Kerse took the cup of wine between his fingers, slightly furrowed his brow, and brought it to his nose. He inhaled slowly, as if he wanted to memorize every nuance of the aroma.
The wine merchant maintained a flattering smile on his face, but his legs were visibly trembling under Kerse's gaze.
"Smells good, doesn't it?" he said in an overly enthusiastic voice.
Although he tried to appear relaxed, Daenerys and Rhaenys noticed the drops of sweat sliding down his forehead, betraying a nervousness impossible to hide.
Suddenly, Viserys let his cup fall. The wine spilled onto the ground just before he lost his balance and fell heavily face-first. Dust rose in a chaotic cloud.
The merchant reacted immediately.
With a choked cry, he grabbed the wine cask with both hands and hurled it with all his strength toward Kerse.
Kerse moved with terrifying speed. His leg rose and struck the cask in midair, violently deflecting it.
But the merchant did not stop.
From within his clothes he drew a dagger and threw it straight at Daenerys.
Kerse lunged toward her without hesitation, shoving her forcefully out of its path. The dagger whistled through the air.
Daenerys screamed, lost her balance, and nearly fell.
"Dany!" Rhaenys shouted, instinctively moving forward to catch her.
The merchant, without looking back, ran off like a cornered animal down the market passage.
Kerse's eyes locked onto his back with brutal intensity. They were not the eyes of a man, but of a predator.
The crack of a whip cut through the air.
The whip shot out and wrapped with precision around the merchant's ankle. He fell flat on his face against the ground, raising a cloud of dust as he screamed in pain.
The caravan guards arrived immediately, their steps quick and coordinated.
The caravan leader appeared shortly after. His face was hard as old leather. He was short, broad, and solid, with a bluish beard that reached his ears.
He took in the scene in a single glance. He asked no questions.
"Take this man away and let the khal decide his fate," he ordered in a firm voice.
Two guards seized the merchant, who struggled and pleaded amid groans.
"Your Highness Khal Kerse," the leader continued with a slight tone of apology, "please accept all of his wine as a gift. It is a small compensation. It is a disgrace that someone from our caravan attempted to poison your guests."
Rhaenys, still trembling, instinctively placed a hand on her belly, as if trying to protect the life growing within her.
But Kerse was not finished.
He strode forward, grabbed the merchant by the neck, and lifted him off the ground as if he weighed nothing.
His voice was low, deep, and dangerous.
"You have offended my person and my wives."
The dry sound of bone breaking echoed in the air. Then another.
The merchant screamed in pain as his arm and leg hung at impossible angles.
Kerse released him and turned toward the caravan leader.
"I hope he receives the punishment he deserves."
Then he added, his voice hoarse, laden with implacable determination:
"The man who was selling a parrot was also behaving strangely. Go after him and bring him to me."
The caravan leader bowed his head without argument.
Meanwhile, Kerse's guards escorted Daenerys and Rhaenys back.
Daenerys's eyes filled with tears. Fear returned to her mouth like a bitter taste she knew all too well.
For years she had lived in fear of Viserys. But now the fear was different, deeper.
She feared losing her husband.
Her niece.
Her unborn child.
Rhaenys approached and whispered in her ear:
"Aunt, you have the blood of a true dragon running through your veins."
She held her tightly.
"The descendants of the true dragon do not know fear."
…
When Kerse returned, Daenerys was the first to approach him.
Her voice trembled.
"My sun and stars… are you all right?"
Rhaenys said nothing. She took Kerse's face between her hands, her eyes full of tears, and kissed him fiercely.
The warmth of that gesture pierced Kerse's heart.
He gently stroked both of their hair.
"I'm fine, my loves. I'm just tired."
Then he looked at Daenerys seriously.
"But your brother…"
Daenerys swallowed.
"Viserys? What happened to him?"
Kerse remained silent for a moment. He knew his words would be a heavy blow.
"Viserys is dead," he finally said.
"He died from the poison."
Daenerys felt as if an invisible hand loosened around her throat.
She felt relief.
And that relief filled her with guilt.
Tears burst forth uncontrollably.
"I wanted to save him," Kerse added in a muted voice. "But when help arrived… it was already too late."
Daenerys whispered, broken:
"What will become of the future of House Targaryen without Viserys?"
Rhaenys placed a firm hand on her back.
"Then the task of restoring the dynasty will fall to us."
Kerse smiled calmly.
"And me? I am also part of this. Together we will return glory to House Targaryen."
Daenerys embraced them both for a long time.
Then she lifted her face and kissed Kerse with resolve.