Chapter 31:

DAENERYS

The dragons screeched as they flew next to the boat that Daenerys was on, one of many her Dothraki had taken for themselves from Qarth, the Greatest City that Ever Was. Now it would forever remain abandoned and destroyed, as Lord Varys, the former Master of Whisperers to the Usurper Robert Baratheon, had told her to have the Dothraki burn the city to the ground, as a warning to all the nearby cities and to Westeros, where tongues would most likely be wagging. However little would they know, that she would arrive with an army to finally take back what was rightfully hers.

"They're getting bigger," the Master of Whisperers observed quietly.

"Not fast enough," Dany retorted. "We can't wait that long. We need an army."

"Patience, my queen," Varys said. "We will arrive in Astapor very soon. The Unsullied are considered by some to be the greatest army that ever lived."

"My people would disagree," Drogo said in his language. Drogo could understand Dany's common tongue well, but had trouble speaking most words in it, so he remained speaking in Dothraki, which helped since it confused some people who did not understand the language. "I don't think they agree with these waters however."

Drogo nodded to one of the Dothraki, who was busy emptying out his stomach over the ship.

"Yes, well they'll have to get used to it, my love," said Dany. "Otherwise the Usurper and his men won't think them capable in battle."

"Good King Robert knows how capable they are," Varys said. "That's why he fears your arrival even more."

"He ought to," Dany said. "I'm the first person to convince the Dothraki to sail these waters. If they'll do it, others will too. And with a true khalasar--"

"You'll have a true khalasar in time, your Grace, once you've proven yourself and not before."

"We are here," Drogo said.

Dany turned to see that her husband was right. As they sailed closer, they could see Astapor for the first time with an old crumbling statue of a Ghiscari harpy atop the harbor gate with great stepped pyramids made of brick.

They arrived at the docks, and stepped off the ramps, the Dothraki finally relieved that they had reached land. They carried with them chests of every piece of gold, silver and diamonds they could find, leaving nothing behind in Qarth.

"You never told me one of my brother's children still lived," said Dany.

"I barely found out about it, Your Grace," said Varys. "Ned Stark had done a rather brilliant job of hiding him in plain sight from King Robert's wrath. He also may have raised to be too honorable, I might add."

"Why did you leave King Robert when the time wasn't now?" said Dany.

"I had just had a private conversation with our good friend underneath the Red Keep, or at least I thought it was private until my little birds found me and told me that Jon Stark and Jaime Lannister were going to inform the king of my supposed plans to have him killed, based on a conversation Arya Stark overheard in the dungeons. I knew I had to leave immediately."

"And you couldn't have just defended yourself to King Robert?" Dany spoke sharply to the Spider, who looked controlled.

"Would that I could," he began. "But His Grace would have continued to poke holes in my story, wondering what I was doing with the man who had housed you and your brother for so many years. Seeing no other choice but to leave, I took it."

"And my nephew?" said Dany, who spat out the word, remembering her dream and the witch's warning to her.

"Probably busy ingratiating himself in good King Robert's graces by now," said Varys.

"You seem bitter," Dany observed.

"All of my plans were thrown to the wind by Jon Stark revealing a private conversation to the king," said Varys. "I'm sure Ned Stark must be proud for raising his son the honorable way."

Dany was about to answer, when one of the Dothraki barked. She turned and saw a group approaching them, led by a bald man with an oiled red and black beard, who looked at them with suspicion in his eyes. Dany and Drogo stepped up front, followed by Varys, as a girl with dark, curly hair approached them.

"We welcome you to the city of Astapor," the girl began. "I am Missandei, translator in service to my Master, Kraznyz mo Nakloz."

Drogo stared at the Master, who winced and turned to Dany.

"It's very nice to meet you, Missandei," said Dany. "We thank your Master for greeting us here."

"You must be proud to have a piece of fine ass, especially one such as this," Kraznyz mo Nakloz said in his language, unaware that Dany understood every word that he just said.

The Dothraki started yelling obscenities at the man, as Drogo walking over before he pulled the man and held his scythe to his throat while he screamed violently. The other Masters yelled for help before they were all held at scythepoint by the Dothraki. Suddenly Dany stepped forward and said, "That is enough, my sun and stars. That is enough."Drogo's hold on the man lessened before Dany touched his shoulder and whispered "I heard everything," in Drogo's ear. Her touch was all Drogo needed to let go of the man, who was now lying helplessly on the ground, staring at them in shock.

"I apologize for our behavior, good sir," Dany said, not wanting to let the man know she heard every word. "I don't know what has gotten into my husband. He tends to do that to people."

Missandei immediately translated, not knowing that Dany needed no translation.

He spoke back, with Missandei translating, "My Master wishes to know what you want."

"We wish to buy the Unsullied," Dany said. "All of them."

Missandei translated to her Master, as his eyes widened and nodded quickly. He barked to his men, who had been released by the Dothraki, before leading them.

"This way, please," Missandei said, gesturing for Dany and the Dothraki to follow.

Dany and her men followed the Masters to an impressive round structure with a huge, golden winged statue crouched atop it.

"Do you have a family?" Dany asked Missandei. "A mother and a father you'd return to if you had the choice?"

"No, Your Grace," Missandei said, shaking her head.

"You belong to me now, do you understand?" Dany said reassuringly. "It is your duty to tell me the truth."

"Yes, Your Grace," Missandei said. "Lying is a great offense. Many of those on the Walk of Punishment were taken there for less."

"The Walk of Punishment?" Dany said, furrowing here eyebrows in confusion.

"They crucify some of their slaves for crimes they have committed," Varys explained, causing Dany to gasp.

"How could the Masters allow this?" said Dany, whose anger was boiling.

"The Masters do whatever they please," said Varys. "To them, a slave's life means nothing."

Dany turned to Missandei, who looked down, before saying, "I see."

Varys observed her closely. "I understand that you want to help these people, your Grace. But there's nothing you can do for them. You must take back your family's throne, no matter the price others have to pay for it."

Dany said nothing as she stared ahead. A pair of great doors opened for the Masters. She, along with Missandei, Drogo, and Lord Varys, followed them entering the large and bustling courtyard, populated by guards and townfolk. Two guards move through the square, helping carry one of the trunks of gold the Dothraki had bought.

Kraznyz spoke again, with Missandei translating, " The master says they are untested. He says you would be wise to blood them early. There are many small cities between here and there, cities ripe for sacking. Should you take captives, the masters will buy the healthy ones and for a good price."

Kraznyz spoke again, as they came to a massive field where thousands of Unsullied stood at attention.

"And who knows?" Missandei said. "In ten years, some of the boys you send them may be Unsullied in their turn. Thus all shall prosper."

The guards lowered the chest before Kraznyz, who opened it and smiled greedily, and handed her a whip which was, no doubt in Danny's mind, used to represent control of the Unsullied.

"Is it done?" Dany said.

"It is done," Varys said as Missandei translated to Kraznyz, who nodded.

"Good," Dany said before she stood before the Unsullied and spoke in Valyrian. "I am Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, of the blood of Old Valyria. Valyrian is my mother tongue."She turned and looked coldly at the Master, who looked shocked, but it was the words that Dany spoke next that would appall him even more.

"Unsullied! Slay the masters, slay the soldiers, slay every man who holds a whip, but harm no child. Strike the chains off every slave you see!"Kraznyz' eyes widened, before they shouted, "No, please!"His words were of no avail as the Unsullied turned against their former masters and started picking them off one by one, with the help of the Dothraki.

"You cannot do this, I am your Master," werethe last words the Master spoke before Drogo pulled his head back and slit his throat.

Within a matter of time, the Unsullied had quickly overwhelmed the guards.