4 The Black Stone City Asshai (Prologue IV)

~~~(POV: Raenon Targaryen)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 12 Years)~~~

~~~(Location: Following Ash Riverbank to Asshai Within View, Essos)~~~

~~~(Date: 296 AC)~~~

My nerves and mind are calm, and my heart beats evenly. My instincts fill me with feelings of warning. The same feelings I have when monsters and beasts hunt me. The closer I get to the city, the more its apparent features become.

Walking slowly for 15 minutes while I think... It buys me time to see that this city is made of Black Stone. I approach a stone staircase that leads up from the riverbank into this place I've discovered.

Rhaenys herself is on edge as she sits on my shoulder. She's far too small and young to defend herself, but I'm a fighter. I can protect us both from what might be here. Fate Breaker and my Red Fire are enough. At least, I hope they are.

As I step on the black road of the city. I don't notice anyone. For such a massive place, there are no humans in sight.

"Raah..."

Rhaenys lets out a worried little sound, and I bring my hand up to scratch her head. I see some ships at the edge of the city, so I should make my way there.

The streets are wide, and even when the sun is shining down on the building and roads, they're still dark. But compared to the place I was before here, this is eternally brighter in comparison. But I'm stopped in my tracks on my way to the city's edge.

There is a tall, slender human ahead. That's another human. Someone like me. The person turns their head, and our eyes meet. They unfold their arms slowly and take a better look at me. They have a metal sheet covering their head.

The person slowly approaches me, and my instincts take over. I hold out my right hand, and Fate Breaker appears in black smoke and red light. My left hand is enveloped in my Red Fire.

"Raaahh!!"

Rhaenys spreads her little wings and lets out a cry, ready for a fight, even though she's too small to help. The tall, slender human tilts their head, and slowly holds up their hands. All the way till they're at the sides of their head.

"A child like you coming from deep within The Shadow Lands should've died long ago. Along with your pet."

The voice that comes from the person has a similar tone to The Whispering Voice I heard in the cave. It's not the same, but it's like it.

Seeing my reaction, the person hasn't moved, which is smart for them.

"I don't know what you speak of. I've lived up the river ever since I could remember. Alone."

For some reason, this intrigues the person. But they dare not move.

"Then you are immune to the effects of The Ash River. And so is your dragon. For you would've died long ago if not, and same for your pet."

I don't have a single notion of what this person is saying. And I hold up Fate Breaker as I approach them. As I stand in front of the person, I look past and see the city's edge just beyond.

"Are you a human? Why don't you show your face?"

The figure of the person is different than mine. Now that I'm up close and can get a better look. They have more curves around the lower part of their body. And strange bumps in the middle of their chest.

"I'm the one who is human, child. You are the one who isn't. White hair, violet eyes, and a hatchling dragon on your shoulder. Targaryen."

This person knows my name...

This takes over my instincts for threats, and my Red Fire burns hotter. Causing the person to step back.

"But don't fear me, child. I'll not harm you. No one in this city will. You're far from home. Where is it you come from within The Shadow Lands?"

The person keeps talking to me, but Rhaenys is getting nervous. And so am I. This isn't what I was expecting when I met with other humans. But there are no other people around except this person. No matter where I look around the street from where I'm standing.

The person is waiting for an answer, and they remain the same way they have since I took Fate Breaker in hand. Their hands up near their head. I might regret this, but I'll answer the question.

"From beyond The City of Night. I was told by The Whispering Voice to head there, but when I found nothing. I continued following the river. Which led here."

The person's eyes slightly widen as I say that. My Red Fire has calmed down, and the person takes a step closer. But I don't sense any danger. And neither does Rhaenys.

"Do you know anything about the lands you're in, child of Targaryen?"

This person's words are far more informative than they were intending. I've learned a lot from the short talk we've had. The place I called my home is known as The Shadow Lands. Which makes sense from how dark it was.

My lack of response speaks volumes.

"You're in The City of Asshai. Nearing the edge of the known world. Come with me, child. I'll help you."

There is no reason for me to get any help from another human. Not from one that I know nothing about.

"I don't know you. I don't even know if you're truly human. You're shaped differently than me. You have fat in places I don't."

My observation causes the person to get on one knee and look me in the eyes. That's when I see their eyelashes are longer than mine.

"That's because I'm a grown woman, child. And you're a little boy. Boys and girls look different from each other."

I had no idea that boys and girls would look so different as Humans. I figured we all looked similar. But the fat lumps on her chest and bumps on her hips don't have any similarities to me. I'm lean, with muscles showing up.

"A grown woman... What's your name?"

She moves a bit closer while kneeling in front of me, so our eyes are closer in height.

"My name is Mazzi Mero, and I'm a Shadowbinder... Do you know what that is?"

I've never heard of such a thing, and before I can find out on my own, she begins to explain.

"I'm a practitioner of magic that controls shadows. There are few Shadowbinders left, and I'm one of them."

Since I don't think I'm in any more danger, Fate Breaker disappears in black smoke and red light back into the palm of my right hand.

But I stay on the cautious side and keep my Red Fire in my left hand, ready for anything.

"Mazzi Mero... My name is Raenon... Raenon Targaryen. And this is Rhaenys. My dragon."

I indicate to Rhaenys introducing her. And Mazzi looks at her, giving a single nod. She turns back to me and stands. Holding out her hand.

I look at it and then at her for an explanation.

"Take my hand, child. I'll be taking you to my home here in Asshai."

Reluctantly, I grab her hand, and she gently holds mine before we start moving. We pass the city's edge, and I learn the name of what this is called. A port. A place where ships come and go from Asshai.

After a few more minutes of walking, we enter a large building. And she leads me to a room that's open and has different things placed around it. As I walk across the floor, my bare feet feel the sensation of whatever she has for floors.

The foot wrappings I had from The City of Night are long ruined. And whatever this is, it's very pleasant on the feet.

Rhaenys hops off my shoulder and into my lap as I sit down on the softest thing I've ever felt. I almost stand up, thinking I'll fall through, but at the last second, the sinking stops.

"Tell me, child. What is this Whispering Voice that spoke to you?"

Mazzi isn't done questioning me, it seems, and I look at her. She brings over a plate of food, and it's not anything I've seen before.

"What is this?"

She looks at me through her headcover and doesn't respond. She reaches over and takes a piece of the food, lifting her mask to put it in her mouth.

Seeing that it's nothing dangerous, I start to eat, and it's nothing I've ever had before. Rhaenys pokes her head up from my lap at the smell and sound of me eating. I gently feed her too.

Mazzi is still waiting for me to answer her question.

"I don't know... It spoke to me when I first met The Black Egg and Fate Breaker... I tried to leave without the sword, but it lifted from the rock and went into my right palm."

I lift said hand and show her the marking of the horned black and red dragon head. She softly grabs my hand and inspects it closer before looking back at me.

"For one so young... You have many trials ahead of you, Raenon of House Targaryen."

House?

She sees my confused look and reaches her hand over. Caressing my cheek with her fingers.

"It's another word for family. Family are people that share the same blood as you."