Astapor may had fallen to Ranta and now served no threat to her now that the masters had been disposed of and the slaves freed, but she did not leave right away. Instead, the Naylor had her people stay behind and worked on designing the city to her liking. Ranta reestablished the market for what was left of the common people and former slaves, expanded housing spaces, tore down anything that resembled a whipping or torture post in the Plaza of Punishment, and the court yards where the Unsullied were trained Ranta had vegetation, benches and fountains placed inside if they're weren't any already.
The Naylor had been happy with how her revamped Astapor had come along, happy except for one thing that played on her mind. In the center of the city on top of a large slab on stone in the Plaza of Pride stood a giant golden winged woman like the one that had been on the flagon Kraznys gave to her when he gave up his Unsullied. The statue stood proudly in the city and was easy to see from just about anywhere as long you were near the plaza.
"Ser Jorah, what is that?" Ranta asked one day as she and the Mormont had taken a stroll through the city with all five of her children. The trio of dragons bunched on her arms and on her shoulder as the two snakes trailed behind. When she had originally brought her whole family into the city, quite a fuss had stirred up understandably, but over time the people grew used to the animals. They still kept a healthy distance away from Ranta whenever they were with her, but still, they no longer feared for their lives once they understood that the animals around the blue haired liberator would not attack. Vendors and toy makers had even began working together to create small wooden dragons and snakes in their liking to sell to the children of Astapor and to the visitors from the smaller cities surrounding them.
"It is a harpy, a symbol that Yunkai, Mereen and Astapor are the global slave trade units." Jorah provided, leading Ranta to snort in distaste. "Tear it down, Astapor is no longer a slave trading unit and nor will it ever be again." she said firmly and continued her walk at a slightly brisker pace.
From the moment Ranta gained Astapor and to the moment the giant golden harpy was finally tore down, a good two months had passed by. Though some of that time been because of Ranta just being slow to drag her feet out of the city because she had been told by a little girl on the streets that the people of Astapor were building her something special and she was determined to see it before she left.
On the morning that marked the fifth month in the former slave city, Ranta had been woken up with a big blow to her stomach curtesy of Rhaegal. It was the day they left for Yunkai and many were ready to depart, eager to get back out onto the road and enjoy the wide open spaces instead of the stone walls that trapped them within. Apparently her children felt the same way. The trio of dragons had grown considerably being only seven months old, the days where they could hitch a ride from the Naylor in her arms or share a bed with her were all but long gone.
Ranta had been thankful Vaemarr and Laemyx had stopped growing for the moment because if they continued to grow at the pace they did, she had no idea how she was going to feed them with out depleting her food supplies. "There are polite ways to wake people up you know." The woman grumbled to her tan colored dragon who let out a laugh in his own way before trotting over to the window of her temporary home and flew out.
"Thanks for waiting for me, Rhaegal." Ranta deadpanned as she threw back the covers and slipped on her boots to match her dress. Thankfully the Naylor's things had already been packed and carried out of her room, she herself already clad in a dress appropriate for traveling because she had chosen to fall asleep in it so she wouldn't have to get dressed later. Walking out, the woman instinctively shielded her eyes from the harsh sun glaring down on her from its' position in the sky and was greeted by Barristan and Jorah who were posted at her door to walk her out of the city which Ranta thought that it wasn't really necessary because her home was near the city gates anyways.
"Good morning gentlemen, how are my guard dogs today?" Ranta said teasingly, bringing her hand down once her eyes adjusted. "Fine, your grace." Barristan replied with a small smirk as the group walked, "and you Ser Jorah? How is my big bad Mormont doing?" the blue haired woman asked in turn. The bearded man smirked as well and nodded his head, "I am doing well. Everyone is well rested and ready to go on your command." he told her. Ranta acknowledged this with a nod and the conversation died there.
Within a few minutes the trio exited the gates and was greeted by their horses being held by Dothraki men with their own horses waiting nearby. "If you and the rest of the horde would like to run ahead and meet us at Yunkai, you can." she told the men who were listening with intent as she approached, " There are not enough horses for all twelve thousand Unsullied, our pace will be a bit slow. I suppose you can sack a small city or two you cross but only if you can handle it, I don't need all of my Dothraki brethren dead because you got in over your heads. Take gold and valuables only. No slaves." Jorah helped her up onto her horse.
The Dothraki warriors looked conflicted but hesitantly nodded after a moment, "As you wish, little sister." one voiced relenting before going to spread the word with his friends. Jorah watched the men leave carefully before looking up at his blue haired queen, "There are going to be some who do not like the command you have given, your grace." he frowned as he mounted his own horse. "Then they are free to leave." the Naylor said with ease as she spurred her horse on, signaling the duo to follow.
"How are your lessons on the Dothraki going Ser Barristan?" Ranta asked for small talk as they traveled. "Good, your grace." he answered, " the little cub is a good teacher." the old knight chortled, much to Ranta's amusement. "Little cub." she echoed laughing harder this time, knowing that the only two who found the nickname funny had been her and the Selmy.
"Come Ser Jorah, you know it's funny." the woman addressed the brooding Mormont who sat there and took the light abuse from his companions, " I think it's a cute name for you." she pulled her horse up besides his and caressed his bearded cheek, softening Ser Jorah's brooding expression as he revealed in her touch " My dear bear cub who stands with the storm." she smiled warmly before removing her hand and riding at the point of the group again.
Within a few more minutes of travel, the trio reached the back of the waiting patiently Unsullied train with Missandei waiting with them. "Good morning, your grace." she bowed her head as the group came to a stop, "Did you sleep well?" the former slave girl asked. "I did, thank you." Ranta paused and looked around for any sign for her mount, " Where is your horse, Missandei?" the blue eyed woman asked confused.
Missandei looked confused and a bit troubled by the question, " I do not have one, your grace. I believed that I was to walk to Yunkai with the Unsullied." she answered honestly. Ranta sighed and dismounted her horse, "And how exactly did you get that motion in your head? From your old masters?" Ranta tilted her head at the question, " Did I not free you from them? Are you not in my service now as a free woman?" during her questioning, Ranta had bullied the curly haired woman towards her horse, trapping her in between the four legged beast and the blue haired queen.
Missandei shifted her weight from side to side, eyes casting downwards out of habit from her old masters. "You did your grace," she nearly whispered, " and I am in your service until the day I die or until you cast me away. Which ever comes first. I just-" Missandei cut herself off when she suddenly felt feminine hands on her hips and lifted her up into the air.
Placing the woman into the saddle, Ranta stepped backwards and placed her hands on her hips, visibly satisfied with herself. "There. Now you have a horse. You are to have a horse wherever we travel." the Naylor said with a stern look. Missandei blushed, extremely flustered by the motion and tried to dismount but was stop by a sharp reprimand that she would be out of a job if she dismounted. " What about you, your grace?" a very upset looking Ser Barristan asked, a look that was mimicked by Jorah.
Ranta shrugged at the dilemma before her, "I will walk." she answered simply, "If twelve thousand Unsullied can walk then so can I." Ranta reasoned. The two Westerosi men exchanged looks and in synch made to dismount but was stopped by the same threat given to Missandei. "When my feet grow tired and I find that I am unable to continue on then believe me, I will be getting on a horse, even if I have to ride on his rump and hold the supplies." the woman assured them and began walking as sure as the sky was blue.
To say that Missandei, Barristan and Jorah did not take kindly to her threat and actions was obvious, they continually insisted on walking along with her or offering their own mounts. Ranta would not hear it though. This continued on for a good while, until she was finally able to give the fretting trio the slip when she finally reached the middle of the train and shouted, "Unsullied!" she gained their attention and was rewarded with the signature sound of them snapping to attention - shields up, feet together and eyes forward. "Walk on! We make for Yunkai!"
Some Dothraki members mounted on their horses nearby met up with Ranta and looked confused as to why their little sister was walking while her people were mounted with horses. "Little sister," a woman started, " Do you want a horse? We can get you one if we redistribute some of the supplies on the pack horses." she offered. Ranta merely smiled and shook her head, "Thank you, but I am fine. I will tell you when I want a horse, promise... do you know how many men left to sack nearby cities?" she asked in return.
The woman thought about it for a moment, " Perhaps around half of them, little sister." she replied after consulting with some of the other Dothraki around them, causing Ranta to nod deep in thought but was brought out of it a split second later when she felt something leathery collide into her chest, followed by an animalistic cry. Blinking, Ranta looked down and seen it had been Viserion who collided into her in an attempt of a flying hug.
"Hello, darling." she smiled lovingly at him and was greeted with an eager nuzzling in return. " I'm afraid you are getting too heavy for such antics." Ranta chuckled lightly as she hugged her winged son, her arms already burning from his weight. Two more cries from overhead alerted the blue haired mother to her other two children flying over head, Rhaegal and Drogon circling over their mom and brother.
"Fly darling and join your brothers. There will be time to spend together later on when we stop for break." she promised the green colored dragon with similar green eyes. Viserion purred and nuzzled his mother once more before taking off into the sky to join his siblings, and a split moment later his elder siblings approached their shared mother as well.
"Hello, my loves." she greeted, hearing their calm hissing from both sides of her before she turned to look at the oversized serpents. " Have you come to give me company on this long walk of ours?" Ranta stroked the sides of their heads with each hand. Vaemarr hummed deeply, pushing his head deep into her hand and inadvertently pushing her into Laemyx with the force of his push.
Ranta chuckled lovingly, using both hands to give her affection to the darker of the two as Laemyx dug his head further under her chin. "Your winged brothers aren't the only ones who are getting too big. Look at the both of you, growing up so fast." she cooed lovingly to the snakes who lumbered over her in height and width. "May as well stick a saddle on you and have you carry me around if you insist on getting wider." Ranta joked, internally scoffing at the idea of being able to ride her children who didn't have any bones except for in their head.
Though, after a moment of silent affection Ranta decided to test a random thought that crossed her mind. Placing a hand on Vaemarr's head and pushing down, the snake lowered his head to the ground obediently. She ran a hand over his hardened skull calmly, digging two of her fingers into the base of his neck and twirling them in circles expertly. On cue, Vaemarr's rigid hood snapped out to full extension. The two brothers made noises of wonderment at what she had been doing, but Ranta paid no attention to it.
Eyeing the width of what would be her seat carefully, Ranta slowly sat herself down as if riding side saddle on the hood and dug her fingers into the ridges of natural armor that protected her child. "Steady now, darling. Steady." she whispered to the serpent, subconsciously bracing herself for a fall incase this ended up badly for either of them.
Vaemarr groaned wearily but did as she implied, slowly the behemoth rose his armored head with his gasping mother seated atop. "By the gods new and old." she mildly panicked, tightening her fingers into what ever pieces of armor she could dig the digits into. "Okay, okay. This is progress." she whispered more to herself than to Vaemarr, spying Laemyx rising to be eye to eye with his mother.
The eggshell colored snake watched her curiously before hissing to his brother and slithering forward a few feet, turning back to watch to see if his brother would follow. Vaemarr hummed deeply before moving after his brother, satisfied that his two legged mother was still seated upon him and showed no signs of falling as they now traveled side by side with Laemyx.
The sight of Ranta seated side saddle on the black snake caused many of the Dothraki she passed to stare in bewilderment, though she paid them no mind - not even to the startled cries of Jorah, Barristan and Missandei when the serpent brothers finally crossed paths with them when testing what exactly was Vaemarr's dexterity when carrying Ranta.
The group of twelve thousand Unsullied, two hundred Dothraki, two Westerosi former knights, an Astaporian translator, three young dragons, two enlarged armored snakes and their blue haired leader traveled well into the day and sometimes night for weeks to come. The Dothraki Ranta sent out to sack cities, tracked down the Unsullied legion down about two and a half weeks after their initial departure with plenty of gold and valuables to show for their efforts.
Though silver, gold and other kind of jewels weren't the only things they brought back from their travels. "Your grace!" Missandei cried, stopping right outside Ranta's tent. "You must come quickly." she pleaded through the cracks of the tent flap. Ranta looked up from the book she was reading and placed it on her bedside table before scotching her way off the bed and towards the frantic translator.
"What is it?" the blue eyed woman questioned after exiting the tent, it wasn't necessarily late out at the moment but it was getting there and with being only a few hours away from Yunkai after four weeks of travel, Ranta was ready to arrive already and had intended on getting a good rest after finishing a chapter in her book. "The soldiers you sent out to sack cities have returned, but they have brought back three hundred of their own and a woman with blonde hair and violet eyes. Your presence is needed immediately, your grace." Missandei informed her as the duo traveled through the camp as fast as they could without out right breaking into a run.
Ranta's brow furrowed at the information brought before her. A woman with blonde hair and violet eyes had been brought to the camp with three hundred other Dothraki members? What in the name of all that is sacred was going on? The women were able to make quick work to get to the center of the camp and to the main tent posted there, neither had even entered the tent yet but could hear the yells coming from inside.
"How do we know they are telling the truth?" a nameless Dothraki man asked. "We were there, you empty headed fool! We saw it for our own eyes!" Irri's voice retorted. "Then why should we not kill her where she stands, it is her fault he is dead!" another accused. "I thought she could help," Daenerys' pained and raspy voice sounded, " I saved her and gave her a second chance! I thought she would repay me..." she trailed off miserably.
"Then you will pay for your ignorance for trusting a witch and the rest of you as well for allowing her to make such a stupid decision!" came another man's voice but was soon reprimanded harshly by an unknown woman, "That's not your call! Wait for, Little Sister!"
"That is a very good idea." Ranta's firm voice rang out as she finally stormed into the tent with Missandei to see an Unsullied member, Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan all helping Irri, Doreah, Rakharo and Jhogo form a protective circle around the the solitary blonde woman in the room. The occupants of the tent grew dead silent when the blue haired leader graced their presence, suddenly those who had been vocal before had nothing to say anymore.
"What is the problem here? You know these people, they are your friends- she is your Khaleesi!" Ranta said incredulously. Uneasy shifting occurred as she cast her eyes amongst the Dothraki who had been staying with her, unable to meet her unnerving blue gaze. " Khal Drogo is dead." a man finally spoke, closest to the protective circle guarding the Targaryen. " She is no Khaleesi of mine. Not when it's her fault he is dead in the first place." he finished with a glare.
It took all Ranta had in her to not break down when hearing the dark truth come to light, to demand that the lies stop flowing through the room at such a thing but when the Naylor turned her gaze to her old friends - dirty, beaten, ten pounds lighter, dark circles under their eyes, matted hair, and practically about to drop dead on their feet from the emotional turmoil they endured just recently- Ranta knew that no lies had been told in this tent.
" She may not be your Khaleesi," Ranta spoke, breaking the heavy silence, " But I am your leader and I say that none of them are to be harmed for what has happened. If you have a problem with my decision then you are free to try your luck out on the road with nothing but the clothes on your back. If my Unsullied spot you near our supplies then you will be skewered like a wild boar and left out to rot...Now get out. Yunkai awaits us tomorrow and I'd like to get an early start." no one in the tent moved for a few minutes, simply just stared at the young woman in disbelief, watching as her blue eyes harden into anger a split second before she snapped.
"Are you all touched in the head? Have you forgotten your own mother tongue? I said get out!" Ranta barked harshly, effectively scattering the occupants of the tent until there wasn't a single Dothraki member left in front of her. "...Your grace" Barristan tried after a moment of silence but was hushed by the lead woman , "I don't want to talk about it." the Naylor whispered, staring down at the ground. " I meant what I said. We'll be in Yunkai in the morning, and I want rest for the trying day to come." she then turned and exited the tent without a glance at the worn down group before her.
Khal Drogo dead? It was impossible, he was Khal Drogo. Undefeated war lord with arguably the longest braid in all of the great grass sea. He was her big brother, and she was his little sister. He was going to cross the Narrow sea for her and conquer the Seven Kingdoms in her name so she could rule. How can he just be dead when he was alive and well nearly half a year ago?
A witch she had heard, a witch had gotten her hands on him and killed him with Daenerys' inadvertent permission. Ranta snorted in distaste, who would trust a witch unless you knew her from birth? Dany's naivety was still plain to see, though Ranta supposed she should treasure that instead of scorning it. You don't see much naivety much anymore unless you were a young child and even then there were some children who were just as serious as adults.
The fact that Ranta's young friend was not plump with child also bugged the woman greatly, the Targaryen girl should be ready to pop in a few months time and yet there she stood as skinny as the day she met Khal Drogo. Perhaps the witch had something to do with that as well, or maybe she and Ser Jorah had been right in their worries for the unborn child at the ceremony in Vaes Dothrak and the poor babe had been born early and still born.
Entering her tent, Ranta plopped down on her bed with a heavy sigh, an arm thrown over her eyes as she slowly drifted off into a dreamless sleep wishing her five children had been with her in the tent instead of off doing some late night hunting and fire breathing practice. It felt like the blue haired woman only had her eyes closed for a few seconds before she was being woken up by Missandei. "Your grace, it is time we get moving again. It's starting to get late." came her gentle and sympathetic voice.
Ranta groaned and tried to roll over but was stopped by another body pressed into her side. "What in the seven hells?" she mumbled raspily, eyes still bleary and unclear. "Lady Daenerys came in here shortly after you went to sleep, your grace." Missandei explained as her queen rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat up, "She claimed to be your sister in all but blood and with Ser Jorah Mormont backing her claim, the Unsullied guarding your tent allowed her in. She was very distraught when you left and would not rest anywhere else." Ranta looked down at the silvery blonde woman and sighed in resignation.
"Thank you, Missandei. You are free to go." the Naylor told her, climbing over the slumbering Targaryen and yawning one last yawn for the day. "Do you not want me to assist the Lady Daenerys?" the translator asked as Ranta stretched her nimble body out, multiple bones cracking into place before waving a nonchalant hand in her direction. "If you want to you can." the blue eyed woman shrugged, moving to get ready herself.
Ranta had made it clear to her fellow woman that she was not comfortable with being bathed and dressed by someone other than her, the only time Missandei was to help Ranta get dressed was when she could not lace up her dress or needed help with styling her hair for the day. Since they were already behind schedule according to the former slave girl, bathing would have to wait until later tonight it seemed but Ranta could live with that.
Digging through her drawers, the older woman could hear a moaning Daenerys being woken up by the meek and gentle Missandei. "Dany wake up! We have some noble lords to threaten and slaves to free today. There is no time to cater to the little Princess today." Ranta called loudly before dropping her night dress and putting on a simple but elegant cream colored dress that accented her assets but still gave her room to move freely.
"Says you." came the tired voice of the young Targaryen as she rose off the bed with Missandei's help. "I do say so." the older woman smirked, pulling a brush through her blue locks. Dany rubbed her tired eyes in a similar way her elder friend had moments before and blinked away the sleep soon after, watching Ranta finish in the brushing of her hair and begin to dig through her drawers once more.
Digging out a dark blue dress that was simple but elegant in a similar fashion to hers, Ranta threw it to the younger woman. "Make her pretty, Missandei and come find me when you are done." she instructed the curly haired woman before slipping on cream shoes to match her dress, grabbing two leather ties for her hair and walked out of her tent.
Dividing her hair down the middle, Ranta tied both sides into low pony tails that hung over her shoulders as she walked through her Unsullied swamped camp. As she walked, the woman noticed that she still had a majority of her Dothraki still hanging around in her camp. In fact Ranta was pretty sure that all four hundred of them were still here, plus Daenerys' three hundred.
"Some found that it would be too much trouble to try and track down Khal Moro, seeing as we did not know which way he went after we parted ways." a familiar masculine voice called. Ranta stopped in her walk and turned to see a visibly tired Rakharo leaning against a stack of nearby crates and walked up to meet her halfway, " A majority never even considered it. They promised to follow their little sister in her quest to get the iron chair in Westeros, and they intend to hold true to their word until they take their final breath." he finished with a weak smile.
Ranta smirked in return, "I'll be sure to not disappoint them then." she promised before acting impulsively and wrapping her arms around the neck of the taller man in a hug. Rakharo didn't hesitate and returned the gesture, wrapping his strong arms around her curvy waist. Though neither spoke, the message was clear. The two adults had been relieved that the other was still alive and somewhat well if not a bit beat up. "Did either of them suffer?" Ranta whispered sadly, voice wavering as she asked it.
Rakharo sighed heavily in remembrance, arms tightening around her waist as if it would make everything better, " Khal Drogo did for a short while before Khaleesi finally put him out of his misery. Even when dying he spoke nothing of you if he had the strength to. He spoke of how he was cursing himself for not being strong enough to over come a witch's powers, how he wasn't strong enough to help you in the end." Ranta could feel her eyes watering at this, " He wanted you to know that he will always be watching over you and the moon of his life along with his son. He said he cared for you a great deal, truly looked upon you as if you were his little sister." the Naylor was sure her heart was being squeezed from Laemyx and Vaemarr alike as Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegal spewed fire at it from the amount of pain she felt.
"Rhaego was brought into the world still born after Khaleesi was pushed to the ground during a scrap with one of the Khal's bloodriders when she tried to stop him from killing Drogo. If it was the fall that killed him or if it was the poison Khaleesi drank all those months ago, we aren't sure but we like to think that he didn't suffer through either fate." Rakharo finished, gently kneading the flesh on Ranta's hips comfortingly. Ranta sighed and pulled away slowly, already working on willing the unfallen tears to go away.
"How long did it take for you all to get here?" Ranta asked in common, walking once more. "Close to a month." the man returned as he walked with her, " When Khal Moro left, he took all the horses and a majority of the supplies with him. We had to make a few stops along the way to gather supplies when we ran low. It was during one of our stops when we ran into the men who rode behind you."
Ranta nodded, accepting this and lapsed the two of them into silence for a brief moment. "We took Astapor successfully, as you can see." she motioned to the Unsullied they passed. "Twelve thousand free men now follow me and my cause. I also liberated Astapor and redesigned the city to my liking, I intend to do the same with Yunkai and Mereen."
Rakharo nodded appreciatively, "Twelve thousand free men and seven hundred Dothraki? I say your well on your way to becoming quite a powerful woman," he grinned to his blue haired friend, " What of your children? Where are they?" he asked. Ranta smiled lovingly at the mention of her children, "They are roaming around here somewhere. You will drop dead from where you stand when you see how big Vaemarr and Laemyx have gotten."
"They are still growing?" the man asked surprised, causing the woman to nod. "Big enough for me to ride atop the hood of Vaemarr as if I were riding side saddle on a horse. I haven't tried riding Laemyx yet though." Ranta informed him. Rakharo looked at her in shock, "Do they ever intend to stop growing?" he asked slipping back into Dothraki. The blue eyed woman chuckled and shrugged, " Who knows? I have no quarrel if they do continue to grow though, the bigger the better I say." she smiled.
"Until they get to the point of not being able to follow you into cities and must be left outside city gates." Jorah's voice chimed in, drawing their attention. " Then you will be longing for the days where they could fit around your arm and shoulders." the former knight said knowingly as he joined the duo. "Jorah the Andal," Rakharo smiled, " It is good to see you again...without having angry men shouting at us anyways." he joked weakly. The Mormont smiled and laid a comforting hand on the younger man's shoulder, " It is very good to see you again as well, my friend. Welcome back to the company of Ranta Naylor." he greeted before turning to his queen.
"Whenever you are ready, my lady." he nodded his head. Ranta nodded in return and turned to Rakharo, "Are you coming?" she asked the Dothraki warrior with a slight upturn of her lips and walked after Ser Jorah who took the lead to bring his queen and friend to the meeting place where they could over look the city soon to be liberated.
A top the ridge Jorah lead her to had been a cluster of Dothraki riders and Unsullied soldiers alike, along with Ser Barristan. "Good morning, your grace." the elderly man bid with a nod. " Good morning Ser Barristan...any particular reason for so many guards?" she gestured to the warriors gathered. The Selmy held his hands behind his back and rocked on his heels slightly, "Well... every ruler has a leader amongst their ranks. I figured that you would like one for your Unsullied, so I gathered the officers early this morning and had young Missandei ask them to choose a leader. The Dothraki came because they were the original escort party up here." he explained with ease.
Ranta gave the elder a look of approval before strolling up to the group of twenty Unsullied officers, waiting stoically. "Good morning." the Naylorian Queen began with a kind smile, "I'd like to start this conversation off with expressing my gratitude and conveying how much I appreciate you all for staying by my side so far in hopes that you will all pass along the message to the others under your command. You all are free and free men make their own choices. You do not have to stay and yet you do. I want you to know that it means a great deal to me...Now, have you decided on a leader amongst your ranks?" Ranta asked curiously.
The men snapped aside, creating a path to show a solitary Unsullied standing at the back of the pack who shoved his spear into the ground when all eyes landed on him. The woman watched him carefully and then beckoned him forward with a single finger, "Remove your helmet for me." she requested of the man. The soldier removed his chin strap and began walking forwards, holding his helmet in front of his face for a brief moment before holding it to his chest as he came to a stop before his queen. The soldier had been young, maybe a year or two younger than Ranta herself. Bore a stern face, a strong physique as expected, held deep brown eyes similar to Missandei's and was a little darker than said woman.
"This one has the honor." came his surprisingly deep voice. "And what is your name?" Ranta asked curiously of the stoic man before her. "Grey Worm." he provided easily, unfazed by the taken aback expression on his queen's face, "...Grey Worm...I assume that no mother would be so cruel to name her son that. You can change the name the masters gave you, go back to your birth names if you remember them...you know that right?" Ranta asked sympathetic for the men in front of her and for the thousands below her guarding the camp.
"I do not want to go back to the name given to me at birth, it is unlucky." Grey Worm proclaimed, gaining her attention from the other soldiers she cast her eyes upon, " It is the name I had when I was taken as a slave. Grey worm though, the name Grey Worm gives me great pride. It is a lucky name. It is the name I had when Ranta Naylor set me free. It is the name that I serve my new queen with and it will be my name until the day I die in her name and as a free man."
Ranta's eyes softened on the man at his dedication and nodded in acceptance of his answer. "Very well then. Come along, Grey Worm." she instructed the new Unsullied captain, turning on her heel and walking up to the ridge's edge after beckoning Ser Barristan and Ser Jorah to follow. " This is Yunkai. The yellow city." Jorah informed her as they came to a stop on the edge. "The Yunkish embed slaves, not fully trained slave soldiers like the Unsullied. We can defeat them." Barristan added in, looking to his queen confidently.
"On the field with ease," Jorah spoke again, "but they will not meet us on the field." he said pointedly to the old man before looking down at Ranta, " They have provisions, patience and strong walls. If they were wise they'd remain behind their walls and chip away at us man by man." he told her. The woman huffed, "Well that will not do at all." she mumbled.
Ser Jorah looked at the city again before shaking his head, " We can make due without Yunkai. We do not necessarily need it, it's not worth losing any of your soldiers." Ranta pointed a small glare at the Mormont, " There are slaves in there. I made a promise to free every slave I could in Slaver's Bay as long as it was within my power to do so. We have to try. I have twelve thousand soldiers of the best army in the world, as you have proclaimed before, and seven hundred Dothraki screamers. If we get people into the city first to kill the gate guards, the city will fall within hours."
"Before it comes to that though," Ser Barristan interjected. "Perhaps we can try diplomacy?" he suggested, "You catch a lot more flies with honey than with salt." Ranta released a small sigh as she considered the suggestion for a few moments, staring out over the city with the golden harpy standing atop a pyramid mocking her.
"Very well Ser Barristan," the young queen caved, much to his pleasure. "We will try things your way." she declared before turning to Grey Worm. "Send one of your men to the gates and tell the masters that I will accept their complete and utter surrender no later than two hours past noon. If they fail to comply then the blood of their families will be on their hands. " Ranta said with a hard look to her eye. Grey Worm nodded silently before turning stiffly and walking off to do as the blue haired woman commanded.
'How proud are your inhabitants Lady Yunkai?' Ranta thought to herself as she looked back out over the slave city.
0o.0o.0o.0o.
Ranta sat motionless, absently stroking the enlarged head of Laemyx from over her shoulder as the sounds of Yunkai's war drums and the signature clink of chains rattling came closer and closer to her tent. From her other side where his brother wasn't, Vaemarr nudged a golden container open that held dead rodents and scarfed one down before being shooed away by his mother.
Ranta considered having her trio of her youngest sons in the tent with her as an intimidation tactic, but with Daenerys hearing of their hatching - the Targaryen had all but fallen to her knees and begged to have the day to spend with them. Which left Ranta to bring in her eldest children who did not even fit in the tent properly, with half of their bodies hanging out the opening behind the couch their mother sat upon but as long as their heads could fit in the tent then Ranta did not care.
The line of Unsullied soldiers surrounding her camp radius a few miles out and along the entire path the representative from Yunkai would have to take to get to the invader on his doorstep gave her pleasure as well. When Ranta could no longer block out the beat of the drums, she knew the man was seconds away from her and took a last look around the room. Ser Jorah was placed on her right with Ser Barristan besides him, Grey Worm was placed on her left, Missandei was posted near the tent entrance with a few Dothraki women who were assigned to serve during the negotiations and her two children were posted over both of her shoulders.
Ranta seen the drummer boy turn the corner around her Unsullied first before she seen the two city guards protecting a red, green and gold Litter - or a King's carrier- being carried by twelve slaves dressed in slave collars and baggy white pants. Inside she could see a noble lord dressed in similar silk clothing of the old masters back in Astapor before its' liberation. Behind the litter carrier had been four more slaves carrying medium sized chests and about eight more city guards.
The twelve slaves carrying the noble lord carefully but swiftly lowered their master to the ground before straightening back up and holding their hands in front of them obediently. The man exited the carrier and began his walk towards her tent with a confident stride, "Now comes the noble lord Razdal mo Eraz of that ancient and honorably house." Missandei introduced as she walked the man in.
"Master of men and speaker to savages to offer terms of peace." she finished, coming to a stop at a respectable distance but when the man failed to do so as well, Vaemarr and Laemyx made sure the noble knew he had already made his first mistake when addressing their mother. The terrifying hisses from the snake brothers stopped the man in his tracks and caused him to back up a few steps. Ranta smirked at this and ran a hand over each of their heads in a calming manner.
"Noble lord," Missandei spoke again once the serpents had been calmed, "You are in the presence of Lady Ranta of the House Naylor. Queen of the Andals and the first men, Sister of the Dothraki of the Great Grass Sea, Queen of the Unsullied, Liberator of Astapor and Mother of Mystical Beasts." Ranta and Razdal stared each other down during her lengthy introduction, neither backing down even when Missandei was finished.
"You can approach." Ranta broke the silence, nodding towards a chair set up in her tent. "Sit." she commanded, causing a Dothraki woman to spring into action and place the chair before the noble and for Missandei to grab a glass and pitcher of wine. "Will the noble lord take refreshment?" she asked softly after he sat down, and watched as the man nodded with a bit of hesitation.
The time it took for Missandei to pour seemed to last forever, and it merely amused Ranta to no end. It must have been torture for the Yunkai noble to be where he was at the moment, how he must have longed to lash out at everyone in the tent for not bowing at his feet from the moment he entered. How he must have desperately wanted to see them all in chains and serving him, her children included.
After Missandei finished pouring, Razdal took a polite sip before placing the glass on the floor next to his chair without taking his eyes off of Ranta. "Ancient and glorious is Yunkai. Our empire was old long before dragons stirred out of old Valyria and long before your snakes slithered out of the Shadow Lands." Ranta tilted her head slightly at this but continued to listen.
"Many a army have broken against our walls. You will find no easy conquest here, Lady Ranta." Razdal warned, but Ranta merely internally rolled her eyes at the small threat. Opening the container Vaemarr had nudged open before, Ranta grabbed a large dead rabbit and flung it towards the noble - smirking when the man flinched deep into his chair when Laemyx's sharp fangs caught the dead rodent mere inches away from him.
"Good, it would be no fun if things were easy." the woman said closing the lid as her eggshell colored snack backed himself back over the couch he had lunged over in the first place to get the snack and returned to his original position over her shoulder. "I was also told before I took over Astapor that I needed to blood my Unsullied early, they need the practice." she smirked lightly.
Razdal shifted in his seat and narrowed his eyes a bit on the woman before him, "If it is blood you want, then blood will flow...but why? It is true that you have committed savageries in Astapor," Ranta rolled her eyes at his wording, " But the people of Yunkai are forgiving and generous." Razdal clapped his hands twice - summoning four slaves forwards with two chests held between the pairs.
"The wise masters of Yunkai have sent a gift for the blue queen." the man explained as his slaves set down the chests and opened them for the blue eyed woman. Ranta quirked a brow at the chests before turning to her Westerosi guards and shared a knowing look with them. "You and the other wise masters must not care that much for Lady Yunkai, because this will not save your city." Ranta pointed to the chest closest to her with her foot.
"Do not be mistaken, Lady Ranta. There is much more on your new ship, I assure you." Razdal corrected, "You shall have as many ships as you require." Ranta looked at the man suspiciously, "And in return?" she asked. " All we ask is that you leave us be. It is already a tragedy to lose our sister city, Astapor. We do not want to lose Yunkai as well. Take your Unsullied, Dothraki and sail back to Westeros where you belong. Allow us to work in peace." Razdal glowered.
A moment of silence passed before Ranta suddenly sat forwards, resting her elbows on her knees. "You know anyone lesser than I would have gladly taken your offer, but since I am not just anyone and I am a woman of my word...I'm going to have to decline. I promised my men that I would free every slave within Slaver's Bay that I could. Wither it comes to by force or not... Yunkai will not be the exception." she vowed with a shake of her head and then sat back again.
"But I do have a gift for you as well...your life."
"My life?"
"Yes." Ranta nodded with ease, " You and your wise masters will live to see another day, something that the masters of Astapor did not get to do so I would listen carefully to what I'm about to say. You will free every man, woman and child bound in chains and give them as much clothing, food, and property they can carry as payment for their years of servitude and suffering. I will move my troops in and do some redesigning of the city much like I have done before, I will take my leave when I am satisfied with how the city is progressing without slavery... In reality you are stuck between a rock in a hard place. Surrender and keep your lives, or Fight and all of you will die. It is your choice." she finished.
"You are out of your mind." Razdal burst out, earning a warning look from the blue haired queen. "We are not Astapor, we will not sit back and allow you to trod all over us. We have powerful friends, friends that will take pleasure in destroying you." he threatened heatedly though Ranta merely smiled at the infuriated lord.
"I look forward to meeting them on the battle field. My advice to you before the battle would be to get used to the idea of not having slaves within your walls, because my men will not be falling to your 'friends'...You would be smart to put your gift to good use and reconsider your answer by the time the hour is up... now get out of my sight." she finished with a look that meant business.
When one final glare that would have put her six feet under if looks could kill, Razdal shot up and stormed out of her tent muttering under his breath with his slaves following. "The Yunkish are proud people," Ser Barristan began as they watch the noble and his group disappear from sight, " they will not bend." he frowned. "And what happens to things that don't bend?" Ranta asked without missing a beat, earning smirks from the Mormont and Selmy alike.
"What powerful friends was he talking about?" the woman asked looking up at Jorah expectantly. The former knight thought about it for a moment before shaking his head regretfully, "I don't know." he admitted. Ranta shifted in her seat to lean back on the couch, "Find out and return to me by sunset." she instructed the man. Jorah nodded in understanding and left the tent to do as his queen commanded, unaware of her watching him with a blank expression as she scratched the chins of her children.
0o.0o.0o.
Relationship Status Between Ranta and others:
Daenerys- Sister/ best friend
Jorah- close friend
Barristan- friend
Rakharo - good friend
Missandei- good friend
Irri - friend
Doreah - friend