Pentos

Illyrio led Viserys and Daenerys into his mansion and took them to the banquet hall.

After Viserys and Daenerys took their seats, he began talking with Illyrio.

Daenerys sat stiffly on the other side. Seeing how ill at ease she was, Illyrio said, "Princess Daenerys, there is no need to feel uncomfortable. I will do everything in my power to help you reclaim the Iron Throne."

When Viserys saw how uncomfortable Daenerys looked, he came to her side and whispered, "My dear sister, show Magister Illyrio the bearing of House Targaryen. Do not disgrace our house in front of outsiders."

After hearing Illyrio and Viserys's words, Daenerys first took a deep breath, then composed herself so that she looked less flustered, and picked up her wine cup.

"Thank you for your invitation, Magister, and for helping my brother and me reclaim the Iron Throne."

Daenerys raised her cup as she spoke to Illyrio.

Seeing Daenerys offer him a toast, Illyrio picked up his own cup and said:

"There is no need for such courtesy, Your Highness. We are in the same boat now, after all. Helping your brother reclaim the Iron Throne is only my duty. I am to become Master of Coin, after all."

Listening beside them, Viserys smiled at Illyrio's words and raised his cup as well. "To reclaiming the Iron Throne."

With that, all three drained their cups. After a cup of wine, Daenerys felt considerably calmer.

As the banquet went on.

Daenerys relaxed a great deal, though she still spoke little, offering only a few words in reply when Illyrio or Viserys spoke to her.

Two days later.

Magister Illyrio set off for Pentos with Viserys and Daenerys. Though the two were royalty, they were exiles and had little luggage.

The two traveled to Pentos with Illyrio's carriage. It was his territory, and he wanted to return to see whether he could win over some other magisters to fund the Targaryens together.

Pentos was one of the nine Free Cities, situated in western Essos on the Narrow Sea, facing the Seven Kingdoms across the water. It was the Free City closest to King's Landing.

If an invasion of Westeros were launched in the future, Pentos would serve as a bridgehead, making it a strategic location.

Pentos stood on a bay on the Narrow Sea. To the east of the city lay a vast expanse of open country known as the Flatlands. Continuing east along the road built by the Valyrians, one would cross the tributaries of the upper Rhoyne, pass through the Velvet Hills into the Andar Hills, and reach Ghoyan Drohe. The road continued on, connecting Ghoyan Drohe to two other Free Cities, Norvos and Qohor.

Pentos was originally a trading outpost founded by the Valyrians, but it soon absorbed the surrounding hinterland, from the Velvet Hills and the Little Rhoyne to the sea, encompassing almost the entire ancient kingdom of Andalos.

The first Pentoshi were peddlers, traders, sailors, and farmers, with very few of high birth.

Perhaps for this reason, they were less protective of their Valyrian blood and were willing to intermarry with the indigenous inhabitants of the lands they ruled.

As a result, many Pentoshi had Andal ancestry, and they might have been the closest blood relatives of the Westerosi. This was natural enough; after all, six thousand years earlier, the Andals had sailed west to Westeros, landing around the Fingers and attacking the Vale.

After centuries of war, the Andals finally conquered the six southern kingdoms founded by the First Men and replaced them with their own rule.

Only the King in the North successfully resisted, finally halting the Andal invaders at Moat Cailin.

The Andals originated in the Mountains of Andalos in Essos, where, according to legend, the Seven had appeared in mortal form and crowned their first king, Hugor of the Hill.

Those first Andal invaders painted or carved the Seven-Pointed Star, the symbol of the Faith of the Seven, onto their bodies.

Although the Seven were the most pathetic of all the gods in the world of Game of Thrones, never displaying divine power in the original show-unlike the Lord of Light, the Old Gods, or the Cold God, who had clear miracles to their names-and could be called the gods with the least presence, theirs was indeed the most widespread faith.

If Eren invaded Westeros in the future, the Faith of the Seven would be his greatest obstacle. Even the Targaryen Dynasty had converted to the Faith of the Seven for various reasons.

A month later.

Illyrio arrived in Pentos with Viserys and Daenerys.

Standing at the gates of Pentos, Illyrio introduced it to them. "This is Pentos. King's Landing lies across the sea!"

Illyrio took the two of them to his mansion in Pentos.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Essos.

Eren's army had now reached the central Dothraki grasslands. Because they were carrying too many supplies and prisoners, and had no need to force-march to capture cities and seize territory, they were moving at an ordinary pace.

Eren sat in his carriage enjoying a massage when Modun rode up beside the carriage window and said:

"Your Majesty, our scouts have discovered traces of a Khalasar migrating to our southwest, about fifty li ahead. Judging by its size, the entire Khalasar numbers around a hundred thousand."

Upon hearing this, Eren said, "Have the scouts keep a close eye on them. Don't lose them. Order the entire army to stop and rest. Tell Flock to guard the camp with seventy thousand troops. The rest are to ready their equipment and prepare to set out."

With that, Eren pushed aside the carriage curtain and stepped out.

Modun also gave the order for the army to halt and sent a messenger to inform Flock of Eren's orders, while he took men to muster the troops for battle.

Before long, eighty thousand troops were fully equipped and ready to leave. Eren had the scouts lead the way and set off with them in pursuit to the southwest.

Meanwhile, in the other Khalasar.

Khal Drogo rode at the head of his entire Khalasar as it migrated. Yes, this Khal Drogo was the one who would marry Daenerys in the future.

Suddenly, a rider rushed up from behind, came to Drogo's side, and said:

"Khal, our men have discovered people following our Khalasar from behind. Our initial assessment is that they belong to another Khalasar. It looks as though they intend to absorb us."

Upon hearing that someone was following them, Drogo immediately summoned his Bloodrider and ordered him to take men to capture the pursuers.

Drogo's Bloodrider set off with some riders. Drogo then ordered his forces to make camp where they were and build defenses, allowing the elderly, the weak, the women, and the children of the Khalasar to take shelter inside.

The others picked up their blades and prepared to face the coming attack.