GoT and House of The Dragon: The Last Valyrian Dragonlord.

"What? The Varezys family's elephant carriage is heading to the Senate?"

Lamar Cyranica froze in place, his mind racing. Then, with a sharp snap of his wrist, he cracked his whip across the backs of the slaves carrying his palanquin.

"Idiots! What are you waiting for? Get me to the Senate—NOW!"

The startled slaves surged forward, their bare feet slapping against the stone streets of Volantis.

Lamar turned toward a nearby servant, his impatience barely restrained. Another sharp snap of the whip landed across the man's back.

"Find Lady Clifna and Lord Vagadou immediately! Tell them the Tigers have stirred up trouble, and our people need to move—quickly! GO!"

The servant scrambled away, running in the direction of House Visama's estate.

Lamar scowled. Damn the Varezys and their ridiculous traditions.

Volantis was a city of slaves. Every free citizen owned at least five, if not more. The city's economy thrived on their backs.

And with that economy came a host of customs. No Volantene noble would let their feet touch the dirty streets—they traveled in gilded palanquins, borne aloft by their slaves. The wealthier the noble, the more slaves carried them.

Even free commoners hired elephants for transport. The wealthiest among them owned their own dwarf elephants, native to the region.

But House Varezys had always been… different.

Cleorius Varezys had abolished slavery—at least in name. He despised the palanquins, and when he took charge of the family, he replaced them with carriages drawn by elephants.

Of course, not wanting to completely alienate the nobility, he had made a concession.

Using a small fortune, Cleorius had imported a herd of great forest elephants from Sothoryos, massive beasts twice the size of dwarf elephants.

Taming them had cost Lozar dearly—his own blood used in the process.

And now, as the Varezys carriage rumbled toward the Senate, the streets of the Black Walls witnessed a rare sight.

Nobles, Tiger and Elephant alike, abandoned their gold-plated palanquins.

That day, more elephant-drawn carriages flooded into the city than had been seen in years.

"Truly, the son of the old sorcerer," Clifna Visama murmured, as her servants helped her into her carriage.

Across from her, Vagadou Cyranica, an elderly, silver-haired senator, nodded. His piercing blue eyes held a calculating gleam.

"Whatever he's planning, the fools in the Tiger Party have given him the perfect excuse to profit from our political struggles."

"And we must help him," Clifna replied smoothly. "Even during the Bleeding Years, assassination was never considered acceptable in political disputes."

"Do you have proof that Mogul Bentarro hired the assassin?" Vagadou asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Clifna's lilac eyes glimmered with satisfaction. "The Regretful Ones have a base in Volantis—the 'House of Regrets.' We have a financial stake in their business."

"While we can't control their contracts, our spies saw men from House Bentarro enter their halls before the attack."

Vagadou nodded, his fingers drumming against his knee. "It seems our intelligence network has been lacking."

"Elephant Party senators must watch out for one another, Lord Vagadou." Clifna smiled. "Now, let's discuss the spoils."

Vagadou smirked. "Greedy old woman."

"House Varezys will take the lion's share, that much is certain."

"Of course," Clifna said. "But given Lozar's recent activities, he'll likely demand compensation in gold."

Vagadou made a decision. "We will pay him in coin—but the land, the estates, and the slaves must remain with us."

Clifna frowned. "What is he planning?"

The Senate Hall

Modeled after the Valyrian Freehold's own Senate chambers, the grand hall of Volantis slowly filled with lords and politicians.

The Elephant Party dominated the seats, occupying nearly two-thirds of the chamber.

The Tiger Party, by comparison, sat scattered and sparse.

At the front, Beresio Meggaea, the Tigers' ruling senator, remained composed. Across from him, the seat belonging to House Bentarro stood empty.

Then, the great doors creaked open.

The rhythmic clack of footsteps echoed through the chamber.

"The Heir of the Old Blood. The Warden of the Waves. The Supreme Commander of the Silverblood Legion. A Noble of the Black Walls. A Candidate for the Senate. Lord Lozar Varezys—enters!"

Aslan Rondel's voice rang out with ceremonial weight, his silver hair gleaming under the domed ceiling.

The murmurs of the gathered senators fell silent.

Lady Clifna was the first to speak. "Lord Varezys, you have called for this meeting. What is your grievance?"

Lozar stepped forward. "I bring a formal accusation before the Senate. A noble of the Black Walls has been targeted for assassination by a hired killer. Under the Great Laws of Volantis, I demand a full investigation to bring the culprit to justice."

A Tiger Party senator raised his hand. "Lord Varezys, you must provide evidence that this assassination attempt took place."

Lozar gestured toward the entrance.

Lyn Valterkan entered, dragging a mutilated corpse behind him.

With a grunt, he dropped the severed head onto the mosaic floor.

The dead man's features bore the unmistakable traits of a Qohorik mercenary.

The Senate chamber erupted in hushed whispers.

"A corpse proves nothing!" Another Elephant Party senator scoffed.

Lozar turned his gaze toward the voice.

It was Lamar Cyranica.

Lozar smiled slightly.

"Many of you are aware that my father possessed knowledge beyond the understanding of most men." Lozar's voice carried across the chamber.

The senators exchanged glances.

Magic was no stranger to Volantis. The city had once been one of Valyria's greatest colonies. Mystics from Asshai often demonstrated their arts here. Even the priests of R'hllor wielded fire magic in their temples.

Many noble houses kept sorcerers in their employ.

"He left me something," Lozar continued, retrieving a vial of deep red liquid from Lyn's hands. "A potion capable of making the dead speak."

The chamber grew deathly quiet.

In truth, the mixture was nothing more than Lozar's own blood, blended with certain other ingredients.

He poured it onto the corpse.

A grotesque transformation began. The body convulsed violently, tendrils of new flesh twisting from the severed stump.

A hoarse, rasping voice gurgled from the corpse's ruined throat.

"Bentarro… kill… the boy… regret…"

Silence.

The corpse stilled, the magic fading.

"Do the senators require any further proof?" Lozar asked, his voice carrying across the chamber.

Beresio Meggaea, the Tiger Party's leader, lowered his gaze.

"Lord Varezys, we had no knowledge of this crime." He turned to the Tiger senators. "Where is Mogul Bentarro?"

A Tiger senator hesitated. "My lord… Mogul Bentarro met with misfortune on the way here. His palanquin was struck by a rampaging dwarf elephant. He was… trampled to death."

Beresio sighed. "Lord Varezys, I regret that I cannot deliver justice to the guilty."

"Then I will settle for compensation, Lord Beresio."

Vagadou Cyranica leaned forward. "By law, the wealth of House Bentarro is forfeit to Lord Varezys as restitution."

"Of course." Beresio's smile was tight. "Lord Varezys, what are your demands?"

"I am not greedy." Lozar's tone was measured. "But House Bentarro attempted to assassinate my brother. That is an offense against House Varezys. And our fleet is preparing to purge the pirate scourge from the Narrow Sea, securing Volantis's trade routes."

Clifna's eyes narrowed. "So that's his plan… but what does that have to do with liquidating his assets? Is he building a fleet?"

"Therefore," Lozar declared, "I request Bentarro's lands be seized, and my family compensated in gold and ships."

The chamber stirred.

Then, Lozar made his final play.

"I will follow my father's path. Once the seas are cleared, I will launch a second Great Voyage, reopening trade routes to Yi Ti and Asshai—and expanding into the southern waters."

The Senate erupted.

"A new Great Voyage?"

"If he succeeds—this will benefit all of Volantis!"

"I'll fund it!"

"Lord Varezys, please consider our ships!"

The room filled with eager voices.

Vagadou stood, raising a hand for silence.

"The Senate approves," he declared. "Lord Varezys will be compensated in gold and ships. And when his fleet returns, we will convene to discuss further support."

Lozar smiled.

"Then we have an agreement."