The day had begun in Qohor with the same normalcy as every other day. The sun had risen some time ago and most people were already on their way to work.
Now, for most people, Qohor might not appear to be a very powerful or important city. It was one of the cities that just existed, faded into the background.
And to some extent, it was true. Qohor was not as famous as its counterparts. Among the other Free Cities, not Braavos or Volantis, which were the most famous, but even cities like Lys, Myr, and Pentos were much better known. And they were probably more important too.
But on the map of Essos, Qohor had its own importance. Though it was an inland city, without any port it had its own significance. Its location was such that it was quite an important city in the context of trade. It was several weeks' ride east of Pentos.
Qohor was an essential link in the trade routes that connected western and eastern Essos. A very essential position in the trade network.
Its position at the western edge of the Dothraki Sea made Qohor the ideal starting point for merchant caravans traveling east across the grasslands to Vaes Dothrak, where they met and traded with merchants who traveled west from distant lands such as the Empire of Yi Ti.
By the same token, Qohor was the first of the Free Cities encountered by traders returning from Vaes Dothrak with exotic wares and spices from the further East.
Not only this, the area around Qohor was also quite significant. Nearby to the city lay a vast woodland known as the Forest of Qohor. It was the largest woodland still remaining in Essos, a vast primeval forest.
The city, in its earliest days, had developed a lot with its dependency on the forest. The forest had been the primary source of its wealth, and even now, the livelihood of many people depended on it. Lumber and timber, along with many other forest products including many exotic fruits, were heavily traded from the city.
Many types of animals could also be found in the forest. Their pelts were valuable and highly prized. The artisans of Qohor also produced high quality wood carvings and fine tapestries.
Qohor was most famous, however, for its blacksmiths. The quality of the city's craftsmanship could not be matched even by the finest smiths of Westeros, and Qohorik artisans had perfected the ability of infusing deep colors into their metalwork. For all practical purposes, Qohor was the source of the weapons used by most of the sellsword companies and armies of the various free cities. In fact they had dealings with many Khalasar tribes to supply them with their arakhs.
Qohor was also the only place in the known world where the knowledge of reforging Valyrian steel had been preserved. And this was what had attracted Lord Aeos to focus his target on Qohor. The art of reforging Valyrian steel.
Though apart from that "preserved knowledge and heritage," it was hardly of much use. Rarely did the blacksmiths of the city get a piece of Valyrian steel to work with.
Qohor was also not a very populous city. Its population was not even half a million, around four hundred thousand. Like every other Free City, the city was governed by a council of magisters. The ruling council of Qohor was not very large, only twelve members.
A man appearing to be in his mid fifties was walking through the streets of Qohor. He was muscular and tall and big. The biceps of his arms were large and his shoulders broad, showcasing the large amount of hard manual labour he had performed with his body.
Contrary to what one would expect of a man doing manual labour, he was dressed in an exquisite purple coloured robe. He seemed to have freshly bathed and his appearance was very clean. He was Rick Tahot, a blacksmith in the city of Qohor.
And in a city where blacksmiths were a respected profession, Rick was quite wealthy. In fact, he was no ordinary blacksmith of the city. He was one of the finest the city had to offer, and he was also the head of the guild of blacksmiths of the city of Qohor.
Rick was also a member of the council of magisters ruling the city. He, along with the vice head of the blacksmith association, were the members of the council. These two blacksmiths were certainly not as rich as the other magisters, but with the massive influence they wielded, it was only appropriate for the blacksmiths to have two people representing them in the council.
Rick was heading towards his forge, where more than two dozen blacksmiths were employed under him. He was completing a large order from one of the sellsword companies. He had just taken a turn on the street, when a man came running towards him.
"Chief," the man almost shouted as he approached Rick. The man was another blacksmith from the blacksmith association and one of his apprentices.
"What happened?" Rick questioned with a frown, seeing the flustered look on his apprentice's face.
"Chief," he stammered. "A sellsword company has arrived at the gates of the city."
Rick raised his eyebrow. This was not a new thing. Sellsword companies often arrived at their gates with the intention of acquiring weapons.
"Why are you so flustered?" Rick asked, not understanding what was happening.
The man opened his mouth to explain, but he did not find the words to do so.
"You should go to the southern gate," he finally said. "The rest of the magisters are also reaching the gate."
Now this had Rick's full attention. This was no longer a simple issue. He might have asked more questions, but he was sure his apprentice wouldn't be able to explain the situation clearly.
With a nod to his apprentice, Rick strode towards the southern gates.
Meanwhile, in front of the southern gate, Rhaenys was standing at some distance from the walls. Behind her, twenty five hundred men were standing in full discipline. The dragons were still in the forest and were only a moment away once she called them.
She could see more and more people gathering on the walls of the city. She knew that the presence of her army alone would not have raised such a hue and cry. Then what had caused all this?
A smirk appeared on her face as her eyes shifted toward the banner flowing on her right. Her banner. Red on black background. A dragon with three heads. The Targaryen banner.
This had caused the chaos in the city.
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