When the ship docked, half of the men Veneria bought quickly prepared for their journey to Astapor. Ser Samuel quickly went to the nearest village and bought enough horses for the departing group. Ser Raul stayed on the ship yelling commands to the servants and armed men. Ser Erik stood behind Veneria as she waited on the docks, savoring the feeling of land on her feet and the sight of a new world. For a week they sailed and some of the servants got seasick. Veneria admits it was not a pleasant journey for even she felt sick, but she did her best to keep her posture. She was just glad they landed.

She watched strangers go on with their lives. Fishermen eyed them with curiosity and a glint of fear. Ser Erik and Ser Raul wore their capes with the House's sigil: A sky-blue thunderbird with giant wings spread on each side and the eyes were gold streaked with thunder. The sharp talons of the thunderbird were bent to give an impression as though it captured a vicious beast and its beak open, crying out victory.

When Ser Samuel came back with ten horses, Veneria immediately gave her commands. "Ser Erik and Ser Samuel will come with me. Ser Raul, I trust you with the ship. We will come back as soon as we have made peace and settled in with Daenerys. Let's pray to the gods the khaleesi won't think we're a threat." Veneria played a smile on her lips.

Ser Erik and her servant Amelia helped her on her horse. It was a white stallion with beautiful silver mane. The two knights with her took both the black horses and the remaining horses were given to seven guards while the rest were obliged to walk.

Veneria looked up and Thaderys appeared from nowhere. The dragon seems to be delighted by the new environment. Besides, Thaderys had been locked up in the castle for quite a time since there were complaints from the farmers of their sheep and goats being roasted alive.

"Thaderys." Veneria softly called and the dragon slowly descended its flight. People scattered everywhere with trembling eyes as the great, white dragon landed next to Veneria, creating a soft thud that caused a slight tremor on the ground. The horses let out a cry as the dragon approached, scared by its presence. The only horse that remained still was Veneria's.

Whispers and murmurs erupted everywhere as Veneria stroked Thaderys on the head. The dragon was not that big yet, just about the size of a ship and yet Thaderys was growing quickly. The local men stood aside as Veneria with Ser Erik and Ser Samuel beside her and her guards men behind her passed through the village and started their journey. Thaderys flew low above them, scaring away crows in the sky and thieves below that were about to approach Veneria with a piercing cry.

"Your dragon is a big help, my lady." Ser Samuel muttered under his breath, eyeing the vicious locals who at first dared to steal from them but seeing the dragon, they thought otherwise.

"Without Thaderys we could lose half of our men just passing through villages." Ser Erik chimed in.

Veneria nodded, "Let the gods hear we arrive in Astapor unharmed."

Thaderys flew a few feet ahead, letting out a cry of warning for those whoever dares to harm Veneria.

Riding a horse felt new to Veneria after years of no training. She felt uncomfortable and yet she did her best to steady herself. She stroked the horse's neck, whispering soft words in its ear. The Stormclouds had had their secret for centuries. They were not fierce warriors or even good at battle strategies, but they had passed on something that won them their kingdom even before there was a ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Veneria smiled to herself as she felt the horse relax below her.

"We should arrive in Astapor on the morrow, my lady." Ser Samuel reported, examining the map he brought with him with his right hand while his other hand held on to the reign. Veneria stared ahead at the desert waiting for them and she mustered up all the courage she had stored over the years to finish this journey no matter what.

Finally, after hours of riding the horse made Veneria's thigh sore and her legs ached. Amelia and Ser Erik helped her down while the guardsmen build up their sleeping ground for the night. The first stars appeared as Veneria looked behind her and saw sand everywhere and up ahead was the same. Sand as far as the eyes can see. She felt impossibility creeping towards her but she gave it an eager shake and entered the tent they had prepared for her.

Ser Erik and Ser Samuel followed, swinging the flap open as they entered.

"Where's Thaderys?" Veneria sat on the pillows as Amelia prepared her bath.

"Flying overhead, my lady." Ser Samuel replied.

"And the guardsmen sent to Astapor?"

Ser Erik was the one who answered next, "Still no news from them, my lady. Should we send another man?"

Veneria stared at the blazing fire Amelia prepared for the food and she shook her head. "They'll be back. You may leave."

The two knights bowed and left.

"Will you bring my bath outside?" Veneria asked Amelia who bowed and left the tent to ask for assistance. When two guardsmen came back, they helped Amelia carry the tub behind her tent. Ripples and splash of water came out of the tub as they settled it on the ground.

"That would be all, thank you."

The guards men bowed and left. Amelia sprinkled aloe vera and chamomile oil on the tub. Veneria looked up at the sky and softly called, "Thaderys."

There was a gust of wind and in a second the dragon gently landed next to her. Veneria stroked the dragon's chin and smiled at it, "A splash of ice, sweetling." Unlike Daenerys who Veneria knows likes her bath boiling hot like the dragon's breath, Veneria's was colder than ice. Thaderys gave a soft bellow as it neared the tub and let out a puff of smoke from its mouth. Ice broke the water. The top layer was solid ice but below was still water. Veneria gently soaked her body in the tub, the ice breaking, and Thaderys puffed another smoke so the steel tub would turn cold and almost freeze the water.

Amelia waited on Veneria from afar. Thadeys lie down next to the tub, snoring gently. The stars above twinkled brightly and the moon was nowhere to be seen. Veneria smiled to herself, knowing that in just a few hours her own game begins.