Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 456 Dothraki - Under Siege

This news, which shocked the known world, spread far and wide like a giant bird with wings.

The sound of the wind could be heard even on the vast, boundless grassland.

Dust billowed outside the towering triple walls of Qarth.

A Dothraki Karasar, like a dark tide surging from the ends of the earth, besieged the city.

The leader was a Dothraki man named Kumakao, known for his bravery and rage. He was shirtless, his bronze skin covered with battle scars, and his long braids were adorned with bells.

Instead of launching an attack, he sent a Blood Alliance Guard to drive a magnificent mare to the city gate. The horse had a sleek, silver coat and a graceful physique; it was a rare and excellent steed on the grasslands.

"Kumokao presents this horse," the Blood Oath Guard shouted in broken Common, his voice echoing through the city walls, "Congratulations to Queen Lisa on her coronation!"

The Dothraki never do anything that doesn't benefit them. After a brief pause, the Blood Oath Guard's voice, with the unquestionable directness characteristic of nomadic peoples, demanded, "According to the customs of the steppes, the Queen must offer a return gift!"

His gaze swept over the tense Ironborn guards on the city walls, and he added a sentence full of subtext: "A gift worthy of Khal's generosity, and worthy of the Queen's honor in return."

This is a congratulatory gesture, a test, and a transaction that is out in the open.

How the new queen of Qarth would respond to this "goodwill" from the plains, carrying the scent of sand and blades, suddenly became the new focus of the entire city.

Xiao Lun and Lisa stood atop the walls of Qarth, overlooking the vast army of the Dothraki below. The wind carried up the distinctive scent of the Dothraki, a mixture of horsehide and dust.

“When someone gives you a gift,” Lisa said calmly, stating a universal principle, “you should naturally give a gift in return.”

"It's a matter of courtesy," Euron replied, a cold, hard smile playing on his lips. He acknowledged courtesy, but he would never accept any form of threat, especially this kind of "congratulations" delivered with the enemy at the gates.

Soon, the gates of Qarth slowly opened.

The procession of return gifts proceeded in an orderly fashion, their value equal to, or even greater than, that of Dzeko's magnificent mare, fully demonstrating the new queen's generosity and power.

The lead messenger carried a long, narrow box crafted from ebony and silver. The moment the lid was opened, even the Dothraki, accustomed to treasures, held their breath. Inside lay an Arak scimitar, its blade perfectly curved, gleaming with a strange luster, as if containing the cold light of stars and the deep sea—a peerless blade forged by Qarth's finest craftsmen from iron mixed with stardust and deep-sea iron.

This gift was given specifically to Kumārajīva, and it was the highest recognition of his bravery.

Following closely behind were three fully loaded trucks:

One cart was filled with sealed oak barrels containing Qarth's strongest liquor, enough to get the whole of Karasa in a frenzy:

A cartload of snow-white salt and plump grains of grain—survival supplies that can never be too much on the grasslands.

One cart was filled with marinated, high-quality meats, emitting an enticing aroma.

This return gift respected the customs of the grasslands, generously fulfilled the other party's request, and also represented the unyielding authority of the new regime.

Kumokao grabbed the gleaming Arak scimitar and swung it swiftly and powerfully through the air, the blade whistling through the air. His bronze face revealed undisguised delight; he was very satisfied with this divine weapon that was exclusively his.

But when his greedy gaze swept over the three carts of return gifts of wine, salt, grain, and meat, his rugged brows immediately furrowed, showing his dissatisfaction. He looked around but couldn't even see a single female slave he desired more.

The most valiant blood oath guards under Kumaka understood immediately. They rode back to the city walls, raised their heads, and sneered in a provocative tone, "Kao said! He wants that gift again, ten of them!" He held up ten fingers, his tone arrogant. "Also, he wants ten beautiful female slaves! To miss even one would be an insult to Kumaka!"

Atop the city walls, Lisa Garfield's face instantly hardened, her voice carrying the unquestionable authority of a queen: "A generous return gift is a response to friendship. But what you demand now is not a return gift, but plunder!"

She asked coldly, "Are you trying to rob Qars?"

Before the other party could respond, Euron, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. His voice was not loud, but he declared with unwavering certainty the bottom line: "Go back and tell your Kumocao that we do not engage in the slave trade."

These words, like a final verdict, slammed heavily onto the empty space between the two sides, instantly freezing the atmosphere.

The Blood Oath Guard, carrying the reply from the city walls, galloped back to the heart of Karasa. After whispering his report to Kumaka, Kumaka, seated on his horse, listened, his facial muscles gradually tensing, a terrifying flush rising beneath his bronze skin. His hand, gripping the newly acquired Stardust Scimitar, knuckles turned white with strain, and his face displayed undisguised rage. To him, refusal was an insult, and insults must be washed away with blood.

He didn't roar immediately, but the storm brewing in that silence was far more terrifying.

At Kumochao's command, the entire Khalasa began to move. They did not retreat, but instead set up camp neatly not far from the range of the crossbows at Qarth's walls.

Their actions were quite obvious, carrying the undisguised and straightforward intentions characteristic of nomadic peoples of the grasslands—this was neither a farewell nor a wait for the next negotiation.

This massive military force, this hostile encampment—everything pointed to the same goal: to attack the city.

The defenders on the triple walls of Qarth could clearly feel the oppressive killing intent emanating from them.

The air seemed to freeze; the shadow of war had already enveloped the city that was preparing to welcome a new king.

Amid the tense atmosphere of Qarth facing the onslaught of the Dothraki army, the city's wealthy merchants and guild leaders gathered in the council hall, the air thick with unease.

A seasoned tycoon wiped the sweat from his brow and said hesitantly, "It's just asking for a small gift—"

It's alright. Spending money is better than getting into trouble; we can just scrape together the money and give it to them.

Another shipping magnate immediately chimed in, his gaze shifting, revealing both a businessman's shrewdness and cowardice: "Yes, it's better to avoid trouble. It's best to pay some price to avoid war."

"Avoid it?" Euron's icy voice struck everyone's hearts like a hammer blow. He slowly rose, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like a hawk's. "If someone else had started the war, would your kneeling and begging have prevented it?"

Euron chuckled, a laugh devoid of warmth, only chilling sarcasm: "Do you know what the Dothraki have always called the Qarthians? 'Milkmen,' meaning cowardly, weak sheep fit only for milking!" He whirled around, pointing to the Dothraki camp faintly visible outside the window: "But from the moment Queen Lisa decided to ascend the throne, Qarthians were no longer lambs to the slaughter!"

Euron's voice suddenly rose, booming like thunder: "There are four or five hundred thousand Dothraki on the steppes, and more than a dozen large Khalasas. Today we have satisfied Kumakao, but tomorrow a second or third Khalas will be at our gates."

His questioning was like a sharp sword, piercing the heart of every compromiser: "With Kumochao as our example, will every khalasar passing through this place then come to demand tribute from us? Are you then prepared to hand over the entire city of Qarth to others?!"

Euron sneered, "Perfect timing! We can use their blood to announce to the known world that Queen Qarth has ascended the throne!"