruling Dorne and giving his children a legacy. With the family splitting in two, Oberyn saw a way to power and revenge. And he was a lot less passive than his brother. But he needed an oath that Dorne wouldn't be at risk of Robert's hammer.
Zhano supported Oberyn and guaranteed that King Robert wouldn't act against Dorne. Zhano's confidence frightened Oberyn slightly, but he was assured and left in the night to fulfill his goal. By morning, Oberyn and Ellaria had left the city to return to Dorne.
When Doran read the letter left by his brother, he was enraged. But Obara had shared her father's plan with Arianne, and she with her mother. Naturally, Doran could do nothing but curse as Mellario confined him to the city.
The wind of change was upon them. During the following days, Obara became commander of the Nymeros guard, and Norvos was renamed, Ny Sar. All the while, Zhano tended to his duties to uphold his promises.
Zhano had night meetings with assassins, spies, and merchants. He created and paid for the spread of rumors. Zhano became more unpredictable my the day until no one understood his moves. Finally, the day of concentration came, and Mellario was named Princess of Ny Sar and Arianne Heiress Apparent.
After swearing allegiance, Zhano revealed a banner of a golden spear with a sea dragon coiled around it, bitting down on a red sun.
On the day of departure, four thousand Dornish men manned Ny Sar; twenty thousand Dothraki horse lords and their families lived within and around. Hundreds of slaves and citizens gathered to watch as the great horde mounted up.
"I wanted to thank you." said Mellario, "You gave me so much. I even have my daughter back."
"Don't thank me. You were a convenient plan to gain power. Thanks to you, I have Ny Sar and Dorne." Zhano replied, "I leave it to you to keep Illyrio true to his word. Remember, no expansions."
"You can trust us." Arianne interrupted, "My Khal, we will not disappoint you."
Arianne had bent her back and looked towards the ground so she couldn't see the smirk on her mother's face.
"What do you mean, we?" Mellario asked, "You have other things to do before ruling Ny Sar. Obara will remain as commander, but you, my dear, will be with Serena."
Arianne's head snapped up, and she looked at her mother and Zhano.
"What? You asked, and I agreed. Did you change your mind?" Zhano asked with a playful smirk.
"No!" Arianne shouted, " I mean, of course not, my Khal."
"Good. Serena has your horse, and your cousins packed your things." said Zhano, "Princess Mellario, I leave my western front to you."
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