Chapter 147: The Red Woman
"Witch, please show some restraint," Drazeko Rogare said with obvious dissatisfaction. "My brother allowing you aboard this ship has already shown enough respect to the priests of the Lord of Light. Please do not do anything unnecessary."
Drazeko had never understood why Lisandro had allowed this witch, who had suddenly appeared at the harbor, to board their ship just before departure. However, the heat radiating from the woman moments ago had made one thing abundantly clear: if she had harbored any ill intentions, none of them would have reached Lace Town alive.
"Thank you for your assistance." The red-robed woman regained her indifferent expression. "The Lord of Light will bless you."
After speaking, she stepped onto the gangplank without looking back.
Drazeko wanted to stop her, but Lisandro halted him with a glance.
They could not afford to offend a powerful sorceress, especially one who served R'hllor. Lys did not worship the Lord of Light, but they respected—and feared—the power wielded by his followers. At a time like this, Lisandro had no desire to invite unnecessary trouble and could only watch the red-robed woman depart.
After nearly ten years of development, Lace Town had surpassed both King's Landing and Lannisport, becoming the third-largest port in Westeros. Silver Crown City's harbor would soon surpass even Oldtown, becoming the largest port on the continent.
The red-robed woman's fiery eyes swept across the harbor district, passing over the countless temples dedicated to foreign gods and the great sept of the Faith of the Seven.
She could not help but snort.
Had it not been for the mission entrusted to her by the Lord of Light, she might have been tempted to cast a spell and reduce these temples of false gods to ashes.
Suppressing the urge, she slowly entered a temple dedicated to R'hllor.
The moment she stepped inside, a beggar curled up in a corner raised his head. He slowly rose to his feet and quietly made his way toward the sept of the Seven.
A septon approached him.
"Brother, it is not yet time for prayer."
The beggar shook his head and opened his mouth.
The septon glanced inside and instantly understood the man's identity.
Without another word, he quickly led him into a confessional.
A short while later, a raven flew from one of the sept's windows.
Inside the Temple of R'hllor.
The red-robed woman calmly watched several red priests ignite the sacred fire within a golden brazier.
"I saw the revelation of the One True God," she said. "The Lord of Light showed me that the ruler of this land is His chosen one. Why, then, do temples of false gods still stand throughout this place? Why do false faiths continue to take root here?"
The priests exchanged puzzled glances.
None dared answer.
The red-robed woman ceased her questioning. She looked over the assembled priests before calmly stepping into the flames.
The fire suddenly surged skyward.
Her hair and eyes seemed to ignite.
No.
It was the ruby hanging from her neck that blazed with crimson radiance.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the red-robed woman disappeared into the flames.
The priests watched silently as the fire gradually subsided and finally went out.
After a long pause, they all sighed.
Not a single one spoke.
Dragon Nest City, Silver Blood Tower, Dragonflame Hall.
Located on the fifth floor of the Silver Blood Tower, Dragonflame Hall was the second-largest hall in the entire structure, surpassed only by the main hall itself.
The chamber was spacious enough to allow four young dragons to play freely within its confines.
For reasons known only to himself, Dragonzel had immediately brought Samantha's dragon, Candlelight, and Daniela's dragon, Dawn, from the Dragonpit after watching the Kingsguard selection tournament with Valarr.
Dragonzel stood calmly before a fireplace.
The flames suddenly surged upward.
It looked as though something was trying to emerge from within them.
Yet whatever it was could not pass through completely and could only struggle helplessly inside the fire.
Igaras was playing with Sarafasas in a corner of the hall.
Meanwhile, Candlelight lay comfortably beside the fireplace, allowing the much smaller Dawn to sleep atop its body.
"Is someone trying to infiltrate Dragon Nest City?" Ray noticed the abnormal behavior of the flames immediately.
Valarr wasted no time on words.
Black Widow was already drawn from its scabbard, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
"A priest of the Lord of Light who doesn't know his place."
Dragonzel recognized the technique.
Both Benerro and Moqorro had used similar methods in the past, traveling through flames between the Great Temple and his father Cleos's secret laboratory.
With a casual wave of his hand, a portion of the fire separated from the fireplace.
The flames rose.
A red-robed woman tumbled out, looking somewhat disheveled.
"You betrayed the One True God!"
The moment she saw Dragonzel, she blurted out several words in the tongue of Asshai.
"You betrayed the Lord of Light's revelation! You allowed the followers of false gods to spread throughout the land blessed by His holy fire!"
Candlelight lifted its rather ugly head.
Its large watery eyes immediately focused on the newcomer.
To the young dragon, the woman looked remarkably edible.
More importantly, she was filled with magic.
The scent was irresistible.
It was so tempting that Candlelight nearly dropped Dawn from its back.
Startled, the young dragon quickly used several tentacle-like appendages to secure the sleeping Dawn before turning its gaze back toward the red-robed woman with obvious ill intent.
"What exactly did the Lord of Light show you, priestess?" Dragonzel asked with a smile.
His eyes were fixed upon the ruby hanging around her neck.
He could sense the immense magical power contained within it.
Powerful though it was, he was stronger.
Dragonzel had already infused his blood into the flames.
The results would soon become apparent.
"I saw you and the dragon."
The red-robed woman suddenly sensed something was wrong.
"I saw you draw Lightbringer in a land of sin surrounded by demons. I saw you ride a dragon and bring down a one-eyed dragon. I saw fire burning within your bloodline. Those were blessings granted by the Lord of Light—but you have failed Him."
"He doesn't care."
Dragonzel felt a headache coming on.
The woman was clearly a fanatic.
Unfortunately, it was precisely because of that fanaticism that her magical abilities were so formidable.
"He doesn't care, priestess."
Dragonzel raised his hand.
Instantly, the red-robed woman's expression changed.
The ruby around her neck flared brightly.
Yet even its power could not prevent her own hands from rising and wrapping around her throat.
"Priestess, the gods concern themselves only with the Song of Ice and Fire."
Dragonzel slowly rotated his palm.
He stopped Valarr, who had already moved to end the woman swiftly, and instead allowed her to experience the difference between their powers.
The red-robed woman immediately felt her strength draining away.
Her blood seemed to grow colder with every passing second.
The light emanating from the ruby gradually dimmed.
"Priestess," Dragonzel continued, "remember this: what you see within the flames may not mean what you think it means."
He slowly lowered his hand.
The red-robed woman collapsed to the floor.
Candlelight leaned forward and sniffed her curiously.
A moment later, the dragon recoiled in disgust.
"What have you done?" the woman demanded in horror. "Heretic! Betrayer of the One True God!"
She was horrified to discover that her magic had weakened dramatically.
Even the ruby gifted by her god had grown noticeably dimmer.
"This is merely a punishment, priestess."
Dragonzel stroked his mustache.
"Didn't your colleagues in Asshai ever warn you to be careful around blood mages?"
He smiled.
"Now tell me why you've really come here."
The red-robed woman froze.
Then, against her will, the truth spilled from her lips.
"I saw the Lord of Light's chosen one in the flames. I hoped to spread the true faith of the One True God through a powerful ruler who possessed dragons. What have you done to me?"
"A little magic, priestess."
Dragonzel smiled.
"The Song of Ice and Fire will not begin for a long time yet. You are acting far too early. Your god will not appreciate your impatience."
"You—"
"Tell me your name, priestess."
Dragonzel lightly touched the ruby hanging around her neck.
It looked as though he could shatter it with a single finger.
Feeling the last remnants of her magic slipping away, the red-robed woman finally surrendered.
Reluctantly, she spoke her name.
"Melisandre."
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