Chapter 344

The attack by the so-called "Undying Ones" in Qarth had left a lasting impression on Daenerys, making it difficult for her not to feel a sense of dread and suspicion toward the masked woman, Quaithe, whose roundabout methods ultimately sought her blood.

Fortunately, their meetings often took place in Daenerys’s own quarters or open spaces rather than enclosed environments like the House of the Undying, which offered her some reassurance. Still, even if she trusted that Quaithe wouldn’t take her life, she had to consider the possibility of deceit. If payment for the dragon-taming lessons was in installments of “dragon blood,” what was to stop Quaithe from dragging out the process and delivering only half-hearted instruction?

Agreeing to such an eerie price gave Daenerys the feeling of making a pact with a devil. But with no other options, her only resistance was to insist on splitting the payment. She demanded that the final half of the price be paid only after she had fully mastered dragon-taming and completed the soul-bonding ritual with Drogon described in the Codex.
----


Daenerys snapped back to the present, her thoughts returning from memories of selling her blood for dragon-taming to the current discussion at the small council.

The details of the process didn’t matter now. What mattered was the result: for the price of two vials of her blood, she had gained near-complete mastery over dragon-taming. Quaithe had proven to be an excellent teacher, guiding her step by step until she successfully bonded with Drogon—not just as his caretaker and “mother,” but as his true rider.

Now, the Red Priest Marqilo’s cryptic remarks had struck a nerve. Not only had he accurately described her experiences in Asshai, but he’d also hinted at something more:

"The one who taught you dragon-taming made demands they shouldn’t have. You paid a price for something that was already rightfully yours."

What did he mean? Could it be that Quaithe had been acting on someone else’s orders and that the knowledge in the Codex had already been bought and paid for by another? Was her demand for blood merely an opportunistic scheme?

And what of Daenerys’s lingering fear that Quaithe might imprison her to extract an endless supply of dragon blood? Was it only the reverence for the Lord of Light’s prophecy, as Marqilo claimed, that prevented such a scenario?

Confusion and doubt clouded Daenerys’s thoughts, but she suppressed the urge to question Marqilo further. She knew the small council was not the place to unravel prophecies or indulge in tales of fire-born visions. Becoming too obsessed with the Red Priest’s words could lead her down a dangerous path, one where she risked becoming a ruler subservient to religious forces.

Marqilo had proven himself no charlatan. For now, her role was to respect his counsel.
----


“Very well. I will return to Westeros to fulfill my duties.” Daenerys lifted her chin slightly, regaining her composure. “But not ‘immediately’—‘as soon as possible.’” She was still the Queen of Meereen and had the authority to make the final call. “To wish for the swift eradication of slavery worldwide may be a dream, but at the very least, in Slaver’s Bay—Astapor, Yunkai, and Meereen—order and stability must be restored. I will not allow those who call me their liberator and mother to suffer more in freedom than they did in chains. This is my bottom line, and it is the sole focus for my loyal followers until the day we set sail for Westeros.”

Excellent. While her priorities differed from his own, Petyr Baelish silently approved. Stabilizing Slaver’s Bay before departure would greatly improve their prospects: larger armies, better equipment, and stronger logistics. He would have advised her to tidy up the region before departing anyway. Now, she’d saved him the effort of persuasion.

“A wise decision, Your Grace,” Petyr said, sitting upright and speaking in measured tones. “But I must present the reality we face in Meereen: we are surrounded by enemies and beset by problems. Your hatred of slavery stems from compassion and justice, but to many of this continent’s rulers, it is madness and chaos. Your actions in Slaver’s Bay have disrupted countless interests. The slave trade is not just the livelihood of these ‘markets’; it is how the Dothraki dispose of their captives, how they exchange for resources. It also affects the balance of global maritime trade.”

At Petyr’s signal, Grey Worm began his military report. “Yunkai and the forces they’ve used to seize Astapor have declared war on us, as expected. The involvement of Tolos, Elyria, and New Ghis, as other pro-slavery city-states, also makes sense. The good news is that we recently defeated these neighboring foes in battle. They are severely weakened and will not recover anytime soon. The bad news is that these enemies are only the weaker part of those aligned against us.”

Missandei stepped forward, pointing to a map spread out on the table. “In the harbor, the mighty fleet of Volantis has blockaded us, cutting off our sea routes for supplies. West of the city, ten miles from the walls, the first Volantene army has landed and joined forces with New Ghis troops. They are fortifying their position while waiting for reinforcements from mercenaries across Essos. Meanwhile, our enemies have informed the Dothraki of your actions in Slaver’s Bay, hoping to rally all khalasars against you.”

“Volantis and the Dothraki are far more formidable than Yunkai ever was,” Petyr added gravely. “Thankfully, Volantis is distant, and the Dothraki are fragmented into independent khalasars, making coordinated attacks unlikely. Still, the situation is dire. Within Meereen, the plague continues to fester. Both we and our enemies are hampered. If Your Grace wishes to resolve this and return to Westeros swiftly, the following goals must first be achieved.”

He raised three fingers. “First, we must defeat the fleets in the bay and the armies onshore with minimal losses. This will remove the external threats and provide us with the ships and sailors needed for our journey. Second, we must bring Astapor and Yunkai to heel, establishing stable governance across all three cities in Slaver’s Bay. More cities mean more resources and manpower. Third, we must eliminate the plague and suppress the ambitions of the new aristocrats. Disease and unrest might be manageable here, but if these problems erupt while we are at sea, they will be catastrophic.”

Missandei added, “Negotiations are essential. The Volantene fleet and New Ghis troops are only proxies. Cutting off these ‘limbs’ will hurt them, but it won’t cripple them. We need a peace agreement to give Meereen time to recover. As for the Dothraki, if they lose their slave markets, their wrath will fall upon you. Even if they can’t breach our walls, they can disrupt all agriculture and production outside the city.”

Petyr nodded approvingly at Missandei’s insight. Daenerys, however, furrowed her brows. The challenges ahead were far greater than she had anticipated, and clearly, they couldn’t all be solved through fire and blood alone. And this was only the surface—no doubt more complications lurked beneath.

“Regarding our enemies,” Daenerys said coldly, “I will show them the results of my dragon-taming.” Her eyes turned to Marqilo. “As for the plague, I assume the Lord of Light, in His boundless power, can handle such a small matter?”

“As your loyal servant, I will do my utmost,” Marqilo replied smoothly. “But ultimately, the will of the Lord of Light will decide.”

“I’ll take that as your guarantee,” Daenerys said sharply, fixing him with a pointed stare before turning to Petyr. “And you?”

“Negotiations and the Dothraki... I’ll handle them,” Petyr said hesitantly. “But I urge caution, Your Grace. Dragons are ultimate weapons, but revealing them too early will diminish their impact when the time comes to fight for the Iron Throne.”

“Not using them now, not using them then—should I wait until all my soldiers are dead?” Daenerys snapped. “Powerful weapons must be used decisively. We will resolve Slaver’s Bay quickly and sail before news of the dragons reaches Westeros. By the time our enemies prepare countermeasures, Drogon and I will already be upon them.”

“Summon my army and navy. At sunset, we strike.”