A song of Fire and Blood

Chapter 57 – Blood and Fire

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POV: Daenerys Targaryen – Qarth

The House of the Undying burned.

The ancient tower, home to the warlocks of Qarth, had collapsed into ruin, its blue flames lighting the midnight sky.

And only one man had been there to see her emerge from the inferno.

Ser Jorah Mormont stood amongst the smoking rubble, his sword dripping with blood. The warlock's guards lay dead at his feet.

His gray eyes widened as Daenerys stepped forward, unharmed, her clothes burned away—

And perched upon her shoulder, a tiny dragon.

Its scales shimmered, a pale white-tan, its wings soft as silk, its golden eyes unblinking.

It screeched, a high, piercing cry that echoed through the night.

Jorah rushed to her, his face lined with shock and awe.

"By the gods…" he whispered.

He removed his cloak, wrapping it around her shoulders, shielding her from the cool night air.

"Khaleesi, you—"

"We leave. Now." Daenerys said, her voice calm, steady, unyielding.

She had no time for shock. No time for wonder.

Qarth had betrayed her.

Now it would pay the price.

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The Betrayer

Daenerys and Jorah rode through Qarth's empty streets, the dragon perched on her shoulder.

The city still slept, though in the distance, the city guard rushed toward the House of the Undying, trying to quell the flames.

They did not care.

They had another target.

Xaro Xhoan Daxos.

When they reached his palace, the doors were unguarded—just as she had expected.

Jorah kicked them open.

And there, lying on silken sheets, was Doreah.

Her handmaiden.

The woman she had thought dead or imprisoned.

The woman who had betrayed her.

Doreah's eyes widened in horror as she saw Daenerys standing there, the dragon on her shoulder, and Jorah's sword in hand.

"Khaleesi—please!" she scrambled to her knees, begging. "Forgive me! He forced me! He said—"

"Silence."

Xaro lurched awake, gasping.

"What is the meaning of—"

Daenerys did not wait.

She stepped forward and drove her sword into his fat belly.

Xaro gasped, his hands gripping the blade, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

His blood soaked the sheets, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"You always spoke of your great wealth," she said, her voice cold. "Yet you had nothing. Only lies."

He shuddered, collapsed, and died.

Doreah screamed, weeping, crawling to Daenerys' feet.

"Please—please, my queen! I only did what I had to!"

Daenerys did not hesitate.

She took her dagger, and with one swift motion, she slit Doreah's throat.

The handmaiden collapsed, clutching her bleeding neck, her eyes wide with shock and betrayal.

Daenerys watched her die, her face emotionless.

She had trusted her.

That trust was gone.

She turned to Jorah.

"Search the treasury."

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A Ship and a Dragon

Xaro had always boasted of his wealth, but it had all been lies.

When Jorah pried open his vault, it was empty—save for a small chest of coins.

It was not much, but it was enough.

Enough to buy passage.

Enough to leave this cursed city behind.

Daenerys turned to Jorah, the coins in her hand, the dragon clinging to her shoulder.

"Xaro promised me ships," she said. "I will take one. The biggest one."

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The Swan Ship

They rode to the harbor, the air thick with smoke, as the House of the Undying continued to burn.

The Qartheen city guard was still occupied, giving them time.

She searched the docks, her eyes scanning the ships, until she found it—

A Swan Ship, the largest in the harbor, crewed by Summer Islanders.

Its sails were white, its wood polished dark, its great swan figurehead staring across the sea.

She approached the captain, a tall man with golden tattoos.

"I need passage," she said, offering the coins. "All of it, for your ship and crew."

The captain studied her, his dark eyes flicking to the small dragon on her shoulder.

The creature hissed, its tiny wings flaring.

The captain smiled.

"A fair trade, dragon queen," he said. "Where to?"

Daenerys looked across the water, toward the horizon, toward the future.

"Astapor," she said.

She boarded the ship, Jorah at her side, the dragon curling up against her neck.

Behind them, the city of Qarth burned.

And Daenerys sailed toward destiny.

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End of Chapter.