Before Lynd departed, he agreed to Nymeria's request to meet with Daenerys—something of a warm-up for Nymeria's own upcoming meeting with her. Interestingly, they chose the base outside the ruins of Valyria as the meeting place, with the entire area under the protection of the Miracle Fleet.
To that end, Lynd carried with him a handwritten letter from Nymeria. He didn't know exactly what it said, but he assumed it was the usual kind of diplomatic pleasantry meant to build rapport.
After leaving Ny Sar, Lynd didn't head directly to Qarth. Instead, he flew toward the ruins of Valyria. He planned to rotate his dragons—leaving the lava dragon Neltharion to guard the ruins while taking Deltos with him to Asshai.
While Neltharion was undoubtedly one of the strongest dragons, even by the standards of the old Valyrian Freehold, Deltos was a magical dragon with immense power. Even Lynd couldn't fully grasp the extent of its abilities. Stygai was a treacherous land where brute force might not be enough—only magic could truly shape the outcome. Of the three dragons, Deltos would be his greatest asset for this journey.
Whether it was due to some rare metallic solution the dragon attendants on Ny Sar had given Neltharion, or because he knew he'd get to rest at home for a while, the dragon was clearly in high spirits—soaring much faster than usual. In just over an hour, they were already above the ruins of Valyria.
Sensing Lynd's arrival, Deltos flew out to meet him. They crossed paths in the sky and then soared together toward the Miracle Fleet's base outside the ruins.
Though still smaller than Neltharion in overall size, Deltos had undergone several transformations. When it spread its two pairs of wings, it appeared even larger than Neltharion. And with the ever-growing magical energy inside it, sparks of four distinct magical forces occasionally flickered across its wings, giving it an aura of profound mystery far beyond Neltharion's brute power.
While the dragon saddles were being swapped between Neltharion and Deltos, Lynd took the opportunity to check in with the base commander about the facility's construction progress and the patrol routes of the fleet. He also consulted the mages stationed at the research outpost about their ongoing studies of the Valyrian ruins.
Everything was still in the early stages. The project had only just begun. But what did surprise Lynd was the sheer number of treasure hunters, adventurers, and mercenaries that had gathered—far more than anticipated, all drawn by the allure of hidden riches.
Because of this, the base commander proposed building a small town on a nearby island to host those seeking entry into the ruins. That way, they wouldn't be sailing around the edges of the Smoking Sea in tiny boats, disrupting the Miracle Fleet's operations.
Lynd considered the suggestion and found it reasonable. He quickly drafted an order and had it sent back to Summerhall via the base's carrier hawk, requesting supplies and personnel to begin construction on the new town.
After a brief stop, Lynd mounted Deltos and left the base. At the same time, Neltharion flew back to his lair nestled within the volcanic terrain of the Smoking Sea.
The treasure hunters loitering around the area saw everything. Many speculated that the previous dragon had failed to guard the treasure hidden in the ruins, prompting Lynd to send in a fiercer replacement.
But others thought this was their chance. For as long as Deltos had remained in the ruins, few dared to enter under the ever-watchful gaze of a magical dragon. That was why they lingered on the outskirts of the Smoking Sea, never daring to venture closer.
Now, with Neltharion clearly seen flying toward his lair in the volcanic range and no dragon in sight above the ruins, many believed their moment had come. One after another, small boats packed with hopeful treasure hunters sailed into the smoke-choked sea, heading straight for the ruins of Valyria.
Some would become lost in the Smoking Sea, unable to escape its poisonous mists in time—dying of toxic exposure or, worse, falling prey to the sea monsters that lurked beneath the surface. Others, luckier, would reach solid ground and find a path into the ruins.
Most who entered would never leave. The mutated creatures and bizarre relics left behind by the black stone would hunt, attack, or even parasitize them—ensnaring their minds or devouring their bodies. They would be lost forever. Only a rare few would find treasure and manage to escape, and of those, just three or four might actually survive the journey out of the Smoking Sea.
Under normal circumstances, such high mortality would be enough to scare off any would-be adventurer. But when those lucky few returned, pockets full of gold and silver, and spoke of treasures beyond imagination scattered throughout the ruins, it sparked a frenzy.
Soon, treasure hunters and adventurers who had been watching and waiting in places like Volantis, Tolos, and Slaver's Bay launched their long-prepared boats, setting sail for the ruins of Valyria. Taking advantage of Neltharion's absence while he fed and rested in his lair, they sailed straight into the Smoking Sea—never to return.
...
In Qarth, a trial of loyalty was underway. The ones standing trial were Jorah Mormont, one of Daenerys's most trusted confidants, and Barristan the Bold, who had recently saved her life from the Sorrowful Men.
"You betrayed my brother, Prince Rhaegar, and pledged yourself to the usurper, Robert Baratheon. You've already committed betrayal once—so how am I supposed to believe that you would remain loyal to me now?" Daenerys stared coldly at Barristan the Bold, then gestured toward Jorah Mormont, who knelt with his head bowed beside her. "How do I know you're not just like him—sent by the usurper to watch me, waiting for the right moment to drive a dagger into my back?"
"Khaleesi, please believe me," Jorah Mormont pleaded humbly. "I never intended to harm you. From the moment I first saw you, I abandoned all missions. I—"
"Enough! We'll deal with you later. Right now, I'm judging Ser Barristan." Daenerys cut him off sharply, eyes blazing, then turned to the white-haired knight. "I want to hear your defense, Barristan the Bold."
"I have no defense to offer, Your Grace," Barristan said, his eyes filled with sorrow. "If I had died at the Trident, perhaps none of this would have come to pass. But instead, I abandoned my knightly honor and clung to life, only to be shamed later in the throne room of the Red Keep. I do not ask for your trust or forgiveness. I only ask that you allow me to fight for you—let me ride at the front lines in your wars to come. Let me die on the battlefield, as a true knight should. That would be the greatest mercy you could grant an old man like me."
...
Daenerys studied Barristan for a long moment, as though weighing the sincerity of his words. Eventually, she turned to Arianne Martell, Princess of Dorne, and asked, "Arianne, do you think I should trust him?"
"I'm sorry, Your Grace. Only you can make that decision. I can't offer you any advice," Arianne replied.
Years of experience in Sunspear had stripped away the youthful arrogance and pride she once carried. She had grown far more composed, though the ambition in her eyes remained undimmed.
Through her status as the Princess of Dorne and her impressive political acumen, Arianne had quickly gained Daenerys's trust and earned a place among her close advisors. But she also understood that now was not the time to offer unsolicited opinions. Her focus was on quietly observing the power structure around Daenerys—watching, and waiting for the right moment to seize greater influence.
With Arianne withholding comment, Daenerys turned her gaze to Prince Quentyn, who stood a few steps below.
"Prince Quentyn," she said, "what about you? Can you tell me whether Ser Barristan is still someone I can trust?"
Prince Quentyn had arrived in Qarth around the same time as Princess Arianne. But while Arianne had swiftly earned Daenerys's trust and begun assisting her with Qarth's affairs, Quentyn remained more of an honored guest. The difference in how Daenerys addressed the two of them made the contrast clear.
It wasn't that Prince Quentyn lacked ability. On the contrary, he had been carefully groomed by Prince Doran and was outstanding both in martial skill and political insight. His governance of Sunspear rivaled that of Arianne, a testament to his capability.
But despite demonstrating his talents, Quentyn had never managed to earn Daenerys's trust—and that was because he had made a grave misstep from the very beginning. Ignoring the political climate, he had followed Prince Doran's instructions to the letter and proposed marriage to Daenerys the very first time they met—framing it as a conditional offer of Dorne's support. To Daenerys, it had come across less as a proposal and more as a threat.
Only recently, the Thirteen of Qarth had colluded with the Warlocks of the House of the Undying to lure her into the temple under the guise of a marriage alliance, attempting to steal her dragons. They'd been reduced to ashes by dragonfire.
Now here came Prince Quentyn, also offering a marriage alliance in exchange for Dorne's support. The memory of that betrayal was still fresh in Daenerys's mind, and she could hardly view Quentyn in a favorable light.
Her initial instinct had been to send him away. But Quentyn was still a diplomatic envoy from Dorne, and he possessed talents that could prove useful. Combined with his connection to Arianne, Daenerys allowed him to remain in Qarth and even permitted him to participate in minor matters—like today's trial of Jorah Mormont and Barristan Selmy.
Unlike Arianne, Prince Quentyn had been eager to prove himself to Daenerys from the very beginning. He had wanted to speak up earlier but hadn't had the opportunity—until now. With Daenerys addressing him directly, he finally had the chance to voice his opinion.
"I've heard tales of Barristan the Bold since I was a boy. Both my father, Prince Doran, and my uncle, Prince Oberyn, spoke of him with the highest admiration. They believed he was the one knight most worthy of the title." Prince Quentyn stepped forward, straightening his back and trying to appear confident. "My father also spoke of Ser Barristan's surrender to Robert Baratheon. He believed Ser Barristan had done nothing wrong—he only swore allegiance after King Aerys had died and King's Landing had fallen. He never broke his vows. That's why I believe Ser Barristan is a true knight—one who keeps his word and remains loyal to his liege."
"It seems you truly admire Ser Barristan," Daenerys said, watching Quentyn's solemn expression.
"I do. I admire him greatly, and I aspire to become a knight like him. I think most knights across the Seven Kingdoms would dream of being the next Barristan the Bold," Quentyn said with a nod. "Even Prince Lynd, the Chosen of the Gods, told Lady Brienne of Tarth to look to Ser Barristan as her example when he trained her to become a model knight."
"Brienne of Tarth? I've heard of her. They say Lord Lynd personally trained her," Daenerys said, sitting up straighter. She glanced at Barristan. "I remember you once crossed swords with her in a tourney. What do you think of her?"
Barristan paused for a moment, then nodded. "She lives up to the title of exemplar."
"I heard she now serves Renly Baratheon. If she's truly a model knight, shouldn't her loyalty lie with the Iron Throne?" Daenerys asked sharply.
Prince Quentyn explained, "Lady Brienne's liege lord is Renly Baratheon. Her loyalty to him isn't inappropriate—just as Lord Lynd acknowledged Joffrey I's claim to the Iron Throne."
"The knightly code in your Seven Kingdoms sounds like a mess," Daenerys's bloodrider Jhogo scoffed. "Anyone can swear loyalty to anyone."
Daenerys frowned but didn't respond. Instead, she turned her gaze back to Barristan.
"If your honor is good enough for Lord Lynd," she said slowly, "then I am willing to trust in your loyalty as well."
With that, she rose from her stone seat and descended the steps, stopping before Barristan. She gestured to Missandei, her newly appointed handmaiden, who stepped forward and handed her a white cloak. Daenerys draped it over Barristan's shoulders.
"Ser Barristan Selmy," she said, "you will stand behind me as one of my Kingsguard. You will shield me from the blades that come my way. I hope you will prove worthy of my trust."
"I shall be as true as my sword," Barristan said, lowering his head before her. "And die with honor."