Viserys and Daenerys waited outside New Castle for quite some time before Earl Manderly hurried over with his retinue. He was too fat to ride a horse, so his men had to carry him in a large palanquin.
As they approached, Acmot suddenly roared in their direction. A mighty gust swept toward them as the dragon beat its wings, sending Manderly's palanquin lurching repeatedly to one side.
The palanquin was painted blue-green all over, with the white merman of House Manderly embroidered on its curtains. Eight bearers struggled forward through the gale with their eyes shut.
Only when they reached Viserys and Daenerys and felt the intimidating presence of the dragons beneath them did they have to stop.
The palanquin landed with a dull thud. Two men came forward at each end to help lift the curtains. Earl Manderly leaned halfway out, then planted his heavy foot on the step, making the entire palanquin creak.
Two attendants took his arms, one on either side, and exerted considerable effort to help him down. Once on the ground, he took several deep, wheezing breaths and steadied his corpulent body before trudging toward Viserys and Daenerys.
With every step, a fine sheen of sweat appeared at his temples. The beads quickly ran together and trickled down past his graying hairline.
Yet he suppressed his fear and approached Viserys. Only then did he press a neatly folded handkerchief to his face and wipe away the fine sweat.
Although Earl Wyman was fat and bloated, he was also powerfully built. He wore a thick, dark gray coat that day, with a silver belt around his waist and his white hair neatly combed. Apart from his bulk, he looked remarkably dignified and presentable.
Wyman forced himself not to look again at King Ghidorah beneath Viserys, hastily