Chapter 321 Encounter by chance
Three days later, the fleet arrived in Astapor.
The city is located on the east coast of Slaver's Bay, at the mouth of the Worm River.
By the time Samwell and his party got off the boat, the sun had already set and night was covering the land.
The pier is still lively, with various parchment lanterns exuding colorful halos, and thin flutes and dull drums come from nowhere, full of exotic beauty. People spoke Valyrian with strange accents, loud and noisy.
Samwell learned Valyrian from Melisandre for a period of time. Although he is not yet proficient, he has no problem coping with daily communication.
The sailors were drunk, the vendors were still yelling and selling, and there were scantily clad skilled girls picking up customers on the side of the road.
When they saw Samwell and his party, they all stopped and cast their gazes.
The focus of his eyes is naturally the dragon.
Astapor was once a colony of the ancient Ghis Empire, but when the dragons of the Valyrian Empire destroyed the ancient Ghis Empire, Astapor wisely bowed to the dragon kings.
Although the Valyrian Empire was also destroyed in the subsequent doomsday catastrophe, its influence on Astapor still continues to this day.
The people living here are basically descendants of the Gughis, but now they have forgotten their own language and speak Valyrian. Fortunately, the dragon kings did not force the Astapors to convert, so here is still The ancient Ghis religion is popular, and the original Ghiscari gods are believed in.
Of course, the Astaporians will never forget Valyrian weapons of war—
Dragon.
It was they who fell from the sky, bringing fire and death, and reduced the mighty ancient Ghis Empire to ashes and dust.
So, when Daenerys Targaryen returned to the land with her three dragons, it immediately awakened the dormant fears in the Astaporians.
Luckily her three dragons were small enough to not cause a commotion.
Fortunately, Samwell kept Cleopatra on board, otherwise, given its size, the reaction of the Astaporians would have been much more intense.
"They are afraid of us." Daenerys whispered.
She was wearing a cool silk dress, revealing her white and delicate shoulders. Viserion and Rhaego tried to climb up like they did when they were children, but Daenerys hugged her down—
Her shoulders can no longer bear them.
"It's the dragon they fear." Sam Wells said, grabbing the neck of the entangled Viserion and holding it in his hand.
I don’t know if it’s because of Cleopatra’s relationship, Daenerys’ three dragons are a little afraid of Samwell.
"But in Qarth, people don't look at me like that."
"Because Qarth has never been conquered by the Valyrians, but Astapor has witnessed the horror of the dragon." Samwell's lips curled up slightly, "But because of this, the people of Astapor are more Desire to own a dragon."
Amidst the stares and whispers of the Astaporians, Samwell and his party came outside the city gate.
Watching the gate was a group of Unsullied, wearing leather coats and spiked helmets, their eyes so calm that even Daenerys' dragon could not attract their attention.
The captain of the garrison is a big fat man with dark skin, a broad nose, red hair, and yellow teeth when he smiles:
"Welcome to Astapor, the noble mother of dragons. The entrance tax is one silver coin per person. Of course, if you allow me to touch your dragon, this money can be waived."
Daenerys had never heard of such an expensive city entry tax, and knowing that this person might be extorting herself, she smiled and held Rhaego in front of her face, saying:
"Okay, but be careful, they bite."
Rego let out a coordinated roar, and a sulfurous flame spewed out from his mouth, drawing an orange-red light and shadow in the air.
The captain of the defense hesitated for a long time, but didn't dare to touch the dragon, so he smiled awkwardly:
"I was joking just now, the honorable Mother of Dragons comes to Astapor, of course there is no need to pay taxes. Please come in."
Daenerys smiled slightly and entered the city gate first.
Samwell then followed, and when passing by the captain of the defense, he said;
"Please inform the Good Lord, the Mother of Dragons wants to buy the Unsullied."
"Okay, I'll pass it on."
Behind the gate is the famous Pride Square. Even at this moment, the square is crowded, full of people and brightly lit.
There is a fountain in the center of the square, and in the center of the spring is a huge bronze Harpy statue.
Fully twenty feet tall, she had the face of a woman, the wings of a bat, the legs of an eagle, and a curly, vicious scorpion tail trailing behind her.
But Samwell noticed that there was a heavy chain hanging from her claws, and what the Harpy of the Ghis Empire caught between her claws was lightning.
Under the harpies stood a woman in a green robe, with snow-white hair, emerald green eyes and the robe on her body, exuding a shocking charm, she wore a veil, covering most of her face, The voice is soft and kind.
"Is she the Green Maiden of the Temple of Grace?" Daenerys asked in a low voice.
"Yes." Samwell stared at the woman's green eyes and said, "Translate her words for me."
The content of the Green Maiden's speech used a lot of high-level Valyrian vocabulary, and Samwell could only understand part of it with his current vocabulary.
"She's calling the people of Astapor to a crusade," Daenerys explained. "She says the ancient Ghiscari gods are about to wake from their slumber and be freed from their old enemies... old enemies? Valyria? Gods?"
"She didn't say who the enemy is?"
"No." Daenerys continued, "She only said that she would join the side of justice, and that the yellow harpies would rise from the ruins of old to reshape the world with lightning and thunder. For Him Blessed and eternal life shall be granted to those who shed their blood for the cause..."
Samwell couldn't help but think of the picture he saw from Melisandre's flames, the virtual image of the Harpy standing high above the burning ruined city.
Daenerys is still translating, but just like most missionaries preach, the content is exaggerated and pretending to be esoteric, but there is not much really useful information.
Samwell lost interest after listening for a while, and said:
"Let's go, let's find a hotel and stay first."
"good."
Everyone turned and left the square.
I just don't know whether she is looking at a dragon or a human.
"What's the matter, Sam?" Daenerys noticed the man stop.
"Nothing." Samwell continued on.
Crossing two relatively secluded streets, a group of people came to the hotel.
Lanterns are hung with iron chains at the door, and several scantily clad women are soliciting business.
Drunk travelers hang around the door, and a two-wheeled carriage is slowly passing by led by mules.
Ser Jorah stepped forward to inquire, and when he learned that there was still room available, he came back to report.
Daenerys was about to enter the hotel, but found Samwell stopped again, staring at the distant fire in a daze.
"Sam?"
"I saw an acquaintance." Samwell's eyes flickered, "You go in first, I will come later."
"good."
After saying goodbye to Daenerys, Samwell walked along the street alone.
A group of Unsullied was on patrol, and several drunks staggered to the side of the road.
The lights are gradually thinning out, leaving only a fire pile in front that is particularly conspicuous.
A small crowd gathered around the fire, listening to a man in a black robe.
However, when Samwell approached, the man in black suddenly closed his mouth, then turned and left.
Samwell further confirmed his guess and immediately accelerated his pace.
The man seemed to know that someone was chasing him, started running, and quickly turned into a dark alley.
Samwell pulled out the giant sword behind him, and lightly touched the milky white sword with his left hand, and the flames ignited.
Holding a flaming sword in his hand, he entered the alley cautiously, only to see that the man in black had stopped in his tracks, as if he was waiting for him.
Under the black robe is a dark face, with bone-white tangled hair winding out from the face, and scarlet flame pattern tattoos all over the cheeks and forehead.
"Maqiro?" Samwell looked at this person's characteristic appearance and attire, and asked tentatively.
"You know me?" Maqiro was taken aback for a moment.
"I heard Ms. Melisandre mention you, saying that you are one of R'hllor's most loyal servants."
"Impossible." Marquis immediately dismissed it, "Melisandre has never seen me!"
Samwell was not embarrassed either, and said with a smile, "I saw you from her flame."
Maqiro didn't refute this time, but judging from his eyes, it was obvious that he didn't believe Samwell's words.
However, he didn't worry about how the other party recognized him, and said:
"Caesar, you have betrayed the Lord of Light."
"It was R'hllor who had bad intentions for me first." Samwell said, "What are you doing in Astapor? What enlightenment did R'hllor give you? Has He chosen a new Azor Ahai? ?”
"The gods naturally have their arrangements." Ma Qiluo said indifferently, without a direct answer.
Samwell snorted softly and said:
"Let me guess, you guys have taken a fancy to Daenerys Targaryen?"
Ma Qiluo no longer concealed it when he saw this, and said:
"Her rise is in line with the prophecy of the Lord of Light, and the dragon will lead her on the path of glory."
"Bullshit prophecy!" Samwell said coldly, "She is under my protection now, stay away from her!"
Ma Qiluo said: "You are a mortal, how dare you resist the will of the gods..."
Before he finished speaking, his pupils shrank rapidly, because Samwell had already rushed towards him with a flaming sword in his hand!
The orange-red light surged, as if it wanted to tear this space apart.
Boom—
The flames poured down, and a strange whisper came from the black smoke.
Like some kind of spell.
Samwell was in a trance for a while, but immediately regained clarity.
Blazing black flames ignited around Marqiro, enveloping him.
Slashing with a sword, the flames splattered everywhere, but there was no scene of blood splatter as expected.
Ma Qiluo's whole body seemed to be a ball of fire, which was slowly dissipating into the air.
Samwell sneered when he saw this, and suddenly stretched out his left hand, directly into the fire.
In an instant, the flame transformed by Marqiro suddenly swelled, and he seemed to be an insect trapped in solidified amber. For the first time, a look of astonishment flashed across that indifferent face.
Boom—
The next moment, it was as if a volcano erupted, and the magma surged. Terrible force crashed into the ground, and flames and meteors flew everywhere.
"ah!!"
Maqiro let out a scream, and a red-gold light flashed in his eyes.
The flame exploded suddenly, and then quickly extinguished. Maqiro disappeared in place, leaving only the burning black robe and a **** arm.
Samwell put away the giant sword and snorted softly:
"Runs pretty fast."
(end of this chapter)