Astapor, a port city, may not have rivaled the opulence of Qarth, but the daily volume of goods it handled was still staggering. It was renowned for its production of Unsullied, drawing nobles and pirates from across the world to purchase them.
The city was primarily constructed of red brick, with tiered golden pyramids dotting the landscape, their bases overgrown with green vines.
The docks buzzed with activity, the air filled with the din of hawkers' cries and the creak of cargo ships moored along the waterfront. Workers bustled about, hauling goods to and fro.
Following the advice of a merchant supervisor captured from the Zaro Estate, Daenerys had her ships dock at the edge of the docks. They would wait until buyers were secured before unloading their cargo at the central docks to complete the transactions.
Jorah took Aggo to inquire about Good Masters, as the Unsullied were trained by them.
Daenerys, accompanied by two Bloodriders, Rakharo and Kovarro, strolled along the docks. Drogon, now small, perched on her shoulder, his head swiveling left and right to take in the sights. With Drogon's close protection, Jorah felt secure enough to leave and search for a Good Master.
Rhaegal and Viserion circled high overhead, drawing the attention of dockworkers and merchants alike. They gazed upward in awe at the miracle of the reborn dragons.
Daenerys had initially wanted to keep the dragons confined to the ship's hold, fearing it would be unsafe to bring them out. With dragons now present, she worried that warriors eager to become dragon-slayers might emerge. Moreover, with the prophecy of Drogon hanging over her, she feared it might come true in Astapor.
However, after hearing Drogon's inner thoughts, she entrusted both dragons to his care, instructing them to circle high in the sky where the local arrows couldn't reach. Besides, Drogon was no pushover; he would immediately intervene if he sensed any danger.
Now, Daenerys was far from her former self. She could freely spend money to buy herself small trinkets.
After finishing the honeyed dates, she walked along eating a black sausage, occasionally taking a bite and offering some to Drogon on her shoulder. The sausage was hardly enough to satisfy him, but it served as a decent snack.
Besides sampling the local delicacies, Daenerys also purchased two bolts of fine silk, an emerald brooch, and a handful of pearls to decorate her room.
*Gurgle...*
A fist-sized, brightly painted sphere suddenly rolled to her feet, bringing her to a halt.
A timid girl of seven or eight, dressed in tattered rags, stood a short distance away, watching her. She wanted to approach but hesitated.
Daenerys smiled at the girl, bent down to pick up the round ball, and was about to hand it to her when the girl smiled sweetly and made a twisting motion with her hand.
Daenerys paused, asking the girl with her eyes if she wanted her to open the ball. She mimed the action with her hands.
Watching their silent exchange and the pure smile on the girl's face, a sense of unease stirred in Drogon's mind. He swooped down and kicked the ball, which Daenerys had already begun to twist open, sending it flying.
"I'm sorry," a low voice, audible only to the girl, came from her lips.
The ball hit the ground with a clatter and sprang open. A shimmering emerald beetle slowly unfolded its body, its scorpion tail arching high, the blue-purple stinger quivering. Its head lifted, revealing a venomous face that resembled a woman's.
The Human-Faced Scorpion immediately scuttled toward Daenerys with terrifying speed.
*Ding!*
Before Drogon could unleash his dragonfire, a sharp dagger pierced the creature, impaling it. The scorpion struggled violently before dying, drops of green venom dripping from its body.
By then, the girl had already vanished into the chaotic crowd.
"Your Majesty, I apologize for the fright I caused you," the man said, removing his black hood to reveal a gray-haired, aged face.
"Khaleesi!" Daenerys's Bloodriders reacted at last, shouting and moving to apprehend the old man, but Daenerys stopped them.
Though Drogon would have kept the Human-Faced Scorpion at bay even without the old man's intervention, he had helped her, and he didn't seem to be allied with the little girl.
"Your Majesty, what just happened?" Jorah and Aggo rushed over, pushing through the panicked crowd. They had just returned and seen Daenerys in the midst of the chaos.
When Jorah reached Daenerys's side and saw the old man before her, he froze.
Noticing Jorah's unusual reaction, Daenerys asked, "Ser Jorah, who is he?"
Jorah took a deep breath. "He was King Robert's Kingsguard, and also your father Aerys's Kingsguard. One of the greatest warriors in Westeros, known as Barristan the Bold."
"Your Majesty, I failed to protect your father, to uphold my Kingsguard Oath. Allow me to serve as your Queen's Guard, to complete my unfulfilled duty. I will remain by your side, to the death." With that, he knelt on one knee, head bowed, awaiting her command.
Watching Barristan swear his loyalty, Daenerys's chest rose and fell, her heart still unsettled after a long time.
She felt the lingering presence of her father, the King. The Targaryen family had not been forgotten by the Seven Kingdoms, nor had she...
"Ser Barristan, I accept your oath of fealty. Remember the Kingsguard Oath well, and I shall not fail your loyalty." Barristan rose and stood behind Daenerys.
"Your Majesty, the assassin was likely a Griever, from Qarth's ancient order of killers. The Human-Faced Scorpion is their signature weapon. Just before they strike, they often whisper, 'I regret it.'" Barristan explained to Daenerys.
"Who hired them to kill me? Or used a little girl?" Daenerys asked Jorah.
"It's hard to say. Perhaps a warlock stripped of his power, a hypocritical royal, or one of the scheming remaining Eleven Great Masters," Jorah mused.
"Then it wasn't a little girl, but a dwarf in disguise. Grievers rarely fail in their assignments. If they miss, they never return," Barristan added.
Only then did Daenerys and Jorah gradually relax.
"Your Majesty, I've contacted Good Master Kraznys. He's waiting for you at the Plaza of Pride, where he has a thousand Unsullied for sale," Jorah reported, relaying the results of his inquiries.
"Good. Let's go see them," Daenerys said, her mood lifting as she led her companions to the plaza.
As they walked, Jorah cautioned her, "The Astapori have long forgotten the ancient Ghiscari language, using High Valyrian instead. Your Majesty, don't let them know you understand their speech. It will help with the negotiations."
Daenerys nodded, then turned to Barristan to ask for news from King's Landing.
Besides what she already knew, he brought fresh updates: King Robert's brother, Stannis, had been defeated in King's Landing. Tywin had removed Littlefinger Tyrion as Hand and taken the position himself.
The new king, Joffrey, had broken his engagement to Sansa Stark, the eldest daughter of the Starks, and instead betrothed himself to Margaery Tyrell, the "Little Rose" of Highgarden.
*Littlefinger is close to fleeing. I can't wait! And the little monster Joffrey's death is not far off either,* Drogon thought to himself.
Daenerys was accustomed to Drogon's peculiar commentary. She hadn't expected Littlefinger Tyrion to be removed as Hand so quickly, and now to be at risk of fleeing. *Could something major be happening with the Lannisters?*
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**Author's Note:**
*This scene is from my fanfiction, "The Dragon Queen's Ascent." It's a continuation of the story after Daenerys's arrival in Slaver's Bay.*
And the new king, Joffrey, had actually died? What assassin could have killed him, so deeply entrenched in the palace?
Their questions led them to the Plaza of Pride, where they were immediately struck by the massive Harpy statue.
The golden statue depicted a creature with a human face and a bird's body, its tail raised high in a terrifying scorpion's sting. Its claws were shackled, bound by iron chains.