Chapter 9

A New Beginning

1 Year Later...

"We have suffered much" said King Eskaar staring out to the many Drakon people congregated. "In the past year, we have had great loss, sadness and grief" Eskaar placed a hand on the Ember throne tracing the carving of a dragon with his finger, struggling to find the right words. "Words simply fail me, to express my sadness at loosing my brother, my nephew and all the noble Drakon who gave their last breath to defend us at the battle of the Vaes gorge". A small hum of talk began to occur among the crowd and Eskaar continued "In the past year, I have done my best to carry on the great legacy my brother and nephew started" Eskaar smiled and opened his arms warmly "My people, you have suffered as I have, grieved as I have" The people began to look around at each other and the hum of chatter started again "Eskaar then turned and sat upon the Ember Throne "Therefore I call upon every warlord!" he said with sudden violent energy "Every warrior, every last abled body that carries a sword to hear me now!" The people stood staring at the king shocked.

"We will prepare!" he carried on, ignoring the people's fearful expressions "We will launch an assault upon Vaes Dothrak so great, that no man woman or child within a hundred miles of these mountain will dare call themselves Dothraki without facing death!" Eskaar shouted the last words. The Drakon present simply looked on, afraid of hearing more but more afraid of missing anything else. Suddenly a man with a walking stick and a limped forward. The gentle clump of the wood hitting the polished stone floor echoed in the silence, Eskaar stood and gave the man a welcoming smile "greetings to you warrior. What is your name?". The man looked up at the king squinting slightly with the reflection on the throne of embers shining in his eyes. " I am Jubai, your majesty" he continued walking forward "I fought at the Vaes gorge alongside King Riuk the blue eyes. He gave me such honor that day" Eskaar grinned flashing his pointed teeth "However" continued Jubai "I do feel that no Drakon will find any honor in launching an attack on Vaes Dothrak" Eskaar's grin vanished and he narrowed his eyes "Go on…Jubai" a sense of tension began to fill the air "I mean no offence your majesty" said Jubai coolly looking straight into the kings eyes "But even a year after one of the fiercest battles of our age, it is still taking its toll. Mothers, daughters and wives still weep for they're loses, we want no more blood!" Eskaar stood and walked slowly toward Jubai. Tension still building. "I have expressed a view of how we must deal with the Dothraki threat? Why do you disagree...Jubai?" Dubai stood leaning on hi walking stick. "The Dothraki's barbarity have stolen many things from us. I mention a way of dealing with it and you disagree? Do yon have a better solution?" Jubai still said nothing.

Eskaar now stood before Jubai, towering over the man. Then Eskaar outstretched a hand and placed it upon Jubai's shoulder "Your solution…is then to do nothing?". There was a long pause. Dubai remained as silent as before but continued to gaze up at the king. "I am afraid my nephew was wrong to give you such honor Jubai…you are a coward" Eskaar voice tailed off into a whisper then suddenly, Eskaar lashed out and struck the man hard across the face and he went flying and collapsed in a heap at the bottom of the stairway leading up to the Ember Throne. "Let it be known that this man! Will forever be known as Jubai the coward! I asked him to give me a solution to deal with the Dothraki threat and he said nothing!" Eskaar sat back down on the throne. "Uncle!" said a woman's voice. Freya appeared from the small door behind the Throne of embers. "What is the meaning of this! This man fought for my husband! And you dishonor him so!" Eskaar looked down at Jubai who was struggling on his walking stick to get to his feet. "Dearest niece" said Eskaar "I am merely pointing out to our people, that men who refuse to deal with this threat with anything less, than what I command is practically betraying us!" Freya walked down the stone stair to Jubai and helped him to his feet. "The Dothraki uncle!" she said as she helped Jubai up, a small droplet of blood began running down his head "The Dothraki are nothing but rabid beasts. Violent and unfeeling and their evil has tainted you since you took the throne!" she directed her last words more at the gathered Drakon than at the king who still sat in his throne. "You speak of grief so let mothers, daughters and wives grieve. Let me grieve! Let us speak of the Dothraki another time!" a tear welded up in her eye and Jubai bowed his head in respect to her as he limped away slowly.

Another long pause then Eskaar threw up a hand "Out!" The crowd immediately began filtering out of the large stone hall through the great wooden doors which creaked as people brushed past them, the hum of chatter starting up again. "Come with me" said Eskaar. They both left the great hall and through a tiny side door to the left of the throne, which Freya had never seen before. Through it, stood a long dark passage way lit only by a single torch on a wall. King Eskaar picked up the torch and with Freya by his side they started along it. After about two minutes of walking in silence Freya spoke, "Where does this passage end?" Eskaar his eyes fixed straight ahead replied "You will see soon". They continued to walk and Freya noticed that the air around them was getting warm, then warmer, then hot. Turning a sharp corner, Freya squeaked in surprise as suddenly before them appeared Zafna in her familiar skull paint and long black robes.

"Apologies your highness" she said and she turned her attention to the king "They are ready now your majesty" "what are ready?" said Freya confused. Eskaar turned to her and gestured that they keep moving, Freya obeyed entering through a doorway into a dark dimly lit atrium. "did you know, dear niece, that the dragon eggs now in the possession of Daenerys Targaryen have hatched?" Freya looked puzzled "Riuk told me they were abandoned by the mother dragon.. that the hatchlings within had long since died?" Eskaar smiled "So we thought to. However the Khaleesi of Drogo has found a way of reviving them" Eskaar's face turned into a grimace of hatred as he continued "By burning alive our former death priestess…Shenzi of the Drakon" Freya gasped and put a hand to her mouth "Lord of light rest her" she said weakly "But no one of Dragon blood can die by fire!" Freya exclaimed, shocked "Shenzi was never blooded by Shanok as one of the people" said Eskaar gravely and continued. " She burned as any other in the flames..The dragons born of the flames…will most likely have sickness of the brain as a result and will most likely become unstable and unpredictable as they grow older, but that is not why we have come here" Eskaar stopped in his tracks looking up at a large metal door at least fifteen feet tall. Freya began to ask the question 'Where are we' but Zafna unlocked the door in front of them and Freya got her answer. Dragons. Fifteen or so enormous fully matured dragons all looked toward the sound of the heavy steel creaking open. Eskaar saw Freya hesitate and smiled "Do not fear, they cannot harm one of Drakon blood" he looked up and held open a hand to a huge black dragon with orange amber eyes which glowed in the fire light. The creature pressed its nose to Eskaar's palm and Eskaar grinned. "This is why our people exist dear niece" Eskaar said walking around the beast and examining each feature, from the sword like claws to the spiked tail.

"The story of our people is old, our people, our family, have been hatching dragons since the time of Azonath the first". Freya extended a hand to the creature and felt the hot breath from its nostrils warm her. "why are they here?" she asked but Eskaar seemed not to hear her as he continued walking around "Azonath made a magical pact with the last dragon. In return for protection, Azonath and his followers would forever guard the last dragons children" Eskaar looked over at Freya "Our family are the descendants of Azonath himself, every other Drakon are descendants of his followers" Eskaar looked back at the towering Dragon before him. Small puffs of smoke emanating from inside its mouth. "That is why we keep them down here, that is why we remain hidden to the outside and fight off the Dothraki" Eskaar then sighed walked over to Freya and kissed her on the forehead "When the time is right" he spoke, looking into her eyes "I will unleash this horde upon Vaes Dothrak" Freya hesitated "Uncle can we not just.." "No! We cannot!" shouted Eskaar spinning round suddenly. The dragons made loud noises in protest but eventually calmed down, small flames erupting from their mouths. Eskaar closed his eyes and sighed. He spoke the next words in Westrosi "Freya my Nephew taught you the basics of Western speech? what is the Drakon word for enemy?" Freya was taken aback but tried to remember what Riuk had taught her "Dothra" she said. "Dothra" repeated Eskaar. "And the word for invader?" Freya thought once more. "Dothra?" she said wondering. "The word for horsemen?" said Eskaar looking more and more serious. "Dothra" said Freya sighing and closing her eyes. "Betrayer, outsider, enemy, traitor, every one of these words. Dothra. in our language these words reflect the Dothraki in some way…we must destroy them Freya…When the time is right, we will destroy them" Eskaar turned his attention back to the dragons placing a hand on another's head, its emerald hide shining brightly with a red plume showing on top of its head.

"How is Riika?" asked Eskaar. Freya sighed and then attempted to smile "She is well...I'm sorry uncle" she tried to keep from letting tears run down her face but failed. She turned slowly away and walked back down the tunnel. As Freya entered her chambers she found the nursemaid gently rocking a small baby, crying profusely in her arms. "highness" she said bowing her head and smiled. She walked over and placed the small child gently into Freya's arms. "Your daughter has fire in her belly like a dragon" said the nursemaid smiling, Freya giggled "Thank you for your work, Tanny". Tanny bowed her head once more then left the room. Freya, with the small baby girl tucked in her arms moved across the room to the balcony and looked out at the huge silvery moon. Freya looked down at her daughter and said "A new beginning for you Riika, I just hope it is the right one for you". The baby almost instantly stopped crying and looked up at Freya. The tiny girls bright blue eyes shining in the moons light.