"For to be free is not merely casting off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." - Nelson Mandela
Chapter 20: The Breakers of Chains
"All?" The scribe asked in bewilderment, "Your Grace, this one's worthless ears mishear you?"
They stand before Kraznys mo Naklos and his associate Grazdan. They stood within his manse where green light poured through the stained glass windows.
Daenerys was adorned in a violet leather dress and knee-high brown boots. Her hair was made to one long braid. Daemon's hair was the same as his sister's but he wore a black leather vest with a three-headed dragon embroidered in it with nothing underneath leaving his skin exposed. And he wore maroon trousers and black boots.
"No, you heard true." Daemon clarified, "We require all eight thousand of the Unsullied. Tell the good masters, truly."
The girl translated and the good masters began to engage in hushed discussions. Behind them stood their slaves even their brokers had slaves. And to not appear as lower than the good master they brought their own attendants, Irri, Jhiqui, their bloodriders, Whitebeard, Strong Belwas, and Ser Jorah.
"All." Kraznys growled in valyrian, "There are currently eight thousand is that what he means by all? There are six centuries that will soon make them nine thousand once their training is complete. Would they have them too?" The scribe translated the question.
"Yes." Daenerys answered, "The eight thousand, the six centuries as well as the boys in training. The ones who've yet to earn their helms."
The masters and brokers began to confer amongst themselves as well. Groleo had told them of the signs of social status. Each tokar with a fringe meant that the person adorned in it was of high status.
"We cannon sell half-trained boys." Kraznys stated, "They are not Unsullied, they will shame us when they fall on the field. Even if we cut them tomorrow it will take ten years for them to be ready."
When the girl translated Daemon replied, "We intend to go to battle soon, the Unsullied are impressive yes but still mortal. We need the boys to pick up the spears of the fallen."
Daenerys then added on, "We will also take the boys who still hold their puppies. Tell them that we will pay as much for the boys as much as the fully trained Unsullied."
The answer was no.
"We can pay double." Daemon pressed on, "We have more than enough gold."
"And if that isn't enough we have dragons." Daenerys glanced at Daemon, "You can have one."
The masters quickly conferred between themselves once the girl translated for them. The Targaryen party remained silent although Jorah shuffled his feet. Daemon and Dany remained stone-faced.
Kraznys faced them seriously, "Three."
He was bold they had to admit.
"One." Daemon replied just as seriously.
"Two." He replied.
Daenerys answered this time, "One." She rebuffed.
"The biggest one." He stated.
The twins have a shared glance before Dany nodded, "Done."
"Done." Kraznys nodded, "The Unsullied will learn your savage tongue soon enough until then you can have this one as a gift of a bargain well struck." He nodded to the scribe.
"Very well, we except this gift." Daemon replied as the girl approached them.
If she had any misgiving about becoming their gift she showed no signs of objection. After they exchanged customary farewells they made their way out of the pyramid and into the Plaza of Pride.
"Do you have name or must you draw one everyday as well?" Daenerys asked the girl in High Valyrian.
"That is only for the Unsullied." The girl replied before taking pause having just realized Dany asked her in High Valyrian, "Oh."
"Your name is oh?" Daemon asked with a chuckle.
"No, Your Grace, forgive this one her outburst. Your slave's name is Missandei -"
"Missandei is a slave no more." Daenerys states gaining a wide eyed look from Missandei, "If you wish to stay you will become one of my handmaidens and stand by my side and speak for me as you did Kraznys. However, should you wish to return where you come from we have more than enough ships to ferry you across the seas?"
Missandei took a moment to contemplate the offer, "This one will stay." She finally answered, "There is no place for me to go. This. . . I will gladly serve you."
"We can give you freedom but not safety." Daenerys cautioned, "Where we go there will be battle and blood. You may go hungry. You may fall ill. You may be killed."
"Valar morghulis." Missandei replied.
"Valar dohaeris." Daemon mumbled on instinct.
"All men must die." Daenerys nodded, "But not for a long while, we may pray." She said as they approached the docks.
"Are these Unsullied truly fearless?" Daemon asked as they walked down the stone pier.
"Yes, Your Grace." Missandei replied.
The climbed the wooden gangway up to their ship, "You serve us now, is it true that they feel no pain?"
"The Wine of Courage kills such feelings. By the time they slay their sucklings they've been drinking it for years." She explained.
"And their obedience?" Daenerys asked as the made their way to the port side of the ship.
"Obedience is all they know." Missandei answers.
"And once we're done with the fighting, once we've taken back out family throne what of them?" Daemon asked, "Our knights will put down their swords and return to their castles but these Unsullied are raised to hold their spears until their hearts stop."
"The Unsullied can make excellent guards and watchmen as well as a city guard, Your Grace." Missandei replied, "And it is not hard to find a buyer for the Unsullied are said to be the best soldiers in the world."
"And if these buyers were to turn their spears towards us?" Dany asked.
"They would match on you without hesitation. All questions have been purged from them. They obey." The former slave replied, "Your Grace, when you are done with them will you. . . order them to fall upon their swords?"
"Why do you ask?" Daenerys asked curiously.
"It is not this one's place." She quickly replied.
"As the king and queen, we listen to all no matter who they are, tell us." Daemon replied.
The girl looked downcast, "Three of them were my brothers."
"Then I hope your brothers are as brave and clever as you are." Dany replied before placing a gentle hand on Missandei's collar, "How do you remove this?"
The girl blinked rapidly, "There is a pin in the back."
Daenerys circled Missandei and a moment later the collar released the girl. The queen circles the girl to hand it to her.
"It's yours so do with what you wish." She started before both king and queen walked away towards their cabin.
Missandei looked down at the collar before walking towards the railing of the ship. With a short motion, she dropped the collar into the water. She then raised her hand to her neck feeling her soft skin instead of the leather collar. She sighed and closed her eyes allowing a tear to roll down her caramel skin.
Both king and queen hardly had any sleep that night. They fed their dragons and held each other close once in bed. The night was dark and windy as if the gods themselves were anxious about what was about to happen. No matter how they arranged themselves they found it impossible to sleep.
"Do you think the plan will work?" Daemon asked holding Daenerys close to his chest.
"It has too." She replied, "If it doesn't we either become slaves or die."
"I know but anything can go wrong." Daemon states before sitting up with Dany, not close behind, "Maybe you should remain on the ship when it happens, it would be safer."
Daenerys looked at him with fire in her eyes, "I will not hide while you and everyone else risk their lives." She said stubbornly.
"Dany-"
"You're not talking me out of this." She said sternly, "Besides I want to be there when that pompous fool realizes we could understand him the whole time." She said as she lied down on the bed.
Daemon laughed, "I wish I could be there to see it."
A knock on the door catches their attention, "The skiff has arrived from the rest of the fleet my king." Groleo's voice rang from behind the door.
"It's time." Daemon whispered before he reluctantly pulled away, "I'll be right there!"
Dany watched silently as Daemon dressed. When he strapped his sword to his side she finally stood. Her sleeping gown flowed like golden smoke in the moonlight that poured in the room. He turned to her before they fell in a tight embrace.
"Everything will work out." Dany said pulling back far enough to look into his eyes.
Daemon smirked, "Shouldn't I be the one comforting you?"
"You don't need to protect me anymore." She replied before pressing a soft kiss to his lips.
"But I always will." He replied when they pulled away.
"I know."
The next day Daenerys made her way through Astapor atop her silver. Her Bloodriders surrounded her on their own horses as Ser Jorah, Belwas Aristan who had Missandei a few paces behind him walked between them. She had instructed the old squire to keep an eye on the girl and make sure no harm comes to her.
Before, the people of the Red City would brush them aside and pay them no mind. Now the streets lined with slavers, slaves, and servants. Just as the people of Qarth they wish to see the dragons. They wish to see if it was true if dragons have truly returned.
She eyes the woven cages atop of the horses of her Bloodriders. She would occasionally hear Viserion whip his tail against the cage or Rheagal growling. They knew something was wrong. What baffled her was how calm Drogon had been. To anyone else they would assume that he was asleep but she could tell he was awake and waiting.
Behind her was the small column of her people. Groleo and the captains of the three ships they used for the farce as well as the ninety Dothraki people. Most were old women and men, boys too young to braid, and new mothers with their babes close to their chests. Atop their own horses, we're thirty warriors who each barred an arakh in their hands. She needed to look desperate and this show will ensure that she does.
Instead of the Plaza of Pride, which was too small to house the Unsullied, they assembled at the Plaza of Punishment. The plaza was faced at Astapor's main gate so that they could march the Unsullied from the city once they were bought and paid for. Unlike the Plaza of Pride with its lavish bronze statue, the Plaza of Punishment only had a wooden platform where misbehaving slaves were whipped, hanged, beheaded, and flayed.
"The good masters place them on crosses and hang their bodies by the collars so that they are the first thing new slaves see." Missandei informed.
Daenerys said nothing, she eyed men striped like Zorses of the Jogos Nhai. Upon closer inspection, she realized that the red stripes were exposed flesh with flies and maggots clustered together. The one after him had his entire arm flayed with arms and flies coating the flesh in a black cast.
"What did he do?" Daenerys asked as she eyed the barley breathing man. By the gods, he was still alive.
"He raised his hand to his master." The little scribe answered.
Any doubts she had before had been burned away. Her stomach roiled, she kicked her silver into a trot. She rode amongst the rows and rows of the Unsullied. Her unfeeling statues in black leather armor with their spears standing tall. The ones further to the back were only boys who have yet to wear a helm.
At the head of the ranks were Kraznys no Naklos and his followers were waiting for her. Behind them were a crowd of Astapori nobles sipping wine and eating fruit. Around them were their slaves with trays of food. A wall of mounted soldiers separates the crowd from them from the plaza. The horses began to grow nervous as they neared.
They can sense the dragons and they fear them.
Kraznys had a slave help her down from her horse. His hands were full one on his Tokar and the other holding an ornate whip in the shape of the harpy. He looked to Missandei, "Tell her that they are hers. If she can pay." He ordered as if he still owned her.
"She can." Missandei replied.
When Missandei translated Daenerys silently walked back to her silver. She opened the latch on the woven cage. She rooks the handle of the silver chain in hand and gently pulled at it. When Drogon flew out of the cage the nobles gasped. Kraznys smiled broadly as Dany approached him.
When Dany handed the man the silver chain he practically thrust the whip in her hands, "It's done then, they're mine?" She asked and Missandei translated.
"It's done." He confirmed trying to tug Drogon down to the ground.
Daenerys mounted her silver as her heart ached, hearing the desperate cries of her child. Her aching heart thumped in her chest out of fear and anticipation. What would Rhaegar do? Was he this anxious at the Trident? Was Viserys this nervous when approaching the Golden Company to support them?
Atop her silver, she stood on the stirrups as high as she could and raised the whip so all could see it, "Unsullied!" She yelled at the top of her lungs in High Valyrian.
Kraznys darted his gaze away from Drogon and to her. He heard her speak in her mother tongue of High Valyrian. He tried to tug Drogon down as smoke began rose from his jaws and nostrils.
In one swift motion, her silver turned around so she faces the slave owner fully, "You are having trouble." She all but mocked.
"You're beast will not come!"
"A dragon is not a slave." She spoke as the chain began to slip from his fingers.
"You speak Valyrian?" One of Kraznys' partners demanded.
"I am Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, of the blood of Old Valyria." She announced, "Valyrian is my mother tongue." She answered before raising her arm.
With one swift swing, the claws of the whip scratched down Kraznys' face. Red jagged cuts went down his face and blood quickly ran down his face. He let go of the chain and raised his hands to his face letting out an agonized cry.
"Drogon!" She called to her child and the black dragon roared in reply, "Dracarys!"
A sword of black and scarlet flame engulfed the man. His hair caught aflame before his tokar. His skin burned red before black and all the while his screams pitched higher and higher. The stench of burnt flesh filled the air as the people began to fall over themselves at the sight. Behind her, Irri and Jhiqui unhinged the other woven cages and suddenly three dragons were in the air.
Dany watched as Rhaegal and Viserion joined their brother before she turned to the legions of Unsullied, "Unsullied! Slay the masters, slay the soldiers but harm no children and strike the chains off of every slave you see!" She ordered, "When the Dothraki come you will fight alongside them as you do each other! Freedom! Dracarys, Dracacys!"
"Dracarys! They had shouted back and it was a lovely sound, "Dracarys! Dracarys!"
Miles away at the head of the Khalasar Daemon sat atop his black. They had been waiting for hours for the signal. If all went well they would see his children in the sky above the red city. A small part of him worried that they had been figured out that Dany is in chains.
Shaking his head he pushed down such thoughts. Dany knew what she was doing and she's more than ready to go through with it.
"Qty Khal!" One of the warriors shouted pointing at the sky.
Looking up at the sky he saw his three children taking to the sky spewing lances of black, gold, and orange flames. He smirked before faced the Khalasar, "My people! Today we will sack the Red City of Astapor! Harm no children or slave we will only spill the blood of the masters!" He ordered before he continued, "The Unsullied will fight alongside us! The first time in history Dothraki and Unsullied will fight alongside each other, spill the same blood and conquer!"
The Khalasar roared at this before Daemon turned to face the city, "We will remind them that the dragons fly higher than the harpy!" He announced before he kicked his black into a full charge. The Khalasar erupted in shouting before they charged behind him.
Daemon would never forget the sight. The Unsullied swung the gates open for them leaving the city completely vulnerable. He's never seen quite a sight, the Unsullied and Dothraki were unstoppable side by side. Whenever an Unsullied was cornered a Dothraki screamer rode by and beheaded the man. Whenever a rider was dismounted the Unsullied shielded their back.
Soon the fighting ended, the masters dead and the slaves freed. In the Plaza of Punishment where all the slaves on display were taken down to be buried or taken to a healer, the Unsullied stood in rows and rows like statues. Upon them, Dany and Daemon rode through the legions atop their silver and black.
"Unsullied!" Dany began, "All your lives you've been slaves! But today you are free!"
"And as free men, we will give you a choice!" Daemon said, "Any who wishes to leave, to return to your families you may do so! But those who stay and fight for us will fight as free men, for freedom!"
"Freedom means making your own choices! The choice is yours to make!" Daenerys declared openly before silence overtook the plaza.
The wind was the only answered they had received before they heard thumping. They looked over to see a single man slamming the blunt end of his spear on the stone beneath his feet. This caused a chain reaction because soon there were ten spears hitting the ground which turned to a hundred which turned to a thousand. Before long every spear hit the ground causing the stones to vibrate.
Daenerys and Daemon shared a look of pride before they kicked their horses in a trot. They watched as the Unsullied flooded aboard the ships. Before long, Unsullied and Dothraki, both set sail northward.
On the lead ship, Daenerys and Daemon stood at the bow of their ship. Their children flew above them stripped of their chains. They shared a glance and smiled before they laced their fingers together and looked ahead.
