Fire And Blood

The Plot

Daenerys X

Almost four moons have passed since their negotiations with the Wolf Pack and now their contract with the Free City of Qohor was finally reaching its end. Magister Tychor had been made aware, and so preparations for their departure have begun.

Daenerys would be lying if she said that she wasn't looking forward to leaving this city. It felt wrong in all the worst ways, the slavery was almost as bad as in Norvos and she wanted to see her growing children soar freely through the skies again.

Fortunately, being confined in the manse hadn't stunted their growth as much as she had feared. They were now twice the size of a healthy and grown cat and their crests and horns were starting to emerge. Her Arrax's crest was blood red with black spines and his horns were also a deep red. His teeth and claws were sharp, deadly and black as well as Jadewing's and Sundancer's.

Jadewing's crest and horns emerged as bronze with specks of bronze scales also beginning to show along her belly.

Sundancer's horns were coloured a pale cream while his crest was a deep orange. Cream scales around his eyes had also broken through his usual gold colouring.

There was, however, still something she wanted – no, she needed to do. Ever since they had had that brief conversation with the Red Priest a few months ago, she had repeatedly felt the urge to see for herself what it was they saw in the fire. Was it something else entirely to what she had seen? Was it, mayhap, indeed similar to the pictures she had seen in Nilira's pyre?

A shuddering breath escaped her. She missed the child terribly. She missed her laughter and innocence. She missed being asked if she wanted to play with her. And all because...all because –

If I look back I am lost.

There was no good in dwelling on things she could not change. There was only one path for her to go and it led forward. On that path was the Red Temple of Qohor she needed to visit.

Forward and forward and always forward. Never back, never look back.

She slowly pulled herself out of the water of her bath. It was only lukewarm now. A curious thing she had learned about herself was that, despite still enjoying scalding hot baths, fire could indeed burn her now. She had assumed as much for a while, but had never gotten into a situation to prove it, until recently. A silly accident with a brazier had now left her with a large patch of discoloured skin on her forearm after a shallow burn. It could have been worse, but it had been the confirmation of her suspicions. Now she knew without a doubt.

The skin was still tender, so Minela was careful there while drying her with a towel. Daenerys was really proud of the Norvoshi girl. She had come a long way, but there was a much longer way to go still.

Once in her smallclothes, Minela helped her into a low-cut white dress and a darker purple Qohorik robe with the holes cut into the arms. Despite all of the city's faults, Daenerys could not deny that she enjoyed much of their prevailing taste in fashion.

"I once saw nobles from Qarth with their women," Minela told her on their way to their bedchambers.

Upon entering the room, Rhaenys and Aegon already present inside and playing with their dragons, Daenerys walked to a chair and sat down, immediately greeted by Arrax, who wasted no time to rest his head on her lap. She smiled at him and gave him the scratches along his snout he loved so much. The deep rumble coming from him was like a queer imitation of a cat's purr. Her free hand was on the table she was sitting next to and Feraya, who had been waiting for her, began to file her nails.

"I have never been to Qarth and don't know much of it," Daenerys replied, a bit belatedly, to Minela's earlier words.

"Hm. Women from Qarth have these dresses I think would look pretty on you, Your Grace," their handmaiden said as she began brushing her hair.