Narrow Sea
Monford Velaryon looked at the scene before him with a solemn expression, a hint of fear in his eyes. Honestly, even as an experienced man who had seen many things in his life, he couldn't help but think the sight before him was truly terrifying.
In the dark, stormy, and violent waters, hundreds of warships tore through the sea with brutality. If it were a fleet of normal ships, Monford might not have even noticed them, but there was no missing hundreds of warships burning with fire!
More precisely, only the ships' sails were burning with a thin layer of red and orange flames. The red sails bore a crest of a heart surrounded by golden flames. Monford recognized the characteristic sigil of the Red Religion, the largest and most powerful religion in the world.
As for trying to stop the fleet from advancing, Monford would have done so had he not received a raven from the King days ago. However, he couldn't help but feel apprehensive. Although he didn't know what the Red Faith was doing in Westeros, especially with such a massive fleet, he felt a sense of unease, as if something very important was about to happen.
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At the City Port
Rhaegar was surprised to see Cadmus appear along with his mother and Daenerys. He saw no reason for his sister to be present at this moment. After all, she was a princess; he hadn't even summoned his own sons and daughters, let alone his sister, as there was no reason for them to be there.
Although Rhaegar didn't notice, the same could not be said for Lyanna and Elia. Both queens looked at each other with an ambiguous gaze and smiled.
"You have to teach Daenerys a few things," Lyanna said with a slightly lewd smile, a look shared by Elia.
"I know," Elia replied with a grin, looking at Daenerys with a touch of provocation and amusement. The dragon princess noticed both queens looking at her teasingly and snorted coldly, showing no weakness as she proudly raised her head.
Lyanna and Elia laughed at the girl's mature attitude and continued to whisper to each other while looking at Daenerys with laughter and taunts.
Ignoring Daenerys, Rhaegar looked at Cadmus and spoke in a calm tone. "The High Priestess truly is powerful."
He wasn't lying; when he learned the number of ships and people, Rhaegar finally understood what such a powerful religion meant. This was already the strength of an entire kingdom; it was no weak force.
Just imagining that this was only a fraction of the Red Religion's power made a shiver run down Rhaegar's spine. The Red Faith was much stronger than expected—so strong that he was actually hesitant to welcome Kinvara to King's Landing.
He finally understood why the Valyrian Houses behind the Black Walls in Volantis were completely helpless before this monster called the Red Religion. How could a ruler ignore such a massive and strong force at his doorstep?
Cadmus certainly knew of Rhaegar's concerns upon hearing those words. "I know Your Grace must be worried, but do not be. Unlike the Faith of the Seven, which meddles in state affairs, the same does not happen with the Red Faith. They draw a clear line between the mundane and the divine."
Cadmus's words eased Rhaegar's worries slightly, though he remained concerned deep down. However, he said nothing, as it would show he was afraid.
Suddenly, everyone's eyes focused on the fleet of fire ships appearing in the dark and stormy sea. The ships' sails, burning with red and orange flames, looked like a fleet of gods in this unfaithful and unbelieving world.
"I have to admit, they know how to make an impactful entrance," Rhaegar said with a slightly helpless tone. How could commoners with no knowledge at all not convert before such a spectacle? Unlike the Faith of the Seven, the Red Faith simply didn't care about using the mystical side of their religion.
Daenerys looked at the largest ship and felt the power of the High Priestess of the Red Temple of Volantis even more closely. It was a massive ball of fire, while dozens of other smaller fireballs gravitated around it.
As Daenerys thought, the massive warship docked at the port, and a wooden ramp was lowered, connecting the ship to the harbor. Then, a beautiful woman wearing a red dress appeared before Rhaegar, Cadmus, Lyanna, Elia, Rhaella, and Daenerys.
This woman is dangerous. That was Daenerys's thought after seeing Kinvara in person. The beautiful woman with black hair and red eyes held monstrous power within her beautiful body. A monster in human skin, just like Cadmus beside her.
However, if Kinvara was a massive ball of fire, Daenerys felt that Cadmus was a sun orbiting in the sky, the greatest of them all. The amount of magic within her man's body was simply monstrous.
"Your Majesty, I am Kinvara, High Priestess of the Great Red Temple in Volantis." Kinvara looked at Rhaegar and spoke in a respectful tone while greeting him according to Westerosi standards. She was beautiful, with an exquisite face and red eyes.
Rhaegar nodded and looked at the dozens of priestesses behind Kinvara with a deep gaze. He had no doubt that all these women were powerful mages, all blessed by the Red God with extraordinary powers.
"Welcome to King's Landing, Your Excellency," Rhaegar greeted Kinvara according to her status, showing no arrogance. There was no reason for it; Kinvara held an extraordinary status as a powerful woman who could influence the entire continent of Essos.
Kinvara looked at Cadmus and spoke in a gentle, graceful tone. "It has been some time, my dear Cadmus."
"Yes, it has been a while. I see you haven't changed at all," Cadmus said, looking at the woman's mature and beautiful face. He had to admit, this semi-immortality was truly tempting. As long as the necklace around Kinvara's neck touched her skin, she would never age.
"I hope the journey was smooth; the sea hasn't been very kind recently." Cadmus smiled and spoke in a calm tone. This woman might look harmless, but he knew better than anyone how monstrous Kinvara truly was. With a God's blessing, she could practically surpass 90% of the mages on the planet, being a fire mage so strong she could easily hold back an entire army.
"The Lord of Fire guided us through this stormy sea; he gifted us with food and fresh water," Kinvara replied in a gentle tone, but everyone felt she was a fanatic of the highest degree.
Honestly, if he were Kinvara, Cadmus would also become a fanatic. Semi-immortality alone was a temptation difficult for any man or woman of power to refuse.
"We have much to discuss, Your Excellency," Rhaegar said, gesturing for Kinvara to walk toward a metal carriage not far from where they stood.
"Certainly, Your Grace," Kinvara said with a smile on her lips, stained with a strong red dye.
Seeing Rhaegar and Kinvara walking side by side, Daenerys looked at Cadmus with a slightly jealous gaze and spoke in a seemingly casual tone. "You seem very familiar with Lady Kinvara."
Cadmus looked at Daenerys with a smile and asked, "Jealous?"
Daenerys didn't hide it and nodded; she truly was jealous. Although she was young, she knew men liked women like Kinvara, and it made her feel a bit insecure before such a powerful and beautiful woman.
"Don't worry. Although I find her beautiful, this woman is far too dangerous and fanatical," Cadmus said with a laugh. "Besides, she is likely older than the Targaryen dynasty itself."
Hearing Cadmus's words, Daenerys's eyes widened, and she looked incredulously at Kinvara's back. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Remember, Daenerys, do not underestimate the gods, especially a powerful god like R'hllor. This god in particular is generous with his priestesses, granting them semi-immortality; that is why these women live for so long." Cadmus held Daenerys's hand and spoke with a smile.
Melisandre was about four hundred years old; Kinvara certainly couldn't be any younger than that. So, despite the woman's beauty, Cadmus was not interested in a pile of old, decrepit bones.
"I want to live that long too," Daenerys said, intertwining both her arms around Cadmus's. There was a tone of desire in her voice. Living that long, especially for a woman, was an enormous temptation. What woman wouldn't kill to stay young forever?
"That's easy. We can bathe in divine blood and live for a few thousand years," Cadmus whispered into Daenerys's ear, making the girl's eyes widen for a moment before she calmed down in the next.
Cadmus saw a white flame in her eyes and smiled.
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Read my other books:
Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos (500,000 words written).
Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.
Game Of Thrones: The King's Court Wizard