Chapter 24 Chapter 23 Daenerys

In the center of Pride Square was a red brick fountain, the water in it smelled like sulfur, and in the center of the fountain was a huge bronze harpy, twenty feet high.She had the face of a woman—gilded hair, ivory eyes, and sharp ivory teeth—yellow water gurgled from heavy breasts, but where arms should have been bat or dragon wings, legs and the legs of an eagle, with a curly and vicious scorpion tail trailing behind it. This is the harpies of Ghis, Dany thought.If she remembers correctly, the ancient Ghis Empire fell five thousand years ago, its legions crushed by the rising Valyrians, its brick walls toppled, its streets and buildings burned to death by dragon flames. Ashes, every inch of it is strewn with salt, brimstone, and dead bones.Ser Jorah said that the god of Ghis and its people were dead, and that the people of Astapor today were only half-breeds and could not even speak Ghiscari.The city-states of Slaver's Bay speak Old Valyrian, or rather the intelligible parts of it, the language of the conquerors.

Yet the symbols of the ancient empire remain, as evidenced by the bronze monster before us.But from its paws hung a heavy chain, with a loose shackle at each end.There was a bolt of lightning between Guise's harpy claws.It was not the harpies of Ghis, but the harpies of Astapor. "Tell the bitch in Westeros to watch the following," the slave trader Krazni mo Nakroz complained to the slave girl who was acting as an interpreter. "I sell meat, not iron. I don't sell the bronze statues. Tell her to look at the soldiers, and I'll bet even this purple-eyed barbarian from the land of the sunset can see how good my stock is." "

Krazny's High Valyrian was distorted by Gist's thick, guttural accent, laced with slaver's slang.Dany could basically understand, but she smiled and looked blankly at the slave girl, waiting for her to translate. "Aren't they brilliant, asks the Good Lord Krazny?" She spoke the Common Tongue quite well for someone who had never been to Westeros.The girl was less than ten years old, with a flat round face, dark skin and golden eyes unique to the Nass.Her people were called "people of peace" and thus the best slaves. "Maybe," Dany replied.Ser Jorah advises her to speak only Dothraki and Common in Astapor.My big bear is thick and thin. "I need to know more about their training."

"Westerosi women are pleased with them, but don't praise them, in order to undercut the price," the interpreter told the host, "and she wants to know how they were trained." Krazni mo Nakroz nodded.The slave trader smelled like he had just been bathed in black strawberry water, his red and black forked mustache gleamed with oil.His breasts are bigger than mine, Dany thought, seeing his breasts through the thin sea-blue silk.He wears a tokar robe with a gold tassel, buttoned at one shoulder, and holds the robe in place with his left hand as he walks, while holding a short leather whip with his right. "Are all Westeros pigs so ignorant?" he went on complaining. "The whole world knows that the Unsullied are unrivaled in spears, shields, and short swords." He gave Dany an exaggerated smile. "Tell her all about it, slave, and hurry up. It's too hot."

At least this sentence is true.Behind them stood a pair of twin slave girls, holding up their respective silk-striped parasols, but even so Dany was suffocating and Krazny was sweating profusely.Pride Square has been baked by the sun since dawn, and through the thick soles, you can feel the heat of the red bricks under your feet.Waves of heat rose from the red brick floor, making the stepped pyramids of Astapor around the square look like mirages. If the Unsullied felt the heat, at least they didn't show it.From the way they stand, they appear to be made of bricks.A thousand slaves came out of the barracks for her review, and they lined up in ten rows, a hundred each, before the fountain and the mighty bronze harpy, standing straight and straight, their emotionless eyes staring forward.They wore nothing but white linen loins and conical bronze helmets with a foot-high spike on their heads.Krazny had ordered them to lay down their spears and shields, and unfasten their sword belts from their tunics so that the Queen of Westeros could take a closer look at his strong, slender form.

"They were picked out for size, speed, and strength," the slave girl told her, "and trained from the age of five. Every day from dawn until dark, until they mastered the short sword, the shield, and the three Spear. Severe training, Your Majesty, it is a well-known fact that only one of three boys survives. There is a saying about the Unsullied: From the day he won the spiked helmet, the hardest life is over, since From now on, no task will be as harsh as the original training." Krazni mo Nakroz did not speak the Common Tongue, but he nodded as he listened, and occasionally poked the slave girl with the tip of his whip. "Tell her that these fellows have stood there all day and all night, neither eating nor drinking; tell her that as long as I don't order them to disband, they will stand until they fall; tell her that even nine hundred and ninety Nine fell dead on the brick floor, and the last one would stand still until his own death. Such was their courage. Tell her this."

"This is madness, not courage!" White-bearded Astan blurted out after the serious little translator finished speaking.He tapped on the brick floor with his hardwood cane, tap, tap, as if expressing his dissatisfaction.The old man would not sail to Astapor, nor would he approve of the purchase of this army of slaves.The queen needs to listen to everyone, which is why Dany brought him to the Pride Square, not to use him as a guard, bloodriders are enough.She left Ser Jorah aboard the Balerion to guard her people and her dragons.She locked the dragons below deck, reluctantly, but it was too dangerous to let them fly freely over the city-the world was full of all kinds of villains, and they might kill them just to gain the title of "Dragon Slayer".

"What is that smelly old man talking about?" the slave trader asked the translator.When she was done, he smiled, "Tell the barbarian, we call this 'obedience.' Other warriors may be stronger, quicker, or taller than the Unsullied, and may even use swords, shields, and spears with them." The skills are comparable, but you can't find soldiers who know how to obey more than them in the whole world." "Sheep know how to obey best," Astan commented after the words were translated.His Valyrian wasn't as fluent as Dany's, but it wasn't bad, and he just pretended not to know it, following her example.

When his words were translated, Krazni mo Nakroz showed his huge white teeth. "The sheep will let his stinking old guts spill out on the brick floor at my word," he bellowed. "Of course, don't tell him that. Tell 'em these fellows are like dogs, not like sheep. Yes Now, do they eat dogs and horses in the Seven Kingdoms?" "They prefer pigs and cows, master." "Beef, pork. Barbarians like to eat dirty things." Dany pretended not to know, and walked slowly along the line of slave soldiers.The girl with the parasol followed closely, keeping her in the shadow, but the thousand warriors in front of her enjoyed no shade.More than half of them had the bronzed skin and almond eyes of Dothraki or Lazarines, but she saw Free Cities men too, fair Qartheites, ebony Summer Islanders, and others. I don't know what race they are.Some have the same amber skin as Krazni mo Nakroz, and the red and black bristling hair of the ancient Ghis people - they call themselves the "Sons of the Harpy" with pride ancestry sign.Even the same family are sold.She shouldn't have been surprised that the Dothraki did the same when the khalasar met each other in the Dothraki Sea.

The soldiers were tall and short, from fourteen to twenty, as far as she could judge.They all had smooth cheeks, and there was no difference in the expression in the eyes whether they were black, brown, blue, gray, or yellow.These men were all made of the same type, Dany thought, before remembering that they were not men at all, but eunuchs. "Why castrate them?" she asked Krazny through the slave girl. "It is said that men are stronger than eunuchs." "Eunuchs castrated from childhood would not have the brute force of your knights of Westeros, that is true," Krazni mo Nakroz replied after the question was translated. "But don't forget, bulls are also very strong, and in the arena, they are the ones who die every day. Less than three days ago, a nine-year-old girl killed one in the arena of Josier. Wugou There is something more important than strength—discipline. Yes, we train them in the fighting style of the ancient empire, and they are the rebirth of the marching Legion of Gughis, absolute obedience, absolute loyalty, and no fear."

Dani listened patiently to the translation. "The bravest people also fear death and disability," Arstein said. Krazny smiled again when he heard this. "Tell the old man he smells like piss and needs a rotten stick to stand on." "Is that true, master?" He poked her with the whip. "Of course you can't say that, are you a woman or a ewe, can you ask such a stupid question? Tell him that the Unsullied are not human, and tell him that death is nothing to them, let alone disability." He said in a The strong and strong slave soldier who looked like a Lazarin stood still in front of him, raised his whip violently, and slapped the opponent's bronzed cheek hard, leaving a bloodstain.The eunuch blinked and stood still, letting the blood flow. "Want to come again?" Krazny said. "As long as the master is happy." It's hard to pretend you don't understand.Dany put a hand on Krazny's arm before he raised the whip again. "Tell Lord Good Lord, I understand the strength of the Unsullied and their courage to endure pain." Krazny snickered when her words were translated into Valyrian. "Tell this ignorant western whore it's not about courage." "Lord Good Lord says that is not courage, Your Majesty." "Tell her to open your dog eyes." "He asks you to watch carefully, Your Majesty." Krazny walked up to the next eunuch, a tall young man with Lysian blue eyes and flaxen hair. "Your sword," he said.The eunuch knelt down, drew his weapon, and handed it hilt forward.It was a short sword, better for stabbing than slashing, but the edge was still sharp. "Stand up," Krazny ordered. "Yes, master," the eunuch stood up.Then Krazny mo Nakroz slowly slashed the sword across his torso from bottom to top, leaving a thin red line from the ribs to the abdomen, and then poked the tip of the sword under the big pink nipple, and Start cutting back and forth. Blood poured from the slave's chest like a gush. "What is he doing?" Dany asked the girl. "Tell the cow not to mutter," Krazny said without waiting for an interpreter, "it won't do much harm. Men don't need teats, let alone eunuchs." The thin layer of skin, he slashed, causing it to roll onto the brick floor.A red circle appeared on the Unsullied's chest, and blood gushed, but he did not move until Krazny handed the sword back, hilt forward. "Okay, that's it." "The villain is happy to serve his master." Krazny turned to Dany. "You see, they don't feel pain." "How is this possible?" she asked through a translator. "It is the wine of courage," he replied. "It's not real wine, but a drink made from belladonna, blood fly larvae, black lotus root and other secret ingredients. From the day they were castrated, they drank it at every meal, day after day, year after year , until the feeling becomes numb, until the fighting becomes fearless, until it is not afraid of any torture. Tell the barbarian that any secrets can be safely handed over to the Unsullied, and you can also arrange for him to guard the conference hall or even the bedroom without worrying about being attacked. Overhear." "In Yunkai and Meereen, the way to make eunuchs is to remove the testicles, but leave the penis. Such a man can't bear children, but he can get an erection, and it will only cause trouble. We remove the penis too, and nothing remains. Stainless Those are the purest animals in the whole world." He smiled exaggeratedly at Dany and Arstan again. "I heard that in the sunset kingdom, there are people who solemnly swear to remain chaste, have no children, and live only for duty. Is that true?" "Yes," Astan said after the question was translated, "there are many such organizations: the bachelors of the Academy, the monks and nuns who serve the Seven Gods, the silent sisters mourning the dead, the Kingsguard, the Night Watchman..." "Poor them," said the slave trader in a low voice after the translation. "People don't deserve to live like this. Idiots know that they are tortured by temptation every day, and most of them will eventually succumb to their base selves. Ours The Unsullied are different, the way they combine with the sword is incomparable even after thousands of oaths have been sworn by others. Whether it is a woman or a man, you can never seduce them." The girl relayed the gist of his words in a more polite manner. "Besides the body, there are other ways to seduce people," Whitebeard Arstein retorted when she finished speaking. "You can seduce people, yes, but not the Unsullied. Robbery and rape don't interest them. They have nothing but weapons, and they don't even have names." "No name?" Dany frowned at the little translator, "Is that what the good lord means? They don't have names?" "Exactly, Your Majesty." Krazny stopped in front of a Ghis.The other was like his brother, but taller and healthier.He swung his whip at a small bronze medallion on the sword belt at the man's feet. "His name is there. Ask that bitch of Westeros if she recognizes the Ghiscari hieroglyphs." When Dany admitted that she did not, the slave trader turned to the Unsullied. "What's your name?" he asked. "The villain's name is Red Flea, master." The girl repeated it in Common Tongue. "What was it called yesterday? "Black rat, master." "What about the day before yesterday?" "Brown Flea, Master." "The day before?" "The villain can't remember, master. Maybe it's a blue toad, maybe it's a blue bug." "Tell her that their names are like this," Krazny ordered the slave girl, "to remind them that they are just parasites. Every evening, all the name tags are thrown into an empty barrel, and the next day dawn Pick it up at random." "It's even crazier," Astan said after listening, "How can everyone remember a new name every day?" "Those who can't remember their names are screened out in training, along with those who can't run all day with a full load, climb a hill in the dark of night, walk past a field of burning coal, or kill a baby." At these words, Dany knew her mouth was twisted.Did he see it, or was he cruel and dull?She turned her head quickly, trying to hide the expression on her face, and waited until she finished listening to the translation before allowing herself to speak, "Whose baby did they kill?" "Before he can win the spiked helmet, the Unsullied must take a silver coin to the slave market, find a crying newborn, and kill it in front of its mother's eyes. That way we can be sure he has nothing in his mind. Weakness." She felt dizzy.A hot relationship, she tried to convince herself. "They took the baby from its mother, killed it while she watched, and paid her a silver coin for her pain?" After the translation was completed, Krazni Mo Nakroz laughed long and loudly. "The nagging whore is a soft-hearted fool. Tell the Westeros bitch that money is paid to the master of the child, not to the mother. The Unsullied shall not steal." He slapped the whip. own legs. "Tell her that there are far fewer guys who fail the test than dogs who fail the test. On the day every boy is castrated, we give him a puppy that he has to keep until the end of his first year, and then strangle with his own hands. It. Those who couldn't were summarily executed and their flesh fed to the dogs that survived. We found that to be the most important lesson for them." Astan the White Beard listened, tapping on the brick floor with his cane.Tap, tap, tap.Slow and steady.Dany saw the old man look away, as if Krazny was too much for him to bear. "According to Lord Good Lord, these eunuchs will not be seduced by money or flesh," Dany told the girl, "but if my enemies use freedom to lure them into betrayal..." "They'll kill him right away, and give you his head, that's all," replied the slave trader. "Other slaves will steal and hoard money to buy their freedom, but even if the little she-ass offered to free the Unsullied for nothing, they would not take it. They have no life outside their duties, are soldiers, only That's all." "Soldiers are what I need," Dany admitted. "Tell her she was on the right track in Astapor. Ask her how big an army she wants to buy." "How many Unsullied do you have for sale?" "There are currently eight thousand fully trained Unsullied. She needs to know that we only sell by the unit, by the thousand or by the hundred. We used to sell tens to customers as bodyguards, and it turned out to be ineffective. Ten There are too few of them, and they mingle with other slaves and even free men, forgetting who they are and who they are." Krazny waited for these words to be translated into the common language, and then continued, "This beggar queen must Understand, such a marvelous army comes at a price. In Yunkai and Meereen, it may even be cheaper to buy slave swordsmen than their swords, but the Unsullied are the finest infantry in the world, trained for years. Tell her , they are like Valyrian steel, folded and hammered till they are stronger and more malleable than any metal in the world." "I know Valyrian steel," Dany said. "Ask Lord Good Lord, if the Unsullied have their own commanders." "Officers must be sent to command them. We train them to obey, not to think. If she wants wisdom, she should buy paperwork." "How about their equipment?" "Swords, shields, spears, sandals, and padded jackets are all included," Krazny said, "and, of course, spiked helmets. They can also wear any armor you want, but the armor must be yours. supply." Dany couldn't think of any more questions, so she looked at Arstan. "You're the elder, Whitebeard. That's the way it is, what do you say?" "I said 'no,' Your Majesty," the old man replied without thinking. "Why?" she asked. "Just speak up, please." Dany knew what he was going to say, but she wanted the slave girl to hear, so Krazny would know afterward. "Your Majesty," Arstan said, "the Seven Kingdoms have had no slaves for thousands of years. Gods old and new alike regard slavery as an abominable monster and the embodiment of evil. If you lead an army of slaves to Wes For this alone, Troll, many good men and women will rise up against it, which will greatly damage your career and family honor." "But I must have an army," said Dany. "That boy Joffrey will not give up the Iron Throne at my polite request." "When you set sail, half of Westeros will be with you," Whitebeard assured. "Your brother Rhaegar will still be remembered with great love." "And what about my father?" Dany said. The old man hesitated, "People also remember King Aerys, at least he brought peace to the kingdom for many years. Your Majesty, you don't need slaves, you have dragons, and you can wait for them to grow under the protection of Governor Illyrio, While sending secret envoys across the narrow sea to test the lords." "Testing those high lords who have deserted my father for the Kingslayer, and bowed to the usurper Robert?" "They may be longing for the return of the true dragon." "Perhaps," Dany said.An ambiguous word, perhaps, in any language.She turned to Krazni mo Nakroz and his slave girl. "I have to think carefully." The slave trader shrugged. "Tell her to think quickly, I have many buyers. Three days ago, I showed the same Unsullied to a Pirate King, and he wanted to buy them all." "A hundred of those pirates, master," Dany heard the slave girl say. He poked her with the tip of the whip. "Pirates are liars, and he'll buy them all, just tell her so, little bitch." Dany knew she needed far more than a hundred. "Remind your good lord who I am, remind him that I am Daenerys Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, the Unburnt, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, descended from Aegon the Conqueror and old Valyria." Her words were translated into awkward Valyrian, but failed to impress the fat slave trader who smelled of perfume. "Ghis was a world empire when the Valyrians were sodomizing sheep," he yelled at the poor little interpreter. "We are the Sons of the Harpy." He shrugged. "It's really troublesome to talk to women. Whether it's an Eastern woman or a Western woman, they are all indecisive. They don't make a decision until they are full of food, flattery, and candy. Very well, if this is me Fuck you, give it up. Tell that bitch that if she wants a guide to show her around our lovely city, Krazni mo Nakroz is more than happy to oblige her... and to find her Fun, as long as she's more of a woman than she looks." "While you are considering it, the Good Lord Krazni will be more than happy to show you around Astapor, Your Majesty," said the interpreter. "I'll treat her to dog brain jelly, red octopus bisque, and dog fetus." He wiped his lips. "He said that there are many delicious dishes to eat here." "Tell her how beautiful the pyramids are at night," growled the slave trader. "Tell her I'll lick the honey from her tits, and she can lick mine if she likes." "Astapor is most beautiful at twilight, my lord," said the slave girl, "and the good lords light silk lanterns on every step, making all the pyramids ablaze. Yachting cruises the river of worms , you can listen to soft music, visit small islands in the water, enjoy food, wine and other fun.” "Tell her to come to our arena," Krazny added. "There's a good show tonight at Doc's. A big bear against three little boys. One boy is covered in honey, the other is covered in honey." Blood, and a rotting fish, she could bet on which one the bear would eat first." Tap, tap, tap, Dany heard Arstan Whitebeard knocking.The old man's face was calm, but his actions showed the anger in his heart.Tap, tap, tap.She forced herself to smile. "I have my own bear on the 'Belerion,'" she told the interpreter, "and if I don't go back, he will probably eat me." "Look," Krazny judged, as her words were translated, "it's not the woman who decides, but the man she's rushing to meet. As always!" "Thank you Lord Good Lord for your patience and kindness," Dany said. "Tell him that I will carefully consider what I learned here." She extended her arm to the white-bearded Astan and let him lead her across the square to the sedan chair .Ago and Jogo followed on both sides, strutting with their legs bent, which was the usual posture used by horse kings when they were forced to dismount and walk like ordinary people. Dany frowned and climbed into the sedan chair, and beckoned Astan to come in and sit next to him. A man of his age shouldn't be walking in the sun.On the way, she left the curtains open.The red brick city is baked by the sun, and every breeze is to be cherished, even if it is accompanied by wisps of red dust.Besides, I need to watch. She walked through the Temple of Dust and bathed in the World Womb Lake under the Mount of the Virgin, but in her eyes, Astapor was still a strange city.All the streets, like Pride Square, are made of red bricks, with stepped pyramids, deep-dug arenas with rings of seats descending gradually, sulfurous fountains, dark Wine shops and the ancient wall around the city.So many bricks, she thought, so old, so fragile.The air is full of fine red dust, and the breeze blows, and the dust flies along the gutter.No wonder the women of Astapor veiled their faces; brick dust stings the eyes more than sand. "Make way!" Qiao Ge was riding in front of the sedan chair, shouting loudly, "Make way for the Mother of Dragons!" Seeing him unfurl his silver-handled long whip and waving it in the air, she hurriedly leaned forward to stop it. "Not here, blood of my blood," she said in Dothraki, "these bricks have heard too many whiplashes." In the morning, when they set out from the port, the streets were deserted, and now in the afternoon they still seemed empty.An elephant walks slowly, with a lattice box on its back.A sunburnt boy sits naked in a dry red brick gutter, picking his nose and gloomily watching the ants in the street.Hearing the sound of horseshoes, he raised his head and stared blankly at a group of cavalry passing by, with harsh laughter accompanied by red dust kicked up under the hooves.Soldiers wore yellow silk cloaks sewn with many shining copper disks like suns, and embroidered linen tunics with pleated sarongs and sandals from the waist down.They don't wear hats, and each of them has their red and black standing hair combed and oiled, and coiled into all kinds of strange shapes, with horns, wings, blades, and even grasping hands, so that they are like a group from the seven hells. The evil spirits that came out.Dany watched with the naked boy for a while, until they disappeared, and then the boy went back to watching the ants, fingers up his nostrils. It is an ancient city, she thought, but not as prosperous as it once was, not even Qarth or Pentos or Lys. The palanquin stopped abruptly at a crossroads to allow a line of shuffling slaves to pass by, the crack of the overseer's whip urging them on.Dany noticed that these people were not Unsullied, but more ordinary, light brown skin and black hair.There were women among them, but no children, all naked.Two Astaporns followed on white donkeys, the man in the red silk tokar, the veiled woman in blue linen trimmed with patches of small lapis lazuli, and in her red and black hair stuck a An ivory comb.The man whispered to her, laughed, and paid no attention to Dany, nor to his slave or overseer.The overseer was a stocky Dothraki with five tangled whips and a harpy in chains proudly tattooed on his muscular chest. "Bricks and blood make Astapor," Whitebeard murmured beside her, "bricks and blood make her people." "What's that?" Dany asked curiously. "An ancient poem a maester taught me when I was a child. I didn't know it was so real. The bricks of Astapor are red with the blood of the slaves who made them." "Yes," Dany said. "Your Majesty, get out of here before your heart turns into bricks. Let's take advantage of the night tide and set sail tonight." I wish I could, Dany thought. "Ser Jorah says I will buy an army in Astapor." "Ser Jorah was a slaver himself, Your Grace," the old man reminded her. "Mercenaries are easy to hire in Pentos, Myr, and Tyrosh. Those who kill for money have no honor, but at least they are not slaves. Seek armies over there, I beseech you." "My brother visited Pentos, Myr, Braavos...all the Free Cities. Magisters and High Lords gave him wine and promises, but starved his soul to death. A man who begged all his life Impossible to remain human. I have tasted it in Qarth, and I will never go to Pentos with a begging bowl in hand." "It's better to be a beggar than a slave trader," Arstan said. "The person who said that has never tried both identities." Dany said angrily. "Squire, do you know what it's like to be sold? I do. My brother sold me to Khal Drogo for a golden crown, and Drogo gave him it, but not in the way he expected , and I... my sun and stars make me a queen, if he were another person, the ending might be very different, but unfortunately not. Do you think I have forgotten the taste of fear?" Whitebeard lowered his head. "Your Majesty, I do not intend to offend." "Only lies are offensive, sincerity is absolutely not." Dany patted Astan's mottled palm to reassure him, "I have the temper of a dragon, that's all, you don't have to be afraid." "I will remember." Whitebeard smiled. He has a kind face and great power, Dany thought. She wonders why Ser Jorah doesn't trust him.Was he jealous that I had found other men to talk to?Her thoughts returned involuntarily to the night on the Balerion when the exiled knight had kissed her.He shouldn't have done it.He was three times my age, too young for me, and without my permission.A true knight never kisses his queen without her permission.After that, she was careful not to be alone with Ser Jorah again, always accompanied by maids or bloodriders.But he wants to kiss me again, I can see it in his eyes. Dany's own desires were indescribable, but Jorah's kiss had awakened something, something that had been dormant since Khal Drogo's death.Lying on the narrow bunk, she often imagined that it was not the maid but a certain man who was crowded beside her.The thought excited her strangely.Sometimes, when you close your eyes, you will dream of "him", but "he" is never Jorah Mormont, "he" is younger and more beautiful, although his face is always a hazy shadow. Once, Dany was so tortured that she couldn't sleep, she couldn't help sliding her hand between her legs, and when she felt it was so wet, she couldn't help but hold her breath.Her fingers moved back and forth between her labia, her movements were very slow, and she hardly dared to breathe, so as not to wake up Yi Li beside her, until she found a comfortable point, she stayed there, stroking gently, shy and hesitant at first, then more and more Faster and faster, yet the comfort she longed for remained elusive, until at last her dragon was alarmed.One of them hissed from across the cabin, and Irri caught her movement. Dany knew she was blushing, but in the dark, Irri couldn't see.Wordlessly, the maid placed one hand on her breasts, leaning over her nipples, while the other hand slid down the soft curve of her belly, through the fine silver-blond hair, and moved between her thighs.But in a moment, her legs twisted, her breasts rose, her whole body began to shake, and then she screamed.Or was that Drogon's scream?Eli said nothing, curled up and went back to sleep when she was done. The next day, everything was like a dream.What did it matter to Ser Jorah, if anything had happened?It is Drogo I want, my sun and stars, Dany reminded herself, not Irri, not Ser Jorah, only Drogo.But Drogo was dead, and she thought all her feelings had died with him in the red wastes, but a rebellious kiss had somehow reawakened them.He shouldn't have kissed me.He did what he did and I let him do it, and it must never happen again.She pursed her lips depressedly, shaking her head, the bells in her braids rang softly. The closer to the bay, the more beautiful the city becomes.Huge brick pyramids lined the shore, the largest four hundred feet high.All kinds of trees, vines, and flowers grow on their spacious platforms, and the fragrant breeze swirls among them.Another giant harpy statue stood on the port city gate. It was made of burnt red clay, and it was obviously weathered. Only a small section of the scorpion's tail was left, and the old iron chains in the mud claws were already rusted and rotted.It was cooler near the water, and Dany found the sound of the waves breaking against the rotting piles strangely reassuring. Ago helped her off the sedan chair.Ahead, strong Belwas sat on a large stake, eating a large brown roast. "Dog meat," he said happily when he saw Dany, "the dog meat in Astapor is good, little queen, would you like some?" He offered the dog meat with a greasy mouth. "Thank you, Belwas, I don't want it." Dany had eaten dog meat, but all she could think of was the Unsullied and their stupid puppies.She skimmed past the big eunuch and walked along the gangway onto the deck of the Balerion. Ser Jorah Mormont was waiting for her. "Your Majesty," he said with a nod, "slave traders have come. A group of three, with a dozen clerks and a dozen coolie slaves. They went to every corner of the cargo hold and recorded everything." He led She went to the stern. "How many of them are for sale?" "Not one!" Was it Mormont or the city that made her angry?A city of slaves with nothing but stagnant heat, the stench of sweat, and crumbling bricks? "They sell eunuchs, not people. Brick eunuchs, like everything else in Astapor. Should I buy these eight thousand dead fish eyes, and kill babies and strangle little ones for a spiked helmet? Brick eunuchs of dogs? They don't even have names! They're not men, ser!" He was taken aback by her anger. “卡丽熙，”他说，“无垢者从小就被挑选，接受训练——” “我听够了他们的训练。”丹妮的眼泪夺眶而出，突如其来，促不及防。她反手一掌，狠狠地打在乔拉爵士脸上。要么如此，要么就得哭出声来。 莫尔蒙摸摸被打的脸颊。“如果我冒犯了女王陛下——” “你当然冒犯了我，大大地冒犯了我，爵士先生，如果你是我真正的骑士，就决不会将我带到这个丑恶肮脏的地方。”如果你是我真正的骑士，就决不会吻我，或者那样子看我的胸口，或者…… “遵命，陛下，我这就叫格罗莱船长作好准备，趁着夜潮启航，到某个不那么丑恶肮脏的地方去。” “不，”丹妮说。格罗莱船长在前甲板上注视着他们，船员们也在看。白胡子，血盟卫，姬琪……每个人听到耳光声都停下了工作。“我要立刻启航，不等潮水；我要远走高飞，再不回头。但我不能，不是吗？八千个砖头太监等着出售，我必须想办法把他们买下来。”说完，她离开他，走下舱室。 船长室的木雕门内，她的龙并不安静。卓耿昂头嘶叫，苍白的烟雾从鼻孔中喷出，韦塞利昂拍翅朝她迎来，试图栖息在丹妮肩头上，就像小时候那样。“不，”丹妮边说，边轻轻挣脱，“你现在大了，不能那样子，亲爱的。”但龙不依，反将白金相间的尾巴盘在她手臂上，黑爪子嵌入衣服袖子的布料里，紧紧攫住。她只得无奈地埋进格罗莱的大皮椅，咯咯直笑。 “您离开之后，他们像发了疯似的，卡丽熙，”伊丽告诉她，“韦塞利昂把门扒得满地都是碎片，您看到了吗？奴隶贩子们过来看时，卓耿想逃跑。我抓住他的尾巴，不让他走，他就回头咬我。”她给丹妮看手上的牙印。 “他们中有没哪个想烧出一条路来？”这是丹妮最害怕的事。 “没有，卡丽熙。卓耿喷过火，却是对着空中喷的，奴隶贩子们吓得不敢走近。” 她吻了伊丽手上的伤痕。“很抱歉他咬了你，龙实在是不该锁在小船舱里的。” “这一点，龙跟马很像，”伊丽道，“骑马民族也是。卡丽熙，您听，马儿在下面嘶喊，踢打着木头墙，姬琪说你不在时老妇人和小家伙们也尖叫。他们不喜欢这辆水车，不喜欢这黑色咸海。” “我明白，”丹妮说，“我真的明白。” “卡丽熙在伤心吗？” “是的，”丹妮承认。既伤心又迷惘。 “要我取悦您吗？” 丹妮退开一步。“不。伊丽，你不必那么做。那晚上的事，当你醒来时看到……你不是服侍人的床上奴隶了，我给过你自由，记得吗？你……” “我是龙之母的女仆，”女孩说，“取悦卡丽熙是我最大的荣耀。” “我不要那个，”她坚持，“不要。”她猛一转身。“退下。我要一个人好好想想。” 丹妮回到甲板上时，黄昏已降临到奴隶湾的海面上。凭栏而立，眺望阿斯塔波，一眼望去，它的确十分地美丽。天上繁星点点，而下方正如克拉兹尼的翻译所言，砖头金字塔上挂满了丝绸灯笼，沐浴在光辉之中。但底层的街道、广场和斗技场却是一片漆黑，而在那最最黑暗的兵营里，有些小男孩正拿剩饭喂小狗，这是他们在被阉割那天得到的宠物。 身后传来轻轻的脚步声。“卡丽熙。”是他。“我能否直言相告？” 丹妮没有转身。此时此刻，她没法看着他。如果看了，很可能又扇他耳光。或者哭出来。或者吻他。最糟糕的是，她不知道哪样是对，哪样是错，哪样是疯狂。“说吧，爵士。” “龙王伊耿在维斯特洛登陆以后，山谷王国、凯岩王国和河湾王国的诸王们并不是自动投降的。若您想坐上他的铁王座，就必须和他一样，靠钢铁和龙焰去赢得——这意味着一切结束之前，您的手上将染满鲜血。” 血火同源，丹妮心想，这是坦格利安家族的箴言，她打小就记得。“让敌人流血我很乐意，让无辜者流血则是另一回事。他们要卖给我的不止是八千名无垢者，还包括八千个死去的婴儿，八千条被掐死的狗。” “陛下，”乔拉·莫尔蒙说，“我去过遭兰尼斯特军洗劫之后的君临城。婴儿被杀害，老人和嬉戏的少年被杀害，遭强暴的妇女更是无法尽数。每个人心中都有一头狂暴的野兽，只要武器交到他手中，派他去打仗，那头野兽便会蠢蠢欲动，随时可能被唤醒。但是，我从没听说无垢者强暴妇女，屠杀百姓，他们甚至不会抢劫，除非指挥官明确下令。正如您所说，他们是砖头做的太监，但一旦被您买下，从今往后，他们会杀的狗就只有您希望杀的狗。若我记得不差，您的确有狗要杀。” 篡位者的走狗。“是的。”丹妮注视着柔和的彩光，任凉爽腥涩的微风吹拂。“说到洗劫城市，回答我，爵士——多斯拉克人为何从没洗劫过这座城市？”她向前一指。“看看那些墙，它们已经开始崩塌，那儿，还有那儿。你能看到塔楼里的卫兵吗？我没看到。他们躲起来了吗，爵士？我今天目睹所谓的鹰身女妖之子，全是些骄傲自大的贵族，穿着布裙，浑身上下只有发型吓人。即便一个最普通的卡拉萨，也能把阿斯塔波像核桃一样敲碎，挑出里面腐烂的肉。告诉我，为何这只丑陋的鹰身女妖像没有在多斯拉克海中的诸神大道边，跟其他偷来的神像待在一起？” “问得好，卡丽熙，您有龙的眼睛。” “我需要答案，不要恭维。” “原因有二。首先，您说得没错，阿斯塔波勇敢的守卫者们不过是些废物。他们所剩的只有古老的名望和鼓鼓的钱包，却要打扮成夕日的吉斯长鞭手，装作自己仍旧统治着一个大帝国。每人都是军官，每人的头衔都极夸张。节庆日里，他们在斗技场中模拟战争，以显示英勇，但死的却是太监。然而任何想与阿斯塔波作对的人都知道，对手将是无垢者，一旦形势危急，奴隶商人们会让所有部队倾巢出动。别的不说，多斯拉克人自从在科霍尔城门口留下辫子之后，就再没跟无垢者打过。” “第二个原因呢？”丹妮问。 . “谁会攻击阿斯塔波？”乔拉道，“弥林和渊凯是竞争对手，但不是敌人，末日浩劫摧毁了瓦雷利亚，而东方腹地全是同族的吉斯人，山的另一边则是拉札林人。您的多斯拉克人称他们为'羊人'，是个特别安分的民族。” “是的，”她赞同。“但这些奴隶城邦的北面是多斯拉克海，那儿有二三十位强大的卡奥，他们最喜欢的莫过于攻城掠地，并将城中人等卖为奴隶。” “卖给谁？一旦把贩买奴隶的商人都杀了，奴隶还有什么用呢？瓦雷利亚已然式微，魁尔斯位于红色荒原的另一边，而九大自由贸易城邦远在千里之外的西方。况且您可以想见，鹰身女妖之子肯定给予每位路过的卡奥丰厚的馈赠，就和潘托斯、诺佛斯与密尔的总督们所做的一样。只需宴请马王，赠予礼物，他们很快就会继续上路。这比战斗的代价要小，也更可靠。” 比战斗的代价要小，丹妮心想，是啊。她要是也可以这么简单就好了，只需带着龙航向君临，付给那男孩乔佛里一箱金子，就让他走开，该有多好啊。 She was silent for a long time. “卡丽熙？”乔拉爵士催促，一边轻触她的肘部。 丹妮将他甩开。“若是韦赛里斯，就会用所有的钱买尽可能多的无垢者。但你曾说我像雷加……” “我记得，丹妮莉丝。” “陛下，”她纠正，“雷加王子麾下都是自由人，而不是奴隶。白胡子说他亲手授予自己的侍从骑士称号，也册封了许多其他的骑士。” “由龙石岛亲王亲手赐封，没有比这更高的荣誉。” “那么告诉我——当他用剑触碰一个人的肩膀时，说的是什么？'起来，去杀死弱者'？还是'起来，去守护他们'？韦赛里斯说过，那三叉戟河畔，无数勇士在真龙王旗下战死——他们献出生命，是因为相信雷加的信念，还是贪恋雷加的金钱？”丹妮转向莫尔蒙，双手抱胸，等待回答。 “女王陛下，”高大的男人缓缓道，“您说的一切都没错。但雷加在三叉戟河输了。他输了决斗，输了战争，输了王国，还陪上性命。他的鲜血随胸甲上的红宝石一起顺江东去，而篡夺者劳勃踩在他的尸体上窃取了铁王座。雷加战斗得英勇，雷加战斗得高贵，雷加战斗得荣誉，雷加死得不明不白。”