Chapter 10 : Jorah 2
This morning, after a surprisingly really civil meeting between the new Khal Viserys Targaryen and his Khalassar, Ser Jorah Mormont spent his time pacing around the gers alongside of his newest client who spend her time watching her brother from afar. There are some Pentos sellswords who accompany them (in case of things goes wrong, said Illyrio), but all of them also spent their time lounging beside Jorah as well. Illyrio himself actually bothers to directly stand at Viserys' side, ready to do all his bidding, a clear gesture that he want to be seen as the Targaryen Claimant's strongest and most loyal supporter.
"What will happen now?" asked the Princess innocently.
"I don't really know, but it seems that for now, your Brother intends to go to Vees Dothrak and start by 'reforming' the Dothraki. It would be a huge task ahead, but still, Dothraki recognize strength, and your brother has aplenty." said Jorah.
"He has the blood of Dragons after all, our late brother as well as parents would be proud of him." said Daenerys.
"I'm sure Rheagar will, but I don't really know about Aerys." said Jorah. "He is mad..."
"And so does my brother..." said Daenerys, suddenly earn her a shocked look from Ser Jorah.
"You should never talk about Rheagar that way, while his actions concerning the She-Wolf is questionable..."
"I do not speak about Rheagar, I speak about Viserys. He told Illyrio about trying to erase inhuman, barbarous practices of the Dothraki while maintaining their honour. He does not approve that his bloodriders must die alongside him if he falls in battle, he does not approve the raiding and robbing of innocent people, and furthermore, he also has a mad plan to build some sheep and cow pastures at the western regions of the Dothraki sea to support their economies, not to mention introduce them to the value of money and such stuffs." said Daenerys sadly.
"Your brother really think for the long terms, for those riders at least..." said Jorah. "And while their customs forbid them to use money, a sizeable part of them already know what outsiders think about trading, and even some also moonlighting as traders. The Dothraki themselves is not stupid, it was their leaders who forced such backward customs upon them on the pains of death, with his plans, your Brother will actually found more allies among the Dothraki, even if it ends up alienating some, more conservative parts of them."
"So you think my brother isn't mad for forcing the Dothraki to change their way of life?" asked Daenerys.
"He has the power to back him up, all by himself... and for somewhat reasons, his reasoning and negotiations actually work better this time. If not, we could bet that he should already get into the second Viserys against Dothraki mob fight again." said Jorah, really admiring the Dragon Prince who could plan as far as this to build a more stable support base.
...
And after spending some time, the Targaryen Prince and Illyrio already ride back to Jorah's position.
"The negotiations go much better than you expected..." said Illyrio while holding a flask of ale. "You always have surprises under your sleeve, your grace."
"I can read their expressions and guessed that some of them actually already think of their cultures as unnecessarily backward. I just promised them that they can retain their honourable aspects of their culture, and the strong will always rule the weak, all I give is a promise that while my reforms will cause some weaklings to not perish, their power as an united people would be far stronger." said Viserys with a little wince, almost giving Jorah an impression that he himself doesn't really believe in his words, but still.
"And you plan to go forward to Vees Dothrak and challenge the Dosh Khaleen to foretold the future all over it?" asked Illyrio.
"That's the only way, the future is always in motion, setting them in a rigid backward custom is a way to ensure there will be no change for the better, and will change for worse if everything else except them accept the change to be the better one..." said Viserys. "I intend to challenge their interpretations for their visions of the future..."
"You planned to conquer them by force if they don't submit..." said Ser Jorah Mormont, thinking that this could be the real intent of the Targaryen Prince, the Dothraki did recognize and honour strength after all.
"I prefer not to, useless bloodshed is unacceptable especially if that was mine who cause it. But well, I am fully aware of this unpleasant probability, and prepared myself if it comes for the sword to do the talking..." said Viserys solemnly.
"And what about the plan to..." asked Jorah, but Viserys already interrupt him.
"I knew that The Upsurper and their corrupt allies sit their ass on the Iron Throne, and if naysayers and travelers' stories were true, The Seven Kingdoms is in particularly bad shape today." said Viserys with a sigh, but he continues on. "But barging into the Red Keep and slain the upsurper directly will not instantly cause the other lords to bend the knee..."
"You wait for the Dragons to hatch first then..." said Illyrio with a sly smile.
"And they will still young and unmountable, and I would not risk the deaths of them and innocent men if I could do it more conventionally... that's why we must build our support base here. And I also happened to have my own quest to look upon my two lost acquaintances. If some sellswords give their name as either Anakin Skywalker or Ahsoka Tano happened to meet with one of you, you should reply to them with 'Obi wan is here' and brought them in front of me."
Must be some kind of ancient language or some kind of prophecy, mulled Jorah while looked toward Illyrio's face that show nothing except neutral deep toughts.
"Who are they Brother? And why I never heard any of them?" asked Daenerys so suddenly while Viserys seemed to go silent for a while before mouthing his answer.
"I met them when you are young and you often sleep at night." said Viserys with a sad face, but then he quickly adds something that finally make sense over it. "They are swordsmasters... We learned from the same master... a wandering swordsmaster from Yi Ti."
And with that, things start to make sense for Jorah. Prince Viserys Targaryen, for all his farce of being arrogant, bull-headed idiot, actually learned his art of swordsmanship from a wandering swordsmaster. And if Viserys want to procure their personal services, that could only meant that they are at least his equal, if not better warriors.
...
"I think that's it, and we should prepare for tommorow, we will ride to Vees Dothrak and consolidate our gain over the Dothraki. You all may leave, because I wish some time alone to meditate over this..."
"Aye your grace..."