Chapter 15: Vaes Tolorro
They sent their three bloodriders to different directions to find any other cities ruined or otherwise and for sources of water or where the Red Waste ends. The khalasar remained in the city and regained their strength. The horses, elephants and camels regained their strength by eating the leaves of the tall trees and by drinking whatever water they can spare.
On the third day of waiting Daenerys demanded that Daemon teach her how to use her dagger properly. He accepted and with Ser Jorah's watchful eye ,as well as the gazes of their dragons, he taught her. At first she would charge wildly at him with her dagger raised but he easily subdued her. He would catch her wrist and twist it behind her back or he would flip her over so she landed on the floor with a thud. Needless to say that first day was enjoyable.
On the second day he taught her hand to hand combat first. He taught her how to use her opponent's own weight against them. Most styles of combat focus on overpowering one's opponent but he and Daenerys are smaller than most warriors so they needed an alternative. He helped her focus on her speed and natural agility.
After a few days of hand to hand combat Daemon felt confident that she was ready for her dagger training. He taught her all the eight vital spots in the human body. The base of the skull to killed them quickly. The side of the neck and into larynx, it's easier to jab into the neck than slash due to all of the cartilage in it. In the armpit, yes the armpit, there the axillary artery, it supplies the whole arm blood and lays close to the heart. The heart, as obvious as it sounds, but he showed her to jab below the rib cage for a quicker execution. The same goes for the lungs. He showed her eaxactly where the liver is and why it was a vital spot, it holds a reserve of blood. The femoral artery lies in the crook of the legs or in the groin, Deanerys particularly liked that one. And lasty the popliteal artery at the back of the knee.
For days they trained until Rakharo returned. He informed that the Red Waste stretched on and on until it it hit a black shore next to the poison water. He swore that he rode his horse through the bones of a dead dragon and rode his horse through its black jaws.
Daemon, out of sheer curiousity, asked Rakharo to take him to the remains of this dragon. He took Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegal and assured Daenerys that they will be safe. They rode for a day and the morninf after they reached rhe remains of the dragon.
The vast size of it awe strucked him. It was larger than he expected. The skull was larger than a carriage. His children looked up at the bones curiously.
"One day, my children." He exteneded his arms so they can perch themselves high, "One day, you will grow to this size and breath flames so hot you will turn sand to glass, burn men into piles of ash and soar high through the skies and your wings will spread so wide they will cover towns and castles in shadow." He curled his arms around himself and craddled his sons. They all looked up at their father's amethyst eyes, "But no matter how large, how vicious, how terrifying you get you will always be my children and I will always protect you even when you don't need protecting."
'That's what fathers do,' He thought gazing lovingly at them, 'Love and protect their children unconditionally.'
He looked up at the dragon's skull and nudged his horse forward. He reached up at the thin large black jaws. He saw a loose tooth about as long as his forearm. The king reached up gripped the sharp tooth tight before giving it a harsh tug. With a snap the black tooth came loose. He lowered it so they can sniff it. The tooth on its own was larger than them.
"One day, my children, I promise." He vowed to them before he turned his stallion around and began to ride away where Rakharo waited for them.
Drogon climbed on his shoulder and looked back at the skull shrinking in the distance. The black dragon screeched at the dead dragon. Viserion and Rhaegal joined him with their own song. Daemon smiled at their eagerness. They wanted to be as large as that dragon was.
When they returned they found that Daenerys had ordered that the strongest men pull back the bricks of the white roads from the ground. "If gass can grow anything can grow." She proclaimed.
A day later Aggo returned and informed that southwest of Vaes Tolorro is dead. He found old ruined cities like the one they stand in but found skulls decorating the walls. It was a cursed place so he refused to enter. Dany had him take chargw of the repairing the main gate. This city has been sacked before and it could be again.
Daemon watched as Dany took charge like any queen would. He was proud knowing should he die that their people will be left in good hands. Jorah informed him that even without their children around her the men followed her orders as gospel.
But what concerned them the most is that Jhogo has yet to return. Jorah considered that they should find a new bloodrider but they both held out faith. Jhogo has never failed them before and he won't now.
Whilw they were training one of the guards that Aggo had posted on the wall hollard. They both rushed to the walls. In the distance they saw Aggo approaching but he was not alone. Three riders followed closely behind him atop camels. They dressed queerly.
They stopped before the city gates. Jhogo spoke, "Blood of my Blood, I have been to the great city of Qarth and return with three who will look upon you with their own eyes."
They looked soon at the strangers in silence before Dany spoke, "Here we stand. Look at your pleasure...but first tell us your names."
Tha pale bald man with blue lips spoke first in Dothraki, "I am Pyatt Pree, the great warlock."
Next the large portly man with ebony skin spoke in Valyrian, "I am Xaro Xhoan Daxos of the Thirteen, a merchant prince of Qarth."
Lastly a woman in a red lacquered wooden mask apoke in the Common Tongue, I am Quaithe of the Shadow. We come seeking dragons."
"You seek no longer." Daenerys spoke, "You found them."
All the while, Daemon remained silent. His eyes transfixed on the woman in the red mask.
The same woman from Vaes Dothrak.
