Change her mind? It's best not to let him go.
And this balding middle-aged man... so he's Jorah, the one who was ruined by that spendthrift wife of his.
Seeing Daenerys frozen in place, not immediately telling Rakharo to find an exit, Drogon thought to himself again. He was rather fond of Jorah.
The voice spoke again, and it was the same one as before. It came from Ji Qi, and it mentioned Jorah's "spendthrift... wife." But who could that be?
Just as Daenerys was about to dismiss the voice as a hallucination brought on by long-term hunger and exhaustion, she heard it again.
"Khaleesi..." Ji Qi called softly, her eyes widening under Daenerys's intense stare.
Drogon glanced at Great Bear Jorah, then craned his long neck to look curiously at the Dragon Mother, wondering what she was doing.
Could my little dragon be speaking? And in Old Valyrian, no less? Some words I don't even know myself.
As Drogon stared at her, Daenerys had the absurd thought.
But if not Drogon, then who? The voice came directly from him, there was no mistake.
Why are you looking at me? Your little dragon is starving! Give him some food!
Seeing the Dragon Mother turn her gaze toward him, Drogon was somewhat bewildered. All he wanted was to eat; he was too hungry to care about Rakharo's affairs. Let them worry about that.
Grumbling inwardly, he ignored the Dragon Mother and flapped his wings, urging Ji Qi to bring him meat.
Hearing the voice again, Daenerys was absolutely certain it was Drogon speaking, though his mouth hadn't moved. He was speaking in her mind.
*I can actually hear Drogon's thoughts! And he doesn't even know it!* Daenerys thought with secret delight. She quickly averted her eyes, afraid Drogon might sense her discovery.
"Rakharo, you stay here for now. Let them handle it for the time being," Daenerys instructed.
*Since Drogon said Rakharo would die, there must be a reason. Even if I don't understand why, I'll let Aggo and the others search for the path first. We'll figure something else out if they can't find it.* she thought.
Rakharo found it odd but didn't question her. He led his horse to the side.
Jorah also harbored some doubts about Daenerys's decision, but this clearly wasn't the place to voice them.
Ji Qi approached the black horse carrying the wooden cage and offered meat to Drogon.
Drogon immediately recognized the raw meat in the basket. He wanted Ji Qi to take it out and roast it for him.
He remembered that Ji Qi's mount carried flint and tinder. Leading her to the yellow horse, he flapped his wings and hooked the flint pouch.
"Drogon wants cooked food," Daenerys said, understanding his intent.
*The Dragon Mother understands me,* Drogon replied mentally.
Though Daenerys feared Drogon might expose her ability to hear thoughts and no longer stared at him, she kept a close eye on his actions. When she saw him hook the flint pouch, she suddenly recalled a childhood remark by her brother, Viserys: "Only humans and dragons eat cooked food."
*How could I have forgotten this?* she thought bitterly. *I've let my little dragon go hungry for so long. I'm a terrible Dragon Mother.*
"Ji Qi, roast some meat for them now. Cook as much as they want to eat."
Hearing Daenerys's command, Ji Qi quickly set up the roasting rack and started a fire.
In a short while, the meat was cooked. Ji Qi removed the sizzling, golden-brown mutton from the skewers and fed it to Drogon. Drogon swallowed it whole without chewing, as if he'd been reincarnated from a starving ghost.
Daenerys and her handmaid Yili released the other two young dragons, Rhaegal and Viserion. Watching Drogon devour the meat, they couldn't contain themselves and flapped over to snatch food from him.
*Why do these clumsy dragons eat so much? They'll die sooner or later anyway—it's all a waste!* Drogon resented the two dragons for stealing his food.
The golden dragon Viserion was struck by a spear and transformed into an Ice Dragon by the Night King. The green dragon Rhaegal was ambushed and killed by a giant crossbow.
Rhaegal's unexpected death, coupled with the beheading of Missandei—Daenerys's close advisor—sent the Dragon Mother into a rage. She burned King's Landing to the ground, earning the ignominious title of "City Burner," and sowed the seeds for her eventual downfall.
Hearing Drogon's inner thoughts, Daenerys's hands froze momentarily as she closed the wooden cage. *What did I just hear?* Drogon said Viserion and Rhaegal would die. But how could that be?
They soared through the skies, their grown forms capable of blotting out small patches of the sky. Who could harm them? Could they be killed as hatchlings? And why did Drogon know they would die?
At that moment, Daenerys remembered Rhaenys, Aegon I the Conqueror's wife and her sister. Rhaenys's dragon had been shot down by a ballista. Could her own two dragons suffer the same fate?
A wave of dread and uncertainty washed over Daenerys. These three little dragons were her children, her greatest strength and hope. How could she bear to lose two of them?
And Drogon... what about him? Was he safe? Daenerys sank into the terror of losing her dragons, her spirit broken.
"Khaleesi?"
Jorah, seeing Daenerys standing rigid, her expression shifting wildly, asked with concern.
At the sound of his voice, Daenerys turned sharply. Seeing her face, Jorah flinched. He felt as though he were looking at the thirteen-year-old girl who had first arrived at the Pentos Governor's Mansion—timid, terrified, and helpless.
"Khaleesi, what is wrong?" A pang of pity struck Jorah, and he asked urgently.
Since Khal Drogo's death, Daenerys had mourned deeply, but she had also sought courage from him and shown remarkable resilience. Even the Red Waste hadn't broken her spirit. That was why he had sworn his loyalty to her. What could have plunged her into such despair and terror now?
"Ser Jorah, as a knight, why did you leave the prosperous Westeros for Pentos?" Daenerys asked, turning the question back on him.
"This... it all started because Eddard Stark wanted to behead me for selling a few slaves..." Jorah didn't understand why Daenerys was asking about his past.
"...My wife, Lynesse, loved jewels, enjoyed watching plays and singing, and loved hosting banquets. But my homeland, Bear Island, had nothing to offer her."
"I hired chefs, jewelers, and dressmakers to cater to her every whim, but she remained unsatisfied. I even commissioned a grand ship for her amusement, spending all my savings in the process. I was forced to become a mercenary... and in the end, she left me anyway, marrying a wealthy merchant..."
Though somewhat ashamed, Jorah spoke the truth.
"Lynesse is that spendthrift woman Drogon warned me about!" Daenerys's face turned deathly pale, her breathing quickening. Rhaegal and Viserion would die... Though she didn't understand how Drogon knew these things, she knew he was telling the truth. Daenerys swayed, nearly falling.
"Khaleesi..." Jorah hurriedly supported Daenerys, puzzled by her strong reaction to his story.
"I... I'm fine. I'm very sorry about your past," Daenerys said, forcing herself to remain calm.
Jorah knew something was weighing on her mind, but she was unwilling to confide in him, and he didn't want to press her.
Watching the three little dragons squabbling over the roasted meat, Daenerys secretly vowed that no one would ever harm her dragons.
"Ji Qi, have someone kill the little mare and feed it to the dragons," she said through gritted teeth. To ensure her dragons' survival, she had to keep them well-fed and strong, so they could grow quickly.
In no time, the three little dragons had devoured meat equal to their combined weight, yet they were still hungry.
Daenerys immediately ordered others to set up another roasting spit. She would rather go hungry herself than let her dragons starve.