The early morning sun greeted them, casting its warm golden glow across the rugged landscape that Daenerys Targaryen walked across. With each step she made, the two bells Irri had placed within the braids of her hair jingled softly, creating a soothing melody that seemed to calm her racing heart. She was not alone, however. By her side, the Professor walked with her, along with Barristan Selmy, her bloodriders, and a handful of her Unsullied.
The path they climbed grew steeper, winding its way to the crest of a ridge. As the small group ascended, the world before them unfurled in a breathtaking panorama. From this vantage point, they could see a city unlike no other. A city that was encircled by towering yellow walls and pyramids that seemed to reach into the sky.
The Professor looked over at the scene before them before unfurling the map he held. He had printed a map from his TARDIS, with carefully rendered intricate details of the lands surrounding Slaver's Bay. His fingers traced along the route that they had taken, which got them here. "Yunkai," the Time Lord stated as he pointed to the city before them.
Daenerys moved forward. Her eyes were fixed on the sprawling city before her as she felt the wind ruffle through her garments and hair. Her shoulders almost brushed against the Professor as they stood together. She turned to look up at him, her violet eyes meeting his blue ones. "Yunkai," she repeated softly.
"The Yunkish train bed slaves, not soldiers," Barristan told them. "But we can defeat them."
The Professor shook his head. "Something tells me that they won't meet us on the field. Whispers of what happened in Astapor would have reached them by now. They will now that we're coming." He turned back to look at the city. "Besides, look at their walls. They're tall, thick and strong. I've seen cities like that before. They can last a while behind those walls while we lay siege to them, where they can chip away at our army, man by man."
Daenerys shook her head. "I don't want half my army killed before I've crossed the Narrow Sea," she asserted.
"The city won't bring you the Iron Throne. Or the Seven Kingdoms," the Professor told her.
Daenerys wasn't swayed. "No," she countered. "But it will bring me practice in governing a territory." She let her gaze shift back to the sprawling expanse of Yunkai, allowing her mind to calculate the possibilities. "How many slaves are there in Yunkai?" she inquired.
"The last I heard, it was 200,000," Barristan replied. "If not more."
A determined spark ignited in Daenerys' violet eyes. "Then we have 200,000 reasons to take the city," she declared. Her gaze then shifted over to the commander of the Unsullied, Grey Worm. "Send a man to the city gates," she told him in Valyrian. "The slavers like to talk. Send word that I will here them this evening in my tent."
By mid-afternoon, the sun was scorching as it shone down on the dusty road below it. On either side of the road were the Unsullied, with each soldier standing still like a statue and all holding their spears upright and shields in front of them with the utmost resolve. A rhythmic beat of the drums echoed around them, banging to the sound of the marching Yunkish procession that carried Grazdan mo Eraz.
He sat enclosed in his litter, carried by a few of his slaves. Walking to the sound of the drumbeat, he reclined back against the seat, looking out at the window at the Unsullied that lined his path to Daenerys Targaryen. The stoic expressions of the Unsullied sent shivers down his spine, reminding him of what he had heard what had happened in Astapor. Where Daenerys had overthrown the Good Masters of the city and put the council of three men in her stead. And now Grazdan was worried that the same would happen to Yunkai.
Coming to Daenerys' tent, the litter jolted to a stop, and he climbed out and approached the tent, where he found Daenerys waiting for him, sitting on a large sofa. Beside her sat the Professor, and around them sat the three dragons – Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion. Off to the side stood Ser Barristan Selmy and Missendai, and behind them were Irri and Jhiqui. And along the sides of the tent were the bloodriders of Daenerys' khalasar – Rakharo, Aggo and Jhogo.
"Now comes the noble Grazdan mo Eraz of that ancient and honourable house," Missendai introduced as they all watched Grazdan move towards them. "Master of Men and Speaker to Savages, to offer peace terms." She turned to Grazdan. "Noble lord, you are in the presence of Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons."
Daenerys nodded at him. "You may approach," she instructed him. "Sit."
Irri moved forward, bringing a chair for Grazdan to sit on, which he did. Missendei then moved forward, carrying a cup and Pilcher with her. "Will the noble lord take refreshment?" she asked. Grazdan nodded, and she began to pour and gave him the cup.
Taking a sip of the drink, Grazdan stared over at Daenerys and the Professor. "Ancient and glorious is Yunkai. It is the queen of cities," he told them. "Our walls are strong and tall, our nobles are proud and fierce, and our common folk are without fear. Ours is the blood of ancient Ghis, whose empire was old before the dragons stirred, and Valyria was just a squalling child. Many an army has broken against our walls. You shall find no easy conquest here, Khaleesi."
"Good," Daenerys said, picking up some charred meat from the bowl nestled between her and the Professor and giving it to Viserion, who was curled up on the couch on the other side of Daenerys. "My Unsullied will relish a bit of a fight."
"If blood is what you desire, blood shall flow," Grazdan told her with a shrug. "I have been told that you have freed your eunuchs. But freedom means as much to an Unsullied as a hat to a haddock." He looked at Grey Worm, smiling at him, but he might also be made of stone. "You indeed committed savageries in Astapor, but the Yunkai are a most forgiving and generous people. Your quarrel is not with us, Your Grace. Why squander your strength against our mighty walls when you need every man to regain your father's throne in far Westeros? Yunkai wishes you only well in that endeavour. And to prove the truth of that, I have brought you a gift." He clapped his hands, and two of his escort came forward bearing a heavy cedar chest bound in bronze and gold. They set it at her feet. "Fifty thousand golden marks," Grazdan continued. "Yours, as a gesture of friendship from the Wise Masters of Yunkai. There is far more than this awaiting you on the deck of your ship."
Daenerys stared at him in disbelief. "My ship?"
"Yes, Khaleesi. As I said, we are a generous people. You shall have as many ships as you require."
Daenerys looked over at the open chests full of gold coins, just as Grazdan said. She grabbed a handful and let them run through her fingers. They shone brightly as they tumbled and fell. Most of them were newly minted and stamped with a step pyramid on one face and the harpy of Ghis on the other. She looked back at Grazdan. "And what do you ask in return?"
"All we ask is that you make use of these ships. Sail them back to Westeros where you belong, and leave us to conduct our offers in peace."
Daenerys looked at him, then at his envoy behind him. Slaves. His slaves. She frowned. "I have a gift for you as well," she said, slamming the chest shut. "Three days."
Grazdan looked at her in puzzlement. "Three days?" he repeated.
"On the morning of the third day, you will release every slave in Yunkai. Every man, woman, and child shall be given a weapon and as much food, clothing, coin, and goods as they can carry. These they shall be allowed to choose freely from among their masters' possessions as payment for their years of servitude. When all the slaves have departed, you will open your gates and allow my Unsullied to enter and search your city to ensure none remain in bondage. If you do this, Yunkai will not be burned or plundered, and none of your people shall be molested. The Wise Masters will have the peace they desire and will have proved themselves wise indeed. What do you say?"
"I say you are mad," Grazdan spat. "We are not Astapor or Qarth. We are the Yunkai'i, and we have powerful friends. Friends who would take great pleasure in destroying you. Those who survive we shall enslave again and use to retake Astapor from the rabble. We can make a slave of you as well, do not doubt it. There are pleasure houses in Lys and Tyrosh where men would pay handsomely to bed the last Targaryen." He stood and approached her, but Drogon reached forward and roared at him.
Grazdan stepped back, tripping over the chests of gold he had brought. "You swore I should have safe conduct!" he screamed.
"I did. But my dragons made no promises," Daenerys said. "And you threatened their mother."
Grazdan looked down at his slaves. "Take the gold," he barked at them.
The slaves approached the chests, but the three dragons swooped down from their perches and roared at them, causing them to run back.
"My gold," Daenerys told him. "You gave it to me, remember? And I shall put it to good use. You'd be wise to do the same with my gift to you. Remember, Grazdan, three days. Tell them. By the end of the third day, I will be in Yunkai, whether you open your gates for me or not."
