Game of Thrones: Rise of the Supreme Dragon Queen

After meeting Euron, Dany became even more determined to leave immediately.

There might be warlocks in other places, but Qarth was their stronghold.

MMP, there was even an entire street full of warlocks—Warlock Street.

This place was too sinister. Better to head to a city without magic, where the only threats were blades and spears.

Xaro was deeply frustrated. His intention in bringing Dany to meet Euron had been to keep alive her last shred of hope—that she might seek the aid of the warlocks once they rose to power.

As the Dothraki began packing supplies for the camel caravan, the long-unseen Pyat Pree, the head warlock, finally approached Dany.

In truth, he had been waiting for her all along, hoping she would seek his help on her own. He knew that neither royalty nor merchants truly intended to assist her.

The young girl, longing for the Iron Throne, would inevitably turn to the warlocks and their mysterious powers after encountering one setback after another.

Pyat Pree had waited and waited, but when news came that Dany was preparing to leave Qarth, his patience broke. The fishing line became a hot iron plate, and he could no longer sit still.

"Mother of Dragons, haven't you always wanted to learn the ancient spells of Valyria?" Pyat Pree handed Dany a thin notebook. "These are notes from a senior warlock, detailing the language of Valyrian spellcraft."

Ser Jorah intercepted the book before Dany could take it. Expressionless, he glanced at the blue-lipped warlock before carefully flipping through the pages.

After a while, sensing no curses and seeing that the pages indeed contained interpretations of ancient spells—written in Valyrian script—he handed the book to Dany.

Spells and everyday language were entirely different systems. Their writing, pronunciation, and expressions were worlds apart.

Pyat Pree seemed unbothered by Jorah's caution and explained with a smile:

"Khaleesi, you have visited the Hall of a Thousand Thrones and stayed as a guest in the homes of the Thirteen, but you have yet to grace the Hall of Undying with your presence.

Allow me to extend to you a formal invitation.

I promise to introduce you to the great Undying Ones. They will grant you boundless wisdom and reveal the eternal truths of the world."

"But I've heard that many warlocks have never even seen the Undying Ones," Dany said skeptically.

"Ha! Many courtiers never get the chance to meet their king in a lifetime. Does that mean the king doesn't exist?" Pyat Pree laughed with arrogance.

That made some sense... but it only made her more hesitant to go.

"Can the Hall of Undying truly grant the Undying Ones immortality?" she asked.

This time, Pyat Pree was silent for a long moment before solemnly replying:

"The Hall of Undying is said to have carved out a section of the river of time. It can freeze time and even offer glimpses of the future—or so the legends say.

I won't lie to you. Even in the presence of the Undying Ones, a warlock like me is insignificant."

"I deeply appreciate your invitation, Warlock, but..." Dany's expression was full of sincerity and regret. "The wisdom of the mystics cannot help me reclaim my throne.

I may have the innocent fantasies of a girl about magic, but as a Targaryen, Westeros is my reality."

"Visiting the Hall of Undying and meeting the Undying Ones won't take long," Pyat Pree said, his face hardening like frost.

"Ha ha ha, Master Warlock, please, go on ahead. In a few days, I'll personally take the Khaleesi to the Hall of Undying," Xaro said, stepping in to ease the tension.

Pyat Pree gave Xaro a deep look, then bowed to Dany. "I look forward to your visit."

With that, he turned and left.

"You want me to go to the Hall of Undying?" Dany glanced at Xaro, her tone indifferent. "Didn't you say before, 'The warlocks' houses are built of bones and lies'?"

"Oh, you misunderstand me!" The rotund merchant waved his hands dismissively, grinning. "What I mean is, tomorrow we'll leave Qarth, head to the Jade Sea, sail around it, and leave the warlocks and their crumbling houses far behind."

"You're not afraid of the warlocks' magic?" Dany asked skeptically.

"If sorcery were truly invincible, the world would already be ruled by warlocks," Xaro said, his eyes glinting with a sharp light and his tone grave.

"I'll leave, but not to sail to the Jade Sea with you," Dany replied firmly.

"Think it over. Perhaps you'll change your mind." Xaro gave her a deep, searching look before leaving with his attendants.

"Sigh. Ser Jorah, sell all the gifts those visitors brought me. We truly need to leave this place," Dany said with a weary sigh.

"Yes, Princess," Jorah replied and left as well.

The handmaidens were playing by the fountain outside, their laughter drifting in, leaving the spacious hall quiet except for Dany sitting alone on the soft couch, lost in thought.

"You should go to the Hall of Undying," a sudden woman's voice broke the silence near her ear.

"Who—Quaithe?" Dany turned her head to find Quaithe, wearing her wooden mask, standing by the window.

"Gods! When did you get here? Why didn't anyone announce you? Where's Doreah? Where's Irri?" Dany glanced around, but there was no sign of her handmaidens, though their laughter echoed from outside.

"Dany, you must go to the Hall of Undying," Quaithe said, as calmly as if they were discussing the weather. "You are special. There, you will see a prophecy that could change your destiny."

"Did you realize what you just said makes no sense?" Dany's lips twitched. "If I change my destiny, doesn't that mean the prophecy isn't a prophecy at all?"

"You don't know the prophecy yet, so you can't change your destiny. If destiny were fixed, why would we seek the mysteries of prophecy?" Quaithe replied coolly.

Hmm, that did make some sense.

"Why don't you just tell me the prophecy directly?" Dany said cheekily.

"Fine," Quaithe agreed immediately. "You'll reject Pyat Pree, refuse Xaro, and leave Qarth with your khalasar. Then a band of mercenaries will pursue you. You'll defeat them but suffer heavy casualties in the process."

"Uh, are you sure that's a prophecy?"

"It's a prophecy that doesn't require magic," Quaithe said.

A prophecy without magic? Just a wild guess?

Dany had already prepared herself for the worst, but she wasn't overly worried. The Red Waste lay just outside Qarth, and she had her dragons.

Still, she didn't want her khalasar to suffer needless losses, so she asked, "If I go to the Hall of Undying, can I avoid your 'prophecy'?"

"I don't know," Quaithe said, with a response that nearly made Dany choke in frustration.

"Didn't you just say that after seeing the prophecy, I could change the future?"

"You can change your choices, but you cannot change the nature of people or the human heart," Quaithe replied.

Dany nodded thoughtfully and asked seriously, "How can I ensure my safety in the Hall of Undying?"

"Take your dragons. When they are with you, no sorcerer can harm you with magic," Quaithe said, her tone complicated.

Dany's eyes lit up. That made sense. Dragons were the source of magic in the world.

"No one? Not even you?" she asked.

"I've never had ill intentions toward you, Dany," Quaithe said softly.

"Khaleesi, who are you talking to?" Irri's voice called out as she entered the hall carrying a basket of freshly washed melons, her face full of confusion as she glanced around.

"Quai—what? Where did she go?" Dany's gaze flicked toward the doorway where Irri stood. When she turned back, the masked woman had vanished without a trace.

"Did you see Quaithe?" Dany stepped away from the couch and leaned out the window, but all she saw were a few Dothraki lounging under the shade of the trees.

"Quaithe? When was she here?" Irri asked, puzzled.

"I was just speaking with her. Did you hear her voice?" Dany turned back and asked seriously.

The Dothraki girl shook her head repeatedly. "No, I only heard your voice. It sounded like you were talking to yourself, and that's when I asked who you were speaking to."

"This..." In the sweltering afternoon heat, Dany suddenly shivered.

"Inform Ser Jorah and have him send a message to the Great Warlock. Tomorrow morning, we will visit the Hall of Undying."

The Hall of Undying was a structure with black tiles and gray walls. The hall was long and low, lacking towers or windows, resembling a giant stone serpent coiled in the shadowy forest of black-barked trees.

Upon closer inspection, parts of the roof had collapsed, leaving shattered tiles strewn across the ground. The stone walls were weathered, with patches of gray plaster peeling away.

No wonder Xaro always called it the "Hall of Dust." It truly seemed like a place crumbling into the dust of time.

"This is the Forest of Nightshade," Pyat Pree explained, gesturing to the surrounding trees with their black bark and blue leaves. "The magical beverage we warlocks often drink—shade of the evening—is made from these leaves. I'll send you a few casks later; I guarantee you'll love it."

Dany glanced at his blue lips and thought to herself, If it were crimson, shade of the evening might replace lipstick as women's new favorite. But blue lips? That's just too hideous. I wouldn't want to end up with those.

The Forest of Nightshade was nestled between bustling streets. The streets were noisy and sunlit, while the forest was shadowy and eerily quiet. Outside, the heat was oppressive, but inside the forest, the dim light and cold breeze gave off an unsettling vibe.

"Blood of my blood!" Jhogo cast a wary glance at Pyat Pree and spoke in Dothraki, "This is an evil place. Spirits and sorcery dwell here. It has swallowed the light of the sun. Let's leave before it swallows our souls as well."

Jorah frowned and added, "This place is nothing but ruins. There's nothing worth seeing here."

"I think they've said some very wise things," Xaro said cautiously, though it was clear he was wary of offending Pyat Pree.

"Since we've come this far, I won't back down," Dany said resolutely.

Pyat Pree gave a faint smile. "You're a brave child. Come, take my arm, and let me guide you."

Dany took his arm but shook her head. "I'd love to be a simple, happy child, but I'm not."

Aggo grabbed her other arm, his expression solemn. "We are blood of your blood. We have sworn to live and die with you, to fight by your side, and to protect you from harm. If you are entering this dark place, then let us go with you."

"I'll come too," Ser Jorah quickly added.

"The Queen must enter alone," Pyat Pree said sharply. "Do you think this is just any place? The Hall of Undying does not open its doors to mere mortals.

You weren't entirely wrong earlier—many enter the Hall of Undying, but few ever leave.

If you were not the servants of the Mother of Dragons, I wouldn't even bother to warn you, as your lives mean nothing to me."

Dany cast the warlock a reproachful look before turning to Jorah and her bloodriders. Her voice softened. "Don't worry. I'll be fine. Trust me."

As she spoke, she discreetly gestured toward Drogon.

The black dragon would enter the Hall of Undying with her.

(End of Chapter)

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