The hoard rode to Vaes Dothrak, the only Dothraki city, the following morn. Viserys had insisted upon travelling with the khalasar in order to make sure Khal Drogo upheld his end of the bargain. Illyrio believed this to be a foolish decision, though said nothing too strongly and returned back to his lavish home.
I had been given a rather serene mare; one with a golden colouring, a paler mane, and a white blaze running down her slender face. I believed her to be more beautiful than Dany's silver steed, for my own mare shone marvellously underneath the sun's beams. I would have named the agreeable mare, but it is not the Dothraki custom to do so, and I believe it is wisest to go along with their beliefs, while I am surrounded by them.
Viserys had received a similar horse, too, one with a reddish-brown colouring and a brown mane. The Dothraki may be cruel but they did indeed have a good sense of their animals. The horses carried their riders for ages now, days, even, and I had yet to see one collapse in exhaustion.
Dany, on the other hand, did look ready to collapse, in both mental fatigue and depression. On the morn, before we departed, her purple orbs were droopy and her once pretty gown was covered in dust and sand. Dany was then forced to wear the traditional clothing of a Dothraki, rather than the tattered rags remaining of her dress. Viserys shall not take too well to such a thing, should he even notice, though I doubt he will be allowed to do anything, for Dany is a khaleesi now.
Viserys may be the King, but here, surrounded by the Dothraki, the only leaders they see are Dany and Khal Drogo. I suspect Khal Drogo is only allowing Viserys and I to accompany them to Vaes Dothrak in respect for his wife—or tolerance for his wife, at least.
From where I sat upon my horse, I could see Ser Jorah converse with Dany, hopefully comforting her. In order for Dany to thrive in the khalasar, she will have to become stronger. Hopefully, being among the Dothraki will allow her to transform into the dragon she is supposed to be. Though, Viserys had make one remark when I spoke this aloud, saying how she is more likely to become a horse than a dragon. I simply nodded, finding it more intelligent to agree with him, rather than argue.
"—the wrong way with my army!" Viserys' loud exclamation soon gathered my attention. He spoke loudly, angrily, and I knew the Dothraki could sense his rage. Rather than being scared, however, the Dothraki around us looked annoyed, ready to permanently shut Viserys up, even if they could not understand his words. Dany was farther ahead, alongside Ser Jorah, so she was unable to hear and unable to be on the receiving end of Viserys' wrath.
"You shall receive the Iron Throne, Viserys." I informed him, trying to soothe his fury. "Either from the Khal or from the Gods. You are the true King, no one shall dare deny it."
"I gave the Khal a wife in exchange for an army!" He continued on, ignoring my consoling. I nodded, sympathetically.
"Yes—" I began, only to be stopped by someone—Ser Jorah, I believe—commanding an order in Dothraki. The hoard stopped within a thin trail, causing Viserys to look around, wildly.
"We've stopped." He breathed. "She—she commanded me, the dragon, to stop?"
Viserys violently urged his horse onward, toward Ser Jorah. He ignored the angry Dothraki, pushing through the hoard without a single care. I followed him, though offered apologetics gestures and rode at a much slower pace, though the Dothraki cared little for my apologies and slower pace.
"The hoard has stopped." He announced to Ser Jorah, who replied in a deep tone.
"The Khaleesi has commanded it. And you should take on the ridge, here." He said. Viserys turned a ripe crimson, turning his horse to the foliage. I directed my horse to follow him, and the mare did, gracefully trotting.
He came upon Dany like a sudden storm comes upon a farmer's field. "You dare!" He shrieked. "You dare command me?" He launched himself from his horse and it was then that I began to panic.
"Viserys, please—" I begged him to cease, for there was nothing good to come from this attack, no matter how provoked. My pleading was to no avail and Viserys grabbed Dany by the shoulders, shaking her roughly. I rapidly dismounted from my mare, fearing for both Dany and Viserys.
"Have you forgotten how I am?" He roared. "I am the King! I am the dragon! I do not take orders from some savage's whore!"
Suddenly, a whip cracked, sounding like thunder, and grasped Viserys' throat and yanked him backward. He sprawled in the grass, chocking and surprised.
"Release him!" I demanded, fearing for his life. These savages murdered each other on whims; there is no telling what they may do to Viserys, a clear foreigner, who wore silken clothing, who stood out among them. "Please!" I tried begging.
The Dothraki riders surrounding us laughed, probably sensing I was trying to tell them what to do, sensing that I had begged for his life, that I was weak, in their eyes. I glowered in both fury and fear.
Then, one of the riders, a young one, spoke in Dothraki. Thankfully, one of Dany's handmaidens translated: "Rakharo asks if you would have him dead, Khaleesi."
"No!" Dany said, forcefully, desperately, while Viserys continued to choke.
The Dothraki man spoke again and, once again, the handmaiden translated: "Rakharo say you should take ear, to teach respect." She spat in near contempt for Viserys, earning her a deep glare from me. She is but a measly handmaiden, not some influential woman. I do not even think she is granted a horse to ride upon, instead having to walk the entire distance to Vaes Dothrak.
"Please, do not harm him." Dany said, almost begging, much like I had done before.
There was silence, the only sound coming from Viserys, who was still being choked by the whip. Dany swallowed deeply, before speaking in a calm, almost deadly, voice: "Tell him I do not want my brother harmed."
The handmaiden translated this time, causing the olive-skinned Rakharo to give a confused noise, before releasing Viserys, who desperately gasped for air.
I immediately rushed to his side, offering him aid in standing. He pushed me away, standing on his own, like a King would. He spluttered for a few seconds, before screaming a comprehendible sentence: "Kill these Dothraki dogs!" He commanded to Ser Jorah, who did nothing.
"I am your King!" He tried once more, to no avail. Ser Jorah ignored him.
"Shall we return to the khalasar, Khaleesi?" He asked. Dany offered Viserys a feeble glance and soon mounted her silver filly, with the help of her handmaiden.
I, too, mounted my own horse, awaiting Viserys to do the same. He huffed and picked up his sword, the one that had been thrown to the side when Rakharo had attacked him.
"No." Rakharo spoke up, having procured Viserys' steed. "You—" He indicated to the trail. "—walk."
I blinked, before beginning to dismount. No King should walk when there is a horse available. "Viserys—" I gained his attention, indicating toward my golden mare.
"Ah, ah." Rakharo said, waving the whip in an almost threatening manner. "He walk. You ride."
He did not seem to be leaving, not until I had finally mounted my horse and Viserys had began to walk. Rakharo then indicated to the trail, allowing me to head before him. I suppose this was to make sure I gave Viserys no help.
I remained low and tried to keep my head down, avoiding the dragon's surely furious gaze. I did try, but the Dothraki do not offer any compromises, especially with foreigners they did not like.
And so I rode on, alongside Rakharo and Viserys' horse, leaving the King to walk among the slaves and people too unimportant to be given a horse, despite there being many spare ones.
Rakharo gave a smirk at the sigh of Viserys walking, at the sight of a man who claimed to be the King walking among the slaves. I ignored Viserys' deep gaze, ripping holes into my back. Rakharo noticed this and spoke up, wether the remark was supposed to be toward Viserys or me, or perhaps both, I do not know. All I know is that his words did ring truthful, in some sense:
"Dragon can fly, can they not?" He said, and then laughed at the dragon who walked and did not fly.