Chapter 300: Fortune-Telling is Unreliable

"Yes and no," Shiera replied cryptically. "Savor it. When you destroy the House of the Undying, the Warlocks will lose their source of power, but for a brief period, their strength will surge. That is when you need to be most cautious."

"How long will this surge last?" Viserys asked, his mind flashing back to the White Walker he had killed. The creature had played with its power before finally dying, almost toying with him. This is giving me a headache, he thought.

Viserys hadn't initially considered the Warlocks to be a major threat. If it weren't for the Kraken War, Euron would still be alive. Once Euron had obtained Valyrian steel armor and the Dragonbinder horn, he would have likely sought out the Warlocks to "enhance" his own black magic.

Viserys suspected that the Valyrian steel armor was the key to controlling the Warlocks, making them vulnerable. This was why he had formed the Valyrian Steel Armor Guard. In his view, as long as his soldiers wore Valyrian steel, the Warlocks should be powerless against them.

"Valyrian steel armor can resist most magic," Shiera acknowledged, "but if it were that simple, the Valyrians wouldn't have gone to such great lengths to master blood and fire magic in the first place."

"Are you saying Valyrian steel armor is useless?" Viserys questioned, recalling his battle with Euron. Euron's magic couldn't break through his defenses. Even after hatching a dragon and reaching the level of a Paragon, Viserys had found that Valyrian steel protected against nearly all magical attacks.

He believed his own magical prowess was unmatched, and if he couldn't pierce Valyrian steel armor with his magic, no one else could either.

"I haven't found any concrete information on that," Shiera admitted. "All I can advise is that you don't place blind faith in Valyrian steel armor."

Viserys wasn't satisfied with her answer. Could the increased number of dragons have made magic stronger than in the original timeline? he wondered. After all, Euron had dealt with the Warlocks as if they were nothing more than pests. This was part of why Viserys felt confident enough to confront them.

If these Warlocks do have some incredible powers, he thought, I might as well strike first.

The nobles of Lys accompanied Viserys to two plays and two tournaments. As he watched the tournaments with Dany, both were reminded of their time in Braavos. Viserys had once competed in the Braavos tournament as the Beggar King.

Now, just four or five years later, he had risen to the level of a Sealord.

...

After three days in Lys, Viserys's fleet set sail once again, with Shiera accompanying them as Dany's escort. Viserys knew they would receive a similar reception in Volantis, their next stop.

This would be his third visit to the city. On his first venture, he had rid Volantis of pirates and was rewarded with bounties and a supply of weapons. On his second, he ambushed Euron and came away with both a dragon egg and the Dragonbinder horn. Now, on this third visit...

Although Volantis remained the heart of slavery among the nine Free Cities, it was still the most prosperous and influential of them all. There was no doubt about their loyalty to him. During the first tax distribution, Volantis had contributed 20% of the total and had been the first city to pay in full. They even paid the "royal tribute" in advance and increased the amount without hesitation.

Along the Long Bridge and above the Black Wall, the royal banner bearing the three-headed dragon flew prominently, symbolizing their unwavering allegiance. Given their loyalty, Viserys planned to tread lightly when it came to reforming slavery in Volantis. He would avoid unnecessary bloodshed, compensating for any issues with the wealth taken from Slaver's Bay if needed. After all, they hadn't been disloyal.

As the seven dragons approached, they caused an immediate sensation throughout the city. Slaves, commoners, artisans, merchants, and nobles alike were captivated. Even before Viserys's fleet had reached the port, the sight of the dragons soaring through the skies signaled the emperor's arrival.

At that moment, Alios, one of Volantis's most prominent leaders, was preparing a letter of complaint. He hoped to ask Viserys to help return escaped slaves. The situation in Volantis had grown dire—slaves no longer worked diligently, as their minds were consumed with thoughts of escape, which had severely impacted production.

Just as he was drying the ink on his letter, a servant rushed into his room.

"Lord, His Grace has arrived in Volantis and is at the port!"

Alios was the first to proclaim "Your Grace" upon Viserys's ascent to power, an honor that had elevated his house to the leading position in Volantis.

"Get me dressed! Quickly!" Alios ordered, eager to make a swift appearance.

When Viserys's fleet finally docked, Benerro, accompanied by the red priests, was the first to greet him. They had even prepared fresh beef and lamb in advance for the dragons. As the dragons unleashed their fiery breath, the smell of burning meat filled the air, and the bleating of sheep mingled with the spilling of blood. It was a spectacle, though not a pleasant one to witness.

Benerro, ever devout, knelt before Viserys and Dany in reverence, offering his deep and sincere respect.

"Long live Your Grace, the Emperor, and the Princess!" the crowd chanted.

"Rise," Viserys commanded, waving them up. He had already discussed matters with Benerro in advance. In the future, both the Faith of R'hllor and the Faith of the Seven would be recognized as the state religions of the empire—but only if Benerro and his followers supported Viserys's reforms to slavery.

Benerro leaned in, speaking quietly to Viserys. "Your Grace, you are going to Slaver's Bay to buy Unsullied, aren't you?"

"That's right," Viserys replied. He had made this plan public, so Benerro's question didn't catch him off guard. What did surprise him was the urgency in Benerro's voice.

"Your Grace, I've seen a vision—a blood-stained pyramid. If you go to Slaver's Bay, you could face great danger."

Viserys raised an eyebrow. "Did you see the danger clearly with your own eyes, or is this like last time?"

He was referring to the time when his dragons hatched. Benerro had insisted that only Dany emerged from the flames, something Viserys hadn't forgotten.

"No, Your Grace," Benerro replied, lowering his voice even more. "This time, I saw a group of people lying on top of you, draining your life."

Viserys frowned. "Draining how? The kind that holds me by the throat?" He half-joked, trying to make light of the cryptic warning.

"It was unclear," Benerro admitted. "This kind of divination—where there's only one image—is the worst. While the image is certain to happen, it reveals nothing about the outcome."

Viserys had once used the Moon's Revelation to see himself battling Euron Greyjoy, the Kraken, and even Benerro had seen only Dany's emerging from the flames.

Similar to that previous vision, this one was frustratingly incomplete. Over time, Viserys had "reset" the Moon's Revelation, so it could now only offer vague guidance based on the phases of the moon—whether a journey would be fortunate or not. And this time, the outcome had been good.

With that in mind, Viserys didn't put too much stock in Benerro's warning. "Where's Dany in all of this?" he asked. "Is she in danger?"

"No, Your Grace. I didn't see any vision involving Princess Daenerys."

Viserys sighed in relief. At least Dany wasn't in harm's way. Still, the thought of being drained by those bald, blue-lipped Warlocks, with their foul stench, made his skin crawl. He brushed it off, though, focusing on the journey ahead.

Meanwhile, Alios and Nyessos, two prominent Triarchs of Volantis, came to greet Viserys. Although it was customary for the Triarchs to arrive in litters to avoid dirtying their feet, they had chosen to walk this time—a gesture of respect and loyalty to their emperor.

Viserys noted this carefully. A little dirt on their feet to meet the king? They must really want to show their devotion, he thought with some amusement.

Playing his role as a gracious leader, Viserys stayed in Volantis for a few more days, enjoying the hospitality and festivities. Soon, though, it was time to set sail once again for the next place of his journey.