Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: The Demon’s Corpse

The last time the bloodriders had been sent to survey the terrain and resources, the mission had been grueling. They couldn't travel at night; the Bleeding Star, that ominous crimson orb, stained the sky with its eerie glow, making it impossible to discern distant landmarks. The faint, rosy light distorted the landscape, turning shadows into monsters and desert dunes into shifting illusions. Aggo and the others had suffered greatly on that journey, lost at times, exhausted and frustrated.This time, however, was entirely different. The purpose was clear, precise—no need to scout for humans, nor to worry about large animals wandering into the path. The Bleeding Star of blood and fire hung low in the sky, casting its ominous red glow across the desert. Dany rode at the head of the column, unburdened by the elderly, women, or children. Her silver steed seemed to dance across the crimson sand, hooves kicking up a light trail of red dust that shimmered under the dim light.Jorah and her bloodriders followed at a measured distance of three horses behind her, while twenty roaring Dothraki warriors brought up the rear. The rhythmic thunder of hooves echoed across the desert, shaking the earth beneath them. Sand lizards with reddish-brown scales peeked curiously from the sparse devil grass, sensing the tremors and skittering back in alarm as the riders approached."Hiss—""Crack—boom—"Sharp cries of alarm and terror split the air. A wildcat-sized sand lizard attempted to retreat into the grass, only to be caught in a sudden stream of dark red flames that fell from the sky. Black smoke, tinged with the acrid scent of sulfur, ignited the devil grass instantly, sending the creature squealing into the distance. A second later, the sky darkened further as it was thrust into the air by a roaring fireball. The lizard's shriek cut off abruptly with a "boom," swallowed entirely by the dragon's flame.Dany lifted her gaze toward the sky, where her young dragons twisted and turned with predatory grace. A satisfied smile curled her lips. The centaurs, true to their reputation, had an excellent sense of direction, avoiding unnecessary detours, and by midnight they had located the dragon skeleton, hidden amidst the dunes.Indeed, she realized, only those with extraordinary navigational skills could serve as scouts for the Qal. The Dothraki Great Grass Sea was already a vast, unmarked expanse; the Red Waste was even less forgiving. Scouts could be scattered in all directions, yet these centaurs had found their mark with astonishing precision."Seven Gods… are these really bones?!" Dany muttered, her voice a mixture of awe and disbelief. Even though she had heard tales of Balerion devouring a bison whole, the enormity of this skeleton—a dragon the size of a warship—staggered her imagination.The bones exposed above the sand were grayish-white; those buried deeper had darkened to a charcoal hue. Initially, only a portion of the skull was visible. During their previous reconnaissance, Rakharo had cleared sand from the skull to confirm its size."Removing the entire sand cover would be a massive undertaking," Dany mused, climbing atop the two-story skeleton to survey the burial ground. The sand had naturally formed a curving mound over the centuries, and she hesitated at the magnitude of the task.Jorah frowned, examining the massive skull with concern. "Princess," he said, "what do you intend to do with this dragonbone carcass? Bringing it all back seems impossible."Dany allowed herself a wry smile. "I had indeed planned to ship it back. Not only for the value of the dragonbone, which could fetch gold beyond measure, but also for crafting weapons. You've seen the power of a dragonbone bow—such weapons are legendary."Jorah shook his head. "The horsemen lack the skill to forge dragonbone. Only the master smiths of Qohor could shape it into weapons.""Then what? Leave it be?" Dany asked, a spark of frustration in her eyes.Jorah rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Select what is easy to carry. Bury the rest for later. If needed, we can return.""Start with the wings. The skull is far too large to handle."Dany's command set the horsemen into action. They began digging along the dragon's neck, toward the torso. Their goal was not to remove the entire skeleton, just enough to recover broken bones for study or craft.The bone Rakharo retrieved was fractured, evidence that the dragon had been gravely injured, unable to maintain flight, and had plummeted to the desert below."Wait—this bone is… delicate. Too fragile!" a centaur exclaimed, holding up a forty-centimeter-long piece and turning it over in disbelief. Following the sequence of "head–neck–spine–wings," they dug a winding trench through soft sand, which made excavation easier than expected. By dusk, they had reached the mid-neck.Suddenly, a shout rang out. "Khaleesi! Something's wrong! This isn't a dragon bone! I've uncovered a human… no, a demon's body!" The centaur's voice trembled with fear."Demon, a demon's body!" other centaurs echoed, recoiling in terror.Dany, supervising from the top of the jawbone, trotted over to the commotion. "There are no devils here," she shouted, her voice firm and commanding. "A devil wouldn't dare approach a dragon, even a dead one. That must be human!"Her voice initially rang with confidence, but as the crowd parted and she glimpsed the twisted remains half-buried in the sand, she froze.The corpse was horrifying. Curled into a fetal position, it was not merely a skeleton. Its skin was a dense mat of purple-black scales, each no larger than a thumbnail and rough like old bark. The scales enveloped its thin frame, giving it an otherworldly, demonic appearance.The arms were folded against its chest—human-like, yet the ten dagger-like fingers seemed predatory, poised as if ready to tear. Though the body was skeletal, the claws and teeth measured twenty centimeters—grotesquely disproportionate.Most unsettling were the eyes. Black, tar-like mucus surrounded deep purple pupils that glared with the malevolence of a living being. Its mouth, cracked almost 180 degrees, appeared ready to unleash a curse upon the world."Seven Hells," Dany cursed under her breath in the common tongue, then corrected herself to the local dialect. "Ser Jorah, have you seen anything like this?"She reminded herself that this was a fantastical world, where forest children, giants, and creatures like goblins and gnolls were real.Jorah knelt beside the pit, inspecting the remains. "It must be human," he muttered, picking up a pale bone club from the centaur who first discovered the corpse. He gestured to the demon's missing calf bone. "Perhaps a rider escaped atop a dragon. The dragon fell, and the rider suffered—his leg broken. The calf became detached from the body."Aggo interjected, skepticism in his tone. "The shinbone is far too long for such a skinny body. If it were human, it would have been a dwarf. Look—the shin is over forty centimeters. Whoever this was must have been imposing."The huddled corpse stood barely 1.2 meters tall, a grotesque distortion of a once-towering figure.Ser Jorah straightened. "It is said the ruins of Old Valyria, from the Land of Long Summer to the Sea of Smoke, are cursed. The Valyrian Way from Volantis to Slaver's Bay skirts these ruins, now known as the Demonic Way. Travelers took the longer route to avoid them."Dany frowned. "Valyria was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. How does that explain this curse?"Jorah speculated, frowning. "Perhaps the vengeful spirit of an ancient dragonlord lingers. Valyria was famed for mastering dragons and blood magic."Dany pointed to the corpse with a wry smile. "So the 'dragonlord' dies, and his death leaves a cursed corpse… seems contradictory, doesn't it?"Aggo offered another theory. "Perhaps the rider sought aid from wizards in Qarth or across the Jade Sea. Those sorcerers have dealings with demons and shadowbinders."Jorah scoffed. "Renowned for deception, perhaps, but still human in their flaws. True power is rare, even in Westeros."Dany's tone grew resolute. "Whatever magic he sought, it's not our concern. This body will not defile our dragonlord's resting place. Burn it, with nearby wood and brush. Valyrian custom demands cremation."The horsemen ceased digging, climbed from the pit, and gathered fuel for the pyre. By nine in the morning, Dany's dragons breathed fire, igniting the wood. The heat scorched the air, but the crowd leaned against the bones for shade, waiting to resume work at dusk.Dany, however, had the prime vantage point. She rested atop the dragon's jaw, shielded from the sun by the massive skull. Lying there, she felt a sense of calm and satisfaction, gazing out across the desert and imagining the path ahead—a path that promised power, dragons, and dominion.(End of Chapter 33)---