Chapter 158: How Many Dragons Does the Red God Have?
The large Red Priest, clad in a loose, scarlet robe, respectfully stepped into Rhaegar's mansion.
This Red Priest was the same prophet who appeared at the khal's residence, predicting that Drogo would become the Khal of the Dothraki Sea, and predicting that Rhaegar would become the dragonlord who conquers the world.
The Red Priest's hair was also red, and a red-gold necklace was tied around his throat, featuring several glowing red gems.
"Great Dragonlord!" The Red Priest was extremely devout, though his previous arrogance had turned to deference.
But Prince Rhaegar remained seated. Rhaegar, with silver hair and purple eyes, wore his Rhaegar-style shirt, and the famous black sword, Orphan-Maker, lay close to his arm. Rhaegar sat beside a marble pool and did not rise to greet the Red Priest.
In the courtyard were the large Unsullied eunuchs responsible for security; they were as bulky as the Red Priest but lacked his faith and fanaticism.
"Your identity, master!" Rhaegar looked at the Red Priest.
"I am Thoros of Myr. As the youngest of nine children, I was given to the Temple of the Red God by my mother; this was the will of heaven. The Red God chose me, and I chose the Red God. I recite prayers, study spells, and occasionally clean the kitchen. I dedicate my life to the Red God. Until one day, the high priests discovered my talent. When I stare into the holy fire, I occasionally see prophecies. As you know, this is uncommon, my prince. I follow the Red God's decree to spread the faith of the Lord of Light to Westeros, which is obsessed with the Seven False Gods."
"Red Priest, you have traveled far. What advice do you have, and can it benefit me?" Rhaegar asked.
"Why must Prince Rhaegar speak of profit? That is too disingenuous. I came here to spread the light and warmth of the Red God," said the Red Priest Thoros solemnly.
"What you say is too grand and vague. I want to ask if the Red God can bestow blessings upon myself, my family, and my kingdom." Rhaegar said, completely unconcerned, while eating a Pentoshi cake.
"The Red Comet is scarlet like fire, just like the flaming heart of the Red God; this is the banner of the true lord. That is the dragon's flame, spanning the high heavens, and you happen to possess three magical dragons, three dragonlords. The coming era will be your epoch, and all heroes will submit to you. You are the dragonlord, the silver flash who conquers the world, and the Red God has taken notice. R'hllor, the Lord of Light, is the heart of holy flame, the true lord of shadow and fire, and he will be your strongest ally. As long as your faith is sincere, the God of Light will grant you strength." The Red Priest spoke earnestly. "I have seen it all in the flames. The Red God conveys his will to his followers through the holy fire, a will found in the smoke, fire, and swirling flames. This is a technique that requires continuous study, research, and mastery. I sensed a prophecy in the flames: you are the dragonlord who conquers the world. Many priests make false prophecies, and only those who truly serve the flame can master this skill."
The Red Priests had always wanted to spread their faith to Westeros across the Narrow Sea, but with minimal success. Firstly, the Faith of the Seven and the old gods had already occupied the ecological niche, and followers hated the Red God, being incompatible like fire and water. Secondly, the Red God had never had any truly influential followers across the Narrow Sea. This prevented the Red God's faith from expanding; for the Red God to take root, it required the support of royal power. The true dragon of House Targaryen was currently in Pentos, an opportunity too good to miss.
"Can the Red God, so far away in Essos, still assist my great cause?" Rhaegar asked.
"Followers of the Red God across the world are one family. As long as you believe in the Red God, the Red God will bestow light and warmth upon you. When the flaming heart appears on your battle standard, believers of the Red God across the known world and both continents will fight for you, from Pentos and Myr to Volantis." The Red Priest Thoros rejoiced inwardly and began his persuasion mode.
"What you say is too esoteric. I want tangible benefits! How many legions does the Red God have? How many dragons does the Red God have?" Rhaegar stated bluntly. "Moreover, believing in the Red God will only cause me trouble in Westeros!"
"Prince, these are blasphemous words. I advise you to quickly apologize to the Red God." The Red Priest was dumbfounded; this prince was indeed too direct. But dragonlords seemed to have always been this way; they claimed to be gods, descendants of blasphemers.
"Enough, master, I see you are tired. Go back and rest first! Help me see the guest out!" Rhaegar watched the Red Priest Thoros leave as the Unsullied eunuchs stepped forward and dragged the Red Priest away.
"Prince! Prince! You cannot refuse the Red God's decree! If you don't believe in the Red God, you can come with me to the temple furnace, and you will see the Red God's great existence!" The Red Priest Thoros said reluctantly.
Rhaegar watched the Red Priest struggling to break free, noting that the Red Priest must possess some martial skill; his movements were good.
"The facts are this straightforward, my master. Can the Red God bring me legions? Or can he bring me magical dragons?"
Thoros was unceremoniously escorted out of the mansion. The Unsullied also disliked the eccentric Red God priests; they only believed in their Lady of Spears.
This mansion was fine in every way, except that it was too close to the Temple of the Red God, Rhaegar thought.
The only thing Rhaegar was interested in regarding the Temple of the Red God was probably magic.
He was somewhat interested in R'hllor, the Red God, but the main condition was not for him to convert, but for the Red God's faith to submit to royal authority. Moreover, the negative impact of following R'hllor was too great.
R'hllor is a domineering god who is hostile toward all other faiths. In the past, the pious Baelor wanted to promote the Faith of the Seven nationwide, which could have triggered a civil war, let alone this much rougher faith of R'hllor.
How to handle the complex and varying faiths is indeed a major problem. People rally around different beliefs, and followers of the Faith of the Seven, the Drowned God, and the old gods often clash. On the eastern continent, faiths are even more diverse and complex.
Just as the Red Priest departed, the fat Miro also entered through the small door.
"Prince!" Miro was elated. With the deaths of Illyrio Mopatis and Varys, Miro, who had been a dead fish, had completely turned his fortunes around. Not only did he become the king of the underground thieves of Pentos again, but he also secured a prominent marriage; the princess who was betrothed to Illyrio was now married to him. The dead are gone, and the living must be strong. Illyrio's father-in-law understood clearly: Illyrio was dead, so it was better to adapt to the changing winds.
"The groom looks much better! Is the bride beautiful?" Rhaegar asked.
"She's average, Prince! But I am truly grateful that the bride's father was willing to marry the girl to me!" Miro answered candidly. He was still very excited; this was the ladder of reality, climbing to the top. What need was there for beauty in a political marriage? He just needed to marry her, love her, have children, penetrate the Pentoshi high society, and gain the possibility of becoming a magister of Pentos.
"Everything is just beginning. Power is poison, the genesis of all sin and honor. Your good days are still ahead. Develop your own influence, follow Magister Oldro closely, rely on your father-in-law, take care of your wife, and hold onto this ticket to high society." Rhaegar explained to Miro.
"Prince Rhaegar, your kindness is something I can never repay. If the Prince hadn't helped me, I might still be a thief in the underground gangs, nowhere near the wealth and status I have now. I will dedicate my life to the great cause of the Prince and House Targaryen!" Miro said. He naturally knew that the core of all power was the great true dragon.
"Very good! Focus on training reliable personnel, and also secure the intelligence and books I want. Although the underground gangs were good for you, you will have greater opportunities in the high society of Pentos."
"Yes! I will do my utmost!" Miro replied.
Rhaegar tasked Miro with the same few things: Blackfyre, information on fossilized dragon eggs, books containing runes, magic, or ancient legends, and now one more—developments near the Rhoyne River. Of course, Miro would also relay the latest developments in Pentos to Rhaegar.
"I might occasionally be away from Pentos for a while. If you have any problems, go directly to Magister Oldro. After all, you are now part of high society, a Pentoshi nobleman, no longer the down-and-out thief you once were."
"As you command, Prince!" Miro answered respectfully.
Rhaegar's next destination: Qohor, a Rhoynar town along the Rhoyne River.
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