Nightfall loomed. The sun, gradually swallowed by the western mountains, cast slanting golden rays that gilded the warships and shimmered ac
Nightfall loomed. The sun, gradually swallowed by the western mountains, cast slanting golden rays that gilded the warships and shimmered across the rippling sea—too dazzling to behold directly. All of it would soon be consumed by the creeping veil of dusk.
Drogo's side kept a vigilant eye on the mercenaries clad in dazzling, gold-plated armor. Yet the Golden Company, led by the elephant rider, ignored the undefeated Khal entirely. Their gazes split in three directions: toward the dragon perched atop the mast, the silver-haired Dragon Queen, and the heavily armored giant, Roman.
These three figures drew all attention. Daenerys was the last known pure-blooded Targaryen. The dragon, a near-divine creature long thought extinct, had not been seen in over a century. And the giant, an exceedingly rare being, was a miracle to mortal eyes.
Drogo surmised that the Golden Company had sailed from the ancient Free City of Volantis, likely under contract with the elite of Qarth.
The winding trade pier stretched on endlessly. Even after entering its bounds, he still could not see the legendary Glorious City—said to be forged of gold and gemstones. To enter the so-called center of the world, there was only one path: to tear through the golden-armored warriors beneath the soaring standard of the Golden Company.
The Golden Company never broke contracts. Drogo knew that battle was inevitable, but he still wanted to ask the pragmatic commander known as the "Homeless One" whether the two sides truly had to fight to the death.
If they couldn't even exchange words, then there was nothing left to say—only blood to spill.
Drogo's chest rose and fell. He took a deep breath and bellowed, "Send forth your commander—the Homeless One, Harry Strickland!"
A voice called back from atop the white elephant. "I am Jon Connington, former right hand of 'Blackheart' Myles Toyne, Lord of Griffin's Roost, and once Hand of the King to House Targaryen!"
He pointed skyward to the golden skull mounted on the banner pole and added, "We do not parley with those who walk a different path. The coward Strickland dishonored the Golden Company—his skull has been gilded and now decorates our banner. I have assumed command!"
Drogo raised an eyebrow, surprised by the declaration. It struck him that leaving Slaver's Bay so early had shifted the timeline of A Song of Ice and Fire. His rebirth had disrupted the destinies of others, clouding their futures from his sight.
Jon Connington, once a famed figure, had served as Hand of the King. But after years in hiding, his name had faded from memory—except for Daenerys. As the Mad King's daughter, she had heard her brother Viserys mention the exiled Hand many times.
For the Dragon Queen, once thrilled to meet even a single Westerosi, this moment stirred uncontainable excitement. She whispered, "My father's Hand… Rhaegar's dearest friend… Lord Griffin, Jon Connington!"
Though Drogo did not know Connington's face, he recalled his story from the novels.
Jon Connington had been Lord of Griffin's Roost, squire to Prince Rhaegar, and his close companion. Rumors claimed he had loved Rhaegar, calling him "the Silver Prince" in whispers.
Rhaegar had recommended him as Hand of the King. Loyal and a fine warrior, Connington was meant to counter Robert Baratheon's rising rebellion.
During the war, Connington found Robert hiding in Stoney Sept but refused to burn the town to flush him out. That hesitation gave Eddard Stark time to arrive with reinforcements, triggering the Battle of the Bells.
Connington narrowly escaped death, but Aerys II blamed him for the failure, stripping him of his titles and lands and exiling him. During his exile, he joined the Golden Company, eventually becoming right hand to Myles Toyne.
Later, the cunning spider Varys and the Pentoshi magister Illyrio Mopatis, plotting to seat "Aegon VI" on the Iron Throne, recruited the lovelorn Connington. Varys spread a false tale of disgrace and death by drink, while secretly having Connington dye his hair blue and assume the name Griff. He then raised the supposed son of Rhaegar and Elia—thought to have died during the Sack of King's Landing.
Now, seeing the gray-red hair, Drogo knew Connington no longer bothered to hide his purpose. The blue-eyed youth by his side could only be the supposed Aegon VI.
That Connington now commanded the greatest mercenary force didn't surprise Drogo. With Varys and Illyrio's backing—and having once been Toyne's second-in-command—ousting Harry Strickland would have been no great challenge.
Drogo guessed their goal: to win over Daenerys and her dragons to strengthen Aegon's bid for the throne.
To Connington, Daenerys represented immense political value—a deciding factor in Aegon's claim. He wouldn't dare harm her. Not with three dragons and Drogo at her side. She was no longer the timid beggar princess.
As expected, Connington made his offer: "Queen Daenerys Targaryen, may I request a private audience? I have urgent matters to discuss."
To prove his sincerity, he dismounted the white elephant and dropped to one knee, adding loudly, "It concerns your brother, Prince Rhaegar. I beg the Dragon Queen's indulgence, and Khal Drogo's understanding."
The moment she heard it involved her brother, Daenerys couldn't restrain herself. She pleaded, "My love, it's about Rhaegar. I must hear what he has to say. Please grant me this request."
To her surprise, Drogo agreed without hesitation. "Go, moon of my life. But I will choose the place—and you must take your Bloodriders and Snowball with you."
To Daenerys, Snowball was merely a swift pet. Is Drogo trying to make the meeting more majestic by bringing Snowball? she wondered.
She had no objections—but whether Connington would comply was another matter.
Fortunately, she worried in vain. After Missandei relayed Drogo's terms in formal Valyrian, Connington accepted readily.
To maintain fairness, Daenerys offered him the chance to bring guards, but Connington brought only the blue-eyed youth.
Following Drogo's instructions, the smallest warship was prepared. It carried Daenerys slowly to the center of the standoff.
Connington, rowing himself, brought the boy aboard another skiff.
As for Aegon VI's identity, Drogo—relying on hints from the novels—held many doubts.
One possibility: Aegon truly was Rhaegar and Elia's son. With Varys's skill in disguise and vast network, swapping babies at the sack of King's Landing was not unthinkable.
Another theory: the boy was Illyrio's own son. Only a close relation would inspire such commitment.
He might possess Valyrian blood through his mother—or perhaps descend from House Blackfyre, a Targaryen offshoot.
The last possibility: he was a fraud—a puppet with Valyrian features crafted to deceive the realm.
Whether legitimate or not, Aegon VI's backers were Varys and Illyrio—one in the shadows, the other in the light. Partners in ambition, they might seek not Targaryen restoration, but the Iron Throne for themselves, using Aegon as their banner.
Drogo believed Illyrio took in Daenerys and Viserys to curry favor. Selling Dany to him had been both profitable and strategic.
Had Viserys risen to power, Illyrio would've championed him. But fate twisted, and Drogo had crowned the beggar king with molten gold.
As for the dragon eggs Illyrio gifted, he had likely failed to hatch them himself and deemed them decorative stones.
But Daenerys had worked a miracle. She'd hatched dragons. And now Illyrio sent Connington and Aegon—perhaps to claim kinship or propose marriage.
Drogo mused: If they come to pledge allegiance, I may spare them. But if they hope to sway Dany against me and seize the throne, they won't leave alive.
He searched his memory of the books for more clues about Aegon VI—and remembered one.
In the House of the Undying, Daenerys had once seen a vision: a cloth dragon amid cheering crowds, called the "killer of lies."
Drogo believed the cloth dragon was Aegon. The killer of lies was less clear—but surely linked to Varys and Illyrio.
His experience had revealed a pattern: each canon character he met behaved as expected—until meeting him. Afterward, their fates diverged from the books.
That's why Drogo had agreed to the meeting. With his link to Snowball, he intended to uncover truths in their words.
Finally, at his command, the Unsullied brought forth the solid gold throne crafted by Meereen's finest smiths. It was positioned to face the center of the sea. Drogo reclined into it, his eyes wide—ready to pierce through lies.
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