Viserys galloped his horse, the black banner with the red dragon fluttering in the wind.
Viserys was still riding his dothraki black horse; The Red Viper had gifted him a Dornish steed, which Viserys had stored in the stables for now.
The black steed had been with Viserys for a long time, and there was still affection between them.
A wealthy nobleman often owned many fine steeds, and Viserys's current stables were not yet extensive, with the black steed and the Dornish steed being the best.
Viserys led eight hundred cavalry, the most elite cavalry in Andalos.
Six hundred Andal heavy cavalry and two hundred Loynan light cavalry.
Viserys's steed carried his newly acquired spear of gaelis, a round tortoise-shell shield, and the throwing javelins and Dornish shortbow gifted by The Red Viper.
The Loynan holy relics were also quite crude, all bearing the name of Greygalis.
Now Viserys felt that these weapons might not have belonged to Greygalis's generation, but rather were attributed to Greygalis by later generations.
However, this did not prevent these weapons from representing the pinnacle of Loynan craftsmanship and being Loynan holy relics.
This silver scale armor, the "Armor of Gaelis," Viserys felt, was no less miraculous than the valyrian steel armor later worn by Crows Eye; the silver armor was also light and hard.
As Viserys moved, the edges of the scales would emit light.
The metal was adorned with patterns—spirals, runic characters representing great rivers, and mysterious rhoynar symbols.
After leaving Gohod, Viserys traveled along a section of the Valyrian Road, then headed south to Pentos.
Viserys had time to admire this architectural marvel; the road was not made of dirt, bricks, or cobblestones, but a super-long ribbon of molten rock.
It stood half a foot above the ground, facilitating the drainage of rainwater and melted snow, extending straight as a spear along the horizon.
Unlike the muddy paths commonly referred to as roads in the Seven Kingdoms, the Valyrian Road was a genuinely wide thoroughfare, capable of accommodating three carriages abreast without interference or slowing traffic.
Four centuries after the destruction of Valyria, the ancient road remained as new as ever, without cracks or wheel marks.
"These are from magic," Viserys thought, where high-level fire magic was used to melt and cut stone, then cool it down.
Current pyromancers only know a rough superficiality of wildfire, understanding nothing of fire element magic.
True pyromancers were the Valyrian sorcerers and Dragon Kings who commanded flames.
Not only the Valyrians, but the fountains and canals of the rhoynar were also not without the power of magic.
Water magic is gentle, while fire magic is overbearing. Fire magic requires blood and fire.
Water magic, on the other hand, is more cordial and gentle, without side effects, and its offensive power is also lower than fire magic.
It was through skill and magic that these two great civilizations became magnificent, with a technological level clearly a dimension higher.
The horses galloped on the grand road, and the knights possessed a dragon-like and tiger-like momentum.
Viserys turned south from the northern end of the Valyrian Road until the magnificent city appeared before his eyes.
Pentos, the city closest to King's Landing.
Viserys saw the sea again, an endless expanse of water, with white foam rolling in.
Beyond the sea was his former home, King's Landing.
Now, though seemingly close, it was as distant as the horizon.
Viserys, surrounded by several Squires, slowly approached the Sunrise Gate of Pentos: the strongman Agos Black Pine, the archer Hugo, and the rhoynar javelin thrower Gaelyn.
The cavalry behind Viserys raised their banners; the silent black-armored cavalry stood like a straight forest, and the black and red dragon flag caused a stir among the city's garrison.
After reaching a fixed position, the soldiers began to wait in place.
Viserys rode his black steed, wearing silver armor and a silver helmet, and with his movements, the Armor of Gaelis radiated a brilliant silver light.
Viserys's sword belt held a sword and a dagger, and over his armor, he wore a black cloak with a red dragon, the magical dragon outlined with fine silk threads appearing to come alive.
"Close the city gates quickly!"
"Hurry!"
The defenders of Pentos immediately called for the pedestrians entering and exiting Pentos to return to the city quickly; their operations appeared incredibly clumsy.
Because Pentos had no towns or vassal cities on its flat plains, there were no effective scouts or defenses whatsoever.
The Pentosians thought it was some bandit gang coming to rob them, but it looked like an elite force, not a chaotic group of dothraki.
Viserys watched the panicked Pentos garrison; the city gates were closing too slowly, and the soldiers' quality was too poor.
The garrison members clutched their weapons, blew horns, their faces showing more fear than fighting spirit.
Even if there were a real war, these spiritless soldiers would probably just shoot a few arrows into the sky to earn their Magister's salary, then flee for their lives.
Pentos had many square brick towers, and most roofs were covered with tiles.
Pentos had a huge red temple, representing the popular worship of the Red God R'hllor in the city.
It seemed that after Braavos neutered their military, the Pentosians had gone all-in on complacency and never looked back.
For the past century, Pentos had almost become an undefended city, with only a few thousand garrison members, many of whom were ghost soldiers.
"Who is that dazzling warrior?" The Pentosians on the city wall were also in a flurry, and after a long while, once the city gates were closed, one brave soul came out to ask.
Although the Pentosians lacked martial virtue, they still had good judgment.
Viserys's silver armor was indeed too dazzling, making people's eyes shine brightly.
Judging by this armor, he should also be the leader of this group of knights.
"The Lord of Andalos, His Majesty Viserys, King, has come to visit Pentos!" Agos Black Pine roared, his voice booming like steel.
The Pentosians buzzed with chaotic whispers.
"What a bunch of pigs," Hugo commented unceremoniously. "No wonder the Dothraki barbarians particularly like to visit here."
For an archer, courage and efficiency are key, not wasting time.
"Viserys! Andalos." The garrison officer on the Pentos wall immediately made a connection; it seemed that Magister Illyrio had previously visited this newly rising king.
Since he was an acquaintance, the danger was much smaller.
"Your Majesty, please wait a moment, I will immediately report to the Magisters," the garrison officer said.
Like paying tribute, Pentos giving money and gifts had become a routine.
Because of the weak city defense forces and fleet, the Magisters maintained a friendly attitude towards other Free Cities and the dothraki Khals.
For years, the Magisters cultivated relationships with a series of powerful Khals, sending them gifts and gold and silver to ensure their khalasars operated east of the Rhoyne River.
Now seeing Viserys, the defenders reverted to their familiar routine, so practiced it was heartbreaking.
After some time, the Pentos Sunrise Gate opened wide.
Illyrio's palanquin reappeared, suspended by heavy leather straps between eight tall horses.
Four eunuch warriors protected him on either side, with more warriors following behind, guarding the baggage train; these hastily assembled supplies were clearly the gifts being sent out.
The Fat Magister descended from the palanquin, Illyrio twirling the tip of his oiled yellow beard—a rather shifty-looking gesture.
"Great King Viserys, please forgive my late arrival. The price of being one of the Magisters of this great city is having to attend meetings from time to time," Illyrio said apologetically.
Viserys, however, smiled, "I should be the one to apologize for coming uninvited."
"Not at all, this is the supreme honor of Pentos," Illyrio said.
Illyrio examined Viserys's armor, shimmering with silver light, incredibly beautiful.
Illyrio also noticed the silver light at the edges of the scales, making Viserys appear like a god.
Looking at this craftsmanship, it didn't seem like the work of the impoverished Andals and rhoynar.
"Your Majesty's armor is so magnificent, I have never seen its like."
"This is a gift from the Rhoyne River, silver scale armor," Viserys said simply.
Wealthy merchants like Illyrio were rich, but they had never seen a top-tier craft like silver scale armor; he simply thought it was a good piece of armor.
"To welcome you and your strong warriors, the Magisters have specially brought gifts as offerings," Illyrio said respectfully.
"We bring you gold and silver, jewels, silks, spices, armor, fine wines, and beautiful artworks such as dragon bones, fish bones, wood carvings, and statues of the Mother, to ensure you have a pleasant stay in Pentos."
Viserys looked at the supplies brought by the mules; this was another wave of sudden wealth, this time dozens of boxes of gifts.
Viserys's reputation grew louder, and the sincerity offered by the Pentos Magisters grew greater.
No wonder the dothraki Khals were accustomed to coming to Pentos for plunder; the people here spoke nicely and were generous with their money.
"Everyone thank the Magisters of Pentos! The generous Magister Illyrio!" Viserys raised his riding crop. "Thank you, Magisters of Pentos, for making us feel at home!"
"Generous Magister Illyrio!"
"Generous Magister Illyrio!"
The knights cheered Illyrio's name together, their voices seeming to pierce the clouds.
These knights were like frozen statues, horses and riders unmoving, obeying only Viserys's commands.
What he said became law, what he forbade was stopped.
Viserys's cavalry, compared to the Pentos garrison, made Illyrio feel the garrison was useless, lacking that taste of blood and fire.
Therefore, the Magisters of Pentos were also more willing to purchase Unsullied guards.
Illyrio's mind was filled with countless thoughts; he understood this was not gratitude, but naked military threat.
A powerful, formidable cavalry unit, with the ruthlessness to swallow everything.
This kind of discipline, Illyrio rarely saw; he thought of the most famous Golden Company, a militarized mercenary force.
If there was one most mature professional mercenary force, it could only be the Golden Company, always trained to military standards.
But the Golden Company was also a century-old establishment, passed down through generations.
And this young Viserys training his troops to such a degree made him even more terrifying.
"Such a powerful young man, can he really be easily manipulated? It's like raising a vicious dragon, only to be harmed by it in return." Illyrio spoke with flattery, but in his heart, he was searching for his optimal solution.
Viserys was already a rising warlord in the Land of Andalos and the Rhoyne River basin, not an exile.
Illyrio, and even the other Magisters of Pentos, had heard Viserys's nickname, "Dragon of the Rhoyne."
Many Magisters were worried and demanded increased defensive capabilities, but Illyrio had dissuaded them.
"No, I've invested enough. Everything is for that child; let this Viserys show off his might for now, I will surely be the mantis stalking the cicada, laughing last." Illyrio took a deep breath.
By leveraging Viserys's influence, he seemed to be able to increase his own say in Pentos.
At the same time, he needed to continue to win over Viserys, making him clash with the iron throne.
So now, all investments were acceptable.
"Your Majesty Viserys, would you like to enter the city with me?" the Magister asked.
"I'm tired from the journey; I'd like to rest outside for a night, and tomorrow I'll go and explore the markets of Pentos," Viserys replied.
"Since you wish to rest, we have also prepared a new villa for you," Illyrio said.
A seaside villa, this treatment was exactly the same as for the dothraki Khals.
The Pentosians continued to spend lavishly, with Pentos covering all expenses.