[First chapter of Westerosi arc has been updated on my P@treon. You can check it out.]
It was truly a spectacular sight for the people of Pentos. Five dragons roaring and flying in the sky above the city. It was unlike anything they had ever seen in their entire life. The citizens doubted they would ever see anything more magnificent in their lives.
A small crowd had gathered inside the grounds of Illyrio's mansion at the place designated for the dragons' landing. Standing at the forefront were Illyrio, Viserys, and a few other Magisters of Pentos. They had decided that Rhaenys Targaryen commanded a proper reception befitting her status. The mercenaries of the Golden Company were standing in rapt attention all around the estate.
As the dragon carrying Rhaenys began to descend, fright started to take over most of the spectators. It was their first time witnessing a dragon, and they could not describe the overwhelming feeling surging in their hearts. A part of their heart wanted to run away as fast as they could. The fact that this magnificent creature could reduce them to ashes in a heartbeat was not a very comforting feeling. A part of them was awe struck and in shock at the grandeur of the dragons. But they held their ground.
Viserys, however, was different. He did not fear the dragons. In fact, he was exhilarated. He was excited. He was staring at them with naked desire in his eyes. And his gaze was not even fixed on the smaller dragon that Rhaenys was riding, but rather on the largest dragon flying highest in the sky.
The wait was finally over. The dragon landed with an earth shattering thud. The ground shook, and a moment later, Rhaenys climbed down from its back.
Viserys was awestruck. He was entirely overwhelmed. Abandoning all reason and acting on pure instinct, he began walking toward the great beast.
He was just about to step within its reach when a sheathed sword suddenly blocked his way. Frowning, he turned his head to find the commander of the Golden Company standing with his weapon raised, physically barring his path.
"Are you so interested in becoming dragon food?" Logan asked.
"I am a Targaryen," Viserys sneered. "I am meant to ride those things."
"And yet, here you are, standing like the rest of us as a mere spectator," Logan remarked dryly. "You are not really riding one."
Anger flared across Viserys's face.
"If you want to die," Logan continued, "die happily. But not while I am being paid to maintain order in Lady Rhaenys's presence."
Every ear heard the exchange, but no one paid it any mind. All eyes were completely fixated on the lady who had just dismounted. Visery, though in a great anger, held himself back. He remembered the hints that Illyrio and Varys had given before his departure. They had constantly fed him that he needed to be on best behaviour and civil towards Rhaenys. He scowled but remained quiet.
Rhaenys looked softly at her mount and gave it a gentle pat on the snout. Rhaenorin nudged its massive head affectionately against her hand. It then turned toward the spectators, fixing them with a hard, piercing stare, as if issuing a silent warning.
The Magisters gulped and took a collective step back in fear. The immense eyes of the dragon staring them down sent sharp shivers down their spines. Their backs and foreheads were already drenched in cold sweat. The dragon roared once more, shaking the very lawn beneath their feet, before it beat its massive wings and took to the sky to join its siblings.
No one moved until the dragons disappeared over the horizon. Only when they vanished from sight did the crowd finally breathe a collective sigh of relief. But even so, the heavy pressure radiating from Rhaenys did not dissipate. It lingered, a constant, suffocating weight pressing down on the magisters.
But one man was furious to see the dragons fly away.
"Why did it fly away?" Viserys screeched, losing whatever little control he had. "Call it back! I did not even get to see it properly!"
Every magister present was horrified. Their hearts pounded violently in their chests. Barely a moment had passed since the massive beast had silently threatened them, and now this fool was throwing a tantrum. It was an insult on Rhaenys' face. They would have called it a slap to her face but they did not have enough guts to even think about a slap on her face.
They wanted to scream at Viserys. To strangle him. If he enraged her, she might burn the entire city to ash. And they stared hard at Viserys and at Illlyrio to bring the idiot back in control.
Rhaenys barely reacted to his outburst. The expression on her face remained entirely unchanged. Her gaze was fixed instead on a specific individual. Someone who had blended seamlessly into the background, but for Rhaenys, was the absolute center of attention. Daenerys Targaryen.
Daenerys's reaction to the dragons had been entirely different from everyone else on the lawn. She had not felt frightened or terrified. Nor had she felt the manic, greedy exhilaration her brother displayed. Instead, she had felt only a serene, profound calm in their presence. It was as if she had known them her entire life. She felt an invisible, thrumming connection pulling her toward them, and even though the beasts had vanished over the horizon, that feeling inside her had not faded. She could vividly remember all of them.
Meanwhile, Illyrio, standing next to Viserys, squeezed the young man's shoulder hard, shooting him a sharp, warning glare. Viserys scowled again but ultimately clamped his mouth shut.
Rhaenys stepped forward, moving purposefully toward the group.
"Lady Rhaenys," Illyrio greeted, a wide, flattering smile plastered across his face.
Rhaenys did not react. She did not even acknowledge him. She walked straight past the magister, stopping directly in front of Daenerys.
"Lady Rhaenys!" Daenerys stammered, shocked and flustered by the sudden approach.
She had not been expecting this. Being the center of attention was something she had never experienced, let alone from a powerful woman with dragons.
"Daenerys," Rhaenys responded, her voice softening as a warm, reassuring smile touched her lips.
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