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#179 - Chapter 25: Going Crazy

Vaes Dothrak, also known as the 'City of the Horse Lords,' is the only city of the Dothraki, located at the eastern end of the Dothraki Sea, beneath the Mother of Mountains, by the lake called the 'Womb of the World.'

Vaes Dothrak has no walls; its wide grasslands are large enough to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people. The entire 'City of the Horse Lords' is managed and inhabited by slaves and the Dosh Khaleen. In the sacred city, it is forbidden to carry weapons on the streets, and all bloodshed and conflict are strictly prohibited, with violators subject to public execution.

The Godsway runs through the center of Vaes Dothrak, a grassy road stretching from the Horse Gate to the foot of the Mother of Mountains. Along the road are relics of various gods from all over the world, plundered by the Dothraki over the centuries.

Inside a grass-woven dwelling as large as a castle, a group of Dosh Khaleen dance around an altar. They are all former Khaleesis, wives of all the deceased Khals. They are also permanent residents of Vaes Dothrak, where they enjoy supreme honor and status, acting as prophets who predict the future and interpret omens for the Dothraki.

Upon the altar, Daenerys is tearing apart a bloody horse heart. Drogo sits opposite her in silence, his eyes full of encouragement. He also gives Daenerys courage, and she endures the disgusting bloody smell, tearing and swallowing the tough horse heart, mouthful after mouthful.

Finally, amidst the cheers of countless people, Daenerys swallows the last piece of flesh. She stands up and spreads her blood-stained arms, a hint of holiness in her ferocity.

Jorah Mormont's heart twitched involuntarily. He clutched his chest, thinking, 'Oh no! This is the feeling of being moved!'

Drogo steps forward, picks up Daenerys, and lifts her high, as the crowd roars, 'The Stallion Who Mounts the World!'

This enthusiasm spread throughout the 'City of the Horse Lords.' Vaes Dothrak is not desolate; it contains buildings from all the world's civilizations, stone tents carved with patterns, fortress-like grass-woven houses, rickety wooden towers, marble-built stepped pyramids, and open-roofed wooden halls facing the sky, all built by slaves captured by the Dothraki from elsewhere.

Besides the two large markets, each arriving Khalasar occupies the area from the city center to the Holy Mountain. At this moment, it is already a boiling ocean, with over ninety thousand people in Drogo's Khalasar shouting, 'The Stallion Who Mounts the World!' celebrating the legendary king who will descend upon their Khalasar.

Soon after, Viserys, far away in Pentos, received the news. Drogo has agreed to send troops to help him because Daenerys brought him a big surprise.

Illyrio also brought him good news: he has secured a meeting with the Golden Company's captain-general, Myles Toyne. If he can obtain the support of the Golden Company, then Viserys III's cause will advance further.

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King's Landing, the Red Keep's throne room. Eddard Stark sits on the Iron Throne, with the Master of Coin, Petyr Baelish, and Grand Maester Pycelle seated on either side of him. Today, they are holding a public council, listening to reports from below. The matter is simple: many representatives from the Riverlands have come to King's Landing to file a complaint.

The village chiefs and elders are all speaking at once, accusing a group of suddenly appearing thugs who are killing, raping, robbing, and committing all kinds of evil. They are well-equipped, unlike ordinary bandits, and the local village militias are no match for them. They have no badges or flags, and each time after committing atrocities, they leave behind a trout. This is a very obvious act of revenge aimed at the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands, House Tully.

According to survivors, the leader is taller than anyone else, able to split a person in half with a single sword strike. And based on the description of his armor, people quickly identified the target: Gregor Clegane, the most brutal knight in the Seven Kingdoms.

Eddard stroked the sharp armrest of the Iron Throne. As a lord, he was not ignorant of politics. He was weighing his options because he had previously promised Robert to reconcile with House Lannister, but the matter before him had exceeded his limit of tolerance. The two advisors beside him seemed to be offering advice, but were actually secretly fanning the flames.

Eddard Stark slammed the chair and stood up, announcing loudly, 'I cannot rebuild your homes, nor can I bring the dead back to life. But in the name of King Robert, I can give you justice. Lord Beric Dondarrion, I give you a task: lead 100 cavalrymen to Clegane's Keep.'

Beric Dondarrion knelt on one knee, saying, 'I obey your command! Lord Hand.'

Eddard continued loudly, leaning on his cane, 'In the name of Robert I of House Baratheon, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, I command you to uphold the laws of the kingdom and punish the evil knight Gregor Clegane and all his accomplices. I condemn and strip him of his privileges, seize all ranks and positions, reclaim all fiefs and property, and order his beheading.' His voice was loud and his gaze firm, possessing an undeniable aura. The lords and nobles below nodded involuntarily.

'Lord Hand, such a judgment is too extreme. It would be best to wait until His Majesty the King returns before discussing it further,' Pycelle said, a little flustered. Although the Queen had asked him to stir up trouble, he did not expect the Hand to be so stubborn.

Hearing this, Petyr smiled. Knowing human nature, he knew things were going according to plan. Sure enough, Eddard's next words were even more explosive: 'Maester Pycelle, send a raven to Casterly Rock, informing Lord Tywin Lannister to come to King's Landing immediately to take responsibility for his men's actions. He must arrive within two weeks, or he will be wanted throughout the Seven Kingdoms for treason and rebellion.'

Grand Maester Pycelle's face turned ashen, but he dared not refuse the order. 'As you command, Lord Hand.' The nobles below also discussed among themselves.

Petyr quickly walked a few steps to catch up with Eddard and said to him, 'I admire your decision, but it is somewhat abrupt. Duke Tywin is the richest man in the Seven Kingdoms, and now war is no longer about bravery, but about financial resources.'

Eddard: 'Then why is Robert the king, and not Tywin Lannister? If he really dares to disobey, then Robert won't have to repay the three million gold dragons.'

Petyr's eyes lit up. 'You can play it that way.' He underestimated the Stark lord.

A village of over a hundred people in the Riverlands was now filled with thick black smoke. The original wooden walls had been breached, and the local lord had no choice but to gather all the villagers in the tower, personally leading the only ten soldiers and twenty-odd farmer militiamen to defend the gate.

The local lord was a knight named Harren Swyft, the kind of inconspicuous, low-level lord who had been managing this place for three generations. Harren said anxiously, 'Hold on! We must hold on. Our reinforcements are coming soon!'