Norvos Pt.II

It was the wee hours of the morning. The sun had yet to rear its head and the land had the chill of hours without the sun's touch. Besides the guard rotations, Zhano and his bloodriders, everyone was asleep.

"Blood of my blood, you send my wife away and force me to wake every morning before the sun does. I've been learning the way of management, as you call it. Why do I feel like this is punishment." Sharo moped.

"Blood of my blood, this is the curse of being reliable. Do you think these idiots could look after the Khalasar?"

Kazo and Baro shock their heads with mocking smirks.

Sharo sighed, " I smell Horseshit, but okay."

Zhano, Kazo, and Baro laughed.

"Haha, fuck you all. The gathering begins now! Baro, you first. 10,000 men and women, who wish to fight, how is their training?"

"They should fucking kill themselves now." Baro laughed, "10,000 working slaves. Numbers are good when they are valuable. Only, maybe, 4,000 are worth something."

Zhano sighed, "Keep at em'. Kazo…"

"Kazo is in charge of protecting the territory. What's happening outside?" Sharo asked.

"Brothers, our little Khal is a fucking genius! We collect tributes and let merchants pass. Horses, clothing, and food supply the city. Trinkets, texts, gems, and coins are placed in the cache as instructed. Word is spreading of how to pass our lands. I have also collected information from the outside…" Kazo handed over a roll of parchment, "The scribe has recorded news from Pentos, Qohor, rumors of Khal Drogo, Meereen, Vaes Dothrak, everything we heard."

Zhano unrolled the parchment and it was feet long.

"Uhmm, Kazo. You do know that you can give this to me at the end of every day?" Zhano asked, causing Baro and Sharo to snicker.

"What do you mean?" Kazo was clueless.

"Nothing.."Zhano sighed, "Just hand these recordings over to Sharo every day."

"Fuck Sharo, I give them to you. You don't like my work?" Kazo was offended.

"Then hand them to me. But it has to be every day. Information is only good when it's current."

"Every day. Got it.."

"Sharo?" Zhano moved on.

"Here we go…" Baro groaned as he got comfortable.

"Status of the Khalasar. After the sacking of the city and the integration of freed slaves. We number 69,0000. With the joining of young men and women reaching their 13th and 14th year, we number 74,000…

We have the horses to match the numbers and that of the additional 10,000 warriors in training. Armenia is teaching the healers well and managing our sick and injured. When they are better, our numbers will climb again. But we are running low on medicine…

The blacksmiths of Norvos have repaired our weapons and all Valyrian steel weapons are accounted for. Old weapons have been recycled and new weapons handed out. Now, let's move on to city affairs…"

The gathering continued for another two hours before Zhano sent his bloodriders off and his uncle, Zha Nan, arrived.

"Forging, Drawing, Bending, Upsetting, Punching, Welding, Finishing. These are the steps of blacksmithing. You'll learn them all by reading the text your grandfather gave you. Lesson over. Find me when you've finished studying."Zha Nan spoke, half-heartedly.

"Fair enough. But you must know, I'm a quick study. Stay sharp and ready," Zhano replied then waved to his warriors to escort his uncle away.

Zhano read throughout the morning as he left all of the daily work to Qoni who was happy to do it. While he studied, he kept Taharri and Yazli with him. Every once in a while, he would correct Yazli's fighting technique and archery. When he wasn't doing that he was reading to Taharri in YiTish.

Midday came and Serena arrived. Among the loot of Norvos, Serena had the warriors carry in a chest of books she collected. Zhano forbade the destruction of any items from the city. Because of this, Serena was able to find high-value text. Zhano considered them priceless. It's why they remained and everything else went to Astapor to be sold.

While the texts were meant to help Zhano, Serena was also excited because of the value of the books making them hard to collect.

"My Khal, I'm ready to give you your lessons."

"I've been waiting on you." Zhano replied, "Come in and sit. Have you met my daughters?"

"I've heard of them, my Khal," Serena answered.

"This is Yazli, soon to be seven years old. And this little one is Taharri." Zhano introduced his girls much like a doting father earning a cute blush from Serena.

"Which one will be Khalakki?" Serena was curious.

"It depends on where we are when Yazli has her first blood. What would the Dothraki Sea have become? Who would I have become?" Zhano replied thoughtfully, further impressing Serena.

Serena cleared her mind, then said, "So, we should start with fire. It's best to master the element before you try to tame dragons that breathe fire naturally. And the books I have found, have many skills and exercises to help you train your control. And lucky for you, I am a pyromancer myself."

Zhano smiled. "Lead the way," he said.

Meanwhile, in Pentos, bad news had been verified. Magister Illyrio had palmed a vase of wine and chucked it at the wall of his study. It hit with a clang and the wine splattered everywhere. Servants moved quickly to clean it up and the papers of messages on his desk were ripped to shreds.

"Who the fuck is this guy?!" Illyrio was fuming.

He had received words from the East about Zhano taxing merchants, sacking Norvosi territory and the city, starving out the magisters and nobles, the killing of a son of Qohor cardinal, the robbery of the YiTish Caravan that was transporting his Dragon Eggs, and the Asshai women, Serena, was at his side.

Illyrio calmed himself just enough to open the letters from the south. Looking over the letter from the south, the magister smiled deviously.

"One horde to the east and another to the south. I've lured one with a princess and the other may want my city."

"Deal...Play them against each other and make your odds favorable." a voice came from the back corner of the room.

"Deal how?" Illyrio asked.

"This Blood Fire Khal, zhano. He is educated and his battle tactics are cunning and equally harsh. But word has it that he dealt with Lady Mellario of Dorne. You should send an envoy to protect yourself and your interests in Pentos. From Magister to Lord of a City."

"Hmm." Illyrio continued, "He has the eggs, why not take the princess as well. As for Pentos, maybe I can open the gates, but let's see how he fairs against Khal Drogo."

"What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that a Dothraki Wedding without at least three deaths is a dull affair." The Magister pulled a piece of parchment and began to write before having his slaves collect gifts and travel to Norvos.

As Ilyrio's envoys traveled, the news had finally spread and the world is shocked by the destruction of Norvos.

But it was the YiTish who managed to contact Zhano first. Setting in his meeting room, surrounded by his Kos, Qoni, Serena, Armenia, Two Martells, and a Velaryon, Zhano stared silently at the YiTish messenger.

"Read it, boy!" Zhano's voice rumbled.

"Yes, Great Khal. In the words of the 15th Prince of Yi Ti, you are summoned to the capital to celebrate your victory and take your Princess bride. As the Heir of Zha Family, your presence is mandatory in the coming Gathering of Phenoxis and Dragons in eight months' time." the man finally finished speaking in YiTish.

Zhano chuckled. When he stopped, he clicked his tongue twice and the messenger was ceased. Without a command, the messenger's right hand was lopped off.

As the man cried out in pain, Zhano spoke, "You are thieves! You stole my man on the promises you can not keep under the shadow of a false enemy. Go back and tell your 15th Prince that I know of Emperor Pol Qo. Tell him, that my people will not die in some silly rebellion. Tell him, that I will arrive when the time is right. Not before or after."

Zhano left the gathering and his people followed close behind.

"My Khal, wasn't that reckless?" Armenia asked.

"No, I once read this YiTish text that spoke of it sorceress entering closed training," said Zhano.

"Ancient sorcerers, my Khal," Armenia replied.

"Hmm." Zhano hummed, abruptly stopping and forcing his followers to stop as well.

"Qoni, find your sister. Serena, you and the slave girls will follow my wife to my villa. Armenia, bring my uncle and his belongings. I also need three more to tend after my girls. We will all closed the doors while I train. Blood of my blood!"

His bloodriders slammed their fist to the chest as they dropped to a knee.

"Sharo, you've trained for this. The Khalasar is yours. All of the Kos are under your command!" Zhano issued his decree, "I'm expecting three. The Pentoshi, Mellario, and my mother. All else do not have the right to disturb me."

The weeks that followed were taxing on everyone, but they believed in Zhano. They had enough faith in him to hold together.

Outside of his sealed Villa, Sharo commanded the Khalasar with absolute strictness. There was no bend in his firmness for fear of failing Zhano. The Kos did not defy but they were tired because Zhano worked them as well.

The Working Slaves were pushed, the hardest. Each and everyone one of them was worked to the bone. Within the first month, Sharo had the Khalasar working smoothly without Zhano's guidance. During this time, Illyrio's envoys were turned away, twice. Illyrio was growing in frustration until he decided to make the trip himself.

Meanwhile. Zhano lived and breathed blacksmithing. He trained the hammer, using the technique of Zha Ah Ren, forging weapons for hours upon hours. When he put down the hammer, he was under Serena's care, learning of dragons and pyromancy. He pushed the limits of his abilities every day.

In between the two teachers, Zhano had a third, Nemyse. She taught him how to use his great vision and dominion over horses. The bond thickened and Zhano became deadly in mounted warfare. But the more their bond thickened, the more his gifts from her intensified.

For the remainder of Zhano's time, He fucked Qoni and her sister, Serena and the slaves, along with Qoni's handmaid. Sometimes he would spend a whole day swimming in pussy. Thanks to the basilisk's blood that corrupted him, his fluid still had a lesser aphrodisiac effect. Every session could not end until his lovers were exhausted of the maddening effects.

This routine was ironed into everyone in the Villa. It became as easy and mundane as breathing. Zha Nan even had his two whores that Zhano made solely for him. Everyone in the Villa lived in paradise.

Then the day of the disruption came. On the first full moon of 298 AC, Zhano had all of his women dress in a sort of bohemian style. He was slowly regaining more of his memories as Miller like the way his women looked in the fashion. They retained the barbarous look but it was a lot sexier, especially since he did away with their underwear, and everything beneath their slightly transparent boho or maxi styled dress could be seen.

As the women were cooking and arranging the villa, Zhano played with his little girls. Yazli had picked up archery better than the sword or spear. He even let her practice riding on a demon stallion with a pitch-black coat and blood-red eyes. She liked it because it was as domineering as Nemyse.

Taharrri on the other hand was learning to read and write. Off to the side of the courtyard, Zha Nan drank his fill of wine and played with his whores.

The main doors then opened as Sharo, Kazo, and Baro walked in with the Pentoshi Illyrio.

"Blood of my blood!" his bloodriders saluted. Zhano waved them off.

Illyrio stepped forth. "Respect..."

"Stop! You are allied to my enemy. Don't bother with pleasantries. Sharo tells me that he has sent away two of your envoys. What do you want?" Zhano played the fool. But it gave the Pentoshi a chance to save his life.

"My...The dragon Eggs... you seem like a clear-cut, straightforward man. So, I'll be straight. The eggs, as you probably know, were meant to go to a young princess. I know I will never get them back. But you seem like a man with a vision. So, see it this way, The Great Blood Fire Khal, Zhano, unites the Dothraki Sea and taxes all of Essos on the backs of dragons with a legitimate Valyrian queen. No one has more right to Essos, than the blood of Taragaryen, the last Dragonrider Bloodline in the world."

Zhano looked at Zha Nan and the two began to laugh.

"You want to give my nephew a princess, not a queen, that is already promised to Khal Drogo. I'm sure you want him to fight over the little girl too?" Asked Zha Nan

"Little? She is ripe a beauty approaching her sixteenth nameday." Illyrio sang.

"Enough." Zhano chuckled. "Bring forth your gifts and have a feast with us. Don't worry, it isn't a horse."

Illyrio sighed in relief. He then ushered in his men with chests of jewels and gold, texts of magic, science, and mathematics. Finally, came a Valryian Steel Chopping Broadsword Sabre. The handle was made of dragon bone, above the hilt was fashioned dragon head biting down on the blade.

"Really good. Kazo, take it all. Everyone else, join me." said Zhano.

Sometime later, everyone conveyed around a large fire, eating and drinking.

"So, Magister, why are you really here?" Zhano asked before tearing the flesh from a lamb chop.

"I would like to know if you plan to sack Pentos?" Illyrio remained straightforward.

"I do. I know Drogo will be there with his growing army. He will be there for the little princess. It is the only scene fitting for his death and justice for disrespect towards me all those years ago." Zhano replied.

"Then ask to take the path of Lady Mellario of Dorne."

"And what path is that?" Zhano asked.

"Rumors say that as the high nobility of Norvos starves to death in the high city, Lady Mellario is planning to rule the city under the authority of the Great Khal," Illyrio explained.

"Hahaha! Oh, you fat bearded man. You are cleaver." Zhano laughed, "Why would I allow such a thing."

"Because I am loyal to House Targaryen and prosperity. I only sought Khal Drogo's help for the benefit of House Targaryen. As for Pentos, I have been Magister for years. Why cling to a station when an avenue to a higher position has revealed itself."

"Ambitious men die horribly." Said Qoni.

"Khaleesi, my only ambition is to survive and hopefully, live," said Illyrio.

"I know, Drogo is on the move north. But he's an idiot. He's going to war with every Khalasar blindly. He's enslaving and killing the useless. It's what he's always done and though his numbers are increasing, it is not optimal because of his tactics. I am not afraid." Said Zhano.

He then continued, "He's nearing one hundred thousand. but I want you to forget that and have faith in my ability to continuously shock the world. When I arrive at the gates of Pentos, I want you to open them. And I want those Targaryen siblings at your side when I find you. Do this and the city is yours. Don't and you die with the city."

"Of course, Great Khal." Illyrio replied.

"This is a gamble that will define our lives. You should bet right. Go now. Tell Pentos that all is well and I'm tired of taking cities. I plan to return to Veas Dothrak within the year."

"Yes, Great Khal." Illyrio stood up and moved to take his leave.

"And Magister! Merry First Moon. Not many lived to see this new year after crossing me." Zhano warned him.

Illyrio nodded and went off into the night.

"Search all of the slaves for written messages. All ravens are now illegal within and around the city. If spotted, I want them shot down. Mellario wouldn't have spread rumors of her ascension. Kazo, lead a few Kos to the High City and slaughter all those who are still alive." Zhano ordered the moment he saw Illyrio vanish.

"Yes, my Khal." his bloodriders replied.

"Sharo, how is Zhali?" He asked.

"Astapor was bloody. The wealth of Norvos and dragon eggs was enough to purchase the whole inventory. 7500 unsullied and 5500 in training. She then followed your orders and slaughtered the slave masters."

"Was the slave girl at her master's side?" Zhano asked.

"She was. she has also been taken. The wealth has been recovered. The egg is safe. The unsullied have managed to capture ships and the Dothraki fleet is a little more than a fortnight away." Sharo replied.

To practice his YiTish, Zhano allowed Sharo to use Oberon to pass messages to his mother. This helped the separated couple and kept Zhano updated.

Off to the side, Serena sighed in relief. She had thought Zhano never touched the chest holding the eggs because he was focused on training. She never expected that he would send off one egg to gamble for a lot of unsullied.

"Fantastic. Close the villa and carry out my orders. Inform when one of the remaining two arrives." Zhano dismissed them and once again the closed training resumed.