Game of Thrones: Rise of Kings

In the sky, dawn is like a sharp sword, slicing through the dark night and spilling blood-soaked morning light.

Under the dome, six thousand Dothraki roaring warriors, each man with two horses, gathered outside the ruins of Ves Kvor on the banks of the Sarn River, ready to march.

Marco rode a fiery red warhorse, galloping from the east in the morning sun, with thunderous roars in his chest:

"Since I learned to ride, I have never heard of Dothraki fearing war."

Six thousand Dothraki roaring warriors had witnessed him single-handedly killing Khal Jack and his blood guards. At this moment, seeing Marco's majestic figure, galloping on horseback, and hearing his roar that pierced through stone and split clouds, their cheers were like thunder.

Marco raised his arakh scimitar, the warhorse galloped, and he continued to roar:

"Dothraki, this is nature."

The roaring warriors roared and raised their scimitars and spears, and the sky seemed to boil.

Marco rode past, weapons clashing and roaring:

"Now we must march quickly, cross the river grassland, and pass through the forest plain. This is all for you, for your honor, and for your wealth. Dothraki men, Dothraki warriors, Dothraki roaring warriors, follow me, follow your khal, victory, victory at all costs. Honor belongs to the brave Dothraki warriors, and wealth belongs to the Dothraki people."

The roar and the sound of horses' hooves shook the forest; the sky and earth were stunned. Under Marco Khal's leadership, six thousand roaring warriors rushed from the Sarn River.

The army crossed the Sarn River from the ruins of Ves Kvor and headed north along the Valyrian Road.

Each man rode two horses, switching as needed, even sleeping tied to the horse's back. Besides beans, dried meat, and dairy products, the Dothraki carried a leather bag filled with milk and a corresponding amount of water, hung on the horse's back. When the horse galloped, it vibrated violently, turning the milk into a paste for food and water replenishment.

By noon the next day, the army moved into the Qohor Forest, the largest forest in Essos. The forest trees were tall and strong, with trunks as wide as city gates, and leaves golden in the sun. The cavalry dispersed, with horses jogging through the forest. Fortunately, the Dothraki's superb riding skills were invaluable.

The forest was unsafe, home to large elks and spotted tigers. Dozens of Dothraki patrol cavalry fell under antlers or were dragged away with their horses, leaving only corpses after being eaten.

The Dothraki cavalry were also skilled archers, hunting to replenish supplies. They hunted lemurs with silver fur and purple eyes, reminiscent of typical Valyrian features. Old Man Oliver explained that these lemurs, called "Little Valyrians," were said to bring good luck when stroked.

The trees in the Qohor Forest were lush and sky-covering. They climbed treetops to determine time and direction.

As the third sun set, Old Man Oliver suggested rationing people's food and horses' grain to save supplies and prevent accidents. It was easy to get lost in the forest, and luck was crucial. He also worried that Jumo Khal's march might not be smooth. Once the plan started, it could slowly lose control and need quick adjustments.

At the eighth dawn, Marco led 6,000 cavalrymen to finally see the end of the Qohor Forest. The Dothraki, being nomads, now appeared more like wild men of the mountains.

Despite Oliver's experience and guidance, they were still a day later than expected.

Before completely leaving the forest, they saw endless waters. Marco's heart sank as if to the ocean floor. The northernmost part of the Qohor Forest was the ocean; they had lost their way and reached the seaside.

He felt nervous. Had they gone the wrong way again? But this looked more like a lake.

Suddenly, the Dothraki roaring warriors became agitated.

"This is not poisonous water, but a water source. My horse can drink it."

The Dothraki called sea water "poisonous water" and distrusted any liquid their horses couldn't drink.

Old man Oliver dismounted, scooped lake water, splashed it on his face, and exclaimed excitedly:

"This should be the lake north of Qohor City. I've been here. Its water connects to the Undercurrent River. You can find the Undercurrent River by walking southwest along the lake."

Seeing the red sun rising in the east, and the lake before him with Norvos Mountains in the distance, Marco knew they were on the right path this time.

He sent out hundreds of patrol scouts to explore, ordering the army to rest.

In that moment, he fully realized the strength of historical figures like Lee James and Huo Qubing. He wondered if they had ever lost their way in battle.

By noon, patrol scouts returned. According to their reports, old man Oliver determined they were north of Qohor City and northeast of the Undercurrent River. Scouts also brought bad news: Jumo Khal's tribe hadn't appeared outside Qohor City.

This led Marco to imagine various scenarios: the other party had left Qohor City, hadn't arrived, or Jumo Khal had discovered his plot and turned back to attack his tribe. For safety, he brought only 6,000 roaring warriors, while Kosoro still had strength to fight.

Everything was possible. He was left with infinite reverie and tormenting waiting.

He reminded himself to stay calm. He still needed to survey the terrain and not delay important matters.

Undercurrent River's waters rushed along, flying stars splashing, with huge whirlpools rolling up at times.

Marco led a cavalry team to survey the terrain along the riverbank. Observing the turbulent river and widening surface downstream, he said thoughtfully:

"Currently, if Jumo Khal's tribe wants to cross the river, they can only take the Undercurrent River Bridge."

Hearing his muttering, old man Oliver confidently said:

"The Undercurrent River Bridge not only connects to the Valyrian Road but is wide enough for Jumo Khal's tribe to pass quickly. There is no better choice than there."

Marco agreed but noted the wider river downstream, increasing the chance of shallows, so it was uncertain if Jumo Khal would choose the bridge.

Until they reached the Undercurrent and Qinn Rivers' confluence, they found no shallow crossing.

Seeing the turbulent Qinn River growing farther, he was sure the only crossing was the Undercurrent River Bridge.

Marco led the cavalry back to the Undercurrent River Bridge. The terrain matched old man Oliver's description: open and flat. If the enemy was halfway across, cavalry could attack from behind and charge from a high position.

Looking at the bridge's other side, he considered observing the west bank.

The Undercurrent River Bridge was Qohor City's main foreign trade route but not heavily guarded. However, crossing the bridge required a tax.

The Dothraki had no money, and tax officials pushed but didn't stop them, allowing the cavalry to rush across the bridge. The bridge was well built.

The west bank terrain wasn't as open as the east bank, but other features were similar. It was enough for 6,000 cavalry to charge. The advantage was the distant Norvos Hills, conducive to hiding. Each side had its advantages; choosing was difficult.

Marco still felt uneasy, sensing he hadn't grasped key points, so he called Oliver and a Dothraki Howler to his side and asked:

"If you were Khal Jumo, how would you choose to cross the river?"

"You mean..." Oliver asked thoughtfully, "How would Khal Jumo arrange the formation for crossing the river?"

Marco's mind cleared, and he hurriedly said:

"Yes, will he arrange the Dothraki Howler to cross first, or prioritize ordinary tribes?"

"Dothraki Howler," they answered in unison.

Seeing Khal Marco's eyes on him, the Dothraki Howler proudly and straightforwardly said:

"Dothraki warriors are prioritized."

Then Oliver added his answer:

"Khal Jack always arranged it this way, never changing. Warriors are the tribe's most important asset. Without warriors' protection, ordinary tribes can't survive."

At this point, Marco had made his decision.