Chapter 228: The Inspection Tour
[You can come... but you'll do exactly as I say. And we're bringing Rhaegal.]
Having finally solved the problem of Daenerys's safety, Drogon agreed to her request.
"Drogon, you're the best!"
Delighted, Daenerys scooped him into her arms and planted two enthusiastic kisses on his cheeks.
The next day, in the throne room, just as the council meeting was about to adjourn, Daenerys suddenly announced,
"I've decided that tomorrow, Drogon, Rhaegal, and I will make an inspection tour of Slaver's Bay. We'll probably be gone for around ten days. While I'm away, I expect all of you to cooperate closely with Tyrion and make sure nothing goes wrong."
Drogon: ...
Listening to Daenerys deliver her perfectly righteous excuse with such a straight face, he was left speechless.
An inspection tour?
The masters stared at her in surprise.
None of them understood why she had suddenly decided to visit Slaver's Bay.
King's Landing was certainly far away, but with Drogon's flying speed, a round trip wouldn't take very long.
Even if she stayed there for a couple of days, it shouldn't require ten full days.
And another thing...
If it was merely an inspection, Drogon alone would have been enough.
Why bring Rhaegal as well?
"Your Majesty," Tyrion said after exchanging glances with the others, stepping forward, "the Seven Kingdoms have only recently been stabilized. This doesn't seem like the best time for such a journey. Besides, there are still many important matters here that require your personal judgment."
"You can handle those matters yourself."
Daenerys answered without hesitation.
"They don't all require me personally."
She had already made up her mind.
A little persuasion wasn't going to change it.
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Tyrion abandoned the thought of arguing further.
With Drogon accompanying her, she should be perfectly safe.
And managing affairs for only ten days was well within his capabilities.
Since even Tyrion had accepted the decision, the others naturally voiced no objections.
Secretly delighted that no one opposed her plan, Daenerys stole a glance at Drogon perched on her shoulder and gave him a mischievous wink.
The news of her departure wasn't made public.
Early the next morning, Drogon took to the skies with an excited Daenerys riding on his back.
Behind them flew an equally excited Rhaegal.
Heading southeast toward Slaver's Bay, the two dragons soared through the crisp morning air.
Flying above the Kingswood, they looked down upon endless waves of emerald treetops swaying gently in the breeze.
The rustling leaves and cool, refreshing air filled the journey with a peaceful tranquility.
Drogon beat his wings slowly, almost lazily, as though taking a leisurely stroll through the sky.
Rhaegal flew alongside him.
Strapped securely to the younger dragon's back were a tent and an enormous travel pack, nearly all of it stuffed with Daenerys's clothes.
The empress and her two dragons looked less like rulers embarking on an official inspection...
And more like travelers heading out on an extended adventure, carrying everything they would need for life in the wilderness.
They passed over the Free Cities of Lys and Volantis without stopping, continuing eastward across the skies.
Around noon, Drogon made a detour toward the vast Dothraki Sea for lunch.
Who knew when he'd have another chance to enjoy fresh grassland lamb?
The khalasar they visited was already accustomed to Drogon's occasional appearances.
In fact, they regarded them as a great honor.
What surprised them this time was that Drogon hadn't come alone.
Alongside him flew a green dragon—and a woman.
The moment they learned that the woman was Daenerys, the khal of this medium-sized khalasar hurried over with his people and dropped to one knee, welcoming the arrival of their new empress.
After returning from the western campaign, Jhaqo and the other khals who had fought under Daenerys had formally announced the fate of the Dothraki Sea.
From that day forward...
The entire Great Grass Sea belonged to the empress of Westeros—the ruler favored by the Dragon God.
Some khals had naturally objected.
But faced with the overwhelming authority of Jhaqo and the stronger khals, none dared voice open resistance.
As news spread across the grasslands, another story spread with it—
The prosperity of Westeros.
Many Dothraki who had marched west with Daenerys had already decided to settle at Harrenhal instead of returning to their nomadic lives.
Their stories stirred the hearts of many others.
After witnessing more than forty thousand Dothraki safely cross the "Poison Water," the sea they had once feared above all else no longer seemed so terrifying.
More and more riders, weary of wandering endlessly across the plains and living beneath the constant threat of battle, began considering a new life in Westeros.
Among those most eager to migrate were the Lhazareen, the peaceful farming people whom the Dothraki mockingly called the "Lamb Men."
Despised by many khalasars and frequent victims of powerful khals' raids, they had suffered for generations.
Even Mirri Maz Duur, the maegi responsible for Khal Drogo's death, had come from the Lhazareen.
Upon learning Daenerys's identity, many Dothraki curious about emigrating gathered around her, asking countless questions about Westeros.
Westeros possessed vast lands but relatively few people.
Although the southern kingdoms were far more populated than the North, outside of King's Landing the population remained surprisingly sparse.
Daenerys herself hoped more Dothraki would settle there and breathe new life into the land.
Patiently, she explained the migration policies she and Tyrion had developed together.
She also spared no effort describing Westeros's fertile lands, prosperous towns, and opportunities.
By the time she finished...
Many members of the khalasar were visibly tempted.
After receiving warm hospitality from the Dothraki, Drogon took Daenerys back into the sky.
They continued flying for another half day before reaching Meereen at dusk.
After Daenerys had left Slaver's Bay, Drogon had occasionally flown over its three great cities while hunting across the grasslands.
Those visits had conveniently helped him gather faith through displays of divine majesty.
His return once again drew countless curious citizens into the streets.
This time, however, they quickly noticed something different.
Not only had Drogon returned...
A green dragon several times smaller than him accompanied the great black dragon.
Carrying Daenerys upon his back, Drogon descended directly into the grand plaza before Meereen's Great Pyramid.
As Daenerys slowly stepped down from his back, the soldiers and citizens finally realized...
Their empress had personally come to Meereen.
The guards immediately rushed into the Great Pyramid to report the news to Daren, the former retainer of Prince Rhaegar who now served as Governor of Slaver's Bay.
While working earlier, Daren had already received word that the Black Dragon had returned to Meereen.
Watching from atop the pyramid, he saw Daenerys dismount from Drogon's back.
Before the guards could even finish announcing her arrival, he hurried downstairs himself.
Panting from the rush, he reached the plaza and immediately dropped to one knee before the woman he had not seen for so long—
A woman whose title had now changed.
Smiling warmly, Daenerys helped Daren to his feet with both hands.
She openly praised his outstanding governance of Slaver's Bay.
With Daren managing affairs there, she and Tyrion could devote their full attention to governing Westeros and the Free Cities.
After chatting with him inside the Great Pyramid for a while, Hizdahr, the former Master of Coin who now oversaw Slaver's Bay's finances, hurried over as well to present a detailed financial report.
Although he had gone from serving as the empire's Master of Coin to effectively becoming a deputy responsible only for Slaver's Bay, Hizdahr harbored no resentment whatsoever.
His talents lay here.
Even if someone handed him the finances of the entire empire, he admitted he would have no idea how to manage Westeros's economy.
He much preferred looking after the land he knew best.
Once Daren, Hizdahr, and their deputies had finished reporting on the region's political and financial affairs, they organized a modest welcoming banquet in Daenerys's honor.
Several former slave masters—now recognized as nobles—were invited.
Also present were wealthy merchants who had come to Meereen for trade, along with influential nobles visiting to watch the city's fighting pits.
All of them had already heard that a new empire had risen in the distant west.
When word spread earlier that day of Daenerys's arrival, they had all eagerly sought invitations.
Every one of them wanted the chance to see the famed Dragon Empress with their own eyes.
(End of Chapter)
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