Just as Daenerys hesitated, a thunderous roar suddenly echoed across the sky. Moments earlier, the skies had been clear, but now they were blanketed in pitch-black clouds. Lightning flashed within them, and a strange chill settled over the city of Qos. With it came snow—something the city had never seen before.
"Dark clouds? Lightning? Snow?"
The people who had stepped outside stared in stunned silence at the unbelievable sight. Only Arianne quickly recovered and exclaimed excitedly, "It's Lynd Tarran! It's Lord Lynd Tarran!"
As her voice reached the crowd, countless bolts of lightning converged in the clouds. Then, a massive dragon with four limbs and two pairs of wings descended from the sky, engulfed in lightning.
Everyone in Qos was stunned. One after another, they dropped to their knees, praying to their respective gods in a variety of tongues. Some sailors from other cities even began reciting prayers to the Storm God in unison.
The dragon didn't land in the palace but instead descended on the plaza near the docks. At the center of the square stood a four-story building with a conspicuous banner fluttering above it—that was the local branch of the Miracle Guild.
"The dragon must have landed in Merman Square, where the Miracle Guild is located," someone with sharp eyes quickly identified the landing spot.
"Why would he come to Qos at a time like this?" Harry Strickland asked in confusion. "Isn't Westeros at war right now? Shouldn't he be holding down Summerhall?"
"No, he doesn't need to be in Summerhall personally," Arianne countered. "You don't understand how Summerhall operates. Even without Prince Lynd present, the city can still defend itself against attacks—and if necessary, launch a war of its own."
Maester Haldon said gravely, "No matter the reason, his sudden arrival in Qos at this time is definitely not ordinary."
Someone suggested, "There's no use speculating here. We should just invite him over and ask directly."
Everyone nodded in agreement. "That's a good idea. But who should go?"
They exchanged glances, and almost instinctively, everyone's eyes turned to Princess Arianne. Of all those present, she was the one who had interacted with Lynd the most. Back when Nymeria stayed in Summerhall, Arianne often visited Redemption Town for a few days at a time. She'd had a good relationship with Nymeria too.
Seeing the group looking her way, Arianne said nothing. She turned to Daenerys for permission, then left the palace with her attendants and headed toward the plaza where the Miracle Guild's branch was located.
Before long, Princess Arianne arrived near the square. By then, guards from the Miracle Guild had cleared the surrounding area. The strange and mysterious dragon lay in the middle of the square, and the lightning that had once wrapped around its body had now vanished, allowing a clear view of its form.
This dragon was markedly different from Daenerys's three. Not only did it have an extra pair of wings and limbs, but it was also noticeably more slender—especially around the neck, which looked more graceful. Most striking of all, its body had the texture of stone and reflected the surrounding light, making it resemble a gemstone dragon.
Altogether, the creature looked like a noble, intelligent being—more akin to the legendary Children of the Forest—whereas Daenerys's dragons seemed more like wild beasts by comparison.
"Stop, Princess Arianne."
Outside the Miracle Guild branch, the guard at the door immediately recognized Arianne as the Queen's close confidante and powerful advisor who had recently made her presence known in Qos. Even so, he stopped her at the entrance.
"I'm here on behalf of Her Grace the Queen to invite Lord Lynd to the palace."
If this had happened in Dorne, she might have slapped him across the face for such insolence. But now, she remained composed and courteous, showing neither arrogance nor aggression.
"Please wait a moment."
Unaware of Arianne's reputation in Dorne, the guard simply followed protocol and asked her to remain outside. He went in to inform his superior, who then passed the message along to Lynd. After a while, the guard returned and said, "Please come in, Your Highness Princess Arianne."
Arianne displayed great patience. She turned and instructed her attendants to wait outside, then entered the Miracle Guild branch alone.
The branch manager was already waiting. When he saw Arianne arrive, he hurried forward with an apology, then led her into the former manager's office.
Lynd was flipping through the intelligence reports collected in the office regarding Qos and its surrounding areas. The one currently in his hands detailed the recent assault and defense of the city.
Not long ago, Daenerys had taken Qos by surprise. Although all members of The Thirteen had been burned alive, some of their followers and family members managed to escape. Unfortunately for them, they ran into a Dothraki khalasar during their flight and were captured by a Khal. That was how word spread that Qos had been seized—and more importantly, that the new rulers had yet to fully secure control of the city. Sensing an opportunity, the Khal rallied over a dozen khalasars from the surrounding regions, gathering a force tens of thousands strong to launch a surprise attack on Qos.
But whether it was their bad luck or Daenerys' astonishing fortune, the gate they chose to assault just happened to be the one already under her control. They were lured through it and into a trap behind the second ring of the city walls, where they were completely annihilated.
Daenerys lost fewer than a hundred soldiers in the entire battle—and of those, most were injured due to horses throwing their riders in the chaos, not because of enemy blows. In truth, fewer than twenty were wounded from actual fighting.
To be honest, Lynd found the report utterly baffling. It felt as if the Dothraki Khal had simply decided Daenerys was short on manpower and sent her a ready-made army, while she, without lifting a finger, walked away with tens of thousands of Dothraki cavalry.
By now, the number of Dothraki under Daenerys' command had already surpassed what Khal Drogo once commanded at his peak. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she was now qualified to contend for control of the entire Dothraki Sea. Her fortune was simply too overwhelming—like the gods themselves were handing her victory on a silver platter.
"Take a look at this report and tell me what you think," Lynd said, handing the parchment to Arianne as she entered, before she could even speak.
Arianne paused, then took the report and glanced through it. "If you want a more detailed version, I can have someone fetch it. Queen Daenerys has a more comprehensive account."
Lynd shook his head. "No need. This version is enough. Just tell me how it makes you feel."
"Shocked," Arianne replied without hesitation. "I arrived just as the battle ended. I saw Queen Daenerys gathering the Dothraki. I don't think this is the end of her achievements—she's going to build something even greater, an empire."
"So that's why you chose to stay and serve her," Lynd said, eyeing her closely. He could clearly sense the shift in her demeanor. "You do know that if you went to the Kingdom of Lorne, Nymeria would give you a better position. Your mother serves under Nymeria too."
"I know," Arianne said with a smile. "It's true that if I went to Ny Sar, Nymeria would offer me a role better suited to my talents. But that's not what I want. Compared to enjoying bestowed power in Lorne, I'd much rather be here, helping Queen Daenerys expand her realm and build a kingdom. That feels far more meaningful."
Lynd looked at her and found himself momentarily speechless. There was no doubt—Arianne had fallen under Daenerys' spell. And that only made him more curious. What kind of Daenerys was she now? What had changed from the woman he once met—what kind of person could tame a willful, unruly spirit like Arianne?
"Let's go. I came here to see Daenerys anyway." Lynd stood and headed for the door.
Arianne quickly followed and asked, "Did you come to Qos just to see Daenerys?"
"No," Lynd replied, shaking his head. "I was originally heading straight to Asshai, but Nymeria asked me to stop here and meet with Daenerys to prepare for her upcoming meeting with her."
Arianne had been curious about Lynd's trip to Asshai, but her interest immediately shifted. "Why does Nymeria want to meet with Queen Daenerys?"
"To form an alliance," Lynd answered simply, offering nothing more.
...
After leaving the Miracle Guild, Lynd asked Arianne to lead the way to the palace.
As they made their way through the streets of Qos, people on both sides cast them wary and hostile glances.
Lynd chuckled and said, "Looks like you're not exactly welcome here. Living in a city full of enemies—you probably have to sleep with one eye open, in case someone sneaks up to assassinate you."
Arianne didn't want to admit they hadn't secured full control of the city, so she answered vaguely, "Only in certain districts. Things are much calmer in the Garden District."
Lynd said nothing more. His gaze swept casually across their surroundings, as if he were just another traveler taking in the sights.
Soon they entered the Garden District, and just as Arianne had said, the atmosphere was entirely different. The hostile stares were gone. But it wasn't because they had won over the hearts of the locals—far from it. The residences and courtyards in this area had all belonged to The Thirteen. After their deaths, and with their families and servants having fled, the homes had been left empty. Now they were being used to house the Golden Company and the Dothraki. In fact, there were probably fewer than a hundred Qos natives left in this entire district—no surprise, then, that the animosity had disappeared.
"Things are looking up, are they?" Lynd said with a hint of teasing.
Arianne gave a slight pout but didn't offer an explanation.
The two stepped into the palace that had been repurposed from the Hall of a Thousand Thrones. By now, Daenerys was already seated on the throne atop the high stone dais, with her close advisers standing along the steps on either side.
The moment she saw Lynd, Daenerys felt a sudden wave of anxiety. She instinctively wanted to lower her head, but she resisted the urge. Instead, she held her chin slightly raised and straightened her posture, doing her best to appear regal and composed.
"It's been a long time, Daenerys," Lynd said as he approached the base of the steps, speaking before Missandei had a chance to recite Daenerys's full string of titles.
"It's been a long time, Lord Lynd."
Daenerys was briefly taken aback by his casual tone, but quickly relaxed and returned the greeting with a smile.
Lynd gave her a once-over and remarked, "You've changed a lot. You're nothing like the little girl I met back then."
Daenerys grew reflective, a faint sadness showing in her expression. "Yes. I don't have anyone to lean on anymore. I have to carry everything on my own. There's no choice but to change."
"You still have us, my blood of my blood. We'll be your strongest shield and your sharpest arakh," one of her Bloodriders quickly said.
Lynd glanced at the Bloodrider, then back at Daenerys. He realized she had misunderstood him. He hadn't been referring to changes in her status, title, or circumstances. He meant the change in her.
Beyond the obvious signs of physical maturity, the most striking difference in Daenerys was her presence. There was a new layer to her—an air of mystique. It radiated authority and grace, yet remained warm and approachable. It was the kind of presence that instinctively drew people in, disarming hostility and inspiring admiration. And it wasn't subtle—her natural charm had grown so powerful that even Lynd found himself feeling drawn to her.
Clearly, this extraordinary charisma wasn't normal. But it also didn't seem to come from any arcane force or unknown magic. It felt more like an innate ability awakened by her bloodline—something akin to Lynd's own telekinetic powers. Not magic, but not far from it either.
"You should get out more," Lynd offered a bit of practical advice. "Meet with the people of Qos. Talk to them, find out what they need, listen to their concerns. Speak on behalf of those who've been oppressed by the powerful—people like The Thirteen. I think you'll gain control of this city faster than you expect."
His advice wasn't without reason. With the kind of charm Daenerys now possessed, she didn't even need to speak. Just letting people see her would be enough to ease their hearts and dissolve their resentment.
Daenerys, unaware of the supernatural nature of her appeal, simply thought Lynd had given her a good idea. Since arriving in Qos, she had remained inside the palace for her own safety, guarded from potential assassins. She hadn't met a single citizen face to face.
Lynd's suggestion made her realize just how disconnected she'd become. She nodded and said, "That's very good advice. I'll make time to meet with the people. After all, they're my subjects now."