"I know that all of you have questions regarding my future plan. Like I declared about my ambition, I want to completely get rid of slavery. But that is a long term goal.
For now I want to destroy the symbol of slavery in Essos and build a new Empire from the ashes. I want to conquer Slaver's Bay in 30 days."
…
Cunning Battle Plan and a Road Forward
The largest palace in Astapor still reeked faintly of perfume and slave-whip leather. The marble floors gleamed, but the mosaic walls bore cracks from dragon fire. Now the silken cushions and golden cups of the Good Masters had been cleared away to make room for a rough war table. Maps of Slaver's Bay lay stretched across polished stone, weighed down with cups of watered wine and knives.
Daenerys stood at the head of the table, her back against the massive window that could give a good view of the entire city. Her silver hair caught the torchlight, her dragons' shadows flickering on the walls behind her. Around her gathered Drogo, his bloodriders, Jorah Mormont, and Missandei.
Drogo leaned back in a carved chair meant for a master, one leg slung over the armrest, a grin tugging at his lips. "The Khaleesi speak of madness," he said, voice rumbling. "Three cities in one moon? Astapor, Yunkai, Meereen? They are too far from each other. And unlike Astapor, we will have to break too many walls to enter those cities and take them down."
Aggo snorted. "The khalasar can't ride so fast. It would be better if we break one by one, take their gold, drink their wine."
"Even for our fastest riders it will take half a moon to Yunkai, half again to Meereen," Rakharo added, tapping the map with a dagger. "Even if we manage to take Yunkai by surprise, Mareen will be ready. It won't be easy to take them down in a day or two."
"Khaleesi, the blood riders are right. Why so soon ? Astapor is yours. You could strengthen your army here. Wait, build strength and then strike." Jorah's voice came next, heavy with doubt.
Daenerys placed her hand flat on the map, steady.
"Because waiting is the most stupid thing to do. At this point hiding my Dragons existence is impossible. My dragons are screaming and growing. The words will spread. And soon they will fly across the sea faster than any rider. In Westeros, they will hear of me. And when they do, they will not see a young mother with a babe. They will see a Targaryen with Dragons, a potential threat, fire made flesh. They will not wait for me to grow strong. They will come to kill me, directly or indirectly." Daenerys took a deep breath. "And besides, even if we deal with the assassins sent by Westeros, they might even secretly support our enemy behind the scenes. Mareen will be hard to break, especially with their Ghiscari culture. Only a swift and precise strike can end them."
The room quieted.
She looked at each of them in turn. "I do this for Goku. For my dragons. I will not wait for war to find us. The longer we wait the harder it will be for us to conquer those two cities. I will build a wall of cities, an empire of freed men and women. I want to reach a level of power where Westeros will have no influence over me."
Drogo's grin widened, though there was pride in his eyes. "The Khaleesi speak like a khal. But even a khal can't split in three."
Missandei stepped forward, her voice soft but clear. "Khaleesi… the cities are far, yes. But their ties are strong. You have managed to block all the information from leaving the Astapor. But Yunkai will be different. They have stronger ties with Mareen compared to Astapor. Their masters trade, they share soldiers, coins, even spies. Even if by some miracle Yunkai falls within half a moon, Mareen will receive the news of your conquest before you can reach there. And they will strike back. And if we delay our strike then the masters of Mareen will definitely get suspicious. And once they learn about your feats in Astapor, they will support Yunkai. That's why the longer we wait the stronger they will get."
Jorah nodded at her words. "It is true. Leave Yunkai standing too long, and Meereen will pour gold into their coffers. They will buy sellswords, sharpen fleets. Then your victory here will lose its meaning."
Daenerys touched the map again, her finger moving along the coastline. "That's why I am telling you that we should not give them any time. Drogo will take the main host to Yunkai. 40000 of our Dothraki warriors will be under his command. I will ride beside him. In the meantime another host consisting of 40000 of our warriors will head straight towards Mareen."
She shifted her finger north. "They will not engage in combat but spread throughout the black hills blocking any messenger bird or spy from leaving or entering the city. I do not expect to block completely. But at least no one should be able to escape." She shifted her finger back to Astapor. "Half of our unsullied army will leave Astapor through ships and reach the coast of Mareen around the end of the Moon. I will soon select the commander in chief of the Unsullied army for this campaign."
Jhoqo leaned forward, dark eyes narrowing. "Split the khalasar? It is very dangerous, Khalessi. And it will make us weak."
"Not weak," Daenerys answered. "Sharp. Like a spear with two points. Rakharo, you will lead the second host. Select the fastest among our riders. You know how to circle and bleed without breaking."
The young bloodrider's lips curled, pride sparking. "I can choke their walls, Khaleesi. Keep them trapped, hungry."
"A long term siege is not my goal. Just make sure that they are blocked. Block them tight. Just long enough for me to reach there." Daenerys replied.
Drogo chuckled. "And when Yunkai falls, the Khaleesi can fly with fire to Meereen. Three cities in one moon." He bared his teeth. "Madness. But good madness."
Missandei frowned slightly, stepping closer to the map. "Khaleesi, you will need more than riders and dragons. Food for so many mouths, water for so many horses. The road between here and Yunkai is long and harsh."
Daenerys nodded. "Yes. Missandei, you will see both of our armies have enough food for their journey. The water is not a problem. We have created wooden water containers to keep water safe while we move from one place to another. We have enough of them for both of our armies. Jorah, you will go straight to Mareen along with the Unsullied army. Your past experience in sailing will be required. The masters have kept more than enough vessels for 4000 unsullieds. Choose the fastest among those vessels."
Aggo grunted. "And if the slaves do not rise in Yunkai? If they stay chained?"
"That will not be a problem. Even if they don't rise we can easily deal with the entire City. And besides, after seeing our power I believe that day will rise." Daenerys said simply. Her eyes flashed. "I will break their chains myself if I must. Astapor's Unsullied followed me. Yunkai's will too. Meereen's will too. Every chain we break makes us stronger."
The firelight licked across her face, fierce and unyielding.
For a moment, the room was silent but for the crackle of torches. Then Qhono slammed his fist against his chest. "Blood of my blood," he growled. "I will ride this road."
Rakharo followed, voice sharp. "I will choke Meereen until your fire comes."
Drogo rose from his chair, towering over the table, and placed his hand on Daenerys' shoulder. "The Khaleesi calls for madness. I will ride it with her."
One by one, the others echoed him not with certainty, but with loyalty, with the fire her words had set alight in their hearts.
Daenerys looked down at the map, her fingers brushing over the three cities. Astapor already burned behind her. Yunkai and Meereen waited ahead. The storm she had called could not be stopped.
"Then it is decided," she said. Her voice was iron. "Thirty days. Slaver's Bay will be ours."
The torches hissed in the still air. And the war council scattered to their tasks, leaving their queen standing over the map, her dragons' shadows crawling across the walls like omens of fire to come.
…
Next chapter: Pre-war preparation
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