Game of Thrones: Rise of the Supreme Dragon Queen

"Madam, you must be from Haelcrown. May I ask how to address you?" Dany sized up the witch's attire and asked with a smile.

"I am a priestess of the Temple of Shamiriana—Kayana."

"Priestess Kayana, what brings you to me?" Dany inquired.

"Your Majesty, is this little dragon newly hatched?" The witch had been holding back for a long time, but she couldn't contain herself any longer.

Dany paused for a moment before nodding. "Yes, it hatched this afternoon."

"This afternoon? Two days late… what a pity, what a pity," the witch muttered to herself.

"Late? No, it was right on time. The eggshell naturally cracked at midday, just as expected." Dany suddenly realized something and asked in shock, "Wait, who do you think hatched this egg?"

"Why, isn't it me?" The witch rubbed her wooden staff, speaking as if it were only natural.

Dany was speechless. She snorted, "Go ahead, call it and see if it answers you."

"Little dragon, little dragon, come here. I am your mother," the witch's eyes gleamed as she eagerly called out to the small golden dragon.

Dany: … Cleon: … Jhiqui and the Unsullied: …

"What nonsense! Not just anyone can become the Mother of Dragons!" Cleon flushed red and growled in a hushed voice.

The witch scowled and snapped at the butcher-knight, "I was hired for a job, and I did it. I would never steal my employer's dragon, nor dare to demand a dragon from the Silver Queen. But you cannot deny my contribution!

Wasn't this golden dragon summoned from the Shadow Flame R'hllor by my sacrifice of the Great Master's entire family of 263 people?"

"Uh…" Cleon was momentarily stunned before he frowned in confusion. "What are you talking about? The little dragon hatched this afternoon. Mulyneux has been dead for days, and that wasn't even a real dragon egg."

"Oh, come now. The Great Master is dead; there's no need to deceive me." The witch dismissed his words and pointed at the little dragon, who was busy gnawing on meat. "Look at this beautiful little face, golden and radiant—just like the egg the Dragon Queen stole that day."

Dany finally understood—this old crone thought the dragon hatched from the fake egg.

What a pity. If only that magic egg had shattered a little later, she could have pulled it out now and watched the old woman try to claim the title of "Mother of Dragons."

"It's not the same. This is a brass dragon with green speckles," Jhiqui argued.

The witch pointed at Jhiqui's face and retorted, "You have black freckles on your face. Does that make you a Summer Islander?"

The handmaiden blushed furiously, her small freckles near her nose seeming to glow even brighter.

Dany had no interest in arguing further. She changed the topic, asking, "Priestess Kayana, what do you want from me?"

"Dragon Queen, I wouldn't have come to disturb you, but you've kept me locked in prison all this time. I'm an old woman; I won't last much longer!"

Though her words were a plea for mercy, her tone remained calm and devoid of true supplication.

Was it confidence? Or perhaps, with age, she had come to accept life and death with indifference?

Dany had no intention of making an enemy of her. As she had told Cleon before, it was best to respect the gods while keeping a safe distance.

This old witch was clearly a dangerous woman—MMP, what a ruthless person, sacrificing an entire family of 263 people.

Dany wasn't afraid of witches, but they had no direct conflict or grudge, so there was no reason to provoke her unnecessarily.

—She was a priestess of Shamiriana's temple, part of an established order with traditions, not a lone sorceress whose entire lineage could be wiped out in a single night.

"She's not a criminal. Why did you imprison her?" Dany frowned at the butcher-knight.

"It may be a prison, but she's been treated well—no mistreatment," Cleon defended.

"Priestess Kayana, you know that I not only took Yunkai but also conquered Meereen the very next day. These past two days, I've been busy handling Meereen's affairs."

With that brief explanation, Dany got straight to the point. "You helped the Ghiscari hatch a dragon, but you are not part of the Ghiscari Alliance. Oh, by the way, Haelcrown hasn't declared war on me, has it?"

The "Anti-Mother of Dragons Alliance" wasn't limited to just the Slaver's Bay city-states. New Ghis had already joined, and Qarth and Volantis were forming their own armies.

Based on information obtained through the interrogation of the Great and Wise Masters, the slave-trading nations of Jade Sea and the Free Cities of Westeros were also potential threats to Dany.

"No, no, we of Shamiriana lack the strength. The distance is simply too great," the witch shook her head.

Lack the strength?

Old hag, where do you get the nerve to speak to me like this?

Dany's expression remained neutral as she said, "Since you are not an enemy, then your actions in Yunkai… let's call it a business transaction. Priestess, you are free to go."

"The Dragon Queen is truly just and wise. I am deeply grateful, but…" A hint of red appeared on the witch's wrinkled, yellow-black face, making Dany wonder if she was seeing things.

"Speak your mind."

"Dragon Queen, I was promised payment for my services to the Great Master," the witch said.

The entire Great Master's family was sacrificed to demons, yet she still expected payment from him?

Such a service… Hmm, perhaps she should offer it to every enemy king opposing her.

"How much?" Dany asked, rubbing her nose.

Clearly, whatever the Great Master had promised, he could no longer fulfill. All of Yunkai's wealth now belonged to Queen Dany's treasury.

"A total of 200,000 golden ghiscari coins. He prepaid 50,000, leaving a balance of 150,000," the witch said cautiously.

A mere 150,000—less than a drop in the ocean of the Great Master's fortune.

Dany generously waved her hand. "House Targaryen values honor. I am willing to fulfill Mulyneux's promise to you."

"Truly?" The old witch's eyes gleamed with delight.

"Of course. A Targaryen's word is as unbreakable as the mountains!"

"Then…" The witch's smile widened, and she pointed at the little dragon. "The Great Master also promised that if a dragon hatched, I would receive an additional reward of 300,000 golden ghiscari coins."

You old hag—that's going too far!

Dany lowered her voice and said, "Priestess, Little Gold was not hatched from that golden egg. At least, publicly, I will never admit it."

I am an upright person, a benevolent ruler—how could I encourage someone to sacrifice their entire family?

That would be far too cruel! I could never do such a thing!

I must firmly deny it. I must proclaim it to the world. Everyone must understand that whether a dragon hatches is entirely up to the will of the heavens—it cannot be forced!

"I understand, I do. Even with sacrifices, there's no guarantee that a dragon will hatch every time."

Thinking of the Grand Wise Master's threats earlier, the Witch of Sorcery suddenly felt a sense of kinship with Daenerys:

As long as I sincerely sacrifice your entire family, even if they all die and no dragon hatches, you can't blame me!

After all, the Mother of Dragons herself admitted that the outcome depends on the heavens.

Would you doubt the words of an expert?

Daenerys emphasized, "Sacrifice cannot hatch a dragon at all. The idea of hatching a dragon by sacrificing one's dearest is a paradox filled with logical contradictions. I've already explained this—do you still not understand?"

"I understand, I understand," the old witch nodded repeatedly.

"Good," Daenerys breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then, Your Majesty, what about my 300,000 reward for hatching a dragon?" the Witch of Sorcery blinked and asked.

Daenerys nearly choked on her own saliva.

Understand? My ass!

At that moment, an Unsullied soldier approached and asked, "Your Majesty, everyone has arrived. Shall we begin the feast now?"

"Honored Priest, why don't you stay for a meal? We can discuss matters afterward," Daenerys said helplessly.

She actually wanted the old witch to leave immediately, but doing so would have been too impolite.

Apart from those on duty, around forty to fifty commanders had gathered. Three eight-meter-long wooden tables were placed side by side, quickly filling up with delicacies.

Daenerys sat at the head of the center table, with about a dozen people seated according to their ranks. Cleon and Belwas sat to her left and right, while the Witch of Sorcery, as a guest, sat directly across from Daenerys.

Two of her Bloodriders, along with Barristan, had accompanied her to Meereen, while Aggo remained in Yunkai, leading thousands of light cavalry to search for any remaining Ghiscari forces outside the city.

The ambush two nights ago had not been entirely successful—Prince of Tatters and Grazdan had escaped with four or five hundred riders.

"A toast to the Queen! A toast to the true dragons of gold and fire!" The gathered warriors raised their cups to Daenerys.

"Hahaha! Brothers, let's drink to all of us, to the unification of Slaver's Bay, and to a land where no one shall ever be a slave again!" Daenerys responded, lifting her own cup.

"Long live the Queen!"

The banquet was a joyous occasion for all. During the feast, Daenerys even thought of a clever way to deal with the old witch.

Once the banquet concluded, she kept the witch behind and handed her a stack of parchment. "These are property deeds seized from the Grand Wise Master's estate—ten luxurious villas in the northern district of Qarth. I don't need to explain their value to you."

"This..." The old witch hesitated. She certainly understood how expensive real estate in Qarth was. Based on the records, these ten villas were worth at least a million golden honors.

"But will the people of Qarth recognize them?" she asked doubtfully.

"Why wouldn't they? Just say the Grand Wise Master gave them to you before I arrived in Yunkai. Even if the Qartheen suspect the truth, they'll have no choice but to accept it.

After all, if word got out that they violated contracts, who would dare do business with them?" Daenerys said.

The Witch of Sorcery considered this and found it reasonable. She then grinned, "Well then, thank you, Your Majesty!"

Just as she sent the old witch on her way, Aggo returned to Yunkai, covered in dust and grime.

He had also brought two prisoners—Danzho and Kago, the two vice-commanders of the Windblown.

"Aggo, you're late! The feast just ended," Daenerys said with a smile.

But Aggo wasn't in the mood for jokes. He looked dejected. "Khaleesi, they all escaped."

"Oh? How?" Daenerys asked, intrigued.

"A ship sent small boats to the shore to pick them up," Aggo said, pointing at Danzho and Kago with frustration. "These two led thirty warriors in a desperate stand, buying time for the others to flee."

Danzho and Kago were in rough shape.

The old poet-swordsman now had a twisted scar running across his nose. Kago had taken a sword wound to his left waist, soaking his clothes with blood and filling the air with the scent of iron.

Due to excessive blood loss, the rugged, scar-faced warrior was deathly pale, his eyes dull and lifeless.

Seeing them remain silent, as if awaiting execution, Daenerys chuckled. "Why go to such lengths? Why make such sacrifices? When did I ever say I'd kill you all? You're acting so stubborn."

"We're already in this state. Do as you wish, Your Majesty," Danzho said flatly.

"Oh? Still holding a grudge?" Daenerys smirked. "Tell me, how many chances did I give you to surrender?"

(End of chapter)

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