Chapter 37 - Chapter 36: Invitation

The third guest was a shadowbinder from Asshai. Her presence was immediately striking. She wore a lacquered wooden mask that concealed her entire face, speaking in flawless Common Tongue of the Seven Kingdoms."Greetings, Mother of Dragons. I am Quai-shi, Shadowbinder of the Shadowlands," she intoned.The red-painted mask obscured her eyes and expression completely, leaving Dany unable to read any emotion from her flat, measured voice. It was unsettling yet compelling, and Dany could feel an unspoken power radiating from her.Dany nodded, signaling the centaurs to clear the path. She and her guests moved forward, followed closely by her escort. As they passed through the city gates, Dany spotted Ser Jorah and her bloodriders approaching. She introduced the two groups briefly as they made their way toward the palace, the camels' padded feet crunching over the stone-paved streets."You come seeking dragons," Jorah remarked, raising a question that had been on Dany's mind since their arrival. "But how did you know there were dragons here?""The stars guide us," Quai-shi replied simply, her voice as calm and unshakable as the desert wind."The stars?" Jorah asked, eyebrows raised."Yes," the shadowbinder said, pointing upward. The red comet still blazed faintly across the horizon. Its light had dimmed over three months, yet it remained visible. Soon, she suggested, it would vanish completely, leaving only the memory of its presence."The Bleeding Star?" Jorah murmured. "It keeps changing direction. How can it guide you? And does its appearance truly relate to dragons?""To mortals like you," Quai-shi said, her gaze sliding briefly toward Jorah, "it is merely a rare comet, seldom seen in a thousand years. But those of us who wield magic have witnessed the tremendous shifts it signals in the world."Jorah remained skeptical. "Dragons existed long before. Even if everyone claimed they were extinct for over a hundred years, that was only in Westeros. The Ironborn speak of sea dragons in the depths of the Sunset Sea, and legends of ice dragons persist. Even giant dragons have been sighted in hidden corners of the world."Quai-shi's lips twisted in a faint, eerie blue smirk. A soft, sarcastic laugh escaped her. She made no effort to respond to what she clearly considered a naive perspective.Meanwhile, Xaro Wandathos, the portly Qartheen merchant with a head like a boiled egg, stepped forward. Whipping his camel lightly, he fell into stride beside Dany. "Khaleesi, this city is but a wasteland of wind and sand. It does not suit the noble Mother of Dragons. You were born for luxury, to wear Myr silk dresses, to be surrounded by servants, to dwell in a palace worthy of the gods themselves. Only Qarth—the center of the world—can provide this. And I, with sincerity unmatched, can offer it to you. Leave this place and come to Qarth."Dany smiled politely, dismissing him. "Thank you, Mr. Xaro. You are generous, but I have too many people to care for. I cannot leave them behind."Xaro laughed, a deep, booming sound full of pride. "Khaleesi, truly, you should see Qarth. This desolate land has narrowed your horizons. Even the smallest room in my house could host your entire following with room to spare. The kings and nobles who visit me bring more attendants than you. Once, I hosted thirty-five distinguished guests simultaneously."Dany raised an eyebrow. In simpler terms, he was claiming a single bathroom in his house exceeded the size of her entire city, with thirty-five such rooms in total. She suppressed a smile, thinking of how outlandish his boasts were."Alas," she murmured, "Khal Drogo is dead.""Of course we know," Xaro replied instantly. "The mightiest horselord has passed. The Great Grass Sea has seen new khals rise, and all of Essos knows this."Dany was stunned. Information traveled incredibly fast in this world. She had underestimated the reach of rumors, but she resolved not to be naïve again."The problem is the Usurper," she said cautiously. "He has hunted me relentlessly. Last time, he sent men to poison me in the sacred Horseking's Keep. Without Khal protection, what will he do once I leave?""Fear not, Khaleesi," Xaro reassured her. "Robert Baratheon, the usurper of your father's throne, has been dead for nearly six months."He then recounted the news from Westeros, a version as exaggerated and colorful as the tales in the stories Dany had once watched. Robert Baratheon, "Old Man," had succumbed in a hunting accident, drinking spiked wine and mauled by a wild boar.The details were gruesome. The boar's tusks tore a gash through his abdomen, exposing intestines and internal organs, yet the man's strength and bravery persisted to the end. Despite grievous injury, he fought to defend himself and left a will and messages for friends before succumbing.Even in death, the tale of Robert's life was tragic. He had been cuckolded repeatedly by Cersei, whose children were not his own. Dany quietly noted these human failings as a reminder of political realities, while Xaro simplified the story for her: rumors circulated that Robert had been murdered by Cersei."So, you need not fear the Usurper," Xaro concluded. "Under my protection in Qarth, no harm can come to you."Dany considered this carefully. "How far is it from here to Qarth? How many days did it take you by camel?""Approximately a thousand kilometers," Xaro replied. "It took nearly a week to arrive here."Dany estimated the pace. Her own camels could manage only about half that distance before collapsing, while Xaro's seemed tireless. He clearly had access to superior animals and resources.As they approached the palace gates, a crowd of elders and children had gathered, staring in awe at the three camel riders. Dany instructed servants to prepare water and kumis for the guests and set aside three bedrooms near the garden for them to rest.That evening, she hosted a grand bonfire in the palace square. Roast horse with plum sauce, mushroom and smoked venison stew, beetroot and turnip stew, and her saved wine were laid out—the best fare her kalis could provide.The guests reciprocated, producing wine, sausages, and even caviar from bags hung over the camels.Dany introduced them to her three dragons, now the size of large hounds, and allowed the visitors to pet them. She and Jorah observed closely. The Qartheen guests reacted with awe and eagerness, especially when touching the black dragon, whose high body temperature fascinated them. Even the shadowbinder's eyes revealed subtle excitement. Xaro's narrow, glittering eyes betrayed his amazement, betraying both greed and genuine respect.Satisfied, Dany escorted the guests back to their rooms. To Xaro, she said politely, "I will seriously consider visiting Qarth in the future. What do you think?"Later, she convened a council meeting with Jorah, her bloodriders, several elders, and three handmaids. Unlike other khals, who dismissed the elderly as burdens, Dany valued those who had survived the harsh environment of the Great Grass Sea.Watson's misjudgments aside, other elders impressed her greatly. Avanti, a true horse breeder, had ensured that the Red Waste's seemingly barren conditions still yielded healthy horses, with over a dozen foals born in recent months. Solomon, a green-haired, green-eyed foreign blacksmith, maintained and repaired weapons with skill unmatched by the Dothraki, who had no native blacksmiths.Dany marveled at the depth of knowledge and skill surrounding her. From Valyria's lost craftsmanship to the unique trades of Lys, Myr, Qohor, Pentos, Braavos, and Volantis, the Nine Free Cities offered a wealth of resources. Each had its specialty, and Dany recognized that knowledge was as valuable as armies and dragons alike.As the meeting concluded, she felt the weight of her responsibilities keenly. To travel to Qarth would mean leaving her city, her people, and her dragons vulnerable—but it might also bring resources, allies, and knowledge crucial for her survival and the future of her dragons.The night was long, but Dany's mind burned with decisions yet to be made. The shadowbinder, the merchant, and the lords of Qarth had arrived with gifts, intentions, and promises. The path ahead was uncertain, and the journey to claim her destiny was only beginning.(End of Chapter 36)---