Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Daenerys

When Daenerys arrived in Qarth, people sounded gongs on the city walls to announce, and others blew strange horns coiled around them like bronze serpents.A group of camel cavalry stepped out of the city to serve as her honor guard.Riders clad in copper scale mail and long-snouted helmets with copper teeth and long black feathers sat high on ornate saddles studded with rubies and garnets.Their camels are draped in colorful blankets. "Qarth is the greatest city of all time," Baiya Purley had told her in Wes Tororo, the City of Bone. "It is the center of the world, the gateway between north and south, and the bridge between east and west. It is ancient and long beyond people's memory. It is so magnificent that Thasos, the wise man, destroyed his eyes when he first saw it, because he knew that the future Everything you see will be ugly and eclipsed by it."

Dany thought wizards were embellishing their words, but there was no denying the splendor of this great city.Surrounding Qarth were three thick walls, intricately carved.The outer wall is made of red sandstone, thirty feet high, carved with various animals: crawling snakes, kites flying, gliding and swimming fish, mixed with wolves of the red wasteland, as well as zebras and giant elephants.The middle wall, forty feet high, is made of gray granite, carved with lifelike battle scenes: swords and swords clashing, contradictions clashing, arrows raining, heroes fighting, babies being slaughtered, and burning funeral pyres.The inner wall was fifty feet of black marble, and the carvings on the wall made Dany blush, but she told herself, don't be silly, she is no longer a virgin; since the slaughter on the gray wall can't scare her , What is the taboo about the scene of sexual intercourse between men and women?

The outer city gate is inlaid with copper, the middle gate is inlaid with iron, and the inner city gate is inlaid with many golden eyes.These gates opened one by one as Dany approached.She rode into the city on a silver horse, and the little ones ran out and sprinkled flowers in her path.The children wore nothing but gold sandals and were brightly painted all over their bodies. All the colors that Wes Tororo lacked seemed to find their way to Qarth, and buildings crowded around her in shades of dreamy roses, violets, and sepia.She passed an archway of bronze carved in the shape of a pair of carnival serpents, whose scales were delicate emeralds, obsidian, and lapis lazuli.So many slender pinnacles rose, taller than any Dany had seen in all her life.Each square has elaborate fountains in the shape of griffins, dragons and manticores.

The Qartheites lined the streets, or watched from elaborate balconies—balconies so finely detailed that it was doubtful they could support a man's weight.They were tall, fair people, dressed in linen and brocade and tiger skins, and they seemed to her lords and ladies.Women's gowns reveal one breast, while men prefer beaded silk skirts.Dany rode past them in the lion's skin, with Drogon black on her shoulders, feeling crude and savage.The Qarthites were called Milkmen by the Dothraki because of their fair skin, and Khal Drogo had dreamed of someday sacking these great cities of the East.She glanced at her bloodriders, unable to read any thoughts in their dark, almond-shaped eyes.In their eyes, are these just future spoils?she wondered.And in the eyes of these Qartheites, we must be a bunch of savages through and through.

Haiya Purley led her tiny khalasar through a vast arcade, where the city's ancient heroes stood on white and green marble columns three times life-size.Then they walked through a market place in a huge building with openings on many sides and a coffered ceiling that was home to thousands of colorful birds.The platform above the shop is covered with lush trees and flowers, and inside the shop, there are a wide variety of products, and everything created by the gods seems to be tradable. When the great trader Xaro Xhoan Daxos approached, her silver horse frightened, and the horse seemed unable to bear the smell of the camel. "If you fancy something, oh, the beauty, you just have to put your lips on it, and it's yours," said Xaro, leaning over on the ornate horn saddle.

"The whole of Qarth is hers, and she doesn't need these little things," cried the blue-lipped Baiya Purley from the other side. "Listen to me, Khaleesi. Come with me to the Hall of Immortality, where you will drink of truth and wisdom." "Why does she go to your dust hall when I can offer sun, nectar, and silk?" Xaro said to the warlock. "The Thirteenth will place on her beautiful head a crown made of black jade and firestone." "The only palace I want to go to is the Red Keep in King's Landing, my lord." Dany was wary of wizards, and Mirri Maz Duur, the witch, made her loathe witchcraft. "If the great men of Qarth want to give me gifts, Xaro, please give me ships and armies, and help me win back what is rightfully mine."

Haiya's blue lips curled up, and she smiled gracefully, "As it should, as it should, Khaleesi." He turned and walked away, trailing behind him his bejeweled robe, swaying as the camel moved. "Her Majesty has wisdom beyond her age," Xaro Xhoan Daxos whispered to her from his high saddle. "There's a saying in Qarth: A wizard's house, bones and lies." "Then why do people keep their voices down when they speak of the wizards of Qarth? All across the East they are feared for their strength and wisdom." "They were mighty once," Xaro agreed, "but now they are as ridiculous as those feeble old soldiers who boasted of their bravery and left them without regard for strength and skill. They read decaying scrolls and drink nightshades The water until the lips turn blue, implying that they have terrible power, but compared with their predecessors, they are nothing but empty shells. I want to remind you that whatever gift Haiya Puli gives you will be melted in your hands For the dust." He whipped the camel and sped away.

"Crows still think starlings black," Ser Jorah whispered in the Common Tongue of Westeros.The exiled knight still rode on her right.Before entering the city of Qarth he put away his Dothraki clothes and put on again the plate and chainmail and woolen coat--the full accoutrements of knights of the Seven Kingdoms half a world away. "You'd better avoid them both, Your Majesty." "They will help me get the crown," she said, "Xaro has great wealth, and Haiya Puli—" "--just play tricks," said the knight abruptly.In his dark green cloak, the great bear of House Mormont stood on his hind legs, dark and fierce.Jorah frowned at the crowd in the bazaar, looking just as fierce. "I will not stay here long, my queen. I do not like the smell of this place."

Dany smiled slightly. "You probably smell camels. As far as my nose goes, Qarthians seem to smell pretty good." "Perfume is often used to mask bad smells." My big bear, Dany thought.I am his queen, but he treats me like a child and wants to protect me forever.It made her feel safe, but also kind of sad.She wished she could love him more than she did now. Xaro Xhoan Daxos warmly invited Dany into his home.She expected it to be a mansion, but she didn't expect it to be a palace bigger than a bazaar.Magister Illyrio's great house in Pentos is like a swineherd's hut by comparison, she thought.Earlier, Xaro had assured his home that all her men would fit comfortably; in fact, it engulfed them all inside.He gave her an entire side room.She has her own gardens, marble baths, a crystal divination tower, and a labyrinth where wizards live.Countless slaves are at her disposal.In her private suite, the floors are green marble and the walls are hung with multicolored silks that shimmer with every breeze. "You are too generous," she said to Xaro Xhoan Daxos.

"To the Mother of Dragons, such a gift is nothing." Xaro was a lazy, refined man with a bald head and a huge hooked nose studded with rubies, cat's eyes, and emeralds. "Tomorrow morning, you will enjoy the peacock and skylark tongue while enjoying the music that is only suitable for the most beautiful women. The Thirteen Giants will come here to pay tribute to you, and all the noble people in Qarth will come." All Qarth will come to see my dragon, Dany thought, but she thanked Xaro for his kindness and sent him away.Haiya also said goodbye and left, and repeatedly promised to ask the "immortals" to arrange to meet Dani. "That is a glory as rare as the snow in midsummer." Before he left, he kissed her bare feet with pale blue lips and insisted on leaving a jar of ointment as a gift, which he swore would let her see the air spirit.The last of the three dragonseekers to leave was Ques the Shadowbinder, and from her Dany had only one warning. "Be careful," said the woman in the red-lacquered mask.

"Who are you watching out for?" "Beware of all. Day and night they will see the miracle of rebirth, and then they will be greedy. For the flesh of a dragon is made of fire, and fire is power." After Quetzle had gone, Ser Jorah said, "She is right, my queen... though I don't like her either, but..." "To be honest, I don't understand her very much." Haiya and Xaro made promises after seeing her dragon for the first time, declaring that they were her loyal servants from beginning to end, but she got very little from Quexi. A few vague and cryptic words, and the fact that she never saw the woman's face disturbed her.Remember Mirri Maz Duur, she told herself, remember the betrayal.She turned to her bloodrider. "We stay here for a day, so we have to keep on guard. Without my permission, no one is allowed to enter the wing on this side. Especially these dragons, they must be carefully guarded at all times." "Yes, Khaleesi," Aggo said. "We've only seen a part of Qarth—the part that Haiya Purley wants us to see," she continued, "Rakharo, I want you to dig into the rest and tell me what you've seen and heard." Pay back. Bring capable men—and a few women—to enter where men are forbidden." "As you order, blood of my blood," Rakharo said. "Ser Jorah, I want you to find the docks and see what kind of ships are moored there. I haven't heard from the Seven Kingdoms in half a year. Perhaps the gods will send some kind captain from Westeros Blow here and take us home in his boat." The knight frowned. "It is not a good intention. The usurper will kill you as surely as the sun will rise." Mormont hooked his thumb around the belt of his sword. "I will stay by your side to protect you." "Jhogo can guard me too. Besides, you speak more languages ​​than my bloodriders, and the Dothraki don't trust the sea and those who sail on it. You alone can serve me in this matter. Go, Go among the ships, talk to the sailors, find out where they come from, where they're going, and who's in charge of them." The exiled knight nodded reluctantly. "Yes, my queen." When all the men had left, the handmaid stripped her of her dusty silk gown, and Dany walked slowly out to the marble bath in the shadow of the porch.The water in the pool was cool and pleasant, and the little goldfish in the pool nibbled her skin curiously, which made her giggle.She closed her eyes and floated with the waves, knowing she could rest as long as she wanted, and it felt good.I wonder if there is such a pool in Aegon's Red Keep, such a fragrant garden of lavender and mint.Must have.Viserys used to say that the Seven Kingdoms were the most beautiful places in the world. The thought of home made her uneasy.If her sun and star had lived, she would have led the khalasar across the Poisonous Sea to clear her enemies, but his power is gone from this world.Although her bloodriders are still there, and their martial arts skills are outstanding, and they are sworn to die, but after all, they are just heroes on horseback.The Dothraki sacked cities and plundered kingdoms, but they did not know how to rule.Dany didn't want King's Landing to be a charred ruin full of wandering souls. She had had enough of tears.I want my kingdom to be beautiful, full of strong men, pretty women and happy children.I want my people to smile when I ride by, the smile Viserys said he smiled at my father. To do this, you must first conquer. The Usurper will kill you as surely as the sun will rise, Mormont said.Robert killed her valiant brother Rhaegar, and sent minions across the Dothraki Sea in an attempt to poison her and her unborn child.It was said that Robert Baratheon was as strong as a bull, fearless in battle, and a man who loved war more than anything else.Beside him, there are many great nobles whom his brother called "the usurper's lackeys": Eddard Stark with stern eyes and cold heart; Lannister father and son with golden light, rich, powerful and treacherous. How would she defeat such an enemy?When Khal Drogo lived, trembling tributes were offered, to stave his wrath, or he would take cities, riches, wives, and all.But his khalasar was huge, and hers was so small.She followed her comet, and her people followed her across the Red Waste, and will follow her across the Poisonous Sea, but they were not enough, not even her dragons.Viserys believed that the people of his land would rise up for the true king... but Viserys was a fool, and a fool believed foolish things. Doubt made her tremble.She suddenly felt that the water was too cold, and the biting and pecking of the small fish was annoying.Dany got up and crawled out of the pool. "Eli," she called, "Jiki." The maids toweled her dry and wrapped her in a sand silk robe, and Dany's thoughts turned to the three men who had come to find her in the City of Bones. "Star of Weeping Blood" led me to Qarth, there must be a purpose.As long as I am strong enough to seek help and wise enough to avoid snares and pitfalls, I will find what I need.If the gods ordained me to be a conqueror, they would support and perform some kind of miracle.But if not... if not... Towards evening, while Dany was feeding the dragon, Irri came in through the silk curtains to announce that Ser Jorah had returned from the docks . . . and a man. "Ask them to come in, whoever he brings, come in together," she was curious. She sat on a pile of cushions on the ground when they entered, her dragons surrounding her.The visitor wore a yellow and green feather cloak, and his jet-black skin was like polished jet. "Your Majesty," said the knight, "I bring you Kuhuru Mo, the captain of the 'Laurel Wind', from Gaoshu Town." The dark-skinned man knelt down. "I am honored, Your Majesty," he said, not in the language of the Summer Isles, which Dany could not understand, but in Valyrian, spoken by the nine free cities, and he was very fluent. "It is my pleasure, Kuhuru Mo," Dany replied in the same language. "Are you from the Summer Islands?" "Yes, Your Majesty. We stopped in Old Town less than half a year ago, and I brought you a special present from there." "Gift?" "Good news. Mother of Dragons, Stormborn, let me tell you that Robert Baratheon is dead." Outside the wall, twilight shrouded Qarth, but a red sun rose from Dany's heart. "He's dead?" she repeated.Drogon, black on his lap, hissed and belched a stream of white smoke that fell over her like a veil. "Are you sure? The Usurper is really dead?" "That's what they say in Oldtown, and it's the same in Dorne, in Lys, and in all the ports we call." He sent me poisoned wine, and now I live, but he died first. "How did he die?" Over her shoulder, Viserion flapped his milky wings, stirring the air. "He was stabbed to death by a monstrous boar while hunting in the Kingswood, or so I heard in Oldtown. Others say the Queen betrayed him, or his brother, or his Hand, the Stark Lord. The one thing all legends have in common is this: King Robert is dead, and in the grave." Dany had no idea what the Usurper looked like, but hardly a day went by without thinking of him.He was like a huge shadow, covering her since she was born. She was born in blood and storms, but because of him, she had nowhere to go.However, at this moment, this strange dark-skinned man suddenly released her. "The boy sits on the Iron Throne," Ser Jorah said. "King Joffrey is now king," Kuhulu Mo added, "and politics is in the hands of the Lannisters. Two of Robert's brothers have fled King's Landing, rumor has it that they intend to be king. The Hand is out of power, and Shi Lord Tucker, King Robert's best friend, was arrested for treason." "Eddard Stark treason?" Ser Jorah snorted. "The strange ghosts believe it! Even if Yongxia comes, this guy will not tarnish his precious honor." "What honor can he have?" said Dany. "He betrayed the true king, and so have these Lannisters." It was pleasant, but not surprising, to hear the usurper's lackeys killing each other. .The same happened after her Drogo died, and the mighty khalasar fell apart. "My brother Viserys is dead, and he is the true king," she told the Summer Isles. "My lord, Khal Drogo, slew him and crowned him with molten gold." Brother would be wiser, for the revenge he prayed for was at hand! "I grieve for you, Mother of Dragons, and for Westeros, which is bleeding because it has lost its true king." Beneath Dany's tender fingers, the green Rhaegal gazed at the stranger with eyes of molten gold.He opened his mouth, and his teeth gleamed like black needles. "Captain, when will your ship go to Westeros again?" "I'm afraid it won't happen within a year or two. The Cinnamon Wind will sail eastward from here and circle the Jade Sea along the trade route." "I see," Dany said with some disappointment. "I wish you the best of luck and prosperity in your business. You have brought me a precious gift." "And I have been richly rewarded, great Queen." She was a little puzzled. "how come?" There was a twinkle in his eye. "I saw a dragon." Dany smiled. "I hope that one day, you can see more. When I ascend the throne of my father, come to see me in King's Landing, and you will get a rich reward." The Midsummer Islanders promised to do so and kissed her ten fingers lightly before leaving.Jhiqui led him out, and Jorah Mormont stayed behind. "Khalishi," the knight said when they were alone, "if I were you, I wouldn't tell the plan casually. Such a person will spread the word wherever he goes." "Let him talk," she said. "Let the whole world know my determination. The Usurper is dead, so what am I afraid of?" "Not every sailor's story is true," Ser Jorah warned. "Even if Robert died, his son would rule in his place. Truth be told, nothing has changed." "Everything has changed." Dany stood up abruptly.Her dragon screamed as it let go of its tail and spread its wings and flew away.Drogon flapped his wings and clambered up to the beams of the arcade, while the other two skimmed the ground, scraping their wingtips on the marble. "Once upon a time, the Seven Kingdoms were like Drogo's khalasar, united under a strong leader. Now, they will be like khalasar after khal's death. They will fall apart." "The great nobles are always indulging in the game of thrones, fighting endlessly. Whoever wins, I can predict the changes in the situation. O Khaleesi, the Seven Kingdoms will not fall into your hands like ripe peaches. You need The fleet, the money, the army, the allies—” "I know all this." She took his hand and looked deeply into his suspicious black eyes.In his eyes, I was sometimes a girl who needed his protection, and sometimes a woman he wanted to sleep with. Did he ever really see me as his queen? "I'm no longer the panic-stricken girl you met in Pentos. Yes, I've only lived through fifteen namedays...but, Jorah, I'm as old as the old crone of the Dosh Kalim , as young as my dragon. I have conceived a child, burned a khal, and crossed the Red Waste and the Dothraki Sea. The blood of the true dragon runs through me." "Same as your brother," he said stubbornly. "I'm not like Viserys." "I don't mean him," he explained, "but Rhaegar. But don't you forget that even Rhaegar was mortal. Robert proved on the Trident with only one hammer that there are dragons who can kill dragons. " "The real dragon will die." She lifted her toes and kissed his unshaven cheek lightly. "But so will the Dragon Slayer."