Chapter 216: The Black Goat and the Triumphal Arch

The meeting was over. 

For Drogo, the loss of 3,000 men was neither insignificant nor catastrophic. It was a loss he could tolerate, but one that required an explanation to maintain the loyalty of his followers. As the one directly responsible for the defeat, Jhaqo no longer had a place among the living. After conferring with the other Dothraki leaders, they decided that Jhaqo would be exiled from Vaes Dothrak.

The reasoning was simple: weapons and killing were forbidden in the holy city unless someone had first violated the customs and rules of the Dothraki. Jhaqo had committed no such transgression within the city, but as one of Drogo's most powerful Kos, his failure was unforgivable. Even so, Drogo felt a twinge of emptiness after ordering Jhaqo's execution.

"Can that woman truly give birth to the stallion who will mount the world for me?" Drogo asked, sitting in his tent, addressing a man with a black hood and a medium build.

This man was a priest of the Black Goat, captured by Drogo's forces after they sacked a Lamb Men town near Lazar. The Dothraki scorned the Black Goat faith, and over the years, they had looted countless statues of foreign gods. However, the priest had proved his worth with his exceptional healing skills, so Drogo kept him close. Eventually, the priest began to display what he claimed were prophetic abilities, including a prophecy about the "stallion who will mount the world," which rekindled Drogo's interest in Daenerys.

"Great Khal Drogo," the priest replied, lifting his gaze to meet Drogo's eyes. His eyes were peculiar, with square pupils like a goat's. Through those eyes, Drogo glimpsed a disturbing vision: a world where the grass had withered, and the Sea of Grass was littered with corpses. Even the Dothraki were shown resorting to cannibalism. Then, a man with purple eyes, white hair, and olive skin appeared, leading the Dothraki to find enough food to survive the calamity.

The vision faded as the priest's pupils returned to their normal round shape. "Khal Drogo, that woman is a descendant of Valyria. The blood of the Dragonlords flows through her veins. You know of the Dragonlords—they rode dragons and ruled the skies. Only such a woman can give birth to the stallion who will mount the world."

Drogo didn't entirely believe the prophecy or the vision, but he was inclined to trust most of it. On one hand, the priest had already accurately predicted several events, including Jhaqo's defeat. On the other hand, the Red Waste was spreading, and the Dothraki's food supply was dwindling day by day. The grim vision might very well become reality.

Because of this, Drogo did not put all his hopes on his upcoming battle with Viserys. He agreed to Viserys's challenge, partly because the destruction of Jhaqo's forces had caught him off guard, and he needed time. Mobilizing tens of thousands of troops was not something that could be accomplished with a single command. Viserys's challenge provided Drogo with the necessary delay to gather his strength and prepare for what was to come.

"Show me if I can win this war."

The black goat priest said with a knowing smile, "Everything in the vision will come to pass, dear Khal. Of course, you will win. If you were destined to lose, the man with silver hair and purple eyes would never have appeared in the vision," he reassured Drogo.

...

In Tyrosh, Jon Connington was greatly relieved to receive news of Viserys's victory. To celebrate, he organized the officials and citizens of Tyrosh to gather at the harbor, where they worked through the night to construct a 'triumphal arch.' Although time was short, and the arch's main structure was made of wood, Connington spared no expense in adorning it.

He ordered the craftsmen to wrap the arch in gold leaf, silk, and even inlaid it with precious stones and ivory, making it appear magnificent. To further enhance its grandeur, he placed two dragon statues on either side.

"Father, when did that gate appear?" a child asked from his mother's arms.

"That is the Triumphal Arch that Lord Griff built to welcome Prince Viserys! This time, Viserys defeated the Dothraki army, and they will never dare invade us again," the father replied with admiration. Though Viserys was not yet a king, it was reassuring to have a leader who could fight and win.

"Father, when I grow up, I want to fight alongside Prince Viserys!" the child exclaimed, wriggling excitedly in his mother's arms.

But before the father could respond, the child's mother interrupted, "What fight?" She rolled her eyes and gave her husband a stern look. As a mother, she knew all too well that war meant death, and she didn't want to lose her only child to the battlefield.

...

Meanwhile, among the crowd near the military port, a few outsiders stood out. Among them were two individuals who looked almost identical, likely brothers, with curly brown hair and sharp eyes. They were 'Garse' and 'Garrett,' sent by House Tyrell to make contact with Viserys.

"They only defeated some Dothraki. Why is there such a big fuss?" Garse remarked dismissively. To him, the Dothraki were no different from the savages of the Red Mountains or the Mountains of the Moon. Defeating them didn't seem like much of an achievement.

"But look at how excited these people are; they support him wholeheartedly," Garrett observed, gesturing toward the jubilant civilians. He then reminded his brother, "Father told us to meet with this Viserys. Be careful with your manners."

The news of Viserys's victory had spread quickly throughout Tyrosh and even reached the other Free Cities. The triumph had captured the imagination of the people, further solidifying Viserys's reputation and support.

...

To celebrate the victory, Viserys instructed Jon Connington to organize a grand victory parade, knowing it would boost the morale and fighting spirit of his army. Having once lived the life of a sellsword, Viserys had always envied the regular soldiers who fought for their country. While the sellsword's life offered more freedom, he had always admired those soldiers who, after a victorious battle, returned home to be embraced by their families and neighbors. Unlike the cold reward of a payment, these soldiers found true meaning in their fight.

As Viserys stood aboard the warship, he could clearly sense the shift in his soldiers' spirits. Seeing the excitement on the shore, even these battle-hardened, bloodthirsty men displayed a mix of eagerness and shyness. The sight of the cheering crowds was a new and welcome experience for them.

Viserys's resounding victory had significantly bolstered the morale of Tyrosh's soldiers and citizens. He had even arranged for the envoys in the palace to witness the event firsthand. His triumph over the Dothraki, achieved at minimal cost, was undeniable. The envoys quickly dispatched news of the victory to Myr and Lys, confirming the outcome.

With this verified report, the leaders of Myr and Lys would be less inclined to consider compromise with the Dothraki. Instead, they would likely come to Tyrosh to discuss preparations for a larger-scale conflict.