Chapter 19: The Red City

Thousands of ships glided over the sea bearing black sails painted with the sigil of House Targaryen. Above the sails flew three dragons no bigger than dogs. On the deck of the flagship, Balerion, grunts came from the Dragon Queen, Daenerys Stormborn who sparred with her brother-husband.

They've sparred for hours in the ways of the dagger. Daenerys has improved very quickly since her first lesson. However, Daemon is leagues ahead of her in terms of skill. Her training is nowhere close to done especially since he stated that they'll move on to different weapons when she's mastered the dagger.

"Again." Daenerys panted holding her dagger in a reverse grip.

Daemon nodded stepping back so they were a few feet away from each other. They both raised their weapons ready to attack. They watched each other carefully waiting for the other to make a move. Simultaneously the both moved towards each other but a screech halted their attack.

Looking up they saw Drogon's black figure soaring through the sky. The watched as the dragon dived into the water. When he didn't come out they rushed towards the starboard side of the ship anxiously. Suddenly the dragon erupted from the water with a fish in his jaws. He tossed it into the sky and set it ablaze with a pillar of black and scarlet flames.

However, before the fish could return to his ivory teeth a blur of green snatched the kill. Rhaegal had the fish in his claws and flew away with it with Viserion chasing after him. Drogon screeched after his brothers before giving chase.

Daenerys smiled fondly at the bickering but Daemon switched his gaze to one of the vomiting overboard. The Dothraki were wary of the sea or the poison water as they so call it. During their voyage, they would stay below decks with their horses. When a sudden storm overcame them they whimpered and prayed for their survival.

The squall didn't scare Daenerys and Daemon. They've experienced many a storm as children when they would travel the Narrow Sea running from Robert's assassins. The ships they've acquired were built to overcome storms and the squall was no different. Their fleet sliced through the waves and powered through the pounding rains.

A great storm greeted them when they were born. The stone gargoyles were torn from the perches. The last of the Targaryen fleet sank into the Blackwater. A squall is nothing compared to such a storm or the twins born within it.

"They're growing fast." Jorah commented approaching the monarchs.

"Not fast enough, we can't wait that long." Daenerys states turning to face the knight, "We need an army."

"You have perhaps the mightiest Dothraki horde in history, my queen." The old bear replied before a Dothraki rider pushed past him and leaned over the railing and spilling his guts into the sea, "Perhaps not that mighty."

"Don't tease them." Daemon said rubbing the man's back as he continued to vomit, "They're the first Dothraki in history to ride the wooden horses and fly across the poison water and they deserve respect."

"Of course, your grace, forgive me." Jorah nodded before he said, "Your council has gathered in your cabin."

"Good, inform them that we're on our way." Daenerys ordered and the knight nodded before he walked away towards the cabin.

"Do you think they'll agree to our plan?" Daemon asked staring towards the sea.

"Of course they will. They know how opposed to slavery we are." Daenerys assured placing a hand over Daemon's.

"That doesn't mean they share that opposition. Buying the Unsullied is the easy way out our plan is much more difficult." He replied before turning his gaze to his sister, "I know this is the right thing to do but that doesn't mean they'll agree to it."

"Then we'll convince them, have faith." She said gently, "Come, our council is waiting for us."

Together they walked down the deck and towards their cabin. Their dragons noticed them going inside and quickly swooped down. Drogon landed on Dany's shoulder and Viserion and Rhaegal landed on Daemon's. They entered their cabin where their council stood around a table, Jorah, Aggo, Jhogo, Rakharo, Belwas, Aristan and Groleo.

Groleo is the captain of the three ships that Illyrio sent to retrieve them back to Pentos. They paid the man handsomely to join them in their quest. They renamed the three ships Vermithor, Silverwing and Caraxes. They named many ships in their fleet after Targaryen dragons. Quicksilver, Syrax and Seasmoke just to name a few.

"Thank you for coming here." Daemon said beginning the council, "We've summoned you here so we can inform you of our plans." Glancing at Daenerys who nodded he looked back at the group, "We're planning to acquire a legion of Unsullied."

"You plan to buy slave soldiers?" Groleo asked, "I thought we were setting sail to Pentos."

"We will after we have the Unsullied." Daemon replied.

"Your grace, you will have no love in Westeros if you arrive with slave soldiers." Arstan warned, "The gods old and new see slavery as an abomination. Evil. Many good men will rise against you just for that alone."

"Arstan we understand but Dothraki can't hold lands, we need foot soldiers that can withstand a siege should that situation occur." Daenerys replied.

"My queen, many men will rise for you when you reach Westeros." Artsan assured, "Your brother Rhaegar is still remembered with great love."

"And our father?" Daemon asked.

Arstan's hesitancy gave Daemon a broad idea of how their father was remembered, "Your father is remembered as well. My king, my queen you have no need of slaves. Magister Illyrio can house you until your dragons are grown. He could send secret envoys on your behalf, to sound out the high lords to your cause." He suggested.

"The same high lords that knelt to the usurper while we lived on the streets?" Daemon questioned.

"Even those who bent their knees may yearn in their hearts for the return of the dragons." The old man states.

"May." Daenerys emphasized, "Alas we are not planning to buy the Unsullied." She states confusing the room, "We are going to free them."

This announcement gained shocked looks from the group before Jorah spoke, "Khaleesi the slavers are not your enemies unless you make them so."

"I'm afraid I must agree with Ser Jorah, don't look for a fight especially if there isn't one." Arstan added.

"Qoy Khal, we cannot trample walls without stallions." Aggo replied and Jhogo and Rakharo grunted in agreement.

Daemon waited for them to speak their concerns before he replied, "None of you have experienced the atrocities of slavery as we have. Being bought and sold like cattle and being used as an object to the point you begin to feel like one." He took Dany's hand in his own, "Viserys sold me to a slaver in Lys as a bed slave where I was used by men and women and I nearly lost hope before I remembered who needed me." Daenerys squeezed his hand assuredly, "He then sold the queen and me to our late husband Drogo. Our own brother did this to us."

Daenerys then spoke, "It is true that we need the Unsullied but we will not partake in the practice that we were subjugated to." She announced leaving no room for argument.

"How shall we free the slaves, your grace?" Arstan asked, "I doubt the slave owners will take this lying down."

Daemon and Daenerys shared a look and smirked before they began to explain their plan.

After the council meeting, they returned to the deck and watched their dragons take to the sky once again. They were glad that the dragons were so lively. They loved the open sky just as their parents loved the open sea.

"How large do you think they'll grow?" Daenerys asked.

"It was said that Balerion the Dread could swallow whole villages in shadow." Daemon replied, "But who knows how long it will take for them to grow into that size."

"Balerion the Dread was two hundred years old when he died during the reign of Jaehaerys the Conciliator." Whitebeard stated approaching the king and queen, "Dragons never stop growing, my queen, so long as they have food and freedom."

"Freedom? How do you mean?" Daenerys asked curiously?

"In King's Landing, your ancestors raised a great domed castle for their dragons, the Dragonpit. It stands tall atop the Hill of Rhaenys though it is now a ruin. That was where the royal dragons dwelled in days of the past, and what a cavernous dwelling it was, iron doors so wide that thirty knights could ride through them abreast. Yet, it was said that none of them reached the size of their ancestors."

The twins listened closely as the old knight continued, "How large would you say they would grow?" Dany asked curiously.

"So large that I the skulls were larger than carriage. I should know I've walked beneath them while I was of service to your father while he sat upon the Iron Throne." The old squire said.

"I remember how Viserys spoke of those skulls. He said that the usurper had them hidden away so that they could not look down at him as he sat upon his stolen throne." Daemon replied.

"Since you saw the skulls then you must have seen the throne room, have you ever met our father?" Daenerys asked.

"I had the great honor to do so, my queen." The old man replied.

"Was he kind and gentle?" She asked curiously.

"He was often pleasant."

Daemon could tell the man was lying and so did Dany to an extent but she smiled none the less, "Often, but not always?" She asked playfully.

"He was very harsh to those he thought to be his enemies." Whitebeard replied.

"As all kings are." Daemon said, "What of Rhaegar and our queen mother did you meet them?"

"It was said that no man ever knew Prince Rhaegar, truly. I had the privilege of seeing him in a tourney, though, and often heard him play his harp with its silver strings." The older man replies before going onto say, "But I did have the honor of aiding your mother up a few steps when she was with child."

"With Viserys?" Daenerys asked wanting to know more about their mother Rhaella.

Arstan had a sad look in his old eyes, "Afraid not my queen. It was one of your siblings that died shortly after birth."

Their curious and happy demeanors changed to somberness and sadness. Viserys had told them of the dead siblings, Daeron, Shaena, Aegon and Jaehaerys, and the others who were never named. If they had lived maybe they wouldn't be as alone as they were. Perhaps Viserys wouldn't have turned out the way he did.

"Strong Belwas is hungry!" Belwas hollered, "Strong Belwas will eat now! Whitebeard you will bring food for Belwas!" He commanded.

"My pardons, my king, my queen. I must attend to Belwas." He bowed his head.

"You may go." Dany said Daemon nodded in agreement as he leaned on the railing.

As soon as Arstan walked out of earshot Ser Jorah appeared, "You would be wise to take that old man's words well salted."

"Kings and queens must listen to all." Daenerys stated matter of factly, "The highborn and low, strong and weak, the noble and the venal. One voice may speak you falsely, but in many, there is always truth to be found."

"Hear my voice then, Your Grace," the old bear said. "This Arstan Whitebeard is playing you false. He is too old to be a squire and too well-spoken to be serving that oaf of a eunuch."

Honestly, Daemon has noticed the same thing. This man has lied about his name but speaks truly about his family. His knowledge about Westeros and their family is the only reason he hasn't approached the old man about his lie.

"We understand your concerns, Ser Jorah." Daenerys stated, "The king and I have discussed it at length and we've agreed to allow Arstan to remain in our service until he proves to be untrustworthy."

"Until then we're going to keep a close eye on him, Belwas and Groleo. We need to see where their loyalties lie, with us or Illyrio." Daemon added.

"And if they're not with you?" Jorah questioned.

"Then we will send them back to Illyrio." Daenerys answered.

"In the House of the Undying, the undying said that we will be betrayed three times each. We won't be taking any chances with any strangers." The king said glancing back at Arstan and Belwas, "Whatever secrets they have will come to light as well as Illyrio's I promise you. Afterward, if they show hostility I'll take care of them myself."

"They have the eyes of men who've experienced combat, your grace, I wouldn't treat them without caution." Jorah warned.

"And I have the eyes of a man who's seen the many faces of death. They're faces don't scare me." Daemon replied confidently, "On another point, we have our Dothraki surrounding us, they could tear these men apart should I say the word."

"Your trust in the Dothraki is inspiring your grace but may I remind you that a little over two hundred of them tried to kill you." Jorah reminded, "How long before one of these men try to challenge you once more?"

Daenerys stepped in, "And Daemon slew them all. It seems to me that a monarch who trusts no one is as foolish as a monarch who trusts everyone. Every man I take into my service is a risk, I understand that, but how can we conquer the Seven Kingdoms when we don't trust the army we are to lead?"

"Your path is dangerous, I will not deny that. But if you blindly trust in every liar and schemer who crosses it, you will end as your brothers did." Jorah stated stubbornly.

He spoke to them as if they were mere children, "Strong Belwas could not scheme his way to breakfast." Daenerys replied, "The only lie Arstan has given us is his name but everything else is true."

"How do you know this?" The old best demanded.

"Do you doubt my abilities." Daemon asked rounding on Jorah.

"Of course not, your grace." Jorah quickly replied.

"Then have faith in us, we aren't simple-minded children who need someone to hold our hands." Daenerys added.

"We have the wind!" Groleo replied.

Just then the sails stretched as air blew against them. The ship began to move faster. A few Dothraki began to look queasy as they clung to anything that would keep them upright.

"Sharpen your blade, Ser Jorah, you'll have need of it." Daemon stated, "We have an army to acquire."

Walking down the Plaza of Pride, the king and queen observed their surroundings closely. At the center of the plaza stood a red brick fountain with water that smelled of brimstone. Standing high at the top of the fountain was the bronze of the harpy.

The Harpy was the symbol of the empire of Old Ghis. Five thousand years ago the old empire had fallen against the might of the Valyrian Freehold. Their stone houses were torn down and their great walls were rendered to ash by dragonfire. And the surrounding lands were sown with salt, sulfur, and skulls. The gods of Ghis were dead as where her people.

The Astapori were mongrels or so Jorah says. They had long forgotten the Ghiscari tongue and only spoke High Valyrian of a different dialect as did the rest of the slave cities.

Looking up at the flags bearing the harpy who held a large chain in her claws. This was the symbol of Astapor.

"Tell the western whores to keep their eyes down." The slaver complained to the slave girl who translated for him, "I deal in meat, not architecture. Tell them to look at the soldiers. Even the dim purple eyes of the sunset savages can see how magnificent my creatures are."

Both Daemon and Dany understood him despite the dialect. Every insult was well understood but despite this, they smiled all the same. Better to feign ignorance and keep the man's guard low rather have him try to keep his true self hidden under pretty words. They would smile ignorantly towards the slave girl who followed her master.

"The Good Master Kraznys asks, aren't they magnificent?" The slave girl spoke the common tongue as if she's lives in Westeros her whole life. She seemed about their own age, caramel skin, curly hair, and the golden eyes of the Peaceful People of Naath.

"They may be adequate to our needs." Dany replied in the common tongue.

Daemon had originally planned to read the man had Jorah suggested to limit themselves to the common tongue and Dothraki. Even Daemon thought that it was indeed a clever plan.

"Tell us of their training." Daenerys said.

"The Westerosi people are pleased with them, but speaks no praise, to keep the price down." the translator said to her master, "They wish to know of their training."

The master nodded. Daemon watched as the man's hand grazed over the leather whip at his side gingerly. That whip must hold some sort of significance, "Are all Westerosi swine so ignorant?" the man grumbled, "All the world knows that the Unsullied are masters of spear, shield, and shortsword." He said giving the twins a bright smile despite what he had just said, "Tell them what they should know, slave, and be quick about it. The day is hot."

At least the much is true. Since dawn, the hearing has been barring down on them. Through their boots, they felt the warmth of the red bricks beneath their feet. The heat rising from the ground created shimmering waves causing the high pyramids to seem like an illusion.

The Unsullied stood at attention despite the heat if they even felt it. The stood like rows upon rows of statues. A thousand of them marched out to be presented to them. Eyes straight ahead they remained unmoved. Their black leather armor and spiked helms couldn't have been easy to wear in this heat but none of them showed any discomfort.

"They are chosen young, for size and speed and strength," the slave girl told informed them, "They begin their training at five. Every day they train from dawn to dusk, until they have mastered the shortsword, the shield, and the three spears." Daemon listened closely as he scanned the Unsullied, "The training is most rigorous, Your Grace. Only one boy in three survives it. This is well known. Among the Unsullied, it is said that on the day they win their spiked cap, the worst is done with, for no duty that will ever fall to them could be as hard as their training."

Every other time Dany would glance at Daemon trying to get a read on him but nothing. Daemon can become as stone-faced as the Unsullied when he wanted to. His training not only taught him to read people but to also become unreadable.

Though he apparently didn't speak the common tongue Kraznys nodded before he poked the girl with the end of his lash, "Tell her that these have been standing here for a day and a night, with no food nor water. Tell her that they will stand until they drop if I should command it, and when nine hundred and ninety-nine have collapsed to die upon the bricks, the last will stand there still, and never move until his own death claims him. Such is their courage. Tell her that."

Dany and Daemon shared a glance but kept their opinions to themselves. Once the scribe translated Arstan replied gruffly, "I call that madness, not courage." He tapped his staff on the floor against the brick as if in impatience. They knew they wanted Arstan to accompany them along with Jorah. A king and queen should hear all sides of an argument. They wanted their opinions, not their protection. The ones who needed protection were their dragons, the city was far too dangerous for them any one man could crave the title dragonslayer.

They had left their blood riders and Khalasar on the fleet a few leagues north of Astapor, guarding their dragons as well as hiding the bulk of the fleet. They arrived with three ships alone with hardly anything. They wanted the slavers to view them as poor unfortunate people they wanted to be underestimated as well as protect their children.

The master chuckled, "A word from me and these sheep would spill his stinking old bowels on the bricks." He said, "But do not say that. Tell them that these creatures are more dogs than sheep. Do they eat dogs or horses in these Seven Kingdoms?"

"They prefer pigs and cows, your worship." The girl replied.

"Beef. Pfag. Food for unwashed savages."

Daemon and Daenerys walked down the lines of soldiers. Observing their appearances they saw that these men bare the copper skin of the Dothraki and Lhazerene, and men of the Free Cities, as well as the pale-skinned Qartheen and the ebony skinner men of the Summer Isles and a few, had the same amber hue of Kraznys mo Naklos. It shows them that matter where you come from no it what you look like these people would see you in chains none the less.

Some were short or tall but all shared the same lean toned figure. They appeared to range from fourteen to twenty years. Their bodies were smooth, barren of all hair. Despite the different colors of their eyes, they were all the same, blue, green, brown, grey, and amber. They all seemed to be one man except that they weren't men at all, the Unsullied were eunuchs.

"You cut them, why?" Dany asked, "Whole men are stronger than eunuchs I've heard."

"A eunuch who is cut young will never have the brute strength of one of your Westerosi knights, this is true." Said Kraznys mo Nakloz when the question was put to him, "A bull is strong as well, but bulls die every day in the fighting pits. A girl of nine killed one, not three days past in Jothiel's Pit. The Unsullied have something better than strength, tell her. They have discipline. We fight in the fashion of the Old Empire, yes. They are the lockstep legions of Old Ghis come again, absolutely obedient, absolutely loyal, and utterly without fear."

The twins listened to the translation whilst inspecting the men.

"Even the bravest men fear death and maiming." Arstan stated.

The master laughed, "Tell the old man that he smells of piss, and needs a stick to hold him up."

"Truly?" The scribe asked getting a smack to the face.

"No, not truly, are you a girl or a goat, to ask such a stupid question? Say that Unsullied are not men. Say that death means nothing to them, and maiming less than nothing." He ordered before stepping forward raising his while lashing one of the Unsullied across the cheek. The soldier only blinked as a line of blood spilled across his cheek, "Would you like another?"

"If it pleases your worship." The man replied.

It took all of Daemon's will to not remove the man's head and Dany's not to let him, "Tell the Good Master that I see how strong his Unsullied are, and how bravely they suffer pain."

The master gave a mocking laugh, "Tell this ignorant whore of a westerner that courage has nothing to do with it."

Daenerys gently placed a hand on Daemon's wrist to keep him from killing the man.

"The Good Master says that was not courage, Your Grace." The scribe translated.

"Tell her to open those slut's eyes of hers." He ordered.

"He begs you to attend this carefully, Your Grace."

They watched as he moved to the next soldier in line, "Your sword." He demanded. The soldier kneeled down and presented the short sword. The sword was made for jabbing rather than slashing although it did have a razor-sharp edge, "Stand." Kraznys commanded taking the sword in hand.

"Your worship." The soldier stood.

The group watched as he dragged the blade up the man's torso leaving a red line from his stomach to his chest. He then dug the blade underneath a pink nipple. The man didn't flinch it cringe at the blade digging through his flesh.

"What is he doing?" Daenerys demanded of the girl.

"Surely this isn't necessary." Daemon added.

"Tell the western savages to silence their mewling." The master demanded as he continued carving the skin, "This is no fatal wound. Men have no use of nipples, eunuchs, less so." He spoke as the nipple hung by a single thread of flesh. With a quick swing, he sent the nipple on the red bricks of the floor. All that was left was a red circled of open flesh. The soldier did not flinch. The master offered the sword back to the soldier, "I am done with you."

The slave took the sword in hand, "This one is pleased to serve you."

Kraznys turned back to face the twins, "They feel no pain."

"Most impressive." Jorah said watching the unflinching man.

"How can that be?" Daemon asked evenly through the scribe.

"The Wine of Courage." He answered, "It is no true wine at all but made from deadly nightshade, bloodfly larva, black lotus root, and many secret things. They drink it with every meal from the day they are cut, and with each passing year feel less and less. It makes them fearless in battle. Nor can they be tortured. Tell the savage her secrets are safe with the Unsullied. She may set them to guard her councils and even her bed-chamber, and never worry as to what they might overhear."

Whilst the scribe translated Dany glanced at Daemon who began to memorize the ingredients in his mind as well as planning to find out the rest.

"In Yunkai and Meereen, eunuchs are often made by removing a boy's testicles but leaving the penis. Such a creature is infertile, yet often still capable of erection. Only trouble can come of this. We remove the penis as well, leaving nothing. The Unsullied are the purest creatures on the earth." He gave Dany and Daemon a broad white smile, "I have heard that in the Sunset Kingdoms men take solemn vows to keep chaste and father no children, but live only for their duty. Is it not so?"

He spoke of the Kingsguard, Viserys explained the many vows the Kingsguard would undertake before beginning their service to their family.

"It is." Arstan said when the question was put. "There are many such orders. The maesters of the Citadel, the septons and septas who serve the Seven, the silent sisters of the dead, the Kingsguard and the Night's Watch . . . "

"Such unfortunate men." glowered the slaver, after the translation. "Men were not made to live thus. Their days are a torment of temptation, any fool can recognize a beautiful woman, and no doubt most succumb to their baser selves. Not our Unsullied. They are wed to their swords in a way that your Sworn Brothers cannot hope to match. No woman can ever tempt them, nor any man." He said giving a judgmental glance towards Daemon one the king did not miss.

The girl translated for them in a more polite manner. She proved smart enough with the use of kind words. Daemon saw whenever he looked into her eyes that there was hidden wisdom to the girl.

"There are other ways to tempt men." Arstan replied after listening to the translation.

"He's right, freedom, riches, revenge men want many things." Jorah added.

Kraznys quickly replied, "Men, yes, but not Unsullied. Plunder interests them no more than rape. They own nothing but their weapons. We do not even permit them names."

"No names?" Daenerys asked before she quickly caught herself, "Could that be what he said, no names?"

"How do you mean, good master?" Daemon asked with little to no emotion, less he spits out the venom building in his voice.

"It is so your grace." The girl nodded.

Kraznys stopped in front of another master who could be his fat older brother. He then flicked his whip at the black leather sword belt of another soldier, "Can the whores of western read Ghiscari glyphs?" They admitted they could not and the master demanded of a soldier, "What is your name?"

"This one's name is White Rat, your worship."

The girl repeated their exchange in the Common Tongue.

"And yesterday, what was it?"

"Black Rat, your worship."

"The day before?"

"Brown Flea, your worship."

"Before that?"

"This one does not recall, your worship. Blue Toad, perhaps. Or Blue Worm."

"Tell her all their names are such." Kraznys commanded the girl, "It reminds them that they themselves are vermin. The name disks are thrown in an empty cask at duty's end, and each dawn plucked up again at random."

"More madness." Arstan said after the scribe's translation, "How can any man possibly remember a new name every day?"

"Those who cannot are culled in training, along with those who cannot run all day in full pack, scale a mountain in the black of night, walk across a bed of coals, or slay an infant." He stated.

Daemon's calm demeanor began to fall apart at the man's words. His hand twitched towards his sword. Daenerys saw the fury in his eyes, surely he was thinking of his own deceased children who never got the chance to live. She herself wanted to reach for her dagger but instead reached for his wrist.

She took a deep breath keeping the mask she's made to hide her true opinions, "Whose infants do they slay?"

"To win his helm, an Unsullied must go to the slave marts with a silver mark, find some wailing newborn, and kill it before its mother's eyes. In this way, we make certain that there is no weakness left in them."

Daenerys nearly let Daemon's arm go and allowing him to slice open the man's throat. She glanced at Jorah who stepped forward ready to catch the king should he lash out.

Despite feeling faint as well as fury she calmly asked, "You take a babe from its mother's arms, kill it as she watches, and pay for her pain with a silver coin?"

When the scribe translated Kraznys mo Nakloz laughed aloud. "What a soft mewling fool this one is. Tell the whore of Westeros that the mark is for the child's owner, not the mother. The Unsullied are not permitted to steal." He tapped his whip against his leg, "Tell her that few ever fail that test. The dogs are harder for them, it must be said. We give each boy a puppy on the day that he is cut. At the end of the first year, he is required to strangle it. Those who cannot are killed, and fed to the surviving dogs. It makes for a good strong lesson, we find."

Arstan tapped his staff on the floor in frustration, even Jorah seemed uncomfortable with what was said. Daenerys knew that if the master spoke anymore he would surely end up dead.

"Most impressive, how many Unsullied do you have to sell?" She asked through her mask.

"Does this boyish girl let this whore speak for him?" Kraznys asked before answering, "Eight thousand fully trained and available at present. We sell them only by the unit, he should know. By the thousand or the century. Once we sold by the ten, as household guards, but that proved unsound. Ten is too few. They mingle with other slaves, even freemen, and forget who and what they are." The scribe translated as he continued, "This beggar king must understand, such wonders do not come cheaply. In Yunkai and Meereen, slave swordsmen can be had for less than the price of their swords, but Unsullied are the finest foot in all the world, and each represents many years of training. Tell him they are like Valyrian steel, folded over and over and hammered for years on end until they are stronger and more resilient than any metal on earth."

"I know Valyrian Steel well." Daemon finally spoke putting his hand on the pommel of his sword, "Do they have their own commanders?"

"You must set your own officers over them. We train them to obey, not to think. If it is wits she wants, let her buy scribes."

"And their gear?"

"Sword, shield, spear, sandals, and leather armor is included." Said Kraznys, "And the spiked caps, to be sure. They will wear such armor as you wish, but you must provide it."

Daemon nodded before speaking to the scribe, "Tell the good master that we thank him for his kind patience. We will now return to our ship to think this over."

With that, they walked away. When they were out of earshot of the slaves they finally let out their frustration, "Eight thousand Unsullied, eight thousand dead puppies, eight thousand dead babies." Daenerys nearly shouted.

"If you want to sit on the throne your ancestors built you'll have to win, that'll mean blood on your hands before the thing is done." Jorah stated.

"The blood of our enemies, not the blood of enemies." Daenerys shot back.

"Our wrath is reserved for those who've wronged us, for those who've robbed us of the childhood we've should've had." Daemon added, "The smallfolk have done nothing to us."

"Arstan you're a seasoned man, how many wars have you fought in?" Jorah asked the old squire.

"Three." Whitebeard replied.

"Have you ever seen a war where innocence didn't die by the thousands?" The old bear asked.

"None." Arstan replied solemnly.

"I was in King's Landing after the Lannisters sacked it. Do you know what I saw?" Jorah asked, "Butchery, babies, mothers, fathers, elderly all slaughtered. Women who weren't killed were raped as was any boy pretty enough to catch a drunk man's eye."

Daenerys glanced at Daemon who gripped his sword whitening his knuckles.

"There's a beast inside every man and it stirs when you put a sword in his hand." Their protector stated, "But the Unsullied are not men, they do not rape, they do not put cities to the sword unless they are ordered to. If you buy them the only men they'll kill are the ones you want dead."

"You're silence is very telling Arstan." Daemon said, "Do you disagree?"

"When your brother Rhaegar led his army at the Battle of the Trident men died for him because they believed in him because they loved him." The old squire said, "Not because they were bought in a slaver's auction. I fought beside the Last Dragon on that day your grace."

"Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegae fought nobly and Rhaegar died." Jorah replied in return.

"I bled beside him, my king, my queen, finest man I've ever met." Arstan stated truthfully.

"I wish we could've known him." Dany replied, "But he was not the last dragon." She stated.