Game of Thrones: The Legend of Jon Arctic - ASOIAF/GOT [Book - 1]

Chapter 168 - Artican Trade in Essos 23 (Azor Ahai).

[Chapter Size: 3200 Words.]

---------------------------------------

Thrid Person POV

Essos, 296 AC.

---------------------------------------

It was night in the great city of Volantis, as the hour of the wolf was announced with the moon reaching its highest point in the sky.

Everything seemed peaceful in one of the oldest cities of the known world, which had been created as an extension of Valyria a long time ago, implementing its culture, which has been preserved to this day with the exception of the dragons and their magic.

The city functioned with the high nobility composed of direct descendants of the ancient dragon lord families, and they prided themselves on this more than anything else.

The city had an ancient but sturdy structure, extremely beautiful this night as all the houses were lit with candles, while a large temple in the center of the city illuminated with a central flame that reached upwards through an opening. The red priests ensured that it was never extinguished—rain or shine, the flame of the Lord of Light, R'hllor, was never put out.

Power in Volantis was dominated by military strength and commerce, controlled by two major factions: the Tigers, who relied on military power, and the Elephants, who relied on trade, both controlling all of Volantis.

Religion also held significant influence over the population, from nobles to citizens and slaves. The red priests dominated public opinion, with the largest temple in the world, the Red Temple, located in the city, housing its high priests and its eternal flame.

In that same temple tonight, without any worshippers at the moment, the priests were carrying out their usual activities in the temple, and everything seemed normal until the High Priest of the Red Temple walked through one of the corridors with no one in sight within the temple. After all, he was in one of the most inaccessible areas deep underground, walking towards the end of the corridor where there was a strong light in front of him.

"High Priest Benerro? What troubles you at such an hour of the night?" A voice beside him called out, sounding slightly hesitant.

They were heading directly towards the central flame, or eternal flame as they called it, which burned brightly. However, they were in the lowest part, where it began—a place only accessible to the most important individuals.

Accompanying him was his assistant, known as the Herald of Benerro, due to acting as his representative and messenger for the High Priest.

Dessun was a man of 27 namedays, who came from a common family—not a slave one—and studied at the Red Temple since the age of 10 namedays, eventually becoming Benerro's assistant once he was noticed by him. He had spent his recent years assisting the High Priest in whatever he needed.

"A calling brought me here, Dessun. R'hllor wants to convey a message, I am certain!" he spoke with a firm and excited tone. While in his chamber, he had felt something calling him to this place and came after summoning his assistant, who was confused.

Dessun only nodded, not knowing what to say, and he did not want to risk being whipped for contradicting the High Priest, or worse, being burned alive. They continued in silence until they finally entered the room of the great flame, burning this night just like any other night.

"Let us pray to our God, as the flames call me tonight, young Dessun," Benerro said, while Dessun nodded his head.

Benerro, already accustomed to the flames, advanced to a point very close to it and knelt down. He was used to the heat but did not approach further, as he too was made of flesh and could be burned.