Daenerys had already learned from Zaro that he possessed over eighty ships, but unfortunately, her followers were too few, and all of them were Dothraki. Forget sailing, just being on a boat was already half killing them.
The captives and dockworkers who hadn't managed to escape could only crew five ships at most, but this was enough to satisfy Daenerys. Besides, the Royal Family and the thirteen wouldn't allow her to take all the ships.
She brought the women, children, and infants onto her ship. Dothraki warriors were distributed across the other four ships to supervise the captives, though the supervision was merely symbolic; captives who had witnessed Dragonfire had nowhere to go in the vast ocean.
As the world's largest port city and trade hub, Qarth gathered rare specialties from all corners of the world.
After storing enough food and water, Jorah led the group, using the gold coins looted from Zaro to purchase Qartheen specialties like pepper, zebra hides, and sour grass. If successfully transported elsewhere, they could make a fortune.
After loading the goods onto the ships, the five large vessels successfully set sail. Watching the docks gradually recede, Daenerys and Jorah finally breathed a sigh of relief.
In contrast, the Dothraki looked terrified, as if the ships were carrying them straight to hell, wearing expressions of resignation to death.
Once the ships started moving, they vomited incessantly. Even the bravest Bloodriders were tormented into listlessness; they would rather fight a duel and be killed right now.
"They are all doing this for me." Looking at the swaying Dothraki, Daenerys felt no mockery, but rather a profound sense of responsibility.
They left their homes and dared to cross the Poison Water to follow her on an unknown journey. She vowed to keep them safe.
"Hiss!"
Soaring between the blue sea and the clear sky, Drogon felt unprecedented comfort. The sky was where a Dragon belonged.
Sometimes he shot straight up into the firmament, and sometimes he dove into the sea to catch fish, thoroughly enjoying himself.
He circled the five large ships a few times before landing on the railing to rest.
"Khal Drogo, what was inside The House of the Undying?" Finally having a moment of leisure, Jorah curiously asked Daenerys. He didn't understand why the Sorcerer Pyat Pree insisted she go inside.
"We misunderstood one thing before. Zaro wanted the Dragons, not me. The Sorcerer Pyat Pree wanted me, not the Dragons."
"You?"
"Yes. If it weren't for Drogon, I would be dead now." Daenerys said, stroking Drogon's soft neck.
"Inside, I experienced various illusions. I saw the iron throne covered in ashes, I saw Drogo and my son, and I saw Ser Willem, who rescued me from Dragonstone."
"I saw a feast of corpses, with bodies dismembered and heads severed everywhere. One person inside had the head of a wolf and the body of a man, which was extremely strange."
[Did Dragon Mother foresee the Red Wedding?] Drogon wondered internally as he listened to Daenerys's account.
"Red Wedding?" Hearing Drogon's thoughts, Daenerys didn't know what that was. Wolf head? Did it refer to House Stark? Was it a Red Wedding they hosted for others, or one designed against them?
But she couldn't care less about the lives of The Usurper's lackeys; the fiercer their fighting, the better for her.
She continued, "I also saw my older brother Rhaegar—it must have been him. He looked very much like my brother Viserion. He was holding an infant and said the child was named Aegon Targaryen, the legendary Prince."
"Wasn't the little prince smashed to death by the Mountain?"
"It must be him. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to meet them."
[That is your White Prince!]
"Huh?" Daenerys couldn't help but look up in surprise at Drogon, who was standing on the railing, much taller than her.
"Didn't you say before that my White Prince hadn't appeared yet? But Aegon was smashed to death! Could it be that he didn't die, but was rescued by someone?"
Daenerys thought to herself while looking at Drogon. She momentarily forgot that she shouldn't let Drogon know she could eavesdrop on his thoughts.
[Why are you staring at me? Why stop talking!] Drogon lowered his head and tilted it, looking at Dragon Mother. He was also curious about what she encountered inside, hoping to confirm whether his own death by arrows would truly happen.
Seeing Drogon staring at her, Daenerys realized that looking at him like this could easily arouse his suspicion. He was so clever; if he discovered she had been eavesdropping on his thoughts, he would certainly become wary, and she might never hear them again.
"Drogon seems to have grown quite a bit again!"
Daenerys said, touching Drogon's neck and body.
Originally, this was just a self-concealing remark, but after speaking, she realized that Drogon had indeed grown considerably. His scales were blacker and shinier than before, and combined with his crimson wings and skin texture, the entire Dragon exuded a savage beauty, without losing any of its majestic dominance.
"You look better and better!" Daenerys couldn't help but admire.
[I've been discovered, hahaha...] Drogon laughed triumphantly in his heart.
Absorbing the mysterious light spots mainly enhanced his physical strength and magic power. His body size hadn't changed much, but his appearance had certainly improved.
Daenerys: "!!! Still just a little Dragon..."
Having avoided raising suspicion, Daenerys continued recounting her experience.
"The Immortal said I am the daughter of three, destined in life to light three fires: one for life, one for death, and one for love."
"Destined to ride three mounts: one for the bed, one for terror, and one for love; destined to experience three betrayals: one for blood, one for gold, and one for love."
"The fire of 'life' should be the great fire that birthed the little Dragons. I don't know if 'death' refers to Dragonfire..." Daenerys was most concerned about the three betrayals.
"Mirri Maz Duur's betrayal was for blood. Is the betrayal for gold Doreah? What about the one for love?"
Hearing this, Drogon couldn't help but look at Jorah: [Ser Jorah doesn't seem to have anything to say.]
Hearing Daenerys analyzing the three betrayals, Jorah uncomfortably turned his head away, only to meet Drogon's gaze—Dragon eyes, deep and wise like raging fire.
Jorah felt as if he had been seen through. He didn't understand how a little Dragon could possess such a gaze.
Jorah?
Could it be Jorah? But how could that be? He had accompanied her wholeheartedly the whole way and saved her from the poisoned wine incident. If he had betrayed her, she would have died several times already.
But if it wasn't him, was it someone related to him, or did he know who betrayed her? She glanced at Jorah, whose expression was unnatural—there really was something wrong.
However, if he wasn't speaking, Daenerys couldn't very well ask him now. She was no longer the ignorant little girl she once was. Jorah had been devoted to her; blind suspicion would surely affect his loyalty, so she could only be more cautious in the future.
Regarding the betrayal for love, Drogon naturally knew it referred to Jon, but he didn't know how to judge the matter.
Dragon Mother burned King's Landing in a rage and intended to continue her unification efforts, which might involve killing Jon's sister and brother. Given Jon's compassionate nature and familial ties, making such a decision was reasonable, and he felt extreme pain in his heart.
[Alas... I can't let Dragon Mother follow the old path again!] Drogon sighed internally.