Chapter 14 – Landing in the Ruins
"The Unsullied will send five of our finest warriors, Your Grace," said their commander, Silver Scorpion, before anyone else could speak.
"Silver Scorpion, the Silver Blood Guard has not yet spoken," Aslan Longdel snapped. "What are you implying?"
"The Unsullied are better suited for this task," Silver Scorpion replied calmly. "Though the Silver Blood Guard were personally trained by the Old Lord, in endurance and resistance to sorcery, the Unsullied surpass them."
"Proof?" Aslan demanded.
"Silver Scorpion is correct," Dragonzel said.
"When Astapor trains the Unsullied, they are given a draught called Courage Wine. In truth, it is a concoction of poisons. It increases their tolerance not only to pain, but to certain magical corruptions."
"Belladonna, bloodfly larvae, black lotus root from Slaver's Bay, and a secret blend from the shadowbinders of Asshai," Zesar Weaver added. "The Good Masters use it to numb their bodies. I support the commander's suggestion."
Nearby, Tigaro quickly jotted the ingredients into his small notebook.
"The Silver Blood Guard are the soul of House Varezes," Aslan said firmly. "At the very least, I should stand beside you until death."
"Valarr and Ray will accompany me," Dragonzel replied, nodding to Aslan in reassurance. "This is tied to prophecy. The three of us share blood. With them present, my magic will endure longer."
"Brother, then you will require more protection," Valarr said. "Ray should not venture too deep."
"I can," Ray protested. "I am twelve. When you were twelve, you rode against the Dothraki with Father. Why should I remain behind?"
Dragonzel ruffled his younger brother's hair.
"If you insist, then you will go deep with us. But do not weep when the ruins whisper your name."
Ray grinned.
"Tigaro, young Adams, and I will remain aboard the Silent Lord," Zesar said. "The boy and I can ensure the fleet's safety."
Dragonzel nodded. Both were masters of poison, but neither excelled in close combat. Guarding the rear suited them.
"Aslan, Amos, Sebastian—you and your selected Silver Blood Guard will crew the second boat."
"How many men?" Aslan asked. "The Unsullied take five. Your companions take six. That leaves only four for my guard—and one Red Priest."
"Lynn shares my blood," Dragonzel said.
Though he had dulled the magical potency within Lynn's lineage at the boy's request, the blood bond remained. Dragonzel's magic could still affect him directly.
"He requires no potion to activate protective runes."
Lynn Valtaken had learned of his ancestry—descended from Princess Senira—after entering Dragonzel's service. Knowing such blood could draw danger, he had begged Dragonzel to weaken its magical signature. Now he lived freer of its burden.
"I do not require Your Grace's draught," said the Red Priest softly. "The power of the Lord of Light stirs strongly here. I can shield myself."
Thus, two slots were freed. Aslan immediately assigned them to elite Silver Blood Guard warriors eager for honor.
Dragonzel did not object. The Silver Blood Guard were not merely his father's former imperial guard—they had all drunk a tonic mixed with Dragonzel's own blood.
The mixture bore no harm. It merely deepened loyalty and sharpened their bond to him and his kin.
"Lynn, Ago, Hofa—you will accompany us," Dragonzel concluded.
Under the escort of the Crying Boy and the Swordfish, the Silent Lord veered from the main fleet and sailed toward the Smoking Sea, anchoring at the edge of the shattered Valyrian peninsula.
Small rune-carved boats were lowered.
Crimson runes threaded with silver glowed as they touched the blackened waters. The sea itself seemed to bear them forward, though no oars stirred.
"Hofa," Lynn murmured, staring into the murky depths, "something moves beneath us."
The air reeked of sulfur. The water churned as if simmering.
Hofa could not see it—but Lynn could.
Shadows.
And he knew Dragonzel saw them too.
"Hofa, stay sharp," Ago warned. Bare-chested in Dothraki fashion, silver-red sigils glowed faintly across his skin.
The boats pressed onward.
"Brother, did you see that?" Valarr tightened his grip on his spear.
Dragonzel's hand rested upon the hilt of his sword—a plain Valyrian steel blade named Black Widow. No jewels. No ornament. Only darkness.
House Varezes once possessed a famed Valyrian steel sword called Silver Blood. Emperor Orion had taken it. After his mysterious disappearance, only one Valyrian steel blade remained to the house—the sword of Orion's wife, left behind in Qohor.
"I saw it," Dragonzel answered quietly.
Shadows twisted across the sea like dancers beneath black glass. They beckoned—or warned.
The same murmuring he had heard in fire rituals whispered again at the edge of his hearing.
Ray felt it too. He saw more than Valarr, though less clearly than Dragonzel. He closed his eyes and focused inward.
Suddenly the sea heaved.
A massive dark shape rose from below—vast, ancient—then sank once more into the depths, indifferent to the tiny boats above.
Only then did weapons lower.
The broken coast of Valyria drew near.
They landed in what had once been a harbor.
Now it was a furnace of ruin.
Black mist coiled through shattered streets. Reddish liquid pooled between cracked stone. Towers lay collapsed like bones.
No birds cried.
No insects stirred.
They advanced inland in cautious formation.
At first, nothing.
Then, as they passed the remains of a fallen tower—
Hofa moved.
His spear shot forward into shadow.
A shriek split the air.
Dragonzel drew Black Widow and struck.
No blood spilled.
Only a molten, magma-like substance that hissed against the blade.
The thing rolled from the darkness.
It had once been flesh.
Now it was something else—warped, incomplete, wrong.
"Alert—!" a Silver Blood Guard shouted.
Something moved faster than sight.
The soldier's chest burst open as unseen claws tore through iron as though it were cloth.
Rustling echoed from every shadow.
Shapes began to emerge.
And they were no longer alone.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you like the story please give it some power stones and reviews. And if you want to read 40+ advance chapters or just want to support me please join my patreon at [email protected]/Translatingfanfics