The Valyrian Peninsula had a total of five cities after the Doom broke it off from Essos. At the very heart of the Peninsula was the capital of the Valyrian Empire, the once majestic city of Valyria. To its North was Tyria, while the names of the cities on the South, East and West were lost to history. Aenar had flown on Dragonback to each of the cities, but only Tyria seemed to be a viable place to set up a Valyrian Camp.
And that was only after dealing with the abominations the Valyrians left behind.
It was no secret that the Valyrian spellcasters favoured challenging the boundaries of the natural and supernatural, preferring alchemic magical experimentations. The Doom had killed off the Valyrians, but it seemed to somehow empower the experimental abominations. Aenar couldn't tell what they used to be before they were experimented on, but he knew the moment those things hissed and spat at him that they did not like him.
The Shadow had been correct when it said that the creatures of rot and death would help him. They were his shield and his sword, protecting him against the Valyian-made horrors. They were also his muscles, helping him carry the loot to Tyria, where Cannibal waited for him. The dragon had expressed its dislike when the creatures of the shadow followed Aenar out of Valyria, but Aenar had instructed him sharply that these were helping them now and in no way was he allowed to burn them.
Surprisingly the dragon listened to him.
According to the shadow, the Valyrian Steel weaponry and jewellery were still intact and true to that information, Aenar found many of them. The creatures brought them out of Valyria and the other three cities to Tyria, where the Valyrian camp was set up. Sadly he found no scroll or book with Valyrian Magic, that he could read and learn from. He knew his sister Visenya could use them, but he had never asked her to teach him. However, he was not surprised he hadn't found any. The Doom may not have affected the metal of Valyrian Steel, but paper stood no chance against it.
The pile of Valyrian Steel artefacts grew large at the camp in Tyria, but only a few things caught the attention of Aenar. The first was the Valyrian Steel Armour with glyphs engraved on it. It was too big for him, but he'd grow into it one day for certain. The other was a Valyrian Steel sword with a golden hilt. The pommel was a lion's head made of gold with ruby eyes. He had an idea of which house this sword could belong to, but he was in no mood to return it. No, he was about to keep it for himself.
And now he needed to grab these things and bring them up to Oros, where Qirzzah should be waiting for him with tents and food ready.
If not he would be flying to Volantis and burning that bastard and his house.
Lucky for Qirzzah there would be no burning.
When Aenar landed on the edge where he'd ordered the slaver to be present, he found a camp set up for him. Unlike his Tyrian one where he lay on stone and stared up at the open sky, there was a tent, a bed and even a change of clothes.
"Welcome back, Master" Qirzzah greeted with an oily smile and rubbing hands, "It is good to see you've survived the cursed lands. I was almost afraid I had lost you."
"Afraid? Or hoping?" Aenar raised a brow.
The man laughed nervously.
"Please, I have brought extra water for you to cleanse yourself in and a change of clothes as well."
Aenar stared at the tub, and barrels and slave girls stood ready.
"You brought them all so quickly" Aenar muttered.
Qirzzah's smile faltered.
"You Master, you were gone for almost a quarter of a year" the man said, much to Aenar's shock. Had he been? How did he not notice?!
He quickly shook out of it.
"I would like to bathe" he nodded, patting Qirzzah's arm before heading to the tub. There was no one else here so he stripped and entered the tub, the slave girls pouring the water. The touch of water made him sigh in contentment.
"Young master, I was hoping you would share what you had seen in Valyria" Qirzzah rubbed his hands.
He could tell him about exactly what he saw in Valyria, the history of the Valyrians, the shadows, the creatures, the treasures. But did he trust him enough to do so?
No.
But he would tell him enough where he'd be of use.
"When I entered Valyria I was attacked by creatures like the ones in Oros" Aenar began, "don't worry, Cannibal burned the ones from Oros. There were more horrifying things, Valyrian experiments that we all heard so much about. They are very real. And lots of Valyrian Steel. The last one I plan to bring here and possibly sell."
Qirzzah's eyes sparked with interest.
"I am a businessman, young master," the slaver said.
"I know" Aenar allowed the girls to clean him without complaining. Truthfully it felt a little violating. "And I would need your help in selling them. While I bring them over here, you will bring me clients to do business with. Or perhaps even workers from Qohor who can rework them."
Qirzzah hummed thoughtfully.
The following months went by with Aenar making constant trips from Oros to Tyria, collecting the Valyrian Steel in large sacks that Cannibal carried. The Dragon was not too pleased with the prospect but it still listened. Qirzzah kept his side of the bargain, bringing in clients from all over Essos and workers from Qohor to rework the Steel into something the customers wanted. Most of it was reworked weapons, spear tips and swords.
Though the most important of clients was none other than the triarch of Volantis.
Trianna was a tall woman, lean and elegant with not so much womanly curves to her. She favoured the colour yellow, as evident by the dress she wore. Her hair was allowed to fall freely, but the moment she'd entered the tent, she'd put up her hair in a bun.
"You're only a kid," the woman said, appraising Aenar from top to bottom. "How old are you?"
"I suppose I've reached ten and one by now" Aenar shrugged. He honestly had no idea how long he'd been here, Valyria skewing his sense of time and space.
"Your brother has caused us some trouble, did you know?"
"He did? Why?"
Trianna went on to describe what was being called the 'War amongst Valyria's Children'. As she described the war, Aenar studied her closely. He'd been on guard the moment she'd mentioned his brother, even more so when she described how Aegon had flown over Volantis on Balerion and burned the navy, cutting Volantis' war efforts short. She did not sound too angry, if anything she sounded as if she was glad Aegon had done so.
The reason behind it came not long after Aenar asked himself why she sounded so happy.
Aegon's intervention had handed Volantis a heavy defeat, and that opened the doors for the Elephants (Trianna's family) to take control from the Tigers (another prominent political party).
There was commotion outside and Aenar, alongside Trianna and Qirzzah rushed out of the tent. Dothraki were riding into camp from the distance, not a small number like the last time Aenar had run into these people.
"They must have caught scent of your business and wish to collect offerings or sack this place" Qirzzah explained.
"Why are they coming to collect offerings? I am not on their lands" Aenar argued.
"I fear the Dothraki do not understand what lands are. They claim whatever they wish and leave destruction in their wake" Trianna added.
"Perhaps we can talk and come to an understanding with them" Qirzzah suggested. "If you were to give them a section of your profits-"
"I will be doing no such thing" Aenar declared. The winds picked up behind them and Cannibal rose from the smoking seas. The dragon had gotten a taste for these waters and preferred to nest on a section of the cliff closer to the waters. It was a giant cavern facing the water, who knows what it had been used for in the past.
Cannibal soared high before coming down towards the Dothraki. The savages roared before turning to escape, but Cannibal's flames engulfed them easily and killed every last one of them in the blink of an eye.
"Trianna, I wish to know where these savages come from."
"Why?" the Triarch asked the young Targaryen.
"I'm going to wipe them off the face of the earth" Aenar declared, a dangerous glint in his eyes.