Darken Rahl in Game of Thrones

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***

Quart. 286 AD.

Darken Rahl.

Passing through the abode of the local mages was quite interesting. The House of the Immortals is exactly what the place is called. I had heard that they never die, but only acquire a new body and name, so their knowledge is great and valuable. But these turned out to be mere rumours, most likely nurtured by the sorcerers of Qarth themselves.

Capturing Qarth was an interesting task. Miriam, Quentin Darstein, Daario Naharis, Mardin Blackheart and my new general Red Spear (impeccable) were all working here at once. From the sea, the army was aided by Admiral Mathis, so far my best naval commander since the death of Saan that died in the capture of Lang Island. It was rather unexpected, but it was no big deal. He wouldn't have lived long after that war anyway. But his former subordinates quickly joined my great fleet and do not think to return to piracy. And even if they did, they wouldn't live long. They'd either run into my warships or starve to death.Much has changed in Essos and the world in the last ten months since the traitors at Yunkai and Meereen were punished.

Most of the Coalition territories have been taken. For the first two months after the Battle of Cedar Island, there were few naval battles. But then Qarth, New Gys and Lang gathered new flotillas and began actively building new ships. When I learned of the new ships and even the secret shipyards, I was greatly surprised.

My opponents began to take me seriously. Not even hundreds, but thousands of ships were hastily launched while the remnants of the old fleets were engaged, usually in pre-loss battles. Only a few they could declare successfully won. But lo and behold, when my intelligence began to report the locations of these ships and shipyards, I would launch Nightmare and other dragons at them.

They either burned every last twig, or their appearance made them run away from the ships. And, after some time, my troops came with new teams and occupied these ships, which in the following days went under the sails with my coat of arms ...

As a result, more than seven dozen battles were fought at sea, of which sixty-three were won by my naval commanders, more than five hundred warships were captured, and even more merchant and transport ships. Vahar, Port Morak, and Pharos simply had nothing to defend themselves against the forces that had been sent to capture them. So, small street fights with sailors who were left without their ships and a small city guard. And then there was the massacre of the top cities, and the establishment of my authority.

Although "massacre" is a bit of a mouthful. After the massacre of the Giscarians that Miriam did in New Gis, I feel like a boy with my small victories earlier. Two-thirds of the free citizens of that city were slaughtered on Miriam's orders, and our troops, thanks to manipulation of intelligence and a happy accident, the slaves revolted, further weakening the city's defences. And as a result, the once former mercenaries from Sotoros looted, slaughtered, burned and raped many things and people.

These mercenaries are now spread across the various legions and naval commands. Even here, in the siege and capture of Qarth, they were just as involved on par with the former Dothraki and Sarnorians that so chose to go "under my hand", blameless and legionnaires with mercenary squads. Is it jest to say that one hundred and fifty thousand warriors had gathered under the walls of Qarth? This city has never seen such might before. I did not use the dragons, though they were nearby on the hunt for game for themselves.

The city was frightened, but it would not surrender. Or rather it was not willing to be surrendered by the Council of Thirteen, after five days of siege and taking the first wall of three. But some of the Purebloods, who made up the top of the Tourmaline Brotherhood and the Spice Guild, did not agree with their "brothers". So they secretly negotiated with me. They were led by Xaro Xoan Daxos, the head of this alliance and the only one of the Thirteen who disagreed with the others. Eventually they opened the gates of the Second Wall, and then, after we had slaughtered in the night all the defenders of the city who were loyal to the Council, they began the Third Wall, leading to the Sanguinistas. The only place untouched by my warriors was the House of the Immortals.

It's a long, low building, windowless and towerless, with a hole in the roof and crumbling walls, as if no one had lived there for centuries. There are black trees growing around it, which are used to make a witch's drink called Evening Shade. I have even collected the seeds of these trees and I am thinking of planting them somewhere else for my needs.

I entered this sorcerers' abode with five of my Mord-Sith, who are immune to magic and are good fighters.

I expected much from the sorcerers, but... they disappointed me. Just illusions, ghouls, and attempts to bring walls or ceilings down on us. They were capable of that, but not the rest, like powerful spells or elemental magic. I was disappointed, and they had a lot of Han in them. Especially Piat Prey, who might be the oldest and strongest of all the sorcerers in Qarth, but he begged me on his knees to spare him in exchange for his loyal service. But I decided not to bother with him, and just killed him. I didn't even want to take the lowlife's Han. In one hour, all those idiots who dared to call themselves mages were exterminated. I got a little less Han than I wanted, but it was made up for by the huge library I got from them. That made me happy.

But I was also pleased, or rather surprised, and then pleased by the presence of a priestess of divination from Asshai named Quaita. A tall woman in a dark red wood mask and scarlet-gold robes was in the library waiting for me.

- Master Rahl," she bowed, her voice expressionless, "I've been waiting for you. You've been slower than I thought you would be, but it doesn't matter.

- Cueta, if I'm not mistaken?

- No, Your Grace, you're not mistaken. I've been waiting for you.

- And for what purpose? You don't seem to be on the side of those sorcerers, and you don't seem to be protecting Qarth.

- I don't care about Qarth. - His fate depends entirely on your decisions and wishes. He is already yours and there is no point in talking about him. I am here to give you my prophecy, which I received from the will of the Lord of Light.

- The Lord of Light..." I stretched out smiling.

- He is not your enemy. We are all on the same side before the coming war. And that's why I'm here as the one who will pass on the key to defeating the Great Other. So let me speak.

- Speak, Kueta. Today I am in a good mood, I have taken the last city of my enemies. And now the entire Summer Sea is mine!

- Yes, this war will soon be known by the Maesters as the War of the Bloody Sea. It will be one of the stepping stones to the top of your dynasty. But I distanced myself from what I wanted to say. I saw how the sword that once pierced the Night King's heart would once again pierce it and now lay that poor soul to rest forever. The same sword will be stained with the blood of many noble men who will be on your path and beside you. Princess, prince, dragon, sorcerer, priest and priestess will be your victims. You will take the flesh that was yours from birth, and you will give birth to the next Rahl that will unite all the lands of this world forever. But I have also seen the danger to you - love.

- Love?! - interesting things she says. Love? Whose "love" will destroy me?

- Yours.

- And who will I love?

- I don't know. But those bright feelings will be worse than poison or a dagger in the back. And it may hinder your mission, if you can control yourself.

- Get out of my sight, you charlatan! That I, Darken Rahl, should be defeated because of "love"? You're out of your mind! Get out of here before I order my Mord-Sith to teach you a good lesson.

- So be it, Master Rahl. - Quaita bowed and immediately walked past me.

She's crazy...

- Master Rahl," Alishara knelt as soon as she entered the library, "There is no one left breathing in this building except you and your loyal Mord-Sith. What are your next orders?

- Any news of the city?

- Only that the defectors are preparing a feast in your honour this evening. And your appointed governor, Lord Daxos, is already selecting the city's finest and most beautiful women to bed you.

- What? What other beauties?

Alishara smiled and raised her brown eyes to me.

- The Viceroy is a butch, and he grew up and lived all his life in Qarth as you know. And mores are rather loose in bed here. So he's decided to indulge you in the delights of the city. Shall I have him punished for such impertinence?

- No. Just tell him I don't lie with men.

- Yes, Master Rahl.

I looked round and made a note to myself in the design of the new People's Palace on the Steps to add a little more room for a library. And then I left the place.

***

Evening of the same day. The palace of the Viceroy of (now) Xaro Xoan Daxos.

The feast that this, bald and lustful idiot had thrown was indeed lavish and colourful. As had been rumoured before this feast was something of a ritual feast in Qarth, accompanied by riotous revelry. This feast began with the ritual washing of hands and sprinkling of incense. It turned out that Quartha had almost the same ancient ritual as the Dothraki - "The first sip from the cup" (of wine), which was passed around in a circle, was drunk in honour of good intentions and trust. The gods were also honoured with wine, which was poured out of goblets under small altars or statues.

Around the idle people there were servants, young girls, less often boys, who, as I realised, could easily be bent into a certain pose if they wished. In fact, their seductive appearance said so. They were serving treats and drinks. The dancers entertained everyone with their naughty dances and enticed everyone with their brown, blue and even scarlet eyes to dream of how they would wriggle under you. The curves of their bodies, seductive figures, and lush forms attracted my eye in the same way. However, there were women and men of all tastes and ages here.

I sat on a pseudo-throne, which was a mixture of a stone chair from the local temple and was decorated with precious stones and fabrics, as well as cushions for softness of sitting on it.

To my left, half lying down, was Daxos, who was devouring Boros with a vulgar expression on his face, who didn't care what the bald Sanguinius tried to say. I could feel the big man's emotions. He wanted blood. He never fought the battles for the city. We should send him some women as a consolation prize. I'm afraid if he kicks Xaro's arse, I'll be without a sitting viceroy. Boros doesn't care who he pours his seed into, he just wants to blow off steam. He didn't really care who was underneath him. Though he did prefer women, I think.

On the right stood Nissa in a red act, an eigil on her right side and a special dagger that all my Mord-Sith of this world wield. It was similar in appearance to the Sai, only instead of rounded and sharp rods, it had blades, the middle one twice as large as the two side ones. And over her shoulder was slung her bow, her skill with which has made her one of my best archers. Contempt and annoyance emanated from her. I can understand it, though; sometimes I'm just as annoyed by fools and fat, stupid animals who are mistakenly called "noble," "aristocrats," or "chosen ones."

Although today my irritation was relatively gone after that conversation with the fortune teller, the residue remained. However, it was my own fault. I gave in to my emotions.

Prophecies had often helped me in my past life. But they also kind of ruined me. Misinterpretation is sometimes worse than any action or inaction. Any word that Quaita uttered can mean a real thing, a person or an action, or it can be a metaphor. One must be careful with them. Besides, she's from Asshai and she's a red priestess. And they're not always known for their accurate predictions. I'd be lying if half the time these "predictions" are either correctly interpreted visions or the ravings of a drunk or drugged person.

So I'll remember this "prophecy", but I won't follow it. And those words about "love"... Quaita and his RGlor must be out of their minds, or simply this prophecy was not meant for me. If I'm not mistaken, and I'm not, there are such "messengers" in the court of Robert Baratheon, his younger brother, in all the Free Cities and other interesting personalities, who are mostly political leaders or very rich people.

So one should be more careful with these ones.

I felt gentle hands, or rather gentle but at the same time quite firm hand movements on my shoulders. It was Nissa, she massaged them for me sometimes when I was brooding. I tensed my body and my muscles ached when I went too long. She could relax them quite skilfully.

- You don't like Master Rahl?

- Your hands are simply golden my dear. - I smiled at her and closed my eyes in pleasure.

- I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about the feast. These worms dare to celebrate your victory, without you, as if it were their achievement.

- In a way it is. They defeated Nyssa themselves when they opened the D'Haran gate to the D'Haran soldiers. So let them drink and be merry.

- You are very kind to them. - she replied neutrally.

- You hate so many of them. Sometimes I think you want to kill or torture everything that moves or breathes.

- No. I do not wish to kill or torture you, my Emperor," she smiled.

- Heh. You're a very complex Nyssa. Still, you are different from your other sisters. And I don't know for better or worse.

Nyssa didn't answer anything, only smiled enigmatically. But it was Xaro who spoke in return:

- My Emperor! May I begin the gift-giving ceremony? - Xaro began to fawn over me.

With my nod of approval and a smile, he began as Ris, who had also arrived here a couple of hours ago from Leng, reporting on the successful completion of the suppression of a small rebellion there. Now their capital city of Leng Ma no longer existed. The entire population, where one old general decided to lead the rebellion and free the island from my forces, has either been slaughtered or driven into slavery. Rhys on his dragon named Drygon burned it down for the last time, and the land around it was covered with salt so that nothing would even grow there.

Yeah, I've decided to revive the Dragon Corps after all. Only it's going to be a little different now. My future eight riders will command their own dragon and one legion, which will be named Dragon Legion with its own number. So far, I only have two dragon riders. This is Rhys and Ocris. Our blond friend has a dragon as white as he is, named Albion. Rhys, on the other hand, has a blood red dragon. All three dragons that are attached to the riders (including my Nightmare) are four-legged. The others are bipedal, except for the one with white and blue scales. I even know who I'm gonna give it to.

However, these "their" dragons don't obey them at all. Or rather, they listen to their commands, they even have a mental link, which I created for them. But I'm not a fool to give such a weapon to my loyal subjects. Even if the flames of these dragons are completely harmless to me. No! The dragons serve me. Only me!

And if anyone should ever think of betraying me for real, the dragon will smell it and devour the fool.

I doubt that will happen, though. And I choose candidates for the role of dragon riders very carefully.

Right now I have three more riders in mind - Daario Naharis, Quentin Darstein and Red Spear. However, maybe in time I will change my mind and will not give any of them my lizards. Let them grow up. Although they are bigger than a two-storey house, their current size is not the limit.

Okris... Okris is currently still in Ina, the capital of the I-Tian Empire as an ambassador just with his dragon. This impressed the local emperor greatly, and he moved his troops away from the borders so as not to provoke us. Vasserion is still more of a politician and merchant than a military man in Oakris. He certainly fought some battles on Albion and commanded a couple of raids, but he has no talent as a warlord. But he did get us the abolition of trade duties in the territory of the Narragansetts. Moreover, he also somehow managed to arrange for the troubled city of Azabad, once a free city of Hyrkan's Domain, to be made independent again, but with a small force of D'Hara and I-Tii. It will become a fairly large city in the near future when it gains its "independence".

Meanwhile, while I was thinking about all this, the presentation of gifts from the local nobility was almost over. I've been thinking about it for a long time. I didn't even notice that Xaro had announced that the foreign ambassadors and guests wanted to appear and present their gifts and pay their "respects" to me.

Before the first one entered the hall, I examined those gifts, which at first I had not paid proper attention to. And there was much to see: rare jewellery, decorative weapons, hunting birds, rare books, outlandish animals from the four known continents and even funny slaves (a dwarf, a two-headed slave, a couple of pleasure slaves with unusually attractive appearance and a couple of eunuchs). Well, as well as chests of gold, silk, and so on.....

- Lady Mellario Martel of Norvos! - Xaro announced.

A tall, pale-skinned lady in black robes entered the hall. Her hair was not visible behind her headdress, but I knew very well that she shaved it off according to the traditions of the noble people of Norvos, and her eyes were white, and her skin was pale. But this pallor was charming, unlike the dead pallor that does not colour a man.

Besides her, four people came in with her. Two servants carrying a small chest and two warriors, known in Norvos as the Holy Guard. These are the Norvos "blameless ones" who, instead of the "cult of the helmet," have a "marriage to the axe."

That's what you are Auntie Mellario, wife of Doran Martell.....

- Greetings, Lady Mellario. - I smiled at her, - Glad to see a famous and so pleasant to the eye guest from far and friendly Norvos. Or is it Dorne?

Though she kept her face straight, I'm sure she was cursing me in her mind. They had had a recent marital breakup with Doran Martel. They remained married and even friends, but Mellario wanted to take the children for herself and Doran wouldn't let her, so she's angry. In fact, I wonder what she's doing here.

- I've come here, Your Grace, as a messenger from the Masters of Norvos. I've come to tell you that they congratulate you on your victory over your enemies and wish you a long reign. They also asked me to remind you that Norvos would be happy to have you as a guest at any time.

- I remember your marvellous city's offer of a visit. And as I said, I will do so after defeating my opponents. So no need to worry. Please join us in our celebration.

She bowed and stepped to the side where a seat had been prepared for her while we chatted.

Quite an interesting person, my aunt. Hmm, and she's single now, if I'm not mistaken.

Ambassadors from the other Free Cities came next. And after them came a visitor from Westeros.

I looked him over from head to toe a couple of times, then at the crest that was embroidered in gold threads on the chest of his doublet, and I realised that the most interesting member of House Greyjoy stood before me.

- Lord Euron Greyjoy. - I said affirmatively.

- I see you recognise me, though we've never met in person. - He flashed his one open eye. Many think he's lost his other eye, but I can clearly sense that his other eye is infected with magic. Perhaps it is blood magic," I am glad I am known to you, though. I can assure you that I've been following your progress as well. At such a young age, you've managed to create your own empire. I truly admire your tenacity and courage. - and the octopus doesn't lie, and neither do my brothers. They were unfortunately unable to come here with me. But I am a messenger from the ironborn.

- Only from them? - I tilted my head to the side and began to realise that was a very thick hint.

- Yes. Perhaps our dear king is too drunk to hear what's going on here. The rumours are contradictory to you, though, and it's hard to believe them. Even I, who have seen two dragons in person, have my insecurities.

- And how does that manifest itself?

- Thinking I'm crazy and I'm imagining things. - and then he laughed.

- Don't worry, what you're seeing is real. It's just hard for you to accept. Just like any other person who isn't ready to see it and realise it.

- Anyway, I didn't come here empty-handed. I think it's safe to say you're not indifferent to ships?

- I am, Lord Euron. - I nodded.- Then you will be pleased to receive from the Iron Islands a ship that has been worked on by the finest craftsmen and shipbuilders in the land. It awaits you in the harbour.

- I'm very happy about that. I think it will make a fine addition to my collection. Please join the feast. I hope you'll stay longer in my domain so I can learn more about you and the Iron Islands in general.

- I would be happy to satisfy your curiosity, Your Grace. - The dark-haired ironborn bowed.

I wonder what the islanders have decided to pull? It is not mere curiosity, or politeness. Although politeness and ironborn are two things you can't say in the same sentence. Well, let's get on with the ceremony. Tomorrow I'll talk to Euron a little longer.

To be continued...