Kinvara continued, her tone calm yet imbued with unquestionable authority, as though she were reciting a divine revelation. "The night is long and full of terrors. Ancient powers are awakening, and others are secretly weaving a web of shackles. Beneath the ashes of the east lies the spark that will awaken the world, but that fire can grant life as well as bring destruction. The stars will weep blood, ancient covenants will be remembered, and the dead will..."
At this, she paused abruptly and tilted her head slightly, as though listening to some unseen voice. Only then did she continue, her tone subtly changed, sounding more like a warning than a prophecy. "Look carefully, child of the dragon. Look not only at the road ahead, but also at the shadows beneath your feet. The fire in your blood is both a blessing and a trial. When you believe yourself closest to the sun, take care not to be burned by your own light."
Having said this, she gave Viserys a long, searching look, and the shadow of a flame seemed to flicker through her blue eyes. Then she inclined her head in farewell and turned back toward the dim temple, her dark red figure disappearing into the shadows.
The whole encounter felt brief and abrupt to Viserys. Yet the people passing through the square seemed accustomed to it. Priests of the Red God occasionally emerging from their temple to utter cryptic words was nothing unusual in Volantis.
Ser Arthur's brow furrowed. "Your Grace, the words of those who worship the Red God are always half-truths, full of metaphors and misdirection. They are eager to find so-called heroes or saviors to expand their influence. Followers of the Red God have even gone to Westeros to preach before. Their words cannot be trusted."
"I know." Viserys gazed at the now-empty temple entrance. Some of Kinvara's words matched his dreams and instincts with startling accuracy, while others were vague and difficult to understand.
Was it a coincidence? Some stock prophecy widely circulated by the Red Temple that happened to fit? Or had the flames of R'hllor truly glimpsed certain threads of fate?
He could not be certain. But this encounter had undoubtedly cast another veil of mystery over the dangerous journey he was about to undertake.
"Let's go." Viserys drew his gaze away. "We'll head back and wait to see what Ser Alliser and the others have learned."
He turned and left the square, putting the Red Temple and the words of the young priestess named Kinvara behind him. Prophecy was like a strand of spider silk in the wind. It might point the way, but ultimately, he would have to walk the road himself, one step at a time. The ruins of Valyria ahead would be no less dangerous for any prophecy.
Ser Alliser and his men spread out through Volantis to gather information. It took three full days before they began returning.
"Your Grace," Alliser said, his expression a mixture of excitement and gravity, "there are many rumors in the city, and it is difficult to tell truth from falsehood. But several sources corroborated one another. Their reports may be worth noting."
"Speak."
"First, regarding Valyria. As we already knew, Volantis has organized several large expeditions into the ruins over the course of its history. The most recent was over ten years ago, launched by Vaharis, a Tiger Party triarch at the time, who claimed he would 'reclaim the glory of our ancestors.' That expedition consisted of more than five hundred soldiers, a hundred slaves, and fifty scholars and craftsmen. They entered the Smoking Sea aboard five specially built large ships."
"And the result?" Viserys asked.
"Only one ship returned." Alliser lowered his voice. "There were only seventeen people left aboard. Five went mad and killed themselves within a week of reaching port. The rest were either out of their minds or had undergone horrifying physical mutations, their skin hardening like stone and their limbs twisting.
"The only one still barely able to speak was an old maester. He kept muttering, 'The flames are singing,' 'The stones have come alive,' and 'The dragons are sleeping below.' The expedition brought back very little: a few strange black stones that seemed to contain magic, and some broken fragments of Valyrian steel. Those stones and fragments are now kept in the cellars of the triarchs' palace. They are said to give off an 'ominous aura.'"
"Any other news?"
"Yes. There is an old sailor in the city who claims that twenty years ago, he ventured near Valyria's outlying islands aboard a smuggling ship. He said the Smoking Sea is not entirely impassable, but certain conditions must be met. Every year, there is a period when the mists briefly thin and the currents form a relatively safe passage lasting about three days. But the passage changes location each year. Its position has to be determined from the stars and the flight paths of seabirds."
"When would that be this year?"
"In about a month and a half." Alliser made a quick calculation. "We have enough time to prepare."
Viserys considered this for a moment. "Continue."
"Next, regarding affairs within Volantis. As you have seen, the Elephant Party currently has the upper hand. Two of the triarchs came from wealthy merchant backgrounds. They favor preserving the status quo and consolidating their power by controlling trade along the Rhoyne and forming alliances with merchants from Qarth and New Ghis.
"But the Tiger Party has not abandoned its struggle for power. It has the support of many military nobles and common free citizens, and it is secretly gathering strength. There are rumors that its leader, the former triarch Malaquo Maegyr, is secretly recruiting sellswords. He may even be in contact with khalasars on the Dothraki Great Grass Sea, hoping to regain power through a military venture."
"That has nothing to do with us," Viserys said, "unless they prevent us from entering Valyria."
"For now, there is no sign that they will interfere. In fact, several factions in the city have been secretly funding small 'treasure-hunting parties.' They are usually made up of desperate men or people deeply in debt, who set out in battered ships converted from slave vessels with a few weeks' worth of supplies aboard. If even one party out of a hundred returns with something, however small or fragmentary, it is enough to make certain people rich. So they may even welcome outsiders going there to 'throw their lives away.'"
"Good. Anything else?"
"Nothing more, Your Grace." Ser Alliser lowered his head, seemingly frustrated that he had failed to uncover more information.
"Very well. Listen, all of you. In a month and a half, we leave for Valyria as scheduled."
He paused and took out a bag of gold dragons. One gold dragon could be exchanged for at least five Volantene gold coins.
"Ser Alliser, this is reward money for the soldiers. Volantis is right there. Let them go ashore in turns and unwind while they can." He swept his gaze over them. "You should understand why."
Everyone understood what he meant. Before risking their lives, they needed to loosen the strings that had been pulled taut.
"Just one condition." His voice grew a shade heavier. "Do not let it interfere with our purpose. In a month and a half, I want to see sharp blades, not a pack of useless men softened by drink and women."
He waved the knights away. Thus began a month and a half of rest, and the countdown. For the soldiers, the shadow of the unknown ahead was pushed back a little, for now, by the gleam of gold and the lights ashore.
Before you continue