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Game of Thrones: The Ruler- Chapter 68: Melisandre's Suggestion
🕑 Added 2025-08-25 16:48:06 +0000 UTCJon's words caused a slight stir in the gathering as they straightened their backs, but it was nothing unexpected.
Planning the next phase of the invasion had been the primary assumption when this meeting was convened earlier.
"I believe a few among you might already be aware that we set the plans for our next phase in motion a few months back," Jon said. "For the last few months, a certain number of people have already been working on our next invasion. If I may add, then even before we captured Meereen and Yunkai, few of the plans had been motion."
Asmund, Freydron, and a few other officials, mostly associated with the military and army, nodded their heads. They were the ones who knew of the plans Lord Aeos had set in motion.
Apart from them, most of the officials exchanged questioning glances with surprised expression on their faces, wondering who else might be aware of those plans.
"It is time that we finally make our move towards the Free Cities," Jon declared, surprising, even more, those who had been unaware.
Many had expected that Lord Aeos would consolidate more power by capturing cities near Slaver's Bay, but it seemed he was intent on moving against the Free Cities instead.
"Asmund and Freydron," Jon said, "please explain the broad outlines of our plan to this gathering."
The commander duo nodded their heads in agreement as they stood up to speak about the upcoming plans. While the duo began explaining the plan, Jon's mind wandered in past. In past to a conversation, he has had with Melisandre.
(FLASHBACK)
Jon sat with Melisandre, Sylvia, and Rhaenys around a circular table. It had become a routine for them.
Since the three of them were Jon's most trusted advisors, he was always discussing with them matters of his kingdom. What was happening, his plans, and what he intended to do in the future. Not only was it a method to prepare the trio for what was coming in the future, it also helped him to keep his mind sharp.
Their conversations ranged from simple administration to military tactics to the conquest of new cities. From basics of administration to genius conquest plans, everything was on the table for discussion.
He was in the middle of a discussion with them about his next invasions when Melisandre brought up something unexpected.
"Qarth?" Jon asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why do you say that I should also look towards Qarth?"
"My Lord," Melisandre said in her revered tone. "I believe you have all the tales about the Qarth."
Jon nodded while Rhaenys and Slyvia looked slightly confused. They had heard about the cities but not of the legends.
“What tales?” Slyvia asked with raised eyebrows.
“Qarth is a city located on the southern coast of Essos,” Melisandre began explaining, seeing their confused faces. “Thanks to its location it is a trading city. A great trading city, in fact.”
“It controls the strait that links the Summer Sea to the Jade Sea. Ships from Westeros, the Free Cities, and Slaver's Bay all pass through the straits of Qarth on their way to the trading nations of Yi Ti and Asshai.”
“Unlike most cities in Essos, they also have no fear of the Dothraki, as the vast Red Waste divides them from the Dothraki Sea. The city itself is surrounded by thick stone walls and is very difficult to invade. It is said that Qarth has never been captured in history. Not even by Old Valyria,” she continued.
“That is why their rulers call Qarth ‘the greatest city that ever was or will be.’ Qarth is an extremely rich city. One of the richest in all Essos and with their advantageous position on the trade routes, they have managed to maintain their wealth.”
“I know all this,” Jon said. “But apart from its vast riches and probably large fleets of merchant ships, I do not see anything in that city that warrants immediate attention. I am not interested in the trading routes either. I have more important cities to capture. Turning my campaign towards Qarth will only be a waste of time for me.”
“That is all true, Lord Aeos,” Melisandre replied calmly. “But there are things more important than merchant ships and wealth.”
“Who rules Qarth?” she asked no one in particular.
“A council comprising thirteen members,” Rhaenys answered.
“True,” Melisandre said. “But there is another faction in Qarth that is quite powerful.”
“Warlocks and the House of the Undying,” Jon replied. “But in the present times, they hold no value apart from customary significance.”
Although Jon said this, his mind wandered to the canon. In the canon, the warlocks had regained their power after Daenerys returned dragons to the world. They had even conspired to capture her and her dragons to boost their strength. Was Melisandre hinting at that? He waited for her to explain.
“The warlocks have lost their influence in the current age. They are considered nothing more than a fanatic cult that indulges in useless rituals and empty displays. Apart from a certain level of respect shown to them by the council members, out of long-standing tradition, they hold no real value anymore.”
“But,” Melisandre paused, “it was not always this way. In fact, more than a century ago, the warlocks were powerful and influential. Some even considered them the true rulers of Qarth.”
“Their magic could achieve many things. Our order once had conflicts with the warlocks, and trust me, they were not an easy group to deal with. Their abilities were quite a nuisance.”
“But then something happened,” she continued. “Something that caused their powers to wane suddenly. No one knows for sure what led to their decline. But there was another event that coincided with their loss of power. And though most of the world never saw any connection between the two, the warlocks believed there was one.”
“They thought that incident was responsible for their magic fading,” she added.
“What incident?” Sylvia asked.
“The extinction of dragons,” Jon answered before Melisandre could respond.
“True,” Melisandre nodded. “The extinction of dragons is considered by many to mark the disappearance of magic from this world. And the warlocks believe that this disappearance of magic was responsible for them losing their powers.”
“And?” Rhaenys asked, while Jon remained deep in thought.
“I do not know if the warlocks have regained their powers or not,” Melisandre answered. “But once they learn of the dragons, they are bound to come after them.”
“If they have not regained their strength, then apart from a few tricks up their sleeves, they pose little harm. But if they have regained their powers, then they could become a real problem, especially if they begin targeting places where Lord Aeos himself or anyone of us is not present.”
Jon remained silent, lost in thought.
(FLASHBACK ENDS)
“My lord,” Freydron’s words snapped Jon out of his daze.
Asmund and Freydron were done with their part of the explanation. Jon’s eyes moved across the people seated around the table, and he could clearly see the expressions of awe, shock, and surprise on their faces. It was only natural. The plan that had just been laid out was a genius one, after all.
Comments
blaiz
Thanks for the chapter and for your hard work
