Chapter 257: Khals

Chapter 257: KhalsCaggo led 4,000 men deep into the Dothraki holy city of Vaes Dothrak and successfully eliminated the last remnants of the Dothraki forces. Now, the Golden Company governs Vaes Dothrak, a crucial trading hub linking two continents, poised to generate massive tax revenues. Viserys, of course, would never relinquish control of such a valuable asset.

Vaes Dothrak is a breathtaking place, nestled between the Mother of Mountains and the ‘Womb of the World,’ with natural beauty that is both awe-inspiring and strategic. Controlling this city meant controlling a significant portion of the Dothraki Sea.

Connington stood beneath the newly "upgraded" triumphal arch, ready to greet Caggo and the returning officers. This triumphant return not only ensured that the Dothraki would remain a diminished force for the next fifty years, but it also brought back a bounty of gold, silver, and supplies—enough loot to rival ten years of Tyrosh’s tax revenue. The value of the sheep, horses, and furs they brought back was incalculable.

As Caggo looked around at the nobles and commoners who had gathered to greet him, he felt a swell of pride. Clad in armor that marked him as one of their own, not as a Dothraki warrior but as a hero, he was celebrated by all. Behind him marched officers and soldiers of Dothraki origin, who now wore their new allegiance with pride. For them, there was no shame in being a “Dothraki traitor.” In fact, serving a Dragonlord was the greatest honor they could imagine.

Caggo had also brought back a number of clever Dothraki boys, the youngest just six or seven years old, the oldest around ten. These children shared a common trait—they were all of mixed blood. None of them were ‘pure’ Dothraki; their mothers hailed from the Free Cities, Lhazareen, Slaver's Bay, or even Westeros. These children would be raised under Viserys's watchful eye before returning to the Great Grass Sea to become the new Khals, ruling the vast plains in his name. Caggo himself would become a Khal, as Viserys had promised.

Among these children was a boy named Logor, about 11 or 12 years old. At first, he resisted wearing the clothing that had once been scornfully called “milkman clothes,” but once he saw himself in the mirror, he quickly abandoned the rough Dothraki attire.

He was even more thrilled when he saw the massive ship that had come to pick them up—Logor had never seen such a large, man-made object before.

When he arrived in Tyrosh, the towering black city walls left an even deeper impression on him. The bustling city streets filled him with awe and a reluctance to ever return to the Great Grass Sea. He had heard that the Khal who ruled this city was young—younger and stronger than Drogo. Logor was determined to make a good impression on this new Khal.

As Caggo led the group of Dothraki children through the triumphal arch, the sound of hooves trampling scattered flower petals filled the air. The newly upgraded arch, carved from marble, was adorned with seven dragons of different colors, each dragon displaying a unique posture—some gazing down with disdain, others proudly spreading their wings. Above the arch, a flag bearing the three-headed dragon of House Targaryen billowed in the wind, signaling the dawn of a new era.

Caggo found himself contemplating the future, imagining the day when he would have a family of his own. Though his two sons were still infants nursing at their mother’s breast, the thought of designing a family emblem had begun to take root in his mind. After all, he was already forty years old. While he remained in excellent health, Caggo knew that in another decade, age would begin to catch up with him, and he needed to plan ahead.

Despite his ambitions, Caggo didn't envision himself ruling the entire Great Grass Sea, especially after seeing Drogo's head mounted in a glass case on the palace doorpost—a stark reminder of the fate that could befall even the mightiest of Khals. He absentmindedly touched the curved sword at his waist, a weapon that had once belonged to Viserys but had been ‘borrowed’ from him indefinitely.

Dismounting from his horse, Caggo approached Connington, knelt on one knee, and presented three trophies taken from defeated foes—symbols of his victory. Not long ago, these men had been Ko, sub-chiefs under the now-vanquished Khals. Now, they claimed the title of Khal themselves, a testament to Viserys's decisive victory and consolidation of power.

“Caggo, congratulations on eliminating a formidable enemy for His Grace,” Connington said, acknowledging the feat.

“My loyalty belongs to His Grace,” Caggo responded with unwavering devotion.

After a brief exchange, Caggo was invited to join Connington in a chariot. The young half-blood Dothraki boys he had brought with him also climbed into the chariot, heading toward the grand palace of Tyrosh.

For these boys, the palace was a marvel, a world unlike anything they had ever known. The flat, paved roads, the towering buildings, the fountains, and the lush gardens all seemed like scenes from a fairy tale. They were awestruck and a little overwhelmed by the grandeur of it all.

Suddenly, two young dragons, one black and one green, flew overhead. Although they were only the size of goats, the sight of these mythical creatures frightened the boys, causing some of them to cry out in fear.

“Stop crying!” Logor, one of the older boys, whispered harshly to a younger child. He didn't want to draw attention or get “involved” with any trouble.

The boys were soon led by Connington and Caggo into the recently restored Throne Room. Caggo knelt on one knee before Viserys and Dany, while the half-blood boys knelt on both knees, their heads bowed in respect.

“Your Grace, the Great Grass Sea is yours,” Caggo declared.

“Well done, Caggo. Rise,” Viserys replied, stepping down from the throne alongside Dany. He placed a double-horse gold crown and an imperial seal in Caggo’s hands. “From this day forward, you are the Khal of the Dothraki Sea in the East.” seaʀᴄh thё NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Viserys had divided the vast Dothraki Sea into three distinct regions: the 'Eastern Dothraki Sea,' the 'Central Dothraki Sea,' and the 'Western Dothraki Sea,' with the latter being the closest to the Free Cities.

The children before him would one day grow to rule the central and western regions, which, though smaller, held strategic importance due to their proximity to the Free Cities.

“Caggo will always protect the Targaryens!” Caggo vowed, his voice firm with conviction.

Logor, observing everything with wide eyes, couldn’t help but dream of the day when he would be named a Khal himself. His attention was momentarily distracted as he caught sight of Dany standing next to Viserys. She was the most beautiful and pure person he had ever seen, radiating a presence that made people want to be near her and show her respect.

After rewarding Caggo, Viserys turned his attention to the boys. “From now on, we will be your foster parents. I will teach you martial arts and knowledge, and when you grow up, you must govern your fiefdoms well and protect the common people.”

Logor and the other boys immediately knelt, pledging their eternal loyalty to Viserys and Dany. They felt a mixture of awe and fear, but they were determined to prove themselves worthy.

Viserys, suddenly responsible for so many young children, decided to ensure their health by taking them to a reputable healer. However, when one of the boys became overwhelmed with fear and began to whimper, Viserys tried to calm him by "gently" covering his mouth with his hand.

At that moment, a guard appeared with a stout nurse, who quickly took the frightened child and his companions away. The abrupt removal of their peer only deepened the boys’ anxiety, and they clenched their teeth, determined to suppress their fear and prove their courage.